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October 4, 2011

Sun-kissed Vacations In Lanzarote This Autumn

Filed under: Travel and Leisure - 04 Oct 2011 from guest

The UK’s summertime this year have been another gloomy one which does appear somewhat of a tendency during the last few years, so anybody that has remained at home could be feeling a bit lackluster from the scarcity of the sun’s rays that has come our way . But the upside needless to say is you’ll find some terrific sunshine destinations fairly close to home that make for a perfect winters break, and 1 of those is the island of Lanzarote.

You’ll find seven islands within the Spanish owned chain and Lanzarote is amongst probably the most popular, located just off the African coast. Its climate and terrain are more arid than the other islands, reflecting the reality that it can be situated close towards the Sahara has quite little precipitation and is volcanic in origin. The weather here is just fantastic as a result - with tourists able to get pleasure from temperatures that reach into the mid 20?s Celsius during the winter months.

Since the 1990?s self catering holidays on the island have actually grown in recognition and as a result there has been a huge demand for good top quality villas in Lanzarote, both within the primary resorts and across the island. Most villas come equipped with private swimming pools along with lots of other luxury extras for example Jacuzzis and hot tubs. And prices are reasonable, beginning from around €600 per week for a standard two bedroom villa boasting its own pool.

The biggest resort on the island is named Puerto del Carmen and tourists can discover loads of fun-filled activities here as well as an abundance of good beaches. There are also plenty of Lanzarote villas . Which enjoys a quiet and idyllic location in addition to great viewpoints down to the coast and across to Fuerteventura. Villa Mare as an example , has recently undergone a professional renovation and there are no fewer than 5 guest sleeping rooms here, all of which have been completely furnished in a contemporary style. Whilst on the outside guest visitors can savor the tremendous pool .

It has to be stated though that despite it’s many appeals Puerto del Carmen may possibly not be to everybodies liking, so an excellent alternative could be naturally Playa Blanca. Accommodation wise most Playa Blanca holiday villas are also reasonably priced and easily bookable on-line.

The area boasts a plethora of sight-seeing opportunities that help to increase the lists of good reasons to visit the island and it’s really worthwhile to experience these for yourself, so given the sheer diversity of what Lanzarote has to offer car rental is by far the most effective way to make the most of your visit, but if you don’t fancy that then guided excursions cover both land and sea, visiting the best attractions the island has on a daily basis. As an alternative there are a great deal of sports to participate in, such as bicycling, mountain climbing not to mention taking walks if you prefer to keep activities nice and low key.

So there you have it, a whistle stop overview of this amazing island. In case you would like to understand more an excellent resource will be the lanzaroteguidebook.com which has everything you need to know if you are preparing to check out the island.

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August 17, 2011

Fancy A Holiday Getaway In The Canaries

Filed under: Travel and Leisure - 17 Aug 2011 from guest

Planning a holiday in the Canaries this autumn? This delightful group of islands are the most popular vacation destination for overseas holiday-makers after Catalonia, and provide excellent weather throughout the year as a result of their ideal location.

The largest and most commonly known island is Tenerife, home to the towering Mount Teide, that rises majestically to 3718 metres above sea level creating an outstanding contrast with its snow capped peak to the sun baked beaches delightfully arrayed along the Tenerife’s fantastic coastline at sea level. Like many islands in the Canaries, the south of the island is home to the main tourist resorts, as opposed to the northern area tends to be cloudier, so is ideal for the commercial side of Tenerife’s infrastructure.

On the flip side Lanzarote is a small island, weighing in at just 40km by 60km– and a big advantage is that it hasn’t been scarred by mindless commercial development, so it is far more au natural as they say.

As a result any vacationers wishing to really get away from it all in the Canaries should make a bee-line to Lanzarote, as the pristine surroundings are truly amazing, especially in the northern half of the island. Akin to the neighbouring island of Tenerife all of the primary resorts are located in the south of the island and this is typically where you can find the greatest choice of accommodation, with large numbers of condos and Lanzarote holiday villas for hire.

Of Lanzarote’s two premier destinations Puerto del Carmen happens to be the most popular, offering a plethora of terrific beaches as well as the quaint old town harbour. You can also find a good deal of budget friendly hotels and villas in Puerto del Carmen for anyone searching for places to stay.

