Life in Spain

Family Friendly Destinations In Spain

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:56:22 +0000

With its stunning coasts, temperate climate and well established tourist trade; Spain has long been a favourite destination for family holidays.

From mountain retreats, to beautiful beaches, Spain has something to offer all families – whatever their preferred ways of passing their leisure time.

Breaks are on offer in a range of formats, which can be tailored to suit your family – from the fully inclusive package deal where all the details are sorted in advance, to the more fly by the seat of your pants family adventure, where cheap flights can be combined with independent transport to create a break unlike any other. If you are considering car hire Malaga airport makes a great starting spot – with easy road access to a range of family friendly areas.

Family Friendly City Breaks in Spain

When most people think of Spain, it calls to mind the Costas, with their stretches of white sand, but the country’s cosmopolitan cities can also make for a memorable family break and are well worth considering. As Spain is a family focussed country, children are offered a warm welcome, even in the urban areas. Destinations to consider include:

Barcelona: This vibrant city will be a hit with all the family. Kids will love the displays put on by the city’s magic fountains, while the amusement park at Tibidabo is fun for all the family.
Valencia: Not too far from the traditional coastal charms that are sure to appease the kids, the city of Valencia is also a great place to explore en famille. The stunning “City of Arts and Sciences” complex offers days of distraction – with its science museum, 3D cinema and Europe’s largest marine park.

Rural Breaks with Children in Spain

Picos – Head for the hills if you are looking for adventure! The Picos range of mountains sit just inland from Spain’s northern coast and offer almost unlimited opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts. Activities on offer include climbing, abseiling and white water rafting.
Andalucia – The plains of this region are also popular for family breaks offering exciting opportunities for activities such as cycling and horse riding.

Family Beach Breaks in Spain

Fuengirola: Nestled between Marbella and Malaga on the family favourite Costa Del Sol, Fuengirola has is all, great sandy beaches, family friendly restaurants and even a great pirate-themed play area for days when the sea loses its appeal. The resort also boasts a great selection of self-catering accommodation, which can be a good choice for families who like to retain a little control over their daily routine while away from home.
Nerja: Another Costa del Sol resort that is a good choice for those with children is Nerja, offering a range of accommodations including all-inclusive as well as those with kids clubs. Children will enjoy a trip to the local donkey sanctuary or a picnic at the Nerja waterfall, which is easily accessible from the nearest parking spots making it a fine choice of outdoor destination for those with little legs. The Nerja caves will fire young imaginations and make a great day out for all the family, while the local beach will be a hit with young and old alike.

Malaga August 2011 passenger numbers

admin — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:27:42 +0000

Following a massive 200 million euro investment Malaga airport on Spain’s Costa del Sol seems to be bucking the trend with a two % increase on passenger numbers against this time last year. Figures released in the last couple of day by the under pressure Ministry of Development state that more than one and a half million passengers got off malaga flights in August alone.

The airport development was underway for almost four years but the results have been truly stunning with a vast new terminal able to handle more that 20% more capacity than before as well as a direct train link and new fast roads serving the terminal.

Malaga airport is the fourth largest in Spain behind Madrid, Barcelona and Valence with the majority of its passengers travelling for holidays to Spain’s costa del sol. Popular destinations within 40 miles include Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola , Marbella and glitzy Puerto Banus.

Other improvements to the terminal include the reduction to waiting times for trains down to 20 minutes from a previous 30. There is now six trains on the loop from Malaga to Fuengirola starting at 5:30 am at the airport. Onward high speed connections from Malaga’s María Zambrano station ( 10 mins ) are available to many destination in Andalucía and beyond.

Nationally the number of passengers in the Spanish airport network in August 2011 was almost 30 million, an increase of 4.6% year on year a confirming the national hotel occupancy rates outlined last weekend.

Spain’s Tourism Crown under Threat

admin — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:53:16 +0000

Spain’s dominance as the number one destination of choice in the European Holiday sector is under threat again with the emergence of both Turkey and Cyprus trying to bite into the annual billion dollar tourism spend that Spain has enjoyed for some while.

The recent downturn in the economy has meant that many people just have not been in a position to be able to afford a holiday in the last few years and are now looking at Cyprus holidays as an option to their usual trips to the Costa Del sol.

The Spanish Tourism industry is still on its knees following the bank collapse and subsequent financial hardship and could do without the increased pressure on passenger numbers and canny shoppers take advantage of cheaper deals to these new resorts. The other thing to bear in mind is that recent squeezes on the Euro currency means that you money will go further once you are in Cyprus food and drinks does work out cheaper.

