Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Planning The Perfect Vacation In Altea

Altea is a city which is located 15km to the north of Benidorm. This city is one of the few that has kept the image of a traditional Spanish fishing village. They have successfully carved out a tourist industry without having to say goodbye to their natural beauty.

This village is much more relaxed than the other larger cities. The weather is much milder in the summer and winter. This is because the hills which surround the city make the temperature much more comfortable during both the summer and the winter.

Finding Travel and Accommodation in Altea

Most tourists travelling to Altea fly into Alicante airport, this is located about half an hour away from the village by car. You can hire a car from the airport for convenience. You can also get a number of buses and trains from Alicante to Altea.

There is a nice mountainous area just outside of the main village, this have some amazing views. Real estate is becoming very desirable in these areas. There are many new hotels and apartments springing up in these locations.

Altea Attractions

I personally think that Altea is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Spain. It’s very tranquil and relaxing. The writer proves to be a draw for Spanish and international tourists, especially writers and painters. Some of these may stay for a short period, others live there permanently. Most will stay in the area which is around the old church.

The church is fairly famous, it’s known as the Nuestra Senora DelConsuelo. This was built in 1910 and is based on Mediterranean architecture. All of the tiles are hand painted. The blue dome can be seen from quite some distance and is somewhat of a landmark.

Not far from the beach and harbor you will find a number of independent stores which are greet for shopping. Most of these stores open at 10:00am and close at 9:00pm. Many of these stores are closed for a siesta from 2:00pm until 4:00, or 5:00pm. Larger stores typically stay open throughout the day.

The best way to see Altea close up is to take a walking tour. This will allow you to see the town and mountain areas in all its glory. The mountain walking tours can be very relaxing as you get to enjoy nature. You could also take a private tour of many of the trails which go around the village. There are even all inclusive tours which are available for a few days up to a week.

From Easter to September there is a wonderful craft market. This can be found near the harbor area. There are many local crafts offered at these events and you can find a number of beautiful hand crafted items at quite a reasonable price.

Because of the mild weather conditions this region is well known for its golfing vacations. There is a golf club which is great for visitors to the region.

If you want to have a more active night life then you should take a trip to Benidorm. This is a larger city and can be reached for a day trip. There are plenty of water parks, night clubs and theme parks here.

Ray Walberg publishes essentially for http://www.alicante-spain.com an online publication with topics around Altea in Spain , the village of Altea in Spain and various other ideas. You might see his observations on altea hills and Altea in Spain at http://www.alicante-spain.com

by Thuri Louis Tenerife Car Rental With more than 120 vehicle leasing companies on charming Tenerife as well as a confusing number of Tenerife car hire agents, deciding which car rental company to pick out can be a wearisome encounter. Do you elect a familiar name, and then ascertain an equally trustworthy local car rental company is a large amount cheaper? Do you decide on a company just to discover when you arrive that they dont have an office near to where youre staying? At Cheap

Who Flies to Alicante Airport?

Thomsonfly (Birmingham, Cardiff, Coventry, Doncaster / Sheffield, Durham Tees Valley, East Midlands, Glasgow-International, London-Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle)

The vast majority of flights come into Alicante on time; they rely heavily on the passengers checking in on time for their flights. However this doesnt necessarily mean that you have to be at the airport two hours before your flight. Today a vast majority of the airlines are offering online check-in or quick check-in this can save you having to queue at the airports and can also mean that you dont have to arrive so early. Be sure to check the exact details with your airline though as its still wise to ensure you leave plenty of time so that you can arrive for your flight relaxed and on time.

Who Flies to Alicante Airport?

Alicante is quickly becoming one of the most modern and dynamic airports in Spain, Offering great business and holiday connections to this extraordinary part of the Mediterranean coast, seventh busiest airport in Spain over 9 million passengers passed through Alicante international in 2007, this number continues to increase every year.

Although these airlines are extremely convenient and get to your destination safely and on time they might not offer services like on board food or drinks. Flight time to Alicante is around three hours and they are one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, dont forget to alter your watches or you could find your self being late all week long.

Bmibaby (Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Manchester)

Monarch Airlines (Birmingham, Glasgow-International, London-Gatwick, London-Luton, Manchester)
Palmair (Bournemouth)

First Choice Airways (Bristol, Glasgow International, London-Gatwick, Manchester)

Thomsonfly, EasyJet, Ryan Air and Thomas Cook Airlines are the four largest operators currently flying to Alicante airport. As with all of these budget cheap airlines their prices vary wildly sometimes on a daily basis. Look out for any sale week ends they have or promotional offers. Another way to save on the cost of your flights is to ensure you book them as far in advance as possible, try to reserve your flights at the same time as you book your holiday. This way you can be sure to avoid any disappointment whilst also benefiting from the cheap flights.

