Could Papagayo be be the best beach on the island?

It could be, according to the UK’s Daily Telegraph - to see their photos and read their report click here

A crescent of fine, white sand sheltered by cliffs, Papagayo is said by many to be the most beautiful beach on Lanzarote. It’s hidden away in Los Ajaches nature reserve – an area of volcanic hills – when you look at a Lanzarote map it’s on the southern tip of the island.

Who goes?

Rather too many people in peak season, many of whom are staying in the nearby resort of Playa Blanca.

Playa Blanca Lanzarote

What is there to do?

Sunbathe, swim and snorkel. Gaze across the sea to Fuerteventura. If there are too many people cluttering up the sand, walk to the neighbouring bays of Las Mujeres, Pozo, Congrío or Muelas, which are quieter and popular with nudists.

Bars and bites

Pack a cool-box with a picnic and plenty of drinks: you won’t want to move once you get there. [

Tenerife has topped Cosmos Holidays sales chart with a 60% increase year-on-year, report traveldailyco.uk

Majorca, last year’s number one, is now fourth in the sales list with Florida and Turkey before it.

Other Canary Islands have seen bigger rises in sales, particularly Fuerteventura (250%), Gran Canaria (100%) and Lanzarote (40%).

Menorca

The Algarve, Menorca, Shaem el Sheikh, Zakynthos and Mexico are also within the top ten.

“Whilst early booking trends indicated that this summer was all about the Eastern Mediterranean, the improved strength of the Pound against the Euro has resulted in a last minute surge of bookings to destinations throughout the Western Mediterranean and the Canary Islands,” said Monarch Travel Group Tour Operations Managing Director Hugh Morgan.

“After the challenges of the past 12 months, confidence has clearly been restored in the market and it’s great to see holiday durations lengthening from last year’s seven and 10 night durations to the traditional 14 night breaks.”

http://www.trivago have recently revealed the top island holiday destinations so far for this summer, and Lanzarote is one of them. Trivago is worth visiting to check out hotel prices.

Tenerife, Spain
Tenerife, the number one destination for British travellers, is the largest of the seven Canary Islands, and also Spain’s busiest resort – the island receives 10 million visitors each year. The island’s crowning glory is the Pico del Teide, the third largest volcano in the world, which rises 3718 metres from the base of the island. From its peak, travellers have a remarkable view of the island’s 350km of coastline, tropical vegetation, volcanic craters and lava formations. Tenerife’s wild nature is undoubtedly the island’s best feature, but the island is also well known for its beautiful beaches. The island has a rich birdlife, and many travellers consider the bird park ”Loro Parque“ a mandatory stop. The Carnival of Santa Cruz – one of the world’s largest carnivals – takes place every year in February.

Cyprus
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and while many associate its name with historical and political divisiveness, millions of tourists visit the island each year for its spectacular sights and attractions. As a result of its turbulent history, Cyprus has evolved into an intriguing and alluring blend of Greek and Turkish identities. The Tomb of the Kings, a network of underground tombs dating back to the 4th Century BC, are one of the island’s most prominent attractions, and the island’s many medieval forts and citrus groves are beautiful to behold. The Karpas Peninsula is also renowned for its breathtaking beaches.

Majorca, Spain
Majorca is part of the Balearic Islands archipelago and is one of Europe’s most popular island destinations. The island is well known for its nightlife and numerous clubs and bars, particularly in the town centre of Playa de Palma and El Arenal. Visitors are drawn to the island’s turquoise blue bays, pristine sandy beaches, antique ruins and historical buildings, such as the Cathedral La Seu and the Palacio Real de la Almudaina in Palma. It pays to escape the island’s touristic heart and venture out into the wild, however; those who do will discover the true essence of Majorca, in the form of idyllic villages, local markets and the traditional Majorcan way of life.

