Spain Archives - Page 4 of 5

September 24, 2013 by jfalbelda

Driving from Andratx to Valldemossa

One of the most frustrating aspects about travelling abroad is that you rarely get a sense of the ‘realness’ of the places you visit. If you are staying in a tourist resort, you would be lucky to stumble across the bars, restaurants and hangouts that the locals frequent, unless you really went searching for them.

One way to get around this problem is to hire a car and set out your own itinerary. Whether you want to find the most beautiful hidden gem of a beach, a street full of chic boutique shops (with no tourist tat in sight!) or the finest eatery in town, you can do so with the help of a rented vehicle and an up-to-date map.

Try it on the Balearic Island of Mallorca, where popular seaside resorts are interspersed with pretty little whitewashed villages and lush green countryside. You can hire a car from Mallorca airport and try one of the most picturesque routes on the island – that of Andratx to Valldemossa. Click here to arrange your hire car.

Hit the road, Jack!

The region of Andratx lies in the south-west of the island, about 30km west of the capital Palma de Mallorca, and covers an area of about 80sq km. It contains a gorgeous coastline lapped by crystal-clear waters, elegant marinas and opulent homes owned by wealthy residents. The eponymous town of Andratx was originally constructed to guard against pirate attacks and its defences can still be seen in the upper part of the settlement. Make sure you have a good look around the town first, particularly at the Santa Maria church, which looks rather like a fortress.

There are three routes you can take to get to the beautiful village of Valldemossa from here. The first is the quickest, lasting around 40 minutes, and takes you through the suburbs of the capital. Get onto the Ma-1 from Puerto Andratx, heading south-east towards the sunny beach resort of Palma Nova, then go north-east towards Palma de Mallorca. The route will take you around the ring road then north towards your destination.

However, if you would prefer to take the scenic course, travel along the C-710 autoway that hugs the west coast of the island. You can stop for a coffee in the little resort of Estellencs, which is backed by the Sierra Tramuntana mountain range and offers peaceful stone streets, quirky fountain springs and a lovely cove with a port.

Drive on past the terraced agricultural plots designed to make the most of the island’s rainfall towards Banyalbufar, then head inland until you reach Valldemosa.

The third route uses the PMV-1016 to pass villages like Sa Garriga and S’Esgleieta on the way to Valldemosa. It is an entirely inland journey, so you won’t get the chance to take pictures of the sea on your way.

Once you get to Valldemosa, which remains relatively untouched by tourism, spend some time wandering through the streets. Each of the houses is built in the same light stone and all are bedecked with vibrant flowers. Visit a couple of the local art galleries and make sure you stop off at a traditional family bakery to sample the coca de patata (‘potato cake’) delicacy.

September 6, 2013 by jfalbelda

Awesome Holidays in Tenerife!

As the largest and most populous of Spain’s Canary Islands, the island of Tenerife is often considered to be one of the last paradise isles in Europe. With its incredible weather, friendly people, and great selection of activities to enjoy, it’s easy to understand why Tenerife brings in over 5 million visitors each year.

The South

For those looking for an affordable but high-quality holidays in Tenerife, the south of the island is the best bet. Here, the weather is warmer, and the resorts are among some of the best vacation destinations in the world. Cosmos’ holiday packages to Tenerife also offer you the opportunity to book an all-inclusive holiday, a great choice if you simply want to relax by the beach and not stress over planning the small stuff. There are also plenty of good attraction and activities to enjoy in the south. If you’re travelling with children, pay a visit to Siam Park, an impressive water park that features stunning Thai architecture, an immense white sand beach, and a variety of thrilling rides. If that doesn’t satisfy your water park needs, there is also Aqualand Costa Adeje, which has many rides and a much-loved dolphin show. Other activities that will be enjoyed by both children and adults alike include horseback riding in San Miguel de Abona, biking, and scuba diving.

The North

While the south draws sun-worshippers, the northern region of Tenerife is not to be forgotten. The younger crowd tends to favor the south of the island, while the north brings in more of an older crowd, as well as travellers visiting with children. Many travellers head to the north to visit the Puerto de la Cruz, a quaint harbour town with a northern European influence. The town has some fun attractions, including Loro Parque, a beautiful bird park that is home to dolphins and whales in addition to the gorgeous exotic birds. Additionally, it’s nice to spend some time walking around the old port area, where you can explore interesting shops and fine bistros. Package vacations to Puerto de la Cruz are also quite popular. The north is also home to Parque Rural de Anaga, a terrific place to go hiking. Teide National Park is another great stop for fans of the outdoors. Centered around Mount Teide (Spain’s highest mountain and one of the biggest volcanoes in the world), it is the most visited national park in Spain. The hiking is super, and the views will make you feel as though you are on another planet.

Plan Your Trip

Many visitors like to plan their trip to Tenerife so that it coincides with the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. One of the busiest, brightest carnivals in the world, the Carnival of Santa Cruz takes place over the two weeks that lead up to Ash Wednesday. There are two airports on Tenerife, with the majority of flights landing at the Tenerife Sur Airport in the south. The older Tenerife Norte airport in the south mostly deals with inter-island flights, plus some scheduled flights from the mainland. There are also ferries that connect Tenerife to other islands in the Canary Island archipelago. Spanish is the island’s main language, but visitors rarely have any difficulty getting by in English, especially in the south, where English, German and Italian are all commonly heard languages. Summer temperatures on Tenerife are usually in the mid-twenties, and drop down to 18°C or 19°C during the months of January and February.

