Family Holidays: Lanzarote family holidays and breaks

Take the Family holiday rating 4½ stars out of 5

Why

The Canary Islands are one of the closest places to Britain where you can find reliable sun in the winter months, and Lanzarote is one of our favourites. The beaches on the island are probably the best in the region, having naturally white sand, rather than the imported or black sand you find in other areas. Playa Blanca is the nicest resort on the island, it’s all low rise accommodation, and the beach is child friendly. In fact Lanzarote's three main resort areas are characterised by their lack of high-rise developments so common in most Spanish resorts.

Besides the main draw of the beach Lanzarote is also famous for its volcanoes and weird looking terrain. The whole island has been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

Above left: La Graciosa Panoramica
Above right: La Geria Vinedos

When

The Canary Islands have great weather all year, temperatures rarely rise above 30°C, or drop below 20°C.

How

There are regular charter flights from most UK airports. There are scheduled flight with British Airways from Gatwick, in addition to many low cost airlines such as Thomsonfly, Monarch, Air Berlin and Thomas Cook, with hundreds of regional departures, making getting there so much easier for families. Take the Family's preferred airline is XL Airways. Flights take around four hours from London, and under five hours from Glasgow. Search to find the best flight deals with Expedia.

Stay

Lanzarote offers accommodation options to suit every family budget and requirement. We've highlighted a couple of popular family options, from the popular Hotel H10 Lanzarote Princess, to elegant five star luxury favourite, (with kids clubs from age 3, plus babysitting services), The Princess Yaiza in Playa Blanca. For family's holidaying together self catering options can provide a much greater flexilbility, such as Jardines del Sol, which comprises 48 semi-detached bungalows, 6 villas and a vast area of tropical gardens. For a great selection of family friendly villas take a look at partners Meon Villas and James Villas. Also browse family holiday deals to Lanzarote with Expedia and Thomson holidays.

Do

Lanzarote is well known for watersports, particularly windsurfing. The North coast offers some of Europe’s finest surf and there is a surf school at Famara.

The interior has a spectacular lunar landscape – parts of Star Wars were filmed there – and you'll enjoy visiting the Montanas del Fuego in the Parque Nacional de Timanfaya. There was a huge eruption here in 1730 that lasted for 6 years! Urge your children not to start digging in the pebbles as the temperature still reaches 100 centigrade just a few centimetres below the surface. Be sure to tell your kids that many of the “alien” scenes from the movie Planet of the Apes were filmed on Lanzarote, and that the sensation is said to be similar to that of “walking on the moon.”

The most widely celebrated festival on the island is Corpus Christi, (Arrecife), and is a good one for families to get involved in. Salt is dyed brilliantly vivid colours and is then scattered in front of church walkways. Not quite a food fight, but you don't get many opportunities in life to throw food without getting in trouble. Other festivals include, The Teguise Carnival in March, The Fiesta del virgen del Carmen in July and the Fiesta of the Virgen de los Dolores in September. If your holiday coincides with one we highly recommend you take a look.

There are around 100 beaches over the whole island, tending to be gently shelving & very family friendly, particularly on the South coast. We recommend Punta del Papagayo for its sandy coves.

And you can take one of several daily ferry crossings to Fuerteventura (45 minute crossing) where the beach at Corralejo is nicer than Playa Blanca’s.

Although the capital, Arrecife, does not merit a special visit during your holiday, the former capital (until 1852), Teguise, has lovely old buildings lining pedestrianised lanes. There’s also a castle and a number of monasteries.

Most of the hotels have tennis courts and golf is never too far away.

Duty Free shopping is available over the whole island

Click here for an up to date family friendly events guide to Lanzarote.

Eat

A wide variety of international cuisines in Playa Blanca, Chinese, Pizza, Indian it’s all there. In the interior you’ll find it easy to eat in more traditional restaurants serving typical Canarian dishes.

For novelty value try the Restaurant del Diablo in the Moutains of Fire. The barbecue is volcano powered!

Cost

From £1,500 to £3,500 for a family of four including flights and accommodation. Exact prices depend on standard of accommodation and time of departure.

Travel reading

Lonely Planet Canary Islands

by Sarah Andrews

Buy from Amazon.co.uk - Save 34%

A comprehensive guide to the seven Canary Islands.

Dora the Expolrer !Hola! Hello! with Cards (English and Spanish)

by Ruth Koeppel

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Inventive bilingual book featuring 4 Dora stories. The book comes with a removable, carry-anywhere electronic "translator" and 20 double-sided word cards, which include 40 different words and phrases. Ideal for ages 4 to 8 years.