Thinking of booking a holiday in Lanzarote this year? Plenty of other tourists did just that during the course of 2009, with the island welcoming just under 1.4 million tourists last year. An impressive figure given the impact of the credit crunch and the weakness of the pound.

Hundreds of thousands of British tourists will be enjoying a break on the island during the course of 2010. With around 50% opting to stay in self catering accommodation, with apartments and villas in Lanzarote proving especially popular. Many choose to build their visit around specific events on the island – as there’s a whole raft of fiestas and festivals taking place throughout the course of the year.

For all you independent tourist there are a whole host of self catering Lanzarote villas to choose from all year round.

Carnaval kicks off in February and is arguably the most colourful celebration of the year. This fiesta has its roots in Roman history – as well as the traditions of Lent. And has long been seen as an excuse for letting your hair down before the upcoming period of abstinence. The event is staggered so it takes place at different times in different parts of the island. With the most riotous celebrations reserved for the capital city of Arrecife and the largest resort of Puerto del Carmen.

May sees the arrival of over 1000 super fit athletes on the island. As the annual Iron Man contest gets underway. This is widely regarded as one of the hardest events of its kind in the world. Entrants have to swim 3km, cycle 180km and then finish all of that off with a full marathon. Many don’t even make the finish line but for the top 60 a place in the Grand Final in Hawaii beckons – along with a slice of the $75,000 prize money.

There’s no shortage of great music events on Lanzarote. With the Musica Canarias Festival taking place in February and Jazz Canarias hitting the island in July. Which showcases the best emerging talents from the world of jazz. In the past this event has featured performers such as the guitarist Kyle Eastwood – offspring of the famous actor Clint Eastwood - and the prodigious young jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding. All of whom appear free of charge in a big top erected in the main square in Teguise.

It’s also well worth booking up holiday apartments in Lanzarote during September. As the island plays host to the Costa Musica Festival. Which showcases an eclectic selection of dance orientated acts right on the beach at Playa Bastian in Costa Teguise. And in the past has featured acts such as the James Taylor Quartet and the Killer Barbies. Along with a host of leading DJ talent.

Click here for details of holiday villas in Playa Blanca .

There are plenty of reasons for booking a holiday on the sunshine island of Lanzarote during 2010. As the fourth largest of the Canaries offers a year round raft of events and festivals for visitors to enjoy. Along with great beaches and wonderful weather.

There are plenty of places to stay. With lots of good quality hotels and holiday villas in Lanzarote available for rent in the three main resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise – as well as across the unique volcanic countryside.

Car hire in Lanzarote is reasonably priced too, making it so simple to get around and see some of the festivals that are going on during this spectacular period.

The year kicks off in style with the Canarian Music Festival. A prestigious event that is staged across the entire island in the archipelago, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy some of the best classical music sounds around. With Lanzarote playing host to performers such as The Prague National Chamber Theatre Orchestra.

Carnaval kicks off across the island in February. And whilst the celebrations are not quite as riotous as in Rio they still attract thousands of revellers. With many holidaymakers planning their holidays in Lanzarote around this colourful event, which pretty much brings work across the island to halt for a couple of weeks every year.

Whilst not quite in the same league as Rio the most riotous Carnaval processions and celebrations can be found in the island capital of Arrecife and the largest resort of Puerto del Carmen. Featuring imaginatively decorated floats, marching drum bands and plenty of late night partying.

May sees the arrival of the annual Iron Man competition. Which is widely regarded as one of the toughest triathlons in the world. Over a thousand super fit competitors will be battling it out for a top prize of €75,000 and a slot in the grand final in Hawaii. Taking on a course that encompasses a 180km bike ride, 2km swim and a full marathon. Which is staged along the Avenida del las Playas – the main beachfront thoroughfare in Puerto del Carmen.

June is one of the most important months in the Catholic calendar as this is when the fiesta of Corpus Christ takes place every year – on the eighth Thursday (or 60 days) after Easter. Uniquely on Lanzarote it is celebrated with the design and creation of huge multi coloured carpets of salt. Which depict key scenes from the Bible. The best of which can be viewed in the historic town of Teguise or the island capital of Arrecife.

You can find details of Lanzarote villas to rent and further Lanzarote accommodation to rent on our website.

The island of Lanzarote in the Canarian archipelago at first glance may not seem to have the best of green credentials. But there are a number of ways in which it beats other destinations hands down for holidaymakers looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

One major factor in Lanzarote’s favour is its closeness to the rest of Europe, with most major cities only four hours or less away. Meaning that fuel consumption on flights to and from the island is less than half that used on flights to the other popular winter sun destination, the Caribbean.

Even the Lanzarote accommodation make a contribution to lessening the islands carbon footprint.

The year round sunshine that it enjoys means that solar panels are used widely across the resorts and in residential homes. Many holiday villas in Lanzarote have their swimming pools heated by panels on the roof, whilst some even derive their internal power from this source as well.

Whilst most villas in Lanzarote actually run on more conventional sources of energy, there are several which work entirely on these alternatives, and as a result can claim an excellent green pedigree. And as the technologies continue to improve, more residents are choosing to use wind and solar power.

