Los Cristianos Tenerife Canary Islands – One of the best known and best loved holiday resorts on the island of Tenerife, Los Cristianos has all the facilities you could need for a perfect family holiday. There are plenty of excellent hotels to choose from for your accommodation in the resort, and also a good choice of self-catering apartments which you can rent from an agent or direct from the owners.
Located west of Tenerife’s southern airport, Los Cristianos has super beaches, a pretty harbour, quality restaurants and bars, excellent water sports facilities, superb weather conditions, good fishing (fishing trips are available from the harbour), wonderful theme parks and entertainment.
If you think you like the sound of this then you should get a holiday booked to Los Cristianos sometime soon and learn for yourself just what a great resort it is. Tenerife of course has plenty of other fine resorts and another good one which is nearby is Playa de las Americas.
Tenerife is the biggest of the Canary Islands and also attracts the most visitors, so you will be in good company whenever you visit. Los Cristianos Map.
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If you are looking for a traditional Englsh seaside resort to visit, then you could do little better than the charming Swanage in Dorset. Boasting outstanding sandy beaches, and a beautiful unspoilt coastline, Swanage will appeal to all sorts of people, those who like the traditional beach style holiday, with the usual seaside resort amenities, those who like walking, cycling an hiking, and those who like to visit historic and ancient places (Corfe Castle for instance). With some of the best weather conditions in the UK, Swanage definitely has appeal as a summer holiday destination, and the beaches are great in the sunny weather, though not quite so appealing on rainy days, of which of course there are plenty (this being England). There is still lots to do when the weather is not so good, pop into the amusement arcades, go to the pictures or visit a charming English pub or two. Make sure you visit such lovely places as Lulworth Cove, Corfe Castle, Wareham and Purbeck, marvel at the Old Harry Rocks and Durdle Door, if you have time you could maybe visit Weymouth, Bournemouth or Poole all well worth the trip. All in all a great place to visit in Dorset, Swanage will not disappoint.
Swanage Map.
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Puerto del Carmen Lanzarote – The largest and probably the most popular of Lanzarote’s coastal resorts, Puerto del Carmen is spread over a considerable distance along the coastline of Lanzarote and has several miles of beaches, some better than others. The accommodation in the form of hotels, apartment blocks and villas is also spread along the coastline of Lanzarote, and some distance inland, so be careful when booking if you want to be near the beach (or a specific area of the resort). Handy for the airport at Arrecife Puerto del Carmen is the perfect holiday destination, with good facilities, plenty of nighttime entertainment, good beaches and sunny weather all year round. There are plenty of hotels and most major tour operators arrange holidays in Puerto del Carmen, there is also plenty of self-catering accommodation in the form of villas and apartments, giving you plenty of choice for your holiday in Lanzarote. You really can visit Puerto del Carmen any time of year and the British favour the resort during the winter months ie December, January, February and March as the weather is more pleasant at this time of year, getting rather hot and sticky in July and August, the traditional holiday months.
Map of Lanzarote.
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Playa Flamenca Beach Spain
Playa Flamenca Spain: One of the top three resorts on the Orihuela Costa in Spain, Playa Flamenca is sandwiched between the other two (Cabo Roig and La Zenia). With fabulous weather conditions through the year, fantastic sandy beaches, good road communications and dozens of great shops, bars and restaurants, Playa Flamenca deserves its place in the top 3.
Accommodation in the resort is generally through privately owned self-catering properties as there are a glut of these, and no hotels to speak of. Do not let this put you off however, as there is plenty of choice of rentals and some great offers to be had. My particular preference would be for a detached villa with pool, to get the best from the resort, make sure it is within easy reach of the beach and also walking distance to local commercial centres, for your evening entertainment, though in the good weather, you will probably prefer to stay around the pool.
All in all Playa Flamenca is a pleasant place to visit, and a good base for touring the southern Costa Blanca region, and especially good for accessing all the facilities of the Orihuela Costa region.
Playa Flamenca Map.
Also useful is this map of the Orihuela Costa: Map of Orihuela Costa
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A delightful village situated close to the towns of Wendover and Aylesbury in the county of Buckinghamshire, Weston Turville, has retained much of its old world charm, and still looks much as it has for hundreds of years. In no way overdeveloped, at least not yet, it still has less than three thousand residents. In my memory Weston Turville had 4 pubs, but one has disappeared and it now has 3, the Chandos Arms, the Five Bells Hotel and the Chequers. The parish church was originally built in the twelfth century, and stands slightly apart from the centre of the village. Weston Turville is an ancient place, as most Buckinghamshire villages are, and it traces its history back to Saxon times, it was listed in the Domesday Book. The Weston Turville Golf Club is situated a little outside the village, and of course attracts golfing fans from all over the area. Weston Turville is surrounded by the towns and villages of Aston Clinton, Halton, Wendover, Aylesbury, Buckland, North Lee, Terrick and Stoke Mandeville, it is about 40 miles drive from London.
