Lazing in Lanzarote
Puerto del Carmen is an exercise in contradiction. The streets are clean, well tended, yet some of the shops are stuffed with the worst tat imaginable. The beach is glorious, with extraordinary black sand. And set in a quiet corner is a hotel which for service and attention to detail can rival any in the world: Lani’s Suites. As a veteran of many 5 star hotels, including some of the most famous in the world, I realise how hypercritical I can be at times.
However hard I tried, it was truly impossible to fault this place. From the welcoming glass of quality Cava to the free laundry service, the charming room service and perfectly maintained pool and outdoor areas, every staff member spoke impeccable English (and other languages) and exerted every fibre of their being to make the stay memorable. This place is for sybarites, not a gym in sight. Unexpected and delicious cocktails by the pool, yes, excellent food from a varied menu, yes, but no guilt over ... simply relaxing in a cool white stylish environment. Each suite has ornamental flourishes and includes touches like free sunglasses (white of course) and binoculars just in case a whale or dolphin makes a beach appearance.
When we admired the quality of one of the local wines, named for the volcanoes (300 in total) that are a stunning feature of the austere landscape here, it was immediately reordered and a free bottle sent to our suite. Even when travelling as a journalist on a press trip, this type of thoughtful touch was very rare. The extraordinary vineyards deserve a visit (rent an affordable car for the day) and the Star Wars emptiness of the lava fields and lichen tinted volcanic slopes is mesmerising in the brilliant sun.
