Lanzarote

xzanti

Ok, so myself and the OH have booked ourselves a well deserved week in Lanzarote. I'm just looking for any info or advice that we might find useful?

It's the only Canary Island I haven't been to so I kinda know what to expect.

We're staying in the Lanzarote Apartments in Puero Del Carmen. Anyone know it??

Also any nice cheap places to eat out?
What are the bars and clubs like?
Any good excursions to recommend?

Thanks

cherrylips199

Hey,
Im just back from Lanzarote, 2nd time there this summer!
Puerto del carmen is lovely..
there's a good few places to eat , the indian (lani owns it - Lani's own tex mex there too) is amazing!! one of best indians i've even had!!... Its on the main strip of shops etc..
And as for bars, Route 66 is really cool, done up with motorbikes and huge screens playing all the classics !!!
Most people get the ferry over Fuertaventura or to los lobos (think its called) and only one fsmily live on it! crazy..
Also Aquapark is good fun!


Hope you've lovely time!!:)

Gazza22

Hey, (you can tell i've nothing better to do tonight :P)

When are you going? It doesn't really matter though because it is a year round destination but it is generally more lively in the summer months. I don't know the Lanzarote apartments but from looking them up, they are in a decent location - i'd say 7 mins walk to the seafront and you'll definitely get some peace if you want it as even though they are situated in central PDC, they are towards the back.

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Restaurants

Ok well as for places to eat you have loads of choice and it is cheap to eat out in most restaurants. Be warned though, there are a lot of very average places along the strip, notably the Lani's restaurants. These are a big chain of restaurants and not renowned for their culinary delights! There has been reports that a lot of the food is microwaved in many of their restaurants. Although to be fair to the other poster above, there are a small number of them which are ok, like Lani's Tex Mex Cantina.

Most of the nice restaurants are in the old town with the really good seafood restaurants near the harbour. There's load, just browse but here's a few:

La Cascada *Highly recommended*, a really nice restaurant in the old town, service and atmosphere is really nice. It is a very popular restaurant and i've never had a bad meal in it. Prices are very good - approx. €12 for a filet steak main, €14 for T-bone etc.

La Dolce Vita, a really cheap but nice restaurant. It's located towards the mid/end of the strip.

Emma's Mexican Cantina. Old town. It's run by a mexican chef and his wife, i've heard it's really nice but i've never made it there. Menu

I stay in Matagorda everytime i go to Lanzarote so i tend to eat around the Los Pocillos/Matagorda area which is between PDC and the airport. The Matagorda centre has some really good restaurants about 5 mins away in a taxi (€3) from your apartments.

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Bars/Clubs

The Dubliner - Irish bar with a good live band every night. Mid strip, near the Casino.

Tropical - Lively bar up the top of the strip. Open very late. Chart music

Route 66 - Next door to Tropical (same owner), a bit more laid back.

Centro Atlantico - This is the hub of nightlife in PDC, open until about 4/5am. Loads of bars and small clubs in the complex. Reps everywhere around this area with promos. I was getting 4 large vodkas, 2 red bull and 2 shots for €10 in a bar there in January this year.

Nightclubs: Lanzarote isn't exactly party island but the nigthlife is pretty good. Not many good nightclubs though. 928 is the biggest and then there's Paradise beach club and new a lounge/club called Cafe Ola.

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Excursions

Driving is your best option as the island is so small, car hire is really cheap. But the organised tours are good too.

I recommend doing the grand tour, it takes in the whole island and all the highlights. Google Parque Nacional de Timanfaya (volcanic centre), Salinas del Janubio, Los Hervideros, El Golfo, La Geria, Las Peñas del Chache, Haría, Mirador de Guinate, Jameos del Agua - they are some of the places you take in. Includes lunch in a small town, wine tasting and sometimes a camel ride if you want one.

Three island tour. Lanzarote coast, Los Lobos and Fuerteventura. Full day, lunch included.

