Confirming its appeal to people of all countries, Lanzarote has been voted Best Sun Destination by the Irish Travel Trade, the leading magazine for the travel industry in Ireland. It’s a pretty impressive accolade when you consider that Lanzarote beat off hot spots from all over the globe, the award was voted for by travel agency staff who deal with eager holiday makers every day, and they are very demanding when it comes to value for money.

The award is no surprise to Sands Beach Hotel Resort in Costa Teguise, they attract many families from Ireland who make repeat visits to enjoy the beachfront setting and the wonderful weather. Air links to Ireland have never been better with major airlines like Aer Lingus and Ryanair battling it out to offer the best possible deals.

The award was made to Carmen Gonzalez of Lanzarote tourism by John Barry of the Irish Travel Trade . The spring and summer seasons promise to be busy for Lanzarote but their beaches are geared up and ready to welcome a wave of visitors from a vast range of countries.

Prepare to see cycling as you have never seen it before over two days of fun and action in the Vuelta Playa Blanca on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February. Handcycling is a novel way of riding and this event is very much a family spectacle in the popular resort of Playa Blanca at the southern tip of Lanzarote.

On Saturday there is a recreation and promotional ride starting at 11 am (gather at 10.30) from the Hotel H10 Timanfaya Palace to Puerto Marina Rubicon where refreshments will be ready to greet everyone. All ages are welcome on this first ride but under 13′s should be accompanied by an adult, and 13 to 16 year olds are welcome on their own but must have parental consent. Then on Sunday the main event takes place over a longer route.

The Sunday build up will start at 11.15am from Hotel H10 Timanfaya Palace, arriving in the city centre for 11.30, then at noon the Vuelta Playa Blanca gets under way, finishing at 1.10 pm. Local police will ensure the route is cleared and safe and a support van will also follow to make sure there are no unexpected problems. After the last riders arrive, there’s a chance to grab some food and drink before the prize giving at 1.45 pm.

Registration for the big race is free but competitors are encouraged to pay three euros to the charitable association TriWWW . In return for this donation there is entry into a draw with prizes of T shirts, safety clothing and meals at a la carte restaurant. The draw will be made at 1.30 pm after the race. It’s going to be a great weekend so make sure you add it to your diary.

It’s not easy living with an historic icon but in Icod de Los Vinos the many other attractions could never be upstaged by the famous Drago tree. Everyone cranes their necks for a first view of the knarled centrepiece as the roads twist and turn up into the heart of Icod but the tower of San Marcos Evangelista church and the stacked wooden balconies soon make their own claims.

The pedestrianised Calle San Agustin snakes through the centre of the old quarter of town packed with shops and tempting cafes. During the festive season carols gently serenaded shoppers from speakers at key points. The Ayuntamiento (council) town hall at the end junction of the street is an imposing building reached by flanks of stone steps and lined with majestic statues. Another tight road to the left leads down to the Plaza Andres de Lorenzo Caceres that overlooks the Drago tree in its walled garden next to its own museum. It may feature on many Tenerife

The café at the plaza is a popular base point as photos are taken and the old white church explored. Views down to the coast at San Marcos and round to Garachico may be interrupted by the bright flicker of butterflies from the Mariposario butterfly house below with its large range of brilliant flying creatures. Around the other side of the plaza the Drago tree sits nicely against the rising terraced greenery of the hills beyond.

Taking a path around the Drago museum the old mill is worth a visit and a smaller less famous tree has its own fan club. The Casa de Los Caceres is a fine example of a traditional two floored house and doubles as a museum, one of the lesser known attractions, there are many around every corner.

Golf and Tenerife are perfect partners at any time of year, the Tenerife Golf Association have put together a great package to prove that point to players eager to sample the island’s courses. From 21^st to 28^th April players can enjoy the Tenerife Golf Trophy  with a  round of golf at three different courses, a weeks accommodation in a top hotel, plus transfers and a gala dinner. The promotion was tried out last year and proved a great success, now another batch of golfers can find out just why Tenerife golf is always in season at any time of year. Tenerife courses and hotels are experts in providing everything that is needed to make an enjoyable sporting break, this years Tenerife Golf Trophy promotion even includes a special package for non golfing guests who want to experience the many other attractions that Tenerife has to offer. The April week is well organised to maximise the time spent in Tenerife and accommodation can be chosen from Sheraton la Caleta, Iberostar Anthelia, Sandos San Blas, Spring Arona Gran Hotel, Hotel Jardin Tropical, and Coral Hotels.

•  Saturday. 21st – Arrive in Tenerife
• Sunday. 22^nd – Free day with a golf option
• Monday 23^rd – First round, at Golf Las Americas
• Tuesday. 24^th – Free day with a golf option
• Wednesday 25^th – Second round, at Golf Costa Adeje
• Thursday. 26^th – Free day with golf option
• Friday 27^th – Third round, at Abama Golf, followed by gala dinner and presentation of trophies.
• Saturday 28^th – Leave Tenerife.

For full details go to the Tenerife Golf Association website or phone (0034) 922753613. See you soon.

