Ruben Chorlton-Owen, a 25-year-old social media influencer from North Wales with over 100,000 Instagram followers, visited Tenerife with his girlfriend and was astonished by the dramatic difference in food costs compared to the UK. During their week-long trip to Playa de las Americas, the pair found that eating out was significantly more affordable, leading them to dine out more frequently without worrying about the cost.
Set Menu at Savoy Restaurant
At Savoy Restaurant in Playa de las Americas, the couple ordered a set menu priced at just €13.95 (£11.93) per person. The meal included starters, mains (with fillet steak available), desserts, and extra Chinese dishes, effectively offering four courses. Ruben noted that back in the UK, he had paid £23 for a single chicken chorizo linguine dish—almost twice the price of the entire Tenerife meal.
Significant Price Differences
Ruben commented: "The difference was huge. A three-course meal in Tenerife cost less than what I'd often pay for a single main course in the UK." He added that breakfasts, coffees, drinks, and evening meals all felt noticeably cheaper, while the quality remained excellent. "Everywhere we ate felt like fantastic value for money, especially compared to what we'd usually expect to pay back home. I expected Tenerife to be a bit cheaper than the UK, but I genuinely didn't expect the difference to be so significant," he said.
Best-Value Holiday
Ruben described the trip as "one of the best-value holidays" he had ever experienced, considering the weather, accommodation, cuisine, beverages, and activities available. Highlights included Siam Park and a boat trip. He also advised other travelers to explore beyond hotel restaurants and compare menus to find the best deals: "I'd definitely recommend exploring beyond your hotel and trying local restaurants rather than just sticking to the tourist hotspots. Compare menus before choosing somewhere to eat because there are some fantastic deals available."
Previous Observations
This is not the first time tourists have noted the price disparity in Tenerife. Previously, another visitor expressed similar astonishment at their restaurant bill, highlighting a growing trend of UK tourists finding better value in the Canary Islands.
