Yaiza is an island town on the southern tip of the island of Lanzarote. This picturesque town, just a few minutes drive from the delightful beaches at Papagayo, has won several awards for cleanliness. Thanks to its southern location, Yaiza enjoys some of the best weather on the

Yaiza

island with less cloud and less wind than towns in the north. The town sees average annual temperatures of 21C, dropping to around 19C with 6 hours of sunshine in December, making Yaiza the perfect choice for your winter sun holidays to the Canary Islands. The area offers hotel and apartment accommodation to suit all budgets, beautiful beaches and lots of things to do and see on your bargain holidays to Lanzarote.

The town of Yaiza has a quaint central square with a 17th century church, Iglesia Nuestra Senora de los Remedios. This pretty church has been loving restored and is home to some very fine religious carvings and paintwork. You will also find a cultural centre, art galleries and shops in the town.

There are some beautiful beaches which are easily accessible from Yaiza including Playa del Papagayo, the peaceful Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen. Water sports, including scuba diving, snorkelling, jet-skiing,

Papagayo Lanzarote

water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing and fishing, are all available from the beaches. Boat trips to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura are available from the harbour at Playa Blanca.

Away from the beaches there is plenty to see and do. Yaiza makes an excellent base for wine-lovers to visit the areas noted vineyards and to sample some of Lanzarotes finest wines. Follow the islands Wine Routes and tour the vineyards and cellars before enjoying a tasting session of the island’s best vintages. Lanzarote has an amazing volcanic landscape which was shaped by the activity of over 300 volcanoes which have laid dormant for hundreds of years. A visit to Timanfaya National Park, just a few miles from Yaiza, will give visitors an insight into how the island was formed. The park, which can be reached by the Volcanic Route from Yaiza, covers one third of Lanzarote and is the result of lava flowing from volcanoes over 250 years ago. The whole family will love exploring the volcanic caves and an exhilarating camel ride along the special camel route which runs through the park. For some culture a visit to the picturesque old town of Teguise is a must on your direct holidays to Lanzarote. Once the islands capital, Teguise is home to a traditional square, a castle built on the top of a volcanic core, historic churches and convents, beautiful ornate aristocratic houses and a water park. For

Timanfaya National Park

golf enthusiasts there are two courses to choose from. The 18-hole course in Tias is just 15 minutes from Yaiza while the other course is 25 minutes away in Costa Teguise. A great way to discover the natural beauty of the island is on a pony trek for all levels of competence.

Yaiza is a popular base for walking and hiking holidays. This is an ideal way to discover the wonderful volcanic landscape, spectacular scenery, quaint authentic villages and beautiful beaches on an island with an ideal climate.

Because of its ideal location on the southern tip of Lanzarote, Yaiza enjoys some of the best weather on the island. Spring months see highs of 21C and are an excellent time for exploring the island. Summer months see 9 hours of sunshine everyday with temperatures of 24C-27C with virtually no rain at all. Although temperatures drop in the winter, Yaiza still enjoys temperatures around 19C with 6 hours of sunshine a day making holidays in December a great choice for sightseeing and getting out and about.

If you are looking for fun packed holiday packages, why not book your 2012 holiday to Gran Canaria to coincide with the Carnaval Las Palmas De Gran Canaria. This is one of the biggest carnivals in the world, attracting 100′s of thousands over a two week period.

Carnaval Las Palmas De Gran Canaria 2012

Carnival events include;

