Our next stop along the "Forgotten Road" was San Miguel de Abona. This is one of the oldest towns in the south of Tenerife and it is definitely worth taking a short time to explore and stroll around.San Miguel was inhabited by the earliest…Read More

Our next stop along the "Forgotten Road" was San Miguel de Abona. This is one of the oldest towns in the south of Tenerife and it is definitely worth taking a short time to explore and stroll around.

San Miguel was inhabited by the earliest settlers of Tenerife - the Guanche. It is fascinating that as recently as 1933, they found a Guanche burial site in caves in the hills surrounding San Miguel - 70 bodies were found.

The little town is surrounded by vineyards and lots of volcanic cones on the landscape. Everywhere along the roadside, prickly pear and cactus plants are growing. The area is known for its agriculture, especially its vines and its tomatoes. Apparently there are a quite a number of foreign inhabitants in this town - especially English and German people who have renovated some of the old properties.

The main street doesn't really look very interesting or appealing, but if you just go beyond that, you will find traditional houses, narrow streets and lots of cobbles. We strolled down the hilly streets, admiring the lovely old houses on the way. Look out especially for the traditional wooden balconies and the 18th century townhouses.

The church here - the Iglesia San Miguel Arcangel is beautiful. It is a 17th century church with a quadrangle bell tower. There is a lovely dragon tree right next to the church. Take some time too to explore the street just running off the church square - there are lots of traditional mansions here.

A short drive further along is Granadilla. Like San Miguel de Abona, tourists here are virtually non-existent, so you feel as if you are seeing the real Tenerife. Again it is worth stopping here for a short time to explore and get a feel for the place. It is right on the edge of the Corona Forest, and at first glimpse looks a bit nondescript. The main street is a bit bland and modern, but if you go behind that, it is beautiful.

Calle Arquitecto Marrero was our favourite street. It is a pedestrianised street full of brightly coloured houses. At number 11, there is a little museum. It is free to go inside, all the information is in Spanish, but it seemed like it was about the history of the town. There were lots of old photographs too, we didn't really understand much, but it was just nice to go inside and explore upstairs and downstairs of one of the old houses on this street.

We found a little bar on the end of the Calle Arquitecto Marrero and decided to have some lunch here. There were a lot of local people inside, no-one spoke English but they were exceptionally friendly. We don't speak more than a smattering of Spanish, but we managed to somehow order sandwiches and beers. The food was extremely cheap, very delicious and we had a lovely hour in there with the locals.Close

The TF28 road originally linked the south of Tenerife with its capital, Santa Cruz. This was the main road before the new motorway - the TF1 was built. They built the TF1 in the 1970's. It linked Santa Cruz with the south…Read More

The TF28 road originally linked the south of Tenerife with its capital, Santa Cruz. This was the main road before the new motorway - the TF1 was built. They built the TF1 in the 1970's. It linked Santa Cruz with the south of the island, and thus greatly reduced the travelling time. The result of this is that now the TF28 is almost deserted. It is only really used by people travelling between villages or some more inquisitive travellers. We found it was a lovely, leisurely road to drive along and a great way to explore this part of Tenerife.

We picked up the TF28 after we left Arona. We drove the whole length of the road, from La Camela to Guimar, stopping where the fancy took us to admire the views or explore a little village.

La Camela was the first place we passed. This area has lots of small agricultural communities where the descendants of the Guanche have worked the land for years to make a living. La Camela has a camel park on the outskirts. They also used camels in this area in the past for livestock.

After passing through, the scenery starts to open up and get interesting. We climbed a lot, passed through Valle San Lorenzo then just outside this little town, we stopped at the Mirador de Centinela. There is a restaurant here, but more importantly, the most wonderful views. You look right down over the valley and see an interesting sight - a large number of volcanic cones rising up from the valley floor. It is incredible - at sea level you don't see them at all, only when you climb higher, then you wonder how you could have missed them. They are evidence of when the earth bubbled up and left these landmarks. They also make you think about the furnace and volcanic activity going on under your feet.

The road twists, turns and winds from this point. To the south you can see Los Cristianos - apparently poorer families in this area still lived in caves just 50 years ago.

We stopped in San Miguel de Abona, then again in Granadilla where we explored and had some lunch.

