My Travelog

Planning your summer holidays in Lanzarote this year?  Anyone venturing to this small Canary Island will find that there are lots of different types of accommodation to select from.  Often at prices that offer much better value than elsewhere in Spain.

Lanzarote is one of the seven Canary Islands – the best known of which are Tenerife and Gran Canaria.  Which are all located close to the shores of West Africa – creating a semi tropical climate and plenty of sunshine whatever the time of the year.

During the 1970´s package holidays to the island started to grow in popularity.  As General Franco opened Lanzarote up to overseas tourism.  With millions of tourists all keen to discover this unique holiday destination.  Today Lanzarote is not such a novelty as it once was – but that doesn’t in any way diminish its appeal.

Lanzarote is probably best known for its volcanic terrain which was forged by eruptions in the 18th century.  Creating a 200km square area in the centre of the island that is dominated by now dormant peaks and lava fields.  A sight so dramatic that many big budget movies have been shot on location here.  Such as the upcoming new release of Clash of the Titans 3, which stars Liam Neeson and which will be screened in 3D.

Most of the major travel companies, such as First Choice, Thomson and Thomas Cook feature Lanzarote in their travel brochures.  And this summer it’s possible to book flight and accommodation summer breaks on the island from around £280 per head.  With accommodation available in both hotels and apartment complexes.

There are three main resorts on the island – as well as an upmarket marina at Puerto Calero which is home to some fine hotels such as the Hesperia and the Costa Calero.  As well as an abundance of Lanzarote accommodation options in the countryside.

Eco tourism has also started to gain ground – with visitors able to enjoy a stay on a former finca in Arrieta which is entirely powered by solar and wind energy.  And where guests can even pick their own organic fruit and veg straight from the garden.

Tourists staying in outlying areas such as this are advised to book car hire in Lanzarote – as the local bus services are infrequent outside of the main resorts. Rental rates are really reasonable here though – starting at €15 per day.

If the snow and freezing weather wasn’t enough here’s five good reasons for jetting off on a holiday to the sunshine island of Lanzarote.  Which is located in the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of Africa.

Weather
If there’s one thing that British holidaymakers want to see most when they arrive at a foreign destination it is usually the sun.  As a nation obsessed with the weather this only seems to intensify once abroad.  Especially for anyone who has booked a holiday during the winter months to escape the grey and cold of the UK.

The weather in Lanzarote is very good all year round.  Thanks to the islands location off the coast of Africa which creates a semi tropical climate.  As a result visitors can enjoy days on the beach or by the pool even in December and January.

At the same time Lanzarote is just a four hour flight from the UK.  So it is also much closer than any far flung winter sun destinations such as the Caribbean.  And consequently offers far better value for money.

Accommodation
This is especially true when it comes to booking accommodation in Lanzarote. As the island offers people the chance to get away without the hefty bill associated with s stay at Sandy Lane in Barbados.

Apartments in lanzarote offer the cheapest option – as these can be booked from as little as £180 per week.  Whilst villas and hotels are also much more reasonably priced than in many other holiday destinations.

Beaches
Lanzarote has arguably the best beaches of any of the Canary Islands – and many other holiday islands too come to that.

There are over 90 to explore and some of them are right up there with the best in Europe.  Such as the large bay and beach at Famara in the north.  Best of all the vast majority of the beaches on Lanzarote are made up of golden sands rather than the black grains common on other Canary Islands.

Attractions
For a small island Lanzarote offers a surprisingly large amount things to do and see.  A key reason why so many visitors to the island keep coming back for more.

The creations of César Manrique enchant many tourists – whilst there are few sights as awe inspiring as the Timanfaya National Park.  Home to hundreds of volcanoes and mile after mile of lava fields.  All of which were forged by massive eruptions some 250 years ago.

Mallorca is the largest of the four Balearic Islands.  With a much greater population density than near neighbours Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera.  As around 700,000 residents call the island home.  A number which is augmented massively during the key summer season, which runs from May through until September.  When millions of tourists from across Europe descend on the island.

Mallorca’s popularity can be attributed to the fact that it boasts stunning beaches, great scenery and a fantastic climate.  As well as historic towns and cities and a whole host of things to do and see for visitors.

During the 1980´s the island managed to earn a bit of a downmarket image.  Created by the Club 18-30 crowd in resorts such as Magaluf.  But the worst excesses of package tourism are long gone now – although the north of the island is still regarded as a bit more upmarket than the south.  And is where visitors will find the best quality villas in Mallorca – located in and around Pollensa and Alcudia.

