European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The European Health Insurance Card, which is often abbreviated to EHIC, replaced the old E111 Form on 31 December 2005, and entitles British citizens to reduced cost, or sometimes free, medical treatment that becomes necessary while you’re in a European Economic Area country or Switzerland.

The EHIC is normally valid for three to five years and covers any medical treatment that becomes necessary during your trip, because of either illness or an accident. The card gives access to state-provided medical treatment only, and you'll be treated on the same basis as an 'insured' person living in the country you're visiting. Remember, this might not cover all the things you'd expect to get free of charge from the NHS in the UK and you may have to make a contribution to the cost of your care.

Although the EHIC also covers any treatment you need for a chronic disease or pre-existing illness, it won't however cover you if getting medical treatment is the main purpose of your trip.

If prior to 31 December 2005 you ticked the relevant box on the E111 application form, an EHIC would have been automatically sent to you during January 2006, however, for new applications they are also available from the Department of Health web site, by calling the EHIC Applications Line on 0845 606 2030, or alternatively by completing an EHIC application pack from any local Post Office branch.

Food
Restaurants in Lanzarote cater for a wide range of tastes. In the larger resorts you can get anything from a traditional English breakfast to a Chinese take away. For those visitors on self catering breaks, all resorts have a number of Spar type supermarkets, which, in recognition of the high number of British visitors, stock readily recognisable UK branded goods, although in many cases the prices charged may be considerably higher than those you would expect to pay at home. The underlying principle of consumer choice was once explained by a local shopkeeper as, "if you don't like the price, you don't have to buy", however, the stark reality is unless you are prepared to travel out of the resort "you do have to buy", which of course the local shopkeepers are only too aware of.

Getting Married in Lanzarote
Getting married in Lanzarote can be extremely complicated. In very simple terms, if one of the partners has lived legally in either Lanzarote or Spain for at least two years, then the civil marriage can be carried out at the local town hall, followed by a religious ceremony in church or other approved location.

However, if neither of the partners fulfill the above residence requirements, then the civil marriage will have to take place in their country of residency, followed by a religious ceremony in church. In practical terms for UK citizens, this usually means a civil marriage taking place in the local registry office in the UK, which can then be followed by the religious ceremony on Lanzarote.

Golf
Costa Teguise currently has the only golf course on the island, which is actually built at the base of a now long extinct volcano. The course was first opened to the public during 1978 to a challenging design by John Harris. Contact details for more information are:
Golf de Costa Teguise
Avda. del Golf, s/n
35509
Costa Teguise
Lanzarote
Telephone: +34 928 590 512
Fax : +34 928 592 337
Web site: www.lanzarote-golf.com

Language
Quite often we are asked "will I need to be able to speak Spanish?". Well the simple answer is no. All the bar, restaurant and shop owners can speak English and German, however, just notice how the few people who do make an attempt to speak Spanish, no matter how badly, get treated better than the 99% of those who don't. Even the use of common everyday courtesies such as "hello", "how are you", "please" and "thank you" will certainly pay dividends.

Lookie Lookie Men
Many of the popular resorts do have quite a large number of illegal street traders selling "genuine" designer watches and T shirts. Do not start to barter with them unless you have a genuine desire to buy. A firm but polite "no" will not offend.

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