As you drive along the TF28, at times you catch sight of the TF1 motorway which runs almost parallel and just below it, it really feels as if the frantic traffic and busy road are another world away. To one side there are pine forests and mountains, to the other white pumice terrain. We were fascinated by the sheer number of caves along the road that were carved into the white pumice rock. They are everywhere. They were used at one time to keep produce (and people) cool. Look out too for the water channels and mini aqueducts all around. These were built in the 1930's to bring much needed water to this area.

The landscape got more lush as we travelled further along the road. We saw sunflowers, bougainvillea and lots of vines as well as wonderful eucalptus trees.

Just past Medida there are the most spectacular views of the valley of Guimar. The landscape opens right up in front of you as you turn the bend, the mountains, ravines and valley floor below is breath-taking and completely unexpected. Look out for the hotel, now deserted and disused, which was built in this area in the middle of a spectacular view point. I don't know why it is no longer used, but you can stop here and appreciate the views totally.

After this point, the road drops back down to the coast again and the town of Guimar - very pretty and of great interest because of its pyramids.

We spent the whole day driving along the TF28. It does not seem to feature in any tourist information or tourist trips/agendas, but we loved exploring and driving along this forgotten road.Close

Roque de las Bodegas is literally just down the hill from Taganana, along the TF134 and is right on the coast. We drove the short distance from Taganana and spent about an hour and a half in this lovely little place. It is…Read More

Roque de las Bodegas is literally just down the hill from Taganana, along the TF134 and is right on the coast. We drove the short distance from Taganana and spent about an hour and a half in this lovely little place. It is stunning, the views are amazing and I would definitely recommend a visit.

It is a quiet, small place which consists of just one street. We found parking on the roadside, and had a look at some of the little fish restaurants along the street. There are a few of these and not much else. Apparently this is a popular spot where coach tours come and unload their passengers for lunch. We arrived late in the afternoon, so did not encounter this. Instead we found the whole place blissfully deserted.

The fish restaurants are no-frills, basic places but with a lot of charm and very unspoilt. We chose one of them, sat at one of their outside tables and enjoyed the views. We did not eat here, just had drinks, but were amazed at how cheap it was.

Just a little way out in the sea is the rock which gives the town its name. It is huge, there is a walkway right next to it, and you can walk right to the end. It is very scenic - a huge, lump of rock with the most spectacular waves crashing and breaking against it. We sat next to some little fishing boats and watched other people walking out to the rock. We were glad we had done this, we saw several groups get (unexpectedly) soaked when a wave crashed over them. We walked out to the rock, but not to the end - preferring to stay dry.

The beach is wonderful too. It is black, volcanic sand and was virtually deserted when we were there. We spent a while just walking along the beach, framed with the beautiful Anaga mountains. The huge Atlantic waves were mesmerising too - some of the biggest breakers I have ever seen, we stood for ages watching them too.

This is a very unspoilt, quiet place. The scenery and the views though, are amongst some of the best I have seen, making it an absolute must-visit destination on Tenerife.Close

From Igueste, we carried on driving through the Anaga Mountains until we reached Taganana. It is only 13 km distance from Santa Cruz, but the drive takes a while because of the twisty, turning mountain roads. It is beautiful. It is easy…Read More

From Igueste, we carried on driving through the Anaga Mountains until we reached Taganana. It is only 13 km distance from Santa Cruz, but the drive takes a while because of the twisty, turning mountain roads. It is beautiful. It is easy to find your way - we drove on the TF12 following signs for Taganana, then turned right on the TF134, again following signs to the little town.

Taganana is one of the oldest settlements in Tenerife. It is also one of the most peaceful and serene places you could visit. It is fascinating to think, that only since 1968 has it been possible to drive here. Up until that time, the only way in or out of the village was either by boat or on foot. They built a tunnel through the mountains which changed that, now you can take this road and drive to Taganana.

The road twists, turns and climbs and dips a lot. It is a beautiful drive, but maybe not the best idea if you have children who get car sick. As a rule, our 9 year old does not suffer from this affliction, but he did get queasy during this journey and had to take the front seat.