Flights to Mallorca from the UK take around 2 hours and 20 minutes and cheap fares are available with all of the leading low cost operators.  Visitors arrive at Palma airport – the sole international terminal on the island.  With the bulk of the best resorts located at least one hours transfer time away.

As well as being home to the islands airport Palma is also the capital and cultural heart of Mallorca.  Boasting fantastic architecture such as the Palma Cathedral.  The first stone for which was laid as long ago as the early 1300´s.  Although work on this edifice has continued virtually non stop ever since.
Most notably when Gaudi took on a restoration project in the early 20th century – only to down tools after 13 years as he was so stung by the local’s criticism of his work.

The island has welcomed a number of very famous guests over the years.  Including Robert Graves, Frederic Chopin, George Sands and Joan Miro.  And is still something of a refuge for artists and creative types.  Especially in and around towns such as Soller and Pollensa.

There are over twenty resorts for visitors to choose from – with British tourists plumping for destinations such as Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa in the north. The latter being the coastal cousin to the former Roman settlement of Pollensa which lies around 8km inland.

The growth of the internet means that increasingly visitors tend to book their own private accommodation, such as holiday villas in Puerto Pollensa direct online.  With prices for a weeks accommodation starting at around £550.

The Canary Islands are an ideal winter sun option for anyone in the UK.  As these seven Spanish islands are just a four hour flight away and offer plenty of good value accommodation options.  Making it possible for anyone to enjoy a winter break abroad – not just the rich and famous.

Which island is the best? That all depends on your personal preferences. But Lanzarote – the fourth largest – is much less touched by tourism than say Tenerife or Gran Canaria.  Whilst also offering much more in the way of things to do and see than the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura.

It’s also currently a great time to visit the island as flights to Lanzarote have never been cheaper.  This is all thanks to the fact that the Spanish government have abolished charges and taxes in order to jump start their flagging tourist industry.  Which has resulted in budget airlines such as Ryanair turning their attentions to the archipelago and offering returns from as a little as £10.

Getting around the island is also very affordable – as car hire in Lanzarote is much cheaper than on other Spanish islands.  Starting from around €90 per week or just €15 per day.  Little more than it costs to hire a bike!  Petrol is cheap too, costing around 70 pence per litre.

Where will tourists find the best value budget accommodation on the island?  Puerto del Carmen is the oldest resort and is home to hundreds of apartment complexes.  Where it is possible to book a basic studio from as little as £160.
Similar deals are also available in the other main resorts on the island of Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise.

During the winter months the weather will be plenty warm enough for enjoying days by the beach or the pool.  Whilst there is also plenty to do for those who like to get out and explore.

The volcanic region is Lanzarote´s best know attraction along with the works of the island born artist César Manrique.  There are also close to a hundred beaches to explore and plenty of pretty little towns and villages such as Haria and Yaiza.

Manrique had a hand in creating the main centres of culture and tourism on the island and these are all very reasonably priced.  With admission costing around €8 per person on average.  Some of these sites – such as the Modern Art museum also have good quality restaurants which offer excellent food at subsidised rates.

Looking for a good value sunshine break away from the grey and cold of winter? The Canary Islands offer the best value around. As well as the shortest flight time – as these seven sunny specks of Spain are just four hours away from the UK.

This year it’s even possible to fly to these semi tropical islands for as little as £9.99. As airlines such as Ryanair have started to operate on this route in a major way. Along with competitors such as easyJet. Making it possible to create a very cost effective holiday.

Lanzarote also offers very reasonably priced accommodation. As a year round holiday destination prices are not hiked to suit a certain season as is the case in say the Balearics. So during the winter it is perfectly possible to find accommodation here for as little as £100 per head. Which would buy a weeks stay on a well appointed and centrally located apartment complex.

Why not spend a little more and book on of the many excellent villas in Puerto del Carmen that are available for rent? Prices for two bedroom villas with pools start at around £500 per week – working out at just £125 per head for a party of four. Or let someone else do the cooking and cleaning and check into one of the many good quality hotels in Puerto del Carmen – where room rates start from around €60 per night.

Wherever you choose to stay Lanzarote´s most popular holiday destination offers loads for visitors to see and do. Boasting excellent beaches, the best nightlife on the island and a host of good quality restaurants. Puerto del Carmen is located just a fifteen minute drive from Arrecife airport on Lanzarote´s sheltered south eastern shoreline. And was first developed during the 1960´s as Spain started to open up to tourism under the aegis of General Franco. Rapidly emerging from its former incarnation as s small fishing village called al Tiñosa into one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain.

