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Posts Tagged ‘Lanzarote’

Lanzarote in the beautiful Canary Islands continues to draw an increasing number of visitors this season even though this rise in tourist volumes continues to be played out alongside a backdrop of recession and economic downturn. Traffic coming from all principal markets such as Germany, the UK and Ireland up by around eighteen percent so far. .

Partly this is simply because Lanzarote and the other Canary islands offer fantastic value especially during these struggling economic times. The is merely a four hour airline flight from the Great britain and is the easiest to get to winter season sun destination for that reason. Best of all there are various inexpensive flights provided by travel operators including Monarch and Ryanair, So it’s a lot more cost effective for arrange a break here compared to flying to the Far East or even the Caribbean for your dose of winter sun.

Accommodation is very affordable, especially for larger sized groups intending to book self catering holiday accommodation together. For instance villas in Lanzarote are around for rent from as little as 450 euros weekly, meaning that a group of six can potentially pay as little as 75 euros each, plus flights, for a week under the sun. A price tag which most other vacation spots would probably find impossible to beat. Apartments are cheaper still and one bedroom properties begin at as little as 250 euros weekly.

Discount seekers should really concentrate their search on the vacation resort of Playa Blanca in the southern part of Lanzarote. This is approximately a forty minute drive from Arrecife airport and Playa Blanca holiday villas typically are cheaper when compared to identical holiday villas in Lanzarote’s other resorts. This echos the advantage that there are numerous villas offered to rent here. So this is basically the best position to seek out a discount rental property.

Puerto del Carmen is considered the leading holiday hot spot on the island and self catering rental villas here on the whole are much higher in price. Nevertheless it really is possible to locate Puerto del Carmen villas which are priced reasonably (particulary in the winter months) plus the resort itself is fantastic – featuring an abundance of beaches, cafes and dining places. This is actually where tourism first became popular on the island and the resort retains an authentic heart in the Old Town, where vacationers can enjoy strolling within the harbour area or eating out in one of the countless bistros that line the quayside.

There is not surprisingly several other resorts on the island most notably Puerto Calero and Costa Teguise. But unfortunately neither are as vibrant or provide the same quality of facilities as Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen, making these resorts the number one choice for a value villa break.

There are plenty of different holiday accommodation choices for anyone contemplating choosing a holiday on Lanzarote. Simply because this small Canary Island positioned approximately 4 hours flight from the British isles offers many different places to stay – from 5 star hotels in the main resorts right through to unique character properties in the middle of the countryside.

Lanzarote first became popular as a holiday destination during the 1970’s and 80’s, when package deal holidays first became mainstream. With travel and leisure reaching its high water mark in 1993, during which time the island welcomed 2 million international tourists. And although the number of foreign arrivals has tailed off a little since then the island still attracts plenty of visitors, despite increased competition from newer destinations such as Turkey and Egypt.

However the island still remains very popular and part of the reason for this is the fact that there are so many different types of accommodation to choose from – ensuring there is something available to suit all tastes and budgets.

Holiday villas have sky-rocketed in popularity during the last ten years and there at this moment around 10,000 villas in Lanzarote on the island.Most of these Lanzarote villas are of course located in the main resorts. And if you are just too relaxed to wander to the beach most tend to come with private pools as standard. And with prices ranging from €450 per week upwards depending on location and time of year, there’s plenty to shout about.

Villas in Purto del Carmen tend to be more expensive than similar properties in other resorts, reflecting larger plot sizes and superior build quality. So if you are thinking of booking a break in Lanzarote’s largest resort you’ll need to allow about €600 per week, possibly more if you plan on going in a large group.

Aside from an extensive range of Lanzarote villas there are over 200 hotels on the island. With six 5 star establishments catering to the luxury market and a host of good quality 4 star hotels available, especially in Playa Blanca in the south of the island.

This is the spot to head for if you are booking a hotel break on a budget as there is a much wider range of choice here than in Costa Teguise or Puerto del Carmen and hence the room rates are usually cheaper. The Princesa Yaiza and the Natura Palace are amongst the most popular choices.

