Lanzarote Summer Holidays – The Cool Canary Island

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Posted by Lisa | Posted in General Travel | Posted on 07-08-2009

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It may lie just seventy miles off the coast of West Africa. But the small Canary Island of Lanzarote is Spanish owned. And has long been a hot favourite with British and Irish tourists – who accounted for over one million visitors last year,attracted by a delightful year round climate, good quality holiday accommodation and the island´s unique volcanic scenery.

There is a wide choice of Lanzarote apartments but if you prefer a more luxurious holiday then you can grab yourself a bargain Lanzarote holiday villa this summer as lower than expected visitor number means there are some good deals to be had.

At just four hours flying time Lanzarote is one of the closest winter sun holiday destinations to the UK. And is serviced by a number of the biggest low cost flight operators – such as easy Jet and Fly Monarch. Which means it is usually possible to pick up cheap flights to Lanzarote for as little as £200 return from all major UK airports.

The sole airport on the island is called Arrecife and is located around 3km outside of the island capital of the same name. Thanks to Lanzarote´s relatively small size (it measures just 58km by 34.5km) transfer times from the airport to the island’s three main resorts are mercifully quick. With Puerto del Carmen just ten minutes from the airport, Costa Teguise fifteen and Playa Blanca around thirty five minutes away.

The bulk of visitors to the island arrive on package holidays so will find themselves travelling to their resort on coaches organised by their tour operator. But for the growing band of independent travellers there is no shuttle bus service to the resorts. Which means they need to rely on either taxis – which are available just outside the main arrivals terminal. Or hire cars – which are also readily available at the airport.

Car hire in Lanzarote is very good value in relation to many other holiday destinations. With prices starting from as little as €20 per day. Petrol is also much cheaper than in the UK or Eire, costing around 80 centimos for a litre of unleaded fuel.

Around 40% of all visitors book hotels in Lanzarote. Which are of a high standard, particularly in the island’s newest resort of Playa Blanca in the south of the island. Where all establishments built over the last ten years are of a four star standard and above.

Whilst the bulk of the best villas in Lanzarote are located in and around the resort of Puerto del Carmen. Which was once known as a small fishing village called La Tiñosa before package tourism first really took off on the island. Transforming it into the most popular resort on Lanzarote.

The island is also blessed with a raw volcanic scenery and plenty of natural beauty. Making it an ideal holiday location for sightseeing. Elements of the landscape have been united with the artistic aesthetic of the island born artist Cesar Manrique. Who created a series of seven unique tourist attractions during the 1970´s – such as the Cactus Garden and the Jameos del Agua – which still delight tourists to this day.

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Cheap Breaks in Lanzarote

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Posted by Lisa | Posted in General Travel | Posted on 23-06-2009

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Despite the current economic climate and the depreciation of sterling against the euro the small Spanish island of Lanzarote, in the Canaries, expects to welcome well over one million tourists during the course of 2009.  With British and Irish holiday makers comprising the largest contingents of visitors.

This is great news for the tourists visiting the island as there are some great deals to be had on Lanzarote Villas and Lanzarote apartments.

This figure will still be way down on previous years however.  As island tourist authorities have already recorded a 20% drop in arrivals during the first quarter of this year.  As some consumers opt to either stay at home or journey outside of the euro zone.  But many more still find that a good value break in a destination such as Lanzarote can even work out cheaper than a holiday in the UK.

Self catering holidays on islands such as Lanzarote can in fact work out to be very affordable.  The cost of a weeks stay in many Lanzarote apartments for example starts at around €170 per week.  And this is the price per room, rather than per person.   Those looking for a really good accommodation deal should search for apartments in Puerto del Carmen.  As Lanzarote´s biggest resort offers the largest range of choice, boasting hundreds of complexes.

Accommodation is available in both the New and Old Towns – both popular holiday locations in their own right.  Offering good facilities, such as swimming pools and maid service at highly competitive prices.  Puerto del Carmen has also enjoyed a recent revamp, with a new marina nearing completion in the Old Town Harbour area.  Whilst the main beachfront strip, the Avenida de las Playas has been partly pedestrians.  Making it a for more pleasant place to stroll.

There´s a wide selection of high quality Lanzarote villas available for rent across the island.  All offering high standards of accommodation with prices starting from around €400 per week.  For a two bedroom villa with private pool.  There are more villas in Playa Blanca, the newest destination on the island, than in any other resort.  Thanks to the fact that hundreds of overseas investors have snapped up property here in recent years to rent out to their fellow tourists.

Playa Blanca is an atmospheric and well appointed destination.  Boasting a delightful seafront promenade that stretches from one end of the resort to the other.  Along with some of the best beaches on the island and a fantastic microclimate.  Which tends to make this the most reliable choice for those in search of sun.  Visitors can even hop on a ferry and visit the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura, just 6km away across the Bocaina Straits.

Visitors to Spain and the Canary Islands will get a warm welcome and have a fantastic holiday regardless of their choice of destination.

Lanzarote Travel Tips

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Posted by Lisa | Posted in General Travel | Posted on 11-06-2009

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Despite the current economic downturn the holiday island of Lanzarote still expects to welcome well over one million foreign visitors during the course of 2009.  The majority of them from the UK.  As the island remains a favoure holiday spot with tourists.  Much to the delight of the many thousands of overseas owners of holiday villas in Lanzarote.

Fortunately most families still refuse to cut their annual vacations and holidays even if money is tight.

The Canarian archipelago, comprising a total of seven very individual islands, is a short four hour flight away from the UK by plane.  And some of the best known budget airlines fly there, such as Jet 2 and Thomas Cook.  Which means it is usually fairly easy to get a flight to the island for as little as £200 return.  Making it a big favourite with overseas investors – many of whom rent their property in Lanzarote to holidaymakers. The bulk of flights from the UK operate on Mondays and Thursdays.

Lanzarote only has the one international airport at Arrecife.  Which is located around 3km from the island capital of the same name.  This serves as the hub for ´domestic’ flights between the other six Canary Islands as well as the rest of Spain.  Facilities at the airport are a little limited by mainland European standards.  For example there are no bureau de change facilities or shops in the arrivals hall.

In addition, there are no shuttle buses running between the airport and the main resorts.  Which means that independent travellers will either need to take a taxi to their Lanzarote hotels or hire a car.  Taxis are available directly outside the main arrivals hall.  Although it is well worth noting that there can be a considerable queue during busy periods – such as Thursdays.  When arrivals should allow up to twenty minutes wait.

On the upside, getting to most accommodation such as Lanzarote villas or apartments is usually pretty quick.  As the island is very small – measuring less than 60km from end to end.  So transfer times are speedy.  For example, Playa Blanca, which is the furthest resort from the airport can be reached in around 35 minutes.  Whilst the other two main resorts of Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen are both within a ten minute radius of Arecife airport.

There´s lots of things for tourists to do on Lanzarote.  As the island boasts over ninety great beaches.  Along with a surprisingly large amount of natural beauty spots – such as the Timanfaya Volcano Park and the Green Lagoon.  Along with historic towns such as Teguise – the oldest in the Canaries.  And some unique man made attractions – created by the island born artist Cesar Manrique.  So hire a car and take time to explore this enchanting island.

Pop along to the Lanzarote villas website for the very latest availability of Lanzarote holiday villas. You can also find a great selection of  Lanzarote holiday apartments there too.