Costa Teguise © canaryforum

The smallest and most recently developed of the island's three main holiday resorts, Costa Teguise is situated on the southeast corner of Lanzarote and is a haven for families and sun-seekers. Although it is a purpose built resort, Costa Teguise manages to have a nice community feel to it, with lots of little squares around which the bars and restaurants are located. The resort is more low key than some but still has plenty to do with a wide variety of shops and restaurants for all tastes and of course lovely beaches for holiday-makers to relax on. Playa de las Cucharas is probably the best of the three beaches with uninterrupted views and crystal clear blue waters, but Playa Bastian is another idyllic spot to enjoy the sub-tropical sunshine.

Costa Teguise has a variety of shops around the resort and in the La Cucharas Shopping Complex, selling all the usual tourist tat for holiday makers, as well as a few electrical duty-free stores. The busy Sunday market at Teguise is well worth a visit, selling a variety of locally produced goods from pottery to tablecloths along with the inevitable 'I've been to Lanzarote' t-shirts.

There is a good range of restaurants in Costa Teguise catering for all tastes and pockets. For dining out, try Coffee and Cream Bistro Bar, Vesubio Restaurant, Restaurant Montmatre or El Bocadito, which specialises in traditional Spanish tapas. Besides a number of local establishments, there are plenty of Italian, Indian, Thai, Chinese and seafood restaurants. For those longing for home, there are several fish and chip shops that offer traditional cod and freshly made chips, and other places that serve up English breakfasts and screen Premier League football on big screen TVs.

The nightlife in Costa Teguise is not legendary - party animals generally take a taxi to Puerto del Carmen, a larger holiday resort ten miles (16km) to the west. Costa Teguise's Mo vita Disco Bar is its best-known party venue and there are nice bars around the marketplace to start the evening off. Try the Fiddler's Bar and the Sunburnt Arms or Hennessy's Irish Bar if you're craving a refreshing pint of Guinness. For something different try Legends Bar which provides entertainment such as a hypnotist or an Abba tribute band. There is also a casino in the Hotel Oasis.

There is plenty of entertainment for holiday makers in and around Costa Teguise for all ages. Watersports, including sailing, windsurfing, jet skiing, snorkelling and scuba diving can be arranged from the beaches, while just outside the resort is an 18-hole golf course and a water park for the kids. Further afield visitors can explore the Timanfaya National Park and the ancient capital, Arrecife. Boat trips and submarine tours go from Puerto Calero, ten miles (16km) west of Costa Teguise, and camel and horse rides can be organised. Most activities can be organised through the tour operator reps, though it is sometimes cheaper to book directly.

It is possible to get good bargains in the electrical duty-free stores when on holiday in Costa Teguise, but remember that you can't take purchases back to the shop once you have left the island. Check everything works and that all batteries, cables and plugs are included; that you receive a European guarantee, not an Asian one; and that all electrical items have a CE stamp. Whilst water is safe for cleaning teeth and washing food, it is very high in mineral content and can cause bad stomach problems. Bottled water should be used for drinking.