Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus

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Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus
About your
Lanzarote
Holiday

             We make sure
             you love it more

             villaplus.com
Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus
Lanzarote holidays
                                                                     you’ll love more
                                                                     Just 90 miles from the coast of Africa   Contents
                                                                     sits the captivating Canary Island of
                                                                                                              A little more about Villa Plus		    04
                                                                     Lanzarote.The island’s mild climate,
                                                                                                              Villa Plus Service Centre		         05
                                                                     sandy beaches, dramatic scenery,
                                                                                                              Before you go                   06 - 07
                                                                     volcanic lunarscapes and picturesque
                                                                                                              Getting to and from your villa		    08
                                                                     villages make Lanzarote, together with
                                                                                                              Villa Plus Travel Insurance		       09
                                                                     the tourist zones of Puerto del Carmen   About your villa                10 - 11
                                                                     and Playa Blanca, a popular tourist      Health and Safety               12 - 13
                                                                     destination.                             Places to visit                 14 - 15
                                                                     From a visit to the exclusive Rubicon    Festivals and Events            16 - 17
                                                                     Marina in Playa Blanca to a family day   Sports		18
                                                                     out at Rancho Texas theme park in        Children’s Activities		             19
                                                                     Puerto del Carmen there’s plenty to      Shopping		20

                                                                     do for everyone. You can even have a     Food		21

                                                                     camel ride in the National               Resorts
                                                                     Park of Timanfaya.                       Arrecife		22
                                                                                                              Costa Teguise		                     23
                                                                     Welcome to Lanzarote one of the
                                                                                                              Playa Blanca		                      24

                   Lanzarote
                                                                     most popular all year round
                                                                                                              Puerto del Carmen		                 25
                                                                     destinations.
                                                     Costa Teguise                                            Matagorda & Puerto del Calero       26
                                                                                                              Useful Information		                27
                                             Arrecife

                                    Matagorda
                                 Puerto del Carmen
                    Puerto del Calero

    Playa Blanca

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Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus
Welcome

                                                                                                       Villa Plus Service Centre
          A little
          more about
          Villa Plus
          Welcome to Villa Plus. We hope you have a fabulous holiday in
          Lanzarote and would like to tell you a little about the company.
          As a direct sell operator we only sell our own holidays. This
          means we place great emphasis on quality and service. In fact
          we take a personal interest in the enjoyment of your holiday and
          all our staff receive ongoing training to ensure we provide you
          with consistently good service.

          Villa Plus have arranged villa holidays since 1986. Our product focus is on better villas,
          in better locations with private pools and more facilities. Over the years we’ve grown
          from just one destination to 13 across Portugal, Spain, Cyprus and Greece. We’re now
          one of the largest tour operators in the villa market and offer over 900 exclusive villas.

          This holiday guide is designed to help you enjoy your holiday. Please read
          it carefully before you go. That way we can ensure all the arrangements
          made on your behalf run smoothly.

          Thank you for choosing Villa Plus and we hope to see you again in the future.

             Villa Plus Service Centre
             Our resort staff are there to ensure all aspects of your holiday go
             as planned and to maintain your privacy. In general, they will not
             visit unless in an emergency or to carry out villa checks. Details of
             your Villa Representative can be found in the security information
             in your travel pack.

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Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus
About your holiday

                                                                                                                                                                   About your holiday
                     Before you go

                       Here’s our tick list...                                                 Travel adaptor/s
                                                                                               If you bring your own electrical equipment then you will need to
                       Travel documents                                                        bring a European travel adaptor.
                       You’ll receive your holiday documents – specifically itinerary and
                       flight reference number (to quote at check in), accommodation           Passport details
                       details, directions, car hire information and voucher – about ten       You must give your Advance Passenger Information (API,
                       days before you travel. Please check the documents match your           sometimes called APIS) details to your airline before you fly.
                       reservation.
                                                                                               Baggage allowance
                       Holiday insurance                                                       Baggage allowance, normally 20 kilos per person, can depend on
                       Whether you have taken the ‘Villa Plus’ holiday insurance or            who you’re flying with and will be specified on your itinerary.
                       not, if you or a member of your party have a pre-existing               Collapsible wheelchairs, car seats for infants, pushchairs and
                       medical condition, then you MUST advise your insurance                  carrycots may be carried as hand luggage in excess of the
                       company straight away. Failure to do so may invalidate your             baggage allowance and can usually be taken to the final
                       insurance.                                                              departure gate to be stored in the hold during the flight. Many
                                                                                               charter airlines now charge for excess baggage and equipment
                       European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)                                   such as golf clubs.
                       The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to
                       access state-provided healthcare in all European Economic Area          Dangerous goods
                       (EEA) countries and Switzerland at a reduced cost or sometimes          Please refer to the security policy of the airline you’re
                       free of charge. The card is free of charge and, in addition to your     travelling with.
                       travel insurance, we recommend you sign up. Register online at
                       www.ehic.org.uk
                                                                                               Special needs and requirements
                                                                                               If you, or any member of your party, have any special needs
                       Money
                                                                                               or specific requirements then please let us know at the time of
                       Whilst MasterCard and Visa cards are widely accepted, and most
                                                                                               booking. We’ll send you a form for disabled and less mobile
                       resorts have ATM’s, we recommend that you get some Euro’s
                                                                                               clients for you to complete and return so we can ensure the villa
                       before you go. Please note: travellers cheques are no longer used
                                                                                               and flights you’ve chosen are completely suitable for your needs.
                       in Spain.

