With tax-free prices on many consumer goods, Lanzarote is an ideal place for a spot of shopping. Combine that with leading stores such as Zara and Mango and its easy to see why the Biosfera shopping centre is so popular with tourists and residents alike.
Shop till you drop
Since its inception five years ago, the Biosfera shopping centre in Puerto del Carmen has gone from strength to strength. Covering three floors, it successfully combines a great range of clothes shops with restaurants and bars.
It is also one of the only places on the island which is open every day of the week for the dedicated bargain hunter, with opening hours of 11.00 – 21.00 on Sundays. Weekday opening, from Monday to Saturday, is between 10.00 and 22.00. This shopper’s paradise can be found just up the hill from the old town in Puerto del Carmen, bridging the old and new parts of this resort.
Naturally there are branches of the Spanish fashion house, Zara, for men, women and children. The women’s store covers the largest floor space and has stock arriving on a regular basis to refresh their shelves. Mango also has a store, as do Levi’s and the trainer emporium, Foot Locker. Other Spanish clothing stores such as Pull and Bear are good for surf wear, with items from brands such as Sick-o-19. Bershka is another clothes shop which caters for teenagers of both sexes, with affordable street wear.
Something for everyone
Jack Jones is specifically for the boys and is usually stocked with the season’s essentials, including full length coats in winter, which may seem over the top but can come in handy for the odd bad weather day. Timberland likewise have a store, stocking not just their famous boots, but plenty of denim wear, t-shirts, etc. And for an island where beaches are an integral part of everyday culture, there has to be a Ripcurl shop, stocking both Bermudas and bikinis.
There are also a couple of good lingerie shops – Oysho is a particular hit with young women, as they carry a wide range of reasonably priced up to the minute styles. And Bijou Brigitte stocks lots of pretty things for the fairer sex. Parah stocks not only lingerie but a wide variety of Italian swimwear, sarongs, sandals and other paraphernalia for the beach.
There are also concessions for companies such as Vodafone and the Sunglass Hut. Informatica, the Lanzarote based stationery suppliers have an outlet, where shoppers can top up their Spanish mobiles and get computer accessories. Luna records have a presence, so for music-lovers looking to catch up with Spanish sounds, this is the place to be.
Present Ideas
Various stores provide a good range of gift shopping as well. Swarovski crystals could have the perfect present for someone back home. Or try the Aloe Vera Shop, for the health conscious, where numerous body lotions and extracts of this incredible plant can be found. There are two perfume shops, where a favourite scent or aftershave can be found at tax-free prices, along with leading brands of make-up, such as Chanel and Clinique, also tax-free. On the ground floor is Natura, which is full of natural cotton and linen wear, funky candle-holders and lanterns all of which can make ideal vacation presents.
For those visitors who get bored while their partners are shopping, apart from the cafés and bars, there is also a ticket office for Aquaticket, where excursions for the remaining days of the holiday can be booked. You can arrange a rent-a-car at the same time, at the Hertz unit on the upper floor. And for the really practical minded, there is a branch of the Marcial supermarket on the top floor, so food shopping can be taken care of at the same time.
Almost every taste is catered for with cafés, restaurants and bars on all three floors. Häagen-Dazs ice-creams have an outlet for those looking to cool down, whilst the café on the lowest level offers a full range of coffees, teas and snacks.
With free parking in the basement car park, lifts and escalators it is the ideal place for those with restricted mobility or for shoppers with lots of bags to carry.
