Long Road to settle into Tenerife

Hi everyone,
my name's Fernadez and Im new to this forum. I saw it on facebook and was advised to join so here I am. I guess i dont want to write a long sobby story but my wife and I are looking to move to live in Tenerife. Im hoping to get some valuable advice which i would really appreciate so I hope you dont mind me laying my cards on the table. it is a very hard choice particularly for my wife. I have lived in another part of the world for 37 years and she is not accustomed to leaving her home place which is Italy. We are looking at a business proposal hoping that it is genuine and will be looking at flying to tenerife next week and staying in the playa las americas area. if the investment is sound then hopefully i will purchase it. basically we know nobody so I guess one always hopes to find trustowrthy people when starting their lives over again. We are not poor but the economy in taly is getting worse that I prefer to invest my money where i can actually mak a return. Idont care too much about being rich however the skills I have i would like to use them appropriately. I speak english and italian fluently, I do security work in Italy, from personal bodyguard to bouncing in nightclubs. I also run two martial arts schools. My wife is a registered OSS which means she works as an assistant social care worker for elderley people in aged care facilities. I understand it will take time but I believe if i buy this business it at least will pay the bills and I am used to working 3 jobs for many years. If their is any advice as to where we could rent a property, even possibly purchase a property at a reasonable price, (we would be bringing ou dogs as they are our family) even possible having some contacts in the security field so I can maybe book my flight and talk to the right people as i will stay a week. And of course the possibility of renting a room in a gymnasium where I can promote and teach my self defense courses as I have been doing for many years. I even do internet marketing video presentations and dvd online sales for my martial arts and security courses which i produce on my own..... So i hope I havent bothered you too much,and i would really appreciate any advice tips or maybe people i could contact. thanking you in advance for your patience i wish you a good night as I am going to sleep. I leave you with a small video presentation of the video work and martial arts that i teach to police forces here in Italy. Goodnight
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Hi Fernandez good you joined. It was me that advised you to join and we will tr to advise or give you links. My son has just moved to Tenerife so when you g next week perhaps talk with him as to a new face moving there.
He was very worried about moving as he has a young baby, but he will not be coming home to UK.
Things do move slow in Tenerife, so be prepared for a gentle journey.
If you go to Lazy Daze bar/Bistro next week and ask to speak to e chef, he will chat about how things have gone for him in his first 2 months.
Rent to begin with is my advice, others may say different. We can give you lots of advice on renting but it allows you to find your ideal niche.

Welcome Fernandez,

Hi Fernandez, welcome to the forum. I'm not going to say anything cheeky to you because I watched your videos and you're a big lad.

Hello Fernandez

Ordinarily I would say don´t come to the island if you have to work to live, however you say you have an opportunity. I would be interested to hear what type of business you have been offered. If it is something you are well accustomed to doing then you will be able to quickly find out if it is genuine or if it is someone who is out to rob you.

If it is something you have never done before but think you would like to do I would say BE VERY CAREFUL. Tenerife may seem on the surface a nice place to be (and it is with the beautiful weather and happy people because they are on holiday) but there are some crooks around who will rob you as they shake your hand.

I think you should do well in a gym and this link will give you a list Some Gyms in Tenerife I personally would not look for work in those based in the main resorts of Las Americas or Los Cristianos but concentrate on places like Buzanada (Arona) Las Chafiras where you will get local people using them rather than just tourists.

Hopefully as you ask more questions we will be able to help in any way we can.

Best of luck in your venture.

This is quite a good site for checking out businesses in Tenerife: BPTenerife

Fernandez to the forum. I wish you success in your move to Tenerife. Your video's are great. Self defense classes are a great idea.

Gypsy wrote:Hello Fernandez

Ordinarily I would say don´t come to the island if you have to work to live, however you say you have an opportunity. I would be interested to hear what type of business you have been offered. If it is something you are well accustomed to doing then you will be able to quickly find out if it is genuine or if it is someone who is out to rob you.

If it is something you have never done before but think you would like to do I would say BE VERY CAREFUL. Tenerife may seem on the surface a nice place to be (and it is with the beautiful weather and happy people because they are on holiday) but there are some crooks around who will rob you as they shake your hand.