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One of the “big three” resorts located to the south-west of Malaga on the Costa del Sol, Spain, Fuengirola is a popular holiday destination, right through the year, and is an especially attractive winter location, with good holiday deals to be had. Well loved by those of more advanced age, many retired couples and singles, head for Fuengirola and its neighbours Benalmadena, Mijas and Torremolinos, to spend the winter, away from the cold and damp of the UK. The winter weather in Fuengirola can, in fact, be excellent, though cold winds can spoil a sunny day at times, especially when the wind is coming from the direction of Gibraltar. A wonderful sandy beach, good amenities and plenty of entertainment, are what attract the visitors, along, of course, with the weather, for which the Costa del Sol is so well known.
Costa del Sol Map.
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A small but pretty island situated just two miles south of Ibiza in the Mediterranean Sea, Formentera has an area of just thirty two square miles. Despite its perfect location, Formentera is pretty much unspoilt by tourism, at least not in a bad way, for it does rely on its summer tourist, who mostly only visit on day trips, but the lack of any real tourist infrastructure discourages many who would otherwise visit. Those who do stay on the island for a holiday are encouraged to hire a bike instead of a car, and most of the locals seem to get about on cyles or scooters rather than by car, this adds to the charm of the place, making it a bit like Corfu used to be before it became commercialised. There is some accommodation to be had in Formentera however, but don’t expect to see high-rise hotels and apartment blocks, because thankfully they don’t exist on the island, in fact there are only around sixteen hotels on Formentera. Do expect to see clean sandy beaches, warm clear waters and serene grassy farmland. The weather in Formentera is similar to that found in Ibiza, and while you can visit the island anytime in the year, the summer months are the best, weather wise. The main resort on Formentera, and the place where most who are on holidays head, is Es Pujols, this resort is still relatively small by Spanish standards, but it does have the best of the facilities on the island and also some of the best beaches. The capital of Formentera is Sant Francesc, and even this place has a population of only just over one thousand.
View a map of Formentera here: Formentera Island Map.
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A popular little Hampshire seaside town, which is now joined to its big neighbour Portsmouth, Southsea originally grew as a town around a fort built by King Henry VIII. As a settlement, not really of any consequence until the 19th century, the present town expanded as homes were built for the skilled workers of Portsmouth and nearby. As a boy I remember catching the hovercraft from Southsea to the Isle of Wight, and you can still do this today. The beach is a popular place to spend a few hours when the weather is fine, otherwise the main attraction in Southsea is the old castle, other places to visit include the Royal Marine Museum, and the Blue Reef Aquarium. Southsea is surrounded by Portsmouth and is about a drive of 85 miles from central London, it can also be reached by train (South West Railways).
View a map of Southsea Hampshire here: Map of Southsea.
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For many years a favourite of Hippies, the beautiful Balearic Island of Ibiza was at the centre of the rave culture of the late 1980’s. It does, of course, have much more to offer than just its nightlife and it is a popular family holiday destination, with a rugged coastline, peppered with pretty coves and bays, each with its own small sandy beach, most can get quite crowded in the summer, but find one off the beaten track and you may just have a beach to yourself. The three main resorts of Ibiza are the capital Ibiza Town, Santa Eulalia and San Antonio, and it is these three that attract the majority of visitors to the island. The airport is located near to Ibiza Town (also called Eivissa) and from here you can hire a car, or get a taxi or transfer to get you to your destination resort. There are plenty of other resorts, apart from the big 3, and these include Cala Llonga, Es Cana, Cala Bassa and Portinatx. One of the main attractions of the island is the fantastic weather which you can expect there, and this is fairly reliable between the months of May and October, winters can be cooler and wetter, so for guaranteed sun, stick to the summer months, this also applies for the other Balearic Islands of Majorca, Menorca and Formentera. The island is also a favourite with water sports enthusiasts and a particular favourite is scuba diving, with the clear, warm waters an ideal environment, there are also golf facilities with the Club de Golf Roca Llisa one of the favourites.
Ibiza Map.
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If you are looking for a nice beach resort to visit, on the island of Ibiza, in the Balearic Islands, but don’t want to be in amongst the rowdy ravers for which the island is so well known, then the resort for you could well be Santa Eulalia, on Ibiza’s east coast (or Santa Eularia des Riu, as it is properly know). Great for a beach holiday, Santa Eulalia has plenty to commend it, with fine weather conditions, excellent beaches, lively, but not hectic, nightlife, and good water sports facilities. In the charming old town square, you can sit in one of the traditional cafes, sip a coffee or beer, and do a bit of good old people watching, whilst relaxing and enjoying the shade of the palm trees. When the weather is not so good, head along to the Hippy Market, at neighbouring Es Cana and pick up some bargains to take back home with you on your return.
Santa Eulalia Map.
