The winter edition of the Lanzarote Guidebook is now available as a free download.

Covering the months of December, January and February, it contains information on the forthcoming carnival season as well as the Festival de Musica as well as all the usual information about the resorts, restaurants and places to visit.

The guide is rounded off with information on opening times and emergency phone numbers, and is distributed free of charge on the island in a handy pocket format, at the information desk on the arrivals level at the airport, for example.

To get your copy in advance, you can download the electronic version on the download page, or use the order button there to have a copy sent to you.

We’ve said before, that there are advantages to being able to speak Spanish when you visit Lanzarote. Whether you want to be able to bargain better at Teguise market, or just make sure that there are no hidden extras on your restaurant bill, some things just work better if you can use the local language.

One of the online courses that we recommend is Notes in Spanish, which offers downloadable audio, accompanied by worksheets containing transcripts, vocabulary lists, explanations of grammar and tasks for you to complete.

This week sees the start of the second season on Notes in Spanish Gold. For just €17* per month you receive a weekly audio file with the relevant worksheet on topics that are often connected to current issues in Spain.

So if you’re past the stage of asking your way to the Playa, and would like to learn some more advanced – even colloquial – Spanish, then take a look at Notes in Spanish Gold.

* sales within the EU are liable to 18% VAT; price subject to change

The Green Banana Guide is an interesting concept for visitors to Lanzarote.

For a single fee (currently £14.99) you receive a Green Banana Discount Card, giving you between 5% and 20% discount at a variety of outlets on the island.  These can be viewed on an interactive map and are also listed in the printed guide to the island.

At Double Six Fish and Chips in Puerto del Carmen, for example, you receive 10% off your bill.

If used often, the card is likely to cover its own cost fairly soon, as it can be used multiple times at the same establishment and the discount is applied to the bill for the entire party, not just the card owner.

For those who visit the island more than once a year, there is even an annual offer available.

However, even though it sounds like it could be good value for money, there are some discrepancies on the website that unsettle me. (more…)