All Spain

Pamplona Running of the Bulls: Run for your Life!

Jay Zeekel — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:41:10 +0000

One of the most well-known events, throughout all of the world, the Pamplona Running of the Bulls is a Spanish event that takes part in the annual San Fermin Festival in Pamplona. The opening ceremony for the festival is where all of the excitement takes place, as thousands of locals and foreigners take to the streets in the annual running of the bulls. The opening ceremony, more commonly known as the Chupinazo, takes place over the course of the entire first day, taking over the main streets of Pamplona. The days of the festival that follow the opening ceremony are relatively similar, with celebrations involving much music and dancing.

Apart from the running of the bulls, another main Spain attraction, most commonly seen during the San Fermin Festival, is bullfighting; a Spanish tradition dating back thousands of years. During the festival, the bullfighting takes place in the bullring, located in the city centre, and involves the bulls from the run that took earlier that day. If you aren’t keen on getting amongst the mayhem that takes place on the city streets, you can always view the action, safely, from the balconies of surrounding buildings.

Many tour companies offer a range of packages for those wishing to travel to Spain during the San Fermin Festival. While Pamplona is most commonly a quiet city, the streets become hectic during the festival, and so having a local tour guide can often lead to a more pleasant experience. Your travel agent can often organise a package that includes everything you need for the day, most importantly accommodation, which can often become scarce during the weeks of the festival.

Whether you choose to be a spectator, or get amongst the action and run with the bulls, the San Fermin Festival is one of the most remarkable Spain attractions, not to be missed.

Stamp your heels to the magic of Flamenco!

Jay Zeekel — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:08:33 +0000

When in Spain, you absolutely must experience the magic of an authentic Flamenco performance. Most commonly found in the south of Spain and in Barcelona, the flamenco performers will take your breath away as they passionately dance to the cultural sounds of Spain. For those visiting Barcelona, catching a Flamenco show at the world famous Torres Cordobesin is the ultimate Spanish experience. Hundreds of international renowned Flamenco dancers have performed at the Torres Cordobesin, making it a truly historical site for the heritage of Spain.

A number of tour companies offer professionally organised evenings for a trip to the Torres Cordobesin, including transfers to and from your hotel. If you want the full experience, you can often choose to accompany your show with a traditional Spanish meal, tapas and drinks. You will never be bored when immersing yourself in the music of flamenco, as you experience dance and song, presented in one, truly magical, Spanish art performance. Audience involvement has made flamenco dancing one of the most captivating Barcelona attractions, with many tourists revisiting the Torres Cordobesin during their stay in Spain. Flamenco performances have a number of nightly shows, with times starting from 7.30pm right through to 11.30pm, so make your choice for a spectacular sunset show or a midnight rendezvous.

If you are looking for a truly authentic Spanish experience, a night out at the Flamenco is a must. Visitors of all ages will enjoy this passionate and cultural experience, which will leave your feet tapping for the rest of your journey!

Alhambra of Granada

Jay Zeekel — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:23:55 +0000

A destination rich with a beautiful culture and a proud heritage, Alhambra is home to some of the most breathtaking and awe inspiring Granada attractions. Located to the west of the city of Granada, the Alhambra has a great history with records dating back to as early as the 9^th century. Once known as the castle of Alhambra, in later centuries, the Alhambra was transformed into a fortress to prevent intrusions from enemies during wars. The Alhambra Castle was developed over time, with additions being built over a number of centuries. A watch tower and the keep were firstly added to the Alhambra, followed by a Mosque, the baths and a number of other great halls and rooms. During the 18^th century the Alhambra was abandoned and vacated by all, with reconstruction only beginning to rebuild the great castle and its surrounds during the 19^th century.

The Alhambra provides visitors with a unique insight into the lives of civilians and royalty throughout the history of Spain. There are just under 50 sections of the Alhambra that are frequently visited by tourists, which are found in 5 areas of the structure, which are the Charles V Palace, the Nasrid Palaces, towers and higher Alhambra, Alcazaba and Generalife.

The best way to experience all that the Alhambra has to offer and gain the best understanding of this historical site, is to book in for a professional guided tour. Many English speaking guides are available who can enlighten you with many of the historical secrets that the Alhambra beholds.

