Travel to Spain

Posted on June 28, 2010 by

Travel to Spain

Transportation

Various airports are found in many cities of Spain such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao, Murcia, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca. Madrid and Bilbao boast of their modern and stunning airports designed by prominent architects. If you are a little tight with your budget you can try some of their low cost carriers such as ClickAir, easyJet, Blue Air, Sterling Airlines, Vueling and RyanAir.

The RENFE, Spain’s official rail carrier, and FEVE are rail systems connecting major cities of the country. They are considered to be the some of Europe’s finest because of its modern design and amenities, reliability and punctuality.

Buses, boats and car renting are also common for most people traveling and touring Spain. They are highly recommended if you want to avoid the volume of people using the train systems. You can also enjoy more the view and sceneries of the cities when riding in one these transport vehicles.

Lodging

There are various types of accommodations you can choose from when traveling Spain. Small villages located near the coasts are popular because of the warm welcome and friendly environment they give to tourists. Casa Rural or the counterpart of B&Bs in other countries is also a recommended option since it is strictly regulated by authorities, plus quality and price varies greatly. The Parador, a prominent state-owned hotel chain in Spain, can make your stay a unique since its locations are mostly found in historical places such as Moorish castles, convents, and haciendas.

Food and Dining

Spaniards are known for their exquisite taste in food and wine. They usually eat light with a lot of vegetables with a mixture of meat and fish. Lunchtime normally starts between 1:30pm to 2pm and ends before 9pm. Dinner is served at 8:30pm or 9pm. Between these times, nearly all restaurants and cafes are closed except for big cities that serve until midnight. To make your travel a memorable one, you could try one theses Spanish dishes: Mariscos (popular shellfish in Pontevedra); Pescaíto frito (mouth-watering fried fish served in southern Spain); Paella (rice dish that can be served with seafood, chicken, or rabbit); and Tortilla de patatas (egg omelet mized with fried potato).

Festivities

Since more than 75% of Spain’s populations are Catholics it is no surprise that many of its local and national festivals are celebrated in Catholicism to the religion such as the Holy Week, Fiesta de San Isidro (May 15 in Madrid), and Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos (parade for the 3 Kings, celebrated in the 5th of January). Other local celebrations you should watch out for are the Festival de Patios (2-week event when some locals open their houses to visitors to show their old Patios), Fallas (held in March in Valencia), Seville’s April Fair (consist of flamenco dancing, drinking of sherry and bullfighting), and the world-famous La Tomatina (a massive tomato fight in Buñol.

Shopping

For people who love shopping while traveling, you can find designer brands such Zara, Mango, Camper and Bershka in major cities and it could save you some cash. Popular department and specialty stores in Spain include the El Corte Ingles, Casas, Camper and For. The Kukuxumusu t-shirt is a favorite souvenir for many tourists that have funny designs and various subjects about Spain.

Dori Kelsey, Director of Spain Exchange http://www.spainexchange.com holds a Master of Liberal Studies from The University of Toledo (Ohio) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spring Arbor College (Michigan) in Management and Organizational Development.

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Why To Find Vacation Packages To Madrid

Posted on May 31, 2010 by

Why To Find Vacation Packages To Madrid

Madrid, Spain has a long and complicated history. For centuries it ruled half the world as the center of the monarchy power, but it is now a one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. One central to the Spanish Inquisition, Madrid is now known for its vibrant nightclubs, incredible shopping and abundance of art.

A trip to Madrid rewards the traveler with first-rate soccer and bullfighting, and shopping third in Europe to only Paris and London. The traveler also experiences the best and most beautiful art museums, parks equal to those in Manhattan, New York. A trip to Madrid is surely not a quick pass through. Visitors should anticipate spending some time in the city.

Art lovers will surely want to visit the Prado, but the Museu Thyseen-Bornemisza is a recent addition that should definitely not be missed. It was founded by the family of wealthy industrialist Baron Thyssen and his wife, a former Miss Spain, housing over seven hundred of Europe’s beautiful treasures from the thirteen to the twentieth centuries. The Queen Sofia is home to an abundant amount of twentieth century art, enough to satisfy fans of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

However, there is more to Madrid than the art museums. You can take a walk in Madrid’s sunny climate and visit the beautiful Parque del Buene Retiro. Though this park is smaller than Manhattan’s Central Park and even smaller than London’s Hyde Park, it is no less beautiful with lakes, sculptures, lovely grounds and Crystal Place.

At nearby Plaza Mayor, travelers can enjoy a delicious meal at one of the many restaurants or cafes. Or, they can simply sit under the shade and “people-watch.” The Plaza Mayor square is nearly 100m on each side and is surrounded by buildings that have watched many things throughout the years, from beheadings to bullfighting.

Be sure to allow time for a visit to the Royal Palace, or Palacio Real. It was home to Spain’s monarchs and still contains the Royal Armory, throne room and Royal Pharmacy. Visitors can stand in some of the 2,800 rooms and imagine what it was like for the royal families and monarchs ruling half the world from that very room. It is not a difficult thing to imagine, though, when you are looking at displays of El Cid’s sword, porcelain vases and hundreds of jewels.

Of course, leave time to shop. Gran Via is Madrid’s most well known shopping area. You can find anything form the popular El Rastro flea market to department stores, such as the El Core Inglés. In addition to these, Madrid’s shopping offers much more, including Calle Montera, Calle Alcala, Calle Princesa and so many terrific stores and boutiques.

For anyone planning to visit Madrid, you will want to plan to spend some time in the beautiful city. There are many great packages available offering fabulous accommodations and great travel deals. Take a look and make your way to Madrid to experience its art, history, attractions and fabulous shopping!

