lanzarotte questions
- Thread starter BadSanta
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The San Antonio Hotel is a good quality hotel and is on the beach with perhaps a 10 minute walk to the old town. However, it is the perfect place to laze, stretch arms and legs under canopy while enjoying drink at half our prices.
By the way I would suggest when returning to Ireland you buy booze and cigarettes only as most of the stuff sold out there (especially cd players etc - electronic and electrical) will fall apart even before you get to the airport. Most of the Asian shop owners in Lanzarote are family connected and see the spending Irish as easy prey. Dont buy anything from them or you will be disappointed.
By the way I would suggest when returning to Ireland you buy booze and cigarettes only as most of the stuff sold out there (especially cd players etc - electronic and electrical) will fall apart even before you get to the airport. Most of the Asian shop owners in Lanzarote are family connected and see the spending Irish as easy prey. Dont buy anything from them or you will be disappointed.
San Antonia is a lovely hotel at the airport end of Puerto del Carmen. The only other comparable hotel is the Fairones which is situated toward the old town. We normally go to puerto del c in oct/nov and never had any problems. please check the temperatures so that you will be happy with the heat!!!
As a first timer you'll probably love it. It's safe, clean, still fairly cheap and plenty of bars/restaurants. Not the same level of lout element that you might get in many resorts either.
In general I would agree about the 'electronic' shops but there are some reputable ones - your holiday rep. should be able to advise.
lanzarote is fab, being going for past 5/6 years, portdelcarmen is the busiest resort, playa blanca is a quieter, smaller version of pdc, costa teguise is much more windy and a lot of surfers go to this area.. its a beautiful island, plenty do and see for adults and kids alike, we absolutely love it back to pdc to same apts on 6th july and cant wait.. restaurants etc great value.. not mad into the lani's chain, all over the island but at same time we neverr really got a bad meal in any place over the years..
The San Antonio has lots of reviews on tripadvisor.ie just enter "san antonio hotel, lanzarote" in the Search box. We stayed just up the road from it last year and used several of the facilities as well as being our pick up sport for sight seeing tours (you won't get me up on a camel again). Very nice hotel and a great location as it's on the beach and a short bus or taxi ride to the port area.
K
knockainey
Guest
I go to Lanzarote in November of each year and stay at the Fariones, if you have kids there is a great kids club. Its situated on the beach and therefore great to access the beach quickly. Love the island but would agree about the shops and show owners, some of them are only out to get you, I know from experience!
Take the Day trip that includes that visit. That house is amazing.
+1 on the electronic shops.
Have to agree about the Irish bars, I've heard from a few people who have been over there recently that at least three Irish bars have closed in the past few months, maybe something to do with the excessive prices they charge in comparison to the non-Irish establishments. Anyway, apart from all that negativety, we go to Lanzarote at least twice a year and have to agree that it's a lovely relaxed spot with none of the lager lout element that you find in some other places.
San Antonio Hotel is lovely at the edge of town - however nice walk along promenade all way into PDC or on boardwalk to Matagorda, Arrecife etc. Taxis quite cheap.
Lovely restaurants all over PDC, especially in the Old Town. Not mad on Lani's either. Irish pubs a rip off, however some do have half-decent music sessions and kids allowed in most.
Hire a car for a couple of days to explore the island, Manrique house, Volcanos etc. Approx €20 per day car hire. Lovely cliff walk from PDC to Puerto Calero (lots of nice restaurants here also).
Supermarket fresh food not exactly cheap (as mostly imported) but good deals in wine, beer, cigs, meats, serrano hams, etc.
BTW, there is a lovely restaurant in PDC called "Santas" !
Lovely restaurants all over PDC, especially in the Old Town. Not mad on Lani's either. Irish pubs a rip off, however some do have half-decent music sessions and kids allowed in most.
Hire a car for a couple of days to explore the island, Manrique house, Volcanos etc. Approx €20 per day car hire. Lovely cliff walk from PDC to Puerto Calero (lots of nice restaurants here also).
