Lanzarote - Playa Blanca
Author
Discussion

fourstardan

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

174 months

Tuesday 8th September
quotequote all
I've sold a kidney and booked half term in October for 10 days.

Last time we was in PB they had no ferry port, has much else changed in the town, any good restaurants?

La Katedral is still in town so that'll be visited !

This holiday will be interesting as we didn't have our son last time we visited, im sure he'll be underwhelmed by the volcano trip but we'll be going up there!

55palfers

6,374 posts

194 months

Tuesday 8th September
quotequote all
Got back from PB this evening after 10 days at the Iberostar.

Yes, there is a ferry for for boats to Fuerteventura and trips around the bay.

The spent a fortune upgrading the area to accommodate cruise ships - none have so far visited though

the-norseman

15,828 posts

201 months

Tuesday 8th September
quotequote all
I went there last year, turns out the wifes uncle looks after some holiday homes there so we got cheap rate, food from Aldi etc. I mainly just drank beer and did lots of diving. I'd go back but the wife says she doesn't want to.

stevemcs

10,323 posts

123 months

Tuesday 8th September
quotequote all
You can always use travel on world for trips.

We usually stay at pricessa yaiza on the front, it is slowly changing. There are quite a few new restaurants but I guess it depends on which end you stay.

We hire a car from plus car from the airport, drive to the hotel and then drive it back. It’s usually cheaper than transfers and avoids coach transfers.

Our favourite pizza place casle francos looks to have closed for good though.

Rob 131 Sport

4,870 posts

82 months

Tuesday 8th September
quotequote all
A lot of our friends love Playa Blanca and always stay in one of the large hotels there. I’ve stayed there twice and thought it was okay.

However, I just prefer the vibe and history of Puerto del Carmen.

Jordan247

6,439 posts

238 months

Wednesday 9th September
quotequote all
stevemcs said:
You can always use travel on world for trips.

We usually stay at pricessa yaiza on the front, it is slowly changing. There are quite a few new restaurants but I guess it depends on which end you stay.

We hire a car from plus car from the airport, drive to the hotel and then drive it back. It s usually cheaper than transfers and avoids coach transfers.

Our favourite pizza place casle francos looks to have closed for good though.
I believe Mr Franco is rather unwell. The Italian job just pass Casla Franco is really good

stevemcs

10,323 posts

123 months

Wednesday 9th September
quotequote all
Jordan247 said:
I believe Mr Franco is rather unwell. The Italian job just pass Casla Franco is really good
That’s my understanding too, it’s a shame as we have been going for years,Giselle and Franco made a great team. I’ll be honest, we never got on with the Italian job, Sensie 7 in Rubicon isn’t bad as a plan b.

fourstardan

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

174 months

Wednesday 9th September
quotequote all
That is good news (for us) the ports not in use then. I did used to fish off the PB wall but that's probably heavily out of bounds now.

I know a guy who fishes in PB on the west coast so will be down there a few days.

I've always liked PB and how clean the front is, it's nice walk in the evenings, you can never be short of a pub to go in for a game of footy.

I have read that the PB strip beach has been shut though due to sewage dump from a local pumping station, at least its acknowledged and closed by the authorities.

I use Autoreisen for a car, never had an issue.

LuS1fer

43,517 posts

275 months

Wednesday 9th September
quotequote all
I prefer PDC too.

They are looking at banning cars from the Timanfaya National Park though the entry was expensive enough for us to not bother. Back in the day you could also access the beach at El Golfo but it's all restricted these days.

I prefer Fuerteventura as it is far less regulated and you can go where you like. Did visit Play Blanca on our last two recent visits but it looked fairly dull to us.

Rob 131 Sport

4,870 posts

82 months

Wednesday 9th September
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
I prefer PDC too.

They are looking at banning cars from the Timanfaya National Park though the entry was expensive enough for us to not bother. Back in the day you could also access the beach at El Golfo but it's all restricted these days.

I prefer Fuerteventura as it is far less regulated and you can go where you like. Did visit Play Blanca on our last two recent visits but it looked fairly dull to us.
In 2024 we took the ferry from Playa Blanca to Fuerteventura. Whilst the high speed boat trip to some small islands was good when we got there, I was glad to get back to Lanzarote.

fourstardan

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

174 months

Thursday 10th September
quotequote all
I found FV a pain to drive around comfortably for some reason, maybe because it had more terrain.

Definitely found the beaches nicer for sitting on compared to Lanza.

I find the whole the canaries rather dull tbh, I'd much rather go somewhere tropical but it's a half term break for some November sun and a few nights out for nice meals.

havoc

33,400 posts

265 months

Monday 14th September
quotequote all
Haven't been to either island for a few years now, but PB was our default "Med weather not good enough" location for a few years, until the Iberostar prices went faintly silly.

Haven't done PdC since our 20s (so a long time ago), but our experience of it was a nice-but-hilly port area surrounded by far too many Irish bars and places catering for the - ah - "less adventurous" Brit holidaymaker seeking to sink several Stella's before lunch.

...which rather put us off ever going back. Did Costa Teguise once but it didn't seem to have quite the same evening vibe as PB.

fourstardan

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

174 months

Tuesday 15th September
quotequote all
Hearing that the port in PB isn't being used is good to hear (for us).

We are staying in Faro Park this time, never favoured before as the rental prices were higher.

We had breakfast down on Calle Irlanda and it seemed relatively quiet plus we can have a nice stroll out locally that end if we don't fancy going into town.

The Gauge

7,428 posts

43 months

Tuesday 15th September
quotequote all
Had a day trip by bus to PB whilst staying in PdC in February this year, to catch the ferry to FV, but the rough seas meant the ferry was cancelled.
Had a walk along the front of PB whilst there, pleasant enough, then got the bus back to PdC

Caught the bus to Costa Teguise for the day too, wasn't so impressed there, seems a tiny resort where I would soon be bored after a day

As for PdC, definitely the best of the 3 resorts for me, but wouldnt go back. With everything being on one long strip - shops/bars on one side of the road, sea on the other, it soon felt a bit 'samey' with fashion shops, bars, & gift shops repeated as you walk along the front.

fourstardan

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

174 months

Tuesday 15th September
quotequote all
I will be renting a car, Orzola up the top is the nicest tranquil part for beaches, Mirador, Famara....can I leave now.

FV Ferry lands you in corralejo, you didn't miss much!