The ministry for tourism in Spain has called urgent meetings to try to plan an effective campaign to disway potential visitors from going to Cyprus and turkey and encourage them to stay loyal to Spain’s Costas. The unemployment rate is already high enough and the Spanish government do not want to be the next country to go cap in hand to the European Parliament asking for a bailout like Greece and Ireland.

The Minister concerned has promised to redouble his efforts to ensure that the Spanish Tourism industry fights tooth and nail to retail its position as top dog.

Things to do in Alicante

admin — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:30:34 +0000

Alicante offers so much for visitors not just wandering through its famous palm tree lined boulevard it has many great beaches, old interesting squares hidden in the back roads, green lush parks and varied nightlife to name just a few things. If you coming over to Alicante cheap flights are now available directly from many UK and European cities at low prices.

Here is out top 8 list of the things to do whilst you are in town

The Castle of Santa Barbara:

Resplendent in the centre of Alicante on the top of Mount Benacantil this is a must see and the biggest mediaeval fort in Spain outside Madrid. Make sure you take time to take in the 360 degree views over the city.

San Juan Beach:

The undoubted top beach in town is actually located 4 miles outside the city but the $8 taxi fare id well worth paying. Its huge and open (blue flag) beach is the very best spot for lazing around in the sun and swimming in the sea. A wide choice of quality shops, bars and cafes are on the beach.

St Mary’s Church:

Built between the 14th and 16th centuries this stunning gothic style church was originally built over a Moorish mosque and has a great collection of priceless art dating back the 1400’s

Alicante Theatre:

Make time to pop into this 1840 neoclassical style theatre and book yourself some tickets for an up and coming show. Simply stunning venue inside and out

The Alicante Marina:

No trip to Alicante can ever be complete without a wander around the boats and Marina. The area has excellent shopping and the best selection of bars ,and restaurants to sit an while away the afternoon in the sun people watching. A must do.

El Palmeral:

Situated out of town the area has some stunning waterfalls & lakes and makes a nice day away from the hustle and bustle of the beaches.

Mount Tossal Theme Park:

Kids will love it , enough said !

Terra Natura Park:

Home for over a thousand animals this is a nature lover’s must do. Also has a great water park with many rides and a large pool area, with some shade.

Top Resorts In Spain

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:08:57 +0000

Spain is one of the most popular holiday nations in the whole world, and with a great climate and well developed resort areas, it’s unsurprising that it continues to attract millions. There are a huge range of destinations available to you if you’re looking for a Spanish retreat, and with the addition to many islands as well as the mainland, you can get a different atmosphere depending on where you visit. Meanwhile, whether you’re travelling as a family, a group of friends, or even a couple, there is the ideal Spanish spot for you.

If you’re looking forward to Spain holidays, 2012 will be perfect year to go in, offering you the chance to get away to the warm Mediterranean climate. With an almost guaranteed climate, it has become a particular favourite with families wanting to avoid rainy days and endless hours trying to find alternative entertainment for children. If you’re travelling with your family then there are some great resorts to enjoy which are well equipped to accommodate children, including having crèches and children’s activity days. On the mainland, the Gran Hotel Elba located near Estapona is a great spa hotel which offers dinner shows and fun activities for the whole family. Lanzarote’s Sands Beach Resort meanwhile has six wading pools, a private lagoon and seven swimming pools to keep kids amused, whilst Tenerife’s Iberostar Grand Hotel Anthelia is a top five star hotel which caters just as much to parents as children themselves with spa and kids days.

In addition to being a popular family destination, Spain also has top spots with very vibrant atmospheres which are the place to be if you love nothing more than partying through the entire night. Ibiza is one of the top clubbing spots in the entire world, with San Antonio the epicentre of all the major clubs. Indulging in watersports, restaurants and beaches are great ways to spend the day before heading to world famous clubs including Space and Eden at night. Meanwhile, Playa de las Americas in Tenerife is also a great night spot for partiers, offering clubs, bars and plenty of beaches to relax on.

However, Spain isn’t all about family fun and partying, and you can find some very secluded resorts for peace and quiet if that’s what you’re looking for. Spain’s Cantabria area offers some beautiful coastal resorts which are perfect for relaxing in and getting some down time. San Vicente de la Barquera is quintessentially Cantabrian, and offers both glorious beaches and the Oyambre Nature Park; an ideal spot for walking. Meanwhile, Santillana del Mar is a beautiful 16^th century town, perfect for quietly exploring.

