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Benidorm Holidays

Mirco Rehmeier — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:36:15 +0000

Benidorm is a coastal town in the province of Alicante on the Costa Blanca by the Western Mediterranean. It has grown from a sleepy coastal village in the 1950s to one of Europe’s top holiday destinations by the 1970s.

Benidorm saw the construction of a large number of high-rise developments along the coastline in the 1960s, all necessary to house the increasing numbers of visitors to the resort. With the opening of Alicante airport just south of Benidorm in 1967, further construction was required to house the wave of visitors from Holland, Germany and the UK. Construction continued and the resort enjoyed its boom period, peaking at 12 million visitors in 1977. Although that number has never been topped since, Benidorm holidays remains one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world.

Sangria, sand and Benidorm established itself as the model resort for the package holiday industry. Now Benidorm is firmly established as a family resort. Although visitor number have dropped slightly in recent years, the population of the town swells from just over 70,000 to around 1.5 million each summer. Benidorm has also become extremely popular as a winter destination for elderly travellers from Northern Europe, with the town’s micro-climate providing mild weather year-round.

In 2011 Alicante Airport received 10 million visitors, and Benidorm would have received the lion’s share of those holidaymakers. With summer coming better book your hotel in Benidorm now.

The City of Almeria, Costa Almeria, Andalucia

Mirco Rehmeier — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:20:48 +0000

The City of Almeria is renowned for its charm and roots in the history. The city is situated on the foot of the mountain range which boasts inimitable Alcazaba, the Arab fortress built by Abd ar- Rahman II who was the founder of this city and also the leader of Cordoba. Almeria is well known for its dry and warm weather condition; in the whole country this region has the highest number of cloudless days by getting more than 3000 hours of daylight in a year. The warm temperature of this city is helpful to the city in two ways- one it attracts lot of travelers and secondly it nurtures the agriculture. Spain holidays become pleasurable and enjoyable by exploring the fantastic places in Almeria.

The magnificent Alcazaba

Looking towards the Mediterranean Sea and at the base of the mountain range stands the magnificent Alcazaba. The fortress has undergone three areas of extension and development. The old site has now transformed to a lovely formal garden, this has been built over the earlier medieval building. The second part comprises the later medieval building which consist a mosque, living quarters, aljibes and baths. The third sector is dedicated for defensive reasons with thick walls and solid towers. This is one of the best places to visit during your holidays in Almeria.

Its delight sighting Cabo de Gata – Natural Park

The Pink flamingo is the best attraction in this park with other birds including avocets’ eagles and much more throughout the year. Another interesting species is the Italian wizard with its distinct appearance having green back and three rows of black spot on it. This eye-catching Italian wizard has this region as its habitat. With the volcanic hills and pleasant, unpopulated beach as the backdrop makes this place beautiful.

Look around the Glorious Cathedral

Diego de Siloe designed and constructed the cathedral in 1522; however the building was damaged due to earth quake in the same year. Again, in 1524 it was reconstructed over the existing building to give us the great historic piece what we see today. The Cathedral is constructed using the gothic and renaissance style. When you visit the place, remember to have a look at the “Sol of Portocarrero” which is a sun carved in the east side of the building. It’s almost now considered as the symbol of the city.

Hotels in Almeria

The restaurants and hotels make your holidays in Almeria a memorable one. You can taste the best tapas in Spain in the hotels in Almeria. Book Almeria vacation rentals which are usually affordable and come with various special deals and offers. There are lots of holiday apartments, houses and cottage and other types of Almeria vacation rentals available to you. Whether you look out for relaxing, playing golf or a beach holiday, then Almeria is the right destination for you. The outstanding picturesque views, monumental attractions, beautiful beaches and natural parks are feast to your eyes. Almeria is must see city in Spain.

Travel to the beautiful city of Jerez de la Frontera

Mirco Rehmeier — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:04:25 +0000

If you have always dreamt of an unforgettable travel experience in Spain, then you can accomplish this dream by visiting Jerez, Spain. Known locally as Jerez de la Frontera, this city is one of the most ancient ones and boasts of several attractions.

The small city of Jerez de la Frontera resembles Sevilla in many respects. Lying within close proximity to Sevilla, the unique features of Jerez city lies in its horses, sherry and flamencoes. Jerez de la Frontera travel will be virtually incomplete without paying a visit to the Royal Andalusia Equestrian Art School that conducts horse shows annually. To catch a glimpse of the local culture, you can visit the charming gypsy towns of Buleria and San Miguel.