                       Towels                                                                  Any queries just call + 44 (0) 1727 836686 or
                       Although towels are provided in the villas, you’ll need to bring your   email info@villaplus.com
                       own beach and pool towels with you.

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Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus
Getting to and from your villa

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Villa Plus Travel Insurance
                                 Getting to and from your villa                                                                      Villa Plus Travel Insurance
                                 Villa Plus transfer from airport                                                                    Villa Plus holiday insurance is provided by Union Reiseversicherung AG. If you’ve
                                 If you booked a Villa Plus transfer then, in                                                        taken this out there is a 24 hour medical emergency assistance facilities service who
                                 general, you’ll see your Representative in                                                          you can call directly on +44 (0) 845 260 3 260. Remember to have the following
                                 the arrivals hall who will have organised                                                           information to hand:
                                 your transfer. Please refer to the itinerary in
                                                                                                                                     n A contact telephone number
                                 your travel pack for more information.
                                                                                                                                     n Name and age of patient
                                 Villa Plus car hire
                                 If you’ve booked a car through Villa Plus                                                           n Location of hospital and doctor’s telephone number
                                 then please refer to your itinerary and car                                                         n The medical problem
                                 hire voucher for collection details. It is
                                 advisable that one member of the party                                                              n Your premium receipt number and details of booked travel arrangements
                                 waits for the baggage whilst another goes         Lost luggage                                      Please refer to your Insurance policy for details of the procedure you should follow,
                                 to the desk to complete the contract and          If you’re unfortunate enough to lose your         should you require outpatient treatment.
                                 pay the appropriate deposit and so on.            luggage then you need to report this at the
                                                                                   lost luggage desk in the baggage reclaim
                                 Directions to your villa                          area.
                                 Your directions are included in your travel
                                 pack.                                             Left luggage
                                                                                   If you have a late return flight, then there
                                 Arriving at your villa
                                                                                   are normally facilities where you can leave
                                 You can get into your villa at 1pm. If you
                                                                                   your luggage on your last day. This
                                 arrive before 4pm, particularly in the
                                                                                   information can be found in the villa manual
                                 larger villas, the maid may still be tidying
                                                                                   or you can contact the local office.
                                 up.

                                 Leaving your villa                                Villa keys
                                 Please vacate your villa by 10am. The maid        The keys to your villa will be contained in a
                                 could arrive as early as 8am.                     security key box at your villa. Details of this
                                                                                   together with the boxes security number
                                 Flight delays                                     are included with your final documentation.
                                 EU legislation entitles passengers to             Normally only one set of keys will be
                                 compensation from the airline if there is         supplied for the villa that you will be
                                 denied boarding, cancellation or delay to         occupying. We would appreciate it if you
                                 flights. Reimbursement in such cases is           could take care of the keys as obtaining
                                 the responsibility of the airline and will not    replacement keys, or changing the locks
                                 entitle you to a refund of the price of your      can be expensive.
                                 arrangements from us. If the airline does
                                 not comply with these rules you should
                                 complain to the CAA on +44 (0) 20 7453
                                 6888 www.caa.co.uk

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Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus
About Your Villa

