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  • What if I need to leave Spain whilst waiting for a new TIE?

    What if I need to leave Spain whilst waiting for a new TIE?

    If you ever need to leave Spain while your residency is being renewed or while you’re waiting for a replacement TIE card, don’t panic.

    There are a few options if you are a non-EU including UK citizen. You can travel, but the steps you need to take depend on your specific situation.

    Sometimes you’ll need an Autorización de Regreso to re-enter Spain without issues. Other times, your resguardo (the official receipt from your renewal or replacement application) may be enough — but only in very specific circumstances. The regreso can be obtained at an Immigration Office in Spain.

    This is especially important now that EES is in force at Lanzarote.

    If you are a UK citizen with a green certificate, you should change this to a TIE as soon as possible.

    If you are an EU citizen, although you can enter and leave Spain freely, there are still rules you must follow if you are resident. Find out more here.

    A picture of an EU passport

  • easyJet holidays Big Orange Sale now on

    easyJet holidays Big Orange Sale now on

    With easyJet holidays – use promo code BIGSALE to save up to £400 per booking.

    Some examples – all for 9 nights in June 2026 for 2 adults sharing a double or twin standard room. All include return direct flights (London/Liverpool/Manchester,) transfers & ATOL protection as well as 23kg hold luggage per person each way.

    Seaside Los Jameos – Matagorda, just outside Puerto del Carmen – half-board – £2198 total

    THB Royal – Playa Blanca – room only – £1383 total

    Tabaiba Apartments – Costa Teguise – self-catering – £1048 total

    Why choose easyJet holidays?

    • Customer care phone line if you need support
    • Most hotels include breakfast and are at least 3-star
    • Upgrade your room type, board type or transfer if you wish
    • One login for both flight and hotel
    • Get £10 worth of food & drink on your flight for just £8 when you buy a voucher in advance

  • Why are there so many cats in Lanzarote?

    Why are there so many cats in Lanzarote?

    High Reproduction Rates: Cats are very efficient breeders, capable of producing multiple litters per year. In a warm climate like Lanzarote’s, with a long breeding season, a lack of population control can lead to exponential growth in the number of stray cats. A single unspayed female can contribute to a large number of offspring within a few years.

    Abandonment: Unfortunately, some pet owners abandon their cats, especially around tourist areas or when they leave the island. These abandoned cats then contribute to the stray population.

    Lack of Widespread Neutering and Spaying: While there are dedicated animal welfare organizations on Lanzarote that implement Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, the scale of the problem often exceeds the resources available. Historically, and sometimes still, there hasn’t been a comprehensive island-wide effort to sterilize a significant portion of the free-roaming cat population.

    Food Availability: Tourist areas, restaurants, and even well-meaning tourists sometimes provide food for stray cats. While done with good intentions, this food source can sustain larger populations of cats and encourage them to congregate in certain areas.

    Climate and Environment: Lanzarote’s mild climate allows stray cats to survive year-round without the harsh conditions faced in colder regions. The volcanic soil can also resemble cat litter, making the environment more accommodating for them.

  • Did you know this about César Manrique?

    Did you know this about César Manrique?

    Art and Nature in Harmony: Much of the island’s aesthetic appeal is due to the work of Lanzarote artist, architect, and environmentalist César Manrique. He successfully campaigned to prevent high-rise development, which is why the island’s buildings are mostly low-rise and whitewashed, creating a visually pleasing and harmonious environment.

    • Cultural Attractions: His influence can be seen in cultural centres where art is seamlessly fused with nature, such as Jameos del Agua, the Mirador del Río viewpoint, the Cactus Garden, and his former home, the César Manrique Foundation. The airport is also named after him!

