Posts Tagged ‘Lanzarote’
April 10th, 2010
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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 at this time of the year is a good bet for sunshine? Within Europe there is only one place that reliably offers decent weather throughout the year and that is the Canary Islands. Not strictly in Europe at all, they are included within the borders of EU as an autonomous region of Spain.
The seven islands are already well-established as holiday destinations, due to their year round benign climate. Lanzarote, which lies at the eastern most end of the archipelago, is probably the most protected of the islands and certainly has the lowest rainfall.
The huge choice of Lanzarote villas and apartments in Lanzarote that you’ll come across never ceases to amaze many of the 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.
Then there is an incredible choice of villas, in all three of the main resorts as well as plenty dotted around the countryside. Holiday villas in Lanzarote provide the kind of home-from-home comforts that many holidaymakers prefer these days. Including internet access, air conditioning and use of a private swimming pool.
Many of the quiet residential streets, lined with palms and tropical trees, also contain numerous holiday villas. And such is the choice of villas in Lanzarote, there is usually something to suit every budget and taste, whether it is for couples, families or groups of friends.
As a base for exploring what the island has to offer, a villa or apartment is the obvious choice. Each day can be organised exactly as you wish, with none of the drawbacks of hotel dining rooms to negotiate. Combined with a hire car it is the best way to discover somewhere new and ensure that your holiday in Lanzarote is a memorable experience.
Technorati Tags: Holiday Destinations, Lanzarote, travel, Vacations
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February 5th, 2010
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 places to stay. With lots of good quality hotels and holiday villas in Lanzarote available for rent in the three main resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise – as well as across the unique volcanic countryside.
Car hire in Lanzarote is also very affordable, making it so simple to get out and about and enjoy colourful events that are going on.
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 is one of the most important and colourful dates in the calendar. And whilst not quite as riotous as Rio the revels here basically bring the island to a halt for a couple of weeks. As locals and tourists alike don creative and colourful costumes and take to the streets for an orgy of music and dancing.
Whilst not quite in the same league as Rio the most riotous Carnaval processions and celebrations can be found in the island capital of Arrecife and the largest resort of Puerto del Carmen. Featuring imaginatively decorated floats, marching drum bands and plenty of late night partying.
During May Lanzarote is the venue for one of the toughest triathlons in the world. As the annual Iron Man event gets underway. With thousands of super fit competitors taking place in a gruelling contest that includes a 2km swim and 180km bike ride. Which is then topped off with a full marathon along the main seafront promenade in Puerto del Carmen.
Corpus Christi is one of the most colourful festivals on Lanzarote. And is celebrated by the creation of unique carpets of coloured salt. Each municipality has a team of participants with their own specific designs and the best displays can be viewed in the capital of Arrecife and the historic town of Teguise.
You can find details of Lanzarote luxury villas and other Lanzarote accommodation to rent on the Lanzarote guide book website.
Technorati Tags: Destinations, Lanzarote, Spain, travel, Vacations
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February 2nd, 2010
Thinking of booking a holiday in Lanzarote this year? Plenty of other tourists did just that during the course of 2009, with the island welcoming just under 1.4 million tourists last year. An impressive figure given the impact of the credit crunch and the weakness of the pound.
Despite these factors around 750,000 tourists from the UK are expected to visit the island during the course of 2010. Around half of them will book self catering accommodation – such as villas in Lanzarote – direct online. With many booking specific dates to coincide with one of the many fiestas and festivals that take place on the island every year.
For independent holiday makers there is a plethora of holiday villas in Lanzarote to choose from across most seasons.
The most colourful event of the year takes place next month. As the annual Carnaval season gets underway throughout February. And whilst not as riotous as Rio this event is still well worth a visit. Featuring brightly decorated floats, marching samba bands and a host of beautifully dressed dancers. The event rolls across the island throughout the course of February – with the biggest celebrations taking place in the oldest resort of Puerto del Carmen and the capital city of Arrecife.
Iron Man hits the island in late May. This event is widely regarded as one of the toughest triathlons the world. As over 1000 super fit contestants battle it out over a course comprising a 3km swim, followed by a 180km bike ride – all topped off with a full marathon. The top 60 entrants win a slice of the prize money and a coveted slot in the Grand Final in Hawaii. Although plenty of entrants never even make it to the finishing line such is the gruelling nature of this competition.
