Posts Tagged ‘Lanzarote’

Holiday Villas in Lanzarote a perfect Spanish Break

July 25th, 2011

Villa holidays have always been a popular option for families looking to be in control of their own holiday and where better than one of the many villas in Lanzarote? Private and often with their own heated pools and large patios; Lanzarote villa holidays are great for that family getaway or a bunch of friends looking for something different with a home from home experience.

With the year round mild weather in Lanzarote holiday accommodation is available throughout the whole year and with more hours of sunshine in the south of the island holiday villas in Playa Blanca have become very sought after. Playa Blanca is only a 25 minute drive from the airport and with the excellent road conditions there is no need to rely on airport transfers. There is easy access to shops, bars and restaurants on foot from most holiday villas in Lanzarote makes Playa Blanca ideal for a self-catering Lanzarote villa holiday.

There are private Lanzarote villas in the south of the island which has the mildest winter climate. Most have private swimming pools, some have jacuzzi s, hot tubs, satellite TV, internet connection, games rooms. The other main advantages of renting private holiday villas in Lanzarote are:

  • Privacy – A holiday villa in Lanzarote is completely private. There is no sharing the swimming pool or sunbathing terraces and no racing to get the best spot around the pool.
  • Space - An apartment can be very cramped as can a hotel room but this is not a problem in a holiday villa. There is all the extra space of living areas and outdoor space to relax in. Great for families with children.
  • No Timetable – In a self-catering holiday villa you set your own timetable.
  • Home luxuries – Lanzarote holiday villas come fitted with lots of luxuries that make a holiday feel like being at home. Most have tv’s, dvd players and satellite tv. More are now offering internet connection for their guests’ use and many have luxury items like jacuzzis and hot tubs.
  • Price - Contrary to what many believe renting a private holiday villa can actually work out cheaper than a hotel or apartment as the price is shared out between the whole party. Check to see if there are discounts for out of season bookings.

For a very relaxing holiday why not book one of the rural villas in Lanzarote. Dotted around the island are villas just as well equipped and luxurious as those in the main tourist resorts but situated in the smaller villages of ‘real’ Lanzarote. These make a perfect, quiet base for a relaxing break or a holiday that is a little bit different.

Ideal for families who enjoy the freedom and control over their own holiday, as well as for groups maybe celebrating a special occasion or just wanting a relaxing time in their own space, a villa holiday offers something for everyone.

So, with all the benefits of villa holidays it is no surprise that more and more people return year after year to luxury holiday villas in Lanzarote with their families and their friends for their winter breaks.

Lanzarote – A Hidden History

May 12th, 2011

Lanzarote is best known as a modern tourist destination as this small Canary Island is a big favorite with holidaymakers who come here to enjoy the sun from all across Europe. But many visitors don’t release that it also boasts a fascinating history too making it important for tourists staying in villas and hotels in Lanzarote to get out see the true side of Lanzarote. So there’s plenty of transport available and cheap Lanzarote car hire to discover the island’s many hidden delights.

With something in the region of 1.4 million foreign tourists visiting the island each year, many of them arriving from countries such as Germany and the UK on cheap flights to Lanzarote or even by boat.

There are in fact a total of seven islands in the Canaries and Lanzarote was the first to be subjected to an invasion by forces representing the Spanish crown in the early 1400’s. As a Norman noble called Jean de Bethencourt led an expedition to subdue the native Gaunche race, who are thought to have arrived on the island via North Africa centuries before.

And by the 16th century Lanzarote had started to assume great strategic importance to the growing Spanish empire thanks to its location between the New World and the Old.

Spanish ships sailed to the New World with slaves from Africa on board before dropping them off and returning to Spain via the Canaries with cargoes which often included looted gold and silver from the Incas. But at the same time this lucrative trade also caught the eye of pirates and privateers from across the globe with the island forced to repel successive invasions throughout the 1600 and 1700´s.

