THE SHERATON BEACH, GOLF & SPA RESORT, FUERTEVENTURA, CANARY ISLANDS.

Above: the Sheraton resort at dusk. To  view our photo gallery click here

Perfect for:

• Family Vacations: This is a parents' delight with a range of activities for youngsters, including an enclosed and supervised Kids' Club with daily organised activities, games areas, their own pool and evening entertainment. The beach is a minute's walk; there are four swimming pools (two heated); there are tennis courts, a mini golf course and mini football, basketball; various water sports, two nearby golf courses, plus sumptuously furnished lodgings and a choice of dining options. The main restaurant is a youngster's dream, offering s self-service buffet with multiple choices of dishes of all types.

• Romantic Breaks: Superb but non-intrusive service with a relaxed atmosphere; various activities for couples; romantic dining; serene accommodations with balconies giving sea views and a world-class spa like no other..

The island of Fuerteventura is doubly blessed. It enjoys what must be the world's most idyllic climate and also boasts one of the world's great resorts. Here, the year-round temperature seldom varies by more than five degrees C, between 24 and 28C during the day and in the range 10 to about 20C at night, depending upon season.

Add the sumptuous Sheraton resort and, whatever your interest or grouping, you have the perfect venue for a holiday at any time of year. With all-encompassing facilities and amenities, it is ideal for families during school holidays and for year-round golfing holidays, particularly for couples. More, this is a perfect venue for a short-haul Christmas or Easter family break although golfers and couples may find non-holiday periods more agreeable. Golf packages are available via the hotel.

LOCATION Situated in the locality known as Caleta de Fuste, the Sheraton resort is in a gated estate close to two golf courses, alongside the beach and eight kilometres from the airport. The resort is within walking distance of a retail development which has a shopping mall, boutiques and a cinema. One of the cluster of Canary Islands, Fuerteventura, which has a coastline of some 120 miles and a population circa 100,000, is on a similar latitude to southern Morocco, which is roughly 120 kilometres to the east, and is about four hours' flying time from most European countries.

ABOUT THE GOLF

The island has five golf courses of disparate standards but the principal ones are the two close to the Sheraton resort and another a short drive to the south, which is also included in the resort's golf packages.

This latter is the new 18 hole Playitas course, designed by the Scottish golf course architect John Chilver Stainer whose philosophy was to create a fair but challenging course to appeal to all levels of golfer. The lay-out has been shaped utilising the natural changes of elevation and there are sea views from most holes. Many tees are elevated and several greens are of the pulpit style and undulating; all are of bent grass and fast-running. The course has four ponds and a network of waterways which are in play on all but five holes, so a good tip is to take plenty of ammunition! By modern standards the course is short at 5,306 yards (4,824 metres) to par 67, with eight par threes for added spice. It's an idyllic holiday course, enjoyable and good fun for the average golfer.

The major course hereabouts is that of the Salinas Golf Club, a five minute taxi ride from the hotel. Designed as a resort course by former Spanish Ryder Cupper Manuel Pinero this too is huge fun but rather more physically demanding at a touch below 6,000 yards (5,395 metres) to par of 70.

It will appear longer than this, though: it's an expansive site with mountains on one horizon and the sea on the other and it is a big course in every sense: wide fairways, large greens, several lakes that must be carried and huge bunkers, most an acre or more in size and some double that!

The course is links-style, with wide, fast-running fairways edged by short Bermuda rough. There are several large areas of what our US chums call waste areas, huge natural bunkers but in this case comprised of black volcanic ash. Find one and the ball will be easily found and sit up and will generally be playable. The bunkers are eye-openers. Off the tee they are strategic, beacons indicating the route of play; around the greens they can be penal, often calling for a lay-up, so big are they (see our photograph of those guarding the 18th green).

The greens are of varying configuration and shape but all are expansive and have movement and roll, some of it extreme, that could perplex the lesser player. Good putters will rejoice although on our visit we found the greens over-watered and somewhat woolly, resulting in deep pitch marks and a slow pace that detracted from the experience of an enjoyable course that is both welcoming and scenic. There is a choice of tees to suit ability; a good practice range with inexpensive balls; good quality rental clubs, trolleys and carts are available, and there are agreeable clubhouse facilities.

The course at the Fuerteventura Golf Club may best be described as rustic and of simplistic design. The card reads 5,615 yards (5,105 metres) par 70 and, the final two holes aside, the terrain is flat and with little foliage.

As at Salinas, water abounds in the shape of four lakes and a network of streams, much of which comes into play on most holes. The fairways are edged by Bermuda rough and many bunkers appear as natural sandy wastes. The greens are of good quality but here too they were over-watered and soft: plug marks were common and the putting surfaces woolly. In terms of design, the best holes were among the five par threes, which had water in play, and the dog-legged par four 16th.

Opened in 2002, the course was laid-out and is owned by the Spanish development company that built the nearby Sheraton Hotel and while it falls somewhat short in terms of quality it is nonetheless an interesting facility suitable for those on holiday. It was popular with couples staying at the Sheraton resort and other nearby hotels and, with two neighbouring courses, completes an attractive package for holiday golf in an idyllic climate. Here too, good quality rental clubs, trolleys and carts are available, and there are agreeable clubhouse facilities. Club hire costs 32 Euros per round; trolleys three Euros.

