Monarch Airlines - Credit were credit is due

We have just returned from a weeks holiday in Lanzarote. All in all it was a good week (it always is!) although the weather could have been a little kinder to us. Still, we managed to get a few days on the beach.

On our return flight the plane developed a technical problem before take off. This is the first time I have experienced such a thing and probably not the last, but I was extremely impressed with the way that Monarch handled the situation.

Our plane was pulled out ready to taxi down to the runway. And that's where the problem started - it didn't, or rather couldn't, move. We sat on the plane for a while wondering what was going on. At first I thought that we were just waiting for our slot to use the runway, but then it became more apparent that there was a problem. After sitting on the plane for around an hour the captain advised us of a technical issue and that someone was coming out to investigate and hopefully fix the problem as Monarch had an engineer on the island.

The Engineer promptly arrived and we sat on the plane for a while longer before being told that the starter motor on one of the engines had died and that we would not be able to fly until it was fixed. We were looking at a 2.30 departure - the following day!

Not long after we disembarked the aircraft and collected our luggage which had been promptly removed from the plane. After a couple of minutes of waiting in the baggage hall we were then collected by coach and taken to the nearby Hotel San Antonio in Puerto del Carmen. We were a little bit distressed at hearing that we were going to be staying in PDC, it's not our cup of tea, but to our surprise the hotel (just down near Playa de los Pocillos) was a very impressive 4 star accommodation. Not only that but Monarch had arranged for our evening meals and breakfasts to be paid for.

On arrival, the reception were ready with a passenger list and check in was fast and efficient. We settled into the room and made our way down for a very nice buffet style evening meal and then enjoyed some excellent entertainment in the bar. The staff at the hotel were first class, especially the gentleman walking the reception floor who I assume was the duty manager for the evening.

The following day we started with a fantastic buffet style breakfast and enjoyed a last couple of hours of sunshine before the coaches collected us again to take us back to the airport. The plane was a little late in departing but better to be safe than sorry when it comes to planes and technical issues!

To top it all off, as a gesture of good will Monarch provided us with free meals on the flight home.

The party I travelled with (my girlfriend and her parents) all thought that Monarch provided a fantastic and efficient service to resolve what was an unfortunate situation. Mechanical things break down from time to time, it's the nature of the beast. Its how things are put right that counts, and Monarch were top class.

Lanzarote to lose its biosphere status?

Thanks to its year round warm climate, Lanzarote attracts many tourists looking for a relaxing and lazy holiday in the sun. Perhaps what many tourists don’t realize is that Lanzarote is a Unesco biosphere site, one of only 564 in the world!

With pioneering use of land a large part of the western coast of Lanzarote has been declared a nature reserve, the volcanic Timanfaya National Park, which is largely intact except for a tour-bus route, camel rides and a restaurant where food is cooked over a naturally lava-heated barbecue pit.

However, thanks to the so called ‘illegal’ building of 24 hotels in coastal resorts such as Playa Blanca the island is in danger of losing its biosphere status. The Canary Island Supreme Court has ruled that these hotels have been built illegally, with EU grants – issued partly with thanks to the islands biosphere status!

The biosphere status was issued to the island based on its development plans to promote sustainable tourism that respected the environment. The Cesar Manrique Foundation, named after the late artist Cesar Manrique himself, fights the development of large concrete buildings such as hotels on the other Canary Islands.

However, as you will see from the larger hotels that have been built on the sea front in resorts such as Playa Blanca there is reason for concern with regards to the biosphere status of the island.

Maybe the saving grace is that it is the Cesar Manrique foundation who have in fact ‘whistle-blown’ on these developers which may give the island a fighting chance in retaining the biosphere status.

There is no doubt that some of the larger hotels, such as those in Playa Blanca have helped the towns tourism trade, but at what cost? Playa Blanca, one a small fishing port is now a vibrant tourist destination enticing people from all over Europe.

