| time last year in the Search Travel Online offices, we | | | | to give you something to smile about in the absence |
| were looking at our calendars and predicting a sales | | | | of a trophy for England. Tapas are Spain's appetizers, |
| lull around the time of June and July 2008. Why? | | | | delightful local delicacies flavoured with garlic, chillies or |
| Because of the European Championship in Switzerland | | | | paprika, cumin, salt, pepper or saffron. It often |
| and Austria. It was a foregone conclusion that | | | | comes with seafood such as anchovies, sardines or |
| England would take their rightful place amongst the | | | | mackerel in olive oil with tomatoes and sometimes |
| final 16 teams – after all, England had an easy | | | | peppers or olives. Better than another bag of pork |
| looking group with the likes of Russia, Croatia and | | | | scratchings, any day of the week. |
| Israel. It would take a major slip up for England not | | | | 3) European Championship: Artificially expensive pints |
| to make the finals, and as we currently don’t | | | | As per usual, come the quarter final (inevitably as far |
| sell holidays to Switzerland or Austria we expected | | | | as England get, if recent form is to be believed) the |
| little business with everyone staying home and | | | | local pub is bound to up the prices of pints to take |
| helping pub landlords around the country make a tidy | | | | advantage of the huge influx of customers coming to |
| profit. | | | | gawp at their big screen. And that’s just |
| Fast forward 12 months, and the picture has turned | | | | going to make the disappointment of England losing |
| on its head. England faltered in their group, failing to | | | | on penalties that bit more expensive to forget. |
| make the impression they should have done and | | | | Tenerife: Cocktails by the pool |
| being all but out in November, relying on Israel to | | | | On a Tenerife package holiday, you can take a break |
| beat Russia to give them a chance of qualifying. | | | | from the standard fare of pints and ales, by enjoying |
| Israel did the impossible and beat Russia, only for | | | | some of the exotic (and intoxicating!) local cocktails. |
| England to throw it away by losing to Croatia. This | | | | The fresh fruit makes them taste fantastic, and with |
| led to Steve McClaren being sacked, and England | | | | no sporting event to drive up the prices, having a |
| once again looking for a new manager. Alongside this, | | | | good time needn’t break the bank! |
| Scotland just lost out to giants Italy and France in | | | | 4) European Championship: Screaming at the referee |
| their group, despite beating the latter twice, Wales | | | | It’s easier to blame the referee than the |
| failed to battle their way out of their group and | | | | players’ incompetence, so you can bet that if |
| Northern Ireland didn’t quite have the quality | | | | England had qualified, your throat would be hoarse |
| in the end, despite breaking the record for goals | | | | from screaming obscenities. |
| scored by a single player – David Healy with | | | | Tenerife: Screaming to the tunes in some amazing |
| 13. | | | | clubs |
| So, this leaves none of the UK’s football fans | | | | A far more enjoyable way to give yourself a sore |
| with any strong commitments come June next year, | | | | throat, this. If you’re going to wreck your |
| so what’s the alternative to bitterly watching | | | | vocal cords, why not do it on an unforgettable club |
| the other nations compete in the European | | | | night in some of Tenerife’s top party resorts |
| Championship? Well, one option we’ve seen | | | | – Playa de Las Americas or Los Cristianos? |
| selling well in the office is cheap holidays to Tenerife. | | | | The bars stay open til’ 4 in the morning, and |
| A Tenerife holiday package has everything you could | | | | the clubs until 6am - no package holiday to Tenerife |
| hope for when looking to escape England – | | | | is complete without a night on the tiles! |
| while we were suffering floods this year, Tenerife | | | | 5) European Championship: Drowning your sorrows |
| holiday makers were enjoying the glorious sunshine, | | | | When England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales |
| and while nobody expects a repeat of the unusual | | | | eventually leave the competition, the time has come |
| weather that dogged Britain last year, it’s | | | | to drown your sorrows, discuss missed opportunities |
| nice to go somewhere where sunshine and good | | | | and discuss the best plans for the future of the |
| times are guaranteed! | | | | team. All in all, it’s rather depressing and not |
| In fact, in many ways a cheap holiday to Tenerife | | | | the highlight of anyone’s year. |
| highlights the futility of watching the big summer | | | | Tenerife: Splashing around at Aqualand or Aquapark |
| sporting event – just take a look at the | | | | Between the two of these fabulous water parks, |
| following contrasts: | | | | you’re bound to have to great memories. |
| 1) European Championships: Annoying mascots and | | | | Both of them boast a varied number of slides and |
| endless opening ceremony | | | | attractions bound to keep children as young as 5 |
| “entertainment” | | | | (and as old as 60!) happy. No miserable walk home in |
| The over-the-top opening ceremonies at international | | | | the rain here, either. The sunny weather inevitable on |
| football tournaments are uniformly dull, and the | | | | a cheap holiday to Tenerife is just perfect for these |
| irritating country mascots don’t help to | | | | fun water parks! |
| brighten proceedings, despite their shamelessly | | | | And by the time the European Championship is over |
| attention seeking antics. | | | | and you’re returning from your cheap holiday |
| Tenerife: Real wildlife and plentiful entertainment | | | | package to Tenerife with a healthy looking tan and a |
| Why bother with men in animal suits, when you can | | | | heap of great memories, the future of our |
| see real exotic animals’ fascinating behaviour | | | | international football will be looking healthier too. |
| instead? Loco Park, Tenerife, has the biggest dolphin | | | | England will have found themselves a new manager |
| habitat in Europe, along with a huge aquarium that | | | | who, let’s face it, can’t do much |
| houses over 20,000 fish and marine animals which can | | | | worse! Scotland just have to go that extra inch next |
| be seen through an underwater tunnel. Elsewhere, | | | | time around and will probably be seeded for the |
| the park has gorillas, tigers and jaguars ensuring an | | | | World Cup groups after their stunning performance |
| entertaining day out for wildlife lovers. | | | | making qualification that bit easier. Wales are moving |
| 2) European Championship: Pub snacks | | | | in the right direction after drawing 0-0 with Germany |
| Imagine for a second that England or Scotland had | | | | in their last game, and Northern Ireland managed to |
| qualified, and you’re at your favourite | | | | break the record for top scorer in the European |
| watering hole and your stomach is rumbling. Do you | | | | Championship qualifiers with David Healy, laying them |
| risk the bar nuts you’re sharing with your | | | | great foundations for the next few years. So, you |
| less-than-hygienic pub colleagues, or chance a | | | | get your holiday, the footballers get the summer off |
| stomach pump with the ‘traditional pub | | | | to reflect on their performance and can look to |
| food’ they’re serving? | | | | coming back stronger next time – everybody |
| Tenerife: Delicious delicacies | | | | wins. |
| Food on your Tenerife holiday is very tasty and sure | | | | |