Gran Canaria, Spain
Located 125 miles off the coast of West Africa, the Spanish island of Gran Canaria is often referred to as a mini continent, due to its many different climates. In the south, the climate is tropical and dry; in the north, it is subtropical and dry. The result is a glorious diversity of plant and animal life, giving nature enthusiasts plenty to explore during their stay. Hikers will also appreciate the 2,000 metre high Pozo de las Nieves mountain in the centre of Gran Canaria, which attracts climbers from around the world. Another of the island’s main attractions is the dune beach, located near Maspalomas, a town in the south of the island. Culture lovers should visit the capital Las Palmas in the north of Gran Canaria which has magnificent buildings, such as the Cathedral Santa Ana. Another highlight is the old fortress Castillo de la Luz that is currently used as a museum.

Lanzarote
Lanzarote is the fourth largest island in the Canary Island chain, and was the first of the islands to be settled in 1100 BC. At first glance, Lanzarote’s sparse, volcanic landscape may seem bleak, but for those willing to look a little closer, many amazing attractions are to be found. Lanzarote’s beaches are particularly well noted, and visitors to the Timanfaya National Park can witness the otherworldly beauty of the island’s volcanic craters and lava fields. Unique experiences abound; guests will certainly enjoy the park’s El Diablo restaurant, where food is cooked directly over a volcanic vent, or a trek through the ‘Tunnel of Atlantis’ – the world’s largest submerged volcanic tunnel.

Crete
The island of Crete is probably best known for its legends ties to Greek legends such as the Minotaur and the tragic tale of Icarus and Daedalus. The ruins of the Minoan palace of Knossos, of Venetian fortresses and former trading ports all point to the island’s rich history and cultural legacy. Yet this ancient island has much to offer the modern world as well: Cretan art, literature and music styles (typically performed with a lyre) are very distinct, and have contributed greatly to the diversity and evolution of Greek culture. Visitors to Crete would be remiss if they did not explore the island’s many ruins and heritage sites, and the island’s fresh produce and Mediterranean cuisine will provide a tantalizing treat for the senses.

Viva Espana! Struggling Spain is bouncing back with increased bookings, according to a report in the Daily Mirror.

After reports that Brits were still shunning the Costas to save money, online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com this week revealed that destinations in Spain and the Canary Islands are among its biggest-growing breaks year on year.

Gran Canaria has seen the largest boost, with bookings up 479%. Fuerteventura has also seen many more visitors in 2010, bookings were up 340% compared with July 2009.

The other Canary Islands have also seen visitor numbers rise – Lanzarote is up 132% and Tenerife by 92%. Mainland Spain has also attracted more visitors than in 2009, with bookings to the coastal region of Costa Blanca up by 160% this year.

Spain has historically been popular with UK holidaymakers but bookings were hit last year due to the strong euro.

Lastminute.com’s Mark Bower says: “We’re thrilled to see Spain and the Canary Islands back in our best sellers.”

If you’re off on holiday to Lanzarote soon and it’s the first time with a toddler, we’ve found the airlines to be helpful and understanding.

Thomas Cook Holidays have come up with a guide that’s pretty good, and the Daily Mirror reported on it yesterday.

Flying with very young children can be a challenge - it’s frustrating for parents and other passengers when little ones play up.

Cabin crew at Thomas Cook Airlines have come up with the following tips to help families taking Majorca flights this summer…

COMFORT

When taking off and landing, give your baby a bottle or a dummy as this will help stop their ears from popping.

Be prepared if you’re travelling on a night flight. Some parents think their child will sleep but this often isn’t the case as the child is not in their usual environment.

Take a small blanket in case your child gets cold, as some Majorca flights don’t provide them for short-haul trips.

Nappy-changing facilities are in the aircraft toilets and there isn’t much room - dress your baby in clothes that are easy to get on and off.

Consider getting a baby sling for your journey. That way you can carry your tot and have two hands free for luggage.

Pack your child’s favourite snacks so you have food to hand if they want something to eat quickly.

If your child is having an inflight meal, be prepared with alternatives in case they don’t like what they’re given.

If you want to give them milk while flying, pick up some once through check-in/security as this is not often available on board.

Entertainment On Lanzarote Flights

Crayola’s Colour Wonder paper pad and markers are a great way to keep kids entertained. The pens only work on the special pad so you don’t have to worry about your child marking the seats or the walls of the aircraft.