Supermarket fresh food not exactly cheap (as mostly imported) but good deals in wine, beer, cigs, meats, serrano hams, etc.
BTW, there is a lovely restaurant in PDC called "Santas" !
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We've been over & back to Lanzarote every few months for years. PdC is the main "haunt" of the Irish and the San Antonio is a lovely hotel. As people have said check out tripadvisor or holidaywatchdog. Also good is hotelstreet.co.uk which pinpoints very well the location on map of the relevant hotel/apartments. The San Antonio is . It has it's own access direct to the beach which very few other hotels have since most others ( excepting the San Antonio, the Fariones Playa & Hotel Fariones and the Las Vélasquez apartments ) are across the main Avenida from the beach so with the San Antonio you don't have to cross the road to get to the beach.
As to restaurants, in PdC there was another thread on that a while back here . There is something in PdC for all tastes but the best selection are probably in the old town harbour. ( excepting Quentins which is top class and is along Calle Juan Carlos 1 ) The old town is a good walk from the San Antonio ( about 3 km along the main Avenida ) but a nice walk on a warm night. Taxi's are cheap as chipps anyways. For something cheap & cheerful you can't beat [broken link removed]in the old town near the boules court . For something more upmarket or if you're a fish foodie the [broken link removed]on the cliff in the old town is always excellent even if the Maitre d' is a bit of a grump. La Cascada Puerto ( just down the street from the Biosphere Shopping Centre) is the place if you're into T-Bone steaks or any good quality meat dishes. I think they just cut off the horns and tail and throw the rest on the BBQ ! There is no way anyone could ever finish one.
I'd also echo getting out and seeing the island. Anyone who goes to PdC or Playa Blanca (PB) or Costa Teguise (CT) and stays in the resort without seeing the island is missing the whole point of it. To be honest the resorts look like they could be anywhere in Spain ( with the exception of no high rises) but there are natural and man made wonders on the island which should not be missed. Check out
The Lanzarote Gazette is a free monthly english language publication which you can pick up out there.
www.discoverlanzarote.com or for info on the island
www.pdcreview.co.uk for info on Puerto del Carmen & it's hotels / restaurants etc.
www.cesarmanrique.com for info on Lanzarote's most famous son César Manrique, the artist who was heavily responsible for limiting development and instead concentrated on developing the islands cultural heritage and ultimately getting it recognised as a world natural reserve site. (Reserva de Biosfera) He got the planning rules in limiting upward development to 3 storeys, the whitewashed houses with green windows/doors and white with blue for coastal areas. The many moving sculptures on the roundabouts are his creations and the ceramic tiles seen everywhere with Manrique designs on.
Some of the natural wonders not to be missed are
Timanfaya park - the volcanic reserve ( forget the camels do the bus tour which is included in your entry ticket for about €6 pp )
and the - cave and volcanic plume structures, the caves are dramatic with an unforgettable finale ( can't say here as would spoil the effect )
El Golfo - a fluorescent green lagoon on the west of the island in the remains of a volcanic caldera
The papagayo beaches in the south west near Playa Blanca ( perfect if you want that all over tan ! )
Mirador del Rio a viewpoint at the north of the island overlooking Isla Graciosa and Isla Graciosa itself ( Isla Graciosa is 20 mins by local small ferry from Orzola makes a lovely day out )
[broken link removed]- another Manrique creation near Mala on the east coast, if you're into Cactus / succulents this is the place for you.
If you're a wine buff check out the local tipples.
El Grifo www.elgrifo.com ( their nicest is the Malvasia Blanco Seco a dry white at 13%) La Geria & Vega de Yuco.
The vines , largely growing the malvasia grape are grown in hollows in the ground with a layer of volcanic chippings covering the soil.
As others have said stay away from the electronic shops. They are an unfortunate blight on the commerical landscape. Buy and be burnt.