Jerez de la Frontera Attractions

The features that make Jerez de la Frontera superior to other Spanish cities include the well maintained mosque, lush gardens, remodelled ancient baths and the beautiful Alcazar protected by strong walls. Tourists can visit the Baroque Villavicencia Palace near Alcazar to get an aerial view of the entire Jerez city. The Palacio Atalaya is also well worth a visit where tourists can hear the beats of over 300 clocks ringing simultaneously during noon. This is not all. Jerez travel can take tourists to other interesting locales such as towering churches and ancient villages.

A visit to the Pedestrian centre is recommended to know more about the old Baroque style architecture comprising of houses and cathedrals. At the Centro Andaluz de Flamenco museum cum school, tourists can see and enjoy video albums of famous flamenco celebrities. The Museo Taurino is a museum exclusively dedicated to bulls that are an integral part of the Jerez landscape.

Bars/Culture and Dance

Jerez in Andalusia is a place that is extremely popular for its tasty sherry. A vast majority of the bars in Jerez de la Frontera city have barrels of sherry at their entrance. The unique culture of Jerez is also something that entices tourists to this place all the year round.

As you stroll leisurely through the streets of Jerez city you can listen to the beats of flamenco dance emanating from one of the clubs or bars. You can also witness beautiful gypsy girls swaying to the music on the dance floors. You can schedule your Jerez holiday during February or March to have a first hand experience of the culture and tradition of this place. During these months, the city hosts the festival of music and dance or Flamenco Festival of Jerez and brims with life and energy.

Jerez holiday rentals are of many types and you can choose one based on your needs and budget. If you are thinking of visiting this charming city in the near future, then you can also make your car booking in advance. With car hire from Jerez airport, you can easily pick your car straight from the airport and start exploring the city instantly. So what are you waiting for? Plan your Jerez travel today and get set for an unmatched holiday!

Every April Jerez de la Frontera shows the Motorcycle Grand Prix on the Circuito de Jerez racing circuit which is close to the main city. In 2012 The MotoGP will be between 27th and 29th of April. Definetely an event not to be missed.

The splendour of the Peninsular – Cadiz

Mirco Rehmeier — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:15:19 +0000

The Moorish city of Cadiz is encircled by water and is situated on a peninsula which juts out into the bay. The narrow cobbled mesh of pathways ending into the small squares reminds you of the old splendor and gives an intriguing look to Cadiz. Holidays in Cadiz become an enjoyable and worth remembering experience with the dazzling beaches, traditional museums and music while you are in “The Little Silver Cup” of Spain.

The typical marine flavour of the city comes from the seaport alleys, distinct promenades and the easy-going approach towards life which is full of zest also. The picturesque beguile of the city comes from the huge and thick walls aligning the city and the old buildings like cathedrals and churches. The delightful city is an epitome of old world culture purely blended with modern charisma , so this year you should book your Cadiz holiday rentals well in advance to splurge into the beauty and get enchanted by the city.

Enjoy the ultimate shore excursions in Cadiz

The narrow bridge is the only point of connection between the mainland and the city, so you can take the help of Cruise Company from the port of Cadiz to enjoy the shore excursion of Cadiz, which take you to the mesmerising city of Seville. This is famous for its rich art and culture, sherry, bullfighting and flamenco dancing. The Holidays in Cadiz are incomplete without exploring the main Mosque of Seville also called The Cathedral, built between 1401 and 1507 and is the caricature of immense beauty. The 12thb Century dated minaret of the Mosque, The Giralda towers, The Alcazar and the Bullrings are the few attractions which you must enjoy while vacationing in Cadiz.

Historical Quarters of Cadiz

The old world charm of Cadiz gets truly reflected in the Historical Quarters, which were given their distinct flavour and personality by the different barrios (Spanish Quarters). The El Populo district is the old medieval village with its fascinating architecture, while La Vine attracts the people with its fishing district charm. The Sant Maria Quarter is renowned for its magical flamenco singing and dances as well.

The Baroque Cathedral and Churches in Cadiz

The Baroque Cathedral is an interesting piece of architecture with its majestic golden dome, which you must have seen in the famous James Bond movie. The churches of Santa Cruz and San Felipe Neri are well known in Spain because of their historical association with Napoleon’s siege. You must explore other enchanting museums which display impressive archaeological collections and art pieces while on Holidays in Cadiz.

Indulge in the spirit of Carnival

The Cadiz carnival is the most colourful and fascinating event of the city which is much appreciated by visitors who stay here for long haul at Cadiz holiday rentals. The atmosphere becomes full of life when you see the people wearing bright and colourful costumes flocking the street in totally merry mood, singing and dancing to their traditional tunes.

