With yet another freezing spell predicted for most of the UK this week, many people will find the urge to arrange a week in the sun almost irresistible. Since the birth of the package holiday forty years ago, a week or fortnight on foreign shores is no longer considered a luxury, rather it is an essential purchase.Even though the euro is not at its best ever exchange rate against the pound it is low so you can get a little more for your money.
But where can holidaymakers go and be confident of better weather than the UK? One of the best and closest destinations has to be Lanzarote. As the most easterly Canary Island it has good weather all year round and almost no rainfall. At only four hours flight time, it is the nearest thing Europe has to a Caribbean island.
Of the Canaries, it is Lanzarote that usually has the driest climate, given its close proximity to the north African coast and the low-lying nature of the island. With no mountains over 700 metres, rainfall is kept to a minimum, falling on average only twenty days a year. The intense heat of mainland Spain is tempered by breezes straight off the Atlantic.
The range of Lanzarote villas and Lanzarote apartments that you’ll come across will always astound most visitors to the island.
Most apartment complexes are set within semi-tropical gardens around a communal swimming pool. None will be more than three storeys tall, as strict rules about construction mean that buildings can only be as tall as a palm tree. A good number of these complexes have been refurbished in recent years to bring the accommodation up to date, with modern style furnishings.
For couples who just want to laze on the beach and try the local bars and restaurants in the evenings, an apartment in Lanzarote is ideal. Most have good basic facilities, so that the odd self-catered meal can be easily thrown together. This style of accommodation is also ideal for the more active, sporty types, who spend all day surfing and cycling and crash out in the evening.
With a huge variety in décor, there are villas to suit every taste. Which in turn means that every visitor ends up with a highly unique holiday in Lanzarote, reflecting the experience they have from start to finish. Whilst many people come principally for the sun, a large majority of visitors to the island often find plenty of activities to keep them amused as well.
Whether that entails a day’s sailing or golfing or visiting each of the centres of Art and Culture, Lanzarote has a lot to offer. Its tourist attractions are stylishly individual, having been created by the internationally renowned artist, César Manrique. These centres range from a Cactus Garden to a Farming Museum, with each detailing some aspect of the lives that many locals have lived over the centuries.
Lanzarote is a popular holiday island located in the Atlantic Ocean close to the coast of Africa. And is part of the Canary Island chain – which is an autonomous region of Spain – although it is located many hundreds of miles south of the Iberian Peninsula.
The autonomous region of the Canaries is split into two main administrative zones. The eastern Canaries comprise Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and the ´capital´ of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. Whilst in the west the well known holiday destination of Tenerife is the lead island – with La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma orbiting around it.
However despite being all part of one single autonomous region these islands are in fact all very different. Lanzarote for example is very much drier and more barren than the other islands in the archipelago. The result of very low rainfall and a desert climate – which is little surprise as the outer reaches of what was once the Spanish Sahara are just 100 miles away. So the weather is very warm here but can feel chilly once the sun has set.
The barren feel of the island is further increased by the fact that much of the interior of Lanzarote was obliterated by volcanic eruptions in the 18th century. With fields of lava wiping out farmland and trees – leaving a lunar like wasteland in its wake. Which is today by far the most popular attraction on the island as a well as a popular location with science fiction film makers.
Local Holiday Accommodation – Playa Blanca Villas and Lanzarote Accommodation
Visitors to the island are able to select from a broad array of accommodation options. There are over 250 hotels in Lanzarote to choose from for example. As well as a large selection of holiday rental accommodation. With apartments and villas in Lanzarote available across the island.
One of the most popular destinations on the island is Playa Blanca, particularly during the winter months. As it is located at the southern end of the island and enjoys the best climate as a result. With higher temperatures and more sunshine hours than resorts to the north.
There are plenty of places to stay in this fast growing resort too. With an ample selection of villas in Playa Blanca available for rental. Along with a number of good value four star hotels. Playa Blanca is also located just a short distance from some of Lanzarote´s leading tourist attractions – such as the Montañas del Fuego, or Fire Mountains, of the Timanfaya National Park. And the famous Green Lagoon at El Golfo.
Planning a holiday in Lanzarote during the course of 2010? Over 1.3 million tourists did just that during the course of last year. A testament to the enduring popularity of the island as a vacation destination. And there’s a whole raft of interesting events and fiestas that are worth planning your break around this year.
