Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort Lanzarote Canary Islands

arches, domed roofs and a minaretstyle tower dominating the skyline at the beach end of the hotel.

With such a gentle year-round climate in Lanzarote, the emphasis is on bringing the outdoors in.

Many of the bars and restaurants are on terraces around the pool area and the rooms have large balconies.

The communal hallway and staircases in one block are open to the sky, flooding the space with sunlight and birdsong.

All the buildings face the ocean and guests arrive under the impressive glass-fronted, doubleheight vaulted wooden ceiling, reminiscent of Balinese architecture.

They are welcomed with a glass of local Cava on arrival and given an introduction to the hotel by the concierge team.

Beyond the reception there is a pirate feel to the architecture, with wooden walkways suspended over pools teeming with fish.

I am not usually a fan of hotel restaurants (preferring to venture out and explore) but Princesa Yaiza really does have something for all tastes.

There are nine restaurants – five à la carte, three buffets and a snack bar. The themed buffets cover Italian, Mexican and international cuisine and serve a dizzying choice of dishes at breakfast time.

Between the pool and the beach are Don Giovanni, with Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and Tapas, serving Spanish food.

Inside the main hotel, the outstanding Kampai teppanyaki restaurant specialises in Japanese dining. Seating is around three huge square sizzling plates where chefs show off their knife-juggling and

Rooms at the Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort in Lanzarote start from £169 a night, B&B.

SERENE The indoor pool is the ideal place for reflection culinary skills to produce truly delicious dishes such as Iberian pork belly with noodles, seaweed, macerated egg and vegetables. It’s part cooking, part floor show.

The Chiringuito snack bar, next to the main pools, is a lovely spot for lunch or dinner and from its elevated position has stunning views of the beach and ocean.

Last, but by no means least, is my favourite – Isla de Lobos restaurant.

This formal gourmet restaurant with starched white linen tablecloths (men are required to wear long trousers) serves traditional Canarian dishes using local produce and has a stunning selection of wines.

A standout dish was the fish fritter with green mojo – a mixed fresh herb and olive oil sauce which, along with its red alternative made with bell peppers and paprika, originates in the Canary Islands.

Pudding was a delicious and moreish chocolate, sweetcorn and peanut brittle served with salted

SHOWTIME Watch food being prepared for you at Kampai caramel ice cream. We enjoyed breakfast in Isla de Lobos too and it was a highlight of my stay, sitting every morning on the balcony running the full length of the restaurant looking across to the mountains of Lanzarote’s island neighbour, Fuengirola.

Lanzarote is renowned for its national park, Timanfaya, nearly 20 square miles of entirely volcanic soil.

Tours are by coach only, as volcanic activity continues under the surface – as shown by park rangers, who grill meat over a pit and pour water into the ground to create geysers of steam.

Away from the national park, there are water sports galore bookable through the hotel’s excellent guest services department.

I spent a wonderful hour-and-a-half scuba diving at the underwater museum, the Museo Atlantico.

The first of its kind in Europe, it consists of 12 installations and more than 300 life-size human figures, created by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor.

There is also an underwater botanical garden designed to attract octopus, sea urchins and fish.

Fuengirola is also a half-hour ferry ride from Lanzarote, making it an easy return day-trip.