To give you a good idea of where to start looking listed below are several airlines that fly to Alicante, along with the airports in the UK that they operate from.

EasyJet Belfast International, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow-International, Liverpool, London-Gatwick, London-Luton, London-Stansted, Manchester begins 29 September, Newcastle.

Budget cheap airlines are making travel to Spain much more flexible and practical from the UK. There are now far more regional airports offering flights to Spain, which essentially means you wont have to travel as far before you have even left the UK. These smaller regional airports can often offer cheap prices to the customer; primarily because airport taxes for the companies to fly in and out are less expensive and they dont have to pass the expenses on to the customers in the price of their tickets.

Flying to Spain couldnt be easier today; if youre hiring a car from Alicante Airport their offices are all located either within the terminal building or just outside. With so many airlines flying to Alicante the choice is really with the consumer so if you hunt around you can be sure to find a great deal leaving you more money to spend and enjoy on your actual holiday.

Assisi And Viterbo Two Gems Of Italy Wonderful In A Car Hire

Viterbo lies in the middle of the Italian peninsula that falls in Latium region. Viterbo is also the capital of Latium. They say Viterbo has taken the place of historic and ancient village of Etruscan of Surrena. The name of the village during Roman times was changed Vicus Elbii. In the 8th century, its name was Cestrum Viterbii, under the rule of Longobards. Subsequently, it became the seat of the Popes (1257-1281) passing a favorable period of town development.

Traveling in a car that is temporarily yours and has your choicest settings, including inside sprays, makes it enjoyable as you move from city to city, town to town, looking up at all unique features each of towns and cities have to offer to a visitor. So Car Hire Italy becomes your companion on Tour of Italy.

Assisi And Viterbo Two Gems Of Italy Wonderful In A Car Hire

It is not only the historic small town of Assisi but there is a lot to visit and see outside Assisi. Viterbo, the university town, is just 135 km away. You can move around comfortably in your car, which you have taken from Car Hire Assisi, or Car Hire Viterbo. This is one company that besides promising no hidden charges also helps you get cheap insurance for the duration you are in Italy and using a Car Hire Italy vehicle.

Assisi’s Roman ruins, narrow and winding medieval streets and series of important, historic and sacred places of worship make it an important Catholic pilgrimage destination.
Estimates suggest that four to five million tourists, including Catholic pilgrims, visit Assisi every year. Though located at a height of 400 meters, it has lost some of its hill town glamour because of ever increasing tourist rush.

While in Italy, easiest and comfortable way to move around is in your own car. Car Hire Italy, which provides you best available cars of your preferred size, type and comfort, is the most convenient way.
Italy has so much to offer to both tourists and business visitors. Italy not only abounds in castles, museums, ancient palaces, and churches but also has a lot more to offer to its visitors.

After knowing the importance of a town, its historic links to the rise and growth of Catholics, both Assisi and Viterbo have become major tourist towns in central Italy. Though Italy has good public transport system, but for a tourist who values time and for whom time is money, it is all the more convenient to travel at one’s own pace and leisure in an affordable and reliable mode. Car Hire Italy facilitates that.
Rome is only 80 km away and Florence 160 km. So Viterbo becomes an important link between Assisi, Rome and Florence as no visitor to Italy would ever risk missing these three major tourist attractions.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Spanish apartment rentals, Costa Blanca North - What Are the Benefits Of Renting Properties Direct?