I think you should do well in a gym and this link will give you a list Some Gyms in Tenerife I personally would not look for work in those based in the main resorts of Las Americas or Los Cristianos but concentrate on places like Buzanada (Arona) Las Chafiras where you will get local people using them rather than just tourists.

Hopefully as you ask more questions we will be able to help in any way we can.

Best of luck in your venture.

Hi Gypsy and hi everyone, luck has it that Im in bed with the flu today, so I gonna sleep it out. I appreciate everyones advice so it may be I wait an extra day or so to map out where i have to go. I gotta admit if you guys were around in the 90s, it would have been unthinkable to be able to get this sort of help via a sytem called internet or internet forums facebook etc...plus we can skype as well. Im not that old but I've been using computers since 1986 and i feel this evoultion is somewhat short of a miracle.
the business is an internet point which is selling pretty cheaply, my wife's mother and aunty who have a holiday home in teneriffe were there for two weeks and they seem to think it's a bargain just waiting for the right people. Again my wife's aunt knows the owner of the building who leases the shops and apartments and says that he seems to be a farily honest guy. however as you say Gypsy starting something up that I've never done may be a problem however internet points combined with other services such as bar, and food plus it sells newspapers cads and souvenirs. So sure it would be a new language to me. i would have to go onto google earth and check the distances of the zones and areas you are talking about. because what i would be trying to do is to get my wife involved in looking after the shop and then eventually leave more of the responsibilties to her as I look to expand in security work and opening up self defense classes. I know I sound like Im loading up alot but Ive been working this way for years so im accustomed running 4 different activities a week. just out of curiosity is Buzanada (Arona) Las Chafiras very far from las americas? as i said i can check on google earth but I guess I would try and be as close to Las americas if i can. At the moment both my wife and I are accustomed travelling by car to work every day for 30 minutes each way. so the travelling doesnt scare me. it would be different I suppose if you say that the distance would be over an hour then for sure it would be difficult. I would be hoping that by having good weather I could buy a small motor bike or possibly use the public transport systems and hoping that they are reliable. The if i were to rent a home (eventually im hoping to bring my dogs) I was told that even ten minutes out of las americas the rent drops quite considerably.... so again if anyone knows who i coudl possibly contact for rent it would be great.
Yes Gypsy i will be careful, I try to be saavy with people and I hold dear to what i have earnt in life, so I guess maybe a business consultant or speaking to the chamber of commerce of tenerife might be an idea?
Well I hope I havent overloaded you people with too mnay questions. for now im going back to bed. thank you all for your help... Fernandez

Fernandez wrote:Hi everyone,
my name's Fernadez and Im new to this forum. I saw it on facebook and was advised to join so here I am. I guess i dont want to write a long sobby story but my wife and I are looking to move to live in Tenerife. Im hoping to get some valuable advice which i would really appreciate so I hope you dont mind me laying my cards on the table. it is a very hard choice particularly for my wife. I have lived in another part of the world for 37 years and she is not accustomed to leaving her home place which is Italy. We are looking at a business proposal hoping that it is genuine and will be looking at flying to tenerife next week and staying in the playa las americas area. if the investment is sound then hopefully i will purchase it. basically we know nobody so I guess one always hopes to find trustowrthy people when starting their lives over again. We are not poor but the economy in taly is getting worse that I prefer to invest my money where i can actually mak a return. Idont care too much about being rich however the skills I have i would like to use them appropriately. I speak english and italian fluently, I do security work in Italy, from personal bodyguard to bouncing in nightclubs. I also run two martial arts schools. My wife is a registered OSS which means she works as an assistant social care worker for elderley people in aged care facilities. I understand it will take time but I believe if i buy this business it at least will pay the bills and I am used to working 3 jobs for many years. If their is any advice as to where we could rent a property, even possibly purchase a property at a reasonable price, (we would be bringing ou dogs as they are our family) even possible having some contacts in the security field so I can maybe book my flight and talk to the right people as i will stay a week. And of course the possibility of renting a room in a gymnasium where I can promote and teach my self defense courses as I have been doing for many years. I even do internet marketing video presentations and dvd online sales for my martial arts and security courses which i produce on my own..... So i hope I havent bothered you too much,and i would really appreciate any advice tips or maybe people i could contact. thanking you in advance for your patience i wish you a good night as I am going to sleep. I leave you with a small video presentation of the video work and martial arts that i teach to police forces here in Italy. Goodnight
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hi thanks for the tips. ok having read what you wrote is your son near las americas? is Lazy Daze bar/Bistro there by any chance?
do you think if I rang him before going would be a good idea without invading his privacy? if there are any details that somebody would like to send to me privately they can write to my personal email at xxxxxxxxxxxxx im off to bed and thanks again

Distances aren't too big in Tenerife. Buzanada is only about 20 minutes out of Las Americas and the capital Santa Cruz Is less than an hour.

