Vacations Blog

A wide variety of exhibitions and meetings take place at the Fira Barcelona Congress Centre and Fairgrounds. If you’re coming to the city for business, there’s a good chance you might find yourself here. If you do, there is an assortment of areas that are just a few minutes on the underground away and offer some superb self-catering Barcelona apartments.

The Congress Centre is found just off the Placa de Espanya, arguably the most significant square in the city. The roads that intersect here make this a very popular spot, and it’s not hard to get to either.

If you are in Barcelona for business only, then try to base yourself as close to the square as possible. However, you may have some difficulty as there aren’t too many Barcelona apartments in the immediate neighbourhood. With the Magic Fountain on-site and the Palau Nacional, this is one of the most popular places to stay.

The city centre, however, is the best area when it comes to basing yourself for a few days. Indeed, it is set up specifically for tourists, so you can be sure that every amenity and activity is provided. What’s more, you’ll have a lot more choice in the specifics of the Barcelona apartment that you are looking to stay in.

If you are used to upscale places then you should try renting your accommodation in the lower Eixample area. Not only is this one of the closer areas to the Congress Centre, it is also one of the classier places in the city. Therefore, it is well suited to the expectations of the business-type.

If you get a few spare hours, this area of the city will provide you with lots of cultural activities to take part in. Sant Antoni is one of the subdivisions of Eixample and offers some cultural attractions like fine dining and wine bars. The best thing about Sant Antoni, however, is that it is about as close you can get to the Congress Centre without leaving the city centre.

The transport connections in Barcelona are so good that you can even base yourself a bit further out. This will give you more options on where to stay depending on the kind of trip you are after. The bus and rail routes in the city take you around all of the most notable areas, and the congress centre is one of them.

Being in the city for business, the chances are you are just looking for somewhere clean and comfortable. Closest to the Placa de Espanya is the Arc de Triomf neighbourhood, which offers each of these requirements. It is not the most prestigious area of the city but is home to lots of pleasant places to stay.

And if you happen to have some free time, Arc de Triomf if is in an ideal position to allow you to walk to the majority of the city’s best-loved sites. For shopping the AvingudaDiagonal is not far away, and neither is the cathedral.

And right next door you’ll find the Parc de la Ciutadella, where you can find some much needed rest and relaxation from what could be a busy week.

When you are in Barcelona on business at the Congress Centre, there are lots of accommodation options available to you. Really, no matter how close, or far, you want to be, you’ll find somewhere more than suitable. Whether you like upmarket or simple living, there’s always somewhere suitable. And you’ll never be too far away, or too busy, to sample the city’s best attractions.

The popular holiday island of Lanzarote is located in the Canaries.  The group of seven Spanish owned islands located off the coast of Morocco close to the Tropic of Cancer.  Where tourists can bask in warm weather all year round. These favourable climatic conditions have earned the Canaries the position of one of the most visited destinations in Spain.  With Lanzarote – the most easterly of the islands - welcoming well over 1.5 million foreign arrivals on their holidays in Lanzarote during the course of last year alone.

So lets have a look and see why holidays in Lanzarote are such a popular choice and choosing to stay in one of the many Lanzarote villas and apartment that the island offers is becoming an increasingly popular private accommodation  choice amongst holiday makers.

Like all of the Canaries Lanzarote boasts a unique charm and character.  Visitors expecting a lush green island will be disappointed though.  As it is much more barren than the rest of the Canaries.  As a result of experiencing very little rainfall.  Whilst also boasting an arid terrain forged by volcanic eruptions centuries ago.

This volcanic region – called Timanfaya - was declared a national park back in 1974 – and dominates the island’s interior.  It’s also the most popular sight on Lanzarote thanks to its incredible lunar like scenery.  Which in the past has earned the region a number of starring roles in major movie productions.  Most recently Broken Embraces starring Penelope Cruz, the latest release from Spanish director Pedro Almodovar.

There are lots of different accommodation choices available to holidaymakers here.  With the island offering everything from cheap apartments through to luxury Lanzarote villas and hotels.  Most of which can be found in the main resorts such as Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen.  With a growing selection available across the countryside too as demand for rural accommodation grows.