The perfect Spain attraction for the entire family, you will be left in awe of the astonishing architecture, the breathtaking views and the sheer beauty that is the Alhambra.

La Tomatina: The most fun you’ll have with Tomatoes!

Jay Zeekel — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:29:35 +0000

Possibly Spain’s most infamous annual event, La Tomatina is a tomato throwing festival that occurs in Bunol, a small town to the west of Valencia in Spain. Bunol is home to only 9000 residents, making this the most crowded and popular time for visiting the town. La Tomatina is one of the world’s biggest food fights and occurs on the last Wednesday of every August.
With accommodation being limited in Bunol, many tourists attending La Tomatina opt to stay in nearby Valencia and take a bus to the small town on the morning of the event. Being in such a close vicinity to Bunol, this event also becomes one of the biggest Valencia Attractions in the calendar year. If you are participating in La Tomatina, make sure you come prepared; your clothes will be ruined, so wear something that is not valuable and where possible, bring goggles to stop the tomatoes from getting into your eyes. There are a number of tours that include the famous tomato throwing festival along the way, so if you are travelling around Europe during the month of August, be sure to go to La Tomatina for some guaranteed fun.
The tradition of La Tomatina began in 1944 or 1945, but it is debatable as to where the tradition originated from. There is no particular reason for this event, no religious beliefs or cultural meanings, just simply a tradition that started purely for fun! If you are looking for some great holiday fun with a bit of a twist, and don’t mind getting messy in the process, La Tomatina is a Spanish event that should not be missed.

Places to go Camping in Spain

Jay Zeekel — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:19:54 +0000

Spain offers thousands of campsites. They range in geography from beach to country to mountains, you can have the best of both worlds and see the breathtaking Spain attractions and see all that makes spain so beautiful when camping.

Cabopino in Andalusia offers facilities with the handicapped provided for. Situated on the coast, the beach is only minutes away. There is a covered pool and activities for the children. Campsites are beautifully shaded by trees, and bungalows are also available.

Puente Nuevo in Villaviciosa de Cordoba is beautifully set in the country only 20km from a clear aquamarine river. This campsite has hot showers, swimming pool, water and electric hook-up. Activities available include archery, hiking, football, basketball and trips. Nearby are restaurants and nightclubs. Also nearby are fishing, climbing, horse riding, and canoeing.

Sierra Penascosa in the mountains of Albacete has direct access to a river and natural reserve. Bungalows and chalets are rented here as well as pitches. Pets are welcome, and children have a splash pool and two large pools. Many activities are offered here, such as mini-golf, badminton, mountain biking, volleyball and many others. There are also accommodations for the elderly and handicapped.

Camino de Santiago in Burgos welcomes pets all through the campground. Facilities include hot showers, shared barbecues, private car park and European plugs. Library, video games, board games, tennis and billiards are just a few of the activities. Telephone, food shop, bar, and snack bar are some of the services offered.

Spain has a variety of scenic campsites to enjoy on holiday. These are only a very few, so enjoy the stay.

A Quick Tour of Barcelona

Jay Zeekel — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:10:19 +0000

Spain is certainly a country that has something for everyone and it’s the perfect place to spend a family holiday with your loved ones thanks to its warm climate, plethora of attractions, tasty food – don’t forget to sample some delicious Paella – and liberal scattering of beaches.

It’s also the perfect destination if you’re considering where to go for your next city break, with thousands of tourists flying out to places like Barcelona every year. Aside from being a culture packed and exciting destination, Barcelona is certainly a city of contrasts with a superb beach, beautiful open parklands, weird and wonderful sculptures that greet you on many street corners and some amazing architecture, such as the spectacular Sagrada Família Church or Casa Milà (otherwise known as La Pedrera), both of which were designed by the renowned Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi.

If you want to shop for souvenirs, or you fancy a bit of retail therapy, then Barcelona is also the perfect place for this too with a selection of malls, chain stores and lots of boutiques and speciality stores; meaning you can outfit yourself in the latest fashion or just burn some of that hard earned cash.