Car hire is cheap, average €50 for 2 days in astra or similar with full insce. Petrol is c. 80cent/litre. A very reputable company would be
Cabrera Medina / Cicar www.cabreramedina.com Other good companies would be Autos Féber & Posh Cars. Bear in mind the island is small, only about 50km long and 20km wide so it's easy to see lots in 2-3 days.
Supermarkets are not cheap although there are a few ( if you have car) near Playa Honda "Deiland", and "Hiperdino" that are better value than others. Locally in PdC the Netto chain (yellow and black logo) which would be akin to Spar or Mace has good fresh food but again is not any cheaper than home but that's usually not a major problem when you're only there for a week or two. Fresh fruit can be expensive since everything ( except tomatoes) is imported. Pasteurised homoginised milk can be a problem, UHT is commonplace. Some shops have 1 litre cartons ( think the writing is green or blue) of "Leche pasturiseé" (not homoginised) but they rarely last more than a day.
You can do daytrips on bus if you don't want hassle of car. Last Minute Travel have offices in PdC for a variety of tours. There is also one that does Fuerteventura if you want to try a day off Lanzarote. I think the tour is €50 pp and covers bus tour to PB , the ferry ( about 30 mins ) across to Corralejo in Fuerte and tour of Fuerte before heading back to Lanz in the evening.
Just something, the main Avenida has been undergoing upgrate / roadworks for over a year now and the bottom end by the Fariones is still pulled up. It just means a bit of round the houses for driving but that's only a minor thing.
The beach in PdC ( called the Playa Grande or the Playa Blanca ( white beach) and not to be confused with the town PB is long and clean with plenty of facilities, sunbeds etc. for hire 2 x sunbeds & parasol is €8 total for the day. It is supervised and very safe. You can easily head there, spend an hour or two, go less than 50 metres to a restaurant for lunch then back to the beach for a snooze - what more can you want ! Incidentally the sand on the Playa Grande is normal white sand unlike the sand on some other beaches in the west of the island at Janubio or near El Golfo which is black volcanic sand.
Another thing, there is a street market in the old capital Teguise every Sunday morning. You can get buses through your hotel or if you have a car just head for La Asomada from PdC then right along the wine route past El Grifo to Teguise. It's only about 15km from PdC. It's frantic and crowded but lots of fun especially if you enjoy haggling. Also PB has a much smaller but very nice market in the Marina Rubicón every Wednesday morning. Everything from linen and fake Rolexes to souvenirs at both markets.
If you must visit Irish pubs then you could do worse than visit The Rare Auld Times in the old town harbour ( owned by the lads from the Dublin City Ramblers ), The Harbour Bar, again in the old town or the compact ( I mean a Fiat Punto has more room inside ) Irish Times again in the old town , say hello to Liam Greene. There is also The Irish Viking just off the main Avenida ( near Los Hibiscos apartments) . There's also The Kinsale in Matagorda not far from The San Antonio. If you want your home cooked beef /steak & chips this is the place to go.
One last thing, Lanzarote is known for the wind. ( which has nothing to do with the large amount of beans often seen on the "full Irish breakfast" for €2.50 ! ) There is a local saying " The day the wind stops blowing on the island is the day the island stops being Lanzarote". The island sits right in the middle of the path of the trade winds which blow from the north east from direction of the Sahara and can sometimes be very strong. October is the only month when it does not normally blow. That being said, October in Lanzarote can sometimes be hotter than July. If you want good sunshine anything later than October is pushing it as it gets dark quickly and if the wind is up you'd think you were on the Cliffs of Moher.
One final final point about coming home , the airport authorities in Arrecife have a bit of a thing about weight, no it's ok not yourself, just your baggage. Sometimes there will be another "official" next to the check in girl/guy at the airport and woe betide anyone over their baggage allowance. They often do these checks and charge €6 or €8 a kilo if you're overweight. Non negotiable. So the thing is go to an empty check in desk and stick the bags on the scales to check the weight before or even while in the queue and if you're over your weight then start putting clothes on fast ! That was more of an issue in last few years but things are quieter in Lanz now so they have been a bit less awkward but could still happen.
Enjoy.