Lanzarote offers more than just sunshine and volcanoes alone though.  There are over ninety beaches for visitors to explore.  The best of which can be found in traditional coastal villages such as Playa Quemada, Famara, Orzola and Arrieta – which all remain largely unspoiled.  Whilst each resort boasts a good selection of beaches too – although many of these are man made, created by using sand from the nearby Sahara desert.

Lanzarote was unfairly dubbed Lanzagrotty by Michael Palin during the 1970´s.  But this epithet couldn’t be further from the truth.  As the island offers a wealth of cultural attractions.  With over a dozen museums – such as the fascinating house musem the Palacio Spinola in Teguise.  Which provides an insight into the life of an 18th century island merchant.  Along with the many works of the local artist César Manrique.  Who famously fought for the controlled development of tourism on the island of his birth.

For the latest holiday offers be sure to visit the Lanzarote holiday villas vacation and travel web.

The popular holiday island of Lanzarote in the Canaries is home to three main resorts.  As well as the emerging marina of Puerto Calero – where visitors will find two upmarket hotels and an abundance of expensive yachts and craft from around the world.

Each of these resorts has a unique identity and offers a number of different attractions.  Whilst also offering plenty of accommodation options – with a variety of Lanzarote villas, apartments and hotels available for visitors to stay in.

So lets investigate some of the favourite holiday resorts renowned for a wide selection of self catering Lanzarote apartments and villas.

Puerto del Carmen

Puerto del Carmen started life as La Tiñosa before becoming Lanzarote´s most popular holiday destination during the 1970´s.  Thanks to an abundance of good value holiday apartment complexes…  Accommodation choices have evolved along with the resort and visitors can now select from a wide range of hotels and holiday villas too.

The island government has recently spent over €16 million sprucing up Carmen’s image in order to maintain its competiveness against newer destinations around the world.  So there’s never been a better time to visit.

Costa Teguise Holiday Accommodation

Situated towards the northern end of the island Costa Teguise is just a short hop away from Arrecife airport.  And started life as Lanzarote´s upmarket resort.  Designed to attract moneyed Scandinavian and German tourists during the early boom years of the 1970´s.

Costa Teguise´s excellent beaches and wide open plan feel helped to establish this as the second most popular spot on the island during the 1980´s.  But that crown slipped somewhat during the 1990´s as the resort rival of Playa Blanca was developed at the southern end of the island.  However it still remains an attractive destination and there’s plenty of hotels and holiday villas in Costa Teguise for visitors to choose from.

Playa Blanca

Last but not least Playa Blanca was developed during the 1990´s and offers a winning combination of great weather and fantastic beaches.  Allied with an excellent selection of hotels and holiday villas.

There´s an abundance of good quality hotels and villas in Playa Blanca for visitors to select from.  Whilst the resort has a delightful sea front promenade which unites the three main beaches of Playa Flamingo, Playa Blanca and Playa Dorada.  The famous sandy coves of Papagayo are also just a short walk away.

Go here for the best Lanzarote holiday accommodation ideas.

Nerja is one of the resort towns along Spain’s Costa del Sol or Sun Coast, aptly named for its clement weather and beautiful beaches. Because of this, it is a good idea to stay in a {Nerja apartment and spend your holidays in Nerja while trying out the exciting activities it has to offer, like those listed below.~Nerja may be one of the smaller and lesser known towns on the Costa del Sol in Spain, but it definitely has much to offer. Indeed, there are plenty of exciting activities you can try out if you spend your holidays in Nerja while staying at a great Nerja apartment. Here are some to get you started.~The Costa del Sol or Sun Coast in Spain is known for its clement weather, picturesque beaches and spectacular scenery - all of which you can enjoy if you spend your holidays in Nerja, one of its towns. You can sample many exciting activities, too, especially if you book a Nerja apartment and stay for a few days.}

Explore Nerja Caves

The caves of Nerja are one of the town’s main attractions, which is why you should explore them during your holidays in Nerja. This complex of caves was discovered in 1959, although studies show that it has been in existence for millions of years. Here, you will see the world’s largest calcite column, remarkable stalactite and stalagmite formations, several paleothic wall paintings and skeletal remains displayed in glass cases throughout its various halls, though most of the artifacts unearthed in the cave are displayed in the museum outside. You can even catch a concert or a ballet at one of its halls.

