Spain holidays

Alicante is known as a sun-worshippers paradise, with its beautiful and pleasant shopping arcades it is one of the most well known resorts in Spain. It is situated on a bay of two capes on the east coats of Spain. It is a popular area in the Costa Blanca region and attracts lots of tourists from worldwide every year.

Alicante’s historical central district, is filled with Baroque buildings, bearing testimony to the city’s past when it was a major seaport. The main area of the city is the Rambla, with its palm trees, outdoor cafes and ice-cream parlours serving the unusual almond based local drink, horchata. A great holiday destination for adventurers and families alike.

There's more to the great conurbation of Benalmadena sprawling midway between Malaga and Torremolinos than first meets the eye. The municipality is divided into three distinct parts, Benalmadena Pueblo, Benalmadena Costa and Arroyo de la Miel. It's where actor Antonio Banderas comes from. Benalmadena's very attractive marina is not to be missed.

The original heart of Benalmadena remains as a typical Andaluz village in the foothills of the mountains which sweep down to the shore. It covers an area of 26,58 sq. km. and has an average height of 280 metres above sea level. The narrow, flower-filled streets hold plenty of traces of the former civilisations which used to exist in the area. This picturesque village and its coastline are eminently suitable for family holidays, adventure holidays and much more...

Two fantastic beaches with 4 miles of soft golden sand, an outstanding year round climate and an incredible variety of entertainment both in and out of town make Benidorm one of the Mediterranean's favourite year-round resort.

The Old Town has a great selection of shops and boutiques, just an essential for any true holiday maker; there are pubs and clubs galore, from 'olde worlde' to the latest club DJ's on the european circuit. Benidorm has many adventure and theme parks with wild rides for all ages; there are shows and performances the like of which you've never seen at home.

Fuengirola is just twenty minutes from Malaga airport. Fuengirola is probably most famous for its five miles of golden sandy beaches, next to some of the finest hotels on the coast of Spain, all with magnificent views of the Mediterranean and sweeping coastline. The recent landscaping drive by the local municipality has resulted in a wider promenade and plenty of palm trees, interspersed with colourful flower beds and additional seating.

Fuengirola is particularly popular with Spanish nationals, many of whom own summer apartments here. There are also a considerable percentage of British and other nationalities with the result being an impressively wide variety of entertainment and restaurant choice, ranging from the Andalusian traditional tapas (bar snacks) and shellfish dishes to the British bangers and beans standard, together with Guinness on tap.

The advantages of staying in Fuengirola is that it's a small and friendly seaside resort town that has an excellent selection of supermarkets and competitively priced shops, as opposed to being restricted to the typical gift shop strip with its imported shells and t-shirts.

Malaga is the major coastal city of Andalucia and is a genuine and typical Andaluz city with a great individualism that shows it is untouched by tourism and, to a large extent, the passage of time.

It's illustrious past has left its imprint on the historic centre, particularly around La Alcazaba, a fortress which dates back to 1065 and is now a fascinating archaeological museum that is a great tourist attraction.

As well as being a cultural centre and a great holiday destination, Malaga is also a great place to eat out. The Malaguenos love their food and the bars and restaurants here are where the real social life takes place. The choice is unlimited and, on the whole, reasonable with some bars offering a menu of the day with bread and wine for as little as 6 euros. Tapas, small portions of many different dishes is an Andalusian tradition and a wonderfully inexpensive way to try a variety of local food.

Nerja is on the seashore some 50 kilometres from Málaga on the N340 coastal highway a great drive for those looking to hire a car, and marks the eastern tip of Málaga's Costa del Sol.

Once a sleepy fishing village. Nerja now boasts 16 kilometres of beaches with powdery golden sand and sparkling clear water. All major water sports are available here, including water skiing, scuba diving and sailing.

The town has, fortunately, managed to avoid being blighted by the concrete high-rise scenario which has been the inevitable result of the tourist boom in some of the coastal resorts. The town's old quarter is virtually unchanged with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed houses overflowing with geraniums, on which a canary can sometimes be heard singing...

However, the heart of Nerja is its spectacular Balcón de Europa, the 'Balcony of Europe', a magnificent promenade along the edge of a towering cliff, once the site of the great Moorish castle, with sweeping panoramic views of the Mediterranean and the small coves and beaches below, against an awesome backdrop of hazy blue mountains.

Torremolinos has long outgrown the Monty Python spam and chips image and, over the recent years, has evolved as an attractive and appealing resort for its clean sandy beaches, great choice of hotels and restaurants and a variety of entertainment, activities and nightlife available.

Torremolinos is located 7km west of Málaga airport and was the first Costa del Sol resort to be developed back in the early sixties when it was little more than a sleepy village, still today the town reflects its heritage with several of the original fresh fish bars located right in the shopping centre, incongruously flanked by exclusive boutiques and gift shops.

At the height of summer, the resort has a great appeal for the younger set, with a reputation for its hectic nightlife. Out of season, however, it takes on a different character. The atmosphere is much more Spanish, especially at weekends, with an air of friendliness and welcome.