Holiday Rentals in Spain at La Tomatina Fiesta Time

Spain has a number of most charming towns with many HOLIDAY RENTALS IN SPAIN available, vibrant metropolitan areas, stunning shorelines and also the best island on the planet. This exotic country is an ideal place to go for any type of trip because it is full of numerous points of interest and it has the second biggest quantity of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Travel Tips to European Countries: Spain

About The Country

Spain is famous world wide for its flamenco dancers and bullfights. The architecture reflects the Moroccan style. Cave paintings, renaissance cathedrals, Moorish palaces prove the diversity of the country. Spring, fall and early summer are very pleasant here, though summers are hot.

Culture

Spanish is the regional language of Spain. English is also widely spoken here. Over the period of time, Spanish people have become modern in order to gel with the changing times and are no longer conservative. But that hasn抰 changed the values, traditions, manners and customs of the locals. People here have two surnames; the first surname can be used to refer to the person. To greet someone, a handshake will do the job. Take a small gift along when visiting someone抯 house. Save the flowers for special occasions. Dinner is generally taken very late in the night. People wear casuals most of the time. Men are expected to wear jackets at some restaurants. Swimsuits should be confined to the pools and beaches. Recently a ban has been applied on smoking in public places.

Shopping

Shops open quite early in the morning and stay open late in the evening. In the afternoon, they are closed for lunch or siesta. Porcelain and leather goods are famous and they will be good gifts for friends and family members back home. Bills are to be paid along with the service charges, so tipping is a matter of gratitude.

Electricity

Voltage is 220 volts and frequency is 50 Hz

Getting There

IBERIA is the national airline of Spain. Many other low-cost airlines offer services in the country. There are nearly thirty international airports in Spain, out of which Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Malaga are famous.

Madrid located at 13km away from the city has a good bus service every fifteen minutes. Underground service also works to transport passengers to their destinations. Other facilities offered at this airport are duty free shops, bank, restaurant, tourism information, and hotel reservations.

Barcelona is very close to the city, situated at a distance of 3 km only. Buses are available every 15 minutes and trains are available every 20 minutes. Taxis are available throughout the day. Duty free shops, restaurants, bank, car hire and tourism information are available here.

There is a good network of roads connecting Spain north to south. Toll booths are installed in some parts of the country. Carrying few Euros will help smooth sailing at the toll booths. If driving one抯 private car, it would be better if the travel insurance covers medical costs too. Carrying a medical kit can prove to be of some help.

Duty Free Items

1. 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (300 cigarettes, 150 cigarillos, 70 cigars and 400g of tobacco for EU nationals)

2. 1litre of spirits if exceeding 22 per cent volume or 2 litres of alcoholic beverage not exceeding 22 per cent volume and 2 litres of wine (1.5 litre exceeding 22 per cent and 3 litres of up to 22 per cent and 5 litres of wine for EU nationals)

3. 250ml eau de toilette and 50g of perfume

4. 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract (1000g of coffee and 4000g of coffee extract for EU nationals)

5. 100g of tea or 40g of tea extract

6. Gifts up to the value of approximately €37.26.

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Madrid's Plaza Mayor on Holiday Rentals in Madrid

If you are finally in your SPAIN HOLIDAY RENTALS, go to see what Madrid has to offer. One place you should visit is one of the most famous Plaza Mayor in Madrid. You will find that its name has changed through time, passed through the fire history, but still has an appeal that makes it unique.

Free Guides Travel in Benidorm - Spain vacations around the Costa Blanca

Benidorm, which is located just 20 minutes north of the city of Alicanteon the Costa Blanca coast Spain, is such as action-packed city. Even thoughit has a beautiful stretch of soft sandy beaches, we should leave this leisureactivity for the end because there are so many kinds of tourist parks to visitaround Benidorm.
The biggest Attraction around Benidorm: Terra Mitica This park in English is called ´Mythical Land´, because it isa theme park which takes us back to the ancient civilizations of Rome, Egyptand Greece, all of which were Mediterranean civilizations. As we all know,the heroes from those times were very brave, not letting anything or anyonefrighten them. Do you think you will be like them after having ridden on thetopsy turvy roller coaster? Or controlling your heartbeat after riding on manyof the other attractions especially set up for you?