The new year starts in a flurry of sporting action in Lanzarote as the 37^th annual International Handball Tournament pitches three top nations mens teams against each other in a three day event.

It’s taken a lot of hard work and collaboration between the Lanzarote Cabildo, Lanzarote Tourism, and private sponsors to bring this exciting contest to the capital Arrecife between 6^th and 8^th January. Sands Beach Resort in nearby Costa Teguise have a good track record of backing top sporting events and are instrumental in staging this event.

Argentina, Spain, and Tunisia will be in action daily from 1pm at the Arrecife Palicio de los Deportes, and amazingly this international showdown is free to watch. Television viewers may have seen glimpses of this fast, tough sport but nothing is as good as seeing it live and especially with three of the top nations in the world. The action starts on Friday 6^th January with Spain v Argentina, continues the next day with Argentina v Tunisia, and concludes in the 8^th January with Spain v Tunisia.

It’s another boost for Canary Islands sport and Lanzarote in particular, pop along and enjoy the action.

With so many visitors arriving by cruise ship via ocean tourism the Canary Islands offers a multitude of tax friendly onshore investment facilities.

Tax haven attacks

Switzerland and many small Caribbean islands have been forced, gently, to open up their bank account information to the largest of countries in recent years. A declaration of assets has been the initial favour asked of these countries, before real pressure is exerted for information to be released.

The problem with tax havens is the strict policy of refusing to declare information concerning these accounts but this advantage is dwindling fast. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is arguing with private bank account owners that they should declare the information held. The UK’s HM Revenue & Customs now offers the Offshore Coordination Unit (OCU) to seek and declare account details.

The argument is clear. Money held in foreign bank accounts that is not declared to the host country is depriving the taxpayer’s home nation of taxation due. It is with this in mind that the larger nations have been seeking to gain more tax during these years of recession.

As those who held money offshore in the Isle of Man showed, an entire country’s banking system gave in to the pull of European laws when the UK demanded that all bank account details were declared. To be fair, the British government suggested that those declaring their hidden money would escape fines, but those that waited too long found the money was taxed after the bank account information was passed over to the UK tax authorities with substantial fines to follow.

Which tax haven will break next?

No-one knows which tax haven will buckle next, but it might make sense to deal with the issue sooner, rather than later.

With 6,000 Swiss accounts currently under investigation, you have to decide whether you just sit tight and hope to avoid the tax office chasing your funds, or choose to place your funds in a tax haven, onshore. Where better than the Canary Islands?

The Canary Islands benefit from double taxation rules which means you only pay tax in one of the two countries where you hold the money or where you live. If you pay tax on your money in one, you’ll be able to claim a credit of that amount in the other. The Canary Islands are part of Spanish territory under EU rules and share double taxation agreements with many countries.

Good taxation options

One good reason to be taxed in the Canary Islands is the rate of Corporation Tax, set at 4%. To be able to claim this rate, the company must employ five people on the islands and invest at least €100,000 within two years of registering the business on the islands.

For businesses that do not have to be located in any particular country, such as internet businesses, this is an ideal opportunity especially as salaries in the Canaries are often lower than major EU countries. The local government is also offering help for employers to try to reduce the recession hit unemployment levels.

The IGIC (Impuestos General de las Islas Canarias) tax rate of just 5% applies to business conducted on the islands. There is no VAT. If you are billing someone or a business offshore, then the 5% rate doesn’t apply.

It might be to an individual’s advantage to look at Spain’s income tax rules. People who emigrate to Spain (including the islands) and live there for ten years can pay a 24% flat rate of taxation under the rules of the special expat tax scheme.

The EU considers the Canary Islands a special situation and has agreed with the tax advantages of being based in the island’s tax system. The EU suggests that the island requires some special favours since the location is remote and the size quite small.

The Canary Islands provide some good tax incentives for the fiscally challenged. The days of the tax havens being offshore look to be ending rapidly. It could be a good time to re-arrange individual and company taxation to gain the advantages offered by the Canary Islands.

New Year can seem a little flat after all the celebrations so what better way to kick start 2012 than with a weeks holiday at the four star Hotel Las Aguilas just outside Puerto de la Cruz. Tenerife Magazine‘s latest holiday competition offers the chance to win a weeks half board stay for two people in this luxurious hotel with its fabulous views and easy access to the La Orotava valley with its traditional villages and bracing walks.

It’s comfort all the way at Hotel Las Aguilas from the two swimming pools to the new massage and beauty centre, three tennis courts and three padel courts, there is even a mini club for the children to enjoy their own sporting fun. Feeling hungry? Your can explore the fine food options of the Buffet Amaltea Restaurant, the Snack Bar Restaurant, or the Vulcano Show Bar with its great cocktails and shows. All this is set in 10,000 square metres of gardens and you can even use the free shuttle bus service down to the shops and beaches of Puerto de la Cruz.

All you have to do to enter the competition is answer an easy question at the Tenerife Magazine home page to get your name into the 31 January draw. Good luck.

