Why The Difference?

To most tourists the differences will never be known as most tend to visit the south of the island which is home to the three main holiday resorts and the bulk of the tourist accommodation.  And this is where visitors who have booked breaks  in Lanzarote villas and apartments will find themselves staying.  But the north remains the preserve of the locals – with agriculture and farming very much to the fore and with life is conducted at a slower pace. Finding accommodation here should not be a problem as their are plenty of Finding accommodation here should not be a problem as their are plenty of Lanzarote holiday villas so most needs and requirements are going to be well met.

From the main resort of Puerto del Carmen visitors need to drive along the LZ1, past the airport and towards the ring road, the turn off for which can be easily missed.  The ring road takes traffic past the capital of Arrecife and just after this is the junction for Tahiche, which is en route to the north of the island.  And which is also well worth stopping off at as here tourists can take a tour of the former home and studio of the famous local artist César Manrique.  Which has been constructed over five empty chambers in the lava flow. After Tahiche tourists have a choice of two routes. They can head for the former capital of Teguise, which is home to some superb examples of colonial architecture such as the Palacio Spinola.  Or instead follow the coastal road in the direction of Arrieta.  Which is the main beach resort in the north of the island and very popular with locals.  Arrieta is also an ideal spot for a lunch break as there are some great fish restaurants here. The north is also home to the majority of the islands leading tourist attractions, most of which were also created by the ubiquitous Manrique.  Such as the lookout point at the Mirador del Rio, the plant packed Cactus Garden and the breathtaking Jameos del Agua.  The north is also much greener than the south especially in and around villages such as Haria and the Valley of 1000 Palms.

The terrain in the south of the island is much drier and volcanic in origin thanks to eruptions which shook this region as recently as the 1730´´s.  The scenery is still beautiful here but much more unconventionally so.  Dominated by loads of dormant volcanoes and mile after mile of lava fields.

Lanzartote places of interest is available here.

Just like on Tenerife and Gran Canaria there is a profound north south divide on Lanzarote when it comes to the climate and subsequent tourist development.  With the south boasting better weather as a result of the profound microclimate here.  Whilst the north is less developed and preferred by the locals as a result.

The last decade has seen more independent travellers visiting the island alongside package holidaymakers.  Thanks to the fact that flights and accommodation can now easily be booked direct online, creating a demand for rental properties – such as Lanzarote holiday villas and apartments.  Which are now booked by visitors from countries such as the UK and Eire in preference to hotels and all inclusive holidays.  Especially in the islands largest resort – where many holiday villas in Puerto del Carmen are often booked up throughout the year.Accommodation details on Puerto del Carmen villas is available here

Away from the main holiday resorts though there lies an island full of surprises and attractions.  Many of which lie well off the beaten track.  So visitors are well advised to hire a car and explore.  Especially in the north which is still widely regarded as the true heart of the island.

Lanzarote tourist info

Head for the pretty village of Haria to start connecting with the real Lanzarote.  This pueblo has been described by the eminent Canarian author Alberto Vazquez as the prettiest village on the island if not the world.  Which is probably a bit of an exaggeration – but not that wide of the truth.  As Haria is a real green oasis on an island that is otherwise largely devoid of flora and fauna.  Thanks to very low rainfall and a dry and arid climate. In Haria villagers started to plant palm trees for every new born baby centuries ago.  And today their valley is aptly known as the Valley of 1000 Palms, with countless Canarian palms creating a striking sight.

Haria is just a ten minute drive from the seaside village of Arrieta and it´s delightful beach, Playa La Garita.  Which is the last undeveloped stretch of sand on Lanzarote´s south eastern coastline.  Head here for a great lunch in one of the restaurants located right on the beach.

Enjoy the coast

Of course the clue is in the name and one of the best things you can do during your time there is to enjoy the beach. You really do need at least a couple of days on these fantastic beaches, make sure you spend some time in the water too!. To make sure that you are getting the most of the day get there in the morning and spend the day there. White coast is what Costa Blanca stands for and this is why you need to go there.