Greg Hansward often publishes reports on issues associated with Spain and Madrid. His work on attractions in benidorm can be found on his site .

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Vacation Packages – The Cheapest Around

Posted on May 31, 2010 by

Vacation Packages – The Cheapest Around

Vacation packages are marketed as your best option for enjoying a good holiday.  Why?  (1) It saves you money.  Vacation packages are usually a combination of the best “deals” in hotels, airfare, land transportation, and attractions.  Thus, you are guaranteed of a good deal.  (2) Vacation packages save you the hassle of having to book different entities with different websites or agents.  Imagine having to book a plane ticket with an airline, reserve a hotel with a travel agent, and so on.  Time and effort can definitely be saved when you opt to take advantage of vacation packages.   (2) Everybody needs a holiday!  In today’s hard times, vacation packages are perfect for people, as people don’t really have the time to plan a complete holiday, and they want to have a holiday without spending too much money.

If you are interested in taking advantage of a vacation package, take note of these tips to make sure you’re getting the best deals:

•    As with almost everything else, time is of the essence.  You get things cheaper the sooner you book your vacation package.  You can be more or less assured of higher rates and limited choices once you opt to book when your intended travel date draws nearer.

•    The best deals are usually online.  That’s because online deals are more updated.  What’s more, you can easily compare which websites offer better deals.  This is such a taxing task when you have to call one travel agent, then another, and then go back to the first travel agent, then a new one.  Save yourself the nightmare and go online and experience booking vacation packages when you want, where you want.

•    Travel expos also offer good deals.  In a travel expo, airlines, hotels, and travel agents come together in one roof and offer their best services to “show off”.  As a costumer, you have to definitely take advantage of this opportunity to choose a good vac pac deal.

•    Off season rates are the best rates you can find in a vacation package.  Of course, you need to consider where you are going.  A vacation package to Spain in the summer will definitely cost more than it will be in winter, as millions of Northern Europeans and Americans flock to Mediterranean countries to enjoy the cold and escape the heat.   A “summer” vac pac in Australia may actually be a good idea as typical American summer months – June, July, and August, are actually winter months in Australia.  

•    Group travel is definitely a good idea.  Vacation packages, which are already  available in low rates, will go lower if there are many people in a group taking advantage of the same package.  Why?  This sudden demand for the same package will allow travel operators to ask and actually get discounts from their sources – hotels and airlines.

As mentioned above, you can definitely take advantage of vacation packages through a good website comparison.  Websites such as like http://www.asianairfares.com offer the cheapest packages.  This is definitely something worth considering and going online for, fast!

Looking for the cheapest Asian Travel?  Visit http://www.asianairfares.com/aboutus.html for the best airline tickets deals around!

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Bargain Holiday Packages Great Deals On Last Minute Trips Convenience

Posted on May 31, 2010 by

Bargain Holiday Packages Great Deals On Last Minute Trips Convenience

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Find a cheap cruise package, book a last-minute cruise, or find the perfect cruise vacation. But more and more vacationers are waiting until the last minute to book their trips, often with the hope of saving money. Book last-minute accommodation or up to 28 days in advance. To book your last minute cruise deal now please just click book now. Book one of these last-minute cruise deals and send off in 30 days or less. Members book tee times, earn & redeem yards, book last minute golf getaways, track handicap & stats, configure email alerts and more! With last minute hotel deals available at hundreds of hotels worldwide, all heavily discounted, you can book a luxury hotel at an affordable price. http://www.last-minute-travel-vacation.com/

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Tour Spain by Car

Posted on May 31, 2010 by

Tour Spain by Car

There is nothing quite as free and exciting as traveling to a new place that you have never visited before. Spain is a wonderful place to see and experience. Touring Spain by car is a great idea. It makes it so much easier to be part of the scenery rather than simply viewing it. Many travelers find that driving through Spain allows them to experience it on a personal level and makes them feel less like typical tourists. Make the most of your trip to Spain by touring around on your own schedule and agenda.

Driving in Spain doesn’t have to be difficult. Equip yourself with all that you will need to find your way to where you want to be. Make a list of certain landmarks or locations that you wish to visit. Map them out in advance so when the time comes to find it, you will have no problems. This is also a great time to consider investing in a GPS system. If you are a first time visitor to Spain then a GPS unit could make your driving experience a total breeze.

You are more than welcome to bring your own personal car into Spain if you choose not to rent one. If you do drive it in though then you must be sure to have all of the legal papers needed for that car. Insurance and registration must be up to date and you will have to show that you have a valid driver’s license in your own country. All of the passengers in your car should make sure to have their proper identification present as well in case it is asked for.

There may be some differing traffic laws in Spain than what you are used to. Drivers in Spain are required to carry certain items in their vehicle at all times. Extra light bulbs for your car must be inside the vehicle at all times in case one of yours goes out. You must also have a spare tire and the necessary tools to service your car in a situation that requires a tire or light bulb change. If you do not have these things in your car you could end up being fined.

If you do visit Spain, you can only stay for six months as a visitor. If you stay any longer then you must become an actual resident. If you plan to work in Spain then you must look into all related information to the legal aspects of that choice. You must also be at least eighteen years of age to legally drive a vehicle in Spain. This information is easy to find online so there is no excuse not to have it in advance.

Keep a checklist of this type of information so that you do not enter Spain unprepared. Lack of proper preparation could easily ruin a trip you have been planning for a long time. Touring Spain by car is a beautiful opportunity that not many receive. Make it the best it can be by following the laws and respecting life in a foreign place.

Enjoy your car and find the best deal on the insurance coverage you need. Visit us for money-saving tips, fast online auto insurance quotes and strategies for affordable insurance coverage at Auto Insurance Rates Direct.

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