Some 650 runners flocked from around the world to compete in the Lanzarote International Marathon over the weekend of 2nd to 4th of December in Costa Teguise and at least another 2,000 roared them on in races for different levels of ability. Sands Beach Resort is always at the heart of sporting events in their community but even they were wowed by the enthusiasm generated by the races.

The main event was the 42,195 km run on Sunday which pulled in 100 of the best runners in the sport. Pilar Mahumud won the women’s race in 3hrs 14 minutes and 30 seconds, and all after jetting in from the New York marathon, Marcos Diehl of Germany was the fastest man with 2.37.40. Everyone had their own targets to beat in the half marathon, quarter distance, and wheelchair event. Athletes came from as far as Norway, France, and Denmark but there was no shortage of local runners keen to make their mark.

The full run down of results can be found at Active Lanzarote along with details of the other big sporting challenges that the island has to offer. Guests at Sands Beach Resort are used to seeing sporting stars at their beachfront resort and the staff encourage visitors to try some of the many forms of exercise they have on offer.

This celebration of life and hope always appeals across the board attracting men, women, locals, ex pat settlers, and a good sprinkling of holiday makers. Arona and Adeje police combined to ensure a clear route along Avenida Rafael Puig, up into San Eugenio and then down into Fañabe. This longer more populated part of the Tenerife tourist zone responded with enthusiasm to the pink parade and the samba drums of Sueños del Sur led the way with a constant beat.

Walk For Life is very much about encouraging early diagnosis and highlighting the increasing rate of successful treatment, most of the walkers had first hand or family experience of breast cancer and wore the names of departed friends with pride. The elongated conga of walkers was a clear indication of the increased number of people happy to give up their Sunday morning to show their allegiance.

Two charities will benefit directly from the money raised, 15,000 euros at first count, AECC and Amate both play a very active part in Tenerife as well as helping the wider fight against cancer. The finale of the walk was at Playa Fañabe, another busy focal point that attracted lots more interest. After the walkers had taken a well earned rest a group of 27 swimmers from Tenerife Masters swimming club arrived through the waves from their Puerto  Colon start point. All those involved should be proud of their efforts, it was not just a great fund raising success but also a bright and popular event that just keeps on growing.

No Queens speech, no sprouts, and no snooze in the chair but the true spirit of Christmas will be found in the mid Atlantic this year as 17 crews row the 2,900 miles from La Gomera to Barbados.

The 46 rowers in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge leave San Sebastian on 4^th December but will mark the 25^th in various ways. Andrew Brown (below) a lone rower, has a cold Christmas pudding stashed in his boat Row The Atlantic, five feet shorter than the standard seven metres long and two wide. Tucked in the coffin under his seat he will catch three hour sleeps between rows of the same span spurred on by his fund raising targets for Help A Capital Child and Toy Trust.

Cardiff firemen John Haskell and Jamie Windsor (above) in Atlantic Dash will open Christmas letters from family and friends, part of a selection that includes low point  letters. Their old wooden boat (the others are fibre glass and carbon fibre) has done the crossing twice before but has had a complete refit. Their minds and muscles will be focussed by three causes, the Firefighters, Help The Heroes, and Breast Cancer Care.

Husband and wife Richard and Helena Smalman-Smith in Tiger have a hoard of chocolate bars, each donated with a sticky label message of support. There’s also some brandy butter on board, and to keep teacher Richards mind sharp his pupils have sent a supply of maths teasers. They became the talk of the neighbourhood with the distinctive boat parked in their drive but they all rallied round to boost their sponsorship for St Mungos centre for the homeless, and Huntingdons Disease.

Some presents are more vital than others, Nick Moore and Toby Iles (above)  on Shelterbox are helping to finance basic survival packages for displaced people around the world. Their gift will give all year, the big attraction for the experienced sailors was to see the money raised turned into a physical and practical help. Party hats have been tucked in the sleek and uncluttered boat for Christmas day but Toby will be hoping to celebrate his late January birthday past the finish line in Barbados.

The race is just a start for Epoch, Sonya Baumstein has three men for company (above) Oliver Lefick and John and Chris Crane. The Americans are backing their adult nature expeditions as a learning experience and are following the row with a 10,000 mile cycle ride from the top of Mexico to Alaska, a 4,500 mile kayak journey on to Washington and finally 2,000 miles hiking back to Mexico, all to be done in 400 days.

H2Row is going for the pairs crossing record of 41 days to boost Cancer Research UK, John Higson and Barney Mabbs admit they will miss green grass and proper showers but it will all be worth it. Think of them opening their advent calendar and enjoying a time out with home made Christmas cake, a welcome change from the mountains of dried food (below) being loaded into all the boats.

Small celebrations and thoughts of home aside the 25 December will be just another hard rowing day for the valiant crews. From Tommy Tippets in Solo Atlantic Row to James Cash and Bertie Portal in Facing the Atlantic (top pic) and all the other equally dedicated crews it’s about challenging nature and their own inner strengths. A notice on the marina gate said 1,200,000 pounds raised and counting, click on the links to the various web sites to add your sponsorship. We salute you all, safe journey and calm seas.