Kids love presents, so wrap up lots of small surprises you can give to your child throughout the flight to keep them entertained.

Bring toys out one by one so that you can keep children entertained with each toy individually.

For more information about holidays with Thomas Cook Holidays visit their site.

They also do Majorca flights

A good review of one of the hotels in Lanzarote appeared recently in the Irish Independent and to read the full article and see the photographs click here

Discovering and deciding to take a holiday in the Princesa Yaiza hotel in Lanzarote was a similar experience to that which occurs when you learn a new word. Once it is revealed to you, it starts turning up everywhere.

No sooner had we settled on this particular hotel than it seemed that half the country had either been there, was going there soon, or (as we encountered a lot) had been going there, devotedly, for years.

We had settled on the Yaiza after a long process of internet trawling and late-night reading of holiday-maker reviews of various locations and accommodations. It’s a process that seems to occur in many Irish homes these days, allowing for endless procrastinating and a sense of holiday fatigue that builds without you going anywhere but onto tripadvisor.com.

The problem was that on this holiday we had really specific needs. We have a toddler, who wants some crack and some kids-pool action, but is still too small for a kids’ club. And then we had me, into the second trimester of a second pregnancy, with no great desire or ability for long walks or outings. In terms of late-spring weather, Lanzarote was ideal and, it seemed, in terms of a home from home, the Yaiza was what we were after.

We’d been to Lanzarote before, a laid-back island which learned early lessons from other islands on the error of erecting high rises and the value of enhancing natural attractions rather than raping them. Apart from a few of the hotspots — which held some appeal in the previous life — it’s a great family destination, with the volcano Timanfaya to visit, easy hops to be made by boat to nearby Fuerteventura, lovely, safe and sandy beaches and the Gaudi-inspired sights created by local architect Cesar Manrique, in the mid-20th Century.

Playa Blanca, in the north of the island where we were based this time, is a little seaside town with a new and chic marina at one end and a promenade of restaurants and bars at the other end, with not a lager lout in sight. And the Princess Yaiza is bang in the middle of the promenade, lending a feeling that, beyond the gates, you’ve everything on your doorstep — on those occasions when you feel like going beyond the gates. Because, really, within the Yaiza, you’ve got everything you could want or need.

From our sun-drenched balcony — most of the rooms are suites, and have a very natty kitchen area, with a full fridge and microwave — we had a great view down the promenade and out to Fuerteventura. We also had a great view of two of the swimming pools, where the toddler could watch her daddy take his morning swim in the sea-water pool, before we headed to breakfast, just about dragging her past the knee-deep kids’ pool and kids’ bubble pool en route.

Breakfast is a great occasion at the Yaiza, with two options of where to eat it, and some competition for the dining room with tables outdoors. The food was great, and we settled easily into the habit of a three-course breakfast — fruit, eggs, then buns — while the child took as much interest in eating as she did in the presence of Kiko, the duck mascot of the kids’ club, who wandered through the breakfast room daily.

Our one was terrified of him at first, but her terror turned to indignation on the days when he didn’t turn up, as if she rather enjoyed feeling offended by him. The rhythm into which we quickly settled saw breakfast followed by some time in the kids’ soft-play area, where tots up to 10-year-olds toss themselves around to the point of tossing up their recently consumed three-course meal.

There were people there without kids, of course, and, somehow, the spaciousness of Yaiza meant there was no conflict or sense of crowding each other. The sea-water pool remained an adult zone, and the kids’ pools were suitably set aside, where everyone could shriek and squawk as much as they wanted.

Directly outside the Yaiza gates, then, a few short steps lead down to a beach bar that made a great pre-dinner, sunset spot for a cold drink, and a sandy beach that was well sheltered from waves and wind. Then, only minutes’ walk away at the marina, there were frequent boat trips to Fuerteventura and its famous sand dunes, or to Papagayo Beach, a golden cove blessedly free of loungers and parasols, with a few nudists at one end and a nice bar serving snacks and ice creams a short clamber up the cliff.

