Reader’s Letters – November 2026

Our readers regularly send us messages and emails regarding Lanzarote, here are some of your thoughts that we printed in the November edition.

Readers are reminded that views and comments expressed within the Ed’s Postbag page are those of the contributors and may not necessarily reflect the opinions or standpoint of our staff. It should also be noted that we are an independent publication free from political persuasion or governmental censorship.

BEACH BUMS

Dear Gazette Life,

I have now frequented Lanzarote long enough to feel qualified to comment on what can only be described as the alarming decline of beach standards.

I refer, specifically, to the increasing number of individuals of all persuasions appearing on the beaches in what can only generously be described as ‘swimwear’. Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you: have we no decorum?

There are children present. There are easily-triggered adults present. There are older people trying to read The Daily Telegraph without having their spectacles steamed up, including myself.

And yet, apparently, the accepted approach is to unfold oneself onto a sun lounger like a badly packed inflatable dinghy with barely a string, stressed to its limits, to shore up one’s ‘equipment’ and spend six hours marinating in Factor 30.

I am not suggesting that people shouldn’t enjoy themselves. But surely there was once an understanding between civilisation and acceptable ‘beachwear’.

I fear that understanding has been lost and wonder what other readers concerns are about this matter.

Yours, increasingly distressed,

Arthur P. Shuttlecock, Lanzarote

Ed: Sadly, Arthur, the days of long-sleeved woollen swimming costumes are long gone, but if you’re upset by beachwear we can recommend a few places on the island where you won’t be distracted by people wearing any at all.

POTHOLE PROBLEMS

Dear Gazette,

I’m generally impressed by the roads on Lanzarote, but the main road to Costa Teguise from Arrecife is getting in worse condition all the time. There are some nasty potholes forming, and I find myself weaving around them more and more often – not the best situation on an often busy road.

K. Peyton

Ed: The Cabildo Works Councillor mentioned that this was a priority when we interviewed him recently. No dates have been agreed yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you see improvements before the elections next year.

ROCKPILES

Dear Gazette Life,

What are the piles of rocks that you can see everywhere on Lanzarote? Driving up from Arrecife to San Bartolomé they’re everywhere, and you can see hundreds more of them on the plane as you take off.

Dave, via email

Ed: Mostly they’re just piles of rocks, Dave. In the past, farmers had to clear their land of rocks in order to cultivate it. They used the rocks to mark off boundaries, and sometimes they made shelters and windbreaks from them, but often it’s just a pile of rocks.

VV ADVANTAGES

Dear Editor,

I noticed the article concerning VV licenses in the September issue of Gazette Life about affordable housing for residents, on our recent holiday in Lanzarote.  We have been holidaying on the island for many years.  The VV system gives visitors some assurance about standards. The reduction of its use could really have a negative impact on tourism.  Affordable housing is an issue in many countries and not solely solved by restricting tourism accommodation.

During the years I have visited I have seen and used the many timeshare resorts, holiday apartments and hotels that have been constructed.  This year I noticed the Playa Jabillo development of 143 apartments in Costa Teguise priced at €400,000 plus.  I also noticed a number of empty developments around the area.  There appeared to be some evidence of an old development of stand alone single story being refurbished.

The lack of affordable housing is a complex issue but solely reducing the number of VV licenses on its own will have little positive impact on the affordable housing aspect.

Thank you for writing the article. The housing for local residents is a complex issue. It’ll be very interesting to see how it works out without losing the vital tourist industry.

Kind Regards,

Steve Griffiths (UK)