Where should overseas investors concentrate their search for holiday rental property in Lanzarote? 

 According to figures just released by travel portal Lanzarote Guidebook, Playa Blanca is the most popular destination on the island amongst DIY holiday makers from the UK.  Who form part of that growing band of independent travellers around the world who eschew package holidays and tour operators, preferring to book their own holidays direct via the internet instead.

 Playa Blanca has expanded rapidly over the last twenty years.  Evolving from a small fishing village at the southern tip of Lanzarote into the second most popular holiday resort on an island that attracts over 1.5 million foreign tourists annually.

 Playa Blancas´ population has quadrupled in just ten years and its fast growing popularity as a holiday destination can largely be accounted for by its location.  As the resort enjoys the best microclimate on the island.  A factor that becomes especially salient during the winter months.  When the contrast in climatic conditions between the north and the south of the island can be at its most pronounced.

 Playa Blanca is also the gateway to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura.  Which provides a picturesque backdrop to the resort as ferries criss cross between the two islands.

 During the course of last month the Lanzarote Guidebook website received a total of 639 enquiries for apartment or villa accommodation on the island.  A figure which has increased by 14.2% on 2008 figures.  Suggesting that British consumers are unwilling to relinquish their holidays abroad.

 75.5% of all enquirers were seeking villas in Lanzarote.  And overall Playa Blanca emerged as the most popular destination.  Accounting for 41% of all accommodation enquiries. 

 Puerto del Carmen emerged as the number one destination for anyone searching for a holiday apartment in Lanzarote.  Reflecting the fact that Lanzarote´s oldest resort has the highest concentration of apartment complexes of any destination on the island.  Attracting 56.6% of all enquiries.

 Whilst Costa Teguise was the focus of interest for just 6.8% of all holiday makers.  Registering less interest with British tourists than rural accommodation – which collectively accounted for 10.9% of all enquires.

There are many good quality hotels in Lanzarote.  As you´d expect from a holiday island that attracts over 1.5 million tourists annually.  But one in particular stands – quite literally - head and shoulders above the competition.  As the Gran Hotel in Arrecife is the only high rise building on the island.  Granting incredible views down to the capital of Arrecife below.

Thanks to an island born artist and architect called Cesar Manrique high rise construction was outlawed on Lanzarote during the 1970´s.  In order to ensure that the island didn’t suffer the same fate as the Spanish Costas – which were being submerged beneath a sea of hotels as tourism took off in Spain under the aegis of General Franco.

Manrique however urged a more restrained approach on the island of his birth – and thanks to the fact that he had friends in high places in the form of then island governor Pepin Ramirez Lanzarote today still remains largely unspoilt.  With advertising hoardings also banned and the island’s main holiday resorts all well contained. 

The shell of what is today the Arrecife Gran Hotel was sneaked up by developers whilst Manrique was off the island during 1988 – but on his return the project was soon halted.  As it clearly contravened his edict that any building should be no taller than the height of a Canarian palm tree.

As a result the concrete shell stood empty and derelict for many years.  And was even the victim of a fire back in 1990.  But the cost of demolishing the edifice was so prohibitive that the island government eventually decided to hand the building over to a property developer.  And granted permission for the construction of a five star hotel on the site.

As a result the Arrecife Gran opened its doors for business after a €26 million renovation in June 2004. Boasting seventeen floors, a roof top restaurant called the Altamar, 52 double rooms and 104 suites.  Along with a Spa Centre, swimming pool and direct access to the city beach at Playa El Reducto. Making the Arrecife Gran an attractive alternative to other accommodation options such as apartments or villas in Lanzarote.

Further improvements to the environs of the hotel are also afoot – as the island government forges ahead with plans to create a lido swimming area, with bars, restaurants and shops to a plan drawn up by Manrique at the nearby Islote de Fermin.  A project very similar in style to the extremely successful Parque Marítimo de Santa Cruz on the fellow Canary Island of Tenerife.

