Holiday Hotels and Villas » Canary Islands

Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:56:38 +0000

Puerto del Carmen is the jewel in the crown of Lanzarote´s tourist industry. Boasting wonderful beaches, excellent nightlife and high standards of accommodation. All of which have just been further enhanced by a massive cash injection of over €16 million from the local tourist board. Who are keen to keep the resort in tip top condition in order to beat off competition fro newer destinations around Europe and the Near East – such as Turkey, Egypt and Dubai.

Tourism in Puerto del Carmen certainly predates all of these newcomers – and this is in fact that place where package holidays first started being taken on Lanzarote during the late 1960´s and early 1970´s. At that time Lanzarote was considered a novel, even fashionable, destination. With VIP visitors such as Peter Sellers and Omar Sharif enjoying holidays here. Despite the fact that at this time there were no roads on Lanzarote and just one hotel – the Los Fariones, which remains open to this day.

As the cost of air travel and holidays abroad fell during the 1980´s Lanzarote and Puerto del Carmen become synonymous with package tourism. And during this period the resort really exploded from its original base in the Old Town Harbour area. Extending all the way along the beachfront in the direction of the airport at Arrecife. Creating two distinct areas – the Old Town and the New Town.

The Old Town remains the more atmospheric of the two, with the harbour at its heart. But the New Town is where most visitors will find themselves staying as this is where the majority of apartments and villas in Puerto del Carmen are located. Offering keenly priced accommodation that starts from as little as €180 per week for a basic studio on a centrally located complex.

The New Town also boasts the best beaches – most notably in the form of Playa Grande. Which is very aptly named as this is a sizeable stretch of sand that becomes packed with tourists during peak holiday seasons such as Christmas, Easter and the school summer holidays.

Puerto del Carmen makes an excellent base for tourists who want to visit the key sights on the island. As it is just a fifteen minute drive from the majestic volcanoes of the Timanfaya National Park and the many creations of the famous local artist Cesar Manrique. Holidaymakers can even visit the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura by signing up for a boat trip – all of which depart from the Old Town harbour area.

Holidays to Playa Blanca

Sun, 09 May 2010 22:47:34 +0000

There are three main holiday resorts on the Canary Island of Lanzarote and Playa Blanca, located at the southern tip is the fastest growing. Thanks to the fact that it offers tourists a wonderful selection of beaches and the best microclimate on the island.

Lanzarote has been welcoming tourists for well over forty years but the second most popular resort on the island, Playa Blanca, remains relatively new. Having only been developed during the 1990´s long after its resort rivals to the north. In many ways it is surprising it took so long for this former fishing village to have been transformed into the modern resort of today. As it boasts two main advantages over Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise in the form of fantastic beaches and excellent weather. Factors that attracted the attentions of developers eventually.
Today Playa Blanca has become a bustling and popular holiday destination. And is essentially divided into three small bays – each with an excellent beach at is heart. Whilst the all natural sands of Papagayo – widely regarded as the best on the island – is a short stroll away from the resort centre.

There are plenty of accommodation options available for tourists visiting the resort. With an abundance of privately owned villas in Playa Blanca available for rent. Often at prices much cheaper than elsewhere on the island. Whilst those who prefer to leave the cooking to someone else when they are on holiday will find that there´s also a big range of hotels in Playa Blanca to choose from too. With four star establishments lining the shoreline and the five star luxury of the Gran Melia Volcan located in the Rubicon Marina.

The resort is united by a promenade that ruins from Papagayo in the west through to the Faro de Pechugera lighthouse in the east. Enabling visitors to enjoy a stroll from one end of Playa Blanca to the other. This promenade is also home to many of the resort’s best restaurants – such as El Almacen del Sal. Which is located in a former salt warehouse right on the seafront.

Tourists looking to do more than just relax at the beach or by the pool will find that there’s plenty to do in Playa Blanca. As there are a number of good markets staged here throughout the week whilst there are also plenty of decent shops in the main Calle de Limones. The resort is also ideally situated for sightseeing – as Lanzarote´s number one tourist attraction of the Timanfaya National Park is located right on the doorstep.

