Is Lanzarote always grotty?

How about Portugal, or Ronda in Spain? Or even S of France - Albi/Avignon etc??

hi grannyline have been to all of those you mentioned, friend just come back form Cyprus week ago was lovely and warm still, nice hotels in Madeira we liked it there, really I would go for any of them where you can get good deal for nice hotel!! ENJOY!!

Don't think Malta is especially reknowed for it's cuisine! Also I have friends that used to go for 6 weeks at this time of year, most hotels are filled with much older English people on long stays, and the food reflects that!

Malta and Lanzarote are interesting and great for long walks. Both charming and picturesque, and have differing landscapes inland. Anywhere warm and sunny at this time of year would be a treat.

We were pleasantly surprised by Lanzarote & have been 3 times. We've stayed in small villas in Nazaret, a village away from the main resorts. The arid landscape is different & I love the volcano national park. It's a small island so you can easily reach all parts if you hire a car. I believe buses are good too. The coastal scenery in the NW is spectacular & a trip to the car free Island of Grandioso well worth the effort. There are useful books of walks and there are organised walks and tours you can read about on-line. The influence of artist Cesar Manrique on architecture and design is everywhere and the resorts would be far more built up without it. We've found the weather in Lanzarote more reliable in winter months than the Med though evenings in January can get chilly & everywhere is experiencing odd events nowadays.

I think it's Lanzarote that has a ban on buildings more than 3 storeys high.

Thanks Gada, that's the sort of info I was after...live up to your name! Grace I think you know me too well

Yes, if you go to Lanzarote, you'll see a lot of fabulous mobile sculptures on roundabouts, created by Manrique, and his museum is so interesting. Nice to be in a place that is not dominated by high-rise hotels.

Why, grannylin? Have I just suggested places you visit year on year? (or is there something else I don't know that I know ?) very

We went on honeymoon this time of year, to Almeria - the driest place in Europe. Technically a desert. They made "spaghetti westerns" there and an Indiana Jones film. But there are big areas covered in plastic greenhouses in some parts.
Cabo de Gata national park area though was definitely, a desert and good walking.
Tenerife outside the main resort area is very different. la Gomera had the most enormous forest fire this year, so probably not there.

Nothing sinister grace just happened to be the sort of places I was initially drawn to or have already been to.Have looked on Tripadvisor at the places I listed and many of the reviews start with...I'm not a snob but.......sort of thing OH would say and that's why I'm asking for advice, so equally

All the Canarie Islands are nice this time of year never too hot but not chilly either,friends are off to mainland Spain this week flying into Alicante but this time of year there is a chance of Gota Fria which is cold wind and almost always followed by rains for a couple of days.
DD and I went yrs ago to Lanzarote to a small place called Costa Teguise and it was very pleasent with good transport links to other towns and nice walks.

Had sunny winter holidays in Lanzarote several times(.in Costa Teguise)
Easy walking and driving .Lots of activities and varied scenery.DD went scuba diving and windsurfing .
Airport used to be small and inadequate but that and bus travel have improved.
3 wk Jan holiday in Malta in 2005-stayed in waterfront hotel in Sleima.
Lots to see and do-never bored.Local buses cheap and frequent.

have a good holiday

I lived in Malta in the late 60s (so not up to date!). Winter weather is often windy and buildings made for the heat of summer can feel a bit bleak. The cuisine was pretty basic then, and the wine nothing to write home about.

Had a lovely holiday in late October in Lanzarote a few years ago. Stayed in a hotel in a village in the centre of the island, away from the coastal resorts and it was gorgeous. Perfect weather for t-shirt and shorts, interesting things to see and good food.

North Africa will be really warm at this time of year.

I think any of the places you mentioned should be good at this time of year as long as you stay away from the usual touristy places. These tend to be "Blackpool with sun" type of attractions

Try cardiff

Is hot weather forecast for Cardiff, then, jeni?

we have direct flights to Malaga(Newcastle with Easyjet) next week-only 6 nights but hoping for some sun or at least a change. Picasso museum and plenty of restaurants in the michelin guide. the hotel lends out a smart car. Newcastle airport is very limited for direct flights unless you choose charter flights. Will let you know if it is warm enough.

Been to all the canary islands and thought Lanzarote was by far the best. Group of pan pipers playing Christmas carols in CostaTeguise were wonderful and Timanfia park is spectacular. Weren't plagued by timeshare touts like we were in Tenerife either. Cesar Manrique's house is well worth a visit.

I have a friend who has lived on Lanzarote for over 2 years, so it can`t be bad!

That should have read 20 years!

We had a wonderful break in Barcelona a few years ago! Well worth a winter visit.