Ibiza’s Best bits

 Have you ever considered going to Ibiza? Well, I thought I’d share with you some great tips I’ve learned from my last trip.

 Ibiza is a sleeping island from November to May; the Ibiza's capital is transformed in summer into a massive party season! However the island and town have much more to offer just than the night-life. This is what I discovered when I went on my last cruise. 

 

Everybody loves a bit of history

Ibiza Old Town, Dalt Vila is a UNESCO World Heritage site with magnificent views, narrow alleyways and amazing atmosphere. I did not expect it when I first landed on the island!

Around the coastline this island has 50 sandy beaches. Did you know Ibiza was discovered by sun-seeking hippies in the late 60’s? 

Coming ashore

As I mentioned previously I visited Ibiza whilst on my cruise holiday. If you are about to, here are some tips when coming ashore: Boats dock on the town pier at the edge of town. From here you can walk into the capital without problem, and this for reason facilities at the terminal are limited. 

You won’t need transport to enjoy Ibiza, but if you do rent a car, you can explore much of this small but fascinating island in a day. From what I remember, the cost to rent a car is 80euros but you will have to book ahead.

There are 25 buses a day between Ibiza, Sant Rafael and San Antonio, several per day between Ibiza, SantJordi, Salinas, CalaTarida and SantEulalia. Fares start at 1.80 euros and all under 5 euros.

Taxis are numerous and are metered. They can undertake tourist tours too!

Ibiza best bits

Explore the narrow alleyways of Sa Penya, Ibiza town’s most atmospheric quarter is great for browsing and shopping.

Bring your swim suit and spend an afternoon on one of the trendy beaches! The beaches on the east coast have been developed, but Santa Eulalia remains attractive. The resort has a narrow, sloping 

beach in front of a pedestrian promenade that is much less frenetic than some other beaches on the island.

So you are aware, topless bathing is accepted all over the island, but EsCavallet is the official nudist beach.

Where to eat

Can Caus: Ibiza might pride itself on its seafood but there comes a time for meat and potatoes! It is a informal family-style roadside restaurants that serves feast on skewers, goat chops, lamb kebabs and much more. Most people eat at the long wooden tables on the terrace to enjoy the sunset. 

Mezzanotte: This charming little portside restaurant is a branch of the popular Mezzanotte in Eivissa. There are 12 tables inside, lighted with candles to give a very cosy atmosphere to the place. The cuisine prides itself with fresh seasonal ingredients flown in from Italy. 

You must try the linguini with jumbo shrimp, saffron and zucchini, it is delicious!

If you would like more information about other cruise destinations, pop to my blog: http://www.cruisesdot.com

 

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The Best Places for Walking Holidays in Spain

Spain – a country of endless sunshine, snow white beaches and rugged coast lines. The Mediterranean climate, rich cultural history and many exciting activities have made it a strong magnet for tourists from all countries. The best way to see Spain at its best is by doing a walking tour.

Some people prefer to do an unguided or independent tour. This means that they walk and navigate by themselves. You need to be quite organised to do this, as you rely on yourself not to get lost. Many travel companies supply people with very good notes on the various routes, as well as maps. If you do a hotel to hotel walk, your heavier bags are transported to your hotel. This type of walking holiday is very suitable for young children and people that are not very fit. With guided tours you have a knowledgeable guide on hand who knows the area very well.

Puerto de la Cruz along the Atlantic Ocean, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

For those who enjoy walking holidays Spain is an excellent choice. The many hours of sunshine assures great weather all year round and the beautiful and varied terrain offers many opportunities for sightseeing. Andalusia, in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada, is one of the most popular areas in Spain. Hillsides covered in olive groves, a bright carpet of flowers of all colours and romantic white villages make this a stunning walk; and a visit to the Alhambra Palace will be the highlight of your visit here.
 
Natural beauty

If you love nature, Tenerife and its protected forest is the place for you. The abundance of birds, butterflies and wild flowers will amaze you. The riot of colour is a feast for your eyes. Avila offers the hidden gem of Sierra de Gredos with flowering meadows, lagoons, mountainous peaks and waterfalls. Walks vary, from easy strolls to very challenging hikes.

The valleys and hills surrounding Cordoba include a National Park. Gorges, peaks, valleys and stunning views are combined with typical Spanish hospitality. If you prefer a leisurely walk, the island of Menorca is rich in cultural history, has stunning quiet stretches of beaches and is a UNESCO protected Biosphere Reserve.

La Isla Bonita

The beautiful La Palma Island – La Isla Bonita – offers lava flows, black volcanic cones, lush, green forests and the impressive Caldera de Taburiente. Follow the Route of the Volcanoes for amazing natural sights all around. The Canary Islands feature an active volcano called Teide and outstanding animal and plant life. The walking route is mountainous and quite challenging.