Today the resort welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year – with the bulk of them staying in the New Town area which runs parallel with the main beach at Playa Grande. This is an ideal spot for families as the sand here shelves gently into the sea – making it safe for children. Whilst there are plenty of facilities such as sun loungers and toilets on hand.

There are seven islands that make up the Canarian archipelago.  Each with its own unique character.  Lanzarote is located at the eastern end of this chain and is drier and more barren than close Canarian cousins such as Tenerife.  Thanks to its volcanic origins and close proximity to the Sahara desert.

This location also creates a temperate climate all year round that makes the island an ideal winter sun destination.  As here holidaymakers can enjoy days by the pool or at the beach even during December and January.

Visitors to the island arrive at the sole international airport of Arrecife.  And are likely to be staying in one of the three main resorts of Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca or Puerto del Carmen.  Although rural tourism has also grown in popularity here over the last decade. With plenty of hotels and fincas catering to demand for accommodation in Lanzarote´s countryside.

The bulk of the best Lanzarote holiday villas however are located in the main resorts – with Playa Blanca home to the largest selection of these self catering properties.  Most of which come equipped with private swimming pools and all mod cons.  And with prices starting at around £500 per week.

It’s still possible to book a break for those on a budget however.  As Puerto del Carmen, the largest resort on the island, is home to the biggest selection of holiday apartments in Lanzarote.  Making it possible to enjoy a week’s stay on a complex in the heart of the resort from as little as £160.

Venture outside of the resorts and encounter a wide variety of natural wonders and man made attractions.  As Lanzarote offers visitors an abundance of things to do and see.

Along with the ever popular volcano park known locally as The Fire Mountains Lanzarote also boasts over 90 beaches for travellers to explore.  Such as the fine white sands of Caleton Blanco, the charming seaside village of Arrieta and the impressive beach and bay at Famara in the north.  Unlike many beaches on other Canary Islands these all have golden grains rather than black sand.

Lanzarote also has a cosmopolitan capital city – Arrecife.  Which is home to around half of the island’s current population of 139,000 residents.  Just like Barcelona the city boasts its own city centre beach too – Playa El Reducto.  As well as high quality accommodation – such as the five star Arrecife Gran Hotel.

Seeking a good value sunshine break this Winter?  There´s no need to fly long haul to the Caribbean or the Far East.  As reliable weather can be found much closer to home in the Canary Islands – the Spanish owned archipelago located just off the coast of Morocco.

These seven islands enjoy temperatures in excess of 20 Celsius all year round. Whilst boasting great beaches, loads of visitor attractions and high standards of accommodation.  Factors which have all contributed to making the Canaries one of the most popular destinations in the whole of Spain.

Whilst larger islands such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria have become synonymous with package holidays and mass market tourism Lanzarote, at the astern end of the chain, retains plenty of its original identity intact.  High rise construction was outlawed in the 1970´s whilst the three main resorts of Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise are all well contained. 

This winter, flights to Lanzarote will also be at their cheapest in many years.  Thanks to the arrival in the market of Ryanair.  Who recently launched 16 new services to the island from airports across the UK.  As they seek to take advantage of the Spanish government’s temporary abolishment of taxes and charges – a policy deigned to help revive Spain´s flagging tourist market.  With prices starting from as little as £9.99 return.

So where should winter sun seekers base themselves?  The best choice would be the resort of Playa Blanca, which is located at the southern foot of Lanzarote.  Creating the most reliable microclimate on the island.

Playa Blanca is renowned for the beauty of its beaches.  As the resort is in fact named after the white sand beach that lies at its heart and is in close proximity to the playas of Papagayo.  Five interlinked sandy coves that are regarded as amongst the best on the island  – if not the whole of the Canaries.

Playa Blanca only started to emerge from its former shell of a quaint little fishing village in the 1990´s.  But has rapidly established itself as the second most popular resort on the island.  Offering some of the best hotels and villas in Lanzarote for visitors to choose from.  Such as the sumptuous five star Gran Melia Volcan, located close to the Rubicon Marina.

Anyone seeking something a little cheaper should head for Puerto del Carmen back along the coastline.  As this resort offers a huge range of good value Lanzarote holiday apartments.  With prices starting from as little as £160 per week.