Consequently the Spanish authorities decided that they had to fortify the town to protect the local inhabitants from further attacks. Resulting in the construction of the Castillo de Santa Barbara, which was built on the top of Mount Guanapay. An exhausted volcano that overlooks what was then the capital of Lanzarote, Teguise. From here it is possible to view the islands’ coastlines with ease. Fittingly the Castillo is now home to the Pirate Museum, which charts this interesting period in the islands history.

Today it is simple and affordable to reach the island and discover its history for yourself, as there are affordable Lanzarote flights are available cheaply from most airports across the UK. Anyone visiting the island for the first time should also consider booking Lanzarote airport transfers in order to beat the taxi queues outside the terminal building. A during bus periods such as the school summer holidays these can be very lengthy indeed.

Lanzarote Hits A Record High

April 13th, 2011

Tourists have been arriving for winter and spring vacations to Lanzarote for quite some time now. The latest data put together by the Spanish Meteorological Agency have established that Lanzarote, along with the other Canary Islands, have experienced their hottest winter since 1961. For people who have already arranged a break though, the great spell of weather will undoubtedly give you something to look forward to.

The three months from December to February saw the average daytime temperature recorded as 19.4º C in coastal areas across all of the islands. Which constitutes an increase of at least 1ºC in comparison with previous winters between 1971-2000. With winter temperatures such as these its hardly surprising that Lanzarote is frequently labelled as a holiday hot-spot

This is not exactly news to many of the thousands of visitors who regularly come to the island in search of the sun. But the island doesn’t´t just enjoy good weather as it also has an great selection of tourist accommodation on offer.

Many visitors to the island now prefer to organize Lanzarote holiday villas as these offer a high standard of accommodation, with many home comforts. This is very much the case in the oldest resort of Puerto del Carmen, which has a well developed tourist infrastructure already in place. As the vast majority of Puerto del Carmen villas on the whole are based in the most exclusive areas of the town.

It also means that those staying in one of the villas tend to get the best impression overall of the resort. Elsewhere, the most southerly town of Playa Blanca is also home to an impressive collection of villas in Playa Blanca available which tend to range quite dramatically in size, price and style.

Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen both benefit from their own microclimates as well meaning that temperatures are appreciably higher here during the daytime than in more northerly parts of the island. They also boast some of the best beaches to be found on the whole island, which are perfect for sun starved visitors to soak up the rays.

Although as most villas in Lanzarote enjoy the luxury of a private pools and guests often hard to drag themselves away from their pool side. But if you do find all that sunbathing a little tedious Lanzarote offers up plenty of thing to see.

As small island´s go, Lanzarote has a higher than average number of tourist attractions, with several dedicated to documenting the history and culture of locals. But it is also an extremely popular location for sports enthusiasts, with any number of activities on offer to tourists, from surfing to golf. All of which means that even for those visitors who aren’t´t big on sunbathing, there is plenty to entertain and interest on a holiday to Lanzarote.

2011 Lanzarote Summer Breaks

April 11th, 2011

There´s no better time than spring to enjoy a holiday in Lanzarote as this popular holiday island is covered in wild flowers at that time of the year, There are plenty of reasons why Lanzarote should top the list for anyone planning a summer holiday abroad this year. As this popular destination, which is owned by Spain, boasts loads of things to do as well as excellent beaches and terrific weather. Whilst rainfall here is almost unheard of – something that cannot be said of summertime in the UK.

Lanzarote has been a popular holiday hot spot for decades and attracts lots of tourists from Northern European centuries such as the UK and Germany. With a wide range of Lanzarote Apartments and an amazing array of stunning attractions the island has something for everyone.

Lanzarote’s vista is visibly stunning and has been carved by massive volcanic eruptions, and many of the islands attractions revolve around the landscape. Fear not though – as the volcanoes are all now dormant so many visitors make a bee-line to the Timanfaya Park so they can witness first hand the aftermath of natures tremendous power.

Like many other holiday islands Lanzarote´s main appeal probably lies in its beaches. And there are some truly spectacular stretches of sand to discover here. Some of which are regarded as amongst the best in the Canaries if not Spain. Such as the coves and bays of Papagyo, part of a natural protected park in the south of the island close to the popular resort of Playa Blanca.

