I’M sitting in the hot sun, sipping on a refreshing piña colada, watching the kids happily splashing in the palm-strewn pool.

Like millions of Brits, I’ve desperately missed foreign summer holidays. Although some restrictions have lifted and it’s now okay to jet off to many popular short-haul holiday destinations, the question remains - just how practical and safe is it to go abroad?

During the current window of travel opportunity, my wife Rachel and I, along with our two daughters Isla and Evelyn, recently packed our bags for a week in the Spanish sun.

Our destination was Lanzarote, a long-time mecca for Brits targeting guaranteed sunshine, cheap prices, spectacular scenery and top-notch accommodation.

Before we set off, we had a few things - additional to the usual packing, currency exchange, travel insurance and airport parking - to sort out. Yes, those pesky Covid tests and unnecessarily long passenger locator forms which are causing so much confusion and anger among UK travellers. Although it all sounds a bit daunting and complicated, thankfully, help was on hand from Jet2, whose website features a handy ‘Travel Requirements’ section.

Once we’d landed in Arrecife, it was just a short €10 taxi ride to what would be our home for the next few days - Seaside’s Los Jameos Playa resort. An elegant collection of charming Spanish haciendas surrounding a palm tree-laden pool complex, the 530-room resort is perfect for families and couples.

An extensive refurbishment has taken place under award-winning London design agency Muza Lab, and the results are astounding. Following a welcome glass of Cava in the spectacular timber-beamed foyer, we checked into our family room. Extremely clean and comfortable, it was a haven from the Canaries heat. We sank into the king-sized beds, enjoyed sprucing up with the exclusive toiletries in the pristine bathrooms, and started each day with teas and coffees on the balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and hotel grounds. These pools and sub-tropical gardens contain over 80 categorised trees which form the centrepiece.

Away from the four sizeable pools, there is a host of entertainment for all ages, including fitness classes like water spinning, Zumba and Pilates, and crafts, games, volleyball and water polo for kids.

On a couple of the mornings, we headed for a game of mini golf among the volcanic rocks and palm trees, while other families knocked tennis balls around the four courts.

After lazy days around the pools, we sat down to enjoy the Motown and magic shows in the main concert room, and live music in the piano bar.

There’s a lot to do in Los Jameos Playa and the food and drink is as good as any all-inclusive I’ve ever visited. Breakfast was a mix of continental fare and freshly prepared hot selections, while lunch offered salads, meats, seafood and ice cream. But the evening Iberian feasts really elevate the hotel’s culinary output. As well as literally hundreds of dishes of inventive cuisine, there were Mexican, Italian and Chinese-themed evenings, and a Friday night gala feast.

Although there’s more than enough to keep you entertained at the hotel, key card access allows you to stroll out to Playa Matagorda, a long curve of sandy beach. From there the paved promenade takes you to bustling resort Puerto del Carmen, or island capital Arrecife in the other direction.

Our last-minute trip to the ‘Lanz of opportunity’ was picture-perfect.

l Jet2holidays offers seven nights all-inclusive at the four-star Seaside Los Jameos Playa in Lanzarote, from £940 per person based on two people sharing and departing from Leeds Bradford on September 19.

Alternatively, Jet2.com offers low fares to Lanzarote from Leeds Bradford from £39 per person one way including taxes. Visit jet2.com or call 0800 408 5599

For more about Seaside Los Jameos Playa and Seaside Resort Hotels, go to seaside-hotels.com