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A very interesting place to visit if you find yourself in the eastern region of the Algarve in Portugal, Tavira is an ancient town with a history going back as far as the Bronze Age. Early settlements by both Phoenicians and Romans left their mark on this place, and some monuments still remain, at least of the Roman occupation. The Phoenicians were interested in Tavira as a port, and founded a trading post there for their ships passing along the coast, this was in the 8th century BC. The Roman settlement was later replaced by the Moors, as they invaded the Iberian Peninsular, and took a foothold in Portugal. The Christians valiantly retook Tavira in 1242, though most of the old town was later destroyed by a huge earthquake in 1755 (known as the Lisbon earthquake). In the late 20th century Tavira was developed as a tourist destination, and now attracts thousands of visitors to its fine sandy beaches, its superb weather, and its Venice like appeal. Not too far from the Spanish border with Portugal, Tavira is only thirty eight kilometres from the Spanish town of Ayamonte, though most holidaymakers will probably arrive via Faro airport which is 40 kilometres west of Tavira.
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If you are visiting the Algarve region of Portugal this year and are searching for a nice resort to visit, you would certainly not be disappointed to try the once tranquil fishing town of Carvoeiro, located between Albufeira and Portimao. A delightful resort with plenty of self-catering villas and apartments, together with several hotels, Carvoeiro enjoys a friendly atmosphere and has an excellent beach, pretty coastline, superb weather conditions, and some brilliant facilities, including at least three golf courses, Vale de Pinta, Quinta do Granacho and Vale de Milho. An excellent choice as a base for visiting several of the historic Algarve towns, Carvoeiro benefits from a terrific climate with the weather normally sunny and warm right through the summertime, and generally mild and pleasant during the wintertime. Whilst there you should be sure to take a boat trip to Algar Seco, a beautiful local spot where you can see cliffs which have been moulded into fascinating shapes, by the action of the sea. Carvoeiro is fairly easily reached from Faro airport, which is a drive of some sixty seven kilometres, airport transfers are easily booked from Faro airport or you could of course hire a car, if you are not on a package holiday, the resort of Albufeira is about 36 kilometres away.
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The first settlements in the La Manga del Mar Menor region date from the Neolithic period, about 5 millennia ago, when the entrance to La Manga was formed, and had established a village of wooden huts, straw and mud. The richness of the area with the Sierra Minera del Mar conditions saw settlements built by the Iberians, Phoenicians and Carthaginians, in addition to the Romans, the Greeks, all attracted by the wealth of the metal ores which are mined in the area. On the seabed of the Mar Menor also were found, ships laden with gold and silver bullion in their vases, Phoenician, Greek and Carthaginian boats buried in these shallow waters, what a treasure for history buffs and lovers of diving. After the expulsion of the Moors from Murcia, La Manga suffered a siege by Moorish pirates, who stormed the coast, and for its defense, three towers were built by order of King Charles and his son Philip II. The three defensive towers were built in La Manga and Cabo de Palos. During the Middle Ages until the eighteenth century the area suffered deforestation, the product of indiscriminate felling of trees. In the nineteenth century a lighthouse was built to warn ships in stormy weather. Nowadays, La Manga del Mar Menor is a resort that has seen much construction in recent decades and has grown rapidly as a tourist destination. Located within the region of Murcia, La Manga is unusual in having 2 coastlines, in places it is just 100 metres wide, its fine weather is its biggest draw for holidaymakers, with low rainfall and long hours of sunshine.
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Vilamoura is the largest resort in Europe. It is situated in Algarve ( municipality of Loulé, the parish of Quarteira, belonging to this). It has marina, a fitness golf and five golf courses, a casino, several night clubs, tennis club, diving club, other leisure facilities, a beach, and dozens of hotels, 4 and 5 stars. Begun in the mid-1960’s, Vilamoura has an area of 1600 hectares. The architectural design is developed around the marina, and includes hundreds of houses spread across the area, residential and other projects devoted almost exclusively to tourism, the fantastic weather being one of the biggest draws. In the area of Vilamoura lie the ruins of Roman of Cerro da Vila, where you can see a complex of baths and mosaics of fish representing a residence. Among the various initiatives that take place in Vilamoura is the Cross International Almond Blossom , International Competition Show Jumping and PokerStars Poker Season Solverde, some major events for Portugal. The entrepreneur founder of Vilamoura was Cupertino de Miranda. Andrew Jordan was manager between 2000 and 2004. In 1996 the Portuguese Atlantic Bank sold to entrepreneurs and Andrew Jordan Branco Vasco most of the capital of Lusotur, owner of Vilamoura. Later in 2000, was acquired the entire share capital of that society. These entrepreneurs have ensured the management of the enterprise between 1996 and January 2005, by a board composed of: Andrew Jordan – President, Vasco Branco – vice president, Carlos Rocha – managing director, Luis Correia da Silva and Gilberto Jordan – Administrators. In 2005 the company was sold to Spanish group Prasa. Vilamoura is 26km north-west of Faro in southern Portugal, at the airport in Faro you can easily hire a car, taxi or get public transport to Vilamoura.
Here you can view a map of the Algarve, zoom in to view Vilamoura: Algarve Map.
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