Wildlife

There are so many things to do when it comes to wildlife in the area that is Costa Blanca and this is what you should head off to do next. If you like your undersea animals then the place you should look into going to should be the Mundomar theme park because you get to see dolphins and things like this. If you are into your Safari animals then perhaps you could go to Aitana because you will see animals such as tigers and elephants. Of course if you are up for something a little bit more daring then you can go on a driving safari because you will spot wolves and lions roaming free.

There are so many other things to do including markets and expeditions which of course is great and you should think about staying in a Villa in Moraira. If this is not something for you then look no further than Torquay hotels and self catering Torquay as these will satisfy your needs in the United Kingdom.

Lanzarote is located in the Canaries – an autonomous region of Spain comprised of seven main islands, the best known of which are Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Both of which became saddled with a slightly downmarket image during the 1980´s as package holidays really took off there.  But today there are little signs of the Club 18-30 crowd and plenty of more upmarket options for anyone seeking a good quality holiday in the sun.

On Lanzarote for example there are now six good quality 5 star hotels for visitors to choose from. With the Sol Melia group boasting two of these establishments.  One, the Gran Melia Volcan is located in Playa Blanca in the south of the island – right next to the Rubicon Marina.  Whilst the other, the chains flagship on the island, the Gran Melia Salinas is situated in Costa Teguise.  And is still widely regarded as one of the best hotels in Lanzarote.

Arguably the best known hotel on the island though is the Arrecife Gran.  As this occupies a building which was a notorious landmark on Lanzarote during the 1990´s.  As it was originally built by flouting local planning laws – which prohibited high rise constructions taller than a Canarian palm tree.  So for many years this building lay burnt out and derelict right on the seafront.  Eventually though the island government took the pragmatic approach and granted permission for creation of a luxury hotel.  Which spans 17 floors and is the tallest edifice on the island.

Visitors seeking four star hotel accommodation will find a wide array of choice in Playa Blanca.  As here four-star establishments line the shoreline.  Giving guests direct access to the delightful seafront promenade that unites the three main beaches and bays of this fast growing resort.  During the winter months hotels in Playa Blanca such as the Hesperia Playa Dorada are especially popular as the weather here is better at that time of the year than elsewhere on the island.

Anyone looking for better value hotel accommodation in the four star bracket should concentrate their search on Playa Blanca in the south of the island.  As the islands fastest growing resort is home to a great selection as well as some of the best holiday villas in Lanzarote.  Often at prices much cheaper than on comparable holiday islands.  Whilst anyone seeking really good value accommodation should book apartments in Lanzarote.  As these offer breaks in the sun from as little as €180 per week.

You can find details of Lanzarote luxury hotels and additional Lanzarote holiday accommodation on the Lanzarote guide book website.

The key phrases are ‘comida a domicilio‘ and ‘comidas para llevar‘. There is even a ‘takeaway finder‘ that you just have to type the city where you live and that will list all the available options with a lot of useful information such as ‘type of food’, whether it is open, whether there is a delivery service etc. but what is really useful is finding out about the opening times and how to get there. A great capability is that you can choose that cuisine you prefer e.g. Chinese and within a few seconds you can choose your favourite Chinese plate.

What you hate the most though, is that your girlfriend/boyfriend love Chinese food and you want to make surprise them but how?. You are definitely not in the mood ending up in the main square where all those bloody tourists go. It’s not true that all nice things in life take time, especially if you have a bit of time to look at what other people suggest. Living in a new city is great feeling but finding the right places for lunch or dinner, especially if you don’t know anyone around, can be a a bit of mission impossible. Let the tourists be, you are not a turist anymore.!

Each resort has its own history, character, attractions and plus points. With all of them offering high standards of accommodation and boasting an excellent selection of Lanzarote villas and hotels.

So where can you find some of the best holiday resorts renowned for a wide selection of self catering Lanzarote apartments and villas.

Puerto del Carmen

Puerto del Carmen started life as La Tiñosa before becoming Lanzarote´s most popular holiday destination during the 1970´s.  Thanks to an abundance of good value holiday apartment complexes…  Accommodation choices have evolved along with the resort and visitors can now select from a wide range of hotels and holiday villas too.