NON-GOLFING ACTIVITIES

The beach and resort facilities aside, the locality has limited attractions although day trips to other parts of the island are available via an agent in the neighbouring shopping mall and there's a ferry service to the nearby island of Lanzarotte. There are some pleasant walks, particularly to the north where an area of eye-catching sand dunes is an attraction.

Most Sheraton guests appear content with the various facilities to be found on the estate: the world-class spa, the tennis courts, basketball, mini golf, the four swimming pools and the beach. This is a place for simple pleasures, of doing not very much at all except soaking up the sun on the beach or beside the pool with a break for lunch and drinks at the adjacent La Veranda Bistro.

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

Youngsters of all ages will want for nothing while staying here: their days will be filled from dawn to dusk and beyond, and the following day they'll want to do it all again! For the little ones the Yambaland Kids' Club has a fenced playground plus a clubhouse for activities and games supervised by qualified staff. Older pre-teen youngsters will enjoy organised sports such as tennis, mini football, basketball and water sports and pre-dinner entertainment is on offer in the hotel most evenings. In between times, the children's pool keeps everyone occupied and happy!

WHERE TO STAY

No contest. The resort's hotel, which opened in 2006 and still sparkles, is luxurious, comfortable, well-staffed and beautifully run. It has 266 de luxe rooms, 46 junior suites and several executive-style suites. All are sumptuously appointed; all have balconies or terraces, most with sea views.

DINING OPTIONS

The principal restaurant is Los Arcos which offers self-service buffet catering for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The expansive menu is Canarian-Mediterranean in style, and there are dishes of high quality to suit every taste. The main room is popular with families and an open air terrace offers a romantic setting for couples and small groups of friends. Like the cuisine, the service is impeccable and there is an interesting selection of wine at reasonable prices.

For pool loungers who don't wish to shower and change for lunch indoors La Veranda is a bistro-style eatery that offers light meals and drinks in a pleasant setting overlooking the pools. It also has a bar with the usual beverages to take away from 1100 to about 1800, when it closes.

For special occasions or intimate dining there are two options for those seeking privacy and a change of style from Los Arcos: the El Faro is an elegant grill restaurant offering an imaginative menu of meat and fish dishes in a romantic setting adjacent to the main hotel. It also has a separate dining area al fresco overlooking a stream that runs through the resort from a huge rock waterfall. By candle light it is enchanting. The restaurant is open between the hours of 1900 and 2230 and reservations, via hotel reception, are advisable.

The second option, to be found next door to El Faro, is Wok Zen which offers a choice of Asian cuisine of the highest quality in an Oriental ambience of elegance and style. This has hours similar to El Faro and, like its neighbour, reservations are advisable and, in keeping with the intimate setting, suggested dress is more formal. Both restaurants are highly recommended and for each there is a 50 per cent reduction in tariff for those guests on the full board plan. It should be noted that all such purchases on the resort may be signed for pending check-out.

WHEN TO GO

An easy decision: when it suits your convenience. The climate is so consistent that the only variation is winter when the evenings are slightly cooler. Any time is prefect for golf and the other sports and pastimes available although couples may prefer to avoid those periods associated with school holidays. But even this is not vital: being five star the resort appears to attract families whose children are generally well-behaved. From personal experience a Christmas break would be delightful although predictably rates are lower off-peak.

TIPS TO ENHANCE YOUR HOLIDAY

Getting There

Fuerteventura has only one airport and from it the resort is ten minutes away by taxi which will cost about 12 Euros. Airlines from most European countries connect to it and thus the holiday guests are a cosmopolitan mixture.

Packing Tips & Dress Code

Informal dress is acceptable here, although gentlemen should wear long trousers for dining. The question of a jacket and tie depends upon personal choice but we recommend that you pack at least one of each. The ladies' style is slacks, skirts, blouses and dresses. Dress codes for golf mean shirts must have collars and sleeves. Shorts must be knee-length and jeans and cut-offs are frowned upon.

Currency

Fuerteventura is Spanish so thus is part of the Euro zone, which means the Euro is the currency required for shopping, taxis, green fees and tipping. Your major hotel account may be settled by credit card.

Language Spoken

The staff are mostly Spanish, all speak good English and most senior members are multi-lingual.

Time Zone

Western European Time (WET) currently UTC/GMT +0:00 hours. Daylight saving will be effective from Sunday 25 March 2012 when UTC/GMT +1:00 hours

Dialing Codes

Fuerteventura's code is 34-928. Add 495-100 for the hotel.

For reservations and details of packages available please visit the resort website at www.sheraton.com/fuerteventura

Other Local Insider Information

Most hotels and restaurants add a service charge to the bill but not this one. As a result, tip discreetly at the end of your holiday if you wish to give a reward for exceptional service.

NB: the staff are inter-changeable around the various resort outlets so you may see your favourite barman/waiter working at more than one place.

* For independent reviews by guests click here

* To find flights to Fuerteventura click here