  • Review of Barcelo Teguise Beach, Costa Teguise

    Review of Barcelo Teguise Beach, Costa Teguise

    In January 2024, I was lucky enough to have enough hotels.com credit to book this hotel for one night with breakfast for virtually nothing – just around £8 in taxes. Upon arrival, the hotel looks stunning with two swimming pools and a spacious open-air lounge area as well as a sparkling clean lobby. You can choose from several restaurants and bars just within the hotel. There’s an ATM and car hire rental in the lobby too. You can avoid high fees with Curve* by downloading it free here or Revolut*

    Food and drink prices (if not included in your package) are a little on the expensive side, but the food quality is outstanding. The breakfast buffet is amazing with cava provided free of charge. They also had food from all over the world, both hot and cold. I particularly liked the pastries and fresh fruit, as well as unlimited coffee and cava. There was something for all tastes.

    Get a great deal on Barcelo Teguise Beach here when you book a London flight & hotel with lastminute – If you’re travelling from further north, try OnTheBeach for a great package deal.

    The rooms are stunning – you get a Lavazza machine, kettle, plenty of toiletries which is handy if you forgot to pack some, a TV with plenty of UK channels, a large comfortable bed, and some free water bottles to get you started. The Wi-Fi is a little slow but fast enough for video calling. Being adults only, all guests must be aged 18 or over.

    The room was a good size with a nice desk, balcony, plenty of storage space, a safe, and fridge/mini-bar – which I would avoid using as there are plenty of bars and supermarkets in the area that sell drinks at a fraction of the price! The only thing that some people might not like is there is NO separate bathroom. The sink is outside in the room. The toilet is closed off, and so is the shower, but you can see through the top and bottom parts of it. Of course, if you’re on your own, it makes no difference, but it might be uncomfortable if sharing with someone you don’t know that well! The only other negative thing is, if you’re from the UK, my room didn’t have a USB charging point. Therefore, you will need to remember an adapter or have an EU-USB plug. You can buy one here* that has 3 USB ports as well as a UK plug socket

    The room did have lots of outlets and reading lights on either side of the bed which is handy if you’re sharing. The hotel itself can be a bit of a maze, although there are elevators if you have mobility issues or large amount of luggage. A welcome drink is normally offered upon arrival, which is nice. Reception staff are friendly and always try to help with any requests you may have.

    The hotel has a commitment to eco-friendly practices, and you can see this in every aspect of your stay – things are made from recycled materials, if possible; there is eco lighting (lights sense a person and only light up when people are around,) no plastic bottles and you are encouraged only to have four-minute showers. This rule is not enforced, of course!

    On the plus side, the location is great – from the back entrance, it leads straight to the beach (take the sports bar exit.) From there, you can turn left for shops and bars, and then walk back around to the town centre. If you turn right, there is a nice scenic walk that will take you to the Barcelo Active side of town, and eventually Arrecife. However, the bus from outside Tekkers would be much more convenient!

    Within a few minutes or less of the hotel you will find Hennessy’s, serving a range of drinks and snacks, Namaste, an Indian restaurant with amazing reviews and The Cutty Sark Bar serving a range of traditional British dishes. For those preferring something more local, El Patio Restaurant is just 400 metres away.

    In terms of shopping, Fund Grube is just 350 metres away and sell a variety of clothing items, toiletries, tobacco, spirits and souvenirs. However, always compare prices because although they offer good deals, they are not always the cheapest. Many other tourist shops selling fragrances are close to the hotel, simply walk towards Tekkers.

    Unfortunately, the spa was closed for renovations, so I did not experience this. The swimming pools looked nice but were a little cold. There were plenty of sunbeds, and no “sunbed wars” happening at all. The tables by the sun loungers enable you to scan a QR code and drinks will be brought to you. There is an on-site gym that all guests can use, too. Entertainment and activities vary, although I did not try any of them, as I was only there for one night. Similar to Barcelo Active, interactive screen or an app can tell you what the day’s schedule looks like.

    Already got flights? Get best prices for the hotel with Trivago.