Where package holidays once dominated the marketplace for visitors to Lanzarote, within the last couple of years this tropical isle is becoming much more popular with independent holidaymakers. It has been with the steady rise in budget airlines providing flights to the Canarian island as one of their scheduled destinations.

The progressive shift of the holiday marketplace in the past several years is due to some extent to the plethora of Lanzarote Villas that can be rented on-line you can easily see how the holiday market on the island appears to have been transformed in recent times. For those who opt to book a rural villa there’s no need to even stop by any of the island´s three resorts.

And those travellers that do construct their very own holiday are often delighted from the unspoilt nature of the island´s rural interior. The initial landscapes of Lanzarote owe much to its volcanic past and therefore are fiercely protected against urban development with valid reason.

There has been a variety of tourist attractions developed around the island. And these attractions are by and large the inspiration of architectural genius César Manrique, whose influence will continue to shape how this tropical isle looks.

The island has not been starved of development since Manrique´s death, but a lot of this has been restricted to designated areas including Playa Blanca, the main resort in the southern region. Here, what was once a variety of fishermen´s houses has now been transformed into the second largest resort in Lanzarote.

Because of this, there’s a wide range of Playa Blanca villas for hire to choose from, and with many villas being newly built in the previous 10 years, they have a tendency towards a fresh modern design and style with light and airy rooms.|, and as a consequence of their recent construction, most are very modern, airy and comfortable and well designed to holiday usage. In addition to several excellent four and five star hotels..

Equally popular of course is the original resort of Puerto del Carmen, which hasn’t seen as much expansion during recent years. Its holiday infrastructure generally consists of aparthotels and apartment complexes rather than villas.

Because of this Puerto del Carmen villas for hire are frequently located in what were once purely residential areas of the resort each has a tendency to vary from neighbouring villas. Yet each still supplies the form of accommodation which is well suited to tourist use, specifically for people who prefer a private swimming pool.

If you happen to fancy holiday accommodation completely of the wall though, Lanzarote will be able to offer an exceptionally diverse selection ranging from countryside cottages and apartments, old-fashioned eco friendly yurts or you could even holiday in a cave or mountain cavern.

In the event that you find yourself dreaming of a holiday break on an isle in the sun, however reluctant to endure prolonged flight for getting there, Lanzarote would be the great getaway.

Situated in the Atlantic Ocean, about one hundred or so kilometers from the shore of Africa; Lanzarote is probably the preferred from the Canary Islands, owned by Spain.

It Is only about 50 kilometers in length yet seems to have in ninety various beaches all around its shoreline, where you can certainly take pleasure in all sorts of water-based sports activities, from kite surfing to big game fishing on this delightful island.

Lanzarote was created simply by volcanic eruptions a few hundred or so years back and one of the most popular visitor attractions is the Timanfaya National Park, where you can tour the amazing landscaping created by lava flow. In addition there are several special features created from natural elements by the artist Cesar Manrique, like the gorgeous headland with beautiful scenery at Mirador Del Rio.

The visitors experiencing both these water based and land features are generally Europeans, particularly Uk, since the flight time between Lanzarote and the United kingdom or Irleand, is little more than 4 hours. There exists a wide range of holiday accomodations to help them to enjoy on their trips.

There are lots of good hotels around Lanzarote but many of tourists favor self-catering holiday villas or apartments, which can be found either in specific spots and also complexes, many of them next to the beachfront. Holiday villas for example are associated with a higher than average standard regarding convenience and comfort at very good prices, available all through the year.

All these holiday villas are equipped with many of the most recent amenities, often including luxuries like sat tv. Customers usually enjoy use of often a large public swimming pool or possibly a more compact exclusive swimming pool and are also frequently found in close proximity to shops, pubs, places to eat and also other local attractions. Holiday villas are totally equipped and also neatly managed by their owners.