The Carnival Queen Election Gala on the 3rd February.
In the Parque Santa Catalina – The Children’s Carnival on the 4th February – A contest of children’s troupes celebrating choreography, rhythm, costumes and of course the hard-work and enthusiasm put in by the children throughout the year.
In the Parque Santa Catalina – The Canine Carnival on the 5th February – This popular event is a parade of costumed dogs and their owners.
In the Parque Santa Catalina – The Gala Gran Dama on the 5th February – Open to candidates over 60 years of age, this lively gala is a fun night filled with great performances.
In the Parque Santa Catalina – Murgas Competition on the 6th, 7th and 8th February – Held in 3 phases the Murgas (street musicians/musical theatre groups) re-enact social and political events which have taken place throughout the year in an ironic and satirical manner.
The Pre-selection of the Drag Queen on the 14th February.
The Drag Queen Gala (Gala Drag Queen) on the 17th February followed by an all-night party. Marvel at the glittering, sparkly costumes, feather boas and towering high heels.
The Big Parade (Great Carnival Parade) on the 18th February followed by another all-night party.
The Grand Gala of Carnival (Gran Gala Del Carnaval) on the 20th February.

Entierro de la Sardina

The festivities end with the traditional Burial of the Sardine (Entierro de la Sardina) on Las Canteras beach on the 21st February. Revellers parade through the streets in outfits which can be quite scary before congregating on the beach to bury the sardine and watch the amazing firework display. Watch out for the many holiday deals to the Canary Islands that are always on offer throughout the internet.

Puerto Naos is located on La Palma’s sunny west coast. Once a landing place for banana boats, this traditional fishing village is one of two holiday resorts on the islands west coast. Sitting under volcanic cliffs, the resort is a relaxing place with good accommodation, restaurants, bars and shops. There is just one hotel in Puerto Naos which is located on a banana plantation and offers a wealth of facilities. There are also

Puerto Naos

apartment complexes which offer last minute holiday deals to the resort. Away from the beach the town of Puerto Naos consists of a few streets and a boulevard with restaurants, bars and shops. There are plenty of inexpensive restaurants in Puerto Naos which serve a whole range of cuisine including traditional Canarian dishes, Asian and international options. Apart from the beautiful beaches, La Palma has plenty to keep the whole family occupied including scuba diving, paragliding, horse riding, mountain biking, boat trips and lots of walking and hiking trails.

The main attraction of Puerto Naos is long black volcanic beach which stretches for nearly half a mile along the coast. Backed by palm trees which offer some welcome shade, this is the longest beach on La Palma and is ideal for sunbathing under the clear blue sky. Lapped by the warm Atlantic Ocean, the beach at Puerto Naos has been awarded a European Blue

Puerto Naos beach

Flag. This west coast area is well known for its beautiful sandy beaches with Playa de Charco Verde situated close to Puerto Naos. The islands only nudist beach, Playa de las Monjas, is located just to the south of Puerto Naos.

Puerto Naos has a great climate that allows you to scuba dive at any time of the year. The clear Atlantic Ocean enables divers to explore the underwater volcanic formations, caves, canyons, tunnels and chimneys. For an experience you will never forget take a night dive and discover this amazing underwater world.

The Taburiente Caldera National Park is not to be missed on your cheap holidays to Puerto Naos. Located just over 6 miles from the resort, this national park is the fourth to be established in Spain. The park is the site of a gigantic six mile long volcanic

Taburiente Caldera National Park

rock wall, the islands highest point the Roque de los Muchachos and an amazing collection of flowers and plants. Also worth a visit is the west coasts main town of Llanos de Aridane. Just less than four miles from Puerto Naos this charming little town is home to some beautifully preserved buildings complete with traditional Canarian wooden carved balconies.

Nightlife is provided by the bars and the islands only hotel and is very low-key compared to the other Canary Islands but is still considered fairly lively for La Palma.

From May until the end of November temperatures are around 25˚C, peaking at 30˚C during July, August and September, with May to October basking in up to 10 hours of sunshine a day. Winter sees temperatures in December around 23˚C making Puerto Naos a great choice for a winter holiday. Puerto Naos sees very little rainfall, about one day a month from June till September but increasing slightly during the winter months. Sea temperatures are also high, reaching over 20˚C from June till the end of September. Occasionally, maybe once or twice a year, Puerto Naos experiences a weather phenomenon called the Calima. This phenomenon occurs when hot, dry desert winds from the Sahara sweep across the island pushing the temperature up to around 40˚C. However these occurrences don’t last long and should not spoil your visit to Puerto Naos.

