One of the finest holiday resorts on the Costa del Sol coastline of southern Spain, Benalmadena has a variety of tourist attractions including the Sealife Aquarium, the Selwo Marina and the famous Tivoli World Amusement Park at Arroyo de la Miel. Benalmadena has a history going back to the Arab occupation of Spain, and the name is thought to be derived from the Arabic “Ben-al-Madina” (“Children of the Mines”), referring to the iron ore mines which used to be important in the area. The coastal area of the town, known as Benalmadena Costa is the home of the marina, a popular area with visitors and the location of a variety of shops, bars and restaurants. The inland section is known as Benalmadena Pueblo, an attractive village with pretty white walled houses. Sit and watch the world go by in the charming Plaza de Espana, or visit the picturesque church of Santo Domingo. Benalmadena and this entire stretch of coast enjoys a wonderful climate (Costa del Sol means “Sun Coast”) and the weather in Benalmadena is perfect for family holidays at any time of year. Benalmadena is located between the popular resorts of Torremolinos and Fuengirola and can be accessed from the railway station at Arroyo de la Miel or by road from Malaga airport. If you are not driving you may need to book a Malaga airport transfer, to get you to your destination in Benalmadena, though if you are booking through a tour operator, this will probably already be laid on for you.
August 20, 2009
Towns of Alicante Province – Torrevieja and La Mata
Located to the south of Alicante on the southern Costa Blanca, surrounded by 2 huge salt lakes, the coastal towns of Torrevieja and La Mata are growing resorts with a huge range of facilities and some fabulous sandy beaches. Torrevieja has had some bad press in recent years but much of it has been an exaggeration and the town has continued to flourish despite this criticism. There has been an enormous amount of development in recent years and Torrevieja has grown from a small fishing village to a huge resort. It has been a popular location along with La Mata and the Orihuela Costa, for the purchasing of second holiday homes and a large number of Brits and other North European nationalities have chosen to buy holiday homes there, a large majority choosing to plump for a Torrevieja apartment as these are at the cheaper end of the market. La Mata is a very Spanish resort and attracts a huge number of Spanish tourists during the summer season. Again many Brits have chosen to buy property here and there is a growing ex-pat community. The beaches at La Mata are amongst the finest in the region.The wonderful weather is one of the main reasons for its popularity and Torrevieja and La Mata enjoy a unique micro-climate with over 300 days of sunshine every year. Torrevieja also has some fine beaches, especially to the south of the town and these can get very packed during the summer season. Golfers head to this area in large numbers, as there are some excellent golf courses within easy driving distance of both Torrevieja and La Mata, the closest are the 3 golf courses of the Orihuela Costa, and also nearby are La Finca and La Marquesa golf courses. Torrevieja has some excellent facilities including the water park Aquopolis, a bowling alley, a fine marina and an excellent new shopping centre. Behind both Torrevieja and La Mata lie the enormous salt lakes which have been important for the economy of both towns over the centuries, they now form part of a protected Natural Park which is important for wildlife.
