Any Fuerteventura foumites

RobWales

RobWales

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www.3ksengineering.com
Popping down to Fuerteventura for a week of sun and San miguels from 18th to 25th March.
Just wondering if we have any forumites out there?
We are staying at the resort of Corralejo,has anyone been?and any good food and bar recommendations would be welcome?
Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Corralejo is a fantastic place if you're into cranes & building sites.

In fact there's so many villas there they can't sell, and now as a knock on effect, there's villas they can't finish building. And if they painted them white & not shite brown & orange, they might shift a few.

Apart from staying at the wrong end of the Island(IMO), there are some amazing sand dunes just outside of Corralejo, and lovely beaches (where nobody wears any clothes) Especially around El Cotillo - about 15 minutes drive away. Definitely worth a trip, and then back to Corralejo off road around the coastline - breathtaking stuff.

The roads are dangerous though with black crosses everywhere. Seen a few nasty accidents over there, so be warned.

A drive down to the Jandia (down South) is worthwhile - about 2.5 hour drive. Really nice beaches & better climate, and no building sites. The wreck of the "American Star" off the west coast is worth a visit, but again some serious off road stuff to get there.

A day trip to Lanzarote is a nice idea - Corralejo to Playa Blanca. Loads of bars, restaurants etc there. Residents get cheap crossings, non residents don't. I think we paid about 70 odd euros last time, so not cheap.

One other thing, don't buy any electrical goods / cameras etc etc from any of the "Duty Free" type shops, both on Fuerte & Lanzarote (Playa Blanca's full of them) Better still, don't go near them. These places are bad news, and you will be conned.

However, if you're going for the quiet life, soaking up a few rays, having a few beers etc, you'll love it.
 
Thanks,
Stayed at Playa Blanca last year and yep it was busy!
Not actually staying in the centre of corralejo but 5k outside in the Olivia riu resort on the beach so yep guess I'm gona see dangly bits!
Looking forward to a relaxing break and gawping at the Atlantic wishing I had my boat with me.
 
Only been there on a day trip from Lanzagrotty!
What a nice looking place.
Wanted to stay longer.
Why 'Lanzagrotty' you may ask.

Went there a few years back for some Winter Sun.
It peed down for 13 days none stop!!!
The Locals thought it was great!

In fact the only day it didn't rain we went to Fuertuventura.
Praps that's why I fancied the place.

Looks like an Ace place to Chill.
Enjoy /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
i ve been 3-4 times to hotel los gorinos sol down in sotavento
a mecca for windsurfing, there is nothing there but one hotel, huge beach and flat water with offshore winds
 
Got back a month ago from third vist there:

"gawping at the Atlantic wishing I had my boat with me. " will definitely be a problem. I spent quite a bit of time on the beach working out a passage plan! Trying to charter or buy a trip on a local boat will cost a small packet but could be well worth it particularly if you are into scuba or snorkelling. Corralejo harbour gives the best choice.

Corralejo is Ok once you get past the 'developements' Pretty 'boaty' harbour is worth a visit, with pavement caffs for a drink or meal - some good, some not so. Feeling energetic? take the ferry out to Isla Lobos - fascinating place with no cars, no facilities (except one expensive restaurant) and probably more dangly bits on the one decent beach (not the morning we went this year - we had it to ourselves)

El Cotillo is well worth a visit - particularly if you are in to surfing, kite surfing etc - the main Playa south of the village is rapidly becoming THE place on the northern end of the Island, while the lagoons north of the village give some beautifully sheltered swimming beaches (and more dangly bits). Only try the northern route back to Corralejo if you have FWD (took us ages to extricate the hire car from the sand, and hire cars are not insured anyway off the tarmac)

Going south down the inland road through Betancuria is well worth it and the village itself is worth stopping to take a look - but takes time as the road is very twisty and mountainous.

Jandia is well worth a visit, particularly with a FWD.

