So, I have just returned from my 8 day stay in Puerto Del Carmen. In some ways it was what I expected and in some ways it wasnt here is my observations and opinons:

Puerto Del Carmen

The appearance of pdc was a nice suprise and change from the high level and drab looking buildings of the Costas but the main strip seemed to look slightly tacky and might as well be renamed 'Ave del Little Britain'. Imagine English bars, a cafe, fake goods shops and car hire shops duplicated and stuck together in a row for over a mile, that is all that existed. The resort itself i found to be quite quiet and peaceful which was nice.

I am all for the 'Home from Home' concept, but in moderation. The last thing I personally, want to see when on Holiday is hundreds of English Pubs especially on the main front of the town.

What ruined the majority of our evenings was the constant hassle from people handing out flyers. At first it was just a couple of times every so often, then it got more constant, until I completley lost it. We were walking towards the end of the strip near the Atlántico and after politely refusing the odd flyer we were swarmed by six people all at once who wouldnt take no for an answer, my girlfriend got quite intimidated by this, and one person physically stopped me in my path, by now I was at my complete wits end and forcefully faught my way through the vultures. Every night we had to cross over and attempt to avoid the aggressive marketing tactics of these flyer wielding morons. Maybe it was because we looked young as a couple (We are 19 & 20 years old)

Food

I have to admit when I first studied the menus of about six restaurants I found them all to be pretty much the same. A Starter Section, Italian, Mexican, Fish Steak containing similar dishes. The restaurants didn't look that inviting many fake and tacky and every time I was asked to come in by the waiter I deliberately didn't eat there ever out of principle. If they have to beg you to come in they cant be that great. Now, Despite my initial negativity I have to admit I only had one average meal and the rest were superb! I found the Lanis chains to be quite reasonable (apart from the Mexican one), Playa Mar was also brilliant (I had the mussels twice!). Towards the end I got sick of visiting the restaurants with the same menus so I decided to look for something a little different towards the end of the strip I found a small restaurant overlooking the sea called Meson do Marineo (SP?) This restaurant was absolutely amazing! And was incredibly cheap! The canarian potatoes were delicious!

Beach

The beach was fantastic, plenty of sun beds and great water to swim in which was surprisingly warm too. Cannot fault the beach at all.

Weather

I have to say the first night i was a little worried as the wind and temperature felt like when I left England! Didn't expect to need a jacket on the evening! But we were really lucky as we then got a 5 day heatwave, when the heatwave subsided I found the temperatures to be pretty much like a hot summers day in England (when we get them!) I noticed the wind was quite cool and the air didn't feel warm like i'm used to when visiting Mediterranean countries. Lower and Mid 20's comes as a bit of a disappointment really when used to 30c plus when I go on holiday. But I suppose this was April.

Lanzarote in General

If I returned to Lanzarote I would definitely hire a car and explore a bit more, and find some more traditional bars and restaurants. PDC lacks anything special, compared with Mainland Spain there is hardly anything traditional left of this British ruled and ran resort. But if that's what you like then this is definitely paradise. Given the price and the fact that I got some off season sun for a little more than £200 then I'm glad I came to Lanzarote. In the future I wouldn't pay more than £250 for a holiday here and definitely would only go from Oct - May. I think for my main holiday I will be sticking to Mainland Spain, The Balearics and Italy.

Would I return to Lanzarote? YES. Would I return to PDC? Probably Not.

Cheers

Hey when we all go on holidays there is always a home from home concept and that is in most holiday resorts, you are totally entitled to your opinion but you really knocked everything about PDC even the weather!!!! The weather cannot be helped! I understand bout been hassled it has happened to me and my boyfriend each time we have gone there but going to the old town helps with that issue!!!! In every holiday resort there are people who stand outside resturants and the menus are probably the same as we may not like their food! I understand you may not have liked PDC but you should go back to lanzarote maybe another resort and you will understand what it has to offer!!!! Its the nicest place iv ever been 2! We love Lanzo!!!!

I think your thoughts and comments are, overall, quite reasonable.

But where can you go where everything is 'perfect'? And what would that cost?

Holidays are a bit of a learning curve really. By what you say, you only saw a small aspect of the island. You are a prime candidate for exploring (although at 20 you may have a problem hiring a car). Unless you want either an 'Ibiza' or an 'all inclusive stay on site' type holiday take every opportunity to see what's round the corner, up the road, or in the next town/village. It's hit and miss, but worth the effort. This is regardless of where you go.

Your comments about the 'Full English' side of PDC; it's not something I care for, and it can be worse in the English school hols. periods, but it's far worse elsewhere, and is most obvious in PDC. But I don't think you can really stop a business opening up if it is going to aim for the UK market. If you want to avoid that completely then you need to find resorts where the English tend not to go.

Next time, perhaps try Playa Blanca for your bed for the night. Much more easy going I think. A bit more Spanish, a slightly lower tempo. Sounds, by what you say, more your thing.