Hundreds of thousands of British tourists will be enjoying a break on the island during the course of 2010. With around 50% opting to stay in self catering accommodation, with apartments and villas in Lanzarote proving especially popular. Many choose to build their visit around specific events on the island – as there’s a whole raft of fiestas and festivals taking place throughout the course of the year.
For independently minded holiday makers the islands many Villas in Lanzarote to pick from throughout the year.
In February Carnival sweeps across the island – bringing work to a halt for at least a couple of weeks. With events taking place in different locations and on different dates. This is arguably the most colourful and best attended event of the year and attracts huge crowds. Featuring cleverly decorated floats that wouldn’t look out of place at the Notting Hill Carnival, massed ranks of drum bands and hordes of dancers dressed in real Carmen Miranda fashion. With plenty of riotous dancing and drinking.
May sees the arrival of the annual Iron Man event on the island. This triathlon is widely regarded as one of the toughest competitions of its kind in the world. And little wonder as entrants have to complete a course that includes a 3km swim, 180km bike ride and a full marathon. Phew! It’s no surprise then that so many competitors never even see the finishing line. With around 10% of all entrants dropping out before completing the course.
Lanzarote is also a great destination for music lovers too as there are concerts and festivals taking place throughout the year. Among the best is Jazz Canarias which visits the island every July. And which showcases some of the best young talent from the world of jazz. In previous years featuring free live performances from the likes of the guitarist Kyle Eastwood –offspring of the famous actor Clint Eastwood. All of which takes place in the atmospheric setting of the historic former island capital of Teguise.
September is also a great time for booking holiday apartments in Lanzarote. As the Costa Music Festival takes place that month. Bringing an eclectic mix of live dance acts and top DJ talent to the beach at Playa Bastian in Costa Teguise. And like so many other events on the island this is also entirely free of charge – attracting crowds in their thousands.
Follow the link for more details on Playa Blanca Villas and accommodation .
There are plenty of reasons for booking a holiday on the sunshine island of Lanzarote during 2010. As the fourth largest of the Canaries offers a year round raft of events and festivals for visitors to enjoy. Along with great beaches and wonderful weather.
There are plenty of good accommodation options available on the island too. With villas in Lanzarote priced from around €350 per week and rental properties located in all of the main resorts as well as across the countryside.
Car hire in Lanzarote is reasonably priced too, making it so simple to get around and take pleasure in fiestas and events that are taking place throughout this period.
The year kicks off in style with the Canarian Music Festival. A prestigious event that is staged across the entire island in the archipelago, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy some of the best classical music sounds around. With Lanzarote playing host to performers such as The Prague National Chamber Theatre Orchestra.
Carnaval kicks off across the island in February. And whilst the celebrations are not quite as riotous as in Rio they still attract thousands of revellers. With many holidaymakers planning their holidays in Lanzarote around this colourful event, which pretty much brings work across the island to halt for a couple of weeks every year.
Carnaval is rolled out across the island gradually – with different towns staging the event on different dates. The best processions – featuring decorated floats, drum bands and dancing girls – take place in the former island capital of Arrecife and the largest resort on the island, Puerto del Carmen.
During May Lanzarote becomes the venue for one of the toughest triathlons in the world. As the annual Iron Man contest returns. Featuring over a thousand competitors who are all battling it out for the top prize of a slot in the grand final in Hawaii. Over a course that includes a 2km swim, 180km bike ride and a full marathon. Which is staged along the Avenida de las Playas in Puerto del Carmen.
Corpus Christi is one of the most important events in the Catholic calendar and is celebrated on the eighth Thursday (or 60 days) after Easter, which will be the 3rd of June in 2010. On Lanzarote it is marked with carpets created from multi coloured salt – with different municipalities all competing to come up with the most imaginative and high impact design. The best of which cane be viewed in the capital of Arrecife or the historic town of Teguise.
You can find details of Lanzarote villas and other Lanzarote apartments and villas on our website.
The Canarian island of Lanzarote is one of the few European destinations that already have several green credentials under its belt. Whilst this may surprise some visitors, there are several good reasons why this is the case, due largely to the island’s climate and position.
One major factor in Lanzarote’s favour is its closeness to the rest of Europe, with most major cities only four hours or less away. Meaning that fuel consumption on flights to and from the island is less than half that used on flights to the other popular winter sun destination, the Caribbean.