There you have it! Some great info on options for holidays in Tenerife, enjoy your next stay!

August 9, 2013 by jfalbelda

Three Best Beaches in Lanzarote

The most eastern island of the Canary Islands and only 76 miles north of Africa, Lanzarote is a popular sunspot for thousands of tourists every year. Oddly enough, almost every visitor to the sun soaked islands run into the same problem. “What beaches shall we visit whilst we’re on our holiday?” There are so many beaches in Lanzarote, it’s almost impossible to visit them all during one holiday and many offer unique and exceptional activities such as hang-gliding or scuba diving – so it’s best to consult travel guides before arriving. Below are the island’s three best beaches, suited to everyone regardless to whether it’s water sports or topping up that all-important suntan on your next Lanzarote holiday.

best beach in Lanzarote

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July 12, 2013 by jfalbelda

Like to Be Beside the Seaside? Brits and Beach Resorts

The British are obsessed with weather; this is not a secret, as it is the go-to opening conversation topic for nearly everyone in England. It’s no surprise then that British people, fed up with unpredictable and often disappointing weather, favour warm climates when heading on holiday. For the ultimate in sun-seeking, search for beach hotels so you can chill out by the sea without packing a “just-in-case” rain mac. Here are two fantastic beach resorts to consider.

Costa Del Sol

On the south coast of Spain, this popular holiday destination is gloriously hot during the summer months and has some beautiful beaches to relax on. Costa del Sol literally translates to mean “the sunny coast” and has temperatures of 25-30 degrees in the summer. Even during the winter months the Mediterranean climate means that it doesn’t drop below 14 degrees during the day. Sample tapas and sangria at one of the regions bars and soak up the Spanish culture before heading back to the shore for another helping of sun, sea and sand.

Sharm el-Sheihk

The top holiday destination in Egypt is Sharm el-Sheihk with its Red Sea coast and views of Mount Sinai. The white sand beaches and azure blue seas are draw enough to visit the resort, but for those who think beach breaks are too chilled, Sharm el-Sheihk is home to some of the best water sports around. The wonderfully clean blue water lends itself to snorkeling and scuba diving both of which are recommended and there are plenty of facilities around for you to give them a go.

Beach holidays are great for the whole family as adults can enjoy reading a book in the sun or trying watersports, while kids are content to play by the water. Beaches in the UK are great, but the weather is temperamental at best. Guarantee yourself sunshine to go with the sea and sand by booking a hotel on a beach resort.

July 11, 2013 by jfalbelda

Bagging a bargain with cheap package holidays

It’s never been easier for enthusiastic travellers to hit the road or take to the skies. Thanks to increased competition in the market, improved transport links and the internet, it’s now possible for holidaymakers to take advantage of superb deals to a plethora of destinations. However, for the best results, people need to think carefully about what sort of deals they are after.

Anyone who wants to completely relax and cast their money worries aside while they’re taking trips to traditional holiday destination can make the most of cheap package holidays. As a general rule, packages like this tend to work out cheaper for seven, ten or 14-day trips to traditional holiday destinations. However, it’s worth noting that holidays of different lengths or to less visited spots can be cheaper on a DIY basis, meaning consumers can sometimes save themselves cash by booking transport and accommodation separately themselves.

On the other hand, it’s definitely worth bearing in mind that certain all-inclusive package deals that include food, drink and entertainment can represent a real bargain and are the ultimate in stress-free vacationing. Once holidaymakers arrive at their destinations of choice, they can forget all about finances and simply enjoy themselves.

Package holidays can be ideal for anyone who wants to catch some winter sun and places like the Caribbean have long been a favourite among travel lovers. Its turquoise waters and white sands provide the perfect backdrop to a relaxing break and no matter what sort of holiday people are looking for, they can find it among these islands. OK, so it’s possible for people to spend a fortune on luxurious breaks to this part of the world, but by choosing their location and travel provider carefully, individuals can benefit from surprisingly low-cost packages. Other winter travel options for budget-conscious consumers include Tunisia, the Canary Islands and North Cyprus.

Certain European destinations also offer low-cost package deals. Those after some sunshine should make sure they travel in late spring, summer and the early fall period. Northern Spain can be inexpensive and it is less crowded than the south of the country. With plenty of wide, empty beaches, picturesque mountains and friendly resorts, these areas are ideal if you want to discover a different side of Spain.

Moving East, Croatia has also been a destination to watch as of recently. With its blend of rustic authenticity and stylish glamour, it offers stunning and unspoiled inland areas, which might just be the ideal alternative to some of the more visited coastal areas and their heftier price tags during the summer.

Finally, bargain hunters can also cast their sights east of Croatia to Bulgaria. With its sandy beaches, lush forests, magnificent mountains and cosmopolitan cities, it’s no surprise that this country is a hit among holidaymakers. That said, it still offers excellent value for money.