Spanish Holiday Destinations | Living in Spain | Spain Tourist Guide

The Canary Islands are the second most visited holiday destination in Spain.  Second only to Catalonia in popularity.  And of the seven islands – which are located just off the coast of West Africa – Lanzarote is one of the most unspoiled. Thanks to strict planning laws which ban all high rise construction and advertising hoardings. 

Over the last year the cost of travelling to Lanzarote has fallen considerably thanks to increased competition on this route between the major low cost airlines in the UK.  Such as easyJet, Ryanair and Monarch.  All of whom are now vying to offer good value return flights to Lanzarote from airports across the UK.

As a result the island has become more attractive to independent travellers – who tend to eschew the services of a travel agents, preferring instead  to book their own flights and accommodation direct online.  Leading to a growth in demand for privately owned apartments and villas in Lanzarote.

The largest concentration of self catering accommodation can be found down at the southern tip of the island in a resort called Playa Blanca.  Which is the fastest growing town on the island. 

Playa Blanca is something of late developer as the resort only started to evolve long after Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise were well established to the north.  But it’s making up for lost time now and boasts a coupe of natural advantages which is helping it to draw tourists away from its resort rivals.

Despite being a small island, measuring just 60km by 40km, Lanzarote has a pronounced mircoclimate.  Which is especially noticeable during the winter months.  When Playa Blanca and the south can be basking in sunshine whilst Costa Tegusie in the north can be overcast and grey.

Secondly Playa Blanca is home to some of the best beaches on Lanzarote.  Within the resort itself there are three fine stretches of sand in the form of Playa Dorada, Playa Flamingo and Playa Blanca. The small town centre beach from which the resort take sits name.

But the real jewel in the crown lies just fifteen minuets away – where tourists can explore the set of bays and coves which are collectively known as Papagayo.  Which are widely regarded as amongst the most breathtaking in the whole of the Canaries.

There’s an excellent selection of villas in Playa Blanca available for rent for anyone keen to stay in this part of the island.  With rental rates starting at around €400 per week.  Which secures a standard two bedroom property with private swimming pool.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Spain has long had a reputation for being one of the best destinations for beach resort and cheap package holidays . In addition to the well known resorts such as Costa del Sol, there are also a number of lesser known regions. Some of these less popular resorts have a lot to offer and make excellent destinations for package holidays.

Out of the “best of the rest” my favourite has to be Costa Tropical. Situated around the coast of Granada the area is not as highly developed as some of the other “Costas” and offers some wonderful isolated beaches in the many coves along the rocky landscape.

Another beautiful resort is the Costa Verde, translated as Green Coast. As the name suggests the resort is covered in a lush green landscape and offer lots of spectacular views and scenery and some of the best golden sandy beaches you will find anywhere.

Costa Blanca is slightly more well known than the two previously mentioned resorts, but is still an excellent destination for a great beach holiday. The Costa Blanca benefits from some great scenery along its varied landscape and has some really interesting little towns just inland.

There is a lot of choice when it comes to cheap holidays to Spain, but spending a little bit of time looking into some of the quieter resorts is well worth it and you may find somewhere that suits your needs perfectly. These three resorts are most definitely my favourites but there are a number of others to choose from which also have lots to offer. So when you’re booking your next Spanish holiday why not consider one of the lesser known resorts.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Good Intentions Juice Fasting and Yoga Retreat in Andalucia, 17-23 January 2010

Need a kick start into the new year? Escape the winter bugs and shake off the excesses of the festive season with a yoga and juice fasting retreat in Spain.

Kaliyoga, one of Spain’s leading health holiday venues, is running a New Year’s Good Intentions Juice Fasting Yoga Retreat in January from 17th until the 23rd.

The perfect antidote to a busy and fragmented life, this retreat is a wonderful opportunity to renew and refresh from the inside out. The retreat will nourish your body with delicious and all natural juices that support optimal health. The benefits of yoga have been proven for centuries – it will revitalise and strengthen body and mind.

The strength of the programme at Kaliyoga lies in the team of inspirational, friendly and experienced professionals who are passionate about making healthy living easy and fun. This creates an authentic family atmosphere that is genuinely unique. This is not a corporate soulless spa – this is a warm, friendly and relaxed environment.

