The Foreign Office has issued a report about the behaviour of a small minority of British tourists who can cause big problems, as this Daily Mail report shows:

A new FCO report on the behaviour of Britons on holiday has revealed that thousands of tourists were arrested or forced to seek hospital treatment last year, often because they had consumed too much alcohol.

The report, which looked at incidents involving British tourists between April 2009 and March 2010, found that around six thousands travellers lost their lives while abroad. Drink, drugs and road traffic accidents were among the primary reasons for the deaths.

Spain, the US and France were the countries where British visitors needed the most consular assistance.

The report found that ‘most arrests involving British people in Spain are for drunk or drink-related offences’. The highest proportion of arrests for drug offences was in Thailand, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates.

The research also highlights the need for adequate travel insurance with the FCO publishing examples of incidents involving travellers who faced huge bills after hitting problems while abroad without the correct cover.

One man on a skiing holiday was forced to pay a 4,500-euro bill for mountain rescue, transport and medical costs after he fell and broke his collarbone while on a ski holiday because he didn’t have comprehensive travel insurance.

Drunken behaviour is also cited as a big problem with overseas authorities often making an example of those who act inappropriately. A Briton who urinated on one of Latvia’s most revered monuments was sentenced to five days in custody.

In the sunshine resort of Malia on Crete, this week, a UK reporter found himself on the receiving end of drunken violence after he was attacked by a Greek bar owner for trying to film a young British woman who was ‘comatose’ with drink.

Richard Gaisford, a journalist for GMTV, was punched in the face and had his microphone stolen while filming a piece on the FCO report. He said: ‘I’ve just been smashed in the face, probably by one of the guys here who are very keen to protect the image of this place. And that image is not good.’

Young Britons flock to the Greek resort for the party atmosphere. Doctors at Malia’s medical centre, where drunk tourists often find themselves, defended the area’s boozy reputation: ‘The problem here is that the people drink alcohol but it’s less this year than last. This year, we’ve [also] not had so many people with drugs.’

Among other warnings, the FCO advises travellers to be aware of stricter laws abroad, to ensure travel insurance is comprehensive and to research which vaccinations are needed for travel to certain countries. Visit http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel for advice, and to read the original article at the Daily Mail click here

For Lanzarote flights visit yourlanzarote.net

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.”

The Foreign Office has issued a report about the behaviour of a small minority of British tourists who can cause big problems, as this Daily Mail report shows:

A new FCO report on the behaviour of Britons on holiday has revealed that thousands of tourists were arrested or forced to seek hospital treatment last year, often because they had consumed too much alcohol.

The report, which looked at incidents involving British tourists between April 2009 and March 2010, found that around six thousands travellers lost their lives while abroad. Drink, drugs and road traffic accidents were among the primary reasons for the deaths.

Spain, the US and France were the countries where British visitors needed the most consular assistance.

The report found that ‘most arrests involving British people in Spain are for drunk or drink-related offences’. The highest proportion of arrests for drug offences was in Thailand, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates.

The research also highlights the need for adequate travel insurance with the FCO publishing examples of incidents involving travellers who faced huge bills after hitting problems while abroad without the correct cover.

One man on a skiing holiday was forced to pay a 4,500-euro bill for mountain rescue, transport and medical costs after he fell and broke his collarbone while on a ski holiday because he didn’t have comprehensive travel insurance.

Drunken behaviour is also cited as a big problem with overseas authorities often making an example of those who act inappropriately. A Briton who urinated on one of Latvia’s most revered monuments was sentenced to five days in custody.

In the sunshine resort of Malia on Crete, this week, a UK reporter found himself on the receiving end of drunken violence after he was attacked by a Greek bar owner for trying to film a young British woman who was ‘comatose’ with drink.

Richard Gaisford, a journalist for GMTV, was punched in the face and had his microphone stolen while filming a piece on the FCO report. He said: ‘I’ve just been smashed in the face, probably by one of the guys here who are very keen to protect the image of this place. And that image is not good.’

Young Britons flock to the Greek resort for the party atmosphere. Doctors at Malia’s medical centre, where drunk tourists often find themselves, defended the area’s boozy reputation: ‘The problem here is that the people drink alcohol but it’s less this year than last. This year, we’ve [also] not had so many people with drugs.’

Among other warnings, the FCO advises travellers to be aware of stricter laws abroad, to ensure travel insurance is comprehensive and to research which vaccinations are needed for travel to certain countries. Visit http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel for advice, and to read the original article at the Daily Mail click here

For Lanzarote flights visit yourlanzarote.net

Minorca Blog

The biggest of Cala En Porter’s hotels has just opened after an extensive refurbishment - it’s good news for the village and for holidaymakers making their way to Menorca for their holidays.

