Travel Places Guide

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Whilst most of Europe shivers through the worst winter on record there is one outpost that is still basking in sunshine. The Canary Islands are the southern most part of the EU – but are in fairness are located some way south of the mainland, just off the coast of West Africa. And as a result enjoy sunshine and decent temperatures all year round. Which is the key to their popularity as a holiday destination.

Each of the seven Canary Islands has its own identity and character and Lanzarote is one of the least spoiled by tourism. Thanks to the efforts of a local artist called César Manrique who campaigned against high rise buildings and ad hoardings on the island. Successfully wining a ban on these blots on the landscape during the early 1970´s.

As a result Lanzarote is a real pleasure to explore – especially outside the main holiday resorts. And is much like a rural island in the sun – with a strong agrarian past still evident.

There are loads of different accommodation options on the island but a growing number of visitors now choose to go for self catering properties. As these are now so much easier to book direct online thanks to the growth of the internet.

There are thousands of privately owned villas in Lanzarote for visitors to select from. Many of them British and Irish owned – as many investors have snapped up properties here to rent out their fellow holidaymakers and countrymen.

Most villas on the island are equipped with private pools and plenty of luxury extras as standard. Such as jacuzzis and internet connections. And offer far better value for money than comparable villas on other Spanish holiday islands such as Ibiza or Menorca. Where rental rates are much higher.

Holiday apartments in Lanzarote are also very popular – not least because they offer very reasonably priced accommodation. With some studios available from as little as €180 per week, in central locations in the oldest resort of Puerto del Carmen. Which is located on the islands calm south east coastline and which has recently enjoyed a €16 million facelift courtesy of the local tourist board. Who have improved the main seafront promenade and created a new marina in the Old Town harbour area.

Rural villas in Lanzarote have also grown in popularity over the last five years. As more visitors seek to escape the relative bustle of the main resorts for peaceful breaks in Lanzarote´s unique volcanic countryside.

With three main resorts and a range of rural spots to stay in, Lanzarote has something for everyone. Over its forty year history as a popular tourist destination it has developed a range of accommodation to suit every budget and taste. From five star hotels with luxurious tropical gardens to self-catering apartments in Lanzarote that provide a good base for those who like to get out and explore.

And there is plenty worth leaving the side of the pool to see. As the island has been carefully controlled in terms of development, thus avoiding the worst aspects of catering to its million plus annual visitors, with no tower blocks or billboard posters to clutter the horizon. These visual eyesores have been banned, thanks to the visionary understanding that one man brought to tourist developments back in the late 1960’s.

That man was a locally born artist, César Manrique. Who spent several years in the US and Europe before returning to Lanzarote just as mass tourism was beginning to have an impact here. With the help of influential friends in the government he was able to steer the entire island’s future in a very specific way.

Because his interventions not only included shaping what couldn’t be done, but also involved creating several tourist attractions that continue to amaze visitors today. Such as the incredible look out post at the Mirador del Rio. Based right at the northern tip of the island, the Mirador overlooks the neighbouring island of La Graciosa. Lanzarote car hire is cheap so there´s no excuse for not getting out and exploring the island.

But it isn’t simply the view that one gets from the Mirador that is worth commenting on. The building’s design itself incorporates Manrique’s main themes of blending into its environment, so that it becomes difficult to see where the building ends and the countryside surrounding it begins. Most of his projects use curves, rather than straight lines, to mirror the natural world.

For those who prefer a more active type of holiday, there is no shortage of sporting activities on offer. Everything from golf to sailing to surfing can be enjoyed all year round, due to the benign climate Lanzarote enjoys. As part of the Canary Islands, it is in the warmest corner of Europe, with year round Spring like weather. Making it a favourite spot for training athletes and Iron Man competitors every year.

Which is also great news for the sun-starved, as it means the island is an ideal place to come for winter sun. With flights to Lanzarote available from across mainland Europe, it is also far more easily reached than the Caribbean or other far flung destinations.