Where to stay in Lanzarote?

moneylover

We are thinking of a weeks sun in March. We like to travel about so will get a hire car. Where would be best to stay so not covering the same ground each time we go anywhere? And, can anyone recommend a nice but reasonably priced hotel that perhaps offers half board. Preferably not a huge concrete monstrosity although I know thats difficult to avoid! Otherwise, we would consider a nice apartment. We are not looking for the cheapest accommodation possible, but something that is good value for money - we are very MSE minded! We are in our early sixties and very active but past the nightclub stage!
Many thanks

jhe

cant really advise on hotels as we always stay all inclusive but we do get out and about.
lanzarote is not a large island though.
there is only one high rise hotel on the island and that is in arreciffe. all buildings are only allowed to be a few storys high
puerto del carmen is the 'liveliest' resort, we have been the last two years in march but pdc is hardly a clubbers paradise when we have been there. maybe playa blanca might be suitable for you.

Janey1968

Puerto del carmen.
Ive been with friends and for the past couple of years Ive been alone (sad I know!) Its great. Im not a clubber, just a sunworshiper. I dont drive, but the public transport is great.
I have been in the past with a couple of friends and we;ve hired a car and managed to do most of the island in a few days.
I would say PDC is a great place to start. Never stay in a hotel, always go self catering.

YorkshireBoy

Well Puerto del Carmen is more 'central'. If you stay at Playa Blanca you'll drive the same stretch of road each time you go out!

That said, Playa Blanca seemed slightly more 'upmarket' than Puerto del Carmen to me. You also have the added benefit of being right on the doorstep for the ferry to Fuerteventura should you wish to explore further afield.

Wouldn't stay at Costa Teguise...too quiet for me, but OK for a daytrip.

Accommodation wise, I don't stay half-board. I always do SC (2/3* is ample for a winter break...so long as it's clean!) and eat out. You're spoilt for choice with 2/3* SC at around £240 per week each. Just be sure to read the Tripadvisor reviews before you book.

AI (especially) and HB is killing the local economy there. Indeed, last March many resturants in Playa Blanca were very quiet...and had to resort to lowering their prices substantially, and extending the 'menu del dia' cut-off times well into the evenings (normally finished at 18:00), to tempt the AI/HB people away from their hotels. Obviously this helped my holiday budget...but can't continue?

I'm still undecided as to whether I'll book Tenerife or Lanzarote for next March, but if I book Lanzarote it'll be Puerto del Carmen this time.

kathandgeoff

Moneylover, we are in the same age range as yourselves & have stayed in lanzarote twice, one in Puerto Del Carmen and once to Costa Teguise. Both are fine and OK for exploring the island.

Just thought you might be interested, we've just got a good deal from Thomas Cook for a week A/I in Costa Teguise in February, it came up as Manager's Special on the shop window but the price on the internet was lower. The local Thomas Cook's matched the online price. There are plenty of places to eat out & not too expensive.

Worth checking out.

yes, we would recommend Lanzarote for a bit of winter sun!!

Magic_Moments

Our personal preference is Playa Blanca. Fairly lack back with a few good music bars but no good if you want a Young and Lively night life.
If that is the case Pueto Del Carmen is the better choice .For us Costa Teguse is a non starter. It also exceptionally windy at this purpose built resort.

jhe

Magic_Moments wrote: »

Our personal preference is Playa Blanca. Fairly lack back with a few good music bars but no good if you want a Young and Lively night life.
If that is the case Pueto Del Carmen is the better choice .For us Costa Teguse is a non starter. It also exceptionally windy at this purpose built resort.

op wants to go in march, PDC isnt 'young and lively' in march when i have been the last few years.
i agree about it being windy, playa blanca is supposed to be slightly warmer and more sheltered

moneylover

lots for me to think about! Thank you all for your well thought out replies.
Self catering - is it easy to pick up food are there good supermarkets?
KathandGeoff which hotel is your all inclusive, am not sure what price I should be paying for hotels at all.
Can I ask - is there any real difference, weather wise between feb and March? The reason we need some sun is we have just come back from a lovely holidy in South Africa but it rained every day when it didnt rain, very very clooudy. We thought we were going to have sun that lasted us till next summer!
If anyone can recommend any half board would be pleased to know, we quite like half board. Dont think we would benefit from AI as likely to be out most of the time.

YorkshireBoy

moneylover wrote: »

Self catering - is it easy to pick up food are there good supermarkets?

They tend to be smallish in resort...the biggest no bigger than a Tesco Express really. But to be fair with a full English for 3 euros, lunch with drink for 5 euros, and evening meal (3 course menu del dia) with drink for 10-12 euros, there seems little point in cooking in the apartment?...in my opinion anyway.

Can I ask - is there any real difference, weather wise between feb and March?

Not in my experience, but it can be a bit hit and miss. I actually had better weather in mid February last year than I had in early March this year.

The reason we need some sun is we have just come back from a lovely holidy in South Africa but it rained every day when it didnt rain, very very clooudy. We thought we were going to have sun that lasted us till next summer!

Tell me about it! Had a real washout of a week in Salou in September...and it's a long time to March!

stephb34

moneylover wrote: »

lots for me to think about! Thank you all for your well thought out replies.

Can I ask - is there any real difference, weather wise between feb and March? The reason we need some sun is we have just come back from a lovely holidy in South Africa but it rained every day when it didnt rain, very very clooudy. We thought we were going to have sun that lasted us till next summer!


Slightly longer daylight hours in march than february, and at the end of march the clocks go forward.

kathandgeoff

Hi Moneylover, we're staying at the hotel Ficus, we stayed at the Lanzarote Gardens last time, think this hotel is just next door! Last time was in early December about 6 years ago, weather was lovely, just felt a bit strange seeing all the Christmas decorations etc when the sun was shining.

Often there are quite good forums on Trip Adviser which may help you choose which resort would suit you best.