                                                                                                                                                                     About Your Villa
                   About Your Villa
                   Cots/extra beds                                                                                     Barbecues
                   The majority of the cots that we supply                                                             All our villas have barbecues and
                   are of the collapsible travel type. All cots                                                        wherever possible, brick built. It is not
                   supplied in the villas comply with local                                                            normal for maids to clean the barbecue
                   safety standards. All linen is laundered                                                            and we ask guests to leave them in a
                   together so if you have concerns about cot                                                          reasonable and useable condition. We
                   linen, please bring your own. Extra beds                                                            have asked owners to supply cleaning
                   are normally of the fold-up variety and are                                                         implements.
                   suitable for children only up to the age of
                   11 years old.                                                                                       TV’s
                                                                      Internet                                         To keep you entertained inside your villa,
                   Gas Supply                                         Most Resorts have an Internet access             you’ll find a TV which will have a mix of
                   Not all the villas have a gas supply. If           point ‘Hot Spots’, where you can check           satellite and terrestrial channels and also
                   applicable, the villa will usually be supplied     emails etc, and the location will be given       offer some English speaking channels too.
                   with an orange coloured Butano gas                 to you in the Villa Manual. Some individual      DVD players (including films) are provided
                   bottle. In the unlikely event that the gas         villas have internet access. Please see your     in the majority in our villas.
                   should run out, please contact our local           Villa Manual for more details.
                   Villa Representative, who will arrange for a
                                                                      Air Conditioning
                   replacement. Where gas water heaters are
                                                                      Many villas now include air
                   used in villas, they are subject to an annual
                                                                      conditioning/heating in the bedrooms as
                   inspection by local qualified engineers. A
                                                                      standard. Please see the individual villa
                   carbon monoxide detector is provided for
                                                                      descriptions. Some of these units operate
                   your additional peace of mind.
                                                                      on a sensor that will turn off the unit if the
                   Electricity                                        room is not in use. Please consult the Villa
                   Electricity is 220 AC with continental twin        Manual for full details. In the case of any
                   plugs. Your villa electricity supply is not        malfunction, we will endeavour to rectify
                   always as constant as in the UK. You may           them as soon as possible, Villa Plus
                   find that the electricity will “trip off” if too   cannot be responsible for any
                   many appliances are used at once. This             non-operational time that is out of our
                   has become more apparent as we have                control.
                   added more equipment into the villas. If
                   this happens, simply turn off some
                   appliances and reset the main fuse box
                   (the location and full details will be in
                   the Villa Manual at the villa).

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Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus
Health and Safety

