Lanzarote From the UK by Train

Go to Lanzarote by train? Is it possible? Of course not - well, not all the way. But you can take the train as far as Madrid, and travel on by plane to Lanzarote, or to any of the Canary Islands for that matter. I found this out recently when the volcanic ash cloud that grounded all the air traffic in Northern Europe for 6 days, stopped me from flying to Lanzarote from Gatwick.

I travel this route up to 10 times a year as my wife and I live mainly in Lanzarote these days, and I have business interests both there and in the UK. On this occasion, I was planning to be on the island (the smaller one, that is) for 3 weeks, and I really needed to get there as soon after my planned arrival time as possible.

I worked out that if I could get across the Channel and on to Paris, there was an overnight train to Madrid, where flights were operating normally as long as you were going South, West or East, and not to Northern Europe. So...that became my plan.

Lanzarote From the UK by Train

Of course, the world and his wife were trying to get across the Channel at the same time, so getting tickets proved to be a real challenge. In the end, I got a Eurostar ticket for the Saturday (a day after I was due to travel), but could not get a Paris-Madrid ticket until the Monday night, forcing me (such a shame!) to have two nights in Paris. It was comparatively easy to get an Easyjet flight from Madrid to Lanzarote on the Tuesday afternoon, and I booked a cheap and cheerful hotel in Montparnasse for my two nights in Paris. Travel plans sorted. "Simples", as Mr Meerkat would say.

Now, listen up. Anyone who has the time and is prepared to spend a bit more money to see a bit of Europe, really should consider this way of getting to Lanzarote, Tenerife or one of the other islands - at least once in their lives. Once I had got used to the idea that I would not arrive at my destination until Tuesday, four days late, I settled down to enjoy the journey.

There isn't space to tell you all about it here, but I enjoyed a beautiful Spring day sightseeing around Paris, ate delicious bread, cheese, pate and sausages from street markets (much cheaper than eating out), and on the train had the utterly spiritual experience of watching the sun rise from my sleeper cabin as we crossed the border from Southern France to Northern Spain. Those mountains of Northern Spain, waterfalls and the sheer vastness of the panorama really were something to behold. My arrival at Madrid was exciting, as we arrived two hours late, and I had to race to get my flight, which I managed with half an hour to spare. Needless to say, I was greeted like a conquering hero by my wife and a friend, when I eventually did arrive at Lanzarote.

If you're interested in this rather different way to travel to Lanzarote from the UK, you probably want to know the cost, so here's an approximate breakdown of what you should expect to pay, leaving from from St Pancras International in London on a normal weekend. All costs are one way, and per person:

Eurostar: St Pancras International, London - Gare du Nord, Paris:.......... from 100 euros

Hotel in Paris (one night, 3 star standard)...................................................... 70 euros

Spending and Metro costs for a day's sightseeing in Paris(before returning to hotel to collect luggage before departing for Gare d'Austerlitz).
You can spend what you like of course, but I spent about..................................50 euros
SNCF 'Trenhotel': Gare d'Austerlitz, Paris - Madrid Chambertin
(price for a reclining seat).....................................................................from 160 euros
Easyjet: Madrid - Lanzarote - variable, of course, but I paid.............................75 euros
Meals and drinks, allow.................................................................................100 euros

TOTAL BUDGET ...................................................................................555 euros

This is a lot more than you'd normally pay for a flight, but, hey - you've seen a lot of Europe on the way!

Lanzarote From the UK by Train

Miles Couchman is Editor and Owner of All Things Lanzarote (http://allthingslanzarote.com), a comprehensive information site about the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. In addition to detailed listings of available hotels, the site includes villas in Lanzarote, apartments, car hire and things to see and do on the island.

Year Round Surfing in Lanzarote

"We're growing down our surfboards We can not wait for the month of June," sang the Beach Boys on one of their hits, too, there is no need to wait for June than in Lanzarote as the surfing season continues throughout the year. Although the great surfing beaches can be pretty quiet at the moment there are still a few hardy surfers who go out every day. However, many of surf fans will be planning their surf vacation for next summer and booking their flights on this popular island in theCanary Islands.

A couple of surf schools on the island are in business for over 10 years and have well-established principles, teaching surfers from all over Europe throughout the year. Famara is the most popular place to surf in Lanzarote, on a number of reasons. Its location is the key, in the ideal place to get the ideal Atlantic swells, the role in the ongoing, sometimes quite wild, sometimes more quietly for beginners. Famara has a beautiful beach, which holdViewers happy and something remote from the typical tourist beaches, there is no problem with the sun in their way. Another advantage is the area's beauty, with the offer is no shortage of beautiful scenery, a perfect backdrop for a day surfing waves.

Every now and then experience the huge surfing waves, the non-surfer conjure in their minds when they have the typical Hawaiian surfers in advertising and magazine shoot demonstrated think, but for the most surfers who visitLanzarote, like giant waves would only mean that most people get to sit all day at the beach and saw only a few highly qualified experts to their kick. No, for most people to surf the usual gentle waves Lanzarote Beaches plenty big enough. In addition to the popular beach of Famara, offers the small island of La Graciosa, which lies off the north coast of Lanzarote, another surf spot south of the beach of Playa de las Conchas. South of Famara is another area in order toSports Club La Santa, with a choice of 4 locations, but recommended for experienced surfers because of the speed of the waves and the rocky seabed.

Finally, at the southern end of the west coast of Lanzarote, El Golfo and Janubio beach are both suitable for surfers of intermediate ability. Lanzarote is also a very good reputation as one of the best places for surfing competitions in Europe and must be the regular host of the European leg of the international world-class surfing competitions. InIn early November 2009, the Santa Surf Pro competition was held at Famara, although organizers were forced south to the beaches of la Santa postponement for a few days on the conditions. A total of 93 planned to compete for prices and huge twelve-meter high waves exciting competition. Australian Drew Courtney overcame Brazilian Bernardo Miranda in the final.

At the beginning of the year, in July, Spain held its national championships Kitesurfing in Lanzarote in Playa deFamara, visited the island than 84 competitors to compete for the national title. Professional Windsurfing came in July, when the PWA Lanzarote championship event at the Playa Las Cucharas held in Costa Teguise. In 2010, professional surfing back to the Canary Islands when the ASP Junior Surf Tour comes Realejos on Tenerife in September.

For people new to surfing, not sure where to start, then the wave boarding or similar version of "Boogie" boardingis the ideal way to Lanzarote and the beaches are the perfect place to start. With some cheap equipment and a little instruction can be beginners in the waves of fun almost immediately. You only need a board and some optional fins and you will be removed. The water is not as cold as the UK, and you will not even have a wetsuit in the summer months. Probably the best with one or two lessons start at one of the many surf schools, even if only for a few tips to pick up beachNot shake etiquette (how everyone else out there understand) and the security aspects of the rip tides and vulnerable areas. Apart from the fact that as a great surfing sport for young and old.

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