Based near Orgiva in Andalucia, Kaliyoga is owned and run by Jonathan and Rosie Miles.

Jonathan Miles, owner of Kaliyoga, says “Juice fasting is the oldest and safest method of removing unwanted weight and toxins. If you were looking for a way to put your New Year’s good intentions into practice, then Kaliyoga is a safe bet in a lovely location with winter sun, blue Andalucian skies and a trusted team of exceptionally talented professionals.”

Guests at Kaliyoga can enjoy yoga, massage, healthy and delicious food, holistic therapies, meditation, colonic cleansing, organic vegetable juices, swimming, saunas and jacuzzis. Return home renewed from the inside out.

Prices from approximately £900 (easyjet flights to Malaga and transfers not included).

Contact enquiry@kaliyoga.com or +44(0)1373 81466 to book or visit www.kaliyoga.com for further information. Kaliyoga run retreats all year round.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Having a holiday is a fun thing, it’s great to work out where you want to go, and what you want to do while you’re there isn’t it. The one thing that for some of us can be a bit daunting is trying to keep it all within budget. First there’s flights to think of, then the hotel costs, not to mention meals, excursions out to places of interest, snacks, drinks, evening entertainment events for the kids and so on. It can all add up quickly and can be quite a pain trying to keep track of what you’re spending when all you really want to do is relax and enjoy the holiday.

One of the best options if you’ve ever felt like this, is an all inclusive holiday package. This way you know exactly what you’re paying and that everything is sorted before you go. You also know exactly what you’re getting for your money of course. In Alcudia there is a fantastic resort which provides just this sort of holiday to people. The facilities are wonderful and varied enough to cater for most tastes, and you can include flight, hotel, meals and use of some or all of the facilities that are available there.

The Hotel Bellevue is situated beside the Esperanza lake and consists of 17 separate buildings. It has almost the feel of a village with it’s self contained complex that offers amenities and activities within it’s own extensive grounds. The Beach is a mere 900m away, and Facilities include seven swimming pools, sun terraces, poolside bars, buffet restaurant, pizzeria, café, snack bar, pub, supermarket, tennis, squash and basketball courts, a five-aside football pitch, crazy golf, ten pin bowling, go-karts, funfair, and various day and evening entertainments. When you opt for the all Inclusive options, your meals, any snacks that you want, and drinks are all included within the price. If you are there when the are open you will also have use of the two kids world clubs that operate from May to October.

Obviously any excursions outside the complex will still need to be paid for separately but within the complex there is so much available that it’s perfectly possible to enjoy a holiday here without ever leaving the complex although to not visit the wonderful beaches nearby with their wonderful golden sands and blue sea, would be a shame.

Popularity: 7% [?]

British Airways online and direct sales manager, Keith Chuter, and Francisco De La Torre, the Mayor of Malaga Town Hall, put pen to paper this month, signing a letter of intent, making official their plans to further promote Malaga City in the British market. The letter lays the foundations of a two year agreement that will see British Airways use its online channels, to highlight the many flights available to Malaga from the UK, and further increase tourism to the city.

The agreement, set to begin in early 2010, will incorporate a two phase marketing, media and advertising campaign. Phase one will see British Airways expand its online channels, allowing it to strongly promote and sell Malaga. Two familiarisation trips will take place to highlight the city’s Picasso links, cultural and historic offerings, year-round events, fantastic gastronomy and prestigious hotels.

Phase two will involve the expansion of communication channels and development of advertising campaigns. The campaign will also see British Airways contract tours to the city, which will appear on the Malaga Turismo website, with a hyperlink to the British Airways website.

The agreement is scheduled to end in the Spring/Summer of 2011 however, if the campaign has been a great success it’s likely a further two year agreement will be signed.

British Airways currently operates 12 flights to Malaga from the UK every week and also offers a wide range of hotels, from the 3* value-for-money Atarazanas Malaga Boutique Hotel to the magnificent 4*+ Petit Palace Plaza ideally located in the historic centre.

