Lanzarote all inclusive or not

homer1982

Hi All

My wife and I are looking at a week in Lanzarote for the last week in October. We have been on all inclusive holidays before but not in Europe or Canary Islands, are they worth it in Lanzarote? What is the quality like and has anyone any previous experience of an all inclusive in Lanzarote? We would be willing to travel to any of the islands if there was a better alternative. Would we be better off with an apartment and eat/drink out instead? We had a price of 930 - 980 for the Sol Lanzarote hotel for a week all inclusive, has anyone been before?

Steve

Lanzarote is amazing if you've never been. So much to see. but you'll need to hire a car. I always go with autoreisen, never had a problem and really cheap.

Don't go all inc, get an apartment and eat out every night, unless you are on a really tight budget it's well affordable.

solerina

Don't go all inclusive, there are great restaurants all over the place.....Lanza is amazing and not at all expensive.

Reg'stoy

Ditto with the above posters, loads of choices food wise when eating out from Chinese to Mexican to local Fish restaurants. Breakfasts out (at any time of the day) are so cheap it defies logic (they get you on buying beer to cure hangover).
We do a week each year with a group of friends and always go self catering, breakfast (english/irish fries) less than €5 with a beer, have lunch in apartment and dine out every night for no more than €30 a head.

intheclouds

Steve wrote: »

So much to see. but you'll need to hire a car.

Really?

Ive been going annually (sometimes bi annually!) for more than 10 years and I think in all that time Ive only managed to raise myself off the sunbed once for a trip to see something! (it was a good trip!).

What do you recommend just in case I manage to stand upright at any point in my next visit?

OP - dont go all inclusive, too many nice restaurants to waste on all inclusive!

Steve

intheclouds wrote: »

Really?

Ive been going annually (sometimes bi annually!) for more than 10 years and I think in all that time Ive only managed to raise myself off the sunbed once for a trip to see something! (it was a good trip!).

What do you recommend just in case I manage to stand upright at any point in my next visit?

OP - dont go all inclusive, too many nice restaurants to waste on all inclusive!

What did you see?

Cueva de los Verdes
Timanfaya National Park (mmmm, volcano cooked steak...)
Lagomar Museum

To name a few.

Google the history and culture of the islands and take a drive around the old villages, there is so much more than beer and sitting by the pool.

Originally named for the abundance of large dogs the natives had when the first Spanish invaders arrived. Islas Canarias - Canariae Insulae - "Islands of the Dogs"

intheclouds

Timanfaya National Park with volcano cooked chicken at the end! Thoroughly enjoyed it too.

I must look into some other stuff. Generally I just go to completely switch off and swim, eat, read. Not much drink, wine with dinner. I have made it to the gym periodically but not much.

Eponymous

At the risk of starting an argument, please don't do AI in Lanzarote! It's absolutely killing the restaurant and bar businesses there.

It's already happened on Fuerteventura where you have hoards roaming around the resorts with wristbands on, standing on the pavement watching the entertainment but not giving any custom to the pubs laying it on and generally not spending anything as they've already paid for it in the hotels.

Yes, you have some that will do AI but have the odd meal out, but a lot don't.

Eating and drinking in Lanzarote is cheap enough and there really is a great choice of places to go.

+1 on the car hire too. You'll see loads of the island for not much more than the cost of a coach tour for two, but at your own pace and to your own itinerary. My recommendation would be Omnicars Lanzarote ( www.amnicarslanzarote.com ). Lovely lady and her husband run it, pay on arrival and price is fully inclusive of taxes and insurance.

Indestructable

Don't go all inclusive! There are loads of lovely restaurants which may cost a little more over the course of the holiday but will be 100x nicer than any AI food. Drink is cheap too and you can choose whatever you like.

Spanish Eyes

AI means not only are you with others for breakfast and on the sunbeds but for everything else too. Might as well be on a boat/cruise where you can't get off.

To me I would be bored witless eating in the same place at the same time with the same people every night and day.

Anyway, doubt you'd save much by doing this, but you might however, have a ball going out to the restaurants and and a drink after.

Each to their own though!

homer1982

Hi All

Thanks for all the advice, we have decided against going all inclusive, we are going to take the advice from here and rent a car to see as much as we can and eat out every night. Thinking about it do we really want to be stuck in the hotel all day and night, easy enough to come to a decision when you put it like that. Thanks for the advice greatly appreciated.

Has anyone any good recommendations for a really nice place for dinner as our wedding anniversary is during this holiday? All recommendations are welcome from here as we have had great advice already any pubs or restaurants for any of our stay will be appreciated.

Thanks again

intheclouds

Which resort are you going to?

stargazer 68

IMO the best part of a holiday is finding a restaurant each night! We were in Sicily a few years ago and went B&B in the hotel which was great. But every morning at breakfast the people who were full board were asked to chose their dinner for that night! Couldn't handle that at my breakfast!