Playa Blanca is slightly scaled-down and less busy and is mostly a welcoming, tranquil resort which is not as night life centric as some of the way more lively areas of Lanzarote, amazingly , instead the goal here is to continuing to keep the charisma and traditional nature of its working history. But fortunately you’ll still find a vast option of self catering apartments and villas available for long term and short term rental

From the awe-inspiring and beautiful scenery to the world class beaches, this really is a holiday location that will defiantly leave you wanting more. The unforgettable charm of this pleasant island will defiantly lure you back again.

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February 20, 2011

Barelonas’ Main City Attractions

Filed under: Vacations Spain - 20 Feb 2011 from Becky Padmore

Barcelona is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations. When visiting it’s hard to believe that Barcelona hasn’t always drawn the crowds, the city began it’s transformation in 1992 when it won the rights for the Olympics. The newly designed city includes a lovely man-made beach, palm tree lined avenues and a stylish redeveloped port. Whether you are interested in art, culture, drinking, fine cuisine, music, shopping, sport or partying - this captivating city will not let you down! Here is a guide to Barcelona’s main attractions:

* The Picasso Museum is Barcelona’s most popular museum with over a million annual visitors. It has a large collection from this famous artist and shouldn’t be missed.

* Park Guell is a pretty garden complex filled with some unique architecture. It’s great for a romantic stroll.

* The famous La Sagrada Familia the massive catholic church still under construction from 1882! It’s still impressive although not finished.

* The incredible Batllo House is sometimes called the House of Bones and indeed it does have a visceral, skeletal organic quality. It was originally designed for a middle-class family and situated in a prosperous district of Barcelona.

*It if worth a trip to the Camp Nou, Barcelona’s world famous stadium. There is an excellent tour which appeals to football fans and non football fans alike.

*If you are visiting the city as a family good places to try are the Tibidabo Amusement Park, the IMAX cinema and the fabulous Magic Fountain of Montjuic.

* The world famous Las Ramblas is a must see. It’s a lively street which has an abundance of street performers and a great happy atmosphere.

*The Olympic port is the place to visit for a great selection of good bars, places to eat and even a casino. The beach is also located here.

Tips for getting around - The city can be a little sprawling but it also has a very good public transport system (both buses and trains). Taxis are also not too expensive. Hope you enjoy your stay!

For more great tips on global travel visit www.globalgrasshopper.com which includes advice on the best places to visit in Thailand

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February 17, 2011

The Best Beaches Majorca Has To Offer

Filed under: Vacations Spain - 17 Feb 2011 from Mark Walters

Majorca is a stunning island and a fantastic place to visit. If you’re due to go there and are wondering which beaches to visit, read our guide for more information. The lovely Portals Vells Beach is definitely worth going to as you can explore the rocky shore and see lots of seabirds nesting. It’s also a National Area of Special Interest for cap de Cala Figuera. If you like seafood, then check out the 2 great restaurants that feature their own hatcheries. You could also go snorkeling.

Formentor Beach is another top beach. You can relax on the sun beds, make use of the showers and visit the bars. You could also check out the brilliant surf school if you’re the kind of person who likes to keep active. Alternatively, relax with a bit of celebrity spotting - the sandy beaches of Formentor Beach are said to be a good place to spot famous people due to the well-known Formentor Hotel nearby. The beach is also know as Cala Pi de sa Posada.

Another great place is Cala Agulla Beach. This beach has a wild and natural feel, given by the massive pine forest that borders the beach and goes right down to the sand. You can make use of the water sports and other available attractions, such as a restaurant that offers free access to a beach volleyball court and a little gym. Cala Agulla is very popular with young people on vacation during the summer months and is a great place to visit if you’re after excellent atmosphere.

Located on the East coast of the island, S’Illot Beach is the ideal place to go and experience some culture, especially during August when you can go and visit a range of different local festivals. The beach also has lots of fantastic amenities, from sun beds to water sports, from umbrellas to great restaurants. It’s very popular with tourists and surrounded by lots of good hotels. Placed at the mouth of the river n’Amer, S’Illot Beach is found between Cala Millor and Porto Cristo.

