Picture the view; the red volcanic landscape of Montanas del Fuego contrasting with the white sandy beach of Playa Blanca, throw in some cultural nightlife and great food, and you have Lanzarote. After six nights of bliss, staying half-board in the top hotel on the island, Los Jameos Playa, I am pleased to say I feel rested, relaxed and ready to face the working world again.

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By Megan O'Riordan

The Thomas Cook experience compares with no other. No expense or effort was spared! From the ever-friendly and helpful staff, to the smooth operation from plane to airport to hotel, I will certainly be a repeat customer.

We took to the cloudy Irish sky on Sunday evening heading into the sun towards the coast of Africa. My mum and I were ready for a week of browsing through trinket shops, sipping cava by the pool and indulging in great food… and that is exactly what we did.

The beautiful island of Lanzarote is the fourth largest of the Canary Islands, just 34 x 12 miles in size. A moderate temperature of 22 – 29C for the summer months, coupled with the light breeze makes it the ideal climate for sun-worshippers and shadow-seekers alike. Originally named Titerogakaet or Titeroigatra meaning Rose-coloured-Hill, once you set your eyes on the landscape, you will understand why.

Upon arriving by taxi at our 4 Star Hotel, we were greeted by Garcon, a fluent English speaking local, who shared the vital stats on the island with us. After a Bucks Fizz welcome and our bags being dropped to our room by a consierge, our holiday had begun.

 

Los Jameo Playa - 4*

The hotel Los Jameos Playa, situated on the south of the small island, opens onto the sandy beach of Playa de los Pocillos, and is a thirty minute walk from the busy strip of Puerto Del Carmen. With a gym, health and wellness centre, tennis courts with ex-Wimbledon Champion taking hourly lessons, a hairdressers, and incredible buffet all on site – we could have stayed within its walls and never needed to leave!

Our comfortable twin room had Sky TV, as well as free wireless. The wifi was a massive bonus as we all stay online and in contact with the world through our smartphones these days, and data roaming charges can really clock up in foreign countries. Our balcony overlooked the resort; blue skies with fluffy white clouds and palm trees... oh life was tough!

With a large swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers filled with families and elderly couples alike enjoying the weather, Los Jameos Playa is the perfect hotel for a friendly, relaxed and calm atmosphere. We could not get over how helpful and polite the staff were, and it really made our trip so much more enjoyable.

We were grateful for the complimentary lemon and lavender scrub in the spa on site, it left us feeling revitalisied and tingly and ready for an evening of relaxed conversation.

Every morning and evening, we dined in the hotel. We enjoyed an extensive range of foods daily, from omelettes cooked fresh before our eyes to rotisserie chicken cooking from lunchtime, our mouths were watering as we made our way to the open air restuarant twice a day. Each evening meal is themed – from Asian to French cuisine, from fresh salad starters to indulgent dessert treats, we were spoilt for choice. I would certainly recommend half-board, as you get incredible value for two meals a day right on your doorstep.

We tested the Puerto De Carmen strip as well as the hotel entertainment. We walked to the strip around 8pm, and enjoyed the locals bartering for our attention. There are restaurants, late night shops, music bars and nightclubs, pretty much anything you could want. We enjoyed cocktail bars with live music most nights. Drinks were relatively cheap, costing €4 a pop. You can get a jug of the stuff for €20 if you are in the dancing mood! On our quieter nights, we enjoyed the hotel entertainment. We had two bars to choose from, the main bar and a quieter piano bar. With satisfied palettes from dinner, we enjoyed flamenco dancers, live bands and a circus act – and we saw it all while enjoying table service.

In between sunbathing and dining, we enjoyed a couple of activities from the array that the island offers. We mounted some rather large camels around the Timanfaya National Park, to set our sites on the lava rocks formed in the 18th century. The breathtaking views did not quite distract us from our furry friends’ smell however! If you are looking to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience under €20... this is the one to do! With a tour guide, bus ride and lunch included – you can’t go wrong!

For €10, myself and my Mum felt the seabreeze in our hair, took in the beautiful coastal surroundings, enjoyed a chinwag and a bit of excercise, all by taking a simple bike ride for an hour along the beach promenade between Playa de los Pocillos and Playa de los Charlos. There are plenty of stalls offering bikes along the sealine, so take it up if you have a free afternoon and need some light phsyical activity. Pay no more than €10, and a bit of haggling never goes amiss.

After six nights of great food, brilliant company, a buzzing atmosphere, friendly staff and a seemless experience – I can honestly say beautiful Lanzarote has my heart. And I will certainly be returning.

 

Thomas Cook have package holidays to Lanzarote for 7 or 14 nights with weekly flights departing on Saturdays. Thomas Cook's dynamic packaging brand Flexiblerips is also available and allows you to book accommodation only or flights only to Lanzarote as well as full package holidays and allows you to go for as long or as short as you like!

 

For package holidays to Lanzarote check out www.thomascook.ie or call 01 514 0307

 

 

If you’d prefer to do it yourself, check out www.flexibletrips.ie or call 01 514 0349