With the holiday season just getting underway visitors planning to spend their summer holidays in Lanzarote should look out for a free copy of the Summer edition of Lanzarote Guidebook, which is available now. Despite the weak pound and economic crises, the island will welcome over one million tourists this year, with a large proportion visiting from the UK and Ireland.

The Summer 2009 edition of the Guidebook, complete with beautiful visuals of the island, runs to 96 pages and is divided into useful sections. It also comes in a quick download format from the Lanzarote Guidebook website.

The handy A6 format means that it’s an ideal size to carry around. It is distributed in Lanzarote via hire cars and private villa accommodation, as well as in the main tourist information centres.

The three resorts are featured in their own sections, with details of things to do and a map of each. With additional information on villages and towns across the island covering places of interest, local knowledge and some of the history of Lanzarote. And paying particular attention to several of the island’s unique tourist attractions, such as the Mirador del Rio and Timanfaya National Park.

Those who enjoy a more active holiday will find there is plenty to do, whether that involves exploring the amazing beaches to be found on Lanzarote or choosing from the many excursions and sports available. Which include kayaking and catamaran sailing to brushing up teeing skills at the weekly golf clinic.

The creation of long term residents on the island, Lanzarote Guidebook is an indispensable resource for visitors who wish to get the most out of their holiday here. Featuring up to date information and handy tips.

The Essentials section covers everything from bank opening hours to tipping, ensuring that visitors waste as little of their precious holiday time as possible. With a contact list of emergency numbers, should they be necessary.

An in-depth profile introduces readers to César Manrique – Lanzarote’s foremost artist and architect – who has contributed so much to preserving the island’s beauty. Whilst the agenda section provides information about up and coming events, such as the Jazz Canarias Festival.

Visitors to the website of Lanzarote Guidebook can read more in the monthly What’s On guide to events and catch up on the latest news and weather. Or browse the wide range of holiday accommodation, from apartments to luxury Lanzarote villas, for their next visit to the island.

Carnival hits the Canary Islands this month.  Unleashing a riot of colour and celebration that engulfs these seven specks of Spain, located just off the coast of Africa, for weeks.  And whilst this annual event may not be as riotous as Rio Carnival still effectively shuts down much of local government and many businesses for the duration on islands such as Lanzarote.  As workers desert their desks and hit the streets.

Carnival first arrived in the Canary Islands with the Spanish conquistadors.  Who in turn inherited the event from the remnants of the Roman Empire.  And served an important social function – allowing people to let off steam before the onset of the 40 days of sacrifice required by Lent.  Carnival also temporarily eroded social barriers – enabling the different classes to mix more freely behind the disguise of costumes and masks.

Whilst Carnival may have been first introduced by the Spanish today it has more of a Latin American than Iberian feel.  Thanks to the fact that the Canary Islands are a real melting pot of cultural influences.  Resulting from the fact that the islands were once an important trading post in the Spanish empire.  Serving as a spot where Spanish galleons carrying Inca silver could offload and refuel before heading back across the Atlantic with a cargo of slaves from Africa.

As a result Carnival in the Canary Islands has a strong anti-authoritarian streak which manifests itself in poking fun and debunking local figures, such as politicians and businessmen.  Via the medium of satirical costumes which are dreamt up for months in advance by hardcore carnival goers.  Indeed costume is so important that there are numerous shops on each island solely dedicated to the creation and sale of carnival outfits.

The other defining characteristic of Carnival is that of excess.  As the streets become submerged beneath seas of drunken revellers.  With the locals leaving all sense of social decorum indoors. 

The main procession is always the central focus of each Carnival event in the Canaries. Typically featuring brightly decorated and cleverly themed floats.  Which act as mobile stages for the massed ranks of batacuda drum bands.  That wend a loud and syncopated path through the throngs of revellers. Many of these drum bands practice all year round – and once all dressed identically in their carnival costumes create a real spectacle.

