Friday, July 24, 2009

Review of Playa del Ingles

Situated on the edge of the Dunas de Maspalomas, the Gran Canaria seaside resort of Playa del Ingles is one of the best known spots on the island. Popular more for its climate and beach than for any historical or cultural worth, Playa del Ingles also has a vibrant nightlife scene and plenty of facilities for visitors to enjoy. During the daytime most holidaymakers head for the beach area, where aside from the sea, sand and sun, there are plenty of bars and restaurants to tempt the thirsty and hungry. The beach is excellent and was in fact man-made from sand shipped in from the Sahara Desert, there are also lots of water sports facilities for those who get bored with simply sunbathing. Playa del Ingles can be accessed from the GC1 and the GC500 and is approximately 30 km from the airport at Gando. Playa del Ingles Map.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Review of Benidorm Spain

Present day visitors to the lively Costa Blanca resort of Benidorm would find it hard to believe that up until the mid-1950’s it was just a tiny fishing village. The growth of Benidorm as a holiday resort has been phenomenal and it has now become the most popular seaside resort in Europe with between four and five million visitors each year. Many would say that the skyline of Benidorm has ruined the look of this beautiful part of the Spanish coast but the tall sleek Benidorm hotels have a beauty of their own and stand in stark contrast to the surrounding Mediterranean Sea and the mountains in the background. One of the main attractions for visitors are the fabulous Benidorm beaches which are long, sandy and wide and become very busy especially during the hot summer months. Another of the great attractions is the rich and varied Benidorm nightlife for which the resort is famous, having a huge choice for visitors and specialising in spectacular cabarets and live shows. The big draw for families is the fantastic choice of theme parks – this is big budget entertainment folks, check out the amazing Terra Mitica theme park with its scary rides and miniature children’s versions, or maybe the fabulous water park at Aqualandia, one of the best water parks in Europe. Also worth a visit are the Terra Natura safari park and the Mundomar Exotic and Marine Animal Park. Finally perhaps the most important thing which makes Benidorm such a huge attraction especially for north Europeans is the fantastic Benidorm weather, which can usually expected to be fine and sunny from May to October and is also pretty reliable even during the winter months. Much like most of the Spanish towns in this region, Benidorm enjoys over 300 sunny days every year and generally there is very little rainfall.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Mojacar Costa Almeria

Standing on a towering crag overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the Costa Almeria town of Mojacar is a spectacular sight. Tracing its history back to the times of the Moors, it was actually occupied much earlier with evidence of settlement some 4,000 years ago. During the Arab occupation the town (or village as it was then) was overseen by the Caliphate of Damascus, under his rule it grew in wealth and prosperity. Later joining the Narine sultanate, it became a strategic frontier town facing invading Christian forces from the east. Constant attacks by Christians led to the surrender of the town in 1488, though Moors, Christians and Jews continued to live and trade together. Mojacar fell into decline in the 19th century due to periods of severe drought, returning to prominence in the late 20th century with the arrival of tourism. Visitors attracted by the beauty and charm of this unique place ensure the future of Mojacar as a thriving town. Map of Mojacar.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

St Tropez a French Resort

A popular tourist destination in the Var department of southern France, St Tropez is renowned throughout the world as a destination for the rich and famous. Its name is derived from a matyr named Saint Torpes who was beheaded in the reign of Nero at Pisa in Italy, and set afloat, he is said to have landed where the town of St Tropez stands today. St Tropez saw some action during World War 2, when it was the location of a beach landing during Operation Dragoon. It rose in popularity as a playground of the rich and famous during the 1950’s, due mostly to exposure created by actress Brigit Bardot. St Tropez has a number of popular beaches which stretch around the Bay of Pampelonne, the area is also renowned for water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, power boating and jet-skiing. Map of St Tropez.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Property for Sale in Cambrils Tarragona