So if you find yourself with a few days to spend in Barcelona, but don’t know what to see and do, here are my recommendations for a quick tour of the city:

Sagrada Família

Antonio Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Família is a large Roman Catholic Church that dominates the Barcelona skyline with its rather unique gothic styling. Construction of this architectural gem began in 1882 and it’s still not finished!

Given World Heritage Status by UNESCO and now over half finished (construction is scheduled to be finished by 2026 which is the centennial of Gaudi’s death) no visit to Barcelona can be complete without a visit to this awe-inspiring tourist attraction.

La Ramblas

A series of medieval streets collectively called ‘la Rambla’ that cut a tree-lined swathe through Barcelona, you’ll find that this area is extremely popular with tourists and locals alike so be warned.

You’ll find an undulating wave-like pattern on the pavements – Rambla refers to an intermittent watercourse and the street follows a former riverbed – a decorative mosaic by Joan Miró, and a lively atmosphere with street performers, stalls and plenty of cafes to stop at for a quick coffee or two.

Picasso Museum

If you are a fan of Picasso and his distinctive abstract pieces, you should add the Picasso Museum to your itinerary. The museum is housed in what was once two 16^th century palaces that have been combined to form one vast building displaying over 3,500 works of art by the world famous artist.

Pablo Ruiz Picasso spent several of his formative years in Barcelona and it left an indelible mark on the artist as you’ll see in some of the works on display here.

Casa Milà

Another of Gaudi’s controversial designs, Casa Milà was originally designed and built for a wealthy widow, Roser Segimon and her new husband, Pere Milà after whom the building takes its name.

With its undulating stone façade and the intricate design of the wrought iron balconies, the apartment complex still makes for a weird and wonderful site and looks particularly nice when lit up at night time (especially when viewing from the atrium inside the building).

The Magic Fountain Of Montjuïc

Originally constructed for the Barcelona International Exposition in 1929, the fountains – located in the Montjuïc neighbourhood in the city – are another tourist attraction that really come alive at night when the spectacular light show and music performances draw tourists from far and wide to the area.

Performances take place from October to April usually on Friday and Saturday nights for half an hour between 7 and 8:30pm and May to September from Thursday to Sunday between 9 and 11pm.

Post supplied by MoneySupermarket.com, the UK price comparison website.

Theme Parks in Spain

Jay Zeekel — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Travellers on Spain Holidays can visit a variety of theme parks in different parts of the country.

PortAventura is on the Costa Dorado approximately 123 kilometres southwest of Barcelona. The zones in this park are Mediterrania, Aztec Mexico, Polynesia, the Wild Far West and Imperial China. Each zone has rides, shows and restaurants related to its theme. The Dragon Khan in the China zone is one of the most thrilling rides in the park. Riders will go around eight dizzying loops at speeds up to 110 kilometres per hour. The admission price is $58.13 for adults and $47.56 for children. Travellers can visit the water park at PortAventura for an additional charge.

Illa Fantasia is a water park about 27 kilometres northeast of Barcelona near the village of Vilassar de Dalt. The park has water slides and a wave pool. The Kamikaze toboggan is one of the thrill rides here. Riders will descend into a pool at up to 60 kilometres per hour. Adults over 1.2 metres in height will pay $28.40 for admission. The price for children over one metre tall is $19.82. There is no charge for children less than one metre tall.

Terra Mitica is about 50 kilometres northeast of Alicante near Benidorm. This park’s theme zones are Egypt, Greece, Iberia, Rome and The Islands. One of the most thrilling rides here is the Titanide roller coaster with speeds of up to 96 kilometres per hour. Ticket prices are $46.24 for adults and $35.01 for children.

Spain Zoo and Safari Park

Jay Zeekel — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:50:00 +0000

Travellers on Spain Holidays can visit zoos in Barcelona and Madrid. They can see wild animals at safari parks near Estepona and in the Aitana Mountains.

Admission prices for the Barcelona Zoo are $21.87 for adults and $13.12 for children from age three to age 12. Children under three are free, and tickets for seniors age 65 and above are $11.40. Some of the animals here are gorillas, gazelles, wolves and anteaters.