When you drive through the tunnel, the huge Rock of Souls looms right in front of you - it is stunning. There is a mirador or view point close by. If you carry on driving past the viewpoint for about a mile, there is a layby and a notice board. We parked our car here, crossed the road and walked into Taganana.

The earliest settlers on Tenerife were the Guanche people. They established Taganana. The name means "rock" - pretty obvious when you see the Roque las Animas (Rock of Souls) which really does loom over the village. The whole area was (and still is) very fertile. There are fertile soils, it is lush and green with plenty of water from the forests and mountains above. The Guanche recognised it would be a perfect spot for farming. They have found various Guanche remains here, including some which showed it was the meeting place for the tribal leaders.

The town, as it is now, was established by Hispanic settlers in 1501. They relied on sugar cane and vineyards - both of these are still evident today in this area, and are the major source of the economy for Taganana.

It is a very peaceful place and very quiet. We just strolled through the old cobbled streets, admiring the old Canarian houses. In the centre, is one of the oldest churches on the island - the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de las Nieves. It was built in 1505. It is a beautiful building, there are benches outside the church, it is nice to sit there, enjoy the quietness and drink in the views of the village surrounded by the steep mountain slopes.

If you look out for signs for a path called the "Camino Real de las Vueltas", this was once a trail for people living in Taganana. They used it to walk to Santa Cruz and La Laguna and bring their wares here to sell. The trail still exists, they say there are so many twists and turns on it, that there is one for each day of the year.Close

The Anaga Mountains are right on the very north-eastern part of Tenerife. This area is completely unspoilt, not many tourists seem to venture here and when you are driving, you meet hardly any cars. This is as far from the beaches and tourist…Read More

The Anaga Mountains are right on the very north-eastern part of Tenerife. This area is completely unspoilt, not many tourists seem to venture here and when you are driving, you meet hardly any cars. This is as far from the beaches and tourist resorts as you can get, it really feels like you have entered another world.

We left Las Teresitas beach and drove towards the village of Igueste. This is in the mountains, as soon as you start climbing, the scenery changes and becomes rocky and dramatic. Igueste is only 7 km away from Las Teresitas, but it takes a little while to drive there. It is worth paying a visit to this small and quiet village. You need to drive until you can go no further - the road ends here. It is untouched by tourism. We drove right to the end of the road, parked our car near the bus stop and got out to explore. The setting is beautiful - right in the mountains. Walk up the slope behind the bus-stop until you come to the little church - Iglesia San Pedro. It is beautiful with a statue of Christ on the roof with arms outstretched. It is a bit like a miniature version of the famous Rio de Janeiro statue. The backdrop with the mountains and the statue in front makes a perfect scene.

The Anaga Mountains, though a dramatic, remote wilderness are a good place to drive. The road can be steep and winding at times, but it is well maintained and very safe. Our 9 year old, at times, did feel a little travel sick, but we loved the journey.

The Anaga Mountains are actually, geologically speaking, the oldest part of Tenerife. They were formed 8 million years ago as a result of volcanic activity. Everywhere you look there are rocky pinnacles, ravines and nature at its best. It is very green. This part of the island gets more rain than the south and when we visited, there was a lot of cloud around, but the green landscape makes up for this. There are lots of misty forests and tiny settlements perched on the edge of the mountains.

If you drive along the TF12, be sure to head for Pico del Ingles. There are the most wonderful views to be had from here. You can see La Laguna, the North Airport, Santa Cruz and even Mount Teide. There are miradors (view points) everywhere, you are spoilt for choice where to stop and take a picture. Be sure though, no matter how deserted the place seems, that you lock your car and take all your belongings with you. I left an empty bag on the back seat of our car and it was stolen in the time it took us to take a picture. Despite the remote and beautiful location, there is some petty crime here.

At Cruz del Carmen there is a very good visitors centre. It has displays and information about the mountains, wildlife, plants etc.. They also have really good (free) walking guides. There is a little church here too and what looked like a nice restaurant. If you go behind the restaurant there is a lovely viewpoint. You look down over the little village of Chinamada - apparently lots of its inhabitants still live in caves! Look out for lizards here too - we saw some really huge ones.

We loved exploring these wonderful mountains. Everywhere you look there is a picture postcard view. It felt like we were the only people around, it is so removed from the tourist trail. The landscape is breath-takingly beautiful, the twists and turns in the road bring you to yet another wonderful and unforgettable vista.

