Welcome to fantasy island: Lanzarote can make your holiday dreams come true

THERE’S something really unique about the Canary Island of Lanzarote that hits me as soon as I start my journey to the resort from the airport.

You may think of it as being in the same group as Tenerife and Fuerteventura, which it is, but having been to both on holiday before, I can say that Lanzarote has a completely different vibe.

You might expect to find a typical resort but instead, because Lanzarote is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve – which basically means that everything that’s built or put up around the island has to be done with consideration for the surroundings – you won’t find big billboards advertising clubs or high-rise hotels spoiling this island.

Cave reflected in the water in Jameos del Agua, Lanzarote (Getty Images/iStock)

Instead of sand, the landscape is largely volcanic, which is very apparent especially if you decide to take a tour of Timanfaya National Park. I feel like I’ve landed on the moon – more than 100 volcanos rose up and erupted to devastate most of the island in the 1730s and, due to the lack of rainfall, the area appears much the same as it did just after the eruption.

Our guide passes around hot volcanic stones that can’t be held just in one hand – we have to juggle them around before dropping them to the ground – which shows how hot the land still is here even after all these years.

Another member of park staff barbecues chicken over a man-made well, cooked only by the natural heat from the dormant volcanoes. You can even have a coffee or lunch in the glass restaurant at the top of the park, and look down over the moon-like landscape. It really is an amazing sight.

Home for my break is the beautiful five-star Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort in picturesque Playa Blanca, just a 30-minute drive from the airport. I was welcomed into the breathtaking lobby of the hotel by the lovely, attentive staff who, throughout the whole trip, really couldn’t do enough for me.

If you like to eat well on holiday, then you couldn’t choose a better hotel to come to. With eight on-site restaurants including a tapas bar, Japanese teppanyaki and gourmet eatery, you’re really spoiled for choice.

Breakfasts in the buffet restaurants are included, and it’s fantastic, but for a real holiday treat book a table in Isla De Lobos. I enjoyed the Spanish breakfast, two courses of traditional Spanish food which culminated in a cream and Nutella-stuffed crepe. Absolutely delicious, and more decedent than is really necessary, but that’s what holidays are for…

A personal highlight of my trip was a visit to Finca de Uga, a high welfare farm close to the hotel which supplies most of the meat, milk, cheese, fruit and veg to the restaurants on-site.

It’s really interesting to see how fresh and local the food is and, later, we savour a multi-course tasting menu of the produce at the aforementioned Isla De Lobos restaurant, paired with delicious Canarian wines, explained to us beautifully by the passionate sommelier.

During the day, you can relax at one of the many pools at the hotel, or take a trip to the Thalasso and Spa Centre, where you can enjoy a facial or massage, including couples’ massage or even a unique family spa experience.

If you do decide to make it a family affair then this hotel has everything your little ones could want, including Kikoland, “a world of illusion for children”, with mascots to entertain your kids all day long. Shows and events go on all-year round, so there’s always something for them to do without even having to leave the hotel.

The rooms also deserve a mention. The hotel is massive, and my room was in an annex building which took about 10 minutes to walk to from the main hotel area, but it wasn’t a problem. If you’re feeling fancy, then there are suites such as the Royal, with its own terrace overlooking the white sandy beach of Playa Dorada.

I left Lanzarote sad that I didn’t have more time to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and explore the island. And, with just 22 days of rain per year, you can come to the island any time of year for a break with guaranteed sunshine!