Without any great exertion — which was exactly what the doctor ordered — there was a different means to relax every day, with just enough sense of the holiday settling into a rhythm, but no sense of boredom or routine.

And in terms of eating, any fears that it was going to be the classic chips-with-everything cliched Canaries experience and hotels in Lanzarote were quickly dispelled. L’Artisanale is a great little Italian find, up steps from the promenade and boasting a staff of Latin charmers as well as good food, while there is any amount of good-quality steak houses and some fine, modern tapas bars.

In the Yaiza itself, there is a good Japanese restaurant and several evening buffet options. Then down in the courtyard that leads onto the promenade there is also a lovely ice-cream bar, an Italian restaurant and a fantastic tapas restaurant where the food is genuinely innovative and is presented with pride.

And as a bonus, there is live music in the bandstand at the courtyard’s centre every night, around which children, big and small, dance and play without fear of disturbing anyone or getting into any danger. So they’re up a bit too late, and they probably haven’t eaten enough dinner, but you’re on your holidays, a feeling that starts the second you arrive at the Yaiza and lasts until you leave.

Which is probably why, I quickly realised, so many Irish families keep going back to it. And why, until you discover their secret, they’ve been keeping this place quiet.

More details about Lanzarote and Lanzarote holidays are at yourlanzarote.net

The Guardian reviewed some up market campsites recently, and Lanzarote made their top ten:

This yurt is part of a collection of nine eco properties located on the family-run Finca de Arrieta estate, 30km from the capital, Arrecife. It sleeps up to five and is beautifully decorated with rich fabrics, wood flooring and antique Mongolian hardwood furniture, such as the super king-size bed. It also has its own marble-floor bathroom, outdoor kitchen and garden with a Polynesian-style daybed – perfect for a sundowner. Soak up some rays on the small sandy beach just 200m away, walk to the nearby fishing village of Arrieta, then head back to the finca for a dip in the communal solar-heated swimming and plunge pools. To see all ten and the Lanzarote photograph click here

For other Lanzarote information including hotels in Lanzarote visit yourlanzarote.net

Lanzarote

Could Lanzarote’s biosphere status be under threat?

Various media including The Herald have been reporting on it recently.

Many tourists travel to Lanzarote for nothing more than a sunny beach and a pitcher of sangria with a cliff-top view.

But the Spanish Canary Island is also a Unesco biosphere site: an arid stretch of lava fields, salt marshes and coastal mountains where high-rises are taboo.

And for decades, the island’s elegant-and-ecological style of tourism defied the construction craze of its wilder island neighbours, like Gran Canaria.

At least so it seemed. Because now Unesco has threatened to strip the island of its prized biosphere status because of a rash of illegal building along the coast.

The Canary Island Supreme Court has declared that 24 hotels have been illegally built in coastal resorts such as Playa Blanca, so popular with British tourists that it’s easier to order a “typical English breakfast” than the local potato dish, papas arrugas.

According to a report in the Financial Times, the court retroactively rescinded building permits, but the hotels still stand.

Eight of the Lanzarote hotels are landmark luxury properties like the Princesa Yaiza, which boasts a restaurant complex, spa and amusement park overlooking a crescent of golden sand. The Lanzarote hotels qualified for a total of €23.6m (NZ$42.9m) in EU grants, partly thanks to the biosphere status. The EU anti-corruption office has demanded the money be returned.

The Princesa Yaiza says it holds valid operating permits, and that it is the victim of a local political row.

“We are in touch with the Spanish authorities about the situation,” Meriem Bouamrane of Unesco told the FT.

“If the developments are not respecting local needs and are impacting on the environment, the title can be revoked.”

Since May 2009, police have arrested at least 24 politicians and businessmen, including the former president of the Lanzarote provincial government and the former mayor of Arrecife, another popular resort destination, in connection with illegal building permits.

Such police swoops have become commonplace in other once-booming Spanish coastal resorts - in Marbella, for instance, the entire city council had to be dissolved - but Lanzarote was thought to be different.

“Lanzarote had a very good application,” Unesco’s Ms Bouamrane said.

“Mass tourism was not something they were developing. They promoted sustainable tourism that was more respectful to the environment.”