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Health and Safety
                    Health and Safety
                    Safety information                                (especially the non waterproof types),          responsible for any non-operational time,        At all times, for your own safety, comply
                    You’ll find a Villa Manual with safety            can turn the water cloudy. Use the              out of our control.                              with the suggestions of the local lifeguards,
                    information specific to your villa at the         poolside shower before swimming to              In the case of any malfunction, we will          warning notices or flag systems. Should
                    property. Please take the time on arrival         keep the pool clean.                            endeavour to rectify them as soon as             you have any concerns consult a qualified
                    to familiarise yourselves with the safety      n Children and fair skinned people 		              possible and our liability shall not exceed      authority or your Villa Representative.
                    features and layout of your villa. If you’re     should wear a hat and T-shirt whilst             £150 per villa per week in total. If the pool    Breakages
                    travelling with children then please take        in the pool as harmful ultra violet rays         has a cover, please use it as it will            Please notify our Villa Representative
                    the time to point out to any areas where         can penetrate water up to a depth of             significantly increase the temperature of        should you notice any shortfalls in the
                    they should take particular care such as         1.5m and are reflected off the water             the water.                                       quality of furnishings/cleaning etc. In case
                    the pool and balconies. If you have any          surface.                                         Tap water                                        of breakages during your holiday, either
                    questions or concerns, then your Villa                                                            Water from the tap is generally ok for           replace with a matching item or report the
                                                                   n Beware of dangerous surfaces,
                    Representative will be happy to assist.                                                           cooking purposes. For drinking we                damage to the Villa Representative. For
                                                                     drainage channels, slippery tiles or
                    Should you have an accident anywhere                                                              recommend you drink bottled water only.          details of our accidental damage waiver or
                                                                     raised edges.
                    in or around the villa you must report this                                                                                                        security deposit, please refer to
                    straight away to your Villa Representative.    n Always supervise children and                    Sun bathing
                                                                                                                      The best, safest and longer lasting tans         www.villaplus.com
                                                                     non-swimmers in and around the pool
                    Smoking                                          area.                                            are built up gradually - but although most
                                                                                                                                                                       Security
                    Smoking is not permitted in any of our                                                            travellers are aware of the danger, many
                                                                   n Do not swim if you have been drinking                                                             Please store valuables in the safe provided
                    villas and we would request you only                                                              holidays are still ruined by the effects of
                                                                     alcohol, especially late at night.                                                                including vital documents If you do not use
                    smoke outside the villa. Please do not                                                            sunburn. Do take extreme care not to
                                                                   Report an accident immediately to your                                                              the safe provided you may invalidate any
                    leave cigarette stubs in the garden.                                                              over-expose yourself or your children
                                                                   Villa Representative, who will attend the                                                           insurance claim that you may have.
                                                                                                                      (particularly young babies), especially
                    Swimming pool                                  villa. Any fault with the pool or its              during the first few days. We suggest you        Most villas have an alarm and nightlight.
                    Whilst the swimming pool is an essential       equipment will be inspected and                                                                     Ensure the alarm is switched on when you
                                                                                                                      stay under shade except for about 15
                    part of the pleasure of holidaying for many    immediate action taken to correct the                                                               leave the villa.
                                                                                                                      minutes in the early morning or late
                    people, if misused it can be dangerous:        problem. If, in the opinion of the Villa                                                            Additionally make sure all doors/windows
                                                                                                                      afternoon on the first day, gradually
                    n Make sure you know the depths of the         Representative the pool must be closed             increasing the time as your skin becomes         are closed/locked if you leave the villa or
                      pool.                                        for your safety until a repair is facilitated as   accustomed to the sun. Even then be sure         are around the pool.
                                                                   quickly as possible, you will be                   to use a suntan preparation of the correct
                    n Please observe our strict no diving
                                                                   instructed in writing to cease using the           factor for your skin and apply it liberally at
                      policy.
                                                                   pool and our liability shall not exceed 33%        regular intervals, particularly after
                    n Do not run around the pool side -            of the villa rental portion of the holiday.        swimming. Children should wear
                      especially children with wet feet.
                                                                   Pool Heating                                       sun-hats and their shoulders should be
                    n Do not go out of your depth unless you       Many of our swimming pools have been               covered as much as possible. We strongly
                      are a good swimmer.                          fitted with a Pool Heat Pump, making the           recommend the use of good quality,
                    n Do not swim if you cannot see the            pool 3°C to 5°C warmer at 1pm during the           waterproof sun creams especially when in
                      bottom. If this is the case contact your     day than a non-heated pool under normal            and out of the pool or down at the beach.
                      Villa Representative as soon as 		           circumstances. This provides the pool with         Beaches
                      possible. Bad weather, thunder		             a beneficial warming, but does not make it         Please be aware of the local safety
                      storms and/or excess suntan oil              a “hot” pool. Villa Plus cannot be                 precautions when you visit the beaches.

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Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus
Places to visit

                                                                                                               Places to visit
                  Places to visit
                  Beaches                                      Attractions
                  Famara Beach. An untouched stretch           Arrecife. The capital of Lanzarote is 10
                  of rugged beach on the north east coast      minutes from the airport. A pedestrianised
                  close to the sports village of La Santa      shopping centre provides high street
                  Famara. Great for surfers but under          fashions and for nightlife there are bustling
                  currents make swimming dangerous.            bars partying till the small hours.

                  Playa Bastian. This natural beach with       Cuevas De Los Verdes. These Green
                  a mixture of white sand and small lava       Caves are in Haria near the Monte de la
                  stones with calm waters is near the          Corona crater in the north. Spectacular
                  popular resort of Costa Teguise.             underground grottos.
                                                               El Golfo. A tiny village on the way to
                  Playa Chica. Used by diving schools this
                                                               Playa Blanca known for the emerald green
                  small bay is between the Fariones Hotel in
                                                               lagoon hidden between a black volcanic
                  Puerto del Carmen and the harbour.
                                                               beach and the mountains.
                  Playa Dorado. To the east of Playa Blanca    Fuerteventura. A 45 minute boat crossing
                  this man made well protected beach is        from Playa Blanca brings you into the
                  ideal for families.                          bustling fishing village of Corralejo in
                                                               Fuertenventura.
                  Playa Guacimeta. A long stretch of sandy
                  beach right alongside the airport runway     Jameos del Agua. An interesting gallery
                  divided by a walkway with access from the    of connecting caves in the north at the
                  Matagorda promenade. Matagorda is part       base of Monte de la Corona volcano.
                  of Puerto del Carmen
                                                               Matagorda. Once a fishing village this is a
                  Punta de Papagayo. Found in the south        quiet relaxed resort found about 2km from
                  of the island near the Papagayo Arena        busy Puerto del Carmen.
                  Hotel in Playa Blanca. Wild fine white       National Park of Timanfaya. An amazing
                  sandy beaches typical of beach meets         national park which has a truly breathtaking
                  volcano.                                     landscape of volcanic craters.
                  For more beaches please see                  Teguise. The old capital of Lanzarote is
                  resort sections.                             steeped in history. Visit Spinola Palace, the
                                                               Nuestra Senora Guadalupe Church and
                                                               the biggest island market held on Sundays.

