Just had a week in Lanzarote, Playa Blanca

Just had a week in Lanzarote, Playa Blanca

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Register1

Original Poster:

2,129 posts

93 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
Windy every day.
Fed up by day 4
No greenery to be seen any where.
Went to Timanfaya, the volcano, was OK, but once is enough.
Went to El Golfo, rubbish, once was enough.
Went to Papagayo, never seen so much wind blowing so much sand.
Stayed on the beach for less than 30 mins.
Even cost 20 euro to used the private road to get there.

I am really thinking, Lanzarote is a holiday I could have well done without.
We got a hire car at the airport, that was about the only half decent thing about the holiday.

steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
We go to Playa Blanca every March and enjoy it, there isn't usually any wind thats usually on the other side of the island. We have done the scenic tourist bits before and to be honest they are overated, no doub't your saw them poor water down a hole and it came out as steam ?

We tend to go and do bugger all, we pick a car up from the airport drive to the hotel and then walk between the hotel, the town centre and Rubicon Marina, and go between the Ice House and the Junglebar, we just don't want to do anything except eat, drink, sleep and watch boats bob up and down but can see how it can be a bit boring for others.

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
Be grateful you didn't go to Guime...

NoIP

559 posts

83 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
Register1 said:
Windy every day.
Fed up by day 4
No greenery to be seen any where.
Went to Timanfaya, the volcano, was OK, but once is enough.
Went to El Golfo, rubbish, once was enough.
Went to Papagayo, never seen so much wind blowing so much sand.
Stayed on the beach for less than 30 mins.
Even cost 20 euro to used the private road to get there.

I am really thinking, Lanzarote is a holiday I could have well done without.
We got a hire car at the airport, that was about the only half decent thing about the holiday.
You do realise that Lanzarote is Spanish for Land So Grotty in English, right? I mean what did you expect... ?

Chris Type R

8,018 posts

248 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
Can't say I'd rush back there myself ....

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
Register1 said:
Windy every day.
Fed up by day 4
No greenery to be seen any where.
Went to Timanfaya, the volcano, was OK, but once is enough.
Went to El Golfo, rubbish, once was enough.
Went to Papagayo, never seen so much wind blowing so much sand.
Stayed on the beach for less than 30 mins.
Even cost 20 euro to used the private road to get there.

I am really thinking, Lanzarote is a holiday I could have well done without.
We got a hire car at the airport, that was about the only half decent thing about the holiday.
Lanzarote is an acquired taste and it can sometimes be windy, but we enjoy it..(Weather dependant)

Did you go to Cesar Manrique's house and workshop and see the stunning views at Mirador del Rio at the northern tip of the island?

Also a visit to Titty Trollope's (From Heywood, Manchester) drag bar is a must......



Edited by Wacky Racer on Thursday 13th July 22:41

Narcisus

8,054 posts

279 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
We love Lanzarote. Go once or twice a year if we can.

55palfers

5,893 posts

163 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
Just go for winter sun on a cheap deal.

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
55palfers said:
Just go for winter sun on a cheap deal.


That's exactly what the Canaries are for.

Nobody could reasonably suggest any of the islands offer a quality experience or that there's loads to do or they can compete with the rest of Europe as a destination in the summer but sitting on a deserted beach in warm sunshine next to a cold beer in late autumn and early spring whilst everyone back in the UK is scraping frost off the windscreen is a great way to start or end the year's holidays.

If you choose your location with care you can easily avoid all the football strip wearing beer and chips Chavs too...

Chris Type R

8,018 posts

248 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
I think I'd rather head to Tenerife to Costa Adeje/Del Duque. Seems warmer for cheeky Autumn/Winter sun.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
Cheap easter sun, nuddy sunbathing, cheap ron miel.

Perfect.

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
Jaguar steve said:
55palfers said:
Just go for winter sun on a cheap deal.


That's exactly what the Canaries are for.

Nobody could reasonably suggest any of the islands offer a quality experience or that there's loads to do or they can compete with the rest of Europe as a destination in the summer but sitting on a deserted beach in warm sunshine next to a cold beer in late autumn and early spring whilst everyone back in the UK is scraping frost off the windscreen is a great way to start or end the year's holidays.

If you choose your location with care you can easily avoid all the football strip wearing beer and chips Chavs too...
Agreed.

