Lanzarote- help!

[igotdemons]

DH and I fancy a cheapish holiday in May and the only location at that time of year with reasonable temperatures and flight times appears to be the Canary Islands. This holiday would just be us lazing around the pool and perhaps strolling around the local area as we don’t want to hire a car as we wouldn’t use it enough to justify the cost.

I’ve found a great deal for a Villa in Lanzarote (Puerto del Carmen) however, I’ve never been before because I have read horror stories about cockroaches which have always put me off going! 😱

I have anxiety anyway but I absolutely hate any form of insects and I just couldn’t cope if the Villa happened to be invaded by the little buggers! I know they can be found in most places (been to the Balearics and Italy a number of times and didn’t see any) but for some reason there seem to be more stories of them in the Canary Islands! 😕

So for those of you that have been or go regularly, what experiences have you had out there?

I've never seen cockroaches in the Canary Islands and have been to Gran Canaria and to Lanzarote twice. If you go somewhere with that climate, though, you must expect to see creatures you don't see in the UK. I don't think cockroaches will attack you and will probably try to keep out of your way. We're going to Fuerteventura this year, I wouldn't let the possibility of cockroaches put me off.

Much of Lanzarote is nice, but Puerto del Carmen is the Blackpool of Lanzarote. It is full of sports bars and skanky discos, and it's honestly the only part of the island that I thought was ugly an depressing. Mind you, if you're staying in a nice hotel and plan to just hang out by the pool it might be ok.

Can you look for somewhere in Playa Blanca? That's a bit nicer.

I love Puerto del Carmen - it does have tackier bits but it's also got a beautiful harbour area with lovely restaurants and you can walk for miles round to a marina along the coast. It's lovely there - going back there myself later this year too.

@CaptainMyCaptain Oh yes, I understand that - I wouldn’t have a problem with the lizards for example as I think they’re fascinating (saw a few in Menorca which kept me entertained whilst lounging in the pool!) it’s literally just the cockroaches that turn my stomach! 🤢 Just the thought of seeing them scuttling about makes me shudder 😳

@BabyWenger Ugh, we hated Blackpool when we visited 10 years ago! 😖 The only reason we picked Puerto del Carmen was the short transfer time from the airport as we’d be in a taxi and didn’t want a long and expensive journey. I’ll have a look at Playa Blanca, thank you.

@Awks Glad somebody likes it there as there are so many differing opinions! 🙈 The Villa looks lovely and it’s literally a few hundred yards from the shops and beach which would be convenient with no car... 🙂

We just stayed in a beautiful hotel in Tenerife for £498 for 7 nights incl breakfast, heated pool and 2 jacuzzis!

Look at Puerto Palace in Tenerife.

I love Lanzarote, and PDC. I have stayed in villas never seen a cockroach. Enjoy

I've been to most of the canaries and always seen cockroaches. Last year in fuerteventura I had a massive flying one in our apartment. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Haven't been to Puerto del Carmen for over 10 years and don't plan on ever going again. Witnessed lots of dodgy goings on there. Think playa Blanca is meant to be much nicer.

Definitely won’t be visiting Puerto del Carmen then! 😳 Found a lovely Villa in Playa Blanca in June, although quite a bit more expensive... 😣

Villa

We have been to Gran Canaria and Lanzarote and never seen cockroaches.

Have you considered Malta, it’s lovely and warm most of the year.

We went to Madeira last May, and the weather was perfect pool weather (and exploring weather).

We love Lanzarote. Have been 4 or 5 times, never seen a cockroach that I can think of. I don’t hate Puerto Del Carmen. It’s a bit rough and ready in some places and you soon work out where to avoid! The marina area and walk along the coast to Puerto Calero are lovely. The public buses are also really reliable and cheap as chips so you can pretty much explore anywhere you like. The island is enormously cycling friendly too if you wanted to explore that way. We stayed in a really cheap place just outside Playa Blanca (Playa Flamingo) last time we were in Lanzarote and it was surprisingly nice! And you can get the bus all the way from the airport for next to nothing so no expensive transfers!

I’ve been to Lanzarote and didn’t see cockroaches but in Gran Canaria they were running around outside in daylight and huge! Sorry!

That villa deal included car hire!

(And says car essential, so must be quite isolated)

I loved Playa Blanca, lovely promenade all along the seafront by the port, nice restaurants.

Lanzarote is also well worth exploring, there are some great sights.

The only time I’ve ever seen Cockriser was in Lanzarote. We had a bungalow with a little terrace and I stood on one in bare feet. I still shudder at the memory. I didn’t see any others than the trodden on one though.

Oh, and we didn’t see cockroaches.

*cockroach! Wtf is a Cockriser?

Puerto del Carmen has a really lovely old town with harbour, and the beach is great. The sports bars etc are in a small enough section to not ruin the resort.

It's also very well located for exploring the island.

Peurto Del carmen is okay .. certainly great for a week in the sun.. the old town is lovely ! ...
have a look at ocean club holidays .. it's a family company who have villas and apartments that are cheap.

We stayed in a villa in Lanzarote last May (out in Tías so had a hire car) - never saw a cockroach. Weather was great & very interesting island.

www.oceanclubholidays.com/

Check out Costa Teguise especially Sandsbeach resort. I can highly recommend it. I have been to Lanzarote many times and have never seen any x

Costa Teguise has no character and is full of bars selling English beer and showing Englush football.

gin we went to costa teguise and it was honestly nothing like you describe....

It was lovely and peaceful.

It’s very dry with little vegetation and a constant breeze — which is why I go there — means there are no mozzies ! Hardly saw any insects. Love it. Interior and playa Blanca are lovely. Ferry goes to Fuertaventura from playa — u could do that!

And i never saw any cockroaches op!