Playa Blanca, Lanzarote.
Discussion
Hi all,
Considering a winter break to Playa Blanca, Lanzarote.
I can't seem to fathom out where the main part of town is (ie where the restaurant, shops and cafes are). Anyone know so I can Google map it and figure out where to stay?
I'm thinking if I'm further away from town, I'll go for half board or all inclusive as I thought we may not want to make the trip into town every night. If we're based in or near to the town, I think B&B only would be fine as a short visit to town will be fine.
Anyone know what Playa Blanca is like as a whole? Seems a nice, upcoming resort away from the dreaded chavs. Looking to go Jan or early Feb.
Cheers in advance....
Considering a winter break to Playa Blanca, Lanzarote.
I can't seem to fathom out where the main part of town is (ie where the restaurant, shops and cafes are). Anyone know so I can Google map it and figure out where to stay?
I'm thinking if I'm further away from town, I'll go for half board or all inclusive as I thought we may not want to make the trip into town every night. If we're based in or near to the town, I think B&B only would be fine as a short visit to town will be fine.
Anyone know what Playa Blanca is like as a whole? Seems a nice, upcoming resort away from the dreaded chavs. Looking to go Jan or early Feb.
Cheers in advance....
Map Link
If you click on the link, the main area is between the port on the left (boats to Fuerteventura) and the sea wall to the right.
There's a 'front' with tat shops and bars/restaurants, then behind is a parallel street (pedestrianised on the left of the roundabout) with 'duty-free' shops and other random shops.
The resort is relatively chav free - there are to my knowledge no night clubs. Very children friendly, although where the playa is I'm not sure.
We hired a villa here which was walkable in about 20 mins. Not a pleasant walk at night, but the taxi ride back was not expensive.
Overall enjoyed our trip there, but the resort is growing fast and has little to offer outside of that main area. It's just hotels or villas - very boring.
Edited to add - a word of warning about the Duty-Free shops. We tried to haggle on a camera and ended up walking out after being played around with for too long. Keep your wits about you, do your research. They'll try and add fees for credit cards etc after reaching a price.
If you click on the link, the main area is between the port on the left (boats to Fuerteventura) and the sea wall to the right.
There's a 'front' with tat shops and bars/restaurants, then behind is a parallel street (pedestrianised on the left of the roundabout) with 'duty-free' shops and other random shops.
The resort is relatively chav free - there are to my knowledge no night clubs. Very children friendly, although where the playa is I'm not sure.
We hired a villa here which was walkable in about 20 mins. Not a pleasant walk at night, but the taxi ride back was not expensive.
Overall enjoyed our trip there, but the resort is growing fast and has little to offer outside of that main area. It's just hotels or villas - very boring.
Edited to add - a word of warning about the Duty-Free shops. We tried to haggle on a camera and ended up walking out after being played around with for too long. Keep your wits about you, do your research. They'll try and add fees for credit cards etc after reaching a price.
Edited by Puggit on Monday 9th November 13:17
Hi,
You are right about Playa Blanca - not a chav in sight! We live here, and have never regretted the move. The main part of the town is situated immediately south of the main road that approaches PB from Yaiza - it's the only road in and out of Playa Blanca in fact, so you can't really miss the town once you arrive.
However, the hotels are situated to the north and south of the town centre (left and right as you face the sea), but these are generally easy walking to the town anyway. Plenty of bars and restaurants, good choice too. Not many nightclubs, though - if you want to dance ttil dawn, you might be better off looking at Puerto del Carmen (but there's also more chavs there!).
You can see more information at the All Things Lanzarote website: http://www.allthingslanzarote.com.
Good luck and enjoy your holiday.
Miles Couchman
You are right about Playa Blanca - not a chav in sight! We live here, and have never regretted the move. The main part of the town is situated immediately south of the main road that approaches PB from Yaiza - it's the only road in and out of Playa Blanca in fact, so you can't really miss the town once you arrive.
However, the hotels are situated to the north and south of the town centre (left and right as you face the sea), but these are generally easy walking to the town anyway. Plenty of bars and restaurants, good choice too. Not many nightclubs, though - if you want to dance ttil dawn, you might be better off looking at Puerto del Carmen (but there's also more chavs there!).
You can see more information at the All Things Lanzarote website: http://www.allthingslanzarote.com.
Good luck and enjoy your holiday.