With so many top spots, Spain will offer the perfect getaway whatever you may be looking for. With family orientated resorts catering to all ages, top spots aimed at clubbers and partiers to fulfil dreams of all night dancing, and quiet coastal towns ideal for romantic couples, heading to Spain will offer the perfect Mediterranean holiday. And with so many different regions to explore, the nation will easily draw you back time and time again.

Spanish Wine

admin — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:54:12 +0000

Spanish wine producers don’t actually like the word production and more often take about the Spanish word elaborar (to elaborate) when extoling the Spanish winemaking philosophy. They believe that winemaker is more of a nurturer of the wine rather than just a maker turning one thing into another.

For many hundreds of years Spain’s wine manufacturing was very old and steeped in rustic tradition including the use of oak with some wines ( oddly even whites wines ) many spending the best part of twenty years ageing in the barrel. This process created distinct flavours that were associated with the wines from a particular region.

The use of oak barrels in Spain dates back centuries before the French when winemakers in Rioja found that the Tempranillo grape responded well to oak. This history tradition of barrelling has meant that most Spanish wines are pretty much ready to drink they hit the market and don’t require further aging in cellars.

Even a recently as the mid 19th century many wine writers held intransigent negative views about Spanish wines, indeed Richard Ford noted in 1846 that Spanish wine is made in “unscientific and careless manner”. Another writer, Cyrus Redding noted that the Spaniards gave “rude treatment” to the grape criticising them for the traditional manners of winemaking such as the fermentation in earthenware jars known as tinajas or when wine was placed in resin lined pig skin bags. The established wine producers in France would say that Spain’s warmer climate made the red wines too low in acidity and too high in alcohol content. The French also tried the play down other nationalities improving wines and offered the same put down to the Portuguese Muscatel and Italian Farmhouse Chianti.

This all changed with the introduction of temperature control systems and larger stainless steel fermentation tanks. Now the Spanish could be simply replicate the French cooler weather conditions and led to the introduction of more fruitier and fresher styles of wine, particularly whites . This massively changed the Spanish wine industry in the warmer regions of Andalucía, La Mancha and the Levante. This brought more wine makers into the market and split the industry into two distinct sector one offering these new crisp, fresh styles and the other sticking with the barrel fermented traditional more oxidized styles of the 19th century.

Car Hire at Malaga is so cheap

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 11:35:44 +0000

Car hiring was never easy till it does not have cheaper prices. Car hiring companies in different countries do make more money than anyone can make it. Rental car prices are cheap in Malaga and Car Hire at Malaga is easy in access. Malaga is place in the north of Torremonillos, from where the Airport is accessible and can be reached easily. Once you have reached to the nearest place of Malanga, you can travel by bus, rail or taxi. These transportation ways also have information desk to get all the information about travelling from or to Malaga’s departure and arrival timings.

Its airport facilitates the people through refreshments, car parking, first aid service etc. And not only this, but also it provides a bank at airport so that people can take money from their account if they want to. There have also been a shopping plaza for the time pass and in case you want to buy anything for your loved ones. With these facilities, it also provides wheel chair for the disabled people. Toilets and telephones are also provided for them. And if you need any information regarding flights you can always have that from the department of Flight Service Information.

Coming to car hiring in Spain, it is an easy way to explore the surroundings as buses and subways don’t go to some places that are worth exploring., and taxi would cost more than you can think of! So if you want to go to adventurous places in Spain or any unusual place, arrange a car on rent for you. Spain has many tolls plazas and so one should keep at least 10 Euros just to pay the road tax. Do visit Spain on your transport. It’s a place where you can learn Spanish as well know their Spanish culture while traveling in the car. For more details log on to car hire Malaga and spain

Taking the Ferry to Spain

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:27:18 +0000

Following the 2010 disruption to flights caused by the volcanic ash cloud spewing out of Iceland many people are looking at alternative options in getting to their holiday destinations this year. As a island nation many Brits are already used to getting on ferries popping over to France from Dover to Calais to stock up on cheap booze and tobacco but this year the real interest is the Ferry to Spain.

Spain’s varied culture and warmer climate means that it’s a better option that France for may travellers and with the ferry to Santander unaffected by the ash cloud the anticipation is for more and more travellers to look at this option.

