Winter sun in island hideaway

Mar 8 2009 Sunday Sun

Yes, it can get a bit windy at times, but the Saharan breeze was far more pleasant than the biting North Sea winds we’d be getting back home.

Yes, the inland landscape is barren, but Fuerteventura is also famous for beautiful, sandy beaches, which are popular with windsurfers. We were not looking for anything quite so energetic. All we wanted was a good hotel with excellent food and sea views.

We found all those requirements in the Jandia Princess, a four-sun hotel, with six swimming pools, surrounded by tropical gardens.

The hotel is split into three-storey blocks, each containing apartments with a bedroom and adjoining bathroom.

Our balcony had a 180 degree view of the beach. My wife loved it and admitted that my choice had been a good one. This area of Fuerteventura is particularly popular with German and Dutch tourists. British holidaymakers are more likely to head for the north.

Fuerteventura and, in particular, the area around Morro Jable is not the place to visit if you want a wild, drunken nightlife.

During our week on the island, we did not see anyone, young or old, behaving badly. But neither is it boring.

The Jandia Princess is almost a self-contained entertainment complex. If the six pools are not enough, there is also a gym, sauna, tennis courts and a host of other activities, including rifle shooting and archery.

Going all-inclusive, we did not have to pay extra for meals and drinks.

With an exchange rate of little more than one euro to the pound, we were worried about prices. Yet snacks and drinks in the nearby town were little more than we would pay back home.

Entertainment is also good value, with a range of boat trips, quad-biking and mountain biking tours on offer.

We opted for a coach trip to Oasis Park, an animal sanctuary and tropical garden, around 20 minutes’ from our hotel.

For a fee of £40 for adults and £20 for children, we were treated to a tour of the animal sanctuary, as well as four brilliant shows featuring sea lions, tropical birds, reptiles and birds of prey – and a camel ride into the hills.

Again, my wife and son loved it. With meals included, the entertainment lasted for more than eight hours and represented great value for money.

I must confess we spent most of our break simply lazing by the pool or splodging along the beach and watching the hotel entertainment in the evening.

There must be worse ways to spend a week in February.

We came back feeling wonderfully warmed up, relaxed and ready for our argument over where we will be going next year.

5 things to do

:: THE Jandia Princess has six swimming pools, gym, sauna and tennis courts, as well as a host of other activities, including rifle shooting and archery.

:: FOR the even more energetic, there are boat trips, quad-biking and mountain biking tours.

:: CHECK out Oasis Park, with shows featuring sea lions, tropical birds, reptiles and birds of prey. The £40 trip includes a meal and a camel ride into the hills.

:: VISIT the new centre at the Cuevo Del Llano in Villaverde, La Oliva, which allows access to a million-year-old cave.

:: TAKE in the craft fair, held in Antigua in May over three days.

First Choice offers seven nights at the Jandia Princess from £639 per adult and £289 per child, staying all-inclusive and based on two adults and one child sharing, departing from Newcastle on May 6.

To find out more call First Choice on 0871 664 9012 or visit www.firstchoice.co.uk