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Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus
Festivals and Events

                                                                                                                                                                                           Festivals and Events
                       Festivals and Events

                        January
                        Cabalgata de Los Reyes (Three Holy Kings or wise men). Early January locals
                        dress as the Three Kings and parade on camels through the streets followed by
                        floats.

                        February
                        Mid February Carnival in Arrecife. Late February in Puerto del Carmen.
                        Parades and brightly coloured floats from villages culminate in a live music event
                        in the harbour.

                        March
                        Holy Week. Mid March. Religious festivities leading up to Good Friday.

                        May
                        Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon Competition. This gruelling triathlon consists
                        of 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run. Starts at 7am. The swim starts on
                        the main Playa Grande in Puerto del Carmen.

                        June
                        Corpus Christi. Mid June. A Catholic event where the locals make
                                                                                                             September
                        masterpieces from coloured salt on the pavements leading up to the San Gines
                                                                                                             Fiesta of the Virgin de los Dolores. Tribute paid to this Patron Saint with
                        Church in Arrecife.
                                                                                                             folk music, fairs and general festivities.
                        San Juan. Late June. Celebrating the history of the island and the start of
                                                                                                             October
                        Summer. Outdoor concerts, dancing, traditional rituals, sporting competitions.
                                                                                                             Dia de la Hispanidad. National Day Festival. Parties around Lanzarote
                        Bonfires and firework displays.
                                                                                                             celebrate the heritage and history of the island.
                        July                                                                                 November
                        Fiesta de Nuestra Senora. Mid
                                                                                                             Marathon. Late November. Attracts many competitors and spectators line
                        July. Statues are carried around
                                                                                                             the streets of Arrecife.
                        the villages and the streets and
                        churches are filled with flowers.                                                    December
                                                                                                             New Years Eve. Live music and dancing greeting the New Year. Magical
                        August                                                                               firework display floating on the sea.
                        San Gines the Patron Saint of
                        the island. Late August. Large
                        celebrations throughout Lanzarote,
                        even the smallest villages. The most
                        extravagant fiestas in the capital of
                        Arrecife.

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Lanzarote Holiday - villaplus.com - Villa Plus
Sports