Many music lovers plan their visit around the Jazz Canarias festival in July. Which in previous years has featured some of the leading emerging talents of this genre. Such as the prodigious young jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding and the guitarist Kyle Eastwood –offspring of the famous actor Clint Eastwood.
Bookings for holiday apartments in Lanzarote rise again during September.
When the annual Costa Musica Festival takes place on the beach at Playa Bastian in the resort of Costa Teguise. Featuring an eclectic mix of live dance acts and DJ´s from across Europe.
Click here for further information on Playa Blanca apartments and villas .
Technorati Tags: Destinations, Lanzarote, Spain, travel
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January 28th, 2010
The island of Lanzarote in the Canarian archipelago at first glance may not seem to have the best of green credentials. But there are a number of ways in which it beats other destinations hands down for holidaymakers looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
To begin with, its location only four hours flight from the United Kingdom means that it is half the distance and therefore half the fuel consumption, of the Caribbean. And it can vie with tropical islands for all year round good weather, with an average of only twenty days rainfall per annum and day time temperatures of approximately 20º Celsius even in mid winter.
Even the Lanzarote holiday apartments contribute to minimising the eco footprint of the island.
The year round sunshine that it enjoys means that solar panels are used widely across the resorts and in residential homes. Many holiday villas in Lanzarote have their swimming pools heated by panels on the roof, whilst some even derive their internal power from this source as well.
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.
For all these reasons, holidays in Lanzarote often make visitors feel they are returning to the past. Where white washed villages and towns bear none of the ugly scars such as high-rise buildings and advertising hoardings that can be readily found elsewhere. And Lanzarote apartments rise no taller than a palm tree.
Further details about available Lanzarote holidays can be found on the Lanzarote1.com website.
Technorati Tags: Destinations, Lanzarote, Spain, travel, Vacations
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January 17th, 2010
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. These favourable climatic conditions have earned the Canaries the position of one of the most visited destinations in Spain. With Lanzarote – the most easterly of the islands - welcoming well over 1.5 million foreign arrivals on their holidays in Lanzarote during the course of last year alone.
So lets check out a little more about the island and island life to see why holidays in Lanzarote never fails to be such a popular choice and choosing one of the many Lanzarote villas that the island has to offer is becoming an increasingly popular private accommodation choice for holiday makers and tourists.
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.
This volcanic region – called Timanfaya - was declared a national park back in 1974 – and dominates the island’s interior. It’s also the most popular sight on Lanzarote thanks to its incredible lunar like scenery. Which in the past has earned the region a number of starring roles in major movie productions. Most recently Broken Embraces starring Penelope Cruz, the latest release from Spanish director Pedro Almodovar.
There are lots of different accommodation choices available to holidaymakers here. With the island offering everything from cheap apartments through to luxury Lanzarote villas and hotels. Most of which can be found in the main resorts such as Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen. With a growing selection available across the countryside too as demand for rural accommodation grows.
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.
Lanzarote was unfairly dubbed Lanzagrotty by Michael Palin during the 1970´s. But this epithet couldn’t be further from the truth. As the island offers a wealth of cultural attractions. With over a dozen museums – such as the fascinating house musem the Palacio Spinola in Teguise. Which provides an insight into the life of an 18th century island merchant. Along with the many works of the local artist César Manrique. Who famously fought for the controlled development of tourism on the island of his birth.
Technorati Tags: Destinations, Lanzarote, Spain, travel
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January 7th, 2010
Lanzarote is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Canaries. And boasts three main resorts – along with the emerging Millionaires Marina at Puerto Calero. Which now boasts a couple of luxurious hotels as well as a host of good quality restaurants and shops.
Each of these resorts has a unique identity and offers a number of different attractions. Whilst also offering plenty of accommodation options – with a variety of Lanzarote villas, apartments and hotels available for visitors to stay in.
So lets investigate some of the favourite resort desinations renowned for a wide selection of Lanzarote 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 popular choice for both couples and families alike. As it offers great nightlife and a huge concentration of bars and restaurants. As well as safe beaches for kids and loads of family attractions. Such as the Rancho Texas Theme Park and Rancho A Caballo. Where children can enjoy riding donkeys and camels.
Costa Teguise Villas and Apartments
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.
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
Last but not least Playa Blanca was developed during the 1990´s and offers a winning combination of great weather and fantastic beaches. Allied with an excellent selection 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.
Technorati Tags: Destinations, Lanzarote, Spain, travel, Vacations
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