But it isn’t simply businesses and accommodation on Lanzarote that operate on a more eco-friendly basis. Even the tourist attractions have been developed to work as much in harmony with their surroundings as possible. This low impact ethos was the result of Cesar Manrique creative influence in the island’s development which came just at the right moment.

All of these elements contribute to the unspoilt feel that Lanzarote has. Even its tourist attractions have been developed to work in harmony with the landscape, due to their design by local born artist C?sar Manrique. Who understood well in advance of many others, how detrimental unrestricted development could be.

Additional information about available Lanzarote holidays can be found on the Lanzarote1.com website.

Lanzarote is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Canaries. And boasts three main resorts – along with the emerging Millionaires Marina at Puerto Calero. Which now boasts a couple of luxurious hotels as well as a host of good quality restaurants and shops.

Each of these destinations offers something different – boasting their own unique character and identity. Whilst also offering a wide range of accommodation options encompassing everything from Lanzarote villas through to budget studio apartments.

So where can you find some of the best resorts that have an excellent selection of Lanzarote villas.

Puerto del Carmen

Formerly known as La Ti?osa Puerto del Carmen emerged to become Lanzarote?s leading resort during the package holiday boom years of the 1970?s. And is still the most popular destination on the island today.The resort boasts a large number of apartment complexes – reflecting its position as the best spot for a booking a budget holiday. But there are also plenty of decent hotels and villas in Puerto del Carmen for rent too.

Puerto del Carmen is popular choice for both couples and families alike. As it offers great nightlife and a huge concentration of bars and restaurants. As well as safe beaches for kids and loads of family attractions. Such as the Rancho Texas Theme Park and Rancho A Caballo. Where children can enjoy riding donkeys and camels.

Holiday Villas In Costa Teguise

Situated towards the northern end of the island Costa Teguise is just a short hop away from Arrecife airport. And started life as Lanzarote?s upmarket resort. Designed to attract moneyed Scandinavian and German tourists during the early boom years of the 1970?s.

However its sheen has faded a little since then. Partly due to the development of Playa Blanca in the south of the island. Which has snatched the slot of number 2 destination away over recent years. However Costa Teguise remains an attractive holiday hot spot – boasting wide avenues and a spacious open plan feel. Whilst the resort is also home to some great beaches, such as the main stretch of sand at Playa Cucharas.

Playa Blanca

Last but not least Playa Blanca was developed during the 1990?s and offers a winning combination of great weather and fantastic beaches. Allied with an excellent selection of hotels and holiday villas.

The resort is dominated by a sea front promenade that unites the three main beaches of Playa Dorada, Playa Flamingo and Playa Blanca (from which the resort takes its name). Whilst the striking set of bays and coves of Papagayo are around a twenty minute walk from the town centre.

The Canaries are a chain of seven Spanish owned islands situated just off the coast of West Africa. A location that makes them very popular with tourists as they enjoy warm weather, loads of sunshine and very little rainfall all year round. This clement climate has helped to establish the Canaries as one of the most visited destinations in Spain. And during the course of 2008 alone over 1.5 million foreign tourists enjoyed holidays in Lanzarote – the fourth largest and most easterly island in the group.

So lets check out a little more about the island and island life to see why holidays in Lanzarote are such a popular choice and picking one of the villas in Lanzarote that the island offers is becoming an increasingly popular self catering accommodation accommodation choice for travellers.

Lanzarote is very different from the other islands in the Canaries. As they are all greener and more lush, whilst Lanzarote is dry and barren. Which can be attributed to the fact that Lanzarote experiences very little in the way of rainfall and has a very arid terrain created by volcanic eruptions over 250 years ago.

Fast forward to today though and this whole area, which dominates the interior of the island, has become the most popular attraction on Lanzarote. Thanks to the surreal scenery which is really out of this world. So much so that it has been used as a location for numerous big budget movies. Most recently Broken Embraces, the latest release from the Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, which stars Penelope Cruz.

There are lots of different accommodation choices available to holidaymakers here. With the island offering everything from cheap apartments through to luxury Lanzarote villas and hotels. Most of which can be found in the main resorts such as Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen. With a growing selection available across the countryside too as demand for rural accommodation grows.

Lanzarote offers more than just sunshine and volcanoes alone though. There are over ninety beaches for visitors to explore. The best of which can be found in traditional coastal villages such as Playa Quemada, Famara, Orzola and Arrieta – which all remain largely unspoiled. Whilst each resort boasts a good selection of beaches too – although many of these are man made, created by using sand from the nearby Sahara desert.

Many first time visitors are surprised by the wide range of cultural attractions on offer too. After all isn’t this supposed to be Lanzagrotty? There’s an abundance of fascinating museums, such as the Emigration Museum which charts what happened to islanders after the volcanic eruptions as they fled to create new lives abroad. A wealth of historic towns such as Teguise – the island capital until 1852. And the various works of the local artist Cesar Manrique – who had a huge influence on the development of tourism on Lanzarote.