The small island of El Hierro in the Canary Islands has been put on a yellow volcano warning by the government.  This action follows a series of “earthquake swarms” that have occurred in the last few months on the island with one recording a level of 3.8 in magnitude recently.  Tourists and residents near the foot of the Volcano have been evacuated as a precaution.  150 tremors have been recorded on the island since yesterday, promting fears of volcanic activity and possible landslides and residents of the island have been put on standby for possible evacuation procedures.

El Hierro has over 200 small volcanic craters on the island, with the last eruption occurring back in 1973 creating lava flows.  A geological survey on the island has been underway during the last month to try to determine the cause of the frequent tremors.  The Canary Islands actually owe their existence to volcanic activity as they are all volcanic in origin, due to their position on the African plate on which they sit.  Despite these current warnings for El Hierro, La Palma is actually the most active of the Canary Islands with regards to tectonic activity and the last volcanic eruption here was in 1971.

The goverment has played down any talk of disaster and has stressed the ‘yellow’ alert is precautionary to ensure safety of the island’s inhabitants and they have been reassuring residents that the raised alert level does not indicate that an eruption is imminent.

You can follow us on twitter/facebook for any updates on the El Hierro situation or keep an eye on the blog.

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During this years October half term guests with children can take advantage of the Seaside Hotels’ Los Jameos Playa Lanzarote unique ‘healthy kids’ activity. The programme is offered at no extra cost to guests staying at the hotel between October 24th and November 3rd. Aimed at children between 4 and 8, activities include cookery, games, crafts and songs. The programme, first started in 2010, offers up to four sessions a day which will not only educate your children but also keep the little ones entertained on their cheap package holidays to Lanzarote. The hotel also offers a mini-club for 4-12 year olds, kid’s disco, ice-cream parties, children’s playground and entertainment for all ages.

The ‘healthy kids’ programme was developed exclusively for Seaside Hotels by Lucy Thomas, founder of the UK-based Mange Tout company. Lucy recently appeared on the BBC programme ‘Fast Food Baby’. Mang Tout specialise in creating fun ways for children to explore healthy attitudes towards eating, including introducing them to fruit and vegetables.

Set in a 20,000 square metre grove of palm trees, the Los Jameos Playa hotel is just a three minute drive from the resort of Puerto del Carmen and 20m from the vast Pocillos beach area. The design of the hotel was inspired by the internationally renowned artist and local boy Cesar Manrique. The hotel has outer whitewashed walls, a huge atrium-style lobby, guest rooms furnished in modern stripes and florals, a spa offering beauty treatments, massage and a Finnish sauna. Facilities at the Los Jameos include a 24hr front desk, currency exchange, 2 freshwater swimming pools (1 heated), children’s pool, large terrace with sun loungers, buffet restaurant with theme nights and show cooking, pool snack bar, 4 bars including a piano bar, a Wellness Centre with gym, sauna, steam room, beauty treatments and massage, an International Tennis school with 4 tennis courts (2 of which have floodlights), table tennis, squash court, minigolf, volleyball, archery, giant chess, billiards, Wi-Fi in reception, hairdresser, dry cleaning and self service launderette. All guest rooms have an en suite bathroom, hairdryer, air conditioning, satellite TV, telephone, minibar and safe.

The Los Jameos with restaurants, bars, shops and water sports all close by, is an excellent choice for last minute holidays to Lanzarote. The Costa Teguise golf course is also just a 15 minute drive from the hotel. Lanzarote attracts divers from all over the world and has some great dive locations around the island. Puerto Carmen has some good diving schools and instructors.

Separated from the rest of the island, The Jandia peninsula is located in the south of Fuerteventura and is easily reached via a major motorway. The peninsula is a nature reserve and is renowned for having the best beaches on the island. The nature reserve is home to protected wildlife and plants and is surrounded by white rolling sand dunes and stunning lagoons. This beautiful area of Fuerteventura is a firm favourite with honeymooners, couples and families looking for quiet and relaxing holidays amidst stunning scenery.