There are many great places to eat on this island (check through this forum for previous threads). There are even places where the menu is not the same - because they don't have one - it depends what they caught that day. It all depends on what you are looking for, but whatever it is, you will find it on Lanzarote. Don't limit yourself to the obvious in your face choices. I wouldn't be put off by being asked to come into a restaurant, it's not uncommon, doesn't mean that they are struggling for custom, and is not unique to Lanzarote, or Spain, or Europe. In fact, if you have your wits about you you can use it to your advantage - sometimes. Ask questions, get extra service, maybe free tasters or a complimentry drink. It's all part of the experience.


On behalf of everyone here, keep tabs on the forum, come back soon, see other parts of the island and have a great time.

Asta luego

Mit........ i take on board all that you commented on, and i would agree with a lot of it. but but but........if you return to lanzarote, you must visit the rest of the island, its truly spectacular from orzola and caleton blanco in the north, jardin de cactus, and arrieta to yaiza and playa blanca with uga somewhere in between....the volcano's are surreal and manrique's influence is all around you............in puerto del carmen itself there is much to be seen apart from brit pubs (which i wont knock as i down many a vodka in them)....but like anywhere else you have to take the bull by the horns and search out what your looking for......and believe me lanzarote had many delights if you open your eyes and look around...so i hope you return and see the rest of the island...try eating tapa's in arrieta on a scorching hot day, watching the local children jumping off the pier...........just lovely...

just in case you hadnt noticed i quite like lanzarote... and if there was a bliss emote i would be clicking it right now

The only comment I have being a british bar owner over here for a number of years is we cater for what the tourist wants and it does sound to me that you stayed around the Atlantico end did you ever go further down the strip at ourend we dont have people shoving fliers in your face and we have 2 italian, chinese, spanish, british restaurants right beside us giving a wide choice of menu. You also need to know that PDC was 40 years old last year being the original resort and everyone knows it needs work done on it, we have just gor a new golf course opened and things are happening so please dont put us down this is Spain and it is not an overnight thing to have change happen but please visit us again with a more open mind and explore explore explore.

www.jasparsbarlanzarote.com

I'm a 10 year Lanzarote veteran who is coming back to PDC in a couple of weeks for what will be my 27th holiday there out of the last 28.
The only other place I went to was Florida. The all-you-can-eat restaraunts were great over there if you don't mind growth hormone-induced food and staff wearing plastic ears and bunny tails.
There were some fantastically coloured pieces of plastic in Disneyworld and it was amazing to see all that oceanic wildlife jumping through hoops whilst chomping on a steroid-filled turkey leg in my air conditioned super wide grandstand seat at Sea World in downtown wherever.
We did manage to venture out to Busch Gardens (without being shot at) where there was some more excellent plastic and brightly painted metal and lots of critters all gathered together for my viewing pleasure whilst I queued with all the other people to purchase some franchised material to remind me that I could eat a crocodile burger whilst viewing a polar bear at 40ºC and then be sick on a roller coaster.
The beaches at some of the Disney theme parks were absolutely beautiful. Just goes to show what you can design if you have imagination, I mean a whole beach resort in the middle of an alligator infested swamp just 100 miles from the coast - wow. Amazing wave machines and Sunny Delight on tap for the kids too!!!
There were some fantastic shopping malls where I could buy loads of really cheap sports gear sewn together by 8 year old vietnamese children and it was really heartwarming to know that I was making a real contribution to their welfare.
Added to this there was a real authentic American pub called the Kings Arms right next to out Travellodge that served buffalo wings (I never knew they had them!) and beer so weak that you could drive home after 2 gallons (well that's what the locals did). But remember, you can't drink until you're 21 (but you can own a gun a 12). There were only a couple of incidents with the locals putting the apartment windows through 10 stories below.
Yes, I'd thoroughly recommend Florida if you don't like PDC. It's everything that Lanzarote isn't.
See the rest of you on the 22nd.

Hux.

well said Hux

www.jasparsbarlanzarote.com

Mit I understand where you are coming from but unfortunatley as has been pointed out we cater for what the tourisat want. In saying that you should really ask yourself what you want from a holiday before booking anywhere in the future.

BTW lots of the "Brit bars" offering you full english are in fact Spanish and if you had been in Lanis you may have wanted to ask yourself 'why do they offer full English in here' I think that would ahve answered one of your questions.

I complain about the waeather back in the UK when I go in winter can you tell me why it is so cold then? You actually came in April had one cool night and bless you had to put a jacket on(never see that in the Bigg Market mind ) and then you had a heatwave was that not to hot for you? It was for us who have to work in it.

I have run bars in PDC for 13 years and love it which is my choice and don't care for CT or PB while others do.