Finally, another brilliant Majorcan beach is S’Arenal Beach, which is one of the most visited areas in the whole of the Balearic Islands. It’s located in the Bay of Palma and has the highest concentration of hotels on the island, making it great for people who like the bustle of a busy vacation. The beach is popular with both tourists and local people in the summer months. There’ area great opportunities for shopping as well as some fantastic discos, bars and restaurants.

Find Out More : Majorca Holiday

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February 15, 2011

Lanzarote Vacations Enjoy Great Food And Local Wine

Filed under: Travel and Leisure - 15 Feb 2011 from guest

Great meals out and excellent food and drink are a major part of any holiday abroad. And Lanzarote in the Canaries offers plenty of unique flavours, which can be enjoyed both in your accommodation and at one of the many restaurants around the island. Which is very easy to explore thanks to the fact that Car hire in Lanzarote is both affordable and simple to arrange.

Surprisingly for an island in the Atlantic meat dishes are more traditional and popular on Lanzarote than fish. As a result locally caught rabbit and goat feature on many menus. And the island is also famous for its delicious goat chesses. Which are best enjoyed with a local wine, such as El Grifo. Which is still produced in one of the oldest bodegas in the Canaries that date back as far as the 1770?s.

Many hotels in Lanzarote offer traditional dishes at least once a week and other menu items such as prawns with garlic are also a regular fixture. Many locals prefer to wash these down with one of the two local lagers, Tropical or Dorada, whilst locally produced honey rum is also very popular as an after dinner digestif. There are also plenty of markets and shops where visitors can buy local food and drink. So many tourists staying in Lanzarote villas can try reproducing these dishes for themselves.

For those who can be bothered to cook there are plenty of restaurants to choose from and a lot of the best are located in the countryside away from the main resorts. The north of the island is home to some of the finest, such as Ikarus in Teguise, once Lanzarote?s capital city. And Lagomar in Oasis de Nazaret which was once the home of the film star Omar Sharif and which now houses one of the best restaurants on Lanzarote.

For anyone who wants to sample the flavours of the island they’ll find Lanzarote flights available from virtually all major airports on the UK and fares have really tumbled over the last few years. Thanks to the fact that the budget airlines now fly here. The journey is four hours, as Lanzarote is in fact located some way south of mainland Spain just off the coast of Africa.

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February 3, 2011

Islas Cies In Galicia: Idyllic Beach Camping

Filed under: Vacations Spain - 03 Feb 2011 from Aaron Maurette

When it comes to Spanish beaches most people automatically go for the Mediterranean Coastline. However is in the Atlantic coast of Spain, north of Portugal, where one of the top beaches in the world can be found in the least spoiled, astonishing Atlantic coastline of Galicia.

One of the gems of this coastline is on Las Islas Cies. Once a pirate’s haunt, you can only access Las Islas Cies by boat, a distant cry from other Mediterranean sandy destinations. Instead of returning to your hotel after a day’s snorkelling and sun worshiping, camp out in the idyllic site provided.

Galegos ,as the locals are known by, come here to spend lengthy, lazy summer holidays on the Praia das Rodas, a perfect cove of fine, white sand backed by small dunes sheltering a calm sea of crystal-clear waters. Spanish refer to it as their “Caribbean beach”. The sand is white enough and the water is turquoise enough to stand up to its Caribbean rivals. Perhaps the only noticeable difference is the chilling temperature of the water.

Where to Stay:

To stay overnight you must book at Camping Islas Cies (www.campingislascies.com). The average cost is 7 Euros per person. The camping ground with a capacity of 800 people is wheelchair friendly and has a restaurant and a supermarket.

How to get there:

Islas Cies are a 45 minute ferry ride from the city of Vigo, sitting just 15 kilometres offshore. Naviera Mar de Ons runs boats to and from the island. Only up to 8 return trips a days are schedule to/from Vigo at an average cost of 17 Euros per adult and children under 12 years are free.

The main beach:

The main beach that people come to is Rodas Beach or Praia das Rodas on Las Islas Cies which means “Wheels Beach” in Galician. Praia das Rodas has been named as one of the best beaches in the world in a few polls, including a list created by The UK’s Guardian.

If you requiere further information about the best beaches in the world please click on the links provided for an up to date list of the World’s top beaches.

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