It’s hoped this winning partnership with the Malaga Council of Tourism, will not only encourage more travellers to use the route but, will also encourage those visiting to explore the city and discover more about its rich heritage.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Spain is rapidly getting a reputation as one of the best places to take a skiing holiday, not everyone’s fIrst choice, but once people have been they do tend to back again and again. We are talking about real Spain here not the principality of Andorra, but Baqueira Beret, Formigal in Northern Spain and Prodaolanno in the Sierra Nevada in the far south of the country.

Baqueira-Beret offers some of the best above the treeline bowl skiing in the Pyrenees and is just a short transfer from Toulouse in the picturesque Aran valley. Named after the nearby villages of Baqueira and Beret, the ski holiday resort offers good skiing for all abilities though intermediate skiers will find themselves most at home here. There are 86 kilometres of marked pistes consisting of four greens, 25 blues, 20 reds and four blacks. If you’re only just off the nursery slopes you may find some of the blues more challenging than usual.

The ski resort of Formigal is located at the heart of the Spanish Pyrenean Mountains in the region of Aragon. It’s a lively purpose-built resort suitable for beginners, intermediate skiers and families. You don’t come here to rub shoulders with the rich and famous but it’s a friendly and relaxed resort with good facilities and some great ski deals are available at lower prices than some of the other skiing resorts of the Alps.

For sun and snow your choice for skiing holidays in Spain has to be the Sierra. The ski area is called Sol y Nieve, which translates as “sun and snow” and you really can get this in Europe’s most southerly ski resort, any further and you would fall into the Mediterranean, just 60 miles inland from the Costa Tropical, and a 20-mile day trip from historic Granada and its World Heritage Sites. It’s the best known and best equipped of all the Spanish ski resorts with 48 pistes covering 70 kilometres. You won’t find another resort where you can ski in the morning then play golf in the sunshine or relax on a Mediterranean beach in the afternoon.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Anyone who wants to make Christmas last a little bit longer may be interested in an unusual, seasonal event held every year in Spain’s Aragon region.

Saragossa plays host to the Three Kings parade on January 5th, with events running into the following day.

A colourful carnival accompanies the Three Kings, or Wise Men, as they ride through the city distributing sweets and presents to the crowds.

People who have booked Saragossa hotels for early January will no doubt be drawn on to the streets as the parade passes by.

Local celebrities play the three principle characters, while elaborately decorated floats and people in costume make up this long procession.

It begins in the Puerta del Carmen area of the city and continues down the Calle Alfonso I.

Another highlight of the event is the creation of an enormous cake, which is displayed in the morning before being cut into small pieces and handed out at lunchtime in the Plaza del Pilar.

For people travelling with children, there are shows across the city aimed at a younger audience, on offer both before and after the parade.

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Popularity: 3% [?]

The beautiful Balearic Island of Mallorca has long been a hot favourite with holidaymakers from around the world.  Boasting breathtaking pine clad mountains, fantastic beaches and historic towns and cities.  Along with a whole raft of fascinating visitor attractions.

Mallorca is the largest of the three Balearic Islands and is home to a number of resorts.  Each with its own unique character.  Whilst there are plenty of accommodation options available such as luxury hotels a growing number of visitors to the island now opt to book holiday villas in Mallorca direct online.  Thanks to the growth of the internet and the availability of some fantastic character properties, especially in locations such as Pollensa in the north of the island.

Pollensa
Pollensa – or Pollenca – is a former Roman settlement dating back to the 5th century.  And has become one of the most upmarket holiday locations on the island.  Providing plenty of high quality accommodation in old traditional stone built farmhouses and fincas.  All of which is located just some 8km from the coast.

The town is home to numerous pretty squares, streets and shops and is ideal for anyone seeking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the main resorts.  Whilst also remaining in close proximity to the excellent beaches of the North coast. There is a fantastic range of luxury hotels in Spain close to the white sandy beaches in the North Coast of Spain. With the Easter holidays coming up, there is likely to be a few last minute deals available.

Puerto Pollensa
Puerto Pollensa is the close coastal cousin to Pollensa and is widely regarded as one of the most picturesque and photogenic locations on the island.  Thanks to the breathtaking backdrop provided by the magnificent Tramantura Mountains.