I have to agree with some of the comments Mit makes, the PR's in particular being a major bugbear of ours too But after 7 years of visiting PDC you just learn to go with the flow.....have a banter and move on, simple as really, unless of course you want to go in Atlantico in which case the PR's can be your new best friends

IMO you should have plumped for the Old Town in PDC where there's less of the whole PR thing and you could have then chosen to hop in a cab into the new town if you wanted. I've rarely eaten a bad meal regardless of what the menu read like in PDC and that was down to recommendations and doing my RESEARCH properly, now I know what's what I know exactly where I'm going to eat whilst over there. Unless your going to remote parts of Mainland Spain I can't believe you don't encounter "Brit" type bars and eateries. From a personal point of view I find it strange that you applaud the Lani's chain, I cannot stand any of them, just my opinion as I know many people do like them just as those who rave about Beefeaters and Toby's in the UK.....they're not my cup of tea at all and only have bad experiences in any Lani's (they're taking over PDC surely ? ) So a perfect example of one mans poison !

You really should have got on some trips around the island and saw what the place has to offer, it's a great island and the best out of all the Canaries in my opinion. So much to see.

My last thought is that where in April could have got such fabulous weather without travelling much further afield ? I always go to PDC during March or April because I know I'll get good weather (mostly) and have a good chill out after a busy and bleak UK winter. Lanzarote is not my main holiday but it's absolutely perfect for what I want every year at that time. My only other options would be much further afield i.e. Egypt, Goa etc. or heaven forbid long haul......5 times the cost to get to let alone the long flight.

So all in all it's MY perfect location for that particular annual holiday and I take the place for exactly what it is, good weather, good craic, good food, great beach and a proper chill out resort.

Happy Hols

sorry but you said at the end of the strip by atlantico the strip goes another mile as sue from jaspers pointed out . where in the med in april is the temprature 30 plus

Thanks very much for comments regarding my post.

Colly:

I see what your saying and agree that I will find examples of all the things mentioned in any holiday resort but I found in PDC it was x10. I agree and did say I will almost certainly come back to Lanzarote and explore more. As people have said it does cater for everyone PDC was just not my cup of tea. I'd like to have a good look around next time for sure.

Rich:

You seem to know what I want from my holiday, I fully agree holidays are for learning and that is part of the fun! I found 3 companies who could ofer me a hire car despite being 20 years old. Next time I shall deffinatley get a car. Will deffinatley look into Playa Blanca, I originally was going here but thought it may be a little too underdeveloped. And yes, I probably sound like a right winger! As the perfect holiday probably doesnt exist!

DopeyDrawers:

Thanks very much for the recomendations I have made a note of the places and next time I will deffodo more exploring. The tapas in arrieta sounds just perfect! Cheers!

Jaspar:

I fully understand the demand for this and the oppertunity for british bars. I'm not knocking the bars or bar owners at all, hell, if theres an oppertunity to satisfy a demand and open a business in a country that offers a better lifestyle and cost of living why not do it! All I'm saying was I was shocked at the amount of them and its not where I like to visit all of the time. I will certainly be exploring more as I still think Lanzarote will offer something that I'll like.

Hux:

That sounds great never been to Florida or America for that matter. I'm going to LA and San Francisco in July will be 2 weeks of being sober . I chose to go to Lanzarote because I thought it was the only place with sunshine off season, in Europe that is cheap compared to Carribean, Egypt etc. I will deffinatley come back to Lanza but like I said will be between oct and may!

Overhere:

Like I have mentioned to Jaspar, I fully understand supply and demand. For the majority they want all the english things otherwise they wouldnt exist as a business. Of course, I knew there would be brit bars etc just not on the scale of PDC. Yes your right maybe I should have researched more what I wanted from a holiday, but I do not regret trying PDC at all, as I said holidays are about learning too. Plus, for some off-season sun just 4 hours away for just over £200 I'd be a fool not to have tried PDC!

The heatwave was nice, thats what id expect when going away in the summer, other than that the stable temperatures 22c - 24c felt just like a warm summer day in england with the cool wind too but again, cant really complain!

Sapphire1:

I agree and thats the only reason for coming to lanzarote at that time of year, as it is the only place that is cheap with sun off season! Like you lanzarote was not and probably never will be my 'main' holiday as you put it, but for the price i am deffinatley coming back to explore. And regarding the 'Britishness', of course I have encountered it in Ibiza, Majorca, and the Costas just never on the scale of PDC and all in once place! In my view the resort of Moriara near alicante has the perfect mix, mostly spanish places a few scattered english irish pubs, no PR's and a lovely beach.

John ev:

Sorry that was worded wrong. I meant to say I usually go away to med places in the summer with temps of 30c plus,

thanks for the replies!

Take a tour with me!!!

"Hux:

That sounds great never been to Florida or America for that matter."

... Erm ...

... Er ...

... oh well ...

... irony eh ...? who'd have it ...?


Hux.