Maybe you think you willrecover a little after watching one of the gladiator shows? Your adrenalinwill be pumping fast with all the professional actors making ancient life comeso close to you. There is also a part of this park for adventurous kids too.Terra Mitica is open all year round; from November to April it is only openat the weekends and on Spanish holidays. The entrance fee is approximately40 euros but if you go in groups consult prices. Terra Mitica is found just five minutes north of Benidorm, easily accessible by bus or car.
Aqualandia Water Amusement Park So you want to cool down a little but the beach is not your cup of tea? Hereat Aqualandia you can enjoy a days outing with the whole family. The childrencan slide down all the water slides as many times as they wish, always beingwell cared for by the lifeguards on duty. There are water shutes of every size,diving board areas, rapidly moving waters and even a black hole. For the sunbeauties like mum and grandma, you can lay around on comfortable hammocks andenjoy a picnic lunch in the shaded areas. It is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is located on the north entrance hillside to Benidorm.

Another view on the Costa Blanca at the Terra Natura Park This is not like any other wildlife park. Here, there are four theme areasand a water park. 1.500 animals of over 200 species, 50 of which are in dangerof extinction. What a privilege to be the lucky ones to see these living specimensup close! And not only these animals but their natural habitats and fauna whichmakes their living quarters appropriate for them. As you enter the park, thefirst area to visit is the Pangea, taking you back in time to hen there wererivers petrified from hot burning lava, abundant vegetation hiding giganticinsects and many other surprises.

To the left you are carried away to America,discovering an old mine converted into a tropical farm. The colorful macawsare found in the dove cove and later on the old joins the new in the colonialtown of Copaltenango. In the center is Asia. As you stroll through the naturalreserve of Kaziranga, you are able to see rhinoceros, buffalos and the templeof the wildcats. In this section there is a marvelous park for children toplay in. And last, but of course not least, is Europe. In the town of Kalicameni,white-washed and full of comedians and natives singing their local songs.

Allthis may sound tiring, but there are many a new food to be tried and a thirst-quenchingdrink to be had at any of the fabulous restaurants. And for those who needan extra thrill, in the Mare Nostrum waterway, you are fully equipped to havesplash with live sharks! Terra Natura is open all year round, offering specialpasses for those who know how to appreciate a good opportunity and to take advantage of it as often as possible.

Santander Tourist Information

Santander is situated on the north coast of Spain, around 250 miles from Madrid. This elegant city, capital of the Cantabria region, was a popular resort with the aristocracy from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. Although a huge fire ravaged Santander in 1941, which destroyed much of the old quarter, the city was later rebuilt along its original lines. Today Santander is a fashionable town with a pretty waterfront promenade, wide boulevards and many hotels and restaurants. There are also some enjoyable coastal walks on the edge of the city.

Santander's fortress-like cathedral was badly damaged by the 1941 fire, although it has now been fully restored. Inside is the tomb of writer and historian Marcelino Menendez y Pelayo, who was born in the city in 1856. The cathedral is also notable for its Gothic cloister and 12th century crypt. In 1983 Roman ruins were found underneath the main aisle.
For an insight into the area's prehistoric origins, the Museo de Prehistoria y Archaeologia houses some interesting artifacts discovered within the province. Highlights include several finds from the prehistoric caves at Altamira, as well as some Roman pieces from local hill forts.

The Museo de Bellas Artes is home to an interesting collection of paintings by Francisco de Goya, including a series of etchings entitled 'Disasters of War', and a fine portrait of Fernando VII. Founded in 1907, the museum also contains works by Flemish, Italian and local Cantabrian artists.

Santander has many fine beaches, most of which are clean and well maintained. One of the most popular, Playa del Sardinero, is situated a couple of kilometres from the city centre in the elegant suburb of El Sardinero. Alongside the beach, which is one of the least polluted in Europe, is a promenade lined with various hotels, restaurants and 19th century mansions.

The Magdalenas peninsular, located to the south of El Sardinero, has a number of attractions including the Palacio de la Magdelena. Built in 1911 as a summer residence for King Alfonso XIII, this English-style palace hosts the city's music and theatre festival in July and August. The Magdalenas peninsular is also home to a small zoo, which contains various animals including seals, polar bears and penguins. The small Blue Flag beach of El Camello is located nearby.

