Anyone who’s stayed at Sands Beach Resort will have left with one song in particular going around and around their head. Each afternoon they’ll have heard its infectiously hot reggae rhythms turning up the heat around the pool at Mai Tai bar in the middle of the lagoon.

Shine On by R.I.O. is the ultimate sunshine song and is guaranteed to put a smile on the face and inject fun into your holiday, especially the way our animation team perform it. So for all those people out there who are missing their daily dose of ‘marching to the pool, marching to the pool’ here’s a little reminder designed to keep the Lanzarote sun on your face until your next visit.

Oh, and for anyone who’s planning to visit for the first time, watch closely and learn the words and the moves and from the moment you arrive you’ll be able to ‘Shine On’ with everyone else.

When it comes to expansive, romantic gestures, two names spring instantly to my mind – the Taj Mahal and Richard Burton.

Emperor Shah Jahan ordered the construction of the Taj Mahal Palace in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal. He promised her on her death bed that he would build a monument to match her beauty and although it took him 16 years to complete the mausoleum, he was true to his word.

For her 40th birthday in 1972 Richard Burton bought Elizabeth Taylor a large heart-shaped diamond known as the Taj Mahal “I would have liked to buy her the Taj-Mahal,” Burton remarked, “but it would cost too much to transport.”

Such extravagant gestures are beyond the reach of most of us but you don’t have to be an Emperor or a millionaire icon of the silver screen to be able to afford an indulgent Valentine’s Day. Here at Sands Beach Resort we’re offering a Valentine’s Day package which is sure to ignite the romance in everyone.

As far as I’m concerned, there are certain conditions that are conducive to romance and lying beneath Lanzarote‘s clear blue skies in 20° plus sunshine before retiring to my superior apartment for a private aromatherapy massage are most definitely amongst them.

As part of the Valentine’s Day special offer, Sands Beach will perfume your room with  scented candles and arrange for you and your partner to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of a relaxing and sensual massage with aromatic herbs and hot stone or clay treatments to leave your skin feeling like silk and you feeling like a million dollars.

After your massage, uncork your complimentary bottle of cava and enjoy its chilled, sparkling contents as you get ready for your special dinner date.
Our amazing animation team will dine, entertain and indulge the little ones for the whole evening while you wander along, hand in hand beneath the moonlight to the Hacienda Restaurant for a candlelit dinner and wine.

You see, here at Sands Beach Resort, we may not be the Taj Mahal but we have luxury and comfort and the moon reflected in the still waters of the lagoon. You may not have the money of Richard Burton or the looks of Liz Taylor but we can still make you feel like a film star this Valentine’s Day.

There are a number of ways to get up close and personal with Lanzarote’s dramatic volcanic landscape. The easy option is to take a coach excursion and maybe even bump your way up a trail through the lava fields on the back of a camel. However, the ultimate way for local or visiting professional and amateur athletes to experience Lanzarote’s out of this world scenery is by taking part in Lavatrail Lanzarote 2011 which takes place on 19th February.

A real adventure and test of endurance levels, the most demanding Lavatrail route crosses a challenging 82 kilometres of volcanic landscape, coastal roads and rugged mountainous trails. And just to spice things up a little the route has to be completed within 17 hours over the course of one day. This is extreme sightseeing, Lanzarote style.

There are various Lavatrail options for individuals and groups with the shortest route being 18km and the greatest test of stamina being the 82km extreme challenge.
Registration fees range from €20 to €70 depending on Lavatrail routes chosen and inscriptions should be made online at lanzarotedeportes.com before 11th February.

For anyone staying at Sands Beach Resort who is tempted by the challenge of pitting themselves against the island’s rugged terrain, there’s one thing you can be certain of. Whatever route you choose, by the time you complete the course your bed at Sands Beach is going to feel like even more of an oasis of comfort than usual.