Even the Lanzarote accommodation contribute to lessening the islands carbon footprint.
And thanks to the year round spring like climate the island enjoys, solar panels are widely in use for a variety of purposes. Most apartments in Lanzarote will have an array of the panels on their roofs to create hot water for the swimming pool and showers. Elsewhere, the panels may be teamed up with dry storage batteries to create electricity indoors.
Wind turbines have been in use on Lanzarote since the mid 1990’s and contribute approximately thirty percent of the island’s power needs. These giant turbines make good use of the prevailing winds as they blow in from the Atlantic Ocean. And local residents often choose smaller turbines for domestic use for the same reason.
But it isn’t just power generation that makes Lanzarote an environmentally sound tourist destination. As the island has also developed its resorts and attractions in ways that minimise the impact on the scenery and surroundings thanks to the vision and resourcefulness of the internationally renowned artist and architect Cesar Manrique.
These factors combined have turned Lanzarote into an ideal holiday destination for the environmentally conscientious. There are even several places to stay that run entirely on solar and wind energy, as these alternative sources of power have gained in popularity and effectiveness in recent years. Making eco holidays in Lanzarote a reality.
Additional information about available Lanzarote holiday accommodation can be found on the Lanzarote1.com website.
The popular holiday island of Lanzarote in the Canaries is home to three main resorts. As well as the emerging marina of Puerto Calero – where visitors will find two upmarket hotels and an abundance of expensive yachts and craft from around the world.
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 lets have a look at a selection of resorts that offer a superb range of holiday villas in Lanzarote to rent.
Puerto del Carmen
Before the arrival of tourism Puerto del Carmen was known to locals as La Tiñosa. A sleepy little fishing village on Lanzarote´s south east coastline.Package holidays changed all that though and now the resort extends for some 8km away from its original hub in the Old Town harbour area.Today, it is Lanzarote´s most popular destination by some distance – offering good value apartment accommodation. As well as a number of four star hotels and high quality villas.
The island government has recently spent over €16 million sprucing up Carmen’s image in order to maintain its competiveness against newer destinations around the world. So there’s never been a better time to visit.
Holiday Villas In Costa Teguise
Situated towards the northern end of the island Costa Teguise is just a short hop away from Arrecife airport. And started life as Lanzarote´s upmarket resort. Designed to attract moneyed Scandinavian and German tourists during the early boom years of the 1970´s.
However its sheen has faded a little since then. Partly due to the development of Playa Blanca in the south of the island. Which has snatched the slot of number 2 destination away over recent years. However Costa Teguise remains an attractive holiday hot spot – boasting wide avenues and a spacious open plan feel. Whilst the resort is also home to some great beaches, such as the main stretch of sand at Playa Cucharas.
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.
The resort is dominated by a sea front promenade that unites the three main beaches of Playa Dorada, Playa Flamingo and Playa Blanca (from which the resort takes its name). Whilst the striking set of bays and coves of Papagayo are around a twenty minute walk from the town centre.
Lanzarote is a popular holiday island, located in the Canaries. Which are the seven strong Spanish owned island group situated off the coast of West Africa. On the same line of longitude as parts of Mexico and the Bahamas. Enabling visitors to enjoy great weather whatever the time of the year. This clement climate has helped to establish the Canaries as one of the most visited destinations in Spain. And during the course of 2008 alone over 1.5 million foreign tourists enjoyed holidays in Lanzarote – the fourth largest and most easterly island in the group.
So lets have a look and see why winter holidays in Lanzarote never fails to be so popular and picking one of the many Lanzarote holiday villas that the island has to offer is fast becoming the popular private accommodation choice amongst holiday makers.
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.
As well as the volcanic region Lanzarote is a real beach lover’s paradise, home to about 90 fine stretches of sand. The best of which can be found outside the main resorts in locations such as Famara and Arrieta. Both of which are still unspoiled coastal villages.
Many tourists visiting Lanzarote for the first time are surprised to encounter so much in the way of things to do and see. As the island boasts an abundance of cultural attractions – with no less than twelve fascinating museums. Such as the Museum of International and Contemporary Art in Arrecife. Along with plenty of picturesque towns and villages, such as Haria and Teguise, the first settlement ever established by the Spanish in the Canaries in the early 1400´s.
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