Here’s an interesting article we saw recently about Lanzarote:

Buying a holiday home overseas for many British people has been an aspiration achieved by many since the early 1980’s, when the UK allowed the free flow of capital, and property price gains allowed many to sell up in Britain and move to Spain and her islands - Lanzarote for example.

A slow down of Brits buying abroad happened in the early 90’s when recession hit the country, but overall the pace of number of people buying a home and often buying a business too has been relentless.

And with a growing number of British moving abroad, the UK’s financial infrastructure followed them, with British banks setting up branches in Spain (ironically some of the British banks have now been taken over by Spanish ones), mortgage companies tailoring products for overseas home purchase, and insurance companies offering building and contents cover.

For many of the British buying in Spain, it was like Britain with sunshine.

But times have changed, Spain is flooded with unsold brand new and re-sale properties, and property prices have crashed. In Britian property prices have dropped and are expected to fall further for the next year or more.

Confidence is low - unemployment in the UK is expected to hit 3 million before it peaks, and people with some money who might ordinarily have considered buying a property abroad are often keeping it in assets where the money is easily accessible - something it’s not when tied up in a property during a recession.

And of course the financial infrastructure that supported the British buying homes and businesses in Spain and her islands is in full retreat. The banks who were lending money readily to Brits moving abroad aren’t lending much, and many of them have been bailed out with taxpayers’ money - overall a dismal picture of a once flourishing overseas property market.

So, is now a good time to buy in Spain? If you’ve always fancied an apartment or villa after having a few Lanzarote holidays -is this the time to take the plunge?

Part of that answer depends upon your individual financial circumstances, but if you need to borrow to buy a second home, and if you need income from holiday rentals to sustain your new Lanzarote property…halve the figure you think you might achieve and re-calculate to get closer to what you might realistically get from renting out to those taking Lanzarote holidays in today’s market.

But if you have a surplus of cash and are ready to buy a property in Lanzarote - is now a good time to buy?

There’s a property glut in Spain. If property was water, Spain and her islands would be renamed Atlantis. Developers and private owners alike are more than keen to sell, and anyone who is a cash buyer won’t have to wait long before they see a bargain. But don’t necessarily buy the first property you like that seems good value.

Draw up a list of say three or four apartments or villas you have viewed and liked and put in an offer of around sixty per cent of the already discounted price, starting with your favourite one, telling the owners that the offer remains good for two weeks, and at that time you will look elsewhere. Within a couple of months you, perhaps even weeks, you could have the property you want at an amazing price, even if the owners come back with a counter offer.

One bit of advice from a UK based property company is to avoid buying a brand new property.

‘Only buy a new property in Lanzarote if you’re absolutely certain that the developer has the funds to finish off a development and the promised infrastructure that goes with the new development…and even then only spend what you can afford to lose. Guarantees are useless if a developer goes bust. And just don’t buy a property under construction - the development could be mothballed for years to come - along with any deposits and staged payments already made.’

Their final bit of advice is not good news for Lanzarote property developers either, or for private re-sales.

‘If you can hold on a few months, you might find even better bargains than there are now in October and November when the same owners who are selling now have failed to find a buyer.’

More information about Lanzarote is at http://www.yourlanzarote.net

The travel guide for Lanzarote holidays includes a map and the weather in Lanzarote too.

The Canary Islands are one of the most popular destinations for European tourists looking for a great time during the Easter holiday. The Canaries provide as many, or as few, activities as the beachgoer could possibly be interested in. The easternmost island of Lanzarote packs a great deal of attractions and excitement in its relatively small area of about 846 square km.

Great Places to Visit on Spring Break

Many resorts around the world consider the Easter holiday the beginning of the tourist season. This is quite different on the Canary Islands. Because tourism is a year round industry on the Canaries, Easter is often in the second quarter of the tourist season. Everything is already in full swing to ensure the satisfaction of tourists from Germany, the UK and other European countries.

Playa Blanca is the southernmost resort on Lanzarote. What was once a small fishing village is now one of the most popular resorts on the island. Slightly smaller than other resorts, Playa Blanca is most well known as a hot spot for night clubs. The new marina is home to several classy restaurants with incredible views of the surrounding Atlantic Ocean. The Marina Rubicon is quickly becoming Lanzarote’s most popular harbour.

The largest and busiest resort on Lanzarote is Puerto Del Carmen. Three areas of interest are Matagorda, Old Town and Avenida de Las Playas, also known as “the strip.”

Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote

Matagorda is near the airport where the Lanzarote flights from Europe come in and has a variety of bars, restaurants and tourist activities. The golden beaches in this area are often windy, which is great for parasailing and other water sports.

The second area, Old Town, maintains the look and feel of an authentic Spanish village. Several restaurants in Old Town are somewhat hidden from plain view.

Avendia de Las Playas is a stretch of beachfront properties including bars, restaurants and tourist attractions. The prime shopping area is the Biosfera, which is four stories of shopping, bars and children’s play areas.

Costa Teguise is one of the least popular areas for holidays in Lanzarote. The rise of larger resort areas has resulted in fewer guests to Costa Teguise. This could be considered both a blessing and a curse by many. Tourists looking for a quiet, more private atmosphere to enjoy family time or a honeymoon may enjoy the added privacy.

The lack of popularity does not mean there is nothing to do at Costa Teguise. Many restaurants, bars and shopping areas greet each tourist with a very friendly community atmosphere. Three beaches provide plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the privacy.

The smallest resort area on the island is Puerto Calero. Accommodation include a few nice Lanzarote hotels and privately owned apartments. This is by far the quietest and most private resort on Lanzarote. The harbour has become known as Millionaire’s Harbour by most because of its reputation for hosting boats and yachts worth more than ten million euros. The boardwalk is lined with restaurants and shops with amazing views of the harbour. Attractions include a whale and dolphin museum.

The capital of Lanzarote is a small city called Arrecife, only three miles from the airport. Although not a resort area itself, it holds a great deal of attractions and activities for tourists. Complicated roads and the sheer number of shops make travel through the town easiest on foot. The beaches of Arrecife are generally very quiet and peaceful. The seafront offers a lot of local history and shops that shouldn’t be ignored by those on their holidays in Lanzarote.

We saw an odd little article in the UK’s Daily Telegraph.

It’s grandly headlined:

Spain: an insider’s Guide to the Balearic and Canary Islands

and then has this as a sub headline:

An essential guide to visiting the Balearic and Canary Islands, including accommodation, arrival and the best sights and attractions.

There’s nothing wrong with the article itself, but doesn’t really suit the grand claims in the way it’s announced.

Here’s an extract:

A beautiful house in the pretty town of Pollença in north-west Majorca is the base for a photography break (0776 777 7482; www.eyephotographicworkshops.com), where you can improve your skills in a group of up to eight, with expert tuition. There are also sessions on storing images, editing and putting a slide show together. £1,900 for five-days’ tuition and half board. Book flights separately to Palma.

Single travellers with an artistic streak might enjoy a holiday based near Santa Eulalia, in Ibiza, where there are plenty of galleries as well as a beach. A wide range of activities is on offer, including boat trips and riding, but there is no pressure to join in if you would rather do your own thing. From £559 for a week with Solo’s Holidays, including flights and half board (0844 815 0005; www.solosholidays.co.uk).

Pedro Almodóvar’s new film, Broken Embraces, was shot in Lanzarote, and it’s sure to dispel preconceptions about the island. One of the key locations is the extraordinary beach at El Golfo, where there is an eerie green lake at the base of black lava cliffs. Vivid Canaries (0871 855 1565; www.vividcanaries.co.uk) has a range of self-catering accommodation on the island, including the traditional-style Villa Arrieta in the pretty village of Haria, which has three bedrooms and costs from £700 a week.

Away from the beaches, Gran Canaria is an island of volcanic landscapes, scored by valleys and gorges where unusual flowers flourish. On a luxury walking holiday with Headwater (01606 720199; www.headwater.com), you hike along ridges with spectacular views of the Atlantic and stay at the two best rural hotels on the island. £914 for seven nights, including half board, car hire and flights, or £629 if you arrange your own travel.

To read more click through to the Telegraph here

We saw this in the Liverpool Echo, here’s an extract, to read the full article visit http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-life/travel/2009/01/27/canary-islands-offer-a-holiday-full-of-fascination-and-adventure-100252-22785010/2/

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As we drove through the island, we passed a number of road signs showing cows crossing. Our all-knowing tour guide Andreas revealed to us that there were just eight cows on the island, but because no companies make “goat crossing” signs, they had to stick with the cow version.

One of the most enduring sights on the island is the national park. On one side of the road looms the gentle figure of a volcano white-washed with sand while on the other, the slopes give way to a glistening azure sea.

It has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the pleasure to visit.

So while you could bring your beach towel and sunbathe all day long on these weird and wonderful islands, you’d be missing out on some of the most fascinating places on earth.

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Lanzarote flights