1st time at Lanzarote

[daryl robinson]

Having done Canada last year, which was hard work with the kids, we've booked to go to Playa Blanco for a week in April. Any recommendations on where to go with the kids and good restaurants in the area.
:khu

[Elle1971]

Originally Posted by daryl robinson

Having done Canada last year, which was hard work with the kids, we've booked to go to Playa Blanco for a week in April. Any recommendations on where to go with the kids and good restaurants in the area.
:khu

Hi Daryl. Playa Blanca has lots to offer you & your children. Whereabouts will you be staying here?

Playa Dorada is a beautiful beach, with lifeguards, and fun activities. Or you could head to Papagayo, which is just lovely, with shallow waters, and rock pools to explore. Take the kids on the Timanfaya Trip too, and let them go on the guided tour. I think you can book a lot more cheaply by going to the Natura Palace... but someone else may be able to confirm that. There's a mini-golf place in the Calamares complex too, so you can have a drink at the bar whilst the kids whizz through there.

Restaurants-wise... there's oodles of choice! Just head for the Rubicon Marina for a wide selection (oh, and there's a brand new bowling alley there now too)... or choose any from the wide selection on the seafront. We love Brisa Marina.

You don't say how old your littluns are... but for the younger ones, most hotels offer a kiddie disco in the evenings - and they don't mind you joining in, as long as you purchase from the bar whilst you're there.

Have a fantastic time!

Elle xx

[DanTheMan]

Originally Posted by Elle1971

Hi Daryl. Playa Blanca has lots to offer you & your children. Whereabouts will you be staying here?

Playa Dorada is a beautiful beach, with lifeguards, and fun activities. Or you could head to Papagayo, which is just lovely, with shallow waters, and rock pools to explore. Take the kids on the Timanfaya Trip too, and let them go on the guided tour. I think you can book a lot more cheaply by going to the Natura Palace... but someone else may be able to confirm that. There's a mini-golf place in the Calamares complex too, so you can have a drink at the bar whilst the kids whizz through there.

Restaurants-wise... there's oodles of choice! Just head for the Rubicon Marina for a wide selection (oh, and there's a brand new bowling alley there now too)... or choose any from the wide selection on the seafront. We love Brisa Marina.

You don't say how old your littluns are... but for the younger ones, most hotels offer a kiddie disco in the evenings - and they don't mind you joining in, as long as you purchase from the bar whilst you're there.

Have a fantastic time!

Elle xx

Hi Elle,

I wonder whether you - or anyone else - can give us some advice about dining out in Playa Blanca? I'm veggie, so don't eat either meat OR fish, but my partner and young son (7) do, so we're looking for cheap to medium priced places to eat. We'll be staying on b&b, so don't need breakfasts :-) Also, we've never been to the new Marina - anything there good for my 7 yr-old? Oh, and are ANY of the electrical shops in PB trustworthy? Where is the best place to get cheap - but real! - Gameboy games, do you know? Thanks so much for letting me pick your brain!

DanTheMan (a newbie)

[Elle1971]

Lol hi Dantheman.

No problem. Most restaurants serve quite a variety, including veggie options... so menus will be no issue. Try the vegetable burritos at Mamma Rossa on the seafront, up towards the port end. I had one the other day - and it was excellent. I think it was about 8 euros. I'm sure I saw risotto on their menu too - which will be good quality, if the rest of it is anything to go by.

Also try Brisa Marina on the seafront. Extensive menu... and we love the food. Try to avoid it when it's really busy though, as unfortunately the standard of service seems to suffer a little then.

Most restaurants have their menus outside, complete with pricing... so you can have a good gander.

Rubicon Marina? Yes, it's nice down there. Take some bread with you (or pick up a roll for 30 cents in Netto's there) - and get nipper to drop crumbs over the side of the wooden walkways... just watch those fish go mental for it. They have a market every Sunday and Wednesday too, with lots of trinkets on sale... including stuff that littlun can afford with their pocket money. They've also opened a shopping centre down there too - which has a bowling alley. Personally, I can't stand bowling (had to host far too many training events at them), but I know I'm in the minority.

Can your kiddie swim? Then go and see Tracey at Snorkelling Delights in CC Papagayo, next to Dorada beach. She does trips and all sorts... She's got some special offers on at the moment too - so worth popping in. Her website is www.snorkellingdelights.eu My hubby's 3 boys are already booked in for when they get here in the summer.

I can't advise you on Gameboy stuff... as we still haven't found an electrical shop here that we trust. Maybe if you took the gameboy in - tested the game in that... and then say "Thanks... we'll leave it plugged into it", once you've chosen one. I'd probably steer clear though... and grab a bargain from England instead. At least you know what you're getting then.

No problems with brain-picking... just no nose-picking! :lol

Elle xx

[RobertK]

Elle, do you have any idea how much the kids snorkelling is?

[Elle1971]

If I remember correctly, I think it's €35 for 2 or 3 hours. But if you drop an email to Tracey via her website, she'll confirm for you anyway. She obviously gives you all the kit you'll need.

I'm not brave enough to go snorkelling yet - although Tracey's been doing a damn fine job of trying to convice me. But they're popular trips... and everyone I know says it's great!

Enjoy!

Elle xx

[Snorkelling Del]

Hi Robert

Yes, Elle is correct. 35euros per person, 3 hours, all necessary kit etc......
Have a look at the website or send me an email.

Tracey

[RobertK]

Tracey, is that the the kids price?

It would be me and my son (12)

[DanTheMan]

Wow Elle, you really are a little gem! Thanks so much for the info - the snorkelling sounds great and something I would not have thought about (... and something my son would appreciate even more, as we live far from the coast in the UK!). We only get to visit for a week, so prefer to relax locally rather than explore the whole island. For 'non' snorkellers like myself, do you know anything about the Princess Yaiza water taxi? I saw the route on a map once, and it looks like it visits the harbour, Rubicon Marina, then Papagayo beach. Does anyone know times or prices? Is it possible to treat it as a 'round journey' to enjoy the ride and view without getting off at the beach?

Thanks again! :-)

[Stuartp]

We did the Princess Yaiza trip last October and didn't get off at Papagayo due to the weather that day. Having since visted Papagayo by road I would recommend hopping off even if you catch the boat back on it's next trip which I would guess is about 2 hours gap. Don't get excited about the glass bottom though, unless we were unlucky we only saw the same fish that you would by peering over the side of the harbour or marina despite the best efforts of the crew throwing bait overboard. Kids really enjoyed it though and us parents didn't mind taking another opportunity for a sit down and a drink.

[DanTheMan]

Hi Stuartp,

It's the sit down and drink bit that I like - plus the views and sunshine :-) My littlie would be happy enough with fish, but I have a fish phobia so would be looking the other way - hee hee! Do you remember how much the trip cost? Many thanks!

[raverbaby]

hey elle ,
me and my boyfriend are coming over to playa blanca in 4 days ,
we are glad we choose this place because it seems relaxing and quiet (we didnt want anything to lively) but we did hope to go to at least one lively place , as i cant stay quiet for long haha! , i have heard a rumour there is one or two clubs in playa blanca? is this true?
and also is there a place called redz 2? in playa blanca
oh and what is the shopping like?]
let me no thankyouuu
Bee xxx

[MADSTOCK]

Hi Bee,

A few of the places in Playa Blanca that are rocking and guaranteed to leave you with a sore head are

http://www.rooftops.golanzarote.com/

http://www.canaryislandsbarsclubs.co...Nightlife.html

Keith.

[Joe McQuay]

We do the Princess Yaiza trip last October and didn't get away at Papagayo anticipated in the direction of environment that day.