And they can be accessed via a coastal path which takes about 15 minutes to walk from the centre of the resort or they can visit by car – paying a small admission fee for the upkeep and maintenance of the facilities and amenities here.

Playa Blanca is in fact the newest resort on Lanzarote having been developed ruing the 1990´s. And today this is where independent tourists tend to head as there is such a large selection of villas in Lanzarote here available for rent. With prices starting from about €400 per week. Further along the south east coastline lies Puerto del Carmen – the biggest resort on the island. And also home to some of the most luxurious Lanzarote holiday villas Most of which are located in the central residential area of Los Mojones.

Whilst Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca tend to dominate the tourist market there is another resort which attracts tourists looking for a quieter holiday. This is a much quieter destination and as a result appeals more to young families and older couples. But whilst there isn’t much in the way of nightlife here this is more than compensated for by the presence of some lovely beaches, such as Playa Cucharas and Playa Bastian.

Lanzarote Property Investment – Puerto Del Carmen Property

April 3rd, 2011

Magical Lanzarote is regarded as a amazing vacation hotspot that is regarded as ideally located right off the africa’s northern coastline. If you were not aware it is the fourth largest of the islands in the Canaries and is regarded as simply for the most part recognised simply for its amazing volcanic landscape and amazing shores. Due to the amazing vistas and warm all year long weather conditions conditions, it is regarded as a travellers hot spot, which has resulted in a large number of investors deciding to buy Lanzarote properties throughout the years, sometimes simply for pension purposes or simply for business-related requirements.

It isn’t challenging to find Lanzarote property simply for sale; but the truth is regarded as, it rush right into an investment deal without investigating things first . Foresight and qualified assistance is regarded as generally suggested.

Playa Blanca Property For Sale:

There’s a lot of properties in Playa Blanca for sale. Playa Blanca translates as White Beach in English; and as the name indicates, this is regarded as really a amazing beach consisting of light colored sands and clear blue colored waters. Real-estate in this part of Lanzarote is regarded as a valuable investment. Playa Blanca comes with a more modern infrastructure than various other resorts in Lanzarote, and the area is regarded as more appealing to holiday-makers and those that have retired which results in many investors achieving a sizeable profit by acquiring an apartment or holiday villa and then letting it out to rent during the high season. On the other hand, because of the fact demand is regarded as substantial, Playa Blanca properties are generally higher priced than in some other Lanzarote resorts. Also, private villas and costly hotels are more prevalent in Playa Blanca than smaller studios and apartments.

Puerto del Carmen Properties:

Puerto del Carmen is regarded as yet another attractive tourist area in Lanzarote. Puerto del Carmens infastructure is regarded as contemporary and the resort is regarded as sprinkled with a variety of apartment buildings and small homes available for private rental or available for sale. Any investor that has a smaller budget could contemplate making an investment in a small apartment in this resort. Even a small property can bring in a rewarding profit during the peak season, as the large majority of travellers do not possess the money or the wish to rent a palatial apartment or large home in particular the more youthful crowd who prefer to keep hold of their cash so they can party,party,party. A small cozy apartment is regarded as also ideal simply for retirement perhaps. A amazing 1 or 2 bedroom property in Puerto del Carmen can easily be purchased ranging from 99 to 110 thousand Euros.

Costa Teguise Properties:

Costa Teguise is regarded as the most well-established resort area on the vacation hotspot. It is also well known for its buzzing party all night atmosphere, and it has a whole lot of other activities available for holidaymakers and long term visitors alike. Costa Teguise also has its own fair share off stunning and pictureque beaches not to mention wonderful weather conditions. There are private villas, holiday apartments, business property, dining establishments, bars and more for sale, lease or rent in the resort and surrounding area. Property in Costa Teguise is regarded as not as costly as real estate elsewhere on the island.

