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Original poster

Lanzarote, no idea!

56 replies

wowwhydoesmybackhurtwaaah · 14/01/2023 16:16

Looking for advice/opinions on Lanzarote for end of June....

I've never been to Lanza or anywhere even like it. We've usually taken the children to the South of France, the Italian lakes etc, in mobile home parks, plus a couple of AI type resorts in different places.

We're on a small enough budget this year and people keep recommending Lanzarote, specifically puerto del carmen? I'm told that apartments can be very reasonable and eating/drinking/activities are pretty cheap.

We are two adults, two teens, and twin 6 year old girls. Any advice/experience of Lanzarote that time of year and prices would be great.
Thanks

OP posts:
Seeingadistance · 14/01/2023 16:43

I’m a middle aged woman who holidays alone on walking holidays, so can’t comment on accommodation or family activities.

what I would say though, is that Lanzarote is likely to be very hot in the summer. I was there in February and November last year, and it was in the high 20s both times.

Aside from that, I love the island. Feb last year was my first visit, and I’ll be going back again this Feb for my third. I hire a car and stay in Playa Blanca.

Iwasntgettingasandwich · 14/01/2023 16:48

We went at the beginning of September one year and it was hot and the uv was high. We visited Playa Blanca, it is on the south coast and was really nice. We went with it as it was quieter than some of the other places on the island. We went.pre-dc but is one of the places we are considering taking them on their first holiday abroad.

beakyboo10 · 14/01/2023 17:28

We went to Puerto Del Carmen last August and did get a good deal with Jet2 with a free child place. I wouldn't personally go back to Puerto Del Carmen as it was just too busy and although our hotel was lovely it was a long walk to the beach and our hotel was at the top of a hill.

The beach was lovely and I wish we had stayed near the harbour but we were in the middle of the strip (just up the hill). I think if you have stayed in the Italian lakes and the South of France than it will be very different as it caters very much towards the Brits

We found it cheaper than Greece for food and drinks as there is a lot of choice. We stayed B&B and I think Playa Blanca is more suited to AI. I think if we went back we would stay in a different resort and not in the middle of summer although the breeze was lovely.

Choconut · 14/01/2023 17:30

Personally Playa Blanca is far too 'Brits abroad' for my liking - pretty far away from the Italian lakes and South of France IMO. We didn't go to Playa Del Carmen only drove through it and I thought it looked much worse, I'm not surprised it's cheap.

We stayed in the Tui Blu in Playa Flamingo (so definitely not posh!) which was much nicer/prettier and on the beach, also walkable to Playa Blanca along the promenade. The site restaurant was literally right on the beach and the food was really good.

LordSugarTits · 14/01/2023 17:35

I prefer fuerteventura to lanzarote and wouldn't return to Playa Blanca. The Barcelo group of hotels have been fairly good when we've wanted a cheap break

MissyB1 · 14/01/2023 17:39

@LordSugarTits isnt fuertuventura quite windy? Mind you I think all the Canaries are quite windy aren’t they 🤔

backtoyoutom · 14/01/2023 18:00

Go to Tenerife instead, it's much nicer.

Puerto del Carmen is like a cheaper Benidorm, with Irish bars, strip clubs and sports bars.

backtoyoutom · 14/01/2023 18:00

MissyB1 · 14/01/2023 17:39

@LordSugarTits isnt fuertuventura quite windy? Mind you I think all the Canaries are quite windy aren’t they 🤔

I've found Lanzarote the windiest of them!

LordSugarTits · 14/01/2023 18:02

Yes it is windy and it's only about 30 miles or something from lanzarote which is also windy.

I like the breeze though.

JustWhattheDoctorOrdered · 14/01/2023 18:12

There aren’t huge seasonal temperature variations in Lanzarote. It is warm in the winter but it’s not unbearably hot in the summer.

We have had several family holidays there and I would highly, highly recommend it over the other Canary Islands. It has the most beautiful ‘look’ because of the influence of the architect Cesar Manrique who dictated how the island should be developed. There are no multi story buildings, everything is designed in indigenous style, no advertising hoardings and all planting is also indigenous. The colours are amazing: white buildings, black earth and bright bougainvillea. Manrique also designed various public places you can visit like a cactus garden and the visitors centre in the volcanic park. The volcanic park is also weird and amazing. The whole island is a visual treat, it all looks like one of the classier resorts on the other Canary Islands or Andalusia.

Having said that, much of the island does look pretty similar and we didn’t find (happy to be corrected) the kind of charming cobbled street fishing village I like on a beach holiday. The landscapes and villas are beautiful and the towns and villages are attractive but generally not picturesque.

TheFairyCaravan · 14/01/2023 18:22

Don’t do it.

We’ve been 3 times, most recently in September last year, it’s awful. puerto del carmen is quite run down imo, lots of typical “British pubs” with happy hours and cheap drinks and full English breakfasts. We hired a car and went all round the island, none of it appealed to me.

When we’ve been before, we had the kids and had villas which was more tolerable. If someone paid for me to go back I’d turn it down, honestly.

Have a look at Menorca, it’s so much nicer.

Deeandra · 14/01/2023 18:38

Yeah.. I love lanzarote but wouldn't recommend Carmen. Try Playa Blanca. It's smaller than carmen but has a nicer sea front. Flamingo beach is nice.
Or Costa Teguise.