Jandia coastline

The island of Fuerteventura has over 125 miles of golden sandy beaches. Jandia offers over 12 miles of coastline with beautiful white sandy beaches which in some places are over half a mile wide. There are smaller less accessible secluded beaches along the coastline but these can only be reached by jeep or 4 wheel drive vehicles.

Home to the resorts of Costa Calma and Morra Jable, Jandia has developed into a popular tourist destination with large hotels catering for all types of visitor. Spread along the coast on the Playa de Sotavento, Costa Calma is very popular with German tourists and has a beautiful beach where the sand gently shelves into the Atlantic. Swimming conditions here are perfect. Just south of Costa Calma is the resort of Morro Jable. Once a small fishing village the resort is becoming increasingly popular with holidaymakers looking for last minute holiday deals to Fuerteventura. With all types of accommodation from luxury hotels to welcoming lodges, Morro Jable has a promenade lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. The Playa del Matorral beach here is along expanse of beautiful white sand with a lighthouse which signifies

Morro Jable promenade

the start of the nudist section of the beach.

A perfect windsurfing spot, Jandia hosts the World Windsurfing Championships every year. Other water sports on offer include scuba diving, water-skiing and kite-surfing.

Away from the beach a great way to explore the island is by jeep, visiting the many traditional villages on your way around the island. Jandia National Park, with over 6000 acres of beautiful beaches, is an amazing place to visit on your late deals to Fuerteventura. For the more energetic a walk to the highest point on the island, Pico de Zarza, will give you amazing views across the island and out to sea. The walk takes around 5 hours and is quite strenuous but the journey back down is much easier and quicker as it is mostly downhill! Visitors can enjoy a round or two of golf at the golf course which is nestled in the hills of Morro Jable. For a great family day out catch the ferry that the runs from the port in Morro Jable to the island of Gran Canaria.

Nightlife tends to be low key and mainly centred around the hotels or at the restaurants, cafes and bars along the beach front. There is plenty of choice when it comes to dining out in Jandia with a good selection of restaurants serving a variety of cuisine including traditional tapas, Italian and German food, and good old British roasts.

Jandia enjoys an all year round stable climate with hot dry summers and warm winters. With the sun shining all year round temperatures in July and August often reach 30C and even the colder winter months still see temperatures around 20C with very little rainfall. From May until October the temperature rarely falls below 25C and together with around 7 hours of sunshine a day and perfect sea temperature this is the perfect time for a beach holiday in Jandia.

Matagorda is located near to Puerto del Carmen and close to Lanzarote airport. The resorts small sandy Blue Flag beach is popular with windsurfers as it enjoys favourable winds and fast-running tides. The soft golden sands and clear blue Atlantic Sea are just perfect for beach holidays in the sun. If you are looking for a great range of water sports then the beach at Playa de los Pocillos, which also has a Blue Flag for its

Matagorda

facilities, cleanliness and water quality, is the place to visit. Puerto Del Carmen also offers a host of water sports including snorkelling, windsurfing and parascending. Matagorda offers all types of accommodation from economy to high quality hotels, as well as bed and breakfast and self catering options. The resort is regarded by many as the cleanest and most attractive of all of Lanzarotes resorts.

Although the resort is a lot quieter than other resorts on the island, there is still plenty to do and see here. Matagorda has a variety of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. There are some great restaurants in the main centre which serve a variety of cuisine including paella, fish, shellfish and international dishes.