In Catalonia the walking trails are mostly along the coast, featuring colourful fishing harbours, hidden white hamlets, quaint little wine villages and wide green valleys. The Catalonian cuisine is famous and worth a tour in itself. At Cadaques you will find many artists at work; the castle and citadel ruins near the lovely bay at Roses are also worth visiting.

The Costa Blanca Mountains have a quaint little village called Abdet with only about 100 inhabitants, but they are all very welcoming to strangers. If you prefer travelling off the beaten track, you will enjoy Asturias, where the Picos de Europa mountain range is a haven for wildlife. Galicia, with its beautiful green landscapes and Castile in central Spain, with its walled villages and drover's trails, are hidden gems to discover for yourself.

So whether you take a leisurely hike along the coast or climb the challenging mountain paths, Spain will amaze and intrigue you with its beautiful scenery and friendly people.

Mike van Velden writes regularly on hiking and trekking for a range of travel websites and blogs. For most of his walking holidays Spain has been his country of choice. He believes you have not been on holiday properly unless you have done at least one walking holiday.

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Five Hot Destinations from Bournemouth Airport

Faro

Faro is one of the most popular destinations from the Bournemouth Airport. Faro is located in Southern Portugal. Faro offers a wide variety of activities for tourists to experience. For someone who likes to party and meet new people, Faro is packed with lively beaches. The bars in Faro are also a way to socialize and meet the locals and meet other tourists. For someone who enjoys sight seeing, Faro's town is filled with white washed buildings that were influenced by the Moorish and colonial culture and time period. The town is also very relaxing, giving tourists to have a serene experience while checking out the local architecture. The Praia del Faro is a large beach that is a favourite among the tourists. The Monte do Casal also is a well known restaurant and hotel in the Faro region.

Malaga

Malago is also a hot destination from the Bournemouth Airport. Malaga is a flourishing historical city. This Andalusian city has been around for 3,000 years. This town has an ancient charm to it. Tourists love Malaga because the people are often celebrating a holiday. When the people of Malaga celebrate they usually throw very large festivals, giving tourists the chance to experience the social aspect of the culture. The home of Pablo Picasso is located in the town. Antonio Martin is a local seafood restaurant that offers some of the best seafood in the region.

Alicante

The town of Alicante is more than 7,000 years old and is another popular destination for those traveling from the Bourenmouth Airport. One of Europe's most famous film studios in located in Alicante, as well as the Castle of Santa Barbara. If you are in Alicante during the summer solstice then you will get to experience the The Bonfires of St. John. The Bonfires of St. John are when the people of the town get to show off their love for their pyrotechnics.

Verona

Verona is the beautiful city that inspired Romeo and Juliet, so there is not question to why this made the top five destinations from Bournemouth Airport. The town is exactly what many picture when they imagine the romantic setting in the story of Romeo and Juliet. Even the people of Verona speak Italian, the most romantic language in the world. The Roman arena in the centre of the town is one of the most thrilling experiences one will ever have. Tours can be booked very easily and for a very affordable price. During the evenings in the middle of the summer, the world class opera provides a soundtrack to all of Verona. Performances from the arena can be heard throughout the town, but it is recommended to see the opera in the actual venue if possible. If you intend to visit Verona, be prepared to be swept off of your feet.

Tenerife

Tenerife is another popular destination from Bournemouth Airport. Tenerife is located in the Canary Islands. The town is a mixture of the Spanish and Northern African cultures. The town has a very calm, relaxed feeling during the days, but when the night falls in Tenerife the parties begin. The summit of Mount Tiede is one of the largest volcanoes in Europe. The Restaurant Los Naranjeros offers the best selections of the local foods of the town.

Many people leaving from Bournemouth Airport also suggest looking up information about New Forest hotels and accommodation. There are also a large number of Bournemouth hotels for flying customers to stay in before and after their flights.

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The Many Festivals of Tenerife – A Guide to 2012

Carnivals in Tenerife, also known as ‘Carnavals’, are mostly held in February over Lent. The original meaning of the word carnaval means ‘to give up meat’ and encompassed other luxury foods, hence Lent and Pancake Day in the UK. Tenerife is famous for the spectacular parades, costumes and street parties, especially the one in Santa Cruz, which is the largest on the island.

One thing you need to know before you go on is that all Carnivals in Tenerife feature the ritual of ‘the Burial of the Sardine’ on Ash Wednesday, which symbolises getting rid of excess and being reborn. Strange, but true. Here is your ultimate guide to the best carnivals happening in Tenerife.

The Top Three Carnivals

1. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 17th Feb to 22nd Feb 2012

This is a huge celebration that wins in the noise-making and attendance stakes. The street parties don’t start until midnight, there are drag queen marathons and fancy dress is not optional unless you want to stand out like a sore thumb!