                                                                                                                                                      Children’s Activities
         Sports                                                                                         Children’s Activities
         Diving                                           Horse Riding                                  Rancho Texas
         There are many PADI dive centre’s                Lanzarote Caballo Equestrian Centre.          In Puerto del Carmen you will find Rancho
         including several in Puerto del Carmen and       On the road to Yaiza heading towards          Texas which by day is a theme park with
         Play Blanca that cater for first timers to the   Playa Blanca. Tel 0034 928 830 038.           sea lions, pumas, reptiles and birds from
         most experienced.                                Horse riding excursions, lessons and          all over the world. There is also a petting
                                                          events.                                       zoo, play areas, pony rides, parrot show,
         Golf                                                                                           crocodiles and a not to be missed birds
         Lanzarote Golf. Tel 0034 928 514050              Karting                                       of prey demonstration. They also have
         Situated in the tourist centre of Puerto         Gran Karting Club. Located near the           a swimming pool area with fun activities
         del Carmen just 5 minutes from the local         airport. Tel 0034 619 759 946. A fun day      for children and adults plus sunloungers
         amenities and beaches and 10 minutes             out for all the family.                       for relaxing complete with a snack bar.
         from the airport. A modern golfcourse with                                                     By night the ranch converts into a family
         18 holes, par 72. Golf academy, driving          Tennis
                                                                                                        night out with a cowboy and Indian theme.
         range, practice area and putting green.          If you want to learn from scratch or
                                                                                                        There is an all you can eat BBQ as well as
                                                          simply improve your game try Fariones
                                                                                                        family entertainment which includes a line
         Costa Teguise Golf Course.                       Deportivo. Qualified instructors,
                                                                                                        dancing display and lessons, lasso show,
         Tel 0034 928 590512. The first course            equipment hire and refreshment bar.
                                                                                                        live music and a mechanical bull.
         to open on the island in 1978, it lies           Tel 0034 928 514 790 or email
         at the foot of an old volcano and has            centrodeportivo@grupofariones.com.            Aqua Park
         breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.                                                      Found in Costa Teguise, just 10 minutes
         18 holes.                                        Windsurfing
                                                                                                        on from the airport, this small aqua park
                                                          Schools can be found in Costa Teguise.
                                                                                                        is located near the golf course. A free bus
         Gym                                              Windsurf Paradise Tel 0034 928 346 022
                                                                                                        runs from each resort with three different
         Fariones Sports Centre, Puerto del               or Windsurfing Club Tel 0034 928 590
                                                                                                        collection and pick up times. (see leaflet
         Carmen at the side of the Fariones Hotel.        731.
                                                                                                        or ask in one of the many tourist ticket
         Fully equipped gym, swimming pools,
         massage, jacuzzi, spining, paddle tennis         Wrestling – La Lucha Canaria                  information shops).
         and aerobics. Payable daily at reception.        La Lucha means to wrestle. Canarian
                                                          wrestling is a traditional sport, a kind of
                                                                                                        Crazy Golf
                                                                                                        In Puerto del Carmen there are two crazy
                                                          sumo wrestling but the wrestlers wear
                                                                                                        golf courses one is near the San Antonio
                                                          more! Usually on a Sunday in the capital of
                                                                                                        Hotel and also has trampolines plus other
                                                          Arrecife.
                                                                                                        games whilst the second one is in the
                                                                                                        Aquarium shopping centre on the sea front
                                                                                                        which also has amusements on the roof.

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Shopping

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Food
           Shopping                                                                                           Food
           Shopping for food you will find all you need at the local                                          The “Cocina Canaria” (The Canarian Kitchen) is a proud heritage for
           supermarkets and in the main tourist areas the supermarkets                                        the people of Lanzarote. Without the fertile soil of the peninsular,
           and hypermarkets are usually open all day such as in Puerto del                                    the farmers had to be very clever in order to make the most of the
           Carmen. As you follow the main sea front road you will find a                                      barren, dry land from the legacy of the volcanic eruptions.
           mixture of arts, crafts, silver jewellery, high street brands, Spanish                             In poorer, leaner times dishes had to be created from basic locally grown produce to fill
           chains, sports shops, gift shops and electrical shops.                                             the hardworking farming families. These dishes can be found in the simple restaurants
                                                                                                              in the countryside and in the most popular upmarket restaurants in the tourist areas.
           As you follow the main sea front road you will find a mixture of arts, crafts, silver jewellery,
                                                                                                              Without doubt the most important ingredients of Canarian cooking are the ‘Frutas del
           high street brands, Spanish chains, sports shops, gift shops and electrical shops.
                                                                                                              Mar’, Fruits of the Sea. A wide variety of local fish is delivered daily to the ports along with
           Biosfera Shopping Centre - found on the roundabout between the old and the new
                                                                                                              the ‘Mariscos’ the seafood. Tapas, meaning small portions can be found in most Canarian
           town has 4 floors with shoe shops, boutiques, high street fashion, beachwear, sunglasses
                                                                                                              bars.
           and gift ideas. There’s even a kids play area on the top floor. In Playa Blanca the main
           shopping areas are in Calle Limones while the leisure centre in Papagayo offers all                Some popular tapas
           sorts of bargains. At the Rubicon Marina there is a colourful market which is held every
                                                                                                              Tortilla Espanola – omelette with potatoes and sometimes spicy sausage or onion.
           Wednesday and Saturday. Many of the shops in Playa Blanca shut for a few hours during
                                                                                                              Ali-Oli – mayonnaise with garlic, mixed.
           the afternoon. If you head to the former capital of Teguise on a Sunday then this normally
           sleepy village turns into a bustling shoppers’ parade with a market where you can buy              Jamon Serrano – cured ham served with black olives.
           crafts, bags, shoes, sunglasses, jewellery and just about anything that takes your fancy....       Gambas Al Ajillo – prawns served in a dish of sizzling olive oil and chillies.
           just don’t forget to barter.                                                                       Albondigas – meatballs in tomato sauce.
                                                                                                              Pulpo – octopus sliced, with olive oil or a touch of paprika.
                                                                                                              Seafood
                                                                                                              Prawns, squid, crayfish, octopus
                                                                                                              Sama
                                                                                                              Bacalao
                                                                                                              Lenguado
                                                                                                              Typical Canarian Dishes
                                                                                                              Gofio – made from ground corn or flour, for breakfast mixed with milk or for savoury
                                                                                                              dishes tuna, salt and eggs are added.
                                                                                                              Conejo – rabbit, baked or roasted with garlic.
                                                                                                              Cochinillo – piglet, roasted or baked served with garlic and herbs.
                                                                                                              Lentejas – Lentils with pumpkin, peas, small cubes of bacon and chorizo.
                                                                                                              Garbanzas – A chick pea base with vegetables and bacon served with hot rolls.
                                                                                                              Desserts
                                                                                                              The best deserts are ‘casera’ which means homemade. Try Bienmesabe – A mixture of
                                                                                                              ground almonds and honey served on ice cream, a treat for the sweet tooth.