A few miles from Matagorda is Puerto Calero where you can hire motorboats, take a trip on a catamaran to the beautiful beaches of Papagayo or take a ride on the Yellow Submarine. For those who like to shop there is the islands capital Arrecife which is

Yellow Submarine

located just to the east of Matagorda. Here you will find boutiques and fashion stores selling a vast range of duty-free goods. Arrecife is steeped in history and is home to some great museums and the 17th century Castillo De San Jose which is now a modern art gallery where you can enjoy a meal at the Cesar Manrique designed restaurant. If you are looking for a livelier atmosphere on your cheap holidays to Matagorda then Puerto del Carmen, located just a few miles away, is the place to visit. A long promenade with restaurants, shops and bars runs along the edge of the beach from Matagorda to Puerto Del Carmen and is great for an evening stroll in the warm evening air. Timanfaya National Park, a nature reserve with an epic rocky landscape, volcano and black volcanic beaches, is not far from the resort and makes a great day out for the whole family. Here at the reserve you can take in the magnificent views across the island and out to sea and enjoy a meal at the restaurant which uses heat direct from the earth’s core to cook your steak just how you like it. Another great day out is a visit to the Lanzarote Aquarium in Costa Teguise. The pools and tanks here house all types of marine life

Timanfaya National Park

including sharks, poisonous fire dragons, triggerfish, rays and clown fish.

If you are looking for relaxing summer or winter holidays to Matagorda there are always lots of holiday packages to choose from throughout the internet.

Playa Fanabe is located on the Costa Adeje in the south of Tenerife. The resort is less than two miles from Playa de las Americas and is popular with families and couples of all ages. With all types of accommodation available here there is something to suit everyone, from the very young to older visitors. The bustling town is a maze of tiny narrow streets lined with

Playa Fanabe

 restaurants serving all types of cuisine, bars and shops. The restaurants at nearby La Caleta serve some of the best and freshest seafood and fish dishes on the island.

The beach here is wide and sandy with lots of water sports on offer including scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing, sailing and deep sea fishing. Near the marina is the smaller Puerto Colon beach which is ideal for families and children. Relax with a quiet walk along the seafront, looking out over the Atlantic Ocean or savour the beautiful flower gardens of the nearby hotels. For a change from Playa Fanabe beach you can take a short 10 minute walk to the luxury resort of Bahia del Duque, popular with celebrities, or visit La Caleta beach and resort which is less than 2 miles away.

Nearby on the same stretch of coast as Playa Fanabe are Playa de las Americas and Playa los Cristianos where you will find plenty of lively nightlife, livelier beaches and lots of shops. For a round of golf or a family day out at a water park the resort of La Caleta is just five minutes from Playa Fanabe. Thanks to the excellent climate golf can be played here all year round. There is plenty to do in and around Playa Fanabe including dolphin and whale-watching trips, quad biking, horse riding, fishing and lots more.

Teide National Park

Enjoy a great family day out at the Teide National Park where you can take a cable car ride up the snow-capped Mount Teide and admire the amazing views of the coastline and the surrounding Canary Islands. Another great family day out is a visit to the Loro Parque with its killer whale, dolphin and sea lion shows. Visit the islands capital Santa Cruz, about a 45 minute drive away, for its culture, restaurants, shopping and great nightlife. Not to be missed on your bargain holidays is a trip to Los Gigantes where you will be amazes at the stunning views of the largest cliffs in Europe.

Due to all year round sunshine and temperatures that rarely dip below 20C,

Beach

 Playa Fanabe is the perfect choice for your holiday packages to Tenerife. Temperatures often reach 30C during the summer months but the trade winds ensure that the heat is not too excessive and humidity levels are low. From June through to September the sea temperature remains around 23C, ideal for swimming and water sports.

Canarian cuisine is a fusion of native Guanche, Spanish, Latin American and African foods. Because of the warm climate light meals are usually eaten as they are more easy to digest. Fish, fruit and fresh vegetables form the main diet with meat used in stews or eaten as steaks.

FOOD

Plantain Bananas
The Canary Islands are Europe’s only plantain banana exporter. These delicious bananas are small and aromatic and are usually fried, they are very common in the West Indies. Mousse de Gofio is a desert made from gofio (grain flour), miel de palma (palm honey) and plantains and is absolutely delicious.

