There are lots of things to do in Playa del Blanca, not least of which is sunning yourself on one of the picturesque beaches. Holidaymakers wanting to enjoy watersports in Playa Blanca should head to the beach where activities can be organised by the beachfront and boat trips leave regularly for the Papagayo beaches - the views of the beautiful coastline are stunning and boats can drop visitors off at the beach to be picked up by a later cruise. The Timanfaya National Park is only ten miles (16km) away where visitors can admire the dramatic volcanic scenery and even ride a camel. Ferries depart regularly from the harbour to the nearby island of Fuerteventura, just six miles (10km) away.

Spanish is the official language, but English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.

Spain's official currency is the Euro (EUR). One Euro is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.

Whilst water is safe for cleaning teeth and washing food, it is very high in mineral content and can cause bad stomachs. Bottled water should be used for drinking. There is a lot of development going on all over Playa Blanca, check if there is a building site outside your accommodation before booking. The resort is particularly popular with Germans; much of the entertainment is geared for them and they get up early in the morning to reserve the sun beds!

Most holiday resorts are known for their nightlife, but the nightlife in Playa Blanca is fairly limited, the entertainment is restricted to the shows organised by the hotels. There is a kids disco but those after something hardcore will need to head to Costa Teguise or Puerto del Carmen, half an hour away by car.

La Bocaina and Casa Pedro top the list of highly recommended restaurants in Playa Blanca. While La Cocina de Colacho, El Horno de la Aguela and Romantica all garner rave reviews from tourists and locals alike. There's a huge choice of eateries on the main promenade, which at night bustles with activity. The promenade overlooks the beach and harbour and the lights of Fuerteventura can be seen on the horizon. Restaurants serve anything from Chinese, Indian or Italian to seafood and local dishes. Some restaurants will not accept credit cards.

There are good supermarkets in Playa Blanca that sell all the well-known brands and holidaymakers will find that although the choice is not as good as in Puerto del Carmen, there are a fair number of electrical duty-free stores and other shops geared at tourists near the harbour. For couture shopping most tourists in Playa Blanca head to the stylish Marina Rubicon. It is possible to get good bargains in the electrical duty-free stores, but shoppers should remember that they can't take purchases back to the shop once they've left the island. They should check everything works and that all batteries, cables and plugs are included; that there is a European guarantee, not an Asian one; and that all electrical items have a CE stamp. The busy Sunday Market in Teguise is worth the journey for the most dedicated shoppers; as well as the usual tourist souvenirs and holiday gifts, a variety of locally produced goods are on sale, from pottery to tablecloths.

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). The Canary Islands: GMT (GMT +1 in summer).