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Santa Cruz is the capital of Tenerife, and since 1982, has been the joint capital of the Canary Islands. We spent a very pleasant morning in this lovely city.It took us about 1.5 hours to drive to Santa Cruz from our base in Alcala…Read More

Santa Cruz is the capital of Tenerife, and since 1982, has been the joint capital of the Canary Islands. We spent a very pleasant morning in this lovely city.

It took us about 1.5 hours to drive to Santa Cruz from our base in Alcala on the south-west of the island. It is quite a long journey, but mostly motorway - the motorway is well-maintained and driving on it is pleasant and easy.

The first thing we saw as we drove into the city was the unmistakeable Auditorio de Tenerife. This huge and impressive building looks a bit like the Sydney Opera House. It opened in 2003 and is known as the Tsunami Wave or the Trojan Helmet, depending on which angle you view it from. I couldn't understand this - when I saw the building I got it! It was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and is home to the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra. They have different performances of all types here - ballet, rock, opera etc..

We found a little car-park with an attendant near the auditorium and left our car there. The attendant told us it wasn't far to the centre, it took us about 10 minutes of easy walking. The cost was very reasonable - 2 Euros per hour. He pointed out the black and white church tower in the city centre, which we used as our landmark. The church is the Iglesia de la Concepcion - the original "holy cross" of the name Santa Cruz is apparently held here.

We found the Plaza Espana very easily - this is the main square in Santa Cruz. It is lined with restaurants and cafes, in the centre is a stone watch tower and a huge sculpture. The sculpture has very impressive 9 feet high bronze swordsmen around it. It is dedicated to the victims of the Spanish Civil War. There is a little lake behind, framed by the mountains and is a beautiful scene. You should have a view across to the port as well - unfortunately when we were there, major construction work was going on and there was scaffolding everywhere. We couldn't walk along the harbour or see anything that side.

Santa Cruz has plenty of historical significance. Francisco Franco, Captain General of the Canary Islands rose up from his position in Santa Cruz in the 20th century to overcome the Spanish government and start the Spanish Civil War.

When we had explored the Plaza Espana, near the sculpture, we saw a sign pointing underground to the old city walls. We went down the steps, expecting to see old walls but found the most interesting little museum. It was free to go inside, they had bits of the old walls on display but so much more too. The display information was in a number of different languages, they had information about Santa Cruz and its formation, a display about the castle that originally stood here and El Tigre - the cannon which supposedly fired the shot that injured Nelson and cost him his arm. In 1497, the British fleet, led by Admiral Lord Nelson attacked Santa Cruz. It was a stop-over on sea routes for trade with the New World so was of great strategic importance. The British were defeated, Nelson took shrapnel in his left arm from El Tigre, his arm was later amputated.

On leaving Santa Cruz, we drove along the harbour and saw some more interesting statues and sculptures. El Muro is a sculpture of 6 male figures which look as if they are holding up a section of wall. Look out too for the winged angel statue - this is a monument to General Franco.

Santa Cruz is a major stop for international cruise ships. They are moored off the outer wall - we only saw 2 medium sized ships during our visit. Apparently 4 million cruise passengers come here every year and the Queen Mary II berthed here on her maiden voyage in 2004.

We spent a lovely morning in Santa Cruz. You don't need a map, it is easy to find your way around and is the type of place where I think it is best to just stroll, enjoy the lovely architecture and stop in one of the many plazas for a drink and a rest. The views everywhere of the Anaga Mountain range are stunning - geologically this is the oldest land in Tenerife, they frame this lovely city perfectly and are a gorgeous backdrop.Close

This hotel caters brilliantly for children and is the ultimate family destination. Children of all ages are catered for and every day brought lots of new and fun activities for our son.If your children like swimming, there are 2 swimming pools especially for them.…Read More

This hotel caters brilliantly for children and is the ultimate family destination. Children of all ages are catered for and every day brought lots of new and fun activities for our son.

If your children like swimming, there are 2 swimming pools especially for them. The family pool - quite large, heated and in a lovely location was where we spent most of our time with our 9 year old. The age range varied in this pool, there were some little children but generally it seemed to be most popular with 6-12 year olds. You were not allowed to bring inflatable pool toys, children splashed around and swam and generally had a great time.