Cheap Flights To Lanzarote

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:23:46 +0000

The cost of flying from the UK to the popular holiday island of Lanzarote has tumbled considerably over the last twelve months. Thanks to the decision taken last year by the Spanish government to waive airport taxes and charges – a move designed to help revive Spain´s flagging tourist industry and which has attracted the leading British budget airlines to the Lanzarote route.

Little more than a year ago the price of return flights to Lanzarote came in at around the £200 return mark outside peak periods and over £300 during the key holiday seasons such as Christmas, Easter and the school summer holidays. But all that has changed over the last twelve months. As now the leading low cost airlines easyJet and Ryanair are competing on this route. Along with more established players such as Thomas Cook and Monarch.
Ryanair started operating cheap flights to Lanzarote in late October 2009 – in direct response to the decision by the Spanish government and the national airport operator AENA to suspend airport taxes and charges. In order to take full advantage of these generous trading conditions Ryanair quickly established no less than 16 new services to the island from airports across the UK – and the by the end of November had established themselves as the leading volume carrier to Lanzarote. Accounting for well over 44,000 passengers that month alone.

Lanzarote is an ideal destination for anyone seeking a good value break – whatever the time of year. As the island boasts a semi tropical climate which means tourists can enjoy days on the beach even during December. The island also offers loads to do and see – such as the incredibly surreal sight of the volcanoes at the Timanfaya National Park and the many creations of the local artist César Manrique.

There are plenty of accommodation options too – ranging from luxury Lanzarote villas and hotels through to budget apartment accommodation. Making it possible to construct a cheap holiday direct online with ease.
All flights from the UK take approximately four hours and land at the island´s sole international airport, Arrecife. Which is located right in the centre of Lanzarote – around 4km outside the capital city of the same name. Arrivals should note that there is no shuttle bus service connecting the airport to the main resorts – so it is best to book Lanzarote car hire in advance and collect your vehicle at the airport. Or face a lengthy queue for taxis outside the main terminal building.

Hotels in Lanzarote

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:59:01 +0000

There are over 200 hotels in Lanzarote for visitors to choose from. Making this idyllic semi tropical island an ideal choice for anyone seeking a sunshine break at any time of the year.

Lanzarote is one of the seven Canary Islands – which are located just off the Atlantic coast of Africa. These seven specks of Spain are situated on the same line of longitude as parts of Mexico and the Bahamas and as a result boast great weather all year round. With the mercury touching the mid 20´s even during December and January.

Holidays here first took off in the early 1970´s as the package industry boomed and General Franco opened Spain up to foreign visitors. And today Lanzarote is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain – welcoming around 1.5 million foreign tourists very year, along with hundreds of thousands of visitors from the Spanish mainland.

There are six 5-star hotels on the island – the best known of which is the Sol Melia Group’s flagship, the Gran Melia Salinas. Which is located in Costa Teguise in the north of the island and which was developed under the aegis of a local artist called César Manrique. Who designed the hotel’s main showpiece of a plant packed central atrium garden and whose canvases still adorn the walls of the main public spaces.

The bulk of the best value four star hotels are located in the southern resort of Playa Blanca – at the other end of the island from Costa Teguise. Which has emerged from its former incarnation as a quaint little fishing village to become the fastest growing holiday destination on the island.

There´s a selection of seafront hotels in Playa Blanca hugging the coastline, all with great views across to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura and down to the Atlantic. Whilst the resort also boasts a high quality five star hotel in the form of the Gran Melia Volcan – which is located close to the new Rubicon Marina development.

Despite the fact that it is the largest resort on the island there are surprisingly few hotels in Puerto del Carmen for visitors to select from. With choice restricted to two four star establishments – the Los Fariones and the San Antonio. Both of which boast a beautiful beach front location.

Puerto del Carmen is the epicentre of tourism on the island and the oldest resort on Lanzarote. With fantastic beaches and excellent nightlife. Making it an ideal choice for anyone seeking a slightly more lively stay.

Lanzarote Villas

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:06:59 +0000

Lanzarote is an ideal destination for a villa holiday. As this small Canary Island boasts an abundance of good quality rental properties at prices that are far more affordable than comparable destinations such as the Balearics. Whilst also offering great weather all year round – with temperatures touching the mid 20´s even in December and January.

