Lanzarote Advice - Playa Blanca or Matagorda ?

MRSPENNYPINCHER_3

Hoping there may be a couple of Lanzarote experts on here - now decided to book to go to Lanzarote at the end of August but am torn between two lots of accommodation - one in Playa Blanca and one in Matagorda ? Which would you recommend - we are a family of 5 with 3 children aged 14, 11 and 4. Have heard the beach is closed in Playa Blanca - is this right and if so are there any other beaches accessible by foot at all ? Is the aircraft noise a problem in Matagorda ? Thank you in advance !

kuczer2

Firstly, I am not an expert but I go once per year to Lanzarote and love the island and have stayed in both Matagorda and Playa Blanca. I hope my advice helps.

Matagorda

Having stayed here previously the resort is fairly quiet and would suit you if you are looking for a more relaxing holiday with the kids. It has a large beach that is family friendly (ie. not rocky) and some decent places to eat close by. Puerto Del Carmen is not too far away if you need the hustle and bustle. Being close to the airport is a major advantage for transfers to your resort. From experience, I would get taxis as they are cheaper than transfers to Matagorda. However, as you state, aircraft do fly quite close to you overhead when you are on the beach. Personally, I never found this a problem as the noise was minimal and my 1 year old loved spotting the planes whilst on the beach. I could see how it might be a problem for others though - it would come down to your preference, I imagine.

Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca is known to be a more "up market" resort by locals. There is plenty to do for the kids and enough places to relax for the adults. It also has by far the best beaches in Lanzarote, although some of the more off-the-beat-and-track ones are frequented by nudists (please check to avoid problems for the kids). The weather is also slightly better than in other resorts due to the southerly and more sheltered location.
You are right that the main beach (Playa Flamingo) in Playa Blanca is currently being repaired. The deadline is currently set for the end of July to complete the work. However, this deadline has already been pushed back a few times this year for varied reasons. Whether it will be complete by late August is unknown. I would check the forums at Tripadvisor for more info on the beach http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g652121-i11244-Playa_Blanca_Lanzarote_Canary_Islands.html and there are some good insights into both resorts there as well.

There are advantages to both resorts for your family and I think it could come down to how much action the kids require on your holidays. If they need to be constantly entertained or have somewhere fun to go then I would lean towards PB, but if they are happy to relax with you on the beach with the odd meal out then Matagorda may be the best (and cheapest) option for you.

HTH