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Arrecife

                                                                                                                                                                            Costa Teguise
           Arrecife                                                                 Costa Teguise
           The capital of Lanzarote is not known for its ornate beauty but          The second largest tourist area in Lanzarote is known for its
           has significantly improved over the last few years thanks to the         constant breezes being on the east coast and is one of the best
           re-opening of the Arrecife Grand Hotel. This hotel dominates the         places for wind surfers. Characterised by large purpose-built hotels
           skyline and can be seen from miles away marking the coastline.           and complexes, small hideaway coves, a market on Fridays in the
           It’s a five star hotel in a privileged position right on the beach. On   main square and lots of shops, bars and restaurants.
           the 17th floor of the hotel is a café, bar and restaurant enclosed
                                                                                    The Aqua Park is 5 minutes by taxi from the town but can be cool in winter due to the
           completely in glass giving way to amazing views over Arrecife and
                                                                                    breeze. Also there’s an 18 hole golf course with restaurant, clubhouse and equipment
           the El Reducto beach. Ideal to dine in the restaurant at night or just
                                                                                    hire, a short drive just out of Costa Teguise.
           take a coffee by day and soak up the view.

           At the foot of the hotel on the roundabout
           are a few typical tapas bars with tables
           outside where you can watch the world go
           by. An exceptional Italian ice cream parlour
           can be found a 2-minute walk away from
           the hotel opposite the beach.

           In the opposite direction of the hotel
           following the main road you will pass more
           street cafes and bars then eventually come
           to the main shopping area which has
           high street chain stores and boutiques,
           electrical and shoe shops. Opening
           times 9am until 1pm and 5pm until 8pm.
           Remember the siesta.

           By night Arrecife is alive with an array of
           different cultures, restaurants and disco
           bars until the early hours.

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Playa Blanca

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Puerto del Carmen
               Playa Blanca                                                                               Puerto del Carmen
               The resort of Playa Blanca sits on the south of the Canary Island                          The most popular resort on the island Puerto del Carmen features
               of Lanzarote, approximately 20 miles from Arrecife Airport. Once a                         a fine sandy beach which stretches 4 kilometres along a pretty
               sleepy fishing village, Playa Blanca has grown considerably into a                         coastline. Walk along an attractive promenade and check out its
               bustling tourist centre, and yet has managed to maintain its original                      abundance of shops, which sell duty free perfumes and clothes as
               charm.                                                                                     well as handicrafts.
               There is a relaxed atmosphere throughout      Beaches                                      An ideal place to sit and watch the world      Beaches
               with the entire sea front pedestrianised,     The majority of beaches in this region are   go by is in one of the many cafes and          There are three sandy beaches that are all
               meandering by sandy coves, shops, bars        extremely family friendly with sunbeds,      ice cream parlours while if you require        extremely popular in Puerto del Carmen.
               and restaurants. There are also a few         water sports, dive centres and refreshment   something more substantial then there are      There is Playa Grande which is a fine sandy
               bars which offer live music and a night       stands plus there are spectacular views      a host of restaurants serving a great range    beach with a number of good facilities and
               club is nestled on the rocks. At the trendy   of Fuerteventura. Playa Flamingo Beach       of International cuisine. The resort really    an attractive promenade. Playa Pocillos
               Rubicon Marina you will find a French         located by the hotel of the same name is     comes to life in the evenings when a host      and Matagorda beach are connected by
               patisserie, high quality restaurants, tapas   a pure white man-made beach overlooked       of great clubs, salsa bars, buzzing discos     a popular promenade which is lined with
               bars, designer shops and the famous Café      by cafes and restaurants. Playa Dorada       and live music venues open in Centro           shops and bars. Pocillos is perhaps the
               del Mar bar where you can enjoy a cocktail    beach is to the east of Playa Blanca, a      Atlantico. There is even a casino which has    quieter of the two and the perfect place
               in comfort overlooking the marina with its    man-made well-protected beach which is       a beautiful view out to sea and a rooftop      to simply relax while Matagorda offers
               yachts and boats moored here from all         ideal for families as the waters are calm,   cocktail bar. At the harbour you will find     wonderful scenery and some fantastic
               around the world. There are amusements        plus you will find a good array of bars,     some of the best restaurants which serve       walking trails.
               and a bowling alley located just at the       shops and restaurants as well as jet skis    fresh fish and seafood which is still caught
               entrance and a small shopping centre with     for hire.                                    by local fishermen. This is also the home
               souvenir shops, clothes and perfumeries.                                                   of a number of festivals where you will
               There is also a smaller version of the                                                     hear traditional salsa music and local wine
               Teguise market held each Wednesday and                                                     will be served. Also there is a golf course
               Saturday selling handcrafted ceramics and                                                  in Tias, just outside Puerto Carmen that
               local produce typical of Lanzarote.                                                        opened relatively recently.

