Hi Groovee. You have a choice of beaches in Playa Blanca. The best one for the kids is also the busiest - which is Playa Dorada. It's got a man made cove built around it. There's all sorts of water activities down there. That's about 3/4 of the way along the promenade towards the marina... next to the Burger King complex. But if the kids are happy just splashig about, and making sandcastles... then they'll be fine at any of the other beaches too.
Take them down to the marina at the other end of Playa Blanca. There's a kiddies area, and a bowling alley. My fella's boys loved the bowling alley, which also has loads of football tables, pool tables, and other games for them to play. The drinks were really cheap in there too, and they do snacks as well. It's in the Rubimar Shopping Centre, up the escalator, stairs or lift. More info at http://www.bowlingclub-lanzarote.co.uk
The market is on down at the marina on a Wednesday and a Saturday - with loads of bargains to be had too - so they'll be able to buy their 20000 mates a souvenir.
There is also Kikoland in the grounds of the Princess Yaiza hotel. They do all sorts of games and activities for youngsters.
Do the kids like cycling? Well, down at the old harbour is a centre called Punta Limones. In the corner closest to the port, and on the top floor is Electrobikes. They do obviously electrobikes, but also normal bikes too. I think they're around €12 per day to hire a normal bike. http://www.electrobike-lanzarote.com Roy will look after you.
There's a water park in Costa Teguise, which is about a half hour drive from you. It doesn't get very good reviews though, and there's certainly no shelter once you're in - which will be harsh in July. Friends of ours much prefer the Baku Water Park in Corralejo, just over the ferry. But to get you all over there, and into the park itself might be very pricey. Roughly €50 each I would guess.
Do take them on a trip to Rancho Texas if you can. It's a zoo (albeit small), but they hold themed Western nights, and get the kids really involved. It's a real family fun night. http://www.ranchotexaslanzarote.com We'd recommend you book it through Last Minute Travel, who have a couple of offices in the town centre - it's cheaper than booking it through your travel rep.
They'll pick you up and drop you off.
If you don't fancy venturing out of your hotel, there's always some form of interactive entertainment on in the summer for the kids. When we were last there it was a couple of camp lads with tight t-shirts lol... but the kids seemed to love it! Plus there's some lovely pools in the grounds.
Have fun!
Elle xx

Hi

We went to the rubicon in 2005 and we loved it then and were looking to go back this year but after reading some recent reviews we are having second thoughts.

One review said that even on all inclusive you have to pay for afternoon snacks?? and another said that they now charge you 50 cents a time to change your pool towels??

I thought that it didnt sound like the rubicon i remembered where there was no limit on anything, can anyone whos stayed there AI lately reassure me!!

Thanks

We are going back to the Rubicon this year. Last year (Aug 07) they didn't charge for snacks but we did pay for the towels to be changed.

We have been looking around and can't beat it all inclusive for price.

The food is outstanding and I have a family of fussy eaters but we did not go hungry for one second! In fact, a few times we have actually said that we miss the food there - it was so good! The rooms are spacious and the hotel is in a very quiet spot.

Hopefully it won't be quite as cloudy as it was last year - but we are looking forward to it.

And - this time we are going to hire the electric bikes!

Thanks for the reply kristell,

We have decided to go back there in june (booked flights yesterday ) despite the reviews - after all there were people back in 05 when we went sending in bad reviews then but we loved it and have been to 3 other all inclusives since the rubicon and we agreed that none of them were a patch on the rubicon and we have been saying for the last 3 years we want to go back there!

I actually emailed them about the snacks situation and they sent a full timetable of what you get where (which i dont think has changed since we went) There are a couple of things we hope they still do though......Do they still have chinese night?? (think it was thursdays) we all thought the chinese food was as good as any we ever had and also do they still have the warm from the oven pain au chocolat, danish pastries etc at breakfast???

Thanks fatcodycat

What did they say about the snacks? Would you be able to pm me a copy of the email?

Yes they did chinese last year and also a pasta night which was a bit manic - very long queues and considering they do pasta every night I couldn't understand it!!!

Breakfast 'pastries' changed regularly - always something yummy! I also loved the cut your own bread with loads of different varieties (at all meal times). The food really was superb last year - we often didn't even feel like eating in the evening because we were still full from breakfast and lunch!

Snacks in the pool bar most of the day - they would make you burgers/hot dogs as and when you wanted them. The lunch in the restaurant (need to cover up over swimming clothes) was excellent and probably better than some hotels 'dinner' buffets! Always hot food chicken, steaks, pasta, chips, salads, puds etc., A nice glass or two of wine or sangria always helps the afternoon nap!

Thanks again kristell

My husband was very keen to know if chinese night was still going

Cant wait to go back in june

fatcodycat

Also - for the ladies - in playa blanca - just at the end of the walk from the Rubicon - before you get to the road - there are a couple of shops at the end - one of them, run by chinese I believe, sells costume jewellery - I bought the most beautiful necklace in there - lots of different colours and goes with everything - it was very reasonable but everytime I wear it I get comments about how stunning it is. There is also another brilliant shop further down in the main strip of shops - no idea what it is called but if you like the old bling - take a few extra ££ with you - you will LOVE (ADORE) it!!

Got another question for you all. IS there laundry facilities at the rubicon or round about the rubicon. I often do a wash and it saves us taking loads of clothes with us.

Not as far as I am aware - the hotel did ours for us because we had a little problem with the AirCon - it leaked all in our wardrobe so they washed all our clothes for us for free!!

so excited now only two months and and three weeks and three days til we go counting it down yippee

Only 7 weeks for us!! cant wait to go back, we last went in 2005 and loved it then so hope it hasnt changed too much

hi can any one tell me if there is any coffee making facilities in your room????
thanks x x x

We're staying half board at the Rubicon in July and I emailed the hotel about upgrading to all inclusive and this is the reply I received. Have just worked out that 12 days AL for us will cost 648€, yet the holiday company wanted double the price of the holiday for us to be AI, If anyone is going ti may be cheaper to do Half Board and upgrade there.

Thank you for your e-mail and for your interest in visiting our H10 Rubicón Palace.

I am pleased to inform you that if you would like to upgrade your half board basis to all inclusive on your arrival the suplement would be 18€ per person and per day, 50% reduction for children. The upgrade must be from the day you would buy it till the end of your stay.

hi can any one tell me if there is any coffee making facilities in your room????

I am fairly sure that the only rooms with tea/coffee making facilties are the club palace rooms but not in standard rooms.

We also looked at booking half board and upgrading when there but it actually worked out more expensive for us to do it that way than booking it AI to start with...But it is always worth checking which way is cheaper

I was a bit stunned at how much cheaper it is for us in high season to book HB and upgrade there. My friend goes 7 weeks before me but as they are out of school holidays they were cheaper on AI. But worth checking for anyone else before booking.

thanks for the reply fatcodycat x

No problem welshoney

We will be there in 3 and a half weeks - Im so excited

I emailed the hotel yesterday and confirmed our rooms have been booked and put our room requests in so will see what we get when we get there

did you book through the hotel?

have you stayed there before?