The Pirate Pool catered more for younger children and had a gentler atmosphere. It was in the shape of a big pirate ship with lots of little water slides, water jets and splash areas. You were allowed to bring inflatable pool toys here.

Near the family pool is the Play House. This was decorated and themed beautifully. They offered supervised play sessions, each lasting about an hour, every day. This was included in the cost, you didn't pay extra, and children could pick and choose sessions they wanted to attend. Our son attended a Magic Tricks session, made a ghost puppet and had an hour of fun. If your children don't want to attend the supervised sessions, there are times throughout the day when you can use the Play House as a family. We did this twice. Inside there is a Silly Science Lab where you can carry out experiments, a Kitchen area and an arts and crafts area. They had lots of children's books, beanbags and things to play with.

There was also a teenage area - they had some computers, a table football game, a couple of slot machines and air hockey machine.

The sports hub offered a lot of activities for children too - football tournaments, tennis coaching, archery sessions and more. They had a water based activity every day too - our 9 year old tried water walking and sea scooters. The sea scooters were particularly fun - the children were whizzing around underwater holding these, acting like James Bond.

At the back of the hotel, just off the coastal path is a lovely playground area. It is right next to the sea, the views are amazing and is a great place to play. It does not actually belong to the hotel, but was never busy when we went there. They have climbing apparatus, swings, slides and more.

One of the days during our stay was wet and stormy. This is supposedly very unusual and almost unheard of for this area. The hotel staff were fantastic though. They organised children's movies to be shown all day in the big theatre, as well as different games sessions. Our son took part in Hallowe'en games which were a lot of fun.

In the evenings, there was a children's show every night - Play House Live. It was described to be a bit like Saturday morning children's television. The presenter on stage was a bit zany and wacky, sometimes they had a pop band, there was a quiz every evening and it was all very lively and lots of fun.

In addtion to this, every evening in one of the rooms just off the main square at the hotel, they had a "family lounge area." There was a huge inflatable climbing wall, a bouncy castle, arts and crafts area and a giant screen showing children's movies. Parents were in charge of supervising their own children. There were tables and chairs for parents to sit, drinks were served and it was a great place for children to let off steam after dinner, meet their friends while their parents relaxed over a drink.

We thought the facilities for children at the hotel were first class. The main judge though was our 9 year old, who declared this hotel and all the things to do here, made this the best holiday he had ever had!!Close

There is so much to do in this hotel, you could almost fill a fortnight with the different activities they lay on. We were certainly spoilt for choice and had to make some tough decisions in order to be able to fit in enough…Read More

There is so much to do in this hotel, you could almost fill a fortnight with the different activities they lay on. We were certainly spoilt for choice and had to make some tough decisions in order to be able to fit in enough sightseeing.

There are 5 swimming pools in total. 2 of these are family pools which cater especially for children, but the remainder are adult focussed. There is a Red Level pool - adults only, the Red Level zone being an upgraded area of the hotel for those aged 18 plus. It is their premium area, but you get some luxurious extras such as butler service, use of this Red Level pool and a private restaurant and bar.

There is a further adult pool and the piece de resistance - the infinity pool. This is really beautiful - 600 feet long, it seems to stretch endlessly. It is saltwater and was a little chilly (the other pools are heated), but you did get used to it. It was never very busy, and even when the other pools were bustling, this one let you get away from everyone. There are in-water sunbeds, whirlpools and jets - it is superb.

If you are the sporty type or just want a little gentle exercise on holidays, there was something to suit both extremes. Different activities were on offer at the pools - water aerobics etc. or you could try waterwalking - a bit like being a hamster in a giant ball floating on the infinity pool.

Across the road from the hotel was their sports hub. Here they had permanent staff who could tell you more about what was on offer, book a personal training session, give you advice on diet/lifestyle tips etc.. There were tennis courts, football courts and lots of activities on offer too. They ran zumba classes, pilates, paddle tennis and football tournaments, tennis tournaments and yoga. They offered bicycles for hire which you could then use to cycle along the coastal path that runs behind the hotel. There were archery sessions and spinning classes too. You could use the gym or book a personal trainer for a training session. Everything was included in the cost, some activities did have to be booked.