So book your Cadiz Hotels to explore the truly authentic old world charm in the modern times in Cadiz.

Holidays in Spain – Tenerife

Mirco Rehmeier — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:28:49 +0000

Tenerife is the largest and most popular island of the seven Canary Islands. The Canary Islands also known as the Canaries (Spanish: Canarias) is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. Daily temperatures on Tenerife seldom fall below 20 degrees Celsius due to the island’s location just off the coast of Morocco and it’s that reliable weather that draws the visitors. Tenerife holidays are incredibly popular with British holidaymakers.

Tenerife is with about five million tourists each year the most visited of the Canary Islands. Tenerife is serviced by two airports, Tenerife North Airport and Tenerife South Airport, and easy to reach. The island’s well loved resorts such as Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos, La Pineda, Puerto de la Cruz and La Caleta offer everything from peaceful, laid-back relaxation to full on thrills day and night. Affordable, budget or even ostentatious all-inclusive luxury, you’ll find all types of accommodation on this fabulous holiday island.

Tenerife is dramatic, beautiful and full of possibilities, as well as being one of Europe’s most exciting islands Tenerife offers Europe’s widest range of tourist attractions and activities. Sunbathe or swim on the palm-shaded lagoon of Lago de Martiánez and if you get tired of lying on the beach, find some shade in the exotic green oasis of the Jardín Botánico or make waves in Europe’s biggest water park – Siam Park. Tenerife has the highest elevation of Spain, a World Heritage Site that is the third largest volcano in the world from its base, El Teide. Tenerife hosts one of the world’s largest carnivals and the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is attempting to become a World Heritage Site.

Spain’s biggest Apple store to open in La Cañada

Mirco Rehmeier — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:44:08 +0000

The US consumer giant Apple will open an Apple store in La Cañada shopping center in Marbella. But not just any store, it will be Spain’s biggest Apple store. This will be the first Apple store in Andalucia or even south Spain and only the fourth in Spain. September last year the very first Apple store in Spain opened in Barcelona in the shopping center La Maquinista with a size of 1300m2. Two more stores are in Madrid Parquesur and Xanadú, both with a size of only 800m2 each. They all opened to long queues of people eager to get through the doors. The Apple store in La Cañada is due to open mid November or even earlier with a size of 1700m2. It will be located on the ground floor opposite the main entrance where Habitat was before. Preparations for the new Apple store Marbella are being carried out in secret and the windows and access to the store are covered with black screens. It has been said, that they already have 65 employees.

Hopes on horizon for Spanish Economy

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:13:44 +0000

Tourism looks to be one of the sectors that will boost Spain’s economy this year, as forecasts for growth are more than two percent. Around one million more tourists are expected to visit Spain this year, with a vast majority of them being northern Europeans who originally intended to visit regions that unfortunately have become natural or political disaster zones. Of course, these re-scheduled trips are music to the ears of a country which is emerging from a long financial downturn.

Spain is currently the world’s third largest tourist destination behind France and the United States however, experts still say that Spain’s prices need to become more competitive for any sustainable growth to be recorded. Indeed, when compared to other “fun in the sun” destinations like Turkey or Greece, Spain is continually the more expensive option. There are many strategies currently being talked about by the tourism board and one of them is upgrading accommodation and facilities to distinguish Spain as a quality destination for higher-spending visitors.

The Spanish government has injected over 3.6 billion euros into the sector in the past three years and is therefore, obviously aware of its tourism’s economic potential as the years go by and global travel increases. Industry lobby Exceltur believes its forecasts for an average 1.5 percent growth each year in tourism between 2011 and 2015 could even double if the government gave the sector priority treatment.

Maybe some of this could help the tourism sector recover between 7,000 and 10,000 jobs of 180,000 lost since the financial crisis began three years ago. We live in hope, and as long as we are realistic – there’s nothing wrong with that.

Ronda – famous for their bridges and bullfights

Mirco Rehmeier — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:20:50 +0000

Ronda is a small town famous to tourists from all over the world. It is located about 100km Northwest from the city of Málaga and 50km North of the Costa del Sol in an elevation of 723m in the hillside called Serrania de Ronda. The Old Town or in Spanish just La Ciudad is stamped with moorish characteristics. Since the 5th century the islamic dominated this part of Spain. Ronda was very important due to its elevated situation.

The Old Town is situated on an all around steep sloping plateau and is separated from the younger district called El Mercadillo, through a 100m deep gap called El Tajo, built by the river Rio Guadalevín. There are three ways to cross this gap, the Puente Romano – Roman Bridge, the Puente Viejo – Old Bridge as well known as Puente Arabe – Arab Bridge, and the well known Puente Nuevo – New Bridge, which was built between 1761 and 1793 and is the tallest of all three bridges and still in use for cars. The Puente Nuevo is the main photo object of Ronda.