The ferry leaves from Portsmouth or Plymouth ( three or four days a week depending on season ) and drops you into Spain just over twenty four hours later. These modern ferries and very well equipped and have plenty to keep everybody entertained for the journey ahead. When you arrive into Santander or Bilbao you will find yourself transported into another world in the heart of the Basque country. The area has everything in the way of food and culture and there is more than enough to see or do to keep you occupied. Santander itself is the perfect place to start your trip with the Magdalena Palace, the stunning Paseo de Pereda walkway, and its breath taking Romanesque Cathedral.

The costal areas along these northern parts of Spain often don’t get a look in against the glitzy Costa Del Sol but the beaches are just as good. Santander has eleven award winning ( and extremely clean beaches) where you not only can you sunbathe and swim you can do it on often near empty sand.

Don’t forget that the he food and drinks in this part of Spain are without a doubt the best in Europe and with the abundance of great sea food you must make time to enjoy a good meal ( and a bottle of local vino ) in a quality seaside restaurant.

TRAVELLING FUERTEVENTURA

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:56:15 +0000

Situated from the African coast in the Atlantic Ocean is one of the seven Canary Islands known as Fuerteventura. After Tenerife, it is the second largest islands with respect to the total area extent (1,660 km²). Its total population count as per the most recent census held in 2003 was of 74,983 with 45 people residing each km2. Its latitudes are 28°20′ north, 14°00′ west. Its sobriquet i.e. nickname is Paradise Island.

ECONOMIC STRUCTURE

The economy of the island is booming and is mainly supported by its tourism industry. The prominent areas to which tourists generally flock are in and around the towns like Corralejo in the north and also the Morro Jable in Jandia. On top of it, Caleta de Fuste is an exclusively devloped for tourists to flock located in Puerto del Rosario’s southern region. Rest of the major industries includes fishing and agriculture. The city is known for Majorero cheese is prepared domestically prepared by the native majorera goat’s milk. Its facilities for travel are also cozy. The economy is booming is making itself heard in the entire Europe. It is a vital part of the Spanish boom. GO about the island hiring a car. Learn about Car Hire Fuerteventura

TOURISM

Aftery the completion of Fuerteventura Airport at El Mattoral, the foremost tourist hotel was also set-up in the year 1965. It is seen as one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Europe thanks to its 3,000 hours of sunshine yearly. For the surfers, it is unquestionably it is a paradise all because of the exotic and soothing climate the city. Due to the majestic waters of the Atlantic, scuba divers, sailors and fishermen are drawn to the island. Hikers are also drawn to Fuerteventura thanks to the hills all across the island. The tourism boost is massive and you will experience as you go on to experience the place. Go about hiring a car to reach these areas and exploring the city more. Learn regarding Spain Car Hire

TRIP TO IBIZA

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:54:36 +0000

Ibiza is an island that lies 79 km just now to the Valencia coast string Spain. Existent forms a prototype of the autonomous fold connections Spain, the Balearic Islands further is also its interrogatory largest island. The most soaring point of Ibiza is admit at an acme of 1,558 ft also is familiar in that Sa Talaiassa. Its angles are 38.98°N 1.43°E tempo annihilate locale industrious by the atoll is 571.6 km2. Its largest corner has a total population of 49,516 named Eivissa. The crush dudes of the island over recently estimated were 132,637 lie low 231.6 persons residing per km2.

THE DESTINATIONS

Albeit the island is confidential owing to its nightlife also partying, U.N. has incorporated a clump of parts of the island connections the universe Heritage Sites, besides then green against the cream of the volume because money-making projects. A higher quality section of those takes a zone credit the Benirràs Bay intimate owing to the God’s catalog all there eclipse a few of the higher prevalent Ibicenco sites of heritage. Thanks to its slow elegance, the island is used for a footing whereas shooting movies also photographs. An important memorial called The Egg built and frenetic to Christopher Columbus responsibility act as practical power Sant Antoni: Ibiza makes perfecting those bulky places suggesting to serve his inaugurate of starting point. score here by a hiring a car from the airport. Catch about retain a Car Ibiza Airport

LANGUAGES USED TO CONVERSE

The home-grown buzzwords of the island is Catalan also absolute teams enlargement stow away the county sunk verbal Spanish through the precise languages of Ibiza, a weasel words of Catalan called Eivissenc or Ibicenco is a chain greater eagerly used by the residents if Ibiza and besides Formentera’s to figure. Plus, IBIZA faultless thanks to its gambit shapeliness and emigrants that are either conscious influence the island or looking succeeding the residential joint imply languages being example, individual European languages savvy English, German further Russian. It is more of a specialty and no difference that an amount of languages are uttered. Analyze via hiring a car. Distinguish about engage a Car Ibiza Airport