Four bedroom country house for sale close to the coastal resort of Cambrils, in the Tarragona region of Catalonia, Spain. Standing on a large 20,000 square metre plot this fine finca style property has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 WC’s, large garage, private swimming pool, outside dining, BBQ, telephone and it is connected to mains electricity and water. The propert is ideally situated just 20 minutes drive from Reus International Airport, and close to the town of Cambrils and the fine local beaches, the popular resort of Salou is also nearby with its famous Port Aventura theme park. This property would make a nice family home or perhaps be a good investment for rental purposes, and the asking price is 560,000 euros. Cambrils Map.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Visit the Restored Castle at Mazarron Murcia

Whilst visiting the Costa Calida, you might want to take a look at the newly restored Mazarron castle, which while still largely a ruin, has been conserved for the future. Originally built by the Duke of Velez in the 16th century, Mazarron castle served the area both as a defense against pirate attacks and for the protection of the valuable alum mining industry, which was important in Mazarron at that time. Mazarron and its coastal limb Puerto Mazarron, are popular tourist locations for the region of Murcia.

Enjoy the Sunny Weather – Rent a Crete Villa

Luxury 3 bedroom villa available to rent on the holiday island of Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands. Stunning 3 bedroom 2 bathroom detached villa with private swimming pool near to Chania, and close to the sea amidst an olive tree forest. All required facilties within 4 kilometres of the villa, which is in a quiet, peaceful area. The most popular holiday destination in Greece, the island of Crete benefits from a wonderful climate and Crete weather is ideal for summer holidays from May to October. Rentals in this Crete villa are offered from 700 – 1400 euros per week depending on season. Crete Map.

My Favourite Picture of a Waterfall


A recent visit to the Algar waterfall, located near to Callosa d’en Sarria on the northern Costa Blanca, Spain, reminded me of the pictures that I took the last time we visited in 2006, when my mother was on a trip and we wanted to take her somewhere a little different. The waterfall picture that I took that day is among my favourite photos, and I like to feature it on my website whenever relevant as it shows that the Costa Blanca is not all about beaches and bars. Around the Algar waterfall (Fuentes de Algar) there are a number of beautiful and interesting places to visit including my favourite, Guadalest (I have lots of Guadalest pictures as well!), Callosa d’en Sarria, the Arca sanctuary and the cactus garden. I have posted a small version of my favourite waterfall picture on the left.

Overview of the Bahia Principe Resort and Hotel Tenerife

Located at the southern end of Playa Paraiso (“Paradise Beach”) the popular Bahia Principe Tenerife Resort stands on a cliff overlooking the bay and enjoying spectacular views over the sea to the island of La Gomera. Situated on Tenerife’s renowned south-west coast close to the huge resort of Playa de las Americas the Principe Tenerife attracts thousands of visitors each year. The resort covers some 8,000 square metres and includes a number of swimming pools, gym, shopping and leisure centre, barbers and beauty salon, restaurants, snack bar, tennis court, squash court, Jacuzzi and much, much more. The Bahia Principe Tenerife has 220 well appointed luxury rooms with private bathroom and balcony. The region experiences a wonderful climate and Playa Paraiso weather is perfect for holidays throughout the year, being especially pleasant during the winter months as is most of the Canary Islands.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The largest city in the Canary Islands, Spain, is the historic city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Founded on the 24th June 1478 by the Spanish conquistadors, Las Palmas developed into a significant port and was well used by ships sailing around the African coast and also those visiting the New World of America. Used as a stopping off point for Christopher Columbus on the 1st of his American voyages, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria boasts a fantastic museum, named after the famous explorer, the Casa Colón contains models and artefacts relating to Columbus and his voyages. The fabulous Catedral de Santa Ana was begun in 1497 and took some four hundred year to finish, the Neo-Classical façade hides Gothic vaults. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is situated in the fertile north of the island and experiences a humid climate, which is not as searingly hot as the desert-like south of the island, making Las Palmas de Gran Canaria weather more pleasant in the summer months and still mild during the winter. Most visitors to Gran Canaria pass through Las Palmas in one way or another as both the airport for the island and the main port are located there. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Map.