"Lazy Daze" is here...Link

Fernandez, I have edited your post and removed your email address. I have no doubts that it would not be abused by the regular users of this forum but we do not know who is looking in and want to cause you problems.

If anyone wants to contact you via email rather than the PM system I suggest they ask one of the Admin team to pass on your details, there are 4 of us who can see them so somebody will be around and pick up the request.


As LR said Buzanada is only 10km from the centre of Las Americas so probably more like 15 minutes in the car. Buses, good, clean, reliable (or so I am told - never been on one!!).

Think the guys at Fitness 2000 are very accommodating so may be worth speaking with them. There also used to be a place in Torviscas (Alto) I think that was owned by a guy who ran it from the UK, I cant find the details at the moment but will try and look them out for you. You never know if he is still in the UK he may want someone to run it for him. LOL

Also speak with the sports centres, there is a newish one in Adeje called Galleon (state of the art) and they could possibly want your skills to run classes. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Lone Ranger wrote:Distances aren't too big in Tenerife. Buzanada is only about 20 minutes out of Las Americas and the capital Santa Cruz Is less than an hour.

Oh thats cool, well that gives me a better insight....
ps i just look bad on vids im really actually a sweet guy LOL

I've given you a "Wing chun do" avatar. you can change it yourself if you don't like it.

Gypsy wrote:Fernandez, I have edited your post and removed your email address. I have no doubts that it would not be abused by the regular users of this forum but we do not know who is looking in and want to cause you problems.

If anyone wants to contact you via email rather than the PM system I suggest they ask one of the Admin team to pass on your details, there are 4 of us who can see them so somebody will be around and pick up the request.


As LR said Buzanada is only 10km from the centre of Las Americas so probably more like 15 minutes in the car. Buses, good, clean, reliable (or so I am told - never been on one!!).

Think the guys at Fitness 2000 are very accommodating so may be worth speaking with them. There also used to be a place in Torviscas (Alto) I think that was owned by a guy who ran it from the UK, I cant find the details at the moment but will try and look them out for you. You never know if he is still in the UK he may want someone to run it for him. LOL

Also speak with the sports centres, there is a newish one in Adeje called Galleon (state of the art) and they could possibly want your skills to run classes. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

ok well you've given me plenty of homework. I must admit I find it a bit annoying doing this, as i explained to founder top dog when i was communicating on facebook. In Australia we had a huge depression in the 90,s and being a bit of a capitalist, I had ahefty bank loan of about 250,000 dollars for two homes in Adelaide, which in those days was a big debt for one man with a family...the depression hit due to the largest bank of Sotuh Australia being frauded and lost 9 billion dollars,,, for a small state of 1.3 million people it was a heavy hit, and bank loan interest rates zoomed up to 17.5 percent. The tabloids on the internet have recently rewritten history differently (Im not sure why) making it look like the rip off or losses were a lot lower but i lived it and remembered. Plus the gulf war at least in that part of the world slowed the economic process down, hardly anybody was driving around as they feared the worst for petrol prices which funnily enough never actually rose but decreased per litre... however Adelaide and Australia picked up economically after 2002 it just completely changed and now they are running strong although I was shocked to see that the prices of food and beverage was about 4 times more expensive than europes prices...
Anyway I can assure you that in 2002 Italy was not the same as it is today..... Im frustrated...Im living a second depression in 20 years and i know damn well it takes a minimum of ten years before a country gets itself back on track....
sure you could say im used to it, but then again is it too much to ask to have a better quality of life? Here for example in security work, I hadnt had a days rest in many many years... Now top security jobs are being given to young 18 year old kids who have no experience for the joy of working a 9 hour shift (many times risking) for the pleasure of 45 euros after taxes. So that's about 5 euro an hour. And if you get into a heavy situation, get hurt, cut or shot at well the medical expenses are on you...

so yeah i find it frustrating because Im asking for help. Im usually the guy that helps everyone else and Im not accustomed in asking... so maybe it's an ego thing i have to deal with.