Private villas are offered in a wide selection of sizes, with different numbers of bed rooms. Therefore big groups of guests is capable of having the holiday of a lifetime in large, luxurious villa rentals which are affordable as soon as the price is spread over several guests.

Private villas usually are normally found everywhere in the island, particularly the primary holiday areas which include Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca. On top of that, there are rustique holiday villas throughout quiet villages away from the coast yet found after only 10 mins by car.

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Thinking of taking a break in the Canaries this year? These seven islands are all owned by Spain and are the second most popular holiday destination in the country after Catalonia. But what draws visitors back to Lanzarote year after year?

A large quantity of high quality accommodation is a prime key factor and on Lanzarote there are some very affordable and attractive places to stay. With tourists able to choose from a wide selection of Lanzarote holiday villas, as well as plenty of hotels and apartments. Many of these properties are cheaper than their comparable equivalents in other Spanish holiday destinations, such as Ibiza and Majorca.

The weather is also a key ingredient for most visitors. Lanzarote is situated close to the west coast of Morocco and as a result the climate here is spring like all year round. Making it possible to bask in the sunshine on the island’s glorious beaches even in the winter when the majority are tucking into their Christmas dinners back home.

Where are the best places to stay? Tourists can choose from three main resorts; Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise. Each has it´s own unique character, climate and attractions so it´s important to do a bit of research in order to find your ideal destination on this popular holiday island.

If you´re young – or young at heart – and want to enjoy late nights as well as lazy days by the pool or on the beach, then head for Puerto del Carmen. This is the biggest resort on Lanzarote and is packed with decent bars, clubs and restaurants.Those who like to combine long days in the sun with late nights on the tiles should plump for Puerto del Carmen, the largest and oldest resort on the island. Which is home to a large quantity of decent restaurants, bars and clubs. There’s a good selection of Playa Blanca villas, pricing starts at around the €500 per week mark. And as a plus each villa usually boasts its own private pools.

If you´re just looking to explore some superb beaches then opt for Playa Blanca in the south of the island. As here you can enjoy some wonderful stretches of sand such as Playa Dorada and Playa Flamingo, as well as the beautiful bays and coves of Papagayo, which are just a short walk away from the heart of the resort. These perfect playas are a real must see as they have been voted as amongst the best beaches in Spain in previous polls.

Villas in Puerto del Carmen also cost a little less than in Puerto del Carmen with rental rates starting from €450 per week. That said however the cost difference is so small that resort choice tends to be the deciding factor. Also if you want to find out a little more about lanzarote an excellent resource is Lanzaroteguidebook.com.

If you are thinking about a holiday in Lanzarote this summer then it´s worth bearing in mind that you could visit three different Canary Islands for the price of one. As both La Graciosa and Fuerteventura are located very near to this Spanish owned and perennially popular holiday destination.

There are seven Canary Islands in total – or eight if you include the tiny islet of La Graciosa, which is home to a population of about 600 permanent residents. The Canaries offer sunshine all year round and as such are a much cheaper alternative to the Caribbean and Far East during the dark winter months in Northern Europe.

A good deal of tourists book lanzarote apartments direct online with the actual owners or one of the smaller local holiday agencies these days, thanks to advances in web based booking systems. A large number of Lanzarote holiday villas boast their own individual private pools, not to mention plenty of other household luxuries. Whilst a large number of apartments are located on managed and nicely landscaped vacation complexes.

There´s plenty to do and see on The island of lanzarote but if you are staying in one of the many incredibly good quality Lanzarote holiday villas that are available for rent and fancy a break from the pool you’ll probably enjoy a day trip across to the neighbouring islands. As both La Graciosa and Fuerteventura are easily reached in under around 30 minutes and the sea crossing to both most days is pretty calm, especially during the summer season.

Fuerteventura – or strong wind – is the second largest island in the Canaries chain. But despite it´s size it is still largely untouched by tourism despite welcoming close to 1.5 million visitors year. And is not at all densely populated either. Most visitors tend to make a bee line to the huge sandy beaches here, such as the 16km long stretch of sand that forms the Dunas National Park, just outside Corralejo. And the huge sweeping sands of Jandia in the south of the island which are very popular with German guests.