To the north of El Sardinero, situated within the Cabo Menor, is the large open space of Matalenas Park. Here you will find a lighthouse, another small zoo, and the local golf course. There are some beautiful coastal walks along the cliff top. If you want to get completely away from the city for a while, take a 15-minute boat trip to the beach at El Puntal, known for its spectacular sand dunes.
There are flights from Madrid, Barcelona, Dublin and London Stansted to Santander's international airport, around 4 miles (6km) from the city centre. A regular bus service runs between the airport and Santander train station. The city is also an important port, with Brittany Ferries running a regular service to Santander from Plymouth in the UK. For more advice and tourist information about Santander please see Santander Spain

GARY COTTER

Malaga: A Hotbed of Mediterranean Culture

Malaga is the birthplace of famous artist Pablo Picasso and it is easy to see why a city of such picturesque beauty would inspire someone to paint; with its pure blue skies, sea lined coast and rich green hills. Indeed, there is something about the delicate lines and sumptuous colours of this coastal town that almost makes it appear as if it has actually been painted by an artist’s delicate hand. Picasso himself spent only the first ten years of his life in Malaga, but during this period he was already showing talent as a young artist and you can almost feel what an influence this place must have had upon him.

In fact, if you look beneath his often surreal painting style, you can see that there is actually something distinctly Mediterranean about it – particularly his colour choices – rich ochre, vibrant reds and azure blues reflect the sparkling colour-ways of this warm Spanish city. The importance of this city to Picasso is probably one of the main reasons why – after his death – his surviving relatives decided to open a museum in Malaga, after a long desire that there should be some rooted historical link between Picasso and his Spanish birthplace. It would seem fitting that the majority of the works are personal pieces that he created for his family and most have never before been seen by the public.

They are housed in an old 16th Century Andalusian noble house, not five minutes from his place of birth. In more recent times, it is clear that Malaga has continued to grow and transform into a multicultural and buzzing city. So while there are plenty of links to ancient culture, like old majestic cathedrals, Roman amphitheatres and even the Gibralfaro Castle – which dates back to the 14th Century – the Picasso Museum is just a singular example of the now ever-increasing number of exciting, new things happening in Malaga’s cultural calendar. Indeed, the city has also been nominated for European Culture Capital – which will be decided in the year 2016 and in the run up to this, Malaga is expected to push its self artistically and strive to achieve this important cultural recognition.

It is therefore not surprising that many people book their flights to Malaga as soon as they can to avoid disappointment, so they can be a part of this cultural extravaganza and experience the city in its rise towards greatness. The Centre for Contemporary Art is perhaps Malaga’s most recent cultural addition. It opened in 2003 and houses paintings, photography, sculpture and conceptual art works that range from 19th Century right up to some of the most contemporary pieces around. Its aim is to promote interesting and unique new artists; and in terms of what Malaga represents, it is a small example of the cultural revolution that is currently sweeping the city like a whirlwind. The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.

Barcelona With Children

Barcelona is one of the favourite Spanish destinations for travellers from the entire world. Even the children choose the city as their favourite one when they leave home. If you want to enjoy the best family holidays, a big city such as Barcelona has the widest leisure offer for parents and children. In addition, it enjoys an ideal climate all the year round, with soft temperatures in winter and warm temperatures in summer. Thus, the children can go to the parks and to the beaches throughout the four seasons.
Travelling with children is not a problem anymore. Quite the opposite! The children will not have time to get bored and the parents will enjoy the city with the whole family! In addition, Barcelona has beaches and mountains. What other reason do you need to bring your children to Barcelona? They will have a great time!



The best way to start the day is going to the Poble Espanyol, where the kids will have fun while they discover the streets and the squares of the whole of Spain. Poble Espanyol is a hall where some of the most beautiful buildings and monuments from around the Spanish country are reproduced. Its narrow streets also hide a whole world full of life: workshops, shops, museums, restaurants and even green spaces for playing!



After having a tour around the Spanish geography without leaving Barcelona, you should take your children to the Aquàrium. There you may stroll under a 80 metre glass tunnel to see the sharks. This Aquarium is one of the largest in the world: it holds 11,000 animals from 450 different marine species. Recently a section for Humboldt penguins has been open. In addition, the kids may play in Explora, an interactive leisure and educational space, with more than 50 interactivities to touch, look at, listen to, investigate and discover nature. We promise an unforgettable experience for children and adults!



And talking about animals... The next stop is the Zoo. Barcelona's Zoo is one of the oldest in Spain. It was inaugurated in 1940. Unfortunately, the big star of the zoo, Copito de Nieve (an albino gorilla unique in the world) died in 2004. But there are many other animals like the dolphins, the lions, the hippopotamus or the rhinoceros.