Get there early and hold onto your spot near the beginning of the parades to get the best view. (Wear comfortable shoes as you will be on your feet for a long time) Remember your camera as words will not do the parades justice. Plus, make sure you join in, you will have the best carnival experience if you don’t just spectate.

2. The Carnival of Puerto de la Cruz, 16th – 25th February 2012

This Carnival has much of the same buzz and atmosphere as the slightly larger Santa Cruz, it usually starts a day or two later, with the procession of the recently elected Carnival queen. On Ash Wednesday the ‘Burial of the Sardine’ happens, as is the carnival tradition.

Remember to wear black as it is a mourning ceremony and funeral procession, even if it is of a fish! The ceremony ends in fireworks in the harbour, where the sardine is set alight. This Carnival has also recently revived the 19th century tradition of ‘the killing of the snake’, which represents freedom from slavery.

3. Los Cristianos 3rd – 11th March 2012

Held in March, slightly later than the larger two Carnivals, the Los Cristianos Carnival is a much smaller affair and is great if you are planning a holiday to the south of the island, as you won’t have to travel north. There is a huge influx of tourists in the area over the carnival, so make sure you book your holidays early if you want to be close to the action!

The Best of the Rest

These smaller carnivals do not release dates until later on in the year, but if you are planning a holiday here then be sure to check the local tourist boards for information.

· Los Gigantes has a small carnival each year, including a masked ball held in the open air with live music. During the day, there are children’s activities and parades, as well as the main parades in the evenings. And of course, last but not least, they have the ‘Burial of the Sardine’, followed by a ‘Widow’s Ball’.

· a small town called Tacoronte, they have a carnival known as the Piñata Chica, which follows the same pattern as the larger carnivals, but normally takes place over a weekend. On the Saturday morning there is a farmer’s market, followed by the musicians’ procession and a party in the evening. The Sunday is where this carnival really comes into its own - they have a procession of vintage cars, ending with wine tasting. The evening is then filled with celebrations and the traditional ‘Burial of the Sardine’, which takes place at the Plaza La Estacion.

· La Laguna holds their festival in early March, when the weather is getting warmer and there is less chance of rain. This carnival is much less popular with tourists, but still has big street parties, so head here for a more authentic Spanish carnival experience.


· Carnivals in Tenerife get more unusual the smaller they are, in Guimar they celebrate the end of carnival with a spooky street theatre performance, known as ‘Las Burras de Guimar’ (the Donkeys of Guimar). The performance portrays the traditional belief that all witches turn into donkeys on this night. At the end of this performance, the witches are burned alongside the ever-present sardine.

· The highlight of the fiesta in La Orotava is the carpet of flower petals and sand that is made to cover the streets. The whole town participates in planning the designs of the flowers and sand carpets, which depict biblical scenes. These murals are made using all of the different coloured volcanic sands from the surrounding areas

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To go places in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the biggest and most beautiful cities in Europe where many tourists spend their holiday. It has artistic buildings, beaches, culture and shopping. But if you have never been in Barcelona, it would be helpful to know what the most interesting places are. That is why I have listed, what I think are the must see places of Barcelona.

Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is probably the first thing that pops into your head when someone mentions Barcelona. Although it is nothing but a long small street, it is the heart of Barcelona and is filled with tourists. North of the Ramblas is Plaza Cataluña located with around it many shops and on the South side, there is the Barcelona port and beach. Especially at night, the Ramblas is fun to walk around, watch street performers and get a drink. Make sure you don’t actually get a drink on the Ramblas or you will be paying 8 euro’s for a glass of Coca Cola

Plaza espanya

Plaza Espanya at night is one of the most beautiful places in Barcelona. It has many beautiful lights and multiple landmarks. In the middle of Placa Espanya stands the Central Fountain, created by Josep Maria Jujol. The sculptures adorning the fountain were created by the Spanish sculptor Miguel Blay Fabregas. On some nights, the lights of this ‘magic’ fountain go on.

The two towers near plaza Espanya leading to the Magic fountain and the Palau National are called the Venetian towers. These 47 meter towers are modeled on the Bell Tower in Venice.

The arena shaped building on Placa Espanya is called the Arena de Barcelona. Its purpose was to become a bullfighting arena. But bull fighting never really caught on in Catalonia, which is why it was turned in a shopping mall. The building still looks really impressive from the outside.

There is also a tower to get a great view of Plaza Espanya. Especially at night this view is magical. If you are looking for a cheap but romantic date, you should definitely go up this tower to enjoy the view.

Passeig de Gracia

Barcelona has a lot of places where you can shop, but there is only one street that sells the famous, expensive brands. You may compare it with the 5th Avenue of New York City. Luxury stores such as Diesel, Replay, Burberry, Loewe, Chanel, Armani and others are all located on this street. It is Barcelona's most elegant avenue and one of the best architectural walks in the city with lots of Modernist buildings. So is also the Casa Calvet located on Passeig de Gracia. This building is the first Barcelona landmark designed by Gaudi.