Puerto del Carmen is an ideal location for all types of holiday makers.  As the resort is perfect for families with young children. Thanks to the fine quality of the resort’s blue flag beaches.  Whilst also offering lots of child friendly attractions such as the Rancho Texas Theme Park – which offers kids an abundance of Wild West themed fun and games.

Villas In Costa Teguise

Situated just fifteen minutes north of Lanzarote´s international airport at Arrecife Costa Teguise was initially designed as the island’s upmarket resort.  And during the 1980´s it proved very successful at attracting moneyed visitors from countries such as Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

Costa Teguise´s excellent beaches and wide open plan feel helped to establish this as the second most popular spot on the island during the 1980´s.  But that crown slipped somewhat during the 1990´s as the resort rival of Playa Blanca was developed at the southern end of the island.  However it still remains an attractive destination and there’s plenty of hotels and holiday villas in Costa Teguise for visitors to choose from.

Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca was the last of the main resorts on the island to be developed during the 1990´s.  And has quickly emerged to become the second most popular destination on the island – thanks to a winning combination of great beaches and fantastic weather.  As well as a fine range of hotels and holiday villas.

There are three main beaches within the resort itself in the form of Playa Dorada, Playa Flamingo and Playa Blanca.  Whilst the famously picturesque coves and bays of Papagayo are around a fifteen minute walk away from the town centre.

Visit here for the best accommodation in Lanzarote help.

So lets find out why family holidays in Lanzarote remain so popular and choosing one of the villas in Lanzarote that the island has to offer is fast becoming the popular holiday accommodation  choice amongst travellers.

Lanzarote is very different from the other islands in the Canaries.  As they are all greener and more lush, whilst Lanzarote is dry and barren.  Which can be attributed to the fact that Lanzarote experiences very little in the way of rainfall and has a very arid terrain created by volcanic eruptions over 250 years ago.

Today this region of the island occupies about a quarter of Lanzarote´s total land mass.  And is a hugely popular visitor attraction, known locally as The Fire Mountains or Timanfaya.  Where visitors can view a lunar like landscape that has served as a backdrop for a number of science fiction films and most recently the latest release from Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, Broken Embraces.  Which stars Penelope Cruz and which was shot on location around the island.

There are plenty of places to stay on the island.  With visitors able to choose from a large selection of Lanzarote villas, hotels and apartments.  The bulk of which are located in the main resorts of Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise.  Whilst rural tourism has also started to grow in popularity over the last few years.

There are over ninety beaches for visitors to explore.  Many of these are man made in the resorts – using sand imported from the Sahara.  So tourists should head for coastal villages such as Famara and Arrieta to experience the best all natural stretches of sand on the island.

Many first time visitors are surprised by the wide range of cultural attractions on offer too.  After all isn’t this supposed to be Lanzagrotty?  There’s an abundance of fascinating museums, such as the Emigration Museum which charts what happened to islanders after the volcanic eruptions as they fled to create new lives abroad.  A wealth of historic towns such as Teguise – the island capital until 1852.  And the various works of the local artist Cesar Manrique – who had a huge influence on the development of tourism on Lanzarote.

For holiday bargains and villa offers go to our holidays and apartments travel website.

As a result the Canaries welcome visitors throughout the year and after Catalonia are the second most popular holiday destination in Spain.  Arrivals have fallen by around 20% during 2009 thanks to the current economic crisis.  But millions of tourists will still be booking holidays in the region this autumn, despite the downturn.

The Canaries are just four hours flying time from the UK.  Making these islands the closest winter destination to sun starved Northern Europe.  And this year the cost of flights to Lanzarote are set to fall – thanks to growing competition on this route between the big guns of the low cost flight world, easyJet and Ryanair.  The latter has firmly switched their focus to the Canaries this winter and will be operating 16 new services to Lanzarote from airports across the UK. 