Tickets at the Madrid Zoo are $25.71 for visitors from age eight to age 65. The price is $20.81 for children from age three to age seven and people age 65 and over. There is no cost for children under three. All tickets are $1.33 less if purchased online. Pandas and gibbons are two of types of animals from Asia at the zoo. African animals include lions, giraffes, camels and antelopes. The wallabies and kangaroos are Australian. Animals from the American continents include llamas and sea lions.

Selwo Adventure is a safari park near Estepona. Admission here is $32.47 for visitors between ages 10 and 65. Tickets for children between ages three and eight are $22.53. Adults age 65 and over pay the children’s price. There is no charge for children under three. Tickets are $1.33 less if they are purchased online. Animals here include ostriches, tigers, lions and lynx.

Admission to Aitana Safari in the Aitana Mountains is $15.90 for children between ages four and 10. Adults pay $22.53. Visitors will see tigers, lions and giraffes here, while experienced guides can take you through the park as part of guided Europe tours that explore Spain and a number of other great countries nearby.

5 Star Hotels in Spain

Jay Zeekel — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:06:45 +0000

Guests with discerning tastes will welcome a stay in the sunny country on their Spain Holidays. The following hotels are only a teaser as to what luxurious amenities await in the city of Madrid.

Wellington Hotel

This plush hotel is located in within the Art Triangle in Salamanca next to Alcala Gate and Retiro Park. A short walk away is fun Serrano shopping and the Prado Museum. Guests can expect gourmet cuisine at the hotel restaurant, which features Basque haute style cooking and Japanese-Mediterranean fusion meals. An expansive breakfast buffet is also available. Guestrooms feature high ceilings, marble bathrooms, Wi-Fi and mini bars.

Gran Melia Fenix

Surrounded by luxury shopping in the Plaza de Colón and within walking distance from Gran Via and Museo del Prado. Guests have access to free Wi-Fi in their rooms and all community areas. Guestrooms are equipped with DVD players, CD players, iPod docking stations and a plasma TV. A health club is also available for those who wish to work out during their visit. The hotel is also home to popular cosmopolitan bar DRY by Javier de las Muelas.

Hesperia Madrid

This stylish hotel is located on Madrid’s main avenue, Paseo de la Catellana. This shopping district is centrally located in the cultural centre of Madrid and is close to Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The hotel’s restaurant features more than 70 whiskeys in the Scotch bar for aficionados. All public areas have free Wi-Fi for guests to enjoy. Guestrooms are especially welcoming and shower guests with flowers, chocolates and turndown chocolate service. They also have exquisite marble baths, Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

Romantic Dinners in Spain

Jay Zeekel — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:17:23 +0000

The poetry of Cervantes whispers across the rolling hills of Granada and the sunlit beaches of San Sebastian. Spain holidays with its rhythmic language and lurid hum of flamenco, is a natural romantic destination. Throughout the country, food serves as a flavorful medium through which romance can be celebrated.

Barcelona, an iconic city in Catalonia, is home to many famed restaurants for the amorous couple, such as El Jardi de L’Abadessa. The menu is built on a foundation of fresh, seasonal ingredients and features Mediterranean dishes such as a Red Tuna with Green Bean and Shitake Salad and a Beef Carpaccio with Parmesan and Oil. Prices average about 40 AUD per meal.

Further south in Andalusia, Seville is home to Restaurant Egaña Oriza, a beautiful glowing mansion from the 1920s renovated into a romantic restaurant retreat. The menu boasts of contemporary Spanish cuisine with hand-picked wine pairings to maximize both bold flavors and subtle nuances. Seafood options are abundant, drawing from Seville’s location near the southern coast, but customers can also opt to have a regional menu personalised according to individual preferences.

In Madrid, the nation’s capitol, one of the most esteemed romantic dining options in Midnight Rose, a glamorous restaurant that showcases a wide variety of international cuisines. Entree options range from risottos to octopus to filet mignon, and prices average about 25 AUD per plate.

Each of these options celebrates the balance between glamour and simplicity of romantic Spanish dining with an emphasis on quality of ingredients and ambiance.