Places to Visit in Cornwall
England’s most south-westerly county, Cornwall is a popular tourist destination with some wonderful towns and resorts to visit, it generally enjoys a warmer climate than the rest of the UK and is one of the least developed of the English counties. The only city in Cornwall and the most southerly in Britain, Truro only has a population of around 20,000, it is the administrative capital of the county and grew in size and importance during the heady days of the once booming mining industry. Places to visit in Truro include the cathedral and the Royal Cornwall Museum. To the north-west of Truro is Perranporth, one of Cornwall’s popular surfing destinations, with miles of sandy beaches and hundreds of miles of fetch, this is a great surfing location. Golfers will not be disappointed either with a superb links golf course located north of the village, the families of surfers and golfers can enjoy the fine sandy beaches and pleasant climate. To the south of Truro and Perranporth is another charming little fishing village called Portreath, formerly an important shipping port for the Cornish mining industry, Portreath these days is a little more laid back, and attracts holidaymakers during the summer months. Just inland from Portreath are two formerly significant mining towns – Camborne and Redruth, both have seen decline as mining has decreased but both are currently being redeveloped. Camborne has a population of around 23,000 and together with neighbouring Redruth and Pool is the most populated area of Cornwall. A ruined Roman Villa found nearby give evidence of the town’s early history. Redruth has a number of interesting places to visit including the parish church of St Uny, Murdoch House and the Cornwall Centre and Mining Exchange. Head even further south and you will find the coastal town of St Ives, an attractive little town which was once a significant fishing port. St Ives was named after the Irish saint who came there in the fifth century, and these days is notable as an artistic centre, with artists attracted by the tranquillity and beauty of the place. St Ives is also the location of the famous St Ives September Festival. Go yet further south and you will find the towns of Penzance and Newlyn, together with the attractive fishing village of Mousehole, one of the prettiest in Cornwall, all situated around Mount’s Bay. Penzance is an ancient town, and was the location of a chapel dedicated to St Anthony over 1,000 years ago, the towns has many interesting places to visit. Newlyn has for many centuries been a significant fishing port, a tradition which still holds today, it being the largest fishing port in England. Newlyn has also been an important centre for the arts, with the Newlyn School being world famopus during the 19th century. Finally we visit the tiny fishing village of Mousehole, brought to world attention by the Penlee Lifeboat disaster of 1981, when the entire crew was lost in a storm. Today Mousehole is one of the must visit locations in the area, with its beautiful harbour and old world feel.
View a map of Cornwall here: http://www.my-towns.co.uk/cornwall-map.html
August 19, 2009
The Resort of Cabo San Lucas Mexico
One of Mexico’s most popular holiday destinations, the city and resort of Cabo San Lucas is located in the Baja California Sur region of the country some 100 kilometres south of the capital La Paz. With a population approaching 60,000, it is the biggest town in the Los Cabos municipality, and has developed as a desirable tourist destination since the 1970’s with many resorts and urbanizations appearing on the coastline surrounding the city. The original fishing village grew around an American tuna fishing operation, which began in the early twentieth century, fish being plentiful in the region due to the warm waters off this coastline. As the ideal conditions for sport fishing were discovered, Cabo San Lucas began to develop as a luxury fishing resort with an emphasis on marlin fishing, its continued development into a holiday resort was natural and encouraged by the Mexican government, seeing the obvious opportunity for financial gain. Luxury villas, apartments and holiday complexes abound in Cabo San Lucas as thousands of visitors arrive to enjoy the wonderful weather and the warm waters of its fabulous beaches. Cabo San Lucas Map.
Begur Costa Brava
Begur Costa Brava – One of the prettiest towns on the Costa Brava, the historic Begur is overlooked by its sixteenth century castle which was built to warn of pirate attacks. The narrow cobbled streets of the old town are lined with charming fishermen’s cottages, making this a desirable place to visit.
Within the province of Girona, Begur has a population of 3,986, although this of course rises considerably during the busy summer months when large numbers of visitors arrive, in particular from the city of Barcelona. Tourists are attracted by the ancient charm of the old town and the superb nearby beaches, which are amongst the best in the region, they also visit to enjoy the fine climate experienced during the summer with Begur weather being mostly warm and sunny from May to October, though somewhat cooler during the winter months.
The main form of accommodation in Begur is privately owned holiday villas, which is a fantastic way to spend your holiday in the resort. There are some wonderful detached villas, most with private pools and sea views.
Begur is located on the GI-653 and is situated between the better known resorts of Calella and Estartit. Begur Street Map.
You can view some holiday villas in and around Begur here: Costa Brava Rentals.
Overview – Balearic Islands
A popular holiday destination in the Mediterranean Sea, the Spanish Balearic Islands have something to offer visitors of all tastes. The four main islands of the group are Mallorca (Majorca), Ibiza, Menorca (Minorca) and Formentera, the largest of the group is Mallorca. People have been living on the Balearic Islands since about 5,000 BC, possibly coming originally from mainland Spain, although the islands history are shrouded in myth and legend, some going back to the times of the ancient Greeks. Modern day visitors come from all over the world to enjoy the club scene of lively Ibiza, the family resorts of Mallorca, the quiet of Menorca and the charm of unspoilt Formentera.