It may officially be spring but it still feels like winter when that bitter wind picks up. However, you don’t need to wait until the summer for 12 hours of non-stop sunshine because Lanzarote is just a short flight away.

Reporter DAN KEEL escaped the long winter blues with a stunning visit to Sands Beach Resort in the Costa Teguise for the ultimate dose of tranquil spring sun.

This may surprise you but Lanzarote is turning into a rather up-market holiday destination.

I arrived expecting to be greeted by hordes of sun-burnt British tourists crammed onto the beaches with a healthy dose of them tanked up on cheap San Miguel and Sangria.

Instead I was pleasantly surprised to be met by a hugely cosmopolitan crowd consisting of young couples from Germany, families from France, pensioners from Scotland and ice-cool windsurfers from Scandinavia.

There-in lies the beauty of this volcanic island - the quaint baby brother of the Canarys.

While it lacks the size of Gran Canaria or the nightlife of Tenerife it really does have something for everyone - or in my case, something different to do each day of the week.

Sands Beach Resort is within walking distance of a host of medium sized beaches - big enough to stretch out, but not long enough to feel like you are cog in a very large sunbathing factory.

The coastline is perfect for lazing away the day and enhanced by a series of hand-made wind breaks constructed from large pebble-shaped rocks which provide an element of privacy.

The sea is surprisingly warm between February and May making it ideal for a quick dip or even a spot of surfing or windsurfing.

In fact windsurfing is a hugely popular past-time in these parts where a stiff refreshing breeze usually blows from left to right as you look out to sea.

This makes the area massively popular with Norwegian and Swedish sea-lovers who arrive in search of sun, sea and surf.

The area is also a honeypot for birdwatchers and twitchers from across Europe who arrive in their hundreds to catch a glimpse of rarities such as hoopoe, European bee-eater and roller amongst the rugged cliffs and meadows.

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While the town is missing the tens of thousands of tourists which descend upon it during the summer months, all the bars, restaurants and cafes are open for business as usual.

All of this makes Costa Teguise a subtle, modest and tastefully presented part of the island where you can stroll down the promenade without the irritation of street vendors selling you imitation sunglasses and bar managers beckoning you into their premises.

It is the perfect destination for the hard-working professional seeking tranquillity during February and March when Christmas is but a distant memory and summer a tiny speck of light at the end of a very long tunnel.

From this fantastic base of Sands Beach Resort you are close enough to the bars and restaurants of Costa Teguise to enjoy music and great Mediterranean food, but far enough away to dodge the buzz of night-time neon lights.

Individual kitchen-equipped apartments, rather than traditional hotel rooms, give you a wonderful sense of privacy while the resort’s clever design - with numerous pools and plazas - mean you cannot go wrong with your location.

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Whether you are based towards the front, back or side of the village you are guaranteed easy access to the beach or one of six sumptuous pool and bathing areas – that’s if you decide to even bother straying away from your apartment’s terrace (or two terraces if you choose larger accommodation).

Board arrangements range from self-catering to full-board while rooms vary from single occupancy all the way up to large group parties.

The resort features two enticing restaurants and a magnificent bar area which has tables looking up at the mountains lying behind the complex. Meanwhile staff are friendly, knowledgeable of the local area and eager to organise activities for families including quizzes, parties, and a parrot show.

A gym is also on site along with a games room, a hair salon and massage facilities.

Accommodation

Sands Beach Resort is a beachfront hotel which features a sandy crescent wrapped around a seawater lagoon.

The complex boasts sunshine all year round. At the time of my visit (Feb 26 to Mar 3) the daytime temperature was 20 degrees C to 22 degrees C.

A self-catering apartment for two adults (children are free) in the low season is 690€ per week.

Visit sandsbeach.eu for a full price list

Telephone: +34 928 826 095

Email: reservations@sandsbeach.eu

Facebook: facebook.com/sandsbeach

Twitter: twitter.com/sandsbeach

Eating out

A 20-minute taxi journey (15 Euros) takes you to the truly stunning Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa and its even more delightful 17th floor Altamar restaurant.

From here you can see all the way to Arrecife airport and all the way back to Costa Teguise.

Tables are positioned perfectly to provide incredible views of the sun setting behind the mountains – and that’s before you have even started eating.

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The food here is outstanding and surprisingly good value for such top quality service and fare.

A taster menu featuring six courses, a bottle of wine, a glass of Cava and a coffee costs 42 Euros per person.

My personal highlights were course three - amberjack in a stock of Dashi served with shitake mushrooms and king prawns; course four - small meat balls of lamb with an apple sauce of different textures and a bed of red curry and course five - soup of cheese and basil served with raspberry ice cream.

Visit aghotelspa.com for more information or call +34 928 800 000

Getting there

Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, operates year round flights to Lanzarote from Birmingham, East Midlands, London Gatwick, London Luton, Leeds Bradford and Manchester airports with fares, including taxes, starting from £39.99 one way (£72.98 return)

For further information or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, please visit www.monarch.co.uk