The village has been out of favour with some of the tour operators, perhaps because it’s a little quiet for some, but the hotel will provide a great base for those wishing to visit the island and book their flights and accommodation seperately.

With views of the Mediterranean, the Azul is within an easy stroll of the resort’s amenities, including a choice of restaurants and bars, many with evening entertainment, but for those preferring a quiet week away they are catered for too.

The most recent reviews on tripadvisor from those who have been on their Menorca flights and stayed there have been glowing, and include comments such as this one from Switzerland:

We stayed 1 week in playa azul and took the hotel as a last minute offer for around 350Eur/pp including flight. For the price we paid, the hotel offered much more!

Overall we got much more then we paid for and we are really happy with Hotel Playa Azul.

And from a UK tourist who had their Menorca holidays recently:

Just got back from a week at this fab hotel, from the moment we walked through the hotel reception till the day we left it was brilliant, the staff especially the resturant and bar staff were very freindly and attentive - nothing was too much trouble, the food was first rate.

And as well as for independent travellers booking their trips online the good news for the hotel is that Thomas Cook are now offering it either seperately or as part of a package.

New photographs for Cala En Porter are due soon at yourmenorca.net and photos of the hotel are at social media like stumbleupon

Think of a winter holiday in the sun, and for many Lanzarote comes to mind.

But Lanzarote is good all year round, and if you’re thinking of a summer holiday Lanzarote has a lot of reasons to consider shortlisting it, and lots of different towns and villages to choose from.

The areas popular with holidaymakers are:

Playa Blanca, which is in the central area. It has changed over the years from a traditional fishing village to a good family resort. It’s popular with holidaymakers who take Lanzarote villa holidays.

Teguise is the former capital of Lanzarote. It is a historical town with narrow streets, restored homes, hotels and resorts. Teguise is more touristy, especially since it is close to the International airport. It is equally popular among families, couples and the elderly.

Puerto del Carmen is the oldest resort on the island. It is a classic favourite among tourists. It also has an active night life and a mile of shops, restaurants and bars.

Arrecife has been the capital of Lazarote since 1832. It is a port town situated near the airport. The people depend mainly on tourism and agriculture. The views from Arrecife are amazing. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east and southeast; the mountains are to the north and the rest is made up of hills and farms.

Arrecife has a good mix of old and new structures. It is a port city with an urban feel. There are plenty of places to shop and eat. The nightlife is also lively.

The smallest resort area on the island is Puerto Calero. Some good Lanzarote hotels are here along with privately owned apartments. This is by far the quietest and most private resort on the island. The harbour has become known as Millionaire’s Harbour 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 wonderful climate throughout the year is conducive to a variety of sports activities, and the Lanzarote weather really does help boost the number of holidaymakers. There’s a choice  of golf, diving, horseback riding, tennis and windsurfing.

And it’s not just sports but traditional holiday activities that the island is good for too. The Guinate Tropical Park and Penguin Paradise near Haria for example offers a very unique array of wildlife. The penguin enclosure, Penguin Paradise is a spectacle in itself. The underwater viewing pool gives visitors the unique experience of seeing the behaviour of penguins while underwater. It is simply amazing to see how these incredible birds behave in their natural habitat.

More details about Lanzarote holidays are at yourlanzarote.net and it includes a blog and travel resources

Property in Spain for overseas buyers could be on the rise again in 2010, according to propertycommunity.com who comment:

Mediterranean countries are proving more popular among those searching for overseas property as the focus turns away from wintry destinations to summer dreams, according to the latest foreign real estate index.

Some 60% of locations saw an increase in searches, with Alentejo in Portugal the top climber in February going up 22 places with searches up by 27.3% in the Rightmove overseas monthly index.

Tuscany consolidates its place as the favourite Italian region with an increase of 12.5% in searches, the report also shows.

Emigration hotspots New Zealand, Australia, and Canada are biggest losers in the country chart, down an average of 17% on January as the peak emigration season starts to tail away and those simply dreaming of emigration, rather than actively investigating it, loses impetus.

Oceania’s loss was the Mediterranean’s gain though, with good lifts in search activity for Greece, up 8.2%, Malta up 11.3%, Spain up 2.5% and Italy up 0.9%.

But Germany’s recent climb has halted with Berlin the biggest faller, down 44.6% on January. But the gains made through summer 2009 look like being permanent and it may only be a matter of time before Germany joins the Top 10, according to the report.