We have friends with a villa and pool, in Bajia Blanca, quality neighbours and just round the corner from a good Italian restaurant. At the beginning of December, it is brilliant for some winter sun. Christmas and New Year, it is the pits. It's people that makes the difference, not the weather.

I suppose, it is smarter to do your research before departure, rather than bh about a place when you get back. We have yet to find Tripadvisor being 100% wrong.

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

236 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
We're going to Lanzarote in October for the first time. I may not show this thread to the better half, who has told me it's nowhere near as bad as people make it out to be. laugh

Granfondo

12,241 posts

205 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
Lanzagrotty is the worst of the Cannaries IMO.

Register1

Original Poster:

2,129 posts

93 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
Granfondo said:
Lanzagrotty is the worst of the Cannaries IMO.
At the moment, I agree with you 100%

bennno

11,504 posts

268 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all

Been plenty of times....

Teguise market on Sunday
Dinner on beach at El Golfo
Papaguyo beaches
Cesar Manrique museums
Go Karting tracks x 2
Submarine & lunch at Puerto Calero
Camel rides & Volcanoes
Rancho Texas
Plus a load of decent restaurants
Playa flamingo beach

Can be a bit boring if you arent going away to relax and chill & especially if you go all inclusive

Bennno

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

236 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
bennno said:
Been plenty of times....

Teguise market on Sunday
Dinner on beach at El Golfo
Papaguyo beaches
Cesar Manrique museums
Go Karting tracks x 2
Submarine & lunch at Puerto Calero
Camel rides & Volcanoes
Rancho Texas
Plus a load of decent restaurants
Playa flamingo beach

Can be a bit boring if you arent going away to relax and chill & especially if you go all inclusive

Bennno
What did you think of Puerto Calero?

jeff666

2,314 posts

190 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
I came back from there a couple of weeks ago,

We had a Villa with a heated pool so used that as a base and just had a chill out week, we did go out to eat most lunch times and evenings.

Visited Playa Blanca, El Golfo, Puerto Calero, and went up to Teguise ? all ok but the nicest place was Puerto Calero, a bit pricey in the restaurants but then it is on an expensive looking Marina.

We stayed just outside Puerto Del Carmen, away from the main Town so was nice and quiet.

Had lunch on the last day at Playa Honda, it seemed to be the place for the locals.

And yes it was windy most of the time, it ranged from a light breeze to a bleeding hurricane, not sure I would return I really like the Greek islands more if honest.

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
Register1 said:
Granfondo said:
Lanzagrotty is the worst of the Cannaries IMO.
At the moment, I agree with you 100%
You've not been to Playa de las Americas in Tenerefe then?

Lanzarote caters very much for the Chav English and Irish market. Think Clacton or Blackpool but warmer and you'll get the feel right away. Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen are both awful because of this. Playa Blanca is something of an improvement on both and has the best climate on the island too. The north is green and lush because it rains a lot and the south is barren and desolate because it doesn't.

For a completely different experience hire a car and go self catering in a villa well away from the big resorts. There's pretty traditional Spanish villages, remote beaches, good walking, interesting geology, some very good restaurants and some culture and arty stuff too if you know where to look. That pretty much works for all the islands, not just Lanzarote and sticking with that absolutely transforms any holiday there.

Puerto Calero is built round a large marina - but that's it. Great for a coffee or lunch and lusting after expensive yachts but there's nothing else to see or do there.

Granfondo

12,241 posts

205 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
Jaguar steve said:
Register1 said:
Granfondo said:
Lanzagrotty is the worst of the Cannaries IMO.
At the moment, I agree with you 100%
You've not been to Playa de las Americas in Tenerefe then?

Lanzarote caters very much for the Chav English and Irish market. Think Clacton or Blackpool but warmer and you'll get the feel right away. Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen are both awful because of this. Playa Blanca is something of an improvement on both and has the best climate on the island too. The north is green and lush because it rains a lot and the south is barren and desolate because it doesn't.

For a completely different experience hire a car and go self catering in a villa well away from the big resorts. There's pretty traditional Spanish villages, remote beaches, good walking, interesting geology, some very good restaurants and some culture and arty stuff too if you know where to look. That pretty much works for all the islands, not just Lanzarote and sticking with that absolutely transforms any holiday there.

Puerto Calero is built round a large marina - but that's it. Great for a coffee or lunch and lusting after expensive yachts but there's nothing else to see or do there.
Playa is awful full of English football tops and stag/hen parties with all day breakfast with pint pubs and bloody karaoke!