Steve's World Blog » Holidays

Cala Vinas Majorca

needahand — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:00:06 +0000

Cala Vinas Majorca – Cala Vinas is situated to the south of Magaluf on the western side of the Bay of Palma in Majorca, it has a relatively small beach and is surrounded by hotels and villas, some of which are located directly beside the beach. Cala Vinas is a popular tourist destination, handy for the airport at Palma de Mallorca. North of the bay towards Magaluf are tha caves of Cala Vinas and to the south the Cap des Falco.

Majorca Map.

Ayamonte Costa de la Luz

needahand — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:35:26 +0000

Ayamonte Costa de la Luz – Ayamonte is a Spanish city in the province of Huelva in the autonomous region of Andalucia, Spain. In 2008 there were 19,738 inhabitants. The municipality of Ayamonte has an area of 142 square kilometres and a population density of 136.5 inhabitants per square kilometre. The town lies at the mouth of the Guadiana River on the Atlantic Ocean (Costa de la Luz) and thus on the border with Portugal. The distance to the provincial capital of Huelva is 48 kilometres, to Seville it is 140 kilometres. In Roman times, the mouth of the Guadiana River, was known as the “Ostium Fluminis Anae”. From there, was an important trade route leading north to Merida. It is assumed that even at this time Ayamonte occupied a strategically important position. In 1239, the Moorish domination was ended by troops of King Sancho II of Portugal. In 1263 they designated the river as a border between Portugal and Spain, and the town of Ayamonte came under the jurisdiction of the Castilian crown. First, they belonged to the county of Niebla, but later formed its own marquisate. 1664 Ayamonte was awarded city status by King Philip IV. If you wish to visit Ayamonte, you will find lots of hotels and privately owned apartments for rent. Ayamonte is in the region known as the Costa de la Luz in the region of Andalucia.

Cabo Roig Apartments for Rent

needahand — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:32:26 +0000

Cabo Roig Apartments

Cabo Roig Apartments for Rent – We still have some availability left on our range of Cabo Roig apartments for this coming summer, so if you are looking for a holiday on the Costa Blanca, Spain, be sure to get your apartment booked soon, as dates are being filled up fast.

Most of our apartments are close to the seafront of Cabo Roig and also close to local bars and restaurants. All have the use of communal pools and are fully equipped for your vacation.

Holidays for next winter time are available from just 125 euro for a weeks stay in a one bed apartment, while this summer’s holidays will set you back a little more.

Playa Flamenca Holiday Apartment

needahand — Mon, 30 May 2011 07:46:35 +0000

Playa Flamenca Holiday Apartment

If you are looking to spend your holidays in Playa Flamenca on the Costa Blanca this year, then we could have just the ideal property for your stay in the region. We have a perfectly located two bedroom apartment in the Alameda del Mar complex which is situated beside the N332 coast road facing the sea. The apartment is in the La Calma block of the complex and faces inwards towards the very attractive community pool and garden area. It is situated on the third floor and benefits from its own private solarium, which is quite large and is a great place for sunbathing when the weather is fine, which is normally is in the Playa Flamenca area. The apartment is bright and spacious and both bedrooms have en-suites (one a bathroom and one a shower room). The Flamenca Beach commercial centre with its huge choice of cafes, restaurants, shops and bars is just a two minute stroll from the apartment, don’t forget to pop into the Temple Bar for the famous Blues Brothers show. If this sounds good to you and you want to book a holiday in Playa Flamenca, you can find all the pictures and details here: Playa Flamenca Holiday Apartment.

Villamartin Costa Blanca Spain

needahand — Thu, 26 May 2011 10:02:38 +0000

Villamartin Golf Course

One of the most popular areas of the southern Costa Blanca, Villamartin is actually on the part of the coast that is known as the Orihuela Costa, which is the coastal region for the city of Orihuela which is about 19 kilometres inland from the sea. Developing around a top class golf course the urbanization of Villamartin has grown and grown over the last 20 years or so and now covers a significant area, joining Villamartin with surrounding urbanizations and towns, such as Los Dolses, Playa Flamenca, La Zenia and San Miguel de Salinas. The property boom in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s saw thousands of UK and International buyers purchasing holiday homes in Villamartin and many even choosing to settle permanently in the area. The financial crisis of the last 3 years has caused many to reconsider their position and many hundreds have subsequently sold or are trying to sell their properties and return to the UK. There is currently a glut of properties available to buy in Villamartin and it is a great time for investors, with many properties being half the price they were at their peak (or even less in some cases). For those wanting to holiday in the area, there is also a wealth of rental properties, and with so many available you can always find cheap villas and apartments to rent in Villamartin and the surrounding urbanizations. What is the attraction of Villamartin, you may well ask, well the excellent golf course would be a big plus for those interested in this sport, the proximity to the beaches and resorts of the Orihuela Costa would be another tick in its favour, the wonderful weather conditions are also a big attraction, along with the excellent facilities and entertainment possibilities, especially at the popular Villamartin Plaza, so there are plenty of reasons to visit Villamartin some time soon . Villamartin is approximately twenty five minutes drive from San Javier airport, and is in the Alicante province of Spain.

Villamartin Map.

Ilfracombe North Devon

needahand — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:01:04 +0000

A large and popular seaside resort located on the north coast of Devon, in the United Kingdom, Ilfracombe first developed around an Iron Age hillfort, established on a nearby hill. Its sheltered position, protecting it from the worst of the region’s stormy weather, led to its becoming an important seaport, and it was used for a number of naval sorties over the centuries. Making its income mostly from fishing for many years Ilfracombe has, since Victorian times become popular as a seaside holiday resort. The Victorian used it for sea bathing after tunnels were dug to several of its shingle beaches. These days it attracts holidaymakers, who enjoy its charming and attractive harbour, good climate and weather, superb coastal walks, boat trips and sea fishing