The Canary Islands have been attracting tourists from around the globe for decades and particularly those from European destinations, as the relatively short flight times to this group of islands make it ideal for travellers that are looking for a sun kissed destination, but do not necessarily want to spend 10 hours or more on their flight. One particular island in this delightful archipelago is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by visitors. It has long been tarnished by the entirely undeserved tag of 'Lanzagrotty' but as any visitor to Lanzarote will gladly testify, this holiday destination is truly unique resulting in many visitors returning year after year. So what makes this island stand out from its sister islands in the chain? Obviously there are similarities with the other islands, which is unsurprising given the close proximity of the islands to each other, but any similarities soon fade away and when it comes to tourist development Lanzarote has carved out a niche of its own, as this small volcanic outcrop successfully manages to combine some of the best aspects of beach holidays with unspoiled scenery, a flamboyant and colourful culture and a range of interesting attractions that are appealing to both the young and older visitors to the island. Lanzarote's beaches are best described as beautiful, golden and of course sandy, and thanks to the islands wonderful climate and year round sunshine, these can be enjoyed in almost any season. The main resorts here each boast their share of palm fringed playas, as well as a good range of facilities to meet the demands of locals and visitors alike. Such is the popularity of the island, there is already an excellent selection of short term and long term holiday accommodation that ranges from compact but well appointed self-catering apartments to the much more spacious and of course luxurious Spanish style villas, it is very seldom that you will be unable to find the type of accommodation your are looking for but in the high season as you would expect availability does get limited. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary unusual accommodation can also be found, for example you can go natural and stay in a holiday homes formed from caves in the side of a mountain or even an underground dwelling formed from a renovated subterranean water tank. Perhaps the most noteworthy house of all and one that should be on everyone's travel agenda is the former home of local legend Cesar Manrique, the Lanzarote artist who is responsible for many of the natural developments around the island that blend with the very fabric of the island itself. Having found five underground volcanic bubbles, Manrique then proceeded to transform them into his own home with simply stunning inspiration and planning. Word about the uniqueness of this architectural marvel spread rapidly, so much so that in the late eighties the artist moved out and his former home become the Foundation Cesar Manrique. Many visitors are now choosing to stay in more rural accommodation, the peace and tranquillity that such holiday accommodation offers is very much complemented by the relaxing and laid back feel of the small villages and towns that make up the rural interior. In a time warp of it own you'll still find local farmers using donkeys to plough their fields from time to time, whilst many others produce wines in their own small bodegas using extremely unique techniques, with the vines being grown in circular beds hollowed out from the black volcanic picon and surrounded by small stone walls to protect them from the hot dry wind. If you are planning to visit the Canaries on a summer vacation or even a winter break Lanzarote is the ideal destination for you.
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