The island has proven that, for years, it has been able to sustain repeat tourism through natural, low-key visitor attractions and it would be a tragic shame to see the Manrique legacy and biosphere status fall over the sake of corrupt property development.

5 things to do when staying in Playa Blanca

Once a small fishing port at the southern tip of Lanzarote, Playa Blanca is now a thriving resort, although it’s fair to say that unlike some of the other resorts on the island it has done very well when it comes to sticking to its roots.

Although relatively small, there is plenty to do in Playa Blanca, both for couples of all ages and families.

It is not unusual for people to book into a hotel or stay in an aparthotel when on holiday in Playa Blanca, and with the extreme summer heat can be too easy to just sit around the pool all day. But there are plenty of other things to be doing in Playa Blanca. Here are our top 5:

1. Hire a bike. There is a footpath in Playa Blanca that stretches from the lighthouse(s) in Faro de Pechiguera right through to Punta de Papagayo. It’s a fair treck and be careful of pedestrians!


2. Take a trip on the Glass Bottom boat. The sea around Playa Blanca is crystal clear, so what better way to see what’s beneath it than taking a trip on the glass bottom boat? The boat departs from both the harbour and the Rubicon Marina and heads towards the Papagayo beaches.


3. Relax on one of the beaches. There are a number of small(ish) beaches along the coastal footpath, scattered amongst a number of rocky coves. The main beach in Playa Blanca is sandwiched between two man-made beaches in Playa Dorado and Playa Flamingo. (At the time of writing Playa Flamingo is currently undergoing an overhaul and unavailable to the public)


4. Go Diving! Playa Blanca is home to the Lanzarote Dive College. Located by the Hotel Natura Palace (a short walk from the Playa Flamingo beach, towards the lighthouse) the Dive Centre caters for everyone from beginners to instructors.


5. Visit the bi-weekly market at the Rubicon Marina. Twice a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays) a local trade market takes place at the Rubicon Marina. You can find all sorts of bargains here from local crafts (a fantastic trader who builds leather chairs while you wait!), local wines and local products such as Aloe Vera gels and creams.

So, although Playa Blanca is the ideal place to relax, there is still plenty going on should you feel the need to venture outside your hotel during the day!

The secret to a great Lanzarote tan

The Lanzarote Sun is one of the reasons that the island attracts so many tourists all year round. Lying on a beach or by the hotel pool is one of the most enjoyable pleasures you will experience whilst on your holiday but there are a few things that you might need to know before you get a little bit 'too much' sun.

Lanzarote, part of the Canary Islands, is 1100 kilometres nearer the equator than the southern tip as Spain, and on the same latitude as the Sahara desert! Even 20 minutes sat outside on an overcast day can have disastrous consequences for your skin.

Lanzarote Sun TanWhilst on your holiday your skin will be exposed to between 8 and 10 hours of sunshine a day. The recommended amount is no more than 2 hours a day! Skin care protection is the secret to getting a great tan whilst on holiday in Lanzarote.

Different people have different skin, and different tolerances to the sun and it's harmful rays. It is important to know your limits.

The secret to a good Lanzarote tan is protection and rehydration. By using a good quality sun tan lotion (not necessarily Factor 50 - a good quality 25 would do the job) and applying it correctly you will decrease the chances of burning your skin. Sun tan lotion that contains Aloe Vera will also allow the heat in your body to escape, via the pores.

After a long day in the sun your skin will become dry and and red. It is important to apply a quality after sun lotion and moisturiser - ideally with one that contains Aloe Vera as it's first ingredient. The great thing about Lanzarote is that Aloe Vera creams aren't in short supply as it is one of the products of the island!

With a bit of care and attention, and a sensible head, there is no reason why you should come home with a fantastic tan, instead of coming home sore and uncomfortable with skin burns!

5 Tips when driving in Lanzarote

Lanzarote is a small island with few roads (although more than when we first started visiting), but the one thing you will find is that the roads are virtually empty! This makes it very easy to get around and you can travel around the entire island in around half a day.
There are a few things to consider when driving in Lanzarote, as the laws are probably different than you are used to back home.