La Graciosa (the Gracious One in English) is much smaller and even more undeveloped. There are no tarmac roads here and as a result very few cars. Instead the locals get around in 4×4´s which also serve as taxis, transporting visitors to different beautiful beaches around the island, such as La Concha in the north. Visiting La Graciosa feels a little like exploring a desert island, or stepping back in time. Not least as life here runs at an even slower pace than on Lanzarote.

For a great sunshine holiday at any time of the year, a break on Lanzarote will without any doubt leave you nicely tanned and fully refreshed for when you return home.

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 the sun aside the island also has a fascinating history so many tourists staying in Lanzarote hotels, villas and apartments choose to get out and discover the islands past by booking cheap car hire in Lanzarote to enable them to explore.

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.

Of the seven Canary Islands Lanzarote was the first to be invaded in the early 1400´s by an expedition that represented the Spanish crown and which was led by a Norman noble called Jean de Bethencourt. The conquistadores had little trouble subduing the native Guanche inhabitants. An aboriginal people believed to have reached the island from North Africa.

As a result Lanzarote rapidly became an important element in the nascent Spanish empire, assuming great importance as a staging post between the Old World and the New.

Spanish galleons transported slaves from Africa to the new colonies, returning laden with Inca silver and gold. Which helped to drive the growth of the new Empire. Unsurprisingly though this trade soon came to the attention of privateers and pirates from countries such as England. And this resulted in the seas around the Canaries becoming something of a war zone with the island forced to repel successive invasions throughout the 1600 and 1700´s.

The Spanish authorities soon decided that enough was enough and launched a project to provide greater protection for this trade and the islands inhabitants. The best known of which is arguably the Castillo de Santa Barbara which is located on a mountain top above the former island capital of Teguise. The fortification was created on the spot of what had once been a lookout tower. From here it is possible to view the islands’ coastlines with ease. Today the Castillo plays a new role as it is now home to the islands Pirate Museum, providing lots of information about this turbulent period in Lanzarote’s history.

Now there’s no excuse not to visit this fascinating island as Lanzarote flights from countries such as the UK. First time visitors are also well advised to book Lanzarote airport transfers before touching down at Arrecife airport in order to avoid queues for taxis, which can become lengthy during peak holiday periods. Such as Easter, Christmas and the school summer holidays.

There are plenty of more unusual places to stay on the holiday island of Lanzarote. For anyone seeking to get away from the main resorts and the more mainstream selection of villas in Lanzarote. There are certainly plenty of options encompassing Mongolian yak herder’s tents and eco friendly fincas in stunning countryside locations across the island.

Visitors return to the popular destination of Lanzarote year after year. . Increasingly many of these tourists seek out the more authentic side of the island away from the three main resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise.

And they are best advised to head for the north of Lanzarote – as here the landscapes remain pretty much untouched by large scale tourist development and there are also some more unusual accommodation options available such as the ecologically friendly accommodation on offer at Finca de Arrieta, where you can book a yurt – which is a tent that was once used by nomadic Mongolian tribesman. Suffice to say these modern day versions are much more comfortable and well appointed.

Close to Arrieta lies the Valley of 1000 Palms, one of the leading natural beauty spots on Lanzarote and a total contrast to the rest of the terrain on this arid little island.The scenery here has been described as amongst the most stunning in the Canaries – as countless palms sway gently in the wind, creating a real tropical oasis effect.

There are a number of places to stay here but the best spot to head for is Finca La Crucita – which boasts great gardens, a funky chill out zone and swimming pool area and a selection of villas which are all named after villages on Lanzarote.

Many visitors to the island still prefer to stick with something more mainstream though and there is certainly no shortage of rental properties for them to choose from in the main resorts. Villas in Playa Blanca are especially popular with sun seekers as they are located right at the southern tip of the island, where the weather tends to be much hotter than elsewhere on Lanzarote. And villas in Puerto del Carmen are always sought after as this is the largest and busiest resort on the island. Holiday makers have been flocking here ever since tourism first took off in the Canaries in the 1970´s.