apartments in Nerja nearby.~Watersports at Burriana Beach

It goes without saying that one of the things to do in Nerja is to relax or have a splash at its idyllic beaches. In fact, many tourists rent apartments in Nerja just for this purpose. The most popular beach is Burriana Beach, which is also the largest in town, as well as the most commercialized. This means that you can easily find sun beds, palm umbrellas, shower facilities and restaurants on this beach or take advantage of its watersports centre and go surfing, jetskiing or scuba diving.~Hit the Water at Playa Burriana

Sunbathing is one of the most popular things to do in Nerja, especially on Playa Burriana, the town’s largest beach which is covered with fine sand. If this is what you intend to do for most of your stay, renting one of the seaside apartments in Nerja is recommended. If you’re looking for more excitement, though, you can also rent a jetski and make a splash, try surfing or even get introductory courses in scuba diving. After all, Nerja is considered the scuba diving center of the Costa del Sol.}

Savor the Views from the Balcony of Europe

Like King Alfonso XII, you are sure to be captivated by the scenery you will see from the Balcony of Europe or Balcon de Europa, a promenade lined with palm trees and exotic plants built on the site of an old castle and looking over the ocean. This is the perfect place for a romantic stroll, whether by day or by night, as well as a great place to dine. If you look closely, you might even catch a glimpse of the coast of Africa on a clear day.

Make a Difference at the Nerja Donkey Sanctuary

Visiting the Nerja Donkey Sanctuary is one of the best things to do in Nerja, particularly if you’re visiting with your kids or love animals. This is because you won’t just get to see and pet donkeys, along with mules, horses, goats and even dogs. You can also make a difference by doing some volunteer work, such as helping in feeding, grooming and walking the animals or make a donation to maintain the sanctuary.

Nerja at Night

Even at night, you can still have a lot of fun in Nerja. No matter where your Nerja apartment is, you’re sure to find a bar, pub or restaurant nearby where you can eat, drink, dance, socialize or even watch a flamenco show during your holidays in Nerja, although for the best of the nightlife in Nerja, you will have to make your way to Plaza Tutti Frutti and Antonio Millon where the parties go on until around four in the morning.

Nerja apartment, which will surely allow you to have a great time and make the most of your vacation.~Take a Spanish Class at Nerja Language Centers

If you want to have more fun or get to know the locals better during your holidays in Nerja, you should definitely enroll in a Spanish class at one of the language centers in town. There are several for you to choose from, most of which offer both beginner courses for those who want to learn enough basic Spanish to get by and advanced courses for those who plan to stay in Spain long or become regular visitors. Many of them even offer excursions around the town or to nearby cities, like Malaga and Granada, so you can practice your Spanish while seeing some amazing sights.~Learn Spanish in Nerja

Like many towns and cities in Spain, Nerja has several language centres where you can learn Spanish. This is an opportunity you should seize during your holidays in Nerja since this will help you understand and get along with the locals better. Some language centres even offer excursions at the end of the course, which gives you a chance to practice your Spanish as you tour the town and the best attractions around.

There are certainly many activities you can do during your holidays in Nerja which will help you truly enjoy your vacation. To have more chances of trying them out or make your own discoveries to add to the list, stay at a Nerja apartment during your stay. There are many great ones available, all of which can help you make the most of your trip.}

It may lie just seventy miles off the coast of West Africa. But the small Canary Island of Lanzarote is Spanish owned. And has long been a hot favourite with British and Irish tourists – who accounted for over one million visitors last year,attracted by a delightful year round climate, good quality holiday accommodation and the island´s unique volcanic scenery.

There is a wide choice of Lanzarote apartments but if you prefer a more luxurious holiday then you can grab yourself a bargain Lanzarote holiday villa this summer as lower than expected visitor number means there are some good deals to be had.

Lanzarote is just four hours flying time from the UK – making it the closest winter sun destination to Britain and Eire. And is serviced by numerous low cost flight operators, such as Monarch, easy Jet and Thomas Cook. Making it possible to book flights to Lanzarote from around £200 per person – depending of course on the time of year.