Such is the importance of Carnival that many tourists plan their holidays around it.  Booking hotels and villas in Lanzarote months in advance. This year Carnival kicks off in Lanzarote from February 18th in the island capital of Arecife.  Before moving across the main resort of Puerto Del Crarmen.  Where the action starts all over again from February 26th onwards.

British and Irish holidaymakers will be flocking to the small Canary Island of Lanzarote to enjoy a sunshine break this festive season.  So what can they expect from their holiday on the Island of Fire?

Lanzarote Airport

Lanzarote is served by just one international airport – called Arrecife (ACE) – the same name as the nearby capital just three kilometres away.

The main arrival days for flights to Lanzarote from the UK and Eire are Mondays and Thursdays.  But as Christmas day also falls on a Thursday this year additional flights will be arriving on the Wednesday.

The airport is not serviced by a shuttle bus service.  Package holiday makers will be transferred to their resorts onboard coaches organised by their tour operators.  Independent travellers however will either have to join what can often be a lengthy queue for taxis or hire a car from one of the many companies with desks located in the arrivals hall.

Holiday Accommodation

As a well established tourist destination Lanzarote offers a good selection of quality accommodation.  The best and newest hotels in Lanzarote are located in the islands southern most resort of Playa Blanca.   Whilst Puerto del Carmen, the islands largest resort, provides the bulk of holiday apartment accommodation.

Culture vultures should head for Costa Teguise which is located in close proximity to all of the main attractions on the island.

Holiday Weather

What´s the weather going to be like?  That´s the main question of importance for holidaymakers.  Lanzarote usually enjoys temperatures of around 20c in late December and early January.  Although the actual temperature is also heavily determined by both the force and direction of the wind, which plays a major role in Lanzarote´s climate.

Location will also influence weather conditions – as despite being a small island there is a great deal of variance in micro-climate between the North and South of the island.

Tourists staying in more southerly resorts such as Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen will enjoy the best of the weather.  Whilst guests staying in Costa Teguise are likely to find the temperature a couple of degrees cooler.

Volcanic Geography

Forget greenery and rolling fields.  Lanzarote is an arid, volcanic island with a raw landscape.  Shaped by a six year eruption that started in 1730 and submerged around one third of the island beneath a sea of lava. Head for the north of the island and the Valley of 1000 Palms for more verdant vistas.

Despite the falling pound and the current economic climate thousands of tourists will be visiting Lanzarote this holiday season.  As the most easterly of the Spanish owned Canary Islands remains a hot winter sun favourite  – especially with visitors from Ireland and the UK. 

 This festive season these visitors will be able to enjoy an extra Christmas present for free.  By downloading the new Winter edition of the in-depth island information guide, Lanzarote Guidebook.

 Published quarterly and written by island residents Lanzarote Guidebook is packed with accurate and up date information about the Island of Fire and its many attractions.  Whereas most conventional guidebooks are already out of date by the time they hit the bookshelves.  And features everything visitors to Lanzarote could want to know – encompassing comprehensive guides to all of the islands resorts, towns and villages.  Along with in depth information about the islands many cultural attractions, excursions and sightseeing destinations. 

 Lanzarote Guidebook also contains maps of the island and some great photography.  Plus an Agenda section that covers upcoming events such as fiestas and festivals and a very handy Essentials section that contains practical information about the finer details – encompassing everything from bank opening times and ferry timetables through to emergency phone numbers and tips on driving locally.

 The new Winter 08/09 edition of Lanzarote Guidebook has 104 pages and can be downloaded fast and for free by visiting the Lanzarote Guidebook website.

 Visitors to the Lanzarote Guidebook website can also access lots more information about the island online.  The site is constantly updated with new feature length articles covering every aspect of Lanzarote life – from holiday and travel news to what’s on and event information, restaurant guides, hotel and villa reviews and much more besides. And visitors to the site can also create and book their own holidays, as well as hotels, hire cars, villas and flights to Lanzarote.

 10,000 copies of Lanzarote Guidebook are distributed free of charge to tourists on the island via car hire and villa rental companies.