Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, is the perfect escape for those in search of winter sunshine, and only four hours away from the UK. The island has a lot to offer with its volcanic beaches, stunning national park dominated by Mount Teide and quaint traditional villages.'I travelled to Tenerife in November, enjoying temperatures of 25 C, and hired a car from Tenerife South Airport to explore the island. Less than 30 mins from Tenerife South Airport is the Costa Adeje - an upmarket area with a plethora of restaurants and chic boutiques. It is a great place to base yourself if you do not wish to hire a car as many places can be accessed on foot or by a short taxi ride. The jewel in the crown, in terms of hotels, has to be the Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque. The hotel has expansive grounds and consists of the main hotel building, Casa Ducal (a more exclusive offering with its own private check-in) as well as villas which are perfect for families. The rooms are all of a good size mixing contemporary comfort with traditional Canarian architecture. There is a huge spa, swimming pools and plenty of dining options including a restaurant serving Basque-influenced cuisine. A short taxi ride away is the small fishing village of La Caleta where you can sample some of the finest seafood on the island - highly recommended.'During my stay in Tenerife, I was also lucky enough to take in the spectacular Teide National Park, with its main star being Mount Teide. Car hire is really a necessity if you wish to explore this part of the island and take in all its beauty. There are 42 distinct walking trails and hikes varying in panorama and difficulty. The Parador Las Canadas del Teide is the only hotel within the national park itself and offers views onto Mount Teide. This is a comfortable and simple hotel which has an excellent location for exploring the national park and is a good place to spend a couple of nights. Try to incorporate a Friday night stay here as there is a talk for those interested in astronomy which takes place every Friday evening.'Tenerife can also be discovered as part of a twin-centre holiday, paired with a visit to La Gomera, its smaller sister island a mere 50 minute ferry ride away. Car hire is recommended but we can arrange private transfers to get around if you prefer not to drive. Tenerife is definitely a place I will be visiting again in the near future to escape the UK's cold weather and find some winter sun.