As A Final Summary:

Lanzarote property makes a an excellent investment for a wide range of practical reasons. There is actually something in Lanzarote for each and every one. Even a moderate speculator with a reasonably limited amount of cash could make a prudent investment in Lanzarote that may potentially make money for years to come. Those of you who may be considering retiring abroad will be hard pressed to decide on a more wonderful retirement destination. With outstanding beaches, warm climate, great infrastructure and relatively close proximity to the UK, Lanzarote is regarded as destined to be a preferred and well-chosen investment and retirement location for many years to come.

All In Good Taste Food And Holidays In Lanzarote

February 28th, 2011

For many tourists good food and drink is the most important part of their vacation. And anyone planning to spend their holidays in Lanzarote this year is in for a real treat. As this small island in the Canaries is home to some great restaurants and markets. All of which are easy to explore thanks to the fact that Car hire in Lanzarote is both affordable and simple to arrange.

Although Lanzarote is an island in the Atlantic Ocean fish takes second place to flesh here. And the most traditional dishes feature rabbit and goat, both of which are well adapted to Lanzarote´s hot, dry climate. Restaurants on the island also rely on excellent goats cheeses as an ingredient. And these are delicious when enjoyed with a glass of the local wine. El Grifo is one of the best known bodegas on the island and has been producing fine wines since the 18th century.

Holidaymakers will find that most hotels in Lanzarote put on a special banquet of local produce at least once a week. Usually in the form of a special Canary Night gala. Which features these dishes along with other local favourites such as prawns in garlic. And they will also find that these can be washed down with Canarian lagers such as Tropical and Dorada, which are brewerd on Gran Canaria and Tenerife respectively. Honey rum is also popular as an after dinner drink and is usually served with coffee.

Many tourist staying in Lanzarote holiday villas and apartments choose to buy good ingredients at one of the island´s many markets and try these dishes out for themselves.

There are literally thousands of restaurants on Lanzarote and the best of these can be found in the countryside. Such as gastronomic gems like Ikarus, located in the one time capital of Teguise, and Lagomar, just a ten minute drive away in Oasis de Nazaret. Lagomar used to belong to the film star Omar Sharif before it was converted into one of the finest restaurants on the island. The actor is reputed to have staked this fantastic property in a hig stakes game of bridge – and lost!

Getting to the island has never been easier as there are now flights to Lanzarote available, so discovering the flavours of this unique island located close to the coast of West Africa is much more affordable than it used to be. The journey takes around four hours and flights are available from most British airports.

Lanzarote Holiday Villas – Playa Blanca

February 14th, 2011

Tucked away in a group of islands known as the Canaries lies a little pearl called Lanzarote which has been an extremely popular destination for anyone who wish to get away from the UK. And there are plenty of reason why, considering that the daytime temperatures in the early part of the year is often hotter than some of the rest of Europe’s spring and summer temperatures.

Ideally located just a four hour flight duration by scheduled air lines from the UK, this ever popular romantic holiday island is located seventy nine miles off west African coastline and measures a relatively small 307 square miles, but don’t be put off by its size. Lanzarote provides you with fantastic night life, awesome panoramas, friendly resorts and quiet beaches – you’ll struggle not to find some thing for just about everyone on this lovely intriguing island.

The coastline of The island is indescribable in reality consisting of spectacular cliffs in addition to impressive beaches. A good number of the best beaches are only accessible by 4×4′s or merely by boat, but the peace and quiet you will enjoy makes the traveling all the more worthwhile. The magnificent cliff line and rocky outcrops are generally best seen by boat on any of the many organised sight-seeing expeditions. As a contrast further inland you are able to discover the unusual volcanic area which make this unforgettable landscape a unequivocally unmatched experience.

Eating out on the island should certainly be a pleasurable experience as the dishes of Lanzarote combine simultaneously the more traditional recipes of Spain, with diverse African spices. Traditional rustic cuisine can be enjoyed in many of the villages and towns, whilst on the other hand there are many exceptional seafood bistros are commonplace in nearly all of the resorts and villages along the coast. Whilst your here it’s also worth tasting the traditional goats cheese as well as a few mouthfuls Lanzarotean Sangria, it’s reportedly substantially more potent than the Spanish alternative.