When it comes to booking a holiday property rental in Costa Blanca Spain there are plenty of options to choose from. Many travel agents offer apartments to rent on the Costa Blanca Spain but to get the best value it's worth looking at booking direct with the private owner. You may find that you can afford a luxury villa for rent in Spain if you don't have to pay the travel agent's commission as part of your holiday costs! People sometimes find that there are other advantages they didn't expect when booking Spanish apartment rentals direct from the proprietor. You usually get a more personal service as owners are usually willing to provide extras like high chairs, car seats, CD's and DVD's or even welcome packs of groceries for a small charge. Also they can give you the benefit of their local knowledge and recommend places to visit etc.
The numerous resorts in the northern part of the Costa Blanca offer an exciting assortment of Spanish apartment rentals in various settings. You can choose from properties which are situated by the beach, properties with magnificent mountain backdrops, in lively towns with a buzzing nightlife or even in more traditional Spanish villages with that wonderful 'laidback' atmosphere. There are apartments to rent on the Costa Blanca Spain to please every taste! If you book a property rental in Costa Blanca Spain, you will probably choose to fly to Alicante airport. Most people don't realize that Alicante is also a popular tourist town which provides all the amenities of a modern city including delightful Spanish apartment rentals, first-rate shops and excellent restaurants.
One of the best ways to enjoy the Costa Blanca coastline is by travelling on the narrow gauge railway that runs from Alicante to Denia, stopping at Calpe. Calpe is famous for the huge rock of Ifach which is now a nature reserve and well worth a visit. Modern Spanish apartment rentals are available in this charming town which still retains its Valencian traditions. There is plenty to see in Calpe including the ancient town centre, next to the Moorish quarter and the church known as Iglesia Vieja. If you go north up the coast you come to the attractive town of Denia which was once the centre of the region's raisin growing industry. These days raisins are still grown here but it also a thriving tourist resort with many apartments to rent on the Costa Blanca Spain readily available. The main avenue in Denia is the Marques de Campo where tourists and locals alike sit and relax over a glass of something cold! If you are a culture vulture you may want to visit the magnificent 17th century church in the Plaza de Constitucion.
Benidorm is probably the best-known resort on the Costa Blanca and is still a very popular family resort for property rental in Costa Blanca Spain. Surrounded by high mountains, Benidorm is sheltered from the wind which explains why the weather in Benidorm stays very mild even through the winter season. Increasing numbers of British golfers are discovering the delights of a winter golfing break in the Costa Blanca region of Spain. Not only are there 15 Golf courses within a two hour drive of Benidorm, but there are also plenty of reasonably-priced Spanish apartment rentals available in Benidorm.
To finish, I would recommend that after booking your Spanish apartment rentals in Calpe or Denia, you may want to think about car-hire. Depending on where your apartment is situated you may find your own transport invaluable. It does give you freedom and flexibility but is not everyone's cup of tea. The owner of your holiday apartment may be able to advise you and recommend a suitable car-rental company should you wish to rent a car.

Hotels in La Manga

La Manga Club in Spain offers a wide range of luxury accommodation, none more luxurious than the five star Principe Felipe La Manga Hotel. The La Manga Hotel is clearly the jewel in the crown of this luxury sporting and leisure paradise.
La Manga Club offers a selection of luxury villas, apartments and townhouses and just the one hotel actually located at La Manga Club. The hotel at La Manga Club is in a good central location and within east walking distance to the golf club house for both the North and South Golf Courses. The first tee of each course is within 500 yards walk from the hotel at La Manga Club. Also the tennis centre, which offers a wide range of courses, private lessons or just court hire is within 5 minutes walk from the hotel at La Manga Club.
La Manga Club offers over 25 restaurants located on the resort. The hotel at La Manga Club manages about 12 of these restaurants and two are located with the hotel building, the others are spread throughout the resort. The hotel offers a free courtesy shuttle bus to and from all of these restaurants, including the La Cala restaurant which is located at the beach. La Cala is open for lunch and dinner during the summer.
The flagship restaurant is the Amapola which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and can be found on the ground floor of the hotel at La Manga.
Being a five star hotel, the hotel at La Manga offers a choice of room types all of which are of a luxury standard. All rooms have private balconies or terraces and enjoy great views over the golf courses. All accommodation options at the hotel at La Manga, include a sumptuous buffet breakfast at the Amapola restaurant.
La Manga Club can be reached via two airports, Murcia San Javier Airport which is about 20 minutes driver from the Club or Alicante airport which is about 60 minutes drive from La Manga Club. A car rental would be recommended to really enjoy the beautiful area surrounding La Manga Club. Many low cost airlines service these airports.
In addition to golf and tennis for which La Manga Club is renowned, the Club also offers a great choice of sports and leisure activities many of which are within walking distance from the hotel at La Manga Club. For example La Manga offers a luxury Spa with treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas, indoor pool and gymnasium. Hotel guests receive free access to the La Manga Spa.
La Manga also offers bowls, squash, climbing wall, crazy golf, pitch and putt, football, childrens club, bike riding, dance classes, fitness classes, cricket. A short distance from the Club a wide range of more strenuous activities are offered, such as horse riding, water sports, go carting and quad biking.
The information centre at hotel the La Manga will offer you assistance to arrange all of your activities at La Manga Club and can also offer maps and directions for suggested walks and jogging trails, on La Manga s 1500 acres of beautiful Murcian country side.