Port Olimpic

In the summer Port Olimpic is very popular. Many people go to the beach, take a walk over the boulevard, drink something at one the bars or party at one of the beach clubs. Occasionally there is also a market or a carnival close to Port Olimpic

La Sagrada Familia

Probably one of the most famous landmarks in Spain is Sagrada da Familia. This landmark is located on a remote location about 30 minutes from the center with the metro. La Sagrada Familia is Gaudi’s most famous work. It is a giant Basilica which has been under construction since 1882 and will not be done for another 30 to 80 years. Regardless that it is not ready, it is a truly magnificent building and one of the must see places in Barcelona.

Plaza de Reial

Plaza de Reial is a court on a side street of Las Ramblas. It is nice place to relax, get something to drink or eat and enjoy a nice afternoon in Barcelona. There are many good restaurants on Plaza de Reial where you can eat while enjoying some street performers. At night Plaza Reial turns into a place full of nightclubs and bars where youngsters come together and party until the early morning.

La Maquinista

La Maquinista is rather unknown under the local population and tourists. Or maybe it is because they don’t like to travel 30 minutes from the center. But in my opinion, La Maquinista is a great opportunity to spend your day. You can do some shopping at popular stores like Zara, G Star, H&M, Calvin Klein, Bershka, La Coste, Hollister, Nike, Footlocker and Apple and if you get hungry, La Maquinista has many dining possibilities. Pizza and Steak restaurants, fast food restaurants like Burger King, McDonald’s, Kentucky, Starbucks and Pans are all located in this shopping center. After a busy day there is also an opportunity to relax and catch a movie at the movie theater on the upper floor.

Camp Nou

The most important building in whole of Barcelona is of course Camp Nou. Camp Nou is the Stadium of the best Football team in the world ‘FC Barcelona’. When Barcelona is not playing, it is possible to take a tour through the stadium to look at their trophies, history, locker rooms, Sky box and the inside of the stadium. For around 60 Euro it is possible to take to attend a match of the great FC Barcelona. Although it is both an amazing experience, I think it is more spectacular to attend a real match.

Article written by J.Besters, blogger and writer for apartime.com provider of Barcelona holiday apartments.

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Beaches in Tenerife

Anyone heading to Tenerife will no doubt have time on the beach on their mind, the island is famed for its year round warm climate and sunny weather which has leant itself to making it a wonderful beach holiday destination. While there are plenty of other great distractions on the island, with the stunning scenery and lovely towns to explore, getting to know which of the beaches are the best ones to visit is a must for holidaymakers escaping on holidays to Tenerife.

El Medano – The long, sandy beach at El Medano is home to a number of beach sports and is even home to the kite-surfing World Championships. The beach is backed with an esplanade of shops and cafes, making it the perfect beach for a day out basking in the sun, or an evening stroll to the nearby town square. The beach is approximately 2 kilometres in length, meaning that you might be able to find a more secluded spot away from the crowds.

Playa Fanabe – Situated in the south of the island and one of the big draws Costa Adeje holidays, Playa Fanabe has white sands and lush crystal waters. There is an urbanised walkway at the rear of the beach on which you can stroll between cafes and bars. There are a number of water sports available here, including jet-skiing, snorkelling and wind surfing.

Los Cristianos - This wide sweep of golden sands at Playa de Los Cristianos is one of the most popular beaches on the island - families love it and it attracts locals and visitors alike. While it does get busy, it never feels too crowded. As with most of the beaches on the island, there is no shortage of water sports to keep you entertained and this level of entertainment is why Los Cristianos holidays are ever popular.

El Bollullo – A short journey form the resort of Puerto de la Cruz, you’ll find the El Bollullo beach. For those who prefer a quiet, secluded beach, this might be the choice for you. Here you’ll find a few locals and hardened trekkers passing through, but rest assured the droves of tourists will be a few kilometres along the coast.

A great feature about many of the beaches in Tenerife is the fantastic amenities that are well kept and nearby, if not, on the beach front. You’ll find plenty of restaurants and bars, so you can plan a whole day soaking up the sun without the need to return to your hotel. Also for families there is almost always plenty of toilets and areas for baby changing facilities, making the beach a relaxing escape.

Whilst on holiday in Tenerife, it is worth visiting the tourist information office at your resort to find out about some of the more popular beaches. Whilst some will give information about the quieter beaches, your best bet is to ask the locals to find the real hidden gems. You can also find out which of the beaches are holding special events for the time that you’re visiting the island, and make sure you don’t miss out on any fun attractions that are taking place.

D.Howell is a travel content writer for the easyJet holidays website and writes extensively about the best beach destinations.

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