Of the 564 biosphere sites around the world, Lanzarote is the only entire island to win the prestigious classification. The Unesco website touts the island’s ecological charms, including a profusion of unpronounceable species like “arthrocnemum fruticosum”, and it praises the way “priority was given to blend tourist infrastructure with the beautiful but inhospitable environment”.

Thanks to a pioneering land-use plan, nearly half the island has been declared a nature reserve, the volcanic Timanfaya National Park, which is largely pristine except for a dizzying tour-bus route, camel rides and a sole restaurant where steaks are grilled over a lava-heated barbecue pit.

Unesco credits the lobbying efforts of architect Cesar Manrique, whose sustainable style of development is visible in low-key tourist attractions like the Mirador del Rio, a cafe and viewpoint imbedded in lava rock, or the Jameos del Agua, another lava-scape, which doubles a concert hall.

In fact, the Cesar Manrique Foundation, named after the late architect, blew the whistle on the illegal hotels.

The foundation’s mission is to fight the onslaught of concrete towers that has littered other islands and Spanish mainland coasts.

Aquilino Miguelez, coordinator for the Lanzarote government’s Biosphere Reserve Observatory, believes Lanzarote deserves its biosphere status despite the building abuses.

“It’s true that corruption linked to development is a great problem on the island, but in many occasions, it has been we who have blown the whistle, and Unesco knows that,” Mr Miguelez told reporters.

“What people don’t seem to realise is that this reserve is a pioneer in Spain regarding the fight against illegal hotels and taking away the title would be somewhat unfair.”

The Press & Journal in Scotland ran a good article in their travel section recently, when they discovered the benefits of having a family holiday in Lanzarote.

UNTIL a few months ago, I would have run a mile from the idea of an all-inclusive holiday package with buffet dinners and organised games in a sprawling multiplex hotel.

But things change fast with parenthood. With a child in tow – in fact, a nine-month-old little spitfire with enough energy to fuel a Nasa spaceship – all-inclusive suddenly seemed a blazingly good idea.

After what felt like a lifetime of no sleep, baby food coming out of our ears and one of the coldest winters in British record books, we wanted to be looked after and organised.

So we jetted to Lanzarote, a Canary Island which rather prides herself on avoiding the degree of building which transformed near neighbours such as Tenerife. And, just like a dame, she turned on the charm – warm days, cool nights and friendly folks.

Our base was Playa Blanca, on the south-west coast of the island, where the promise of pre-paid good times await at the five-star Dream Castillo Papagayo Hotel, which was built only three years ago.

The resort caters mainly, but not exclusively, for families. I wanted space and a bit of luxury, and was not disappointed.

As we unpacked, I was wow-wowing every square metre and realised it was bigger than our London flat. The bathroom alone matched our bedroom at home – and the balcony could hold 20 people and a jazz band in the corner.

And a walk-in wardrobe. I could spend days here, in this room, with its his-and-her towel bathrobes, cotton slippers and posh lotions and potions on the bathroom shelf – with real life a million miles away.

We were in the smaller, more family-orientated part of the complex which belongs to the Gran Dream Castillo Papagayo Hotel, a slightly more upmarket version of our hotel. Of the eight pools, some match the temperature of bath water, delighting our baby daughter.

The main part of the resort flanked a black stony beach, but a short hike across volcanic terrain led to a gorgeous white beach.

This was indeed a family-friendly hotel.

Every part was accessible by ramps – heaven for the pushchair brigade. In the playground and children’s play centre, mind-blowingly energetic and good-natured child minders entertained young ’uns.

Each day, these entertainers – dressed in jaunty attire of stripes and spots – made their way around inviting families to join this game or that. Regular activities included painting, games and arts and crafts.

Although we had packed a few of our daughter’s fluffy animals, children were encouraged to take toys, teddies and books to their rooms and return them the next day. It’s wonderfully relaxed, and based on good old honesty, with no record of who takes what for the night.

“Ola, help yourself. Si, si, si, see you tomorrow.”

