Travel

The Canarian island of Lanzarote has been a firm favourite with package holiday visitors for many years. But more recently, as the internet has become more sophisticated and offers independent travellers the chance to construct their own holiday itinerary with ease, it is also drawing a different type of visitor.

The island often appeals to holidaymakers looking for out of season sunshine breaks, as it enjoys some of the best weather to be found in the whole of Europe. And many of these visitors return year after year, due to the great affection that the island inspires.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the range of accommodation available for tourists. The expansion of the holiday villa market has been matched by a number of new Lanzarote hotels .

The vast majority of these new establishments have been created in the southern resort of Playa Blanca. This is the town that has direct ferry links to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura and is also close to the fabulous beaches at Papagayo.

Hotels in Playa Blanca tend to be either four or five star, with great facilities for families or the perfect environment for those who need pampering. Spas and wellness centres are something of a given in most of these establishments, with several incorporating thelassotherapy treatments.

Thelassotherapy is based on the use of seawater for spa pools, as the health benefits of this type of treatment are well documented. Especially when combined with saunas, massages and body wraps, as they leave the recipient utterly relaxed and revitalized.

The clean atmosphere and dry air of the Canaries have long been recognized for their health giving properties as well. For certain conditions, such as rheumatism there are significant improvements that many sufferers experience within only a couple of days of their visit.

These factors go a long way to explain the islands popularity with older visitors, who may be looking to escape the damp and cold weather in the UK over the winter. Fortunately, these days there is a much wider range of cheap Lanzarote flights to ensure that most people can afford to come.

And it isnt just the more senior holidaymaker who stands to gain from a visit to this volcanic island. As many athletes and serious sports enthusiasts have long used Lanzarote as their ideal winter training ground, for similar reasons such as the warm temperatures and dry air.