Choosing a reasonable location to stay needn’t cause a dilemma as there’s certainly a massive variety of visitors accommodation available on Lanzarote varying from more modern purpose built areas on the coast to beautiful bed and breakfasts further inland. Whether you’re shopping for a secluded weekend escape or a month long stay here, you will find beautiful Lanzarote holiday villas out there for almost any time-span and several of the rural villa rentals are also in fantastic locations.

Quite a lot of the islands holidaymaker’s and visitors tend to stay in the island resort of Playa Blanca because this is a desirable family friendly resort on the southern part of the island, where there is a very good selection of Playa Blanca holiday villas on offer to meet all budgets. The climate here is excellent and Playa Blanca boasts the best micro-climate to be found on the island, and it also benefits from stunning vistas across the Bocaina Straits to the island of Fuerteventura (home of plenty of photo-shoots), and the small islet of Los Lobos.

Playa Blanca serves as a friendly, tranquil location which is not so focused on night life as quite a few of the much more active resorts of the island, actually the focus here on the whole is keeping the charm and tranquillity of its working history. With 3 beautiful beaches offering fantastic water-sports, relaxing cafes and honey coloured sand, this resort has everything you need for both fun and relaxation.

From the awe inspiring natural scenery to the world class beaches, this really is a vacation destination which will leave you wanting a whole lot more. The remarkable charisma of this welcoming island is likely to stay with you just about forever.

Enjoy Sailing Holidays In Lanzarote

February 5th, 2011

Considering to learn to sail in Europe? You’ll find lots of alluring locations to choose from, and in particular in and around the Med. But even in the Med the weather struggles to compete with the conditions in the Canaries, the chain that is owned by Spain but situated close to the West African country of Morocco. The sun shines even throughout the winter months here, and temperatures climb up into the 20´s Celsius making the islands here such as Lanzarote a superb spot for applying for one of the Sailing Courses.

RYA courses are respected around the world as the markets defining standard, and a qualification from the Royal Yachting Association bestows a heap of status. Furthermore they are also particularly egalitarian because anyone can join. And there are at this point a whole bunch of sailing schools globally who have been accredited by the RYA ensuring it’s possible to fly off to learn to sail a whole lot more engaging than the dull and busy Solent coastline..

The Canary Island of Lanzarote is an ideal area for anyone planning to take an RYA course, given that the waters off the southerly part of the island are for the most part very tranquil. And Lanzarote is widely recognised as a holiday resort offering extremely high standards of private holiday villas,apartments and hotels too alongside a host of very good eating places and a diverse variety of activities to do when not at sea.

There are also two outstanding modern-day sports marinas on the island, at Puerto Calero, close to Puerto del Carmen alongside Marina Rubicon in the southern resort of Playa Blanca. Puerto Calero is known locally as the Millionaire’s Marina and was the first to open back in the 1990´s, and boasts berths for around 400 luxury craft. The Marina Rubicon opened more recently in 2003 and is home to a wide selection of shops and restaurants as well as yachts from around the world. Both marinas are located on the south eastern coastline of Lanzarote – the ideal training ground for anyone taking RYA courses.

Fortunately it is also very cheap and easy to get to Lanzarote too these days. The four hour flight is now offered by a wide variety of budget airlines such as easyJet and as a result prices have tumbled considerably over the last few years. Expect to pay upwards of €100 return, with services available from most of the main airports across the UK.

It does not matter if you’re a time served sailor keen to develop your existing skills and crack out additional nautical mileage, or if you happen to be a absolute beginner who may have only just realised they have caught the sailing bug. Getting out on the water in Lanzarote is a fantastic experience and you will find yourself warmly welcomed.

Things To Do In Lanzarote

December 19th, 2010

Lanzarote is a fascinating holiday destination with plenty to offer.As well as great beaches and wonderful weather this small Spanish outpost in the Canaries also offers visitors a wide array of things to do and see including an abundance of guided tours and excursions.