The Zoo is located in one of the most beautiful and charming parks in Barcelona, The Citadella. It is one of the largest lungs of the city and a must for everybody. Strolling among its avenues and gardens is a real pleasure. Inside the park, there is a lake where children can sail in a boat for only three Euros! In addition, you can visit the Geology and the Zoology Museums.
After a wonderful stroll around The Ciutadella Park, you should take your children to the Imax Cinema. This cinema is a large-format cinema located in the Port Vell. Projections take place on a 600 square meter screen. Special 3D glasses are used to feel like you are in another world: everything seems to be real!



Do you want your children to spend an entertained and educative afternoon? Then, take them to Cosmocaixa! Cosmocaixa is the Science Museum in Barcelona. Visitors are invited to interact with many of the scientific experiments, making the whole experience richer and more entertaining, particularly for children.
If you want to visit a few amusement parks in Catalunya with your kids you need at least a day. You can go to the Tibidabo Park, a beautiful and charming theme park, which has the best views of Barcelona city. Its attractions are open since the 19th century. On the other hand, you can go to Port Aventura. It´s located in Tarragona. You just need 90 minutes by car to go there. It is a theme park full of action-packed adventures from all corners of the globe: imperial China, the Far West, exotic Polynesia, Aztec México and the mellow Mediterrània.
The Camp Nou is a must too! The Camp Nou Tour is the best way to experience Barça from within. This tour takes you through the past and present of an emblematic stadium and the Barça Museum. Maybe your children can get an autograph of their favourite football players! Finally, you and your children have to go to the Ramblas, the most famous street in Barcelona. It goes from Catalunya Square to the Columbus statue. Your kids will have a great time there looking at the newspaper kiosks, the flower and animal stalls, and all sorts of artists.

Zaragoza Tourist Information

Zaragoza is the fifth largest city in Spain and capital of the Aragon region. It is situated in the northeast of Spain, roughly halfway between Madrid and Barcelona. The city has been relatively untouched by tourism, although this is now likely to change with the recent opening of a new high-speed rail link from Madrid. Zaragoza has some notable historic monuments, including a Moorish palace and several fine churches. There are also many tapas bars, cafes and restaurants, while Zaragoza's 40,000 students help to give the city a lively feel.

The Romans founded Zaragoza around 2,000 years ago, and the city takes its name from the Roman emperor Caesar Augusta. Zaragoza was ruled by the Beni-Hud dynasty in the 11th century. Despite having a reputation as a Christian hero, the legendary El Cid was in fact a mercenary leader who fought for the Islamic Beni Huds during this time. The city is also famous for resisting Napoleonic forces during the great sieges of the early 19th century.
The majority of Zaragoza's tourist attractions, including La Lonja, El Pilar and La Seo cathedral, are situated around the Plaza del Pilar. Between this large public square and the River Ebro is the huge Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar. This impressive Baroque church has a large central dome surrounded by 10 smaller domes, with four tall towers in each corner. It was built to honour the Virgin of the Apostle who, according to legend, appeared before St James on this site in AD40. The basilica's interior is notable for its carvings and elaborate frescoes, with the highlight being a series of paintings by Francisco de Goya within the central dome. One of Spain's best-loved painters, Goya was born in 1746 in a small village just outside Zaragoza. A couple of bombs were dropped on the church during the Spanish Civil War but fortunately they failed to explode.

The Gothic cathedral of La Seo was built on the site of Islamic mosque. Its museum contains many treasures, such as paintings, tapestries and sculptures. A short distance from La Seo is the Renaissance exchange of La Lonja, constructed from thousands of small bricks. La Lonja's interior is notable its magnificent stone ornamentation. The Palacio de la Aljaferia, built during the 11th century, is located to the west of the city centre. Although it has been modified many times over the years, this Moorish palace still retains its original mosque and courtyard. The elaborately carved ceiling on the first floor contains images of the Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella.

There are some great views of the city from the much-photographed bridge, Puente de Piedra, which spans the River Ebro. Constructed in 1813, the bridge contains elements of Basque, French and Italian architecture. Other historic attractions in Zaragoza include the 18th century Puerta del Carmen, once part of the city walls, and the Arab Baths dating from the 13th century. Children will enjoy the science museum and the amusement park, which is set within attractive pine groves.