If you wanted to take part in activities that were not sports related, there was something to suit this as well. They ran sushi-making classes, wine tasting and cocktail making amongst other things. Again this was included and you did not have to pay extra.

There was a big spa at the hotel - use of the facilities here was extra. It was extremely luxurious with water therapy pool, steam room, sauna, flotation tank and relaxation area. They offered a whole range of treatments here, or in a separate "Bali massage area" they had quaint massage huts where you could book in for that type of treatment. One of our friends had a massage here and thought it was fantastic.

There are lots of sunbeds available throughout the hotel, but if you wanted something a bit more special you could book one of their Bali beds. This was like a huge, outdoor, four poster bed, located by the pools. You paid an extra charge for this, but got to use the bed all day long and they brought you champagne, fruit platters, newspapers and water.

The local village of Alcala is just over 5 minutes walk away. You can stroll there along the coastal path at the back of the hotel. It is a lovely walk, gorgeous views over the ocean and shaded partly by trees. In Alcala there are lots of little bars and restaurants and a few shops. Monday mornings they have the local market - surprisingly good and worth a look. One bar we loved was El Rincon. Just off the market square, they had the best mojitos I have ever tasted for just 3 euros.

If you walk in the opposite direction to Alcala, through a banana plantation and back along the coastal path, you get to Los Gigantes, a bigger resort. It is a lot further - about 50 minutes walk, but also nice to do. If you don't fancy hiking back, there is a bus which leaves Los Gigantes and passes the hotel twice an hour. It takes about 20 minutes and costs about 1 Euro. The times of the buses are not that reliable, but generally there are 2 an hour.

The hotel is absolutely wonderful. Some people spent their whole time relaxing and enjoying the sunshine, some were super-active and worked out a lot, others (like us) did a little bit of both - relaxing and swimming in the infinity pool and taking part in a few of the activities that took our fancy. The great thing is that there is so much on offer to pick from.Close

Dining at this hotel is a sumptuous experience - wonderful food, beautiful surroundings and plenty of choice. We stayed here 14 nights, ate breakfast and dinner in the hotel every evening, lunch there 5 times but never felt bored or tired of the food.We…Read More

Dining at this hotel is a sumptuous experience - wonderful food, beautiful surroundings and plenty of choice. We stayed here 14 nights, ate breakfast and dinner in the hotel every evening, lunch there 5 times but never felt bored or tired of the food.

We had booked the Full Board Plus package - this meant we got 3 meals a day with house wine, beer and soft drinks included with lunch and dinner.

Breakfast is served in the Pangea restaurant. There is a big indoor seating area and a reasonably large outdoor area with views over a little lake. Most mornings we did get to sit outside. The choice at breakfast was superb - a huge array of cooked foods (sausages, bacon etc.), eggs cooked any way you wanted (fried eggs cooked by the chef to order), a big selection of breads, many types of pastries, fruit juices, huge platters of tropical fruit and Cava on ice. They really did have everything you could want for breakfast - lots of children gorged on pancakes with chocolate sauce by the ladelful.

Lunch for us could be taken in any of three restaurants. We chose to go to Pangea again most days. The buffet style experience here suited us best as a family. Lunches were also delicious and full of choice. There was lots of salad, seafood and fish, soups, stews, breads and plenty of cooked options. Definitely something for everybody.

In total, the hotel has 7 restaurants. On our package, dinner was included in 4 of them. We had to pay in the other 3, but would have received a 25% discount off the bill. The buffet style Pangea is the only restaurant you do not have to book in advance. Booking is easy and hassle free though - there is a machine in the lobby, you use this to make your reservation.

We ate most evenings in Pangea. The choice was wonderful. There were lots of salads, seafood, soups etc.. for starters. Main course choices were also extensive, as well as this they had a fish chef to cook your fish to order, a chef who specialised in wok dishes and stir fries (again cooked to order) and a meat chef to cook your meat choices to order. Desserts were a work of art - exquisite and beautiful to look at, as well as being delicious. There was an ice-cream "wheel" with about 20 flavours of ice cream and a chocolate fountain. If you wanted a healthier option for dessert - there was fruit aplenty. Staff were friendly and helpful, although sometimes, especially in the indoor section, drinks were a little slow to arrive.

