Fuerteventura and Lanzarote would both be good choices . Fuete is excellent for windsurfing to. Also Portugal is worth a look.

All the above have regular atlantic swell, There are places in the med but the waves are less reliable.

Tell him to try windsurfing there are many more choices then

They would really have to have transport as generally the good surf breaks and hire centres arnt near the popular resorts.

Tell them to look at http://www.wannasurf.com/

Hope this helps

El Famara is the best surfing location in Lanzarote..not sure about Fuertaventura as that is the one Canary Isle we have not done..

Could try the south west corner of France, stay in/around Biarritz which has plenty going on at night & shops etc.

If he's only just started surfing then Biarritz may be a tad much on rough days and it's always heaving but there's a lovely beach at Hendaye with nice clean 2-3 ft surf which is perfect for beginners and have a look at Bidart too, probably too rough to go surfing but go and see it... it's mental, nearly killed myself bodyboarding there years back.

Or come to sunny Ireland Rossnowlagh & Lahinch are noted surf destinations. (or even better .........come to N Ireland to Portrush! )

Thank you all so much - he's busy looking at all the locations. He really is a novice beginner but likes the idea of doing a bit more on hols while his girlfriend works on her tan.

At this stage I think the location will be aimed primarily at 'chilling' with surfing as an added bonus.

Myself I just like to watch the world go by and will be heading back to Salou in September for 10 nights !!!!

The Western End of the Algarve (Sagres maybe ?) also has a brilliant surfer beach, shops that sell surfer gear and a surf school, he would need instruction to ride the waves down there I think.

I beleive they will organise surfer style accommodation, it seemed a very young scene for those in their late teens, twenties, early thirties.

I have stood on the top of a cliff and looked down at them in awe. A fantastic sight.

It depends on what they want, if its an AI holiday near a beach for surfing or a proper surf holiday. My gut feeling is that surfer dudes who are out riding waves etc do not stay in AI's, so maybe better booking an hotel near a surf beach would be more suitable.

There are probably specialist web-sites for surf holidays that your friends could investigate.

Doe

Tenerife is a good place, there are loads of huts offering lessons too. This was in Playa De Las Americas!