Catlanza. Full day tip on a catamaran sailing around Lanzarote, this is a good trip because it takes in Papagayo beach which is one of the nicest beaches only accessible only by car/boat. Fresh fruit/beer/soft drinks/wine/champagne cocktails included, as well as a jet ski ride i think! It's adults only so you will get some peace.

Scuba Diving. It's excellent in Lanzarote, plenty of dive centres around. I'd recommend this one though. Plenty of nice fish and sea horses near the old town harbour. Even if you buy/rent a snorkel you will see loads of stuff on any of the beaches, in water past your knees.

Teguise Market - Every Sunday, hugh market and pretty decent. Organised tours run for €6 return and they will collect you from your apartments.

Rancho Texas BBQ night. Bit of a family thing, not great but not bad either. I went there with the gf once before and had a good night (mainly because we got pissed :P). BBQ is good, it's all you can eat and free beer/sangria/soft drinks all night. Lots of families, ask for a private table.

Then there's quad bike tours of the island, mostly off road. I've never done it though. There's a place called Last minute travel on the strip near the casino, they do all the tours i mentioned above. They are quite cheap and usually have discounts on regular prices. They can all be booked online in the links i gave you though.

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Visit the capital, Arrecife. You will see it in the distance from PDC as it has the only high rise building on the island (5* hotel which has a restaurant on the 17th floor looking out over the whole island). Nice little city, lovely bars and restaurants. Very cheap. It will cost about €12 in a taxi or €2 on the local bus.

I like to walk down to the airport too, 10 mins walk from Matagorda. You can stand about 20 metres from where the planes touch down, they go right over your head and you can see the pilots most of the time - if you into that sort of thing! :pac:

That's all i can think of right now...if you have any questions feel free to ask!

xzanti

Wow thanks for that Gazza22 you must have been really bored

We're going on the 23rd (11 days and counting)

I will definately look out for the places recommended...

Cheers guys

Slunk

Lanzorote Apartments rings a bell. I think they were the one I stayed in. Did you book with Sunway? They are up a pretty steep hill so get a taxi from the strip, only about 2-3 euro. They are very nice apts. When you come down the hill just as your turn right onto the strip there was a restraunt that done the nicest steak. Went in there two or three times that week. Sometimes they actually bring the grill out and cook it in front of you. Delicious

I went to that Ranch BBQ night while there, was ok. Nothing spectacular but good way to start the night. Also done the submarine dive. Wanted to do the grand tour but missed the bus in the morning due to a heavy night, thankfully or rep refunded the fee

Just checked, it was them apts. I was very happy, heres some reviews.
http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g662290-d647778-Reviews-Lanzarote_Apartments-Puerto_Del_Carmen_Lanzarote_Canary_Islands.html

Have fun

xzanti

Slunk wrote: »

Lanzorote Apartments rings a bell. I think they were the one I stayed in. Did you book with Sunway? They are up a pretty steep hill so get a taxi from the strip, only about 2-3 euro. They are very nice apts. When you come down the hill just as your turn right onto the strip there was a restraunt that done the nicest steak. Went in there two or three times that week. Sometimes they actually bring the grill out and cook it in front of you. Delicious

I went to that Ranch BBQ night while there, was ok. Nothing spectacular but good way to start the night. Also done the submarine dive. Wanted to do the grand tour but missed the bus in the morning due to a heavy night, thankfully or rep refunded the fee

Just checked, it was them apts. I was very happy, heres some reviews.
http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g662290-d647778-Reviews-Lanzarote_Apartments-Puerto_Del_Carmen_Lanzarote_Canary_Islands.html

Have fun

Yeah that's them alright, we booked with Cassidy Travel, just took the 1st thing they offered us tbh so looks like we've been lucky.. Can't wait to go now

Keano

The missus highly recommends the drag night. It may be not be everyones cup of tea but plenty of singing and dancing

Also, if you are into shopping there is a big complex at the top of the strip.