Tapas
Tapas is a Spanish concept, usually eaten before lunch or dinner with a beer or glass of wine. Tapa is a small light piece of food presented as a canape, pincho (on a stick) or as a mini-dish of a tradition recipe.

Papas Arrugadas or Papa Sancochada
Often used as a tapa, this is a dish of potatoes which have been boiled in very salty water and then served with mojo picon, a cold spicy sauce made with chilli, garlic, paprika and oil.

Arepas
These are tortas (Mexican sandwich) made from fine corn flour and filled with meat, cheese or sweet mango.

Fish
With fish being caught locally, you will find fish and seafood widely used in local and international dishes. Varieties of fish include sea bass, white sea bream, mackerel, parrot fish, wreckfish, damselfish and bogue. Fish is usually prepared in one of three ways – covered in salt, baked, fried or jareado (sun-dried and then seasoned). A popular fish dish from Tenerife is Sancocho Canario, a salted white fish served in a ‘mojo’ sauce.

Sampling the varied cuisine of the Canary Islands is a must when on one of the many travel deals available to these amazing islands.

DRINK

Beer
The Canary Islands have three locally brewed beers which are Dorada, Reina and Tropical.

Wine
Winemaking is a part of Canarian tradition. Many local people make their own wine with fruit from their own vines. The traditional sweet Malmsey wine is produced in the volcanic fields on Lanzarote.

Rum
Gran Canaria is well known for its rum factories. Ronmiel (honeyed rum) is a sweet drink made from rum and honey.

Barraquito
Also known as barraco, this is a coffee speciality from the Canary Islands and is very popular on Tenerife and La Palma. A barraquito is made from coffee, milk, condensed milk and a syrupy liquer called Cuarenta y Tres (43).

The Canary Islands are blessed with great weather, beautiful beaches, plenty of history, culture and traditional and welcoming friendly people who will go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your package holidays to these wonderful islands.

Recent research has shown that around a third of adults suffer from insomnia and nearly sixty percent do not have adequate sleep. Representatives of the Corallium Spa believe that the Womb Room will provide an effective solution for those suffering from restless nights.

The Corallium Spa is located at the Lopesan Cota Meloeras resort in the southern region of Gran Canaria. The Womb Room aims to recreate the journey of life starting with where it all began, the womb. The Womb Room is reached by a pink carpeted corridor which represents the neck of the uterus. Blood coloured waterbeds which give the impession of the amniotic sac greet you in the dimly lit treatment room. The floor of the treatment room is covered by a pink carpet with bold a bold splash of red fabric which slowly rotates to give the impression of a large umbilical cord. Gentle background music is played in the treatment room to recreate the sound heard from inside the womb.

Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort, Spa and Casino

The Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort, Spa and Casino is a 4 star premium hotel which sits on the sea front close to the Nature Reserve of Dunas de Maspalomas on Gran Canaria.

Corallium Spa

The main attraction is the Spa Corallium Costa Meloneras where guests can enjoy exotic treatments on their holiday packages to the Canary Islands.

This well equipped spa has a fitness centre with all the latest technology for cardio and fitness activities and a beauty clinic which offers a full range of facial and body treatments. The spa offers treatments using natural water at varied temperature and has a hydrothermal circuit which has been designed to eliminate toxins, promote rejuvenation and harmony, improve the workings of the entire body muscles and also strengthen the immune and cardiovascular system of the body. Circuit temperatures range from 4C in the domain of ice to 90C in the African sauna and also passes through a Kneipp pool of 14C, a float pool of 35C and a Turkish bath and steam bath of 45C. This treatment transports the guest from the North Pole and the Arabian desert to the tropics and the North Pole, resulting in the wellbeing of the human body and soul.

If you want to be pampered and have your body and soul cleansed then don’t forget to pay the Spa Corallium Costa Meloneras a visit whilst on your cheap holidays to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.