The sole airport on the island is called Arrecife and is located around 3km outside of the island capital of the same name. Thanks to Lanzarote´s relatively small size (it measures just 58km by 34.5km) transfer times from the airport to the island’s three main resorts are mercifully quick. With Puerto del Carmen just ten minutes from the airport, Costa Teguise fifteen and Playa Blanca around thirty five minutes away.

The majority of visitors to the island arrive on package holidays. So they are usually transferred to their resort on board coaches provided by their tour operators. But Lanzarote is also very popular with independent tourists who like to make their own travel arrangements. And they rely on either taxis or hire cars to get them to their resort accommodation.

Hiring a car in Lanzarote is surprisingly cheap in relation to many other holiday destinations around the world. As it is possible to rent a basic class C vehicle for as little as €20 per day. Whilst petrol is also much more affordable than in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.

As you’d expect from a popular holiday island there’s no shortage of good quality accommodation. The best Lanzarote hotels are located in the islands southern most resort of Playa Blanca. Which is also the gateway to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura. The resort also offers the biggest selection of Lanzarote villas.

Whilst Puerto del Carmen is the spot to head for for those planning to book apartments in Lanzarote. As the islands oldest resort has the highest concentration of apartment complexes of any destination on the island.

Lanzarote also offers holiday makers plenty to do. As the island boasts lots of natural beauty – such as the Valley of 1000 Palms and the famous Green Lagoon at El Golfo. Along with some incredible man made attractions – such as the Mirador del Rio and the Cesar Manrique Foundation. Which was constructed by the island bon artist of the same name from five underground bubbles in the lava flow. And which is - by some distance – the most unique property in lanzarote.

Despite the current economic difficulties the holiday island of Lanzarote still expects to welcome well over one million foreign visitors during the course of 2009.  The majority of them from the UK.  As the island remains a favoure holiday spot with tourists.  Much to the delight of the many thousands of overseas owners of holiday villas in Lanzarote.

Fortunately most families still refuse to cut their annual vacations and holidays even if money is tight.

The Canarian archipelago, comprising a total of seven very individual islands, is a short four hour flight away from the UK by plane.  And some of the best known economy airlines fly there, such as Jet 2 and Thomas Cook.  Which means it is usually fairly easy to get a flight to the island for as little as £200 return.  Making it a big favourite with overseas investors – many of whom rent their property in Lanzarote to holidaymakers. The bulk of flights from the UK operate on Mondays and Thursdays.

Lanzarote only has the one international airport at Arrecife.  Which is located around 3km from the island capital of the same name.  This serves as the hub for ´domestic’ flights between the other six Canary Islands as well as the rest of Spain.  Facilities at the airport are a little limited by mainland European standards.  For example there are no bureau de change facilities or shops in the arrivals hall.

In addition, there are no shuttle buses running between the airport and the main resorts.  Which means that independent travellers will either need to take a taxi to their Lanzarote hotels or hire a car.  Taxis are available directly outside the main arrivals hall.  Although it is well worth noting that there can be a considerable queue during busy periods – such as Thursdays.  When arrivals should allow up to twenty minutes wait.

On the upside, getting to most accommodation such as Lanzarote villas or apartments is usually pretty quick.  As the island is very small – measuring less than 60km from end to end.  So transfer times are speedy.  For example, Playa Blanca, which is the furthest resort from the airport can be reached in around 35 minutes.  Whilst the other two main resorts of Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen are both within a ten minute radius of Arecife airport.

Lanzarote provides visitors with plenty to do.  There´s over ninety beautiful beaches, the majority boasting golden sands.  Whilst the island also boasts a unique volcanic scenery, thanks to the eruptions of the 1730´s which carpeted around a quarter of Lanzaroe in lava.  A local artist called Cesar Manrique worked with this volcanic terrain to create some great attractions, such as the Jameos del Agua and the Cactus Garden.  Which should feature on any visitors itinerary.

Pop along to the Lanzarote villas website for the very latest availability of villas in Lanzarote. You can also find a great selection of  Lanzarote apartments to rent there too.