There´s no shortage of good quality holiday accommodation in Lanzarote.  Thanks to the evolution of the resort of Playa Blanca in the south of the island.  Which has been transformed from an archetypical sleepy fishing village into the fastest growing resort in Lanzarote.

 Twenty years ago Playa Blanca really was the quaint fishing village that crops up so frequently in holiday brochure descriptions.  With little to attract visitors beyond its beaiful beaches (after which the town is named) and excellent weather.  Boasting the best microclimate on the island.

 But today that’s all changed – as these same natural advantages have helped to transform Playa Blanca into the islands second most popular resort. And the town is now home to the best selection of luxury holiday villas and hotels in Lanzarote.  Enabling it to emerge as a serious rival to Lanzarote’s other main resorts of Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise.

 Playa Blanca became a magnet for hotel groups and property developers during the 1980´s – as package tourism started to take off and holidays in Lanzarote became de rigueur amongst tourists from the UK.  Who accounted for around 850,000 tourist visits to The Island of Fire during 2008 alone.

 As a result new construction started cropping up all along the coastline – and today there are a total of seventeen hotels in Playa Blanca for visitors to select from.  Ranging from the five star opulence of the Gran Melia Volcan, located close to the Rubicon Marina development.  Through to the more down to earth charms of the Caja de Ambassador – a renovated collection of former fisherman’s cottages located right in the heart of the resort.

 The bulk of visitors to Playa Blanca through will find themselves staying in one of the new four star hotels that have opened their doors here over the last decade.

 Amongst the best of these is the H10 Group’s flagship establishment The Timanfaya Palace – which is located close to the popular beach at Playa Flamingo.  The hotel is built around two huge swimming pools and has a total of 305 guest rooms.  All offering good quality facilities such as satellite TV and air conditioning.  Room rates start from around €80 per room per night, dependent of course upon the time of year.

 At the other end of the resort the Papagayo Arena is the number one choice for beach lovers.  As the hotel is located just 600 metres walk from the famous beaches of the same name.  And is still virtually brand new as the hotel only opened for business in 2003.

There´s a big choice of holiday villas in Lanzarote for tourists to select from. With the bulk of the best located in the islands three main resorts of Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca.  Whilst interest in rural character properties in Lanzarote´s countryside has also grown apace over the last few years.

Holiday Villas in Playa Blanca 

The majority of the best villas are located at the southern tip of the island.  In the newest resort of Playa Blanca.  Where luxury hotels and top quality holiday villas are an integral part of the accommodation mix.

 Prices for villa holidays here start from around £350 per week, which secures a two bedroom villa with private pool.  Representing a good value option for anyone looking for a holiday on a budget in the current economic climate.

 At the other end of the scale, upmarket villas with VIP amenities and facilities are also available.  Such as the four bedroom Villa Rubicon Marina – which sleeps up to ten people and is available from £950 per week.  The property is ideally located right next to the relatively new Rubicon Marian development which boasts a host of upmarket shops and restaurants.  As well as Lanzarote´s very own branch of the Café del Mar.  Providing a great backdrop for a relaxing holiday break.

Holiday Villas in Puerto del Carmen

Whilst Puerto del Carmen may be Lanzarote´s largest and oldest resort it is still only served by two main hotels.  The Los Fariones and the San Antonio.  With holiday apartments in Puerto del Carmen providing the bulk of the tourist beds in the resort.

 There is still a decent selection of holiday villas to select from though, the majority of which are concentrated in the upmarket enclave of Los Mojones.  Which is just a ten minute walk to the atmospheric Old Town harbour area.  Which is very much the heart of the resort and the place where the bulk of the best bars and restaurants are located.

Holiday Villas In Costa Teguise

Costa Teguise was developed under the aegis of the island born artist Cesar Manrqiue back in the 1980´s.  When the whole market for holidays in Lanzarote was just starting to take off. And offers a relatively limited range of choice in terms of holiday villas in relation to the islands other two main resorts.  

 The best are to be found in and around the main beach at Playa Cucharas and in the vicinity of Playa Bastian.  Which is an attractive community complex with great gardens and good on site facilities.