Family Holidays in Spain

August 6th, 2010

Lanzarote – Holidays for the Whole Family

 

When the time comes to go on holiday with your family, you many have a difficult time agreeing with everyone on where to go. The kids are either too grown for Disney or too young for NYC Broadway shows. If this is the case, you can opt to visit an exotic tropic island that has something for everyone. One of such islands is Lanzarote.

Lanzarote is located in Northern Africa and is one of the Canary Islands. This is a paradise on earth and it’s strategically located at the intersection of the Trade winds. This means that the weather is sunny all year round. If you are a looking for a perfect place to escape the cold winter months, a Lanzarote holiday will be best for you.

The island has a lot of beautiful flora and fauna which are endemic and often unique to the place. If you love nature, you are in for a big treat. There are many bird species and scenic nature trails that guarantee to make your excursions really enjoyable. However, if you love mountain climbing hikes, this may not be the best place for you as high  mountains which fit the circumstances for rock climbing are not found on the island.

With the sunny weather all year round, it is understandable that the beach is one of the major attractions in the island. You can enjoy the wonderful weather with your paperback or simply sunbathe as you watch other beach lovers in the sea. The beaches are well maintained and the atmosphere is always a merry one. This is a perfect place to forget all the hustle and bustles of the city and unwind.

Your Lanzarote holiday will not be complete until you get yourself some souvenirs from this exotic land. There are a number of towns where you can get items at bargain prices. Rare antiques and foreign artefacts are popular with visitors. The shopping centres have something for everyone, whether you need a painting, cutlery items, potteries, carvings, metal works, and silk cloths among others.

After a busy day exploring this magnificent island, unwind at night at one of the many bars or dance clubs. If you want more fun, you can attend the evening beach parties which are held frequently at the island.

Lanzarote holidays have something for everyone in the family. There is no better way to get a taste of paradise on earth than visiting this caracterful Canary Island.

Holiday Villas Lanzarote

August 3rd, 2010

Hot Villa Holidays In Lanzarote

 

The small Canary Island of Lanzarote is an ideal destination for a villa break at any time of the year.  Thanks to the fact that this small speck of Spain is located very close to the West African coast and enjoys a wonderful semi tropical climate.  Resulting in temperatures that reach well into the 20´s Celsius even during the winter.

Tourists have been flocking to Lanzarote ever since package holidays first took off in the Canaries during the early 1970´s.  With visitor numbers peaking at around 2 million arrivals a year during the 1980´s.  These figures have waned a little since then – as newer destinations such as Egypt and Turkey have drawn visitors away.  But the island remains a very popular holiday hot spot – welcoming well over 1.4 million tourists during the course of 2009 alone.

The UK is Lanzarote´s largest and most important market – accounting for around 800,000 arrivals a year, thanks to the ready availability of cheap flights to Lanzarote from most airports across the UK.  With carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet offering returns from around €100.  German holidaymakers also love the island – and Lanzarote is also very popular with tourists from mainland Spain too.  Many of whom visit during the summer to escape the heat of the mainland.

Self catering accommodation on the island is very reasonably priced – especially in relation to other Spanish holiday hot spots such as Ibiza and Mallorca.  For example, few Lanzarote villas cost more than €1000 per week to rent, even in high season.  Whilst villas in Playa Blanca – the islands newest resort – can be booked from as little as €400 for a seven night stay.

As well as great weather and loads of superb beaches Lanzarote also offers a lot of things for tourists to see and do.  A visit to the weird volcanic scenery of the Timanfaya National Park is a real must for most.  Numerous science fiction films have been shot here – such as One Million Years BC – and the terrain of lava fields and spent volcanoes really is out of this world.

History lovers will adore the former island capital of Teguise – which is a veritable treasure trove of colonial buildings set in quiet cobbled streets.  With some of the old merchants palaces here dating back as far as the 15th century.  Every Sunday morning the town comes alive as it plays host to the largest weekly market in Lanzarote, which attracts thousands of tourists and residents.

Fuerteventura – Canary Islands

August 2nd, 2010

Fiery Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is the oldest of the Canary Islands, and was created by a volcanic eruption over 70 million years ago. The stunning scenery which is seen today was once created by the volcano, but has now been carved out by the weather. You may not find an active volcano on the island, but their presence is everywhere and holidays to Fuerteventura wouldn’t be complete without exploring the volcanic areas!

