Sparkling on the south coast of England is the vibrant Dorset seaside town of Bournemouth, situated between the New Forest and Poole. During the summer, the town just doesn’t stop with fantastic beaches and activities to enjoy during the day, and an endless choice of restaurants, pubs and clubs available through the night!

Bournemouth is popular with the surfing crowd, and as part of a regeneration project £11 million is being spent in Boscombe (10 minutes drive from Bournemouth or 25 minutes walk) to build a reef so that better and more surfing days are ensured. During July and August when the waves are mellower, the reef will cause a lagoon effect in the area making it perfect for families enjoying beach life in Bournemouth.

Whilst you couldn’t have your holiday to Bournemouth without taking in the seven miles of golden beach, enjoying the sand, the sea and many other water sports, there are also many fabulous parks and gardens, as well as fantastic shops and plenty of cultural visits to keep the most discerning visitor happy; the Bournemouth Tourist Information Centre arranges guided walks for visitors to get the most of the town!

Visit the Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, an interesting looking Victorian villa where you may view a collection of important paintings and sculptures, ceramics and furniture. There are child facilities and a cafe, as well as the house to explore.  In Bournemouth you will discover many other museums, castles, churches and stately homes, and of course the town is surrounded by stunning countryside and is just east of England’s only UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

There are many hotels in Bournemouth, as well as self catering apartments, bed and breakfast lodges and guesthouses, and with over 250 restaurants, there certainly is an excellent choice of eateries, from fish and chips to gourmet delights.

The town also has its own airport which is situated inland to the north east, with schedule, low cost and charter flights flying from Bournemouth International Airport to many destinations within Eastern and Western Europe. You can take holidays from Bournemouth to Spain, the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands, Egypt, Bulgaria, Greece, to name but a few! Hire car may be arranged from either the airport or downtown with easyCar.com or there are two stations in Bournemouth if travelling by train.

If you are lucky enough to be in Bournemouth at the end of August the Bournemouth Air Festival runs for four days and includes a show by the Red Arrows. In 2009 it was held from the 20th to 23rd August. Bourne Free a Gay Pride festival is held in Bournemouth in the summer too.

The fourth largest of the Spanish Canary Islands, Lanzarote is only 37 miles long (north to south), 15.5 miles wide (east to west), and about seven miles away from neighbouring Fuerteventura. Lanzarote is known locally as “Conejera” and was created from hundreds of volcanoes erupting, although it is the flattest of the Canary Islands.

When you fly into Lanzarote you will land at Arrecife (ACE) airport. Do prebook your car hire with easyCar before leaving the UK to avoid disappointment.  As you drive to your resort you will not find any traffic lights, but many roundabouts! Drive on the right– but don’t ever park in front of the bins (they can be emptied at any time of the day or night)!

A holiday in Lanzarote is popular year round as its southern location brings mild winters.  Much of the landscape is sparse, although there are many rare and beautiful flowers and plants. Do visit the National Park of Timanfaya where the lunar landscape is a fascinating array of reds; camel-back rides or bus tours ensure you experience the real history and understand the geography of Lanzarote.

Surrounded by the Atlantic Sea, the island’s coast is ideal for kitesurfing, sailing and windsurfing.  There are many fantastic Lanzarote beaches which are white in the north around Playa Blanca and Papagayo, golden around Puerto del Carmen and black at Playa Quemada.

About five miles of beach stretches out in front of Puerto del Carmen, a very popular resort split into three areas. Matagorda offers a long sandy beach and is full of great restaurants and bars, with the Old Town an authentic location, where hidden tapas bars and shops can be found. Most people on holiday in Lanzarote head to the New Town or six kilometre Strip of Puerto del Carmen which is busting at the seams with eateries, bars, boutique stores, a large shopping centre, and of course amazing beaches where hosts of watersports are available.

Whilst smaller, the south eastern resort of Costa Teguise also offers everything a holiday maker could want. Small squares lined with bars and restaurants, a good selection of shops and three lovely beaches including Playa de las Cucharas which is popular with windsurfers.

Playa Blanca or White Beach, is the newest development on Lanzarote with many four and five star hotels. The magnificent Papagayo Beach is just four miles away. From here, you may hop on a boat for the 15 minute ride to Fuerteventura island from Marina Rubicon. Playa Blanca is probably best suited to families and couples looking to relax rather than party, although all the Lanzarote resorts are family friendly.

If you are looking to stay in a villa with private pool in Lanzarote, a low cost or luxury hotel such as the Gran Melia Volcan Lanzarote, or comfortable self catering apartments, there is a superb choice in and around the island’s resorts.