The Oasis Pool Grille restaurant serves Mediterranean type dishes by the main pool. This restaurant has to be booked in advance. We ate here about 4 times - it had a lovely atmosphere, waiter service and a stunning view over the infinity pool. The views in the evening were breath-taking.

Club Ocean serves Italian food in a trendy glass cube style restaurant. Waiting staff here were really top knotch, it had a much more "upmarket" and sophisticated air than the other restaurants, but children were welcome. The food was exquisite and choice was excellent. The only problem was this restaurant was extremely popular, booked up very quickly and we only managed to get 1 reservation here in our 2 weeks.

The Market Grill serves meat and fish dishes. You can have lunch here as well. We ate here on a Friday night. Fridays is barbeque night here - there was a lovely atmosphere and a Cuban band playing. We loved that evening.

There are 3 other restaurants - they looked nice, but we didn't try them, being happy with the others that were included in our package. Nami is an Oriental/Japanese style restaurant with a sushi bar and tepanyaki table; Duo described itself as "fine dining" and there was a "Red Level" restaurant for adults only.

We were thoroughly impressed with the dining options at this hotel. Food was excellent, there was so much choice (not just with the food but also with the location) and everywhere had a relaxed air. People tended to dress reasonably formally for dinner, but that gave it a special feeling. Children were welcome in all restaurants we used, there was something to suit even the pickiest and faddiest eater.Close

LANZAROTE-A PLEASANT SURPRISEI’m very glad that we chose Lanzarote for our spring holiday. I was surprised by just how much we all enjoyed this holiday and liked this welcoming island. THE CANARY ISLANDS The Canary Islands or Islas Canarias, are owned by Spain. The name…Read More

LANZAROTE-A PLEASANT SURPRISE


I’m very glad that we chose Lanzarote for our spring holiday. I was surprised by just how much we all enjoyed this holiday and liked this welcoming island.

THE CANARY ISLANDS

The Canary Islands or Islas Canarias, are owned by Spain. The name has more to do with dogs (dog is 'canis' in Latin) than canaries (as in birds) and there are several theories to the canine link. It is said that the romans encountered many fierce dogs when they invaded, but another theory is that before this the island of Gran Canaria was named after its dog population and another idea is that the islands were named after 'dog seals' inhabiting the sea around the islands.

The Canaries are situated in the Atlantic Ocean and lie quite close to North Africa. The main islands in this group are, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura.

The Islands have two capitals, Santa Cruz (Tenerife) and Las Palmas (Gran Canaria)

On his travels in 1492 (while sailing the ocean blue) Christopher Columbus stopped at the islands to replenish supplies for his ships The Pinta, The Niña and The Santa María.

LANZAROTE

The largest island is Tenerife and Lanzarote is the fourth largest, being thirty-seven miles (60km) long and 12 miles (20 km) wide. Lanzarote is the most eastern of the Canaries, lying about seventy-nine miles from the coast of North Africa.

The capital is Arrecife and the airport is situated here.

The islands are volcanic in origin and this made the flight to Lanzarote very interesting as the plane glided low over the islands and we and could make out the strange volcanic formations seen through the clouds.

WEATHER

Lanzarote offers a pleasant temperature all year round. It is at its hottest in July through to September with an average temperature in these months of 24deg (75 f) in July, 25deg (77f) in August, 25deg in September, although temperatures reach highs of 28/29 degrees in August.

The lowest temperatures are in January when mostly it will be around 17deg (63f) but I do know several regular visitors to the island in January who say they wear shorts and vest tops when here quite often.

The most rain will fall in January.

The sea temperature is warmest in August.

The most hours of daily sunshine will occur in July with thirteen hours of sunshine to be enjoyed.

We were in Lanzarote for the first week of June and the temperature reached at least 26 degrees. This was a very pleasant temperature owing to the welcome breeze. The weather was warm enough for summer holiday clothes with a cardigan or lightweight jacket being sometimes desirable of an evening. It was hot enough to sunbathe; we needed sunscreen whilst walking about although we did get burnt on one very overcast day whilst walking around and about.