The shipwreck of the American Star is no longer worth visiting - there is virtually nothing left of the liner since a bad storm last autumn.

Driving - as always overseas, be careful. Taxi drivers own the roads. If you dont have a modern 'Photo licence' always carry your passport with you - the Polizia or Guarda Civil will apply on the spot fines if you dont have photo ID with you. Be aware too, that if you have dealings with the law, you will have to pay for an interpreter - even if you are reporting crime. If you happen to be unlucky (unlikely), get hold of your Travel Rep if you have one, first.

Hiring a Car? make sure you have FULL insurance - CDW and third party. Their basic minimum insurance does NOT cover 3rd party liability for personal injury. The major Hire companies include it, but by no means all the local car hire companies will. One couple I know of didnt have it, were involved in a fatal accident, and are now being sued by the family of the victim for a huge sum.

Best car hire IMHO is Auto Reisen - good modern cars, good backup if anything goes wrong, and very competitive pricing. We hired from the airport for the week. Hotel transfers for the two of us would have been £50, Car Hire (basic car) was only £80. Then we had to find the Hotel - in the dark, without proper directions!

Finally - for a spectacular day out, join a coach trip to the Timanfaya Volcano on neighbouring Lanzarote. Expensive, but you will not be disappointed, I promise you! You even get lunch cooked over the volcano. The volcano is not actually erupting, but the tour of the craters and badlands, and demonstrations of the volcanic heat are something you will remember!
 
Many thanks for the replies guys and the very informative one from Oldharry!
Just looking forward to break away from all the talk of credit crunch and recession etc
Will certainly be checking out the marina and of course the bars in Corralejo and will probably end up in an Irish bar to watch what I hope will be the deciding game of the six nations Wales v Ireland.
Anyway I will post an update on my findings when I get back.
Cheers
Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Had a week in Corralejo in February, and it isn't really up to much. Overpriced bars, overpriced restaurants and a pretty dire beach. Plenty of sun was it's only redeeming feature.

As someone wrote earlier, it really is an unfinished building site, villas, apartments etc that have stood for quite a few years without roofs, awaiting completion.

The english lady that met us at the airport said that the Ex-Pats are leaving daily, just can't afford to live there anymore.
 
Agree Pitonbroke - FV is rapidly becoming a casualty of the credit crunch - and Ryanair pulling out. Thet have overeached, and are fallin flat on their faces. Go now while there is something to go for! It coul get pretty dire in a few years time.
 
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Gee thanks PB!
Staying here......dire beach? erm nope!

http://www.riu.com/index.php?hotel=29

Expensive beer? nope free till 2am. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

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If your staying at the Riu, my advise would be to take some protective clothing and a face mask, coz that bit of the island is like being in a wind tunnel, and your gonna get sandblasted.

The story goes that the Riu's have been built on the Spanish equivalent of National Trust, and there is a court order saying that they have to be demolished!
 
If my memory serves me correctly, the Oliva is a big hotel dumped in a large expanse of beach with nothing either side for miles.

I agree about the wind & fine sand. It's a bit of a curse. I remember driving into Corralejo with the wind blowing the sand everywhere. The road disappeared as the sand covered it. Made this awful crackling noise on the car / windscreen.

Also you need to keep an eye open for dead bodies whilst swimming. Normally a few that didn't make it from Africa. A load got washed up in Horseshoe Bay when we were there a few years back.

Whilst on this subject, they seem to leave the bodies of the car accident victims in the cars for ages. Certainly appears to be no hurry to move them.

Personally I'd stick to Lanzarote.
 
OH well it rates extremely high on all the independant tourist websites such as "tripadvisor".
At least its a break .........
Thanks for the replies guys but did'nt expect all the doom and gloom!
Sounds like you need a holiday /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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Thanks for the replies guys but did'nt expect all the doom and gloom!

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It's not all doom & gloom. There are some nice bits!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Just Lanzarote is nicer!!
 
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