Puerto del Carmen holidays

Yes, for most people. It is Lanzarote's biggest and best-known resort, with several golden sand beaches, a long seafront promenade and a huge choice of restaurants and bars. It suits couples, families and groups, and it is the easiest base for a first visit to the island. If you want somewhere very quiet, Puerto Calero or Playa Blanca may suit you better.

Very close. Lanzarote Airport (ACE) is only a few miles away, and the transfer by road usually takes around 10 to 15 minutes, depending on where your hotel is along the seafront. That makes it one of the shortest airport transfers in the Canary Islands.

It depends on what you want. Puerto del Carmen is livelier, closer to the airport and has more bars, restaurants and beach space. Playa Blanca, on the southern tip of the island, is quieter and more relaxed, with a marina and easy access to the Papagayo beaches, but the transfer takes around 35 to 40 minutes.

Yes. The beaches shelve gently, Playa Chica is a calm sheltered cove and Playa de los Pocillos is long and spacious. Rancho Texas Lanzarote Park is a short drive away, and there are plenty of apartments and family-friendly hotels with pools. Families who prefer a quieter evening can stay towards the Pocillos or Matagorda end of the resort.

It is the liveliest resort on Lanzarote. Most of the nightlife is along Avenida de las Playas and around the Centro Atlántico area, with bars, live music, karaoke and late venues. It is still easy to have a quiet evening: the Old Town harbour is better known for seafood restaurants than for late nights.

Playa Grande is the main beach, right in the middle of the resort, with soft golden sand, sunbeds and lifeguards in season. Playa Chica is smaller and sheltered, and popular with snorkellers and divers. Playa de los Pocillos is the longest and usually the most spacious.

The seafront promenade is flat and easy to walk. Some hotels and apartments sit on the slope behind Avenida de las Playas or above the Old Town, which can mean an uphill walk back from the beach. If walking is a concern, ask us and we will suggest places close to the seafront.

Mild and mostly dry. Daytime temperatures in winter are usually around 20 to 22°C, rising to the high 20s in summer. Lanzarote can be breezy, but Puerto del Carmen is one of the more sheltered resorts on the island, which is why it is so popular for winter sun.

Yes, a weekly market is held near the Old Town harbour on Fridays, with local produce, crafts and souvenirs. The large Sunday market in Teguise, the island's old capital, is an easy trip by bus or excursion.