Playa Blanca Holiday Guide

The resort is only 20km from Arrecife airport, about a 45 minute drive, and the best way to get around is probably by car. You'll find plenty of rental companies at the airport.

Once you're in your hotel, most things are within walking distance, but if you don't fancy that, you could also hire a bike. There's much to see and do on the island and the best beaches are a few kilometres away so hiring a car is definitely the best option as the local bus service can be described as patchy at best. Otherwise you'll have to rely on organised excursions, which could cost you quite a bit.

This is the resort's main draw. The main beach has white sand (of course) and a European Blue Flag for cleanliness. There's no shortage of bars, cafes and restaurants behind if you fancy a snack and a drink. Playa Flamingo, to the west of town is also clean and safe and Playa Dorada, with its golden sands, is the most popular spot for locals and it's usually very quiet.

The best known of all the beaches around Playa Blanca is Papagayo, a group of smaller beaches separated by high cliffs, forming a number of sheltered bays. It's a protected area and part of a national park so there's a small charge to enter, but it's definitely worth the fee. If you don't have a car, you can also reach Papagayo by Water Taxi from the Harbour in Playa Blanca. These beaches are very secluded with little in the way of local amenities, so make sure you bring a large picnic and anything else you might need over the course of a day.

There aren't really any sights to speak of in the town, so you'll need to head out and about if you want some time away from the beach. The Timanfaya National Park is only 14km away and it's full of dramatic volcanic scenery. You can even ride a camel.

Art lovers should visit Arecife for a stroll around the Museum of Contemporary Art. Beautiful paintings by the likes of Bacon, Picasso, Miro, Botero, Damaso and Luis Feito are displayed within the walls of the Castle of San Jose, a fortress built in the 1770s by King Carlos III of Spain.

Enjoy two Canary Islands in one trip by hopping on the ferry for a day in Fuerteventura. The journey takes about half an hour and costs about £8 per person for a return journey.

You land in Corralejo, the island's busiest and liveliest resort. Browse the shops, bars and restaurants around the main square, Plaza Grande de Corralejo and after that visit Parque Natural de Corralejo's 10km of dazzling white sand dunes.

There's a fantastic selection of restaurants on the main promenade, which is where most people go for a bite to eat in the evening. The seafood's to die for and international tastes are also catered for with Chinese, Indian and Italian places too.

If you want to try one of the local specialities, there's papas arrugadas - baked new potatoes boiled in lots of sea salt and served with pepper and garlic sauce. Wash it down with a glass or two of Lanzarote wine, which is reported to be pretty decent.

This isn't the place to come if you want throbbing nightclubs and bustling bars. Some of the big hotels do organise shows and other forms of entertainment, but if you really want a big night out, head to nearby Arecife or perhaps, Puerto del Carmen, half an hour away by car.

You can get your hands on some duty-free delights in Playa Blanca's shops and electronic goods are particularly good buys - just make sure they work before leaving the island. Tobacco, perfume, leather goods and jewellery are all good purchases.

While there are a couple of good shops and supermarkets in the resort, you'd actually be better off making the trip to Arecife or Puerto del Carmen if you fancy a real splurge. The Sunday morning market in Teguise is worth a look too, especially for good pottery.

Head to the north of the island to explore the incredible system of underground grottos known as La Cueva de los Verdes. At over four miles long, this is one of the largest volcanic galleries in the world and lighting effects have been added, meaning the weird and wonderful colours and contours really come to life.

The kids will also probably love the Cactus Garden between Guatiza and Mala, a unique place where the celebrated Canarian artist Cesar Manrique created artworks using these famous spiky plants.