Normally at this time of year, as well as planning Christmas and birthdays we, as a family are normally planning our yearly new year trip to what feels like our second home. That being what we call our “paradise Isle” Lanzarote.
I was asked by Holiday Gems to talk about Lanzarote. I, of course, jumped at the chance. In fact, it’s fired up my love of the island again and so you may see a couple of Lanzarote posts cropping up. One next week about our love for the Festive season over on the Island.
Anyone that knows us will know what this place means to us even going as far as to gatecrash our friends holiday to offer to be their tour guide on “our island”
We love all that Lanzarote has to offer.
- It’s family friendly
- The warmth & sunshine.
- Friends we have made over there.
- Delicious food in some amazing restaurants.
- Just the whole relaxed feel of the island.
Our first visit to Lanzarote was back in 2010 back then it was just my self and hubby, we called it our honeymoon even though it was nearly a year after we had got married.
I got so emotional on that trip. The landscape was so dramatic. The history of the island really got under my skin.
We spent a lot of our holiday looking at show homes and planning how we would move there and what we could do to earn money when we got there.
Forward to December 2012 and we were parents to a set of nearly one-year-old twins.
We decided it was time to go back and visit the island we fell in love with on our honeymoon.
Lanzarote is great for family’s as well as couples. We had an amazing week again. Since then we have gone back every year sometimes up to 4 times a year!
We have stayed in some amazing resorts & Towns
Playa Blanca / Marina Rubicon
This is located in the south of the island, here you will find amazing beaches like Papagayo – where we are yet to go! But our friends who live on Lanzarote tell us that it’s amazing. Also in Playa Blanca is a beautiful marina, with a shopping centre that keeps improving each year we have been. There is a market at the marina twice a week. Where you can find lots of bargains but be careful of the “fakes”. Playa Blanca hosts one of the islands water parks and lots of amazing restaurants. The last time we were there, there was a lovely little Waffle House on the corner of the main shopping street.
Puerto Del Carmen / Matagorda
Here is one of the busier resorts. Though it still feels a great place for our family.
There is a shopping centre, The Biosphere Centre, with a range of shops and plenty of places to eat after all that shopping. If you find yourself at the Biosphere after dark there is the RoofTop Cinema & 6d cinema experience or the new crazy golf area.
Along what is called the strip are an abundance of restaurants and shops. One of the eating places is run by The sister of a friend of mine who lives on the island. Here you can watch the football, or join in with the entertainment they have on that evening.
Another favourite place we like to eat is in the old town of Puerto del Carmen. The restaurant we normally opt for is La Serena. Opposite is a play park that is gated, so safe to let the kids on to play while in a morning you enjoy a coffee, or in the evening a glass of wine or a cerveza (beer)
In Puerto del Carmen there is lots of beach to make use of, whether that for sunbathing or castle building.
There are other resorts on the island that we have visited but not yet stayed. Like Costa Teguise and Puerto Calero.
We have however stayed in a couple of the more local towns like Tias & Playa Honda.
We love to stay in these towns and act like we are one of the locals, though I’m sure we stick out as tourists like a sore thumb.
Around the island, there are many places to visit like the volcano -Timanfaya and bus tour, The caves made by the lava that flowed when one of the volcanoes erupted around 4000 years ago and The home of the islands famous artist Cesar Manrique. To name a few.
One thing our kid’s love, is to try out new play parks. I once joked we were travelling the island one play park at a time.
As the island is such a family friendly place there are play parks dotted around in most places.
A typical day for us when we are there starts with a trip to the cafe, then head to the play park with our take-out coffee, juice and a sandwich or croissant with ham & cheese. And usually ends with a cuppa and a cake at a cafe with a play park.
I could talk about “our island” all day so if you’re planning a trip there and want to ask me anything drop in the comments and I’ll answer the best I can.
Next year we are planning to take a couple of trips to Lanzarote to introduce our newest twins to our second home.
Recently I have found Holiday Gems a travel service that can help you to find your perfect holiday.
They asked me to collaborate with them on this post to let you know about them and about my family’s favourite place to make memories.
I’m going to head off to their site now and check out the great deals they have for our next Lanzarote Holiday.
look out for more Lanzarote posts coming up in the future.
Nina x
Thank you, Holiday Gems for collaborating with me on this post.