The second most important is the bullring. Ronda had a very important role in the evolution of the bullfighting. In the 18th and 19th century three generations of members of the family Romero developed those rules which are still used to fight known as the Escuela Rondeña – the Ronda-School.

Ronda has the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain. Built in 1784 in a Neoclassical style by architect José Martin de Aldehuela, who also designed the Puento Nuevo. The arena has a diameter of 66 metres. The bullring can hold almost 1.250 spectators and also houses a museum dedicated to the sport.

Every year Ronda celebrates a unique historical bullfight, the Corrida Goyesca, where bullfighters wear costumes from the time of Spanish painter Francisco Goya. Even fashion designer Giorgio Armani designed a unique bullfighting costume in 2009 for famed bullfighter and testimonial Cayetano Rivera Ordóñez. Before, in 1994 popstar Madonna used the bullring in her music video “Take A Bow” as scenery.

American artists Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles spent many summers in Ronda as part-time residents of Ronda’s old town. Both wrote about Ronda’s beauty and famous bull-fighting traditions. Their collective accounts have contributed to Ronda’s popularity over time. Orson Welles’ ashes were buried on the property of a long time friend, bullfighter Antonio Ordónez.

More objects of interest in Ronda are the church Santa María la Mayor on the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, as well as the Casa del Gigante and the Palacio de Mondragón, including the museum of the city, Museo Municipal, as well as the well obtained patio and a moorish style garden. The partially intact Baños árabes – Arab baths, are found below the city and date back to the 13th and 14th centuries.

Possible Las Vegas-style development planned for Spain

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:10:28 +0000

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas? …Well, not for very much longer it would seem.

If recent reports are to be believed, then Spain could very soon have it’s own Las Vegas-style strip.

Sheldon Adelson of Las Vegas Sands Corporation (LVS) has confirmed he is “very seriously considering” plans to create a massive Las Vegas strip-style development in Spain. The US casino resort operator confirmed last Thursday that he was in talks with the town halls of both Madrid and Barcelona, which were two of the cities he visited when he came to explore his initial idea in 2008. It has also been confirmed that Mr Adelson has been in touch with the authorities in both Valencia and at undisclosed locations within the Costa del Sol.

The chairman and chief executive for Las Vegas Sands Corporation said last week that Mr Adelson wanted to create “a mini-Las Vegas strip resort” in Europe with 20,000 hotel rooms and millions of square metres for retail outlets and conference facilities. He was quoted as saying “I hope to use the name Europe Vegas or Euro-Vegas”

Promotors say that the project’s estimated total cost is between 10 and 15 billion euros and could create 180,000 jobs.

Marbella voted best for beaches

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:41:30 +0000

A new study recently carried out by Oak Power Communication (OPC) has revealed that Marbella is consistently perceived on a global scale as having the best beaches in Spain. During the study, OPC asked over 600 journalists from the international media for their thoughts on Spanish tourism. Once the results were tallied up, it was clear that Marbella’s beaches won out, closely followed by Ibiza and Lanzarote respectively.

With places like Puerto Banus, where the streets are lined with designer shops; and the Old Town (Casco Antiguo), where the winding cobbled streets hide plenty of wonderful boutiques, perhaps it’s no surprise that Marbella was also voted the third trendiest and one of the most fashionable cities in the whole of Spain.

Research also shows that the region of Andalucia enjoys the best “brand image” in Spain. As a general tourist brand, Andalucia rated very high, with a score of 7.9 out of 10, followed by Madrid and Barcelona, with 7.3 and 7.1 each.

Maria Asenjo from OPC was quoted as saying “Journalists value Andalucia’s purely Spanish spirit, strength and passion, as well as enormous improvement in infrastructure and the quality of services in the past years”.

Madrid has the best image as a tourist city, with the Museo del Prado being the “best valued element of Spain’s artistic and tourist heritage”, followed closely by the Alhambra in Granada

new speed limits of 110 kilometers per hour

Mirco Rehmeier — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 09:45:59 +0000

Spain tries everything to save fuel. Now that the oil prices went up again and jumped to 120 dollars a barrel in just one week the prices consumers are paying for petrol and diesel are now at record highs. The tensions in North Africa are no problem to supplies but the government said that something has to be done to fuel costs. To save fuel the government has announced that the speed limit on major roads will be brought down from 120 kph to 110 kph. With this drivers will save 10 to 15 percent petrol or diesel. From today, March 7th the maximum speed on motorways and dual carriageways will be reduced to 110 kph.