Wherever tourists choose to stay they will find that Lanzarote is in fact a surprisingly unspoiled holiday destination, with much less development than other popular Spanish holiday hot spots such as Menorca and the Costa Blanca. This can be attributed to local planning laws which prohibit any development that is taller than one of the local palm trees.

There´s no better time than spring to enjoy a holiday in Lanzarote as this small gem in the Canaries is bedecked with wild flowers from March to May, There are many reasons why you should select Lanzarote as your summer holiday destination this year. As this small Spanish owned island in the Canaries offers amazing beaches as well as reliable weather. With little or no rainfall during the summer months. Something that could never be said for summertime in the UK.

As a result of this great climate Lanzarote has been a hot destination for tourists from countries such as Germany and the UK for decades. With a wide range of Lanzarote Villas and an amazing array of stunning attractions the island has something for everyone.

The island is well known for its surreal volcanic landscapes which were created by eruptions in the 1700´s. But these volcanoes are all dormant today and of no threat to holidaymakers so many visitors make a bee-line to the Timanfaya Park so they can witness first hand the aftermath of natures tremendous power.

Like most other holiday islands Lanzarote´s tourist industry is built on the fact that there are some spectacular beaches for visitors to enjoy. Some of these, such as the bays and coves at Papagayo, are regarded as amongst the best in Spain. Papagayo is part of a protected area located in the south of the island close to the 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 by car, although visitors then have to pay a small admission fee, which is used to help maintain the beaches and the road.

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 and apartments here available for rent. Prices tend to start at about €400 per week. Move along the coastline towards Puerto del Carmen and you an expect t o pay more. As here you will find a good selection of upmarket holiday villas in Lanzarote Most of which are located in the central residential area of Los Mojones.

Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen tend to dominate the market here. But there is also another quieter resort called Costa Teguise which is popular with young families and older couples. Costa Teguise tends to appeal to older holidaymakers and young families. As there isn’t as much nightlife in evidence here as in the other two main resorts. There are however plenty of excellent beaches such as Playa Bastian and Playa Cucharas for visitors to enjoy.

The Royal Yacht Association (RYA) was founded in 1875 and has emerged to become the governing body for all forms of boating in the UK. In much the same way that the Football Association oversees and administers all things related to soccer. The body aims to increase the number of people who enjoy boating and as a result accredits numerous sailing schools around the world to conduct RYA courses and learn to sail holidays that can be enjoyed in a wide variety of locations.

As a result anyone who is hoping to learn to sail will find that RYA Courses are the gold standard providing a seal of approval and quality. And over the years sailing schools have started to establish themselves in locations other than the UK in order to attract students. For example it is now possible to take RYA Sailing Courses in locations as far afield as Lanzarote, which is a tiny little island in the Canaries chain, just off the west coast of Africa.

Indeed Lanzarote also offers plenty to do off the water as well as an enjoyable location for learning to sail. Thanks to the fact that there are loads of unusual visitor attractions to explore. The best of which were developed by a famous island born artist called Cesar Manrique,

Manrique has worked with the islands surreal volcanic terrain to create unique cultural centres such as the Cactus Garden, Mirador del Rio and the Jameos del Agua. Sites that are hugely popular with visitors from across Europe today.

Manrique was born on Lanzarote in 1919 and developed a passion for the island during family holidays at Famara on the North West coast. Where he would play for hours in rocks pools, watching the reflection of the cliffs that flank the beach here in the water. All of which helped to fire his creativity – as it is till possible to detect some of these colours and textures in his paintings today.

Manrique also fought to save Lanzarote from speculators and developers during the 1970´s, whilst simultaneously developing these attractions as he was concerned that the island’s unique volcanic terrain could be eroded.

The fact that the island has remained unspoilt as much as possible is one of the reasons that many visitors return to the island time and time again.

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