Weekend Breaks

So where are the places you’d be mad to miss? Christian, who worked as a Holiday Rep on the island for 2 seasons, says, “You can’t come to Lanzarote and not visit the Timanfaya National Park. It’s where all the volcanoes are and it’s really bizarre-looking. It looks like something out of Doctor Who – a real alien planet kind of affair, all mountains and weird and wonderful rock formations.” Christian recommends taking in some of Cesar Manrique’s art as well. “His artwork is all over the island. He was a contemporary of Salvador Dali and Picasso and he’s responsible for lots of the funky windmill-style mobiles you see on the roundabouts. Big colourful metallic pieces that move in the wind.” And that’s not all Mr Manrique did. He designed the island’s quirkiest restaurant, too. “It’s a really famous restaurant in the Timanfaya National Park. Your food is cooked over the mouth of a volcano!”

On the subject of food, there are some great restaurants and tapas bars in the upmarket marina of Puerto Calero, or in Puerto del Carmen, down near the harbour where you can get a real Spanish flavour – Serrano ham, white bait, manchego cheese, the works. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a trinket or two to take home, time your trip to coincide with the weekly market in Tequise. Christian says, “Not to be confused with Costa Teguise, it’s a little inland town. It’s a lovely little whitewashed number. Loads and loads of stalls selling everything you could possibly think of – table cloths, clothes, trinkets, you name it, they’ve got it.”

Beaches are Fuerteventura’s claim to fame – great long ribbons of glimmering golden sands. Corralejo alone has 7km of the soft stuff, so you won’t have any trouble staking a claim to a wedge all of your own. When you’ve had enough of the beach, Area Manager Jo recommends Baku Waterpark for a good day out. She says, “It was only built a couple of years ago and it’s really popular. As well as all the rides they have a market there every Monday and Friday which is well worth having a look around.” Talking of retail therapy, there’s a new addition to the island’s shopping scene, in the shape of Las Rotundas. It’s in the island’s capital, Puerto del Rosario, and it’s chock full of shops selling everything from fashion to food. When it’s time to get your gladrags on, Jo recommends Corralejo. She says, “You can do anything from flip-flops to stilettos in Corralejo’s Atlantico Centre. Downstairs on the lower level you’ll find all the surf bars, like Dorada bar, Corky’s, K-CH and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Upstairs are the British bars and there’s an Irish bar up there, too. After 2am, the place to go is Waikikis – everyone goes there and that stays open until 5.30am.” And if you’re looking for something a little more sedate, she suggests Rock Island in Corralejo Town, which plays live acoustic music every night. So, in a nutshell, why choose Fuerteventura for a weekend escape? “For me, the best thing about Fuerteventura is the atmosphere. It’s really laid-back and everyone’s really friendly. It’s got stunning beaches and it’s really easy to get around, it’s just a great place to get away from it all.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves…

The King of Spain likes to holiday in Palma. Hollywood royalty, Michael Douglas
and Catherine Zeta-Jones, have got a villa in Deia. In fact, talk to pretty much anyone who’s been here and they’ll struggle to find a bad word to say about this sun-drenched Balearic gem. Holidayline Team Leader Martine loves the beach at Camp de Mar. She says, “It’s great for snorkelling, You can swim among shoals of fish really near to the shoreline. Follow it up with a good paella lunch at the restaurant which you get to via a bridge from the beach.” But lovely as Camp de Mar is, that’s not her favourite. She adds, “Es Trenc is by far the best beach on the island. You’ll need to hire a car to get there but it’s well worth it. It’s white sands and a turquoise blue sea. It’s safe for the children and there are no noisy beach bars. The beach is actually serviced by just one bar that serves everything from tapas to a full menu of the day.”

In terms of sights that should top your tick sheet, Martine recommends a trip to Palma cathedral – in time for Mass – and a ride on the Soller train, which snakes its way through fragrant orange groves. And if you don’t fancy the party madness of Magaluf and Palma Nova come night time, she suggest a spot of people-watching from the restaurants of Puerto Andraitx. Or try La Llonja in Palma where you can wander through the tangle of old streets until you find a restaurant that takes your fancy. “Finish off the night on the Paseo Maritimo. There are lots of lovely bars where you can have a nightcap or wind down with a coffee.” And keep your eyes peeled – you might see Michael and Catherine doing the same thing…