The resort revolves around the main beach – which is around 3km long – and the luxury marina.  And also has a delightful seafront promenade where tourists will find a good selection of bars and restaurants.

Can Picafort
Can Picafort is located close to Puerto Pollensa and is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the island.  Boasting a huge sandy beach and a wide selection of bars, shops and restaurants.

The resort has evolved over the years from its original roots as a small fishing village and provides an excellent base for anyone seeking a holiday in the north of the island.  Providing loads for visitors to do and see.

Cala D’or
This attractive resort is located on Mallorca’s east coast and is home to a number of holiday hot spots such as Porto Colom and the breathtaking beach at Cala Murada.

Mallorca is just a couple of hour’s flight from all major UK airports and whilst being a popular holiday destination still offers plenty of unspoiled scenery for visitors to enjoy.

Popularity: 3% [?]

British and Irish home buyers who fear they may lose out due to the insolvency of another Spanish developer have been given until the 2 December to register their claim with the Spanish authorities, says law firm DWF.

Trampolin Hills Golf Resort SL, a company that sold hundreds of properties to British and Irish purchasers without having planning permission in place, has been forced into administration leaving 2,500 unfinished homes.

Antonio Guillen, a Spanish lawyer with DWF in Manchester who is advising British and Irish purchasers on the insolvency of several Spanish developers, says the company has been put into what is known in Spain as “compulsory administration”, which implies that the procedure has been started on the request of one of the creditors. It could also mean the company directors are personally liable. Two administrators have already been appointed to manage the company’s affairs.

He says: “Trampolin Hills has recently become known for the irregularities in its residential development in the area of Campos del Río, Murcia, especially since it appears that the company started to sell off-plan units without having all the necessary permits in place.”

It has also been alleged that most of the bank guarantees provided were issued by non-authorised insurance companies.

“Anyone who has purchased a property off-plan from Trampolin Hills or owns a property that has not been fully finished needs to inform the administrators and the court before 2 December to ensure they are included in the final list of creditors. They will need to supply any documents that can help to prove the payments made, such as purchase contracts, payment orders and bank statements.”

“They should also check whether they have been supplied with a bank guarantee. A guarantee is compulsory under Spanish law, although not all developers comply, and will ensure that if the property is not finished, a guarantor, usually a bank, will refund the money they have paid plus interest. It could mean the difference between them losing all their money and getting a refund.”

“Ideally purchasers should contact a lawyer versed in Spanish insolvency law who will ensure they have all the right paperwork and are properly represented in the administration procedure, as well as contemplating alternative solutions such as enforcing the bank guarantee where this has been provided.”

Popularity: 8% [?]

A variety of different things to do can be found around Fuengirola. These attractions include its many beaches, a popular zoo and the huge Feria (annual fair) celebration among others.

Because the city is right along the Mediterranean Sea there are all sorts of beaches found around the area. It is estimated that there are about eight kilometers of sand along this part of the coast. Many of these places offer rental services where visitors can take out jet skis, boats or even paddle boats.

The Fuengirola Zoo is also located in the city. This is a zoo that is open all year long and is open later in the evening during the summer months so that visitors can see some of the nocturnal animals that the zoo has to offer. It is popular for its tropical forest habitats that are very realistic and for its support of various endangered species.

Castillo Sohail is an ancient Moorish castle that can be found on the shoreline. This is a historic site that was built by the Moors in the eleventh century and has been occupied by Christian and French forces in the past. Today this castle is well maintained and available to tourists to visit throughout the year. It is home to events in July and August including music concerts.

The Feria celebration is another big attraction. This is a weeklong festival that occurs every October and features all sorts of parties and events centered around the huge market site in the city. Concerts are held throughout the area during this celebration and many hotels and other eateries will serve a variety of unique foods to visitors including Spanish, French, German and Chinese foods.

There are all sorts of great attractions to check out when in Fuengirola. These are attractions that are exciting to see and are ones that are very important to the city culturally and economically. Costa del Sol Towns is packed with unusual and helpful information about the area.

Popularity: 1% [?]