So what can visitors expect from their winter holidays on these volcanic islands?  On Lanzarote the temperature usually remains in the early 20´s Celsius – even during the darkest days of December.  With very little rainfall and plenty of sunshine hours.  The sun doesn’t set here until 6pm at the earliest either.  Making it a great destination for those who hate the dark winter afternoons of the UK. 

Accommodation standards are high – as the island has been welcoming tourists for over forty years.  Choose from chic rural hotels, budget apartments and luxury villas in Lanzarote.  With the bulk of holidays now booked direct on online thanks to the growth in internet usage over the last five years.

Naturally as in any service business the increase in demand for Lanzarote apartments and villas is good news for long and short stay visitors to Lanzarote as property owners are being driven to ensure accommodation is well furnished, and all mod cons and traditional extras are now included gratis

Playa Blanca is the resort to head for if you’re planning a winter break on the island.  As thanks to it’s southerly location it enjoys the best weather and most sunshine hours.  As well as boasting some of the best beaches on the island.  There’s a decent selection of villas in Playa Blanca for holidaymakers to choose from too.  With high quality rental properties available in areas such as Rubicon Marina and Costa Papagayo.  And with prices starting from around £400 per week for a standard two bedroom villa with pool.

The island is a great all year holiday destination with many outstanding resorts. Follow the links for even more information about Playa Blanca villas in particular or other Lanzarote villas and apartments.

Spelunking at the Caves of Nerja

The approximately five-million year-old cave complex of Nerja is a must-see attraction for tourists on holidays in Nerja since it offers natural wonders such as the largest calcite column in the world and various remarkable stalactite and stalagmite formations. It also has a show gallery with exhibits of the skeletal remains that were unearthed inside the caves, although most of them are displayed at the museum outside, as well as prehistoric wall paintings, many of which can be seen by joining special tours. There is also a concert hall, where a summer music festival and various concerts and ballet performances are held each year.

Watersports at Burriana Beach

It goes without saying that one of the things to do in Nerja is to relax or have a splash at its idyllic beaches. In fact, many tourists rent apartments in Nerja just for this purpose. The most popular beach is Burriana Beach, which is also the largest in town, as well as the most commercialized. This means that you can easily find sun beds, palm umbrellas, shower facilities and restaurants on this beach or take advantage of its watersports centre and go surfing, jetskiing or scuba diving.

Look out from the Balcony of Europe

For the most breathtaking views of the town and the ocean, go to the Balcon de Europa or the Balcony of Europe, a wide promenade on the site of a 9th century castle so named by King Alfonso XII after being captivated by the scenery, or so goes the popular belief. From here, you can see the surrounding mountains or even catch a glimpse of the African coast. You can also enjoy a fine meal at one of the restaurants here or hire a horse-drawn carriage so you can have a relaxing ride through the town.

Volunteer at the Nerja Donkey Sanctuary

The Nerja Donkey Sanctuary is dedicated to caring for rescue and retired donkeys, although you will also find horses, mules, goats, pigs, dogs and other animals in the sanctuary when you visit. This is one of the most rewarding things to do in Nerja since you can get a chance to help out by feeding, grooming and walking the animals, particularly the donkeys and dogs, aside from simply petting them. If you want to help out further, you can even adopt a donkey for a year. Don’t worry, you won’t have to bring the donkey home. You just have to make a donation.

A Night on the Town

Nerja may not be known for its nightlife but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any clubs or bars. In fact, you will find several as you go around the city during your holidays in Nerja. Most of them can be found around the Plaza Tutti Frutti and Antonio Millon, where there are occasional flamenco shows and parties that run until four in the morning, so no matter where your Nerja apartment is, make your way here for a taste of Nerja at night.

Take a Spanish Class at Nerja Language Centers

If you want to have more fun or get to know the locals better during your holidays in Nerja, you should definitely enroll in a Spanish class at one of the language centers in town. There are several for you to choose from, most of which offer both beginner courses for those who want to learn enough basic Spanish to get by and advanced courses for those who plan to stay in Spain long or become regular visitors. Many of them even offer excursions around the town or to nearby cities, like Malaga and Granada, so you can practice your Spanish while seeing some amazing sights.