There are loads of different holiday ideas for anyone planning a trip to the island of Lanzarote.   As this small Spanish rock in the Atlantic boasts a plethora of places to stay.  Along with wonderful weather and beautiful beaches.

The island has been a fixture in the brochures of the main holiday companies for decades.  And for a while became synonymous with some of the worst aspects of package tourism – thanks largely to the efforts of Monty Python’s Michael Palin, who once dubbed the island Lanza-grotty.  But in fairness this couldn’t be further from the truth – as Lanzarote remains much less touched by tourism than larger Canary Islands such as Tenerife. And is increasingly attracting a more middle class type of guest as a result.

Whilst Lanzarote certainly offers relatively cheap sunshine all year round and a host of great beaches it is also a surprisingly cultured spot.  Best epitomised by the main tourist attractions, which were all designed by an artist called César Manrique and which are a refreshing antidote to the water parks and golf courses offered in most other Spanish sunspots.

Manrique was born on the island in 1919 and dedicated much of his life to preserving Lanzarote´s incredible volcanic terrain.  Which was created by eruptions in the 18^th century.  He proved very successful in his campaign too – securing a ban on all high rise buildings and helping Lanzarote to earn UNESCO protected biosphere status in 1994.

So as a result visitors today can enjoy a holiday island that remains quite unspoiled – and which boasts some great accommodation.  With thousands of apartments and villas in Lanzarote to choose from, along with over 200 hotels.

One of the best places to stay on the island for those who like to be close to the action is Puerto del Carmen.  As this is the main resort and boasts plenty of nightlife.  There aren’t many hotels here but that is made up for by a decent range of villas in Puerto del Carmen which are available for rent by tourists.  Along with plenty of good value apartment complexes.

Puerto del Carmen is also very centrally located, making it a great base for exploring the island.  Visit one of the many Lanzarote car hire offices in the resort and get out to see sights such as the volcanic region, the green lagoon at El Golfo and the Valley of 1000 Palms.  You´ll never think of Lanzarote as grotty again!

Taking your team clay pigeon shooting, paintballing or quad biking is all well and good, but chances are they have been there, done that and got the t-shirt. What you really need to try if you want to inspire and motivate, is something fresh and new. An activity that will fire up their imagination and get them all excited about their next team building day. Here are just a few events and activities which are that little bit different that you may want to consider.

Where better to start than sheep dog handling with ducks. Yes, that’s right, sheep dog handling with ducks. Now, this has to be a million miles away from clay pigeon shooting. Available from Garlands Leisure in Warwickshire, as well as other places around the country, this is a rather strange version of one man and his dog, as the sheep are replaced by ducks.  Apparently to master this strange sport, you need a combination of skill, communication, team work and a sense of humour.

First for fun, has to be Alton Towers Resort which is famous as the UK’s largest theme park with groundbreaking rollercoasters and rides.  What you may not be aware of, is that it is also an award winning Midlands conference venue which offers an amazing range of unique team building activities. For example there is the new and improved Alton Towers Challenge. Here teams get to try the park’s rides and attraction while taking part in challenges to earn points and prizes. There is also the Extraordinary Golf tournament which are ideal for seasoned golfers and complete novices alike. Just grab a club and enjoy fun-packed golf based around the park’s signature rides and attractions.  On the other hand, you may prefer water based team building at Alton Towers Caribbean Water Park.

Last, and by no means least is hovercraft racing. Run by Wildcat Hovercraft in Berkshire, these racing machines don’t actually have any brakes. Instead you race around a 1KM circuit using a sense of balance to win. Although, a steady nerve is probably advantageous, as well as a little luck of course. A day’s jetting along in a one-person hovercraft is sure to be a teambuilding day that will have everyone talking.