Most of the volcanic attractions centre around Corralejo!

If you choose to stay in Corralejo on your holiday to Fuerteventura, its status as a popular tourist resort means you will get great Corralejo deals! Walking excursions around the volcanoes are a popular activity with those who enjoy the outdoors. This is a great way to get up close to the volcanoes where cars are not allowed to reach. Bike tours are another great way to see this, and many companies organise these, travelling to the mountains of Corralejo and lasting around 2-3 hours. You can get some of the best views of the island from the top of the inactive volcanoes, and whilst it may seem a struggle to get to the top, coming back down is much more fun!

Get your adrenaline pumping on a quad bike safari, for a day out the whole family will enjoy!

The safaris will lead you around the back roads of Fuerteventura, winding in and out of the mountains and the volcano craters! Quad bike safaris are a great place to see the sights and beauty of Fuerteventura without having to sightsee! Other 4 x 4 adventures include jeep safaris, which are a great option if you would prefer not to be in the driving seat. Sit back and relax as you wind through the mountain roads of Corralejo, or take a bumpy ride around the volcanoes craters and summits.

Fuerteventura is a great example that sightseeing doesn’t just have to be about maps and boring tour guides! There’s plenty of exciting activities to try out so you can have fun while you explore on your holidays to Fuerteventura!

Holidays in Benidorm

July 22nd, 2010

Holidaymakers are being urged to take extra care when traveling to foreign countries, after new figures revealed five Scots die every week in Benidorm

 

The main causes of death are heart attacks, heatstroke and road accidents, and the most common victims are males aged between 50 and 55.

It was revealed that more than 260 bodies are flown home to Scotland every year from Alicante Airport, near the Costa Blanca holiday resorts.

Frank Lynch, a Glasgow-based funeral director, brings home the bulk of the bodies, and said each year he handles around 450 cases.

He said: “The heat’s the biggest killer – particularly for men in their early 50s.

“They lie baking in the sun and don’t realise just how hot they’re getting.

“Before they know it, they’re suffering heatstroke – and that can quickly lead to heart failure.

Mr Lynch said others die after jumping in the pool or sea to cool off, but the shock of the sudden temperature drop can stop their hearts.

He said: “Heart attacks aside, most of the bodies we bring home are of people killed in road accidents.

“Scots travel – and die – all over the world and we bring bodies back from Mumbai, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, everywhere.

“But most common is Spain, particularly Alicante.

“We easily repatriate five Scots a week from there on average – and that’s week in, week out, the whole year round.”

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman offered her advice to Scots heading abroad, and said people have to take better care of themselves outside of their comfort zones.

She said: “Traveling to different climates can expose you to health risks – you should be aware of the dangers.

“Drink plenty of water in hot climates to avoid dehydration and be safe in the sun – avoid sunbathing between 11am and 3pm.

She added taking out travel insurance is essential, to avoid facing massive medical bills if treatment is required.

Peter Cornall, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said cold water shock can kill very quickly.

He said: “On really hot days we all want to cool down when we overheat.

“However, if you’re not used to cold water, you should climb in gradually and ensure you acclimatise to the temperature.

“Avoid over-exerting yourself in very hot weather.

“Keep hydrated and stay in the shade during the hottest hours of the day – and don’t forget the sun cream.”

Almost 70 per cent of Scots going on holiday this year will be heading abroad.

Spain – Cheap Holiday Accommodation

July 1st, 2010

Summer Holidays 2010
Cheap Accommodations in Spain

There is good news for last minute accommodation seekers who wish to spend their holidays in Spain. Well, might not be the desired destination for everyone but there is a widely unknown fact about certain holiday destinations in Spain. The seoson in this areas starts in autumn, not with the beginning of summer! It’s mostly mountain regions (often just an hour by car to the coast) with amazing landscapes, views and the experience of a broadly unknown Spain, white villages, ham, wine and Flamenco. The sun is not burning as hot as on the shore, the air is fresh and mild, whilst overcrowded shops or restaurants are unknown too.

Relax and enjoy Spain’s countryside at low season prices and enjoyNatural / National Parks with high mountaind and wild creeks walking, biking or on horsebacks. Accommodation is easy found everywhere, it doesn’t matter if you are looking for a hotel, apartment or to rent a villa with pool. Just discover Spain’s hidden and sometimes still secret mountain areas like the “Picos de Europa” or “Las Alpujarras” in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.