Surf trip for novice over Christmas?

[Bella2]

I went surfing for the first time a couple of weekends ago and loved it. I'd like to go somewhere warm and sunny for a week or two over Christmas, so am looking for advice on where would have a good beach break for a complete beginner, good surf schools for lessons, reasonably cheap to get to and to stay at, and a few people around to hang out with for Christmas and New Year.

And it has to be sunny!

Not much to ask for!

[cwell27]

Whats your budget??

[Bella2]

Budget...I guess if I can get flights for £100 or so (£200 max), and accommodation for £10/day or less. I don't mind camping. I don't know how much surf lessons or board and wetsuit hire would be....

Budget £600-700 for 2 weeks??

[ANZAC]

Buy a tent!

[Real Pol]

Canary Islands.

It's about the only place you'll get sun for that price from England. Plenty places to surf there.

[northswell]

Algarve, cheap flights loads of options.

[Johnny B]

Not many (or no) begginner friendly beach breaks in the Portugal at that time of year I don't think. I may be wrong though, it wouldn't be the first time.

[Bella2]

Where would you recommend in the Canaries?

Are the waves small enough for a beginner in the canaries at that time of year (Christmas/new year)?

And for southern tip of Portugal - would there be beginner beach breaks on the south coast if the surf was bigger on the west coast? Or vice versa?

[Real Pol]

Any of them. I've only been to Lanzarote a couple of times but it's great for the surfing. Fuerteventura supposedly has better surf, but it calls itself "The quiet island".

You'll probably get some big waves, but thats what you get in the winter in most places.

[cwell27]

Just go all out and go to Australia. Perfect waves for learning (heaps of surf schools), nice and warm and really cheap if you have pounds!!!

[Real Pol]

and really cheap if you have pounds!!!

Ah HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Like you'll have any pounds left after buying tickets to Oz at Christmas time!!!!!!!!

[cwell27]

Check out cheapflights.co.uk flights are cheap on that and some of them fly around your time of travel. Least your guranteed to get some sick waves and your living is cheap.

[northswell]

Loads of options Portugal, tgher are friendly breaks there and cheap tickets.

[Midnight Rider]

Morocco!

Dirt cheap flights, food, sun and good surf at all levels

[cosmicrider]

morocco is a good option if you wanna keep your summer alive, the water temperature never goes under 18 c and the weather is so nice during the day, a little bit chilly at night, but still ok .
one week at a surf camp with the surf lessons will cost you 250£ with all included, for the flight, you can try to fly to marrakech, easyjet flies there.
purevacations.com or zocotravel.com can be a good option to travel with as a single traveller
have fun any way

[turtlesurf]

hay

Well, nowhere in europe is going to be perfect for a beginner over Winter, definately a case of getting lucky with the right swell...

can offer a bit of advice though...

Out of the canary islands, Lanzarote is probably the most beginner friendly, although there is only one main place for you to surf - Famara. Mostly reefs and bad ass waves at the other spots. Famara is surf school central so you will have no worries finding a surf camp there. Lanzarote will probably be your best chance of sunshine. I'm going there in a cuople of days!!

I was in Portugal for 6 months over last winter, and although i guess its one of the better places in europe for beginner friendly winter waves, it was not ideal.
Again, it's luck of the swell, but we did a lot of driving between the west and south coasts -you definately need to drive or be driven to find surfable waves a lot as the swells more often than not were huuge.
Again, there are plenty of surf camps based around the area, but what I will say is that the Sagres area (south west tip with multiple beach breaks) is NOT good for beginners!! All the waves around that area are pretty heavy, although it is a handy place to stay for easy driving to both coasts. Some nice beach breaks on the south coast but depends if the swell wraps around enough...
The weather was pretty good over winter in portugal, but we did have a really cold snap over xmas which lasted for about 3 weeks which was literally FREEZING!! Apart from that it was jeans and t shirt weather. After mid october it barely rained atall!

This is rather long but hope ive helped!

[Bella2]

Hi

Thanks - long but very useful!! The surfschools in Lagos have said no problem finding beginner breaks in December? But if your experience is that the waves are likely to be bigger, I'll go with that.

Do you have any experience of Fuerteventura? I thought it was the most beginner friendly in the canaries from looking at websites, but this may not be correct?

Cheers again

[turtlesurf]

hiya

No unfortunately I don't know much about Fuerteventura. if there are surf schools there then there will be beginner breaks, but again as with all the canary islands you will be limited to one or two beaches.

I have just got back from Lanzarote. Surfed at Famara one day, which is one of the only beach breaks in lanzarote. Was very beginner friendly, long sandy beach and quite a few surf schools out. surfing in boardies too which was great! I would recommend for learners.

Do you know much about using swell, wind, etc to predict the surf (e.g. magicseaweed) ? For Portugal keep an eye on the Sagres forecast, and Famara for lanzarote, for the next few weeks to see which is more consistent for you.

I was not in lanzarote long enough to figure it out, but i know portugal well so if you need a hand with what to look for let me know...