Lanzarote for Christmas

Zelda247

We are hoping to visit early next year, can anyone recommend accommodation for a retired couple? pool not necessary, I have heard Puerto Del Carmen is a good resort for music etc which we like.

Eponymous

We stay just outside PdC in a smaller (quieter) resort called Matagorda. The Costa Sal is where we stay, you've a choice of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets and it's a fiver in a taxi to the main strip in PdC.

There are a few bars in Matagorda which have live entertainment most nights and only a couple of minutes walk from the Costa Sal, I can't vouch for it as it's rarely to my taste, much prefer to have a nice meal and a few quiet drinks somewhere and pretty much every bar in PdC will have live music. The Island Bar comes very well recommended on that front.

Idbatterim

I have been there numerous times and would say PDC is the best place to stay, I have visited the other resorts and been all around the island...

coylemj

Hotel Los Fariones in PdC does a mix of full board (in the hotel itself) and self-catering apartments and bungalows so you can pick the type of accommodation/package you want and use all of the hotel's facilities. I know you said they don't need a pool but there is a large private sunny area at the back of the hotel where they can relax on loungers. The location is great because the hotel is between the strip and the old town so you can walk to a large number of bars and restaurants and pick the ones that suit you.

Zelda247

Thanks so much I think PDC would be best for us as we like a buzz night life wise, did you guys book through a travel agent or arrange yourselves? its a first for us so not sure best way to go, also we are pensioners so price has to be a big factor.

Eponymous

I always book myself. Generally works out cheaper, but also gives you a LOT more flexibility.

Idbatterim

I booked myself with the gf, PDC is near airport, car hire is cheap. ryanair and Aer Lingus fly there and trivago is your friend for accommodation and trip advisor for reviews...

Zelda247

Whats the best way to transfer from airport to PDC?

coylemj

Zelda247 wrote: »

Whats the best way to transfer from airport to PDC?

You can book the flights and hotel direct as we did and then just get a taxi from the airport. Or you can check out the travel companies and if you buy a package, they will transfer you to the hotel - most times anyway but it's worth checking that they do.

Be sure to pick a week that's not half term - affects the price and the noise levels!

naughtysmurf

Zelda247 wrote: »

Whats the best way to transfer from airport to PDC?

Row of taxi's outside the arrival terminal, short journey to PDC, €15 approx

Eponymous

Zelda247 wrote: »

Whats the best way to transfer from airport to PDC?

Taxi. There are loads of them and they're cheap.

If you're going to hire a car, that's a cheap option too. Autoreisen (airport only), Plus Car, Cabrera Medina and OmniCars are all widely recommended.

Zelda247

Don't think we will hire a car as just want to stroll around the town during the day and have a little entertainment in the evening.... I am sure flights will be easy to find but not so sure about accommodation.

coylemj

There are three ways you can arrange the accommodation...

1. Book a package - probably slightly more expensive than DIY but you'll (usually) get transferred from your flight to the hotel and will have a local contact if anything goes wrong.

2. Book the hotel via a 3rd party website. There are two main drawbacks here ... (1) the booking crowd mess up your reservation or go bust before you arrive or (2) what you get when you arrive bears no resemblance to the description of the accommodation you booked (e.g. two lads arrive to find a double bed in a tiny room and they booked a twin). If you turn up at the hotel and they have no reservation in your name, you're basically screwed.

3. Book the hotel direct yourself. Depending on the type of booking you make, you may be able to cancel with no charge up to 24 or 48 hours before check-in.

I was never in the Canaries before and four of us went to Lanzarote in Feb. last, I booked a self-catering two bedroom 'bungalow' in Hotel Los Fariones direct and it worked out perfectly - our reservation was on the books when we arrived and they didn't ask us for a cent on top of the web price.

Idbatterim

Op the only thing I would advise is staying reasonably central IN PDC, the first time I stayed there on the outskirts, we had a fairly long walk to get to the main strip...

Miaireland

I second the Los Fariones. I have stayed there a number of times. I booked directly with them or on booking.com. No hassle anytimes.

The hotel is a two minute walk from the strip but in a quiet part of town so you should not be disturbed by any loud behaviour after nightclubs close etc.

I suggest getting a taxi to and from the airport. It is a short journey. There is a taxi rank just across from the hotel that seems to have taxis on it all day and all night so getting a taxi to the airport is not a problem.

There are plenty of companies that you can book tours with nearby. Reception will be able to give you the details.

I really can't see that much advantage of going in package to be honest.

6541

I would also recommend Los Fariones, I would go for the hotel and not the apartments, now it is a bit more expensive, but its great, also has its own private beach.

coylemj

6541 wrote: »

I would also recommend Los Fariones, I would go for the hotel and not the apartments, now it is a bit more expensive, but its great, also has its own private beach.

+1 But IIRC staying in the hotel requires you to book full board? Just in case the OP would prefer to eat out most nights. And if you stay in the apartments or the bungalows, you have the use of all the hotel's facilities.

Having given the first recommendation for H. Los Fariones, I'm pleased that others agree. The location is great, there are taxis outside all day and you're bang in between the strip and a walk to the old town. There's also a cluster of the better shops in PdC nearby - if you want the tourist tat, there are shops all over town selling that type of stuff.

Zelda247

Sadly its fully booked for the time we want to go.

FunkyDa2

We stayed in a private apartment in Calle Toscon, overlooking the harbour, a few years ago. There are hotels and apartment complexes on that side of PDC as well. Looking at Google Maps shows me "Las Terrazas del Puerto", "Apartamentos Europa", "Apartamentos Lago Verde", "Hotel Blue Sea Los Ficos", "Hotel THB Flora", "Apartments Agua Marina", and the "Hotel BelleVue Aquarius".

If it's your first time in Lanzarote, then getting a taxi to your hotel/apartment is your best bet (assuming you're making your own flight/ hotel arrangements).

When we were there, I rented a car from the local rent-a-wreck (old, but serviceable Citroen Saxos) from these people (https://www.google.ie/maps/@28.9230226,-13.6738475,3a,75y,10.31h,80.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s25g2kt8nPbRv5TdecSFDUA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en) for the last three days. For a nominal extra 5 Euro, I was able to leave the car in the car park at the airport on our departure day (I threw the key into the boot and closed the hatch). This saved having to call for a taxi pick up. :-)

pjproby

We usually stay in the Bellevue Aquarius apartments which are comfortable. The apartments are overlooking the port area on the hill but have loads of steps so not suitable for very young children or infirm. We usually fly ryanair and book shuttle transport with resorthoppa but you can take the public bus and it is not far to walk from the nearest bus stop.

Zelda247

Ah no steps would not be any good for us as my husband has a metal knee. Has anyone travelled to PDC with Cassidy Travel they seem to have some good deals and it would save us the hassle of trying to do it ourselves?

Shorty1985

Hi All,

We are visiting Lanzarote (Matagorda / PDC) in December, will be there for Christmas.. Can anyone recommend a place where we could have Christmas dinner? We are staying in Costa Sal, but would like to try have dinner outside of the hotel.. First time going for Christmas, so not sure what to expect. Thanks in advance.. :)

votecounts

Going there next week, staying in PDC. Was just wondering what the price of a pint of local beer there?
Also if we decide to upgrade to all inclusive, how much is this per night for the belle vue acquarius?
Thanks in advance

Eponymous

Pints are about €2-2.50 generally.

Best place to ask about the AI in the Belle Vue is to drop them an e-mail.