Adults can enjoy games of darts, air-rifle shooting, petanque, water polo and volleyball. Or they can loll by the pool to enjoy the warm, uninterrupted sun.

That’s the beauty of this place – there’s loads to do if you want to. But if you prefer peace and quiet, no one will object.

The only activity I managed was a foot massage at the hotel’s spa. I forget the masseuse’s name, but there’s a place for her in foot heaven. I could barely bring myself to put my plimsolls back on afterwards, but needs must, and we had some walking to do.

The hotel is on the outskirts of Playa Blanca, so our daily constitutional took in the paved walkway along the coast, flanked by sparkling sea on one side and dramatic volcanic mountains on the other.

Along the way were several white, sandy beaches and a twice-weekly market where local artists and designers sold their wares.

While we sampled a few seaside restaurants, we realised that we simply couldn’t beat the hotel’s brilliant buffet. While much of it was pre-prepared, it was always deliciously fresh.

A large and laconic chef was on hand to prepare the day’s varied selection: omelettes, eggs, lamb chops, entrecote, squid, prawns – you name it, they’ll do it. Truly a veritable feast three times a day.

The chef also happily prepared food for babies, whizzing up fish or chicken and vegetables.

Most drinks were on the house, including cava – bottles of which fill the ice bucket from morning ’til night.

Sweet and savoury snacks (decidedly average) were available all day, but you barely have room for these as you lurch from one three-course meal to the next with barely time for a walk or a snooze in between.

As for the waiters and waitresses, they were among the best and friendliest I’ve come across on all my travels – sincere, fun and always keen to please. Our daughter never had it so good.

Of course, there is plenty to see and do outside the resort, from camel riding and boat trips to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura (where it always seemed slightly sunnier) to a tour of works by Lanzarote’s most famous son, artist Cesar Manrique.

Not surprisingly, many attractions are linked to the dramatic volcanic origin and landscape of the island.

At the top of the hill is the Timanfaya National Park – locals still hush their voices when they mention the fire mountain, which nearly killed off Lanzarote with a six-year eruption in the early-18th century.

The volcano still bubbles away gently and produces enough heat to create an impressive geyser when water is poured down the chute.

If geology and volcanoes rock your boat, check out the Cueva de los Verdes (Green Caves) – part of a 3.5-mile lava tube which formed about 3,000 years ago when the Montana La Corona erupted.

On part of the same stretch of lava is Jameos del Agua. Cesar Manrique, with the help of Luis Morales and Jesus Soto, transformed this giant collapsed lava tube into an amazing subterranean auditorium with tropical gardens, bars, a restaurant surround and an underground lagoon.

En route, try to stop off at Manrique’s Cactus Garden. Not only is the garden testament to the most natural flora of the island, but it was Manrique’s last finished work on Lanzarote.

And if you still have some energy left, consider a visit to the Whale and Dolphin Museum, sampling a glass of vinos locales at one of Lanzarote’s few vineyards along the way or testing your skills on one of its golf courses. To read the full article click here

For more details including Lanzarote holidays visit yourlanzarote.net

The Times have run an article in their travel section about holiday destinations people might not consider, but should if they keep away from the mass tourist parts. They say:

You have nothing to fear from Lanzarote. Its grotty parts — resorts such as Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise — have unfairly dragged down the island’s reputation, but they are few and far between, and to the north lies a very different landscape.

The first things you’ll notice are the zany sculptures on every other roundabout and the occasional cool modernist house among rural fincas. It’s all down to Cesar Manrique, a local-born 1960s artist whose influence is ubiquitous. He decreed that there should be no building higher than a palm tree, and that doors and shutters should be painted only blue, green or brown, depending on whether they faced sea or land.

Base yourself in any inland village and explore a new corner each day: Famara beach, a windswept strip to the north; Haria village, where cactuses lead you up a hill for lunch at the Meson la Frontera restaurant; Jameos del Agua, a kitsch subterranean bar designed by Manrique in 1968; Orzola, a prettily faded fishing village, from which ferries leave for La Graciosa island; or La Geria, Lanzarote’s lunar-landscaped wine region.

To read the full article click here