    Ordinarily, this hotel costs around £115 per night including breakfast. Other dining options are available including half-board and all-inclusive. I think this is good value if you’re using all the facilities on offer, the location and quality compared to other hotels in the area. I did not receive any other free items except a bottle of cava in the afternoon. You can get a great deal with hotels.com too when you go via TopCashback* and pay with an Amex* – right now you can get 6,000 points with my link when you spend £2,000 within the first 3 months of getting approved

    *affiliate links – I receive a small commission if you use one of these links and that helps me make this content and run my social media accounts.

  • Hotel Lava Beach (Lanzarote) review

    Hotel Lava Beach (Lanzarote) review

    Updates for 2026:

    • Activities changed slightly and some are now in the afternoon as well
    • There is a USB outlet on the side of one of the beds
    • Some bathrooms have 2 sinks

    Having only opened in 2021, Hotel Lava Beach is a stunning, modern hotel located close to Arrecife airport and Puerto del Carmen. Check-in is from 2pm, which is useful if you have an early flight. You are welcomed with a drink of your choice. Reception staff are available 24 hours a day and speak fluent English as well as other languages.

    Rooms are lovely and spacious. All the amenities that you would expect from a five-star hotel are included, and beds are very comfortable. What I like about the balcony is that it is both spacious and covered so if it is raining, you can continue using it. The balcony also has two chairs and a sun lounger. The view of the sunsets from the
    balconies are great too.

    Wi-Fi in the hotel generally worked well. However, it did vary slightly depending on your location and how many other guests were using it at the same time. The TV had some UK channels including ITV2. Other amenities such as a small notepad and pencil were provided. A small fridge along with some complimentary drinks, including beer and wine were also provided. In terms of coffee, you are given an allowance of pods to use in the machine. If you wish to purchase more, you can do so at reception for a cost of 80c per pod. However, tea and hot water are always available. As you cannot drink the tap water on the island, some complimentary mineral water was provided by the cleaning staff daily. Should you need more, you can purchase them from a few local shops in the area.

    Rooms are cleaned daily, and you need not bring many toiletries with you as a dental kit, shaving kit, soap, shower gel and conditioner are all provided. The rainfall shower leaves you feeling invigorated, and afterwards you can wrap up in the free bathrobe and slippers.

    The grounds are just as good as the rooms themselves. You can enjoy the mini-golf, tennis court, cactus garden or enjoy one of the heated pools. There is also a gym, hairdresser, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi available from 10am-8pm. Massages are available at an extra cost. You can charge all additional costs to your room since a credit card is authorised at check-in.

    I would recommend the half-board option, as it works out cheaper than paying for the dinner buffet separately. The breakfast and dinner buffets are both amazing with a very wide range of food and cava at breakfast also. There are some vegan and vegetarian options too. Should you have any allergies, let staff know and they will prepare something specially for you.

    The cactus garden leads to the promenade, where, if you walk for around 40 minutes, you will arrive at Puerto del Carmen town centre. The number 3 bus also goes from Sol Lanzarote at a cost of 1,40€, or a taxi costs 4-5€. Here, you will find a larger selection of shops and bars.

    There are some fitness activities that normally take place in the mornings. For book lovers, the hotel even has its own library with a wide range of books in English, German, French and a few other languages. If you are thinking of booking an excursion, most Viator tours will pick you up from your hotel, as it has a very central location.

    For travel to or from the airport, I would recommend checking Holiday Extras as they offer a wide range of shared and private transfers. Having a transfer booked saves waiting in the queue for taxis or renting a car. The journey (in a private transfer) is 10 minutes at most.

    Links mentioned:

    Promo code for Holiday Extras – automatically applied – great for transfers, airport lounges, insurance and more.

    Book Lava Beach with easyJet holidays and get a 23kg bag and transfer FREE, plus they have sales and promo codes from time to time.

    Compare car hire deals with Travel Supermarket – they search the market so you don’t have to. You can also purchase extras such as lounge access and travel insurance.

    Compare other hotel prices in the area with Trivago – take advantage of their Book & Go option for a simple, hotel-only booking if you already have a flight.