Miles Couchman
I stayed there just over a year ago. We had a villa on the East side and it was a 10-15m walk down to the seafront where there's lots of choice of places to go and eat. It was a little dark walking back at night, but it was never really a problem. Overall, the town was pretty clean and very light on chavs.
Hire a car and go exploring. Orcar have an office by the port in Playa blanca and are usually the cheapest.
El Golfo is worth a visit and the drive along the west coast from Las Salinas is pretty spectacular as is Timanfaya Park. The north of the island is very different - much greener then the south. La Geria (sp?) is the wine growing area and worth a drive through. In fact the island has some great driving roads away from the towns if you're in the mood for a hoon. Papagayo beaches are the prettiest on the island and Lanis snack bar in marina Rubicon is good for food if you're on half board and need some lunch. Puerto Calero is worth a stop if you're driving round and like marinas and expensive boats.
Avoid Puerto del Carmen - that's the Chav resort and is full of Irish and Karoke bars, rubbish restaurants - except in the old port at the south end of the resort and shops selling some unbeliveable crap. Costa Teguise is a bit of a dump in places too.
Cesaer Manrike's (sp?) house is worth a visit and a wander round the centre of Arrecife is worth a couple of hours too.
Playa Blanca is a nice resort. Certainly our favourite in all the Canaries for some winter sunshine.
Have a look at the Lanzarote guidebook site too.
El Golfo is worth a visit and the drive along the west coast from Las Salinas is pretty spectacular as is Timanfaya Park. The north of the island is very different - much greener then the south. La Geria (sp?) is the wine growing area and worth a drive through. In fact the island has some great driving roads away from the towns if you're in the mood for a hoon. Papagayo beaches are the prettiest on the island and Lanis snack bar in marina Rubicon is good for food if you're on half board and need some lunch. Puerto Calero is worth a stop if you're driving round and like marinas and expensive boats.
Avoid Puerto del Carmen - that's the Chav resort and is full of Irish and Karoke bars, rubbish restaurants - except in the old port at the south end of the resort and shops selling some unbeliveable crap. Costa Teguise is a bit of a dump in places too.
Cesaer Manrike's (sp?) house is worth a visit and a wander round the centre of Arrecife is worth a couple of hours too.
Playa Blanca is a nice resort. Certainly our favourite in all the Canaries for some winter sunshine.
Have a look at the Lanzarote guidebook site too.
Edited by Jaguar steve on Friday 4th December 08:37
Nige,
Went there years ago with an ex-girlfriend (well she wasn't an ex at the time but ...well you get the drift) and enjoyed it. Away from the centre, there are some great places. I do remember though getting sick and tired of hearing about Cezar Manrique....LOL....
The restaurant in the volcano was a nice trip too and food was pretty good, although aviod the camel ride straight afterwards.....
IIRC there was a chinese restaurant on the beach...really weird experience eating Chinese food being served by Chinese waiters speaking Spanish..LOL
Anyway enjoy the break mate and hope you have a good time. Avoid the time shares sharks though ; )
Kev
Went there years ago with an ex-girlfriend (well she wasn't an ex at the time but ...well you get the drift) and enjoyed it. Away from the centre, there are some great places. I do remember though getting sick and tired of hearing about Cezar Manrique....LOL....
The restaurant in the volcano was a nice trip too and food was pretty good, although aviod the camel ride straight afterwards.....
IIRC there was a chinese restaurant on the beach...really weird experience eating Chinese food being served by Chinese waiters speaking Spanish..LOL
Anyway enjoy the break mate and hope you have a good time. Avoid the time shares sharks though ; )
Kev
Haven't been for years but loved Playa Blanca. Great place to eat with all the restaurants being at least very good and cheap (but maybe not now though). Also, swimming on the manmade beach - not the one right in the middle of town but on the way to your hotel - and going out beyond the harbour mouth into the open sea was fabulous - really deep too but soooooo clear. Tip. Avoid whole fried squid for your Christmas lunch - it is like eating a rugby ball and not very festive.
mike325112 said:
rlw said:
cuneus said:
Sorry for a slight thread hijack but any opinions on Costa Teguise ?
Can be quite windy as it is on the west coast but good for watersports I believe. 
