As a result winter holidays here are very popular – providing welcome relief from the cold weather that has swept across the rest of Europe.  With bookings for hotels, apartments and villas in Lanzarote all taking off as the tempertaures plummet.

Lanzarote is owned by Spain – despite the fact that it is located hundreds of miles away from the Iberian pnensusla.  As the Canary Islands were conquered and subdued for the crown by a Norman nobleman called Jean de Bethencourt during the 15th century.

Today the island is almost totally dependent on tourism and welcomes around 1.4 million foreign visitors every year.  Along with around 300,000 visitors from the Spanish mainland.  Many of whom seek sanctuary here from the oven like heat of summer on the mainland.

Lanzarote is the fourth largest link in this chain and bears little of the visible scars of tourist development that disfigures some other holiday islands.  As high rise buildings and ad hoardings have all long been banned here.  Leaving the natural beauty of the island to shine through.

Tourism is centred in just three holiday resorts all of which are confined to the island’s calm and placid south east coast.  And during the winter months visitors head for either Playa Blanca or Puerto del Carmen – both of which enjoy a more sheltered aspect than Costa Teguise to the north.

Holiday villas in Playa Blanca are especially popular with tourists from the UK and Eire – as the resort offers the best weather during the winter months, whilst also playing host to some great beaches.  With the famous coves and bays of Papagayo just a short stroll fro the resort centre.

Puerto del Carmen also has plenty to recommend it – not least as the islands oldest resort has recently enjoyed a €16 million facelift as local tourist authorities spend to improve facilities and amenities here.  Maintaining Puerto del Carmen´s competitiveness against newer destinations in the Middle East and Turkey.

Winter holidays in Lanzarote are also something of an affordable luxury as rental accommodation here is much cheaper than in other winter sunspots.  Whilst flights to the island can be booked with budget airlines such as easyJet.