PS I don't work for the Lanzarote Tourist Board but I'm hoping for a part-time post sometime in next few years
As to restaurants, in PdC there was another thread on that a while back here . There is something in PdC for all tastes but the best selection are probably in the old town harbour. ( excepting Quentins which is top class and is along Calle Juan Carlos 1 ) The old town is a good walk from the San Antonio ( about 3 km along the main Avenida ) but a nice walk on a warm night. Taxi's are cheap as chipps anyways. For something cheap & cheerful you can't beat [broken link removed]in the old town near the boules court . For something more upmarket or if you're a fish foodie the [broken link removed]on the cliff in the old town is always excellent even if the Maitre d' is a bit of a grump. La Cascada Puerto ( just down the street from the Biosphere Shopping Centre) is the place if you're into T-Bone steaks or any good quality meat dishes. I think they just cut off the horns and tail and throw the rest on the BBQ ! There is no way anyone could ever finish one.
I'd also echo getting out and seeing the island. Anyone who goes to PdC or Playa Blanca (PB) or Costa Teguise (CT) and stays in the resort without seeing the island is missing the whole point of it. To be honest the resorts look like they could be anywhere in Spain ( with the exception of no high rises) but there are natural and man made wonders on the island which should not be missed. Check out
The Lanzarote Gazette is a free monthly english language publication which you can pick up out there.
www.discoverlanzarote.com or for info on the island
www.pdcreview.co.uk for info on Puerto del Carmen & it's hotels / restaurants etc.
www.cesarmanrique.com for info on Lanzarote's most famous son César Manrique, the artist who was heavily responsible for limiting development and instead concentrated on developing the islands cultural heritage and ultimately getting it recognised as a world natural reserve site. (Reserva de Biosfera) He got the planning rules in limiting upward development to 3 storeys, the whitewashed houses with green windows/doors and white with blue for coastal areas. The many moving sculptures on the roundabouts are his creations and the ceramic tiles seen everywhere with Manrique designs on.
Some of the natural wonders not to be missed are
Timanfaya park - the volcanic reserve ( forget the camels do the bus tour which is included in your entry ticket for about €6 pp )
and the - cave and volcanic plume structures, the caves are dramatic with an unforgettable finale ( can't say here as would spoil the effect )
El Golfo - a fluorescent green lagoon on the west of the island in the remains of a volcanic caldera
The papagayo beaches in the south west near Playa Blanca ( perfect if you want that all over tan ! )
Mirador del Rio a viewpoint at the north of the island overlooking Isla Graciosa and Isla Graciosa itself ( Isla Graciosa is 20 mins by local small ferry from Orzola makes a lovely day out )
[broken link removed]- another Manrique creation near Mala on the east coast, if you're into Cactus / succulents this is the place for you.
If you're a wine buff check out the local tipples.
El Grifo www.elgrifo.com ( their nicest is the Malvasia Blanco Seco a dry white at 13%) La Geria & Vega de Yuco.
The vines , largely growing the malvasia grape are grown in hollows in the ground with a layer of volcanic chippings covering the soil.
As others have said stay away from the electronic shops. They are an unfortunate blight on the commerical landscape. Buy and be burnt.
Car hire is cheap, average €50 for 2 days in astra or similar with full insce. Petrol is c. 80cent/litre. A very reputable company would be
Cabrera Medina / Cicar www.cabreramedina.com Other good companies would be Autos Féber & Posh Cars. Bear in mind the island is small, only about 50km long and 20km wide so it's easy to see lots in 2-3 days.
Supermarkets are not cheap although there are a few ( if you have car) near Playa Honda "Deiland", and "Hiperdino" that are better value than others. Locally in PdC the Netto chain (yellow and black logo) which would be akin to Spar or Mace has good fresh food but again is not any cheaper than home but that's usually not a major problem when you're only there for a week or two. Fresh fruit can be expensive since everything ( except tomatoes) is imported. Pasteurised homoginised milk can be a problem, UHT is commonplace. Some shops have 1 litre cartons ( think the writing is green or blue) of "Leche pasturiseé" (not homoginised) but they rarely last more than a day.