So Ive also been told dont go to Spain because they're more or less having the same difficulty as Italy which may be a fair statement for some, however I have been told by more than one person that Tenerife has more opportunity.

Ok I promise not to cry anymore, I am reacting and trying to do something positive, but I will take the time necessary as i speak also on behalf of my wife and not just for me...
I feel it is important that i provide some basis of security and have something up and running before making a move into a new country...

I guess two other questions I would have are these... are there security companies that look for experienced personnel? I was told that some prefer to have security people who can speak english and is needed in tenerife.

the second question is for my wife, she is a qualified OSS as we call it in Italy,do you think she may have a chance working as a social care assistant in nursing homes? that's what's she doing at the moment. her qualifications allows her to assist nurses in hospitals as well. So she is accustomed in working with the terminally ill and working shifts etc,,, plus she's a strong girl as she with her colleagues have to lift people who weigh over 100 chilos....
OK im going back for another sleep.....:) :) thanks again

Lone Ranger wrote:I've given you a "Wing chun do" avatar. you can change it yourself if you don't like it.

hahaha that's great love it.....thanks

No need to pre phone my son, I will tell him he will be interested in your fitness experience so probably get on well. There is also a very busy gym close to lazy daze which is used mostly by locals and people that work there.l must say Gypsy is a mine of info, she says if you have to work to live, I do agree it will be hard but the economy is at its lowest so a good time for property etc and if you have a bit to survive then you will have a chance
Chayofa and Adeje are nice places to rent, if you want seaside Las Galletas or PalmMar

This is stupid, I couldn´t find the contact I had for the gym in Torviscas but came across this [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] It is stupid because I live in Chayofa and had vaguely heard about it. It was only looking at the vids I realise - I actually overlook it !!!

This is good and you can send them your CV [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and also [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I know I said move away from the resorts but you need to try all options.

As for your OH, I you could try here [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This website belongs to the partner of one of our members. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] so you may be able to pick a few brains there.

Regarding yourself it may mean a change of discipline but I think anyone who is dedicated to any type of fitness can probably transfer one skill to another as they have the determination to succeed, so best of luck and keep asking. It is amazing what we actually know and don´t realise until someone gives us a prod.

Gypsy wrote:This is stupid, I couldn´t find the contact I had for the gym in Torviscas but came across this [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] It is stupid because I live in Chayofa and had vaguely heard about it. It was only looking at the vids I realise - I actually overlook it !!!

This is good and you can send them your CV [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and also [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I know I said move away from the resorts but you need to try all options.

As for your OH, I you could try here [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This website belongs to the partner of one of our members. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] so you may be able to pick a few brains there.

Regarding yourself it may mean a change of discipline but I think anyone who is dedicated to any type of fitness can probably transfer one skill to another as they have the determination to succeed, so best of luck and keep asking. It is amazing what we actually know and don´t realise until someone gives us a prod.

ok multi multi thanks, I think it's like that any part of the world. you never know what you have even around the corner... but then again a lot of people would do themselves a favour learning to advertise better...maybe?

Hi Fernandez and welcome. Wow, you have written more about yourself in 12 hours than most manage in a year! I hope you find it useful on here. One of the security guards on our complex in Tenerife is Italian and hes well into the gymn and that sort of stuff. Have a nice week in Tenerife.

Perfectspecimen wrote:Hi Fernandez and welcome. Wow, you have written more about yourself in 12 hours than most manage in a year! I hope you find it useful on here. One of the security guards on our complex in Tenerife is Italian and hes well into the gymn and that sort of stuff. Have a nice week in Tenerife.

hahahahahhahahaa ok thanks for the tip

Fernandez, perfect specimen is Vince he is also a bouncer at a place called Yelas.

Bouncer ?, Yeh, Man breasts.

Mcqueen wrote:Bouncer ?, Yeh, Man breasts.

hahahahahahaha

Topdog wrote:Fernandez, perfect specimen is Vince he is also a bouncer at a place called Yelas.

oh really? i hope i didnt come across as offensive laughing at him...i was laughing at his quote about me writing more about myself in 12 hours than most do in a year... Ummm Vince you there? any chance of hooking up an appointment with your boss?