Driving in Spain and the Trouble with Spanish Drivers

Driving in Spain is a lot of the time pleasurable, smooth new roads with few fellow drivers to look out for, allowing one to take in the beautiful, changing countryside, but at other times it can also be a nerve racking experience, navigating bone shaking routes where you try not to blink in case you cause irreparable damage to body and machinery!
In recent times the Spanish have invested heavily on new toll motorways with the intention of removing traffic from the heavily congested national routes that seem to run through every town no matter where you are heading.
Unfortunately, it seems that the average Spanish motorist resents having to pay for his driving pleasures and continues to use the national routes therefore, allowing the more affluent to benefit from the faster, smoother and obviously emptier toll roads thus avoiding a lot of the Spanish drivers.
Spanish drivers are by no means the worst in the world but they do have many habits and mannerisms that will make you both cringe and chuckle; they possess the same love of the horn embraced by so many other nations' drivers, (the Italians spring to mind). But their use of the horn doesn't seem to be for notifying another driver of a serious driving infringement but instead to remind people that they are sitting at a red light or that Real Madrid or Barcelona or whoever they have pledged their allegiance to, has just scored a goal!
I think most drivers would agree that round-a-bouts are quite simple to use, but they seem to be a complete mystery to many Spanish drivers, on many occasions, a happy- go- lucky Spaniard in the right hand lane will decide that he is turning left, often with no indication, the result of this being the screeching of quickly applied foot brakes from vehicles travelling in the left hand lane with the intention of carrying straight on.
Amazingly though, this type of manoeuvre, as mentioned earlier, is apparently deemed quite acceptable by the average Spanish motorist and the barrage of horns one would expect is never heard.
The Spanish have rather a crazy way of overtaking also, or at least the speed merchants amongst them do.
Many of the major roads in Spain are dual carriageways and at times you will need to overtake slower traffic. It is at this time that you are likely to encounter the presence of 'loco' driver. You will go through your overtaking procedure - mirror, indicate, manoeuvre -and then, as if by magic, a quick look in your rear view mirror reveals that you have a car practically riding your bumper with its left indicator flashing like there's no tomorrow.
My advice, pull in as soon as humanly possible and let the lunatic past!
Strangely enough this is also deemed acceptable practise!
I would say on the whole though, having driven in the UK, driving in Spain is vastly more enjoyable with far fewer vehicles and far less road rage and once you get used to the quirkiness of the Spanish driver (for want of a better description) it is a lot safer as well.
http://www.irregularspanishverbs.com

Holiday in Spain

Are you planning a European vacation? If your time is limited and you want to visit a country with a lot in the way of culture, sights, history and entertainment then Spain is a must. This country is brimming with sights and activities for tourists so consider it alone or as part of a European holiday.
First off, you'll need to research where and what you want to visit. Pick up a detailed map of Spain in a book store or find one on the internet. A map will help you orientate yourself with the geography and typography of the country. You will be able to determine where to go for the beach and where mountain retreats are located.
No matter where you decide to go in Spain you are sure to have an amazing time and enjoy the Spanish culture. There is something for everyone. If you're traveling alone then there is plenty to keep you busy and the Spanish people are warm and inviting. If you're traveling with a family then there are things to keep everyone entertained. You can golf at one of the many coastal golf courses while the rest of the family has fun at the beach.
The climate is moderate so you can have an enjoyable holiday in Spain no matter what time of year it is. The south of Spain is especially nice; it's not exceptionally warm in winter but it is pleasant and is much warmer than other Western European regions. Even when it's cold, the large cities will keep you busy with indoor and outdoor sights.
While the Euro is strong, Spain is reasonable compared to other Western European countries so a holiday here can be affordable. There are many good deals available especially if you're willing to travel in off peak and non-holiday times of year. Even deeper discounts can be found if you're traveling with a group and rent an apartment in a large city or one of the many coastal cities.
Packages are available that include hotel, air and transfers. There are also ones that include excursions, sightseeing, meals and car rentals. These packages are generally less expensive than booking everything separately.
To book your Spanish holiday you have a few options. Use the internet to research destinations and available packages. Find maps of Alicante and other cities to visit and explore. There are many online tools to help you find the lowest hotel and air fares available during your desired travel time. Travel agents are also useful and can tailor make your holiday to fit your interests. Many travel agents have first hand experience with the packages they sell so they can recommend the best holiday for you.