East coast!Stick to Playa Blanca or a villa in the sticks - much nicer
k knows what the power station at the southern end of the resort burns but it honks. Can be seriously windy too - enough to grit blast you off the beach. There is a big watersports and windsurfing complex on the west coast on La Isleta just outside La Santa - it's pretty decrepid now and apart from hordes of cyclists never seems like there's much else going on there.
I suppose it all depends on how much you pay and what your expectations are really. If you get a really good deal on a week in the sunshine Teguise'll do at a push and if Teguise was much cheaper than Playa Blanca I'd go back there rather than not go at all. Certainly it's a better option than Puerto del Carmen, but given the choice I'd choose one - probably the Rubicon Place - of the many 4* hotels in Playa Blanca every time.
We hated Lanzarote (went back in '02). No wait, hate is the wrong word. We despised it. We stayed in Playa Blanca, which was meant to be the quieter bit. I wouldn't have known. It's really tainted our thoughts on holidaying anywhere else in the Canaries to be honest. If I were to go again, from what I've heard, I think I'd try Northern Tenerife.
ukwill said:
We hated Lanzarote (went back in '02). No wait, hate is the wrong word. We despised it. We stayed in Playa Blanca, which was meant to be the quieter bit. I wouldn't have known. It's really tainted our thoughts on holidaying anywhere else in the Canaries to be honest. If I were to go again, from what I've heard, I think I'd try Northern Tenerife.
See I love Playa Blanca but I hated Tenerife, Gran Canaria and most recenly Fuerteventura. Each to their own I guess...Neil135 said:
Personal choice i guess. Playa Blanca is easier on the eye for sure but i love Costa Teguise and will be returning for new year, but the beauty of the island is that all the resorts are easy to get to with a car.
T'is indeed. Over the last 25 years or so we've been to all the major Canary islands, spent several years holidaying when the kids were little in Furteventura because of the fantastic beaches and the self catering options in Corralejo were usually the best deals - those were the days when you could feed a hungry family of four + drinks for around 25-30 Euros in a good restaurant 
But over the last few years now we've gone back to Playa Blanca in autumn and spring. The southern end of Lanzarote has a unique micro climate which is just that bit better then anywhere else, we've stayed in most of the hotels in Playa Blanca and found one which is consistently good. We know exactly where we want to stay so all we have to do now is look for the cheapest deal that gets us there.
Sure, none of the Canary resorts are anywhere near as pretty and maybe not as upmarket either as those on Ibiza or Menorca, but for some winter sunshine Lanzarote is hard to beat. Just don't tell the Chavs about it
...If you want a quiet, chilled out break in Lanzarote, try here:
www.hesperia.com/hotels/Hesperia-Lanzarote/
20min taxi ride from Arrecife airport, great spa, pools restaurants and the Marina is just a 10 min walk along from the hotel with a great choice of restaurants and boutique shops.
Book a suite down the bottom of the site (by the Drago bar) as these have great bathrooms and plenty of space along with a sheltered terrace that provides a perfect wind-break on blowy days.
www.hesperia.com/hotels/Hesperia-Lanzarote/
20min taxi ride from Arrecife airport, great spa, pools restaurants and the Marina is just a 10 min walk along from the hotel with a great choice of restaurants and boutique shops.
Book a suite down the bottom of the site (by the Drago bar) as these have great bathrooms and plenty of space along with a sheltered terrace that provides a perfect wind-break on blowy days.
Jaguar steve said:
Neil135 said:
Personal choice i guess. Playa Blanca is easier on the eye for sure but i love Costa Teguise and will be returning for new year, but the beauty of the island is that all the resorts are easy to get to with a car.
T'is indeed. Over the last 25 years or so we've been to all the major Canary islands, spent several years holidaying when the kids were little in Furteventura because of the fantastic beaches and the self catering options in Corralejo were usually the best deals - those were the days when you could feed a hungry family of four + drinks for around 25-30 Euros in a good restaurant But over the last few years now we've gone back to Playa Blanca in autumn and spring. The southern end of Lanzarote has a unique micro climate which is just that bit better then anywhere else, we've stayed in most of the hotels in Playa Blanca and found one which is consistently good. We know exactly where we want to stay so all we have to do now is look for the cheapest deal that gets us there.
Sure, none of the Canary resorts are anywhere near as pretty and maybe not as upmarket either as those on Ibiza or Menorca, but for some winter sunshine Lanzarote is hard to beat. Just don't tell the Chavs about it
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