After years of living on the Spanish Islands, I want you to experience them to perfection as well.

Choosing the wrong island, resort, travel period, car rental, transfer or excursion can easily cost you money, time, and deliver holiday disappointment.

Below are the most common mistakes I see people make — and how to avoid them.

1. Choosing the wrong time to go

The Canary Islands have good weather all year round but change a lot from month to month.

The Balearic Islands only have good summer holiday weather from May until mid-October.

But the perfect time depends on what you want: nightlife, sunbathing, relaxing, family holidays, budget, romance, exploring, or avoiding crowds.

👉 Need help choosing the right time to go? Contact me personally

2. Car rental

Many car rental companies on the Spanish islands look extremely cheap online.

But once you arrive at the airport, tired and wanting to get to your hotel, they often start the upselling: extra insurance, deposits, fuel charges, upgrades, and other hidden costs. This is by design, not an accident.

3. Choosing the wrong nightlife area

Many people think each island has one type of nightlife. That is not true!

Each island has different nightlife zones, and how lively and active these zones are, changes a lot depending on the time of year.

Resorts that are lively in August might be very quiet at other times of the year. Some areas are great for couples but not for clubs. Some places are better for families, others for beach bars, live music, or late-night partying.

👉 Not sure where to stay? Check my YouTube holiday guides, my website or contact me personally.

4. Arriving at the airport unprepared

Airport arrivals can be stressful, especially during weekends, school holidays and peak season.

Taxi queues can be long, shuttle busses need to be booked in advance and the public transport can get overwhelmed. Also when traveling with small children who need child safety seats or if you have lots of luggage, the standard buses and taxis will not accommodate you.

👉 Book your taxi, shuttle or transfer here with the company I also user before arriving OR in many cases (especially on the Canary Islands) it is better and cheaper just to rent a car.

5. Underestimating the sun

Especially in the Canary Islands, the UV index is much stronger than in many European countries.

You can burn quickly, especially when it feels windy, cloudy, or not extremely hot.

👉 Use sunscreen from day one, not after you are already burned. This helps you enjoy the pool and beach for your entire holiday.

6. Excursions

On the Spanish islands, you will often see flyers on the street offering cheap excursions. Be careful. Some of these include hidden upselling, extra fees, sales pitches or unclear conditions.

Hotel receptions and excursion shops are better, but they are often focused on selling and not always on helping you choose what is truly best for your holiday or support after you buy.

👉 Book excursions with 24/7 support, reviews and best prices through the same platform I do.

7. Only choosing the big name resorts

The Spanish islands have more than 70 different holiday destinations.

Choosing only the big famous names often means you pay more, deal with bigger crowds, or end up somewhere that does not really fit your needs.

A resort can be perfect for one person and completely wrong for another.

👉 Choose the best holiday destination for you, check my hundreds of YouTube guides, this website or contact me personally.

Personalized holiday advice

Email me at: ive@checkedholidays.com

Use this subject line: PERFECT HOLIDAY

And tell me:

Which island or islands you are considering
Your approximate travel dates or months and how long you planning on going
Who you are travelling with (family, couple,…)
Your budget (luxury, mid range or budget friendly)
What kind of holiday you want (active, relaxing, nightlife focused, family fun,….)

I will personally reply with my advice, based on my over 20 years of living, working and traveling on the Spanish Islands.

IMPORTANT: Currently this service is still free because I love helping people but there will be a donation link in the email. Donating really helps me to keep on doing this.

The essential Spanish Island holiday guide