Eponymous

homer1982 wrote: »

Hi All

Thanks for all the advice, we have decided against going all inclusive, we are going to take the advice from here and rent a car to see as much as we can and eat out every night. Thinking about it do we really want to be stuck in the hotel all day and night, easy enough to come to a decision when you put it like that. Thanks for the advice greatly appreciated.

Has anyone any good recommendations for a really nice place for dinner as our wedding anniversary is during this holiday? All recommendations are welcome from here as we have had great advice already any pubs or restaurants for any of our stay will be appreciated.

Thanks again

Beautiful restaurant in Puerto Calero called Amura. It's at the southern end of the marina and unlike all the other restaurants, sits directly on the waterfront. Exceptional service and really good food. Not cheap though compared to other restaurants on the island, but it's perfect for a special occasion.

I believe Cristian's in PdC is lovely too. Generally well reviewed on TA and it's been recommended to me a couple of times, but I haven't got around to it yet.

SoupyNorman

Eponymous wrote: »

Beautiful restaurant in Puerto Calero called Amura.

It's been 7 years since me and the wife were in Lanzarote and we still talk about how nice Amura was, we even base going back on that restaurant alone!!


OP, dont do all inclusive. It really lessons the holiday experience in my opinion. The only time I can condone AI is if you have a 2 or more kids under 5 and you want to make your life easier. In any AI place I've stayed the all the food just ended up tasting the same after 3 days.

If you have no kids right now then capitalize on the freedom and go eat and drink in as many different places as possible and dont miss Amura whatever you do.

uck51js9zml2yt

We went AI for 2 weeks in feurtaventura. Best thing we did. Drinks and coffees soon mount up and it was nice to be a letter to eat what we wanted without looking at the price.
Missing a meal and eating out wasn't a problem for us when it happened.

homer1982

intheclouds wrote: »

Which resort are you going to?

We are staying in Ole Olivina Lanzarote

intheclouds

homer1982 wrote: »

We are staying in Ole Olivina Lanzarote

Lovely, I only go to Playa Blanca the past 10 years so I'm no help to you on anything near it but Lanzarote is lovely generally so enjoy!

old boy

we have been there many times, fantastic place, fantascic food, fantastic drink, avoid the german beers which some places try to pawn off, the first time we went it was all inclusive, never went down that road since, there are just too many nice resturants and bars to sample, we now get an apartment, enjoy its an unforgottable place you will return again and again

naughtysmurf

I'd also recommend Puerto Calero for at least one evening, lovely but quiet spot, you can if feeling energetic enough walk along the coast from Puerto del Carmen

Restaurants, like in most places can be a bit hit or miss but not going AI is the right decision, have a look on tripadvisor for recommendations,one I'd recommend would be El Angla down at the harbour

homer1982

Are taxis expensive if we decided in the evening to try nice restaurants in neighbouring resorts?

naughtysmurf

Taxi's are cheap, maybe €12 from PDC to Puerto Calero, €5/€6 from PDC old town to Matagorda, doubtful you would head to Teguise or Playa Blanca for a meal

Steve

Just back from a week there... loved it... ask me anything..

homer1982

We are going to Lanzarote on Saturday, have you any recommendations for restaurants, bars, shops or activities? It is our wedding anniversary during the holiday could you recommend a nice restaurant for that night?

intheclouds

homer1982 wrote: »

We are going to Lanzarote on Saturday, have you any recommendations for restaurants, bars, shops or activities? It is our wedding anniversary during the holiday could you recommend a nice restaurant for that night?

Whereabouts?

Stoner

homer1982 wrote:

Thanks for all the advice, we have decided against going all inclusive, we are going to take the advice from here and rent a car to see as much as we can and eat out every night. Thinking about it do we really want to be stuck in the hotel all day and night, easy enough to come to a decision when you put it like that. Thanks for the advice greatly appreciated.

Getting breakfast included has worked out well for me. Good way to get fruit and it gets you up and ready .

homer1982

We are in Puerto del Carmen area

anne burnell

We have done all inclusive lots of times and ha evteally enjoyed it takes the bother out of looking for a decent recent restaurant ... We have done it in the Los Jameos Playa hotel in Los pocillicals and the choice of food is super

uck51js9zml2yt

We did it on honeymoon in feurtaventura. Saved us a fortune and the hassle.
Some days we ate out but didn't feel we were loosing out doing so.

ChunLi

Casa Cabana - Old town (very traditional English style food, book in advance)

Bozena's (Bodecco) bar & restaurant (Polish and Irish influenced food, book in advance)

Kristians - Old Town Harbour (great Irish chef, good quality food)

Las Casa del Parmigiano - Old Town (small Italian beside Fariones hotel, simple but good. Expect to wait for table)

Indian Aroma - New Town (on the strip, just had lunch but was good authentic Indian food)