Lanzarote is a Spanish owned island but it is located much closer to Africa than the Iberian Peninsula. Around 80 miles off the coast of what used to be the Spanish Sahara on the West Coast of that continent.

The island is a very popular holiday destination with British holidaymakers – who account for well over 50% of the island’s annual arrivals. And thanks to the growth in internet usage over recent years in the UK many now eschew the services of travel agents and tour operators to book their own accommodation on the island direct online.

As a result demand for Lanzarote villas and apartments has grown – and there are now thousands of self catering properties available across the island.

The largest selection can be found in the southern most resort of Playa Blanca – formerly a quaint little fishing village before exploding into life some twenty years ago. And now the second largest resort on Lanzarote. Boasting some excellent beaches such as Playa Flamingo and Playa Dorada as well as a very favourable microclimate. Which usually ensures that visitors here enjoy the best weather the island has to offer – especially during the winter months.

Thanks to the fact that there is such as large pool of villas in Playa Blanca available for rent prices here are very reasonable. Especially by comparison with islands such as Mallorca and Ibiza. With a standard two bedroom property with private swimming pool available from as little £350 per week.

After Playa Blanca Puerto del Carmen is the second most popular spot for a villa break on Lanzarote. This is in fact the islands oldest resort, offering some spectacular rentals in areas such as Risco Prieto and Los Mojones. Which are both located in close proximity to the atmospheric Old Town harbour area.

Puerto del Carmen is the spot where tourism first really took off on Lanzarote some forty years ago. And the resort is now undergoing a facelift – as local authorities sink some €16 million into developing and improving the infrastructure here. In order to ensure that Puerto del Carmen remains competitive well into the 21st century.

Cheap Holidays Lanzarote

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:29:46 +0000

Lanzarote is the fourth largest of the Spanish owned Canary Islands, and there are lots of cheap holidays in Lanzarote. An archipelago of seven semi-tropical islands located just off the south west coast of Morocco. On a similar line of latitude to parts of the Bahamas and Florida.

The Canaries enjoy a clement climate all year round – making them an ideal holiday destination even in the depths of winter. When the mercury still hits the low 20´s Celsius.

Cheap Holidays Lanzarote – Getting There on a Budget
Lanzarote is a four hour flight from the UK and is serviced by all of the leading budget airlines, such as easyJet and Ryanair. With flights to the island available from as little as £49.99 one way – depending of course on the specific route and time of year, you can be sure to find a cheap holiday in Lanzarote.

Getting Around
The best way to explore the island is on four wheels – as whilst there is a local bus service it doesn’t run to most of the main tourist attractions. Lanzarote car hire is inexpensive – with rental rates starting from as little as €13 per day.

Accommodation
There´s a wide range of accommodation available on Lanzarote. Covering all of the bases from budget studio apartments for cheap holidays to Lanzarote, through to five star hotels.

Self catering holidays have grown in popularity in tandem with the growth of internet usage. As a result many holidaymakers now prefer to book their own Lanzarote villas and apartments direct on line. With prices starting from £170 per week for a one room apartment on a holiday complex in one of the main resorts.

James Mitchell

Sightseeing
There’s a real wealth of things to do and see on Lanzarote. The star attraction is undoubtedly the Timanfaya National Park. Which was created by massive eruptions around 350 years ago and which is home to a sea of exhausted volcanoes and lava fields. A surreal sight which resembles an almost lunar like landscape. Many of these sites of free which is great if you are on a cheap holiday to Lanzarote to save your money.

Beach lovers will adore Lanzarote as the island boasts nearly 100 beaches. Unlike the other Canary Islands where black sand predominates the vast majority of Lanzarote´s beaches are made up of golden grains. Head for Famara on the North West coast and Papagayo in the South to enjoy the most picturesque stretches of sand on the island.

James Mitchell

Lanzarote is also home to an assortment of natural wonders such as the Valley of 1000 Palms. A huge oasis in the north of the island created by locals. Who have for centuries followed the tradition of planting a palm tree for every new born baby in the village of Haria – which nestles on the valley floor. If you are looking for cheap holidays Lanzarote has everything you could wish for.