Deeandra · 14/01/2023 18:45

@JustWhattheDoctorOrdered get yourself to Playa Quemeda. Lovely quiet fishing village which is a walk from Puerto Calero.

lapasion · 14/01/2023 18:47

We’ve been a couple of times. Stayed in Playa Blanca close to the marina which had lots of nice waterfront restaurants. Found it cheap to eat out and nice friendly service. It was hot in June. Around 28-30 but bearable! If you like desert landscapes and volcanoes then it’s very pretty. I loved all the big cacti. Personally, I wouldn’t stay in PDC as others have said, as it is probably the most Brits abroad type area. If I went again, I’d probably go for a villa or Airbnb in a quieter spot on the island, as car hire is cheap and driving is very easy.

Someone said Menorca. That’s a good shout too if you get a good deal. Beautiful beaches and really family friendly. But we went last year and it was pretty expensive to eat out etc by comparison. Our spending money didn’t stretch as far.

RewildingAmbridge · 14/01/2023 18:54

We stayed in Costa teguise in a self catering apartment, it was ok. We hired a car, you can see the whole island in a few days, the northern part was desolate but beautiful. We went to Manrique's former home some of the buildings he designed etc which was interesting, also the volcano, los hervideros and the green lake nearby were nice to see and some of the beaches were nice. We went on a vineyard tour and wine tasting, the wine was surprisingly good and grown in pits in the volcanic earth. Not sure young children would like any of those things though. We had a good cheap week but probably wouldn't go back unless for a good reason

RewildingAmbridge · 14/01/2023 18:57

We went to a concert/dinner in some caves at James del again which was pretty cool actually and lunch at Mirador del Rio the view was fantastic. Again probably not going to appeal to DC , we went before we had any

Lovetotravel123 · 14/01/2023 19:00

I agree that Puerto del Carmen isn’t great. Try Puerto Calero just down the road. The Cesar Manrique stuff is amazing and well worth visiting.

TeenDivided · 14/01/2023 19:00

I, boring 50s person, really like Lanzarote and Puerto del Carmen for location.
We stay in apartments near the strip and too far back and the hills are a pain. Good variety of restaurants.
PdC is well located for day trips out to other places such as Play Blanca or Puerto Calero, or Timanfaya. We hire a car and spend some days out and about, and other relaxing.

However we find it can be hot in Feb/March and it must be so much hotter in June. Have you checked on a globe to see how much further south it is than South France?

RewildingAmbridge · 14/01/2023 19:01

They might like the pirate museum? I remember it being wrote high up and I don't like heights much...
Look out for local celebrations we saw a really cool parade in arrecife when we'd gone for the food market. Lots of dancing, traditional costumes and bizarrely some men dressed up with horns in animal hides etc

Oakbeam · 14/01/2023 19:01

I went there once in July as a change from Fuerteventura. It was OK but it was cloudy quite a bit of the time. It certainly wasn’t what I would call “hot”.

I haven’t been back.

Original poster
wowwhydoesmybackhurtwaaah · 14/01/2023 19:08

I know its much further south but I was told that the breeze makes it feel more temperate than it actual is? I do have a child thats not great in the heat.

The "Brits abroad" thing does worry a little as we are not Brits (no offence, I know its a minority, but they do get so LOUD). But on the other hand, we've had lots of cultural and, for want of a better word, middle class holidays and I'm looking for cheap and cheerful sun sea and sangria type holiday with waterparks and snorkeling and cheap but nice food.

Am I looking in the wrong place? I'm not expecting anything amazing, just a fun week with lots to do that doesn't cost much. Other options gratefully recieved as well!

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 14/01/2023 19:13

I have two fair haired DCs who burn relatively easily and don't like suncream much due to sensory issues. I also do not like the heat. I lived like a hermit this summer in the heatwave, it was far too hot for me.
The wind in Lanzarote can keep the heat down a bit, but won't stop the burning, and still gets too hot for us March time to want to be out in the afternoon.
But we like the food, and the sight seeing.

If you want watersports, you may prefer Costa Teguise.

SingingSands · 14/01/2023 19:14

We've been twice to Playa Blanca (at Easter) and really enjoyed it for an easy, laid back holiday. We stayed in self catering accommodation - a small resort with a (heated) pool, nice bar and the rooms were little villas set in immaculate gardens. Very family friendly - from toddlers up to older teens. Right next to the port so ideal for walking along the prom, easy to get to the restaurants and shops, supermarket etc. and no need to join the taxi queues at the end of the night. Can walk all the way from the port to the marina.

There are 3 beaches at Playa Blanca, all connected by a long walkway and suitable for prams.

We hire a car each time and this year DH and I explored the west coast and also spent a couple of evenings at Papagayo where the beautiful beaches were deserted and it was just us.

beakyboo10 · 14/01/2023 19:39

In regards to the heat we did the middle of August and we are all very blonde and pale skin and just put lots of factor 50 on, we didn't burn and I didn't find the heat unbearable compared to Cyprus/Greece at the same time of year.

We only picked PDC last year as it was a last minute holiday and we could have a suite and not share a bedroom with 2 kids who talk all night. The accommodation is generally good priced and spacious. The kids loved it but it really just wasn't for us. We did say if we returned to the Canaries we would try Gran Canaria but its back to Greece for us this year.

TeenDivided · 14/01/2023 19:47

We like driving around places, and didn't get on with the other Canary Islands we tried as DH doesn't like driving on roads with large drops. Also Lanzarote is less built up than others due to more strict planning controls.