‘After adjusting for this being the shortest month, February actually saw an increase on January searches, in stark contrast to last year’s drop off after the January peak. Year on Year February searches are up 54% on 2009 which is really encouraging for the market,’ said Robin Wilson, head of overseas at Rightmove.

More details about Lanzarote including today’s Lanzarote weather is available at yourlanzarote.com

Lanzarote is moving upmarket, according to an article in the travel section of the Daily Telegraph recently:

Lanzarote used to be nicknamed Lanza-grotty, a package-holiday island scarred by development. But that would be unfair to modern Lanzarote, the pick of the Canary Islands. Whether your taste is for winter sun or a family holiday in high season, it is a charming and idiosyncratic destination, where the scourge of mass tourism has been largely confined to a few east-coast enclaves such as Puerto del Carmen. Once you know which bits to avoid, there is nothing to fear and much to savour.

From the Timanfaya Palace, our stylish four-star hotel in the low-key resort of Playa Blanca, we are able to explore high and low by hire car, enjoying a near-perfect blend of food, scenery and culture under a kindly sun.

The cuisine alone would justify a visit to Lanzarote. If the sopa de ajos is the highlight of our foodie pilgrimage, there are wonderful fish restaurants dotted right around the island. One fishing village, El Golfo, is so well-endowed with restaurants that the restaurants are the village. The sun beats down, the waves crash against the rocks and, hey presto, a smiling waiter is at your shoulder, bearing a perfectly grilled sole or red mullet, caught that morning. Bliss.

Scenically, it must be said, the island is more dramatic than picturesque. Mother Nature has not been kind to Lanzarote. The island was devastated by volcanic eruptions in the 1730s and whole areas still lie submerged under lava, making for a bleak, almost treeless landscape. But the islanders have shown a touching resourcefulness in adversity, notably when it comes to making wine.

In the wine-growing region of La Geria, raked by stiff crosswinds, individual vines have been planted in dug-out hollows in the volcanic desert – their only realistic chance of prospering. It is a labour-intensive operation, but there is nothing wrong with the end product, thrillingly crisp on the palate.

La Geria borders the Timanfaya National Park, which is not to be missed. Here are the fabled “fire mountains” of Lanzarote folklore: the volcanoes whose violent eruptions gave the island its character. They look tame, but appearances can deceive. The subterranean heat is still so fierce that, at the mountaintop restaurant, they grill whole chickens above the shaft that funnels into the volcano.

A bus tour of the park gives you a ringside view of the volcanic mountains dotted with rugged craters. It is a landscape of lunar severity, but eerily beautiful, particularly in the early evening, when the parched brown hills turn every shade of pink and purple. So little of Lanzarote is cultivated that, where there are little flecks of colour – a rosemary bush, a flowering cactus, a splash of bougainvillea – you appreciate it all the more.

One of the prettiest villages on the island is Haría, tucked away in the northern hills. It could be an oasis, with its plump palm trees, cascading window boxes and its air of unhurried calm. The tat of the resort towns seems a world away.

Teguise, the old capital, is another gem: sun-bleached colonial buildings slumbering in the haze. The hordes descend on the town on Sunday, which is market day, so visit during the week, when peace has been restored and you can explore the warren of cafés and stylish craft shops.To read the full article click here

Lanzarote hotels plus information for holidays in Lanzarote is available with yourlanzarote.net

The Daily Telegraph have reported that the Canary Islands are to benefit from more low cost flights for 2010:

In the past year, some routes between Britain and Spain have been cut, and other services have become less frequent. However, there has been a massive increase in the number of flights to the Canaries this winter.

Last autumn, Ryanair started its first-ever flights to Lanzarote and to Gran Canaria, with services to each island from nine UK airports; it also added five new routes to Tenerife. All these Canary routes will be appearing in the summer schedules. In early April the Irish airline is also reintroducing flights to Fuerteventura, from Bournemouth, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Meanwhile, easyJet has launched its first flights to Fuerteventura (from Stansted and Liverpool), and Jet2.com and Monarch have also added more routes to the Canaries.

Below is a summary of non-stop flight options for 2010. In most cases, exact routes have not been given; some services may stop in late March, others may be yet to start and be summer-only. The general rule for getting the cheapest fares is to book as early as possible for scheduled flights, and book late for charters. Bear in mind any extra charges (checking in bags, for instance) when comparing fares.

For Lanzarote flights visit http://www.yourlanzarote.net

If you’re considering your 2010 Lanzarote holidays at the moment and want something that’s eco friendly, looking at a Lanzarote map there’s a finca in the north-east of the island that could be just what you’re looking for.

To read about it click here