More frequent trains make travel easier

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:21:46 +0000

This coming summer residents and tourists will be able to benefit from more frequent trains on the Cercanias 1 line between Malaga and Fuengirola, as they will soon run every 20 minutes instead of every half an hour. This is due to the completion of the second track, a project that has always been the long-term goal of Renfe due to the social and financial profitability of the Costa del Sol line.

This new change will allow the 30 departures every day to be increased by 30 percent, although the exact numbers of trains and the earliest and latest departure times are yet to be confirmed.

The recent alterations to the timetables are truly remarkable, considering there have not been any changes to the train frequency since the C1 opened in 1975. This single fact means the adjustment is, in the eyes of many, long overdue and will effectively accomplish the greatest improvement to the service in 36 years.

The current total journey time between Malaga and Fuengirola is 48 minutes. Source claim that this time could possibly be reduced due to the modifications, but only marginally.

Spain wins at global Travel Awards 2011

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:38:14 +0000

Skyscanner’s Global Travel Awards have named Spain as the most family friendly country which is also best for night-life, making it the destination with the best of both worlds.

With cities like Madrid and Barcelona renowned worldwide for their after hours entertainment, as well as many family orientated resorts along the coast, the country remains the most popular holiday destination for British tourists.

The opinions of more than 600 travellers were collected by the flights comparison site Skyscanner which made some surprising revelations.

Although Paris is often thought of as the world’s most romantic city, Italy stole the show with the award for “most romantic country” with 33% of the votes over France’s 19%.

Italy was also voted the best destination for food and culture, despite France being renowned for its haute cuisine and the fact that it is home to some of the world’s most famous museums and art galleries. Yara Paoli, Skyscanner Italian country expert was quoted as saying: “Italy is a very popular destination for British tourists and it’s great to see Italy being recognised for what it can offer; excellent cuisine, romantic cities and superb cultural attractions.”

The Caribbean won out on the most relaxing destination and also won awards for the most spectacular beaches. However, it was revealed that most travellers would pick Australia as their holiday destination if money were no object. Indeed, when the public were asked which country would they prefer if they had to live abroad, Australia came out on top, with the USA and Spain coming close behind.

Skyscanner is a leading travel search site providing instant on-line comparisons on flight prices for over 670,000 routes and on over 600 airlines, including flights to Spain as well car hire, deals and holidays. http://www.skyscanner.net/

Rent The Happy Hooker’s Marbella Hideaway

Mirco Rehmeier — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:10:27 +0000

In the 1970s dutch Xaviera Hollander rose to fame as the author of “The Happy Hooker“, after she worked as a call girl and madam. But now she’s an innkeeper of sorts. She owns a bed and breakfast in Amsterdam and is also the owner of Villa Caprice, a magnificent villa in the hills of sunny Marbella close to the Golden Mile, the beach and all amenities. Her house is located in a secluded area where guests can even “frolic around in the nude if they wish”. The villa offers 6 bedrooms to people who want some fun and sun. Villa Caprice has a garden with a lovely lawn, swimming pool with fountains and a sun terrace with 8 loungers. There is a large living room, well-equipped kitchen, a bar and terraces for outside dining. The villa’s bedrooms include several suites with king-sized beds as well as multiple rooms with twin beds for kids. Prices for the villa start at 1.800 Euro per week and go up to 2.400 Euro per week in summer

Water Taxi’s – travel in style

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:50:33 +0000

A group of entrepreneurs from Malaga are set to launch an alternative way to travel between Malaga and the rest of the Costa del Sol. They have set up a company in Fuengirola called “Aqua Taxi“, the first of it’s kind in Spain and hope to have the service up and running by Easter of this year.

They have brought one of the twelve-seater boats over from Southampton in the UK, and are in negotiations with national shipyards to manufacture the rest of the boats needed to provide the service. Their ultimate goal is to extend the services offered by their company all the way along the coast to Gibraltar. In the medium to long term, there are plans to run up to Nerja and Almuñecar linking the east and the west.

The Water Taxi service, which will be based in Malaga Port aims to revolutionize the taxi business and connect Malaga and Marbella within 45 minutes. The company has currently received authorization to operate from Marbella, Benalmadena and Fuengirola and hopes be accepted also by Puerto Banus in the near future.

In terms of tariffs, which are still to be confirmed, a 20 minute taxi ride to Benalmadena will cost around 10-12 euros, while rides to Marbella will cost around 25-30 euros. The company has said that they will combine quick service with leisurely tourist trips according to demand from the general public.