Here are 5 tips to give you a heads up about driving in Lanzarote:

1. Drive on the right – Driving Laws in Lanzarote are the same as Spain. You drive on the right and overtake on the left. There are many roundabouts on the island so make sure you look left as that is where the traffic is coming from!

2. Carry your ID at all times – Drivers in Lanzarote can be subject to on the spot searches so make sure that you are carrying your driving license, photo ID and your car hire documents (if applicable) at all times.

3. Seatbelts - The use of seatbelts is a lawful requirement. Any Children under the age of 12 must travel in the back of the car, as they are not allowed in the front seats.

4. Drink Driving – Although this speaks for itself the laws are quite tough when it comes to drink driving or driving under the influence of drugs. If you get stopped on a spot check don’t be offended if you are asked to give a breath test – it’s standard procedure.

5. Parking – Don’t park on white or yellow lines. It’s against the law. If you find yourself parking on a blue line this means you must find a ‘pay-and-display’ machine and purchase a ticket. Also, do not park in front of any bins! The local refuge collection collects at all hours of the day and you could find yourself being towed away!

Although the roads are quiet you may find that parking in a busy resort can be quite tricky. In Puerto del Carmen there is a new one way system that has been introduced so even if you have travelled before be sure to stay alert for changes to any of the roads as they try to make them more efficient.

Driving in Lanzarote can be fun, but make sure that you take great care, especially if you are used to driving in the UK. Driving on the ‘other’ side of the road can be difficult to get used to at first.

This article is brought to you by Destination Lanzarote - Your Lanzarote Holiday Guide. For more information on Car Hire in Lanzarote visit our web site.

Lanzarote - A tale of two islands!

Lanzarote is a very popular all year round holiday destination and a favourite with northern Europeans who escape to find a bit of winter sun. Unlike some of the other Canary Islands Lanzarote remains largely unspoilt by tourism and is a natural beauty created by volcanic eruptions up to 5000 years ago.

The landscape of Lanzarote is split, very much, into two different sides in the east and the west (some would argue also the north which is much greener and damper).

The west of the island is home to the Timanfaya National Park, the most popular tourist attraction on the island. The park is home to Fire Mountain which caused complete devastation to the island during a 5 year eruption. The Montanas del Feugo, created between 1730 and 1736, are a formation of nearly 100 individual volcanoes and form the landscape of the baron, west side of the island. Today the Timanfaya National Park is visited by tens of thousands tourists every year.

The northern and easterly side of the island tend to be greener than the west, more so in recent years. Around the villa of Haria the land tends to be surprisingly green and agriculture plays a large part in the way of life. Many people think this is due to the altitude of the northern part of the island and the low clouds which form over the cliffs around Famara. Famara is often known to be quite damp compared to the rest of the island.

The area between the north and west of the island (towards the centre) is famous for it’s vinyards and wine production. The ‘soil’ is perfect with the minerals from the volcanoes and lava fields.

Although the island has a lot to offer in terms of its landscape and natural beauty it is unfortunate that many people do not get chance to witness it as they stay within the towns of their accommodation. I would always recommend that you hire a car for a couple of days and get to see some of the amazing natural sights that the island holds. Some of the natural attractions aren’t advertised that well so check out a guide to Lanzarote before you visit and prepare your schedule well.

Volcanic Ash sparks fresh UK Airport delays

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the skys! UK Passengers now face another period of disruption and UK airspace is once again taken over by Volcanic Ash from eruptions in Iceland.

Britain's busiest airports face delays, and in some cases complete closure and planes remain grounded across the UK.

This latest disruption leaves many business passengers and holiday makers stranded for now, and one major airline has branded the latest closures as a 'joke'.

Ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano has led to thousands of flights being delayed or cancelled across Europe since April.

If you are travelling to Lanzarote over the next few days I recommend that you check with your airline before making the trip to the airport.

Ryanair passengers can check for updates here