     24                                                                                                                                                                                                25
Matagorda

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Useful Information
            Matagorda                                                          Useful Information
            A quiet relaxed resort found about 2km from busy Puerto del        Language
            Carmen, Matagorda is an idyllic holiday base offering a peaceful   Spanish
            ambience. Its fine sandy beach is within easy reach of the main    Currency
            areas by bus, taxi                                                 Euro
            or foot.
                                                                               International dialling code
            Matagorda has a small commercial centre
                                                                               +34
            with shops, bars and a supermarket
            overlooking the sea.                                               Emergency Services
            A flat area is ideal for cycling the                               112
            uninterrupted coastal walkway passing
                                                                               Time
            the airport, an unspoilt sandy beach, local
                                                                               Same as UK
            areas with seaside tapas bars and finally
            ending in the capital of Arrecife.                                 Electricity
                                                                               220 AC - travellers from the UK will need a two-pin plug adaptor.

            Puerto Calero                                                      Opening Hours for Shops
                                                                               Most large shopping centres and department stores open from 10:00 - 22:00 while
                                                                               smaller shops generally run from 10:00 - 14:00 and then from 17:00 - 23:00.
            A select marina harbouring yachts, speed boats and fishing boats
            found in the next bay after Puerto del Carmen. Take a boat taxi,
            walk along the coast or drive for
            Overlooked by a selection of restaurants,
            an Irish Bar, perfume shops and gift shops.
            International cuisine from Thai fusion,
            tapas, Italian and fish restaurants line the
            perfect view to enjoy a relaxed afternoon
            lunch in the sunshine or dine at night when
            the twinkling lights set the mood.
            Professional fishing boat trips await the
            discerning fisherman wanting to reel in a
            marlin or shark.
            A catamaran cruise sets sail from here
            each day in search of dolphins near the
                                                                               Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this
            Papagayo beaches in the south – enjoy                              publication Villa Plus cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions and this holiday guide does not form
            swimming, snorkelling and a meal served                            part of our contract with you.
            on board taking in the sunset and look                             Restaurant recommendations have been made by past clients and on occasions restaurants close or change
                                                                               hands and therefore we are unable to guarantee quality or availability.
            foward to a cooling refreshment back at
                                                                               Copyright is reserved to Villa Plus Limited and this material may not be circulated, reproduced or
            the marina.                                                        published in whole or in part without the written consent of Villa Plus Limited. 01/05/2013

   26                                                                                                                                                                                                 27
Lanzarote
                Year round destination                               Dramatic scenery
                Mild climate                                         Volcanic lunarscapes
                Sandy beaches                                        Popular tourist resorts
                Quiet hideaway coves                                 Water sports
                Picturesque villages                                 65 villas with pools

                                             You can find our villas in
                                          13 destinations across Europe

  The Algarve                   Menorca

           Costa Blanca
                                                                   Corfu
                             Mallorca

             Costa del Sol
                                                                                       Rhodes
                       Lanzarote
                                                                   Kefalonia
Tenerife

                                                                                                Cyprus
                                                                               Crete
  Fuerteventura

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