Lanzarote was first discovered by the Italian adventurer Lancelloto Malocello and visitors today will find that there is plenty to explore, after all if you have not seen it before it will be new to you too.

Don’t just stick to the usual suspects though as getting to know a few local will open up quite a few hidden treasures that the average tourist will never even find out about. Many tourists these days book their own accommodation for example Lanzarote villas and there are plenty to choose from. If you plan on getting out and about villas in Costa Teguise offer the best option for anyone planning to take in some of the sights as this resort lies no more than twenty minutes away from most of the main sights, such as the Cactus Garden and the Mirador del Rio.

Like most of the attractions on Lanzarote these were both designed and developed by Cesar Manrique, the well known artist who was born in the island capital of Arrecife in 1919. Manrique was instrumental in campaigning against the over development of Lanzarote when tourism first started to take off back in the 1970´s as he was particularly concerned that Lanzarote´s unique volcanic landscapes and traditional forms of architecture should be preserved intact. Thanks to Manrique visitors to the island today will find that there are no blots on the landscape marring the views thereby giving Lanzarote a very unspoiled feel in contrast to larger Canary Islands like Tenerife.

The island is also home to a large number of museums – such as MIAC, the Museum of International and Contemporary Art which is located in Arrecife within the walls of the Castillo de San Jose.

This was built in the 1700´s to protect the island from frequent pirate raids. The walls of the Castillo provide the backdrop for a selection of modern paintings by the crème of the Canarian art world including canvasses by Lasso and Millares as well as Manrique, and in the basement of the building Manrique also designed a stylish restaurant and bar area which serves traditional Canarian food with a modern twist.

Many tourists choose to take advantage of the cheap rental rates and petrol on Lanzarote by hiring their own car to explore and get around, whilst others prefer to take in the sights by booking a guided tour or excursion with one of the many operators offering these on the island.  These tours usually take in natural wonders such as Lanzarote´s volcanic region too.

Spanish Island Holidays – Try The Canaries

November 28th, 2010

There are many island groups around the world but for year round sunshine and flight costs that won’t break the bank, one of the most popular group in Europe has to be the Canary Islands. There are seven in total and each one offers something different so lets take a sneak peak at a few of them.

Tenerife is the largest island in the chain and also Spain’s most populated island overall, so if you like the heady buzz and busier holiday style then this is definitely one island for your shortlist. The island offers plenty do with its own golf resort if you simply can’t tear yourself away from the greens even when on holiday.

Next on out whistle stop tour is the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria and whilst it may be smaller than it larger contemporary, it can boast the canaries largest city which is Las Palmas home to spectacular carnivals and street parties (known as verbenas del mogollon) in the first two months of the year. Also if you are planning on plenty of nightlife check out Playa del Ingles where it’s party party, party time with a plethora of bars and nightclubs to keep you going all night long.

All of the islands to a degree (excuse the pun) share the same sub tropical climate that epitomises the west African coast. Not surprising really as it is in geographical terms only a stones throw away, but Lanzarote scores best here with year round average temperatures of circa 20º which is not to be sniffed at by any stretch of the imagination. And most of the time in the summer months you’ll find it’s usually much hotter than this. Little wonder then visitors flock back for second and even third holidays here.

Lanzarote has some well established and very pleasantly design resorts some of which started out as quaint fishing villages, which is great if you love seafood. Accommodation choice on the island is excellent as well, villas in Lanzarote though are often the best choice.

Costa Teguise has always been an attractive holiday hot spot and boasts wide avenues which give it a spacious open plan feel. The resort is also home to some great beaches as well not surprisingly, such as the main stretch of sand at Playa Cuchara. Ideal for the Sun sea and sand holiday.

Don’t stick to the main resorts though during your stay as the island has plenty to offer those that are prepared to sacrifice a few days of sun to discover the cultural and feel of the real Lanzarote, otherwise you’ll never know what you’ve missed!

If you want to find out more about the island and villas in Lanzarote availability visit Lanzarote1.com an excellent resource for Lanzarote information.

Pet Friendly Hotels Las Vegas