You can do daytrips on bus if you don't want hassle of car. Last Minute Travel have offices in PdC for a variety of tours. There is also one that does Fuerteventura if you want to try a day off Lanzarote. I think the tour is €50 pp and covers bus tour to PB , the ferry ( about 30 mins ) across to Corralejo in Fuerte and tour of Fuerte before heading back to Lanz in the evening.
Just something, the main Avenida has been undergoing upgrate / roadworks for over a year now and the bottom end by the Fariones is still pulled up. It just means a bit of round the houses for driving but that's only a minor thing.
The beach in PdC ( called the Playa Grande or the Playa Blanca ( white beach) and not to be confused with the town PB is long and clean with plenty of facilities, sunbeds etc. for hire 2 x sunbeds & parasol is €8 total for the day. It is supervised and very safe. You can easily head there, spend an hour or two, go less than 50 metres to a restaurant for lunch then back to the beach for a snooze - what more can you want ! Incidentally the sand on the Playa Grande is normal white sand unlike the sand on some other beaches in the west of the island at Janubio or near El Golfo which is black volcanic sand.
Another thing, there is a street market in the old capital Teguise every Sunday morning. You can get buses through your hotel or if you have a car just head for La Asomada from PdC then right along the wine route past El Grifo to Teguise. It's only about 15km from PdC. It's frantic and crowded but lots of fun especially if you enjoy haggling. Also PB has a much smaller but very nice market in the Marina Rubicón every Wednesday morning. Everything from linen and fake Rolexes to souvenirs at both markets.
If you must visit Irish pubs then you could do worse than visit The Rare Auld Times in the old town harbour ( owned by the lads from the Dublin City Ramblers ), The Harbour Bar, again in the old town or the compact ( I mean a Fiat Punto has more room inside ) Irish Times again in the old town , say hello to Liam Greene. There is also The Irish Viking just off the main Avenida ( near Los Hibiscos apartments) . There's also The Kinsale in Matagorda not far from The San Antonio. If you want your home cooked beef /steak & chips this is the place to go.
One last thing, Lanzarote is known for the wind. ( which has nothing to do with the large amount of beans often seen on the "full Irish breakfast" for €2.50 ! ) There is a local saying " The day the wind stops blowing on the island is the day the island stops being Lanzarote". The island sits right in the middle of the path of the trade winds which blow from the north east from direction of the Sahara and can sometimes be very strong. October is the only month when it does not normally blow. That being said, October in Lanzarote can sometimes be hotter than July. If you want good sunshine anything later than October is pushing it as it gets dark quickly and if the wind is up you'd think you were on the Cliffs of Moher.
One final final point about coming home , the airport authorities in Arrecife have a bit of a thing about weight, no it's ok not yourself, just your baggage. Sometimes there will be another "official" next to the check in girl/guy at the airport and woe betide anyone over their baggage allowance. They often do these checks and charge €6 or €8 a kilo if you're overweight. Non negotiable. So the thing is go to an empty check in desk and stick the bags on the scales to check the weight before or even while in the queue and if you're over your weight then start putting clothes on fast ! That was more of an issue in last few years but things are quieter in Lanz now so they have been a bit less awkward but could still happen.
Enjoy.
PS I don't work for the Lanzarote Tourist Board but I'm hoping for a part-time post sometime in next few years
Not even if the beer was free and the sun was shining in 29 Celcius
L
lightswitch
Guest
lol Hillsalt, thanks for a laugh on a Monday morning
Couldn't agree with you more re Tuam. Lanzarotte is clean and safe I'll give it that. But my God a bit it has nothing else to offer at all other than the weather, which is also nice. Just couldn't figure out the attraction of the place.
Couldn't agree with you more re Tuam. Lanzarotte is clean and safe I'll give it that. But my God a bit it has nothing else to offer at all other than the weather, which is also nice. Just couldn't figure out the attraction of the place.