While we were there some days started off overcast but after a while the sun would appear and the sky would turn into a beautiful blue. I thought the weather here would have been perfect for a holiday if it wasn't for the fact that the sea temperature was so cold. I'm used to a dip in the med but the Atlantic in early June wasn't warm enough for us to venture in; we were only brave enough to paddle! Also, the unheated pools in our complex were pretty painful to swim in although we were brave enough to swim for a short while every day. Rainfall is low but we did feel a few drops. Annual rainfall in Lanzarote is 140mm (5.5 inches).

BEACHES

As Lanzarote is volcanic in origin some of the beaches are of coarse black sand but for access into the sea many are ideal as the sand feels smooth enough underfoot and the water is clear. There are also beaches with almost white sand such as Playa Blanca.

NIGHTLIFE

We didn't go here for the nightlife but knew this was available for party animals in many places on this island. However, we were staying in a family resort and our evenings mainly consisted of dining out and enjoying a drink or two, whilst having a chat.

There are several lively resorts such as Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise where, if you've the energy, you can boogie until dawn in a choice of bars and clubs.

RESORTS

There are many places to visit and to stay in Lanzarote but the most popular resorts are Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise.

Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca still retain traces of the small fishing villages they used to be. We stayed in Matagorda near to Puerto del Carmen and, although Matagorda is small, I liked it and thought there was plenty of facilities for us.

Puerto Del Carmen

This is the biggest resort and was pleasant in June but I would think that it probably gets very busy in July and August. There really is so much here; beaches, restaurants, clubs and shopping galore.

Costa Teguise

If you want sandy beaches and lots of facilities then this may suit you. It isn't quite as busy as Puerto del Carmen but has a great choice of restaurants, bars and facilities.

Playa Blanca

This resort seems to be the one that is the most 'up and coming' and is growing in popularity and in facilities. It has a marina.

TAXIS/BUSES

I thought transport in the area of Lanzarote that we stayed in to be very good. Bus fares were reasonable and there were plenty of buses around but we found that taxi fares were so cheap that it worked out easier and sometimes cheaper for four of us to share a taxi. Taxis stopped outside our complex and were always in good supply so travelling this way was ideal. Wherever we went taxis could be seen. Our taxi journeys cost from Euro3 to Euro5. Taxis were fitted with, and used, meters, were clean, comfortable and had seat belts fitted.

A popular mode of transport seemed to be bicycles for locals and tourists alike.

OVERALL

I liked this island and was surprised how impressed I was. I loved the pretty white villas with their bright painted window shutters and verandas. Almost all buildings are low rise, in line with their government's regulations. Bougainvillea can be seen everywhere, climbing and weaving its way upon walls and trellises. Profusions of other flora can be seen and some exotic, to my eye.

From the outside of our complex we could see a view stretching for miles which, to me, when looking at distant rooftops and white buildings the feel seemed to be a mixture of Spanish and North African in flavour.

I loved the climate. Some days began cloudy but we enjoyed plenty of sunshine every day and enjoyed the heat which was cooled by the welcome breeze.

As walking wasn't easy for myself, making a slow recovery from a knee dislocation, this island suited me well. Many areas are pedestrianized and, even those that aren't are usually well tended and mostly made level. The island is hilly but ramps and steps are commonplace.

We found most restaurants, shops and bars friendly, reasonably priced and very family friendly. We didn't have children with us but the patience and love shown to children by the islanders is wonderful. It is a very family friendly place although not having young children in my nuclear family would actually deter me from visiting her in the busy season as we were told by a restaurant owner that in August Lanzarote is, "Boiling hot and full of kids!" But then again we were in a family resort; there are resorts more suited to couples and singles.

We considered eating out here cheaper than in Cyprus and Greece and its Islands, which is where we mostly travel to. Also the prices in shops were cheaper, we felt. But, as there were two vegetarians in our party we were surprised at the lack of vegetarian options on menus in many restaurants; it was non-existent in our complex.

If I visit Lanzarote again, and I do intend to, then I would probably not go an all-inclusive basis as the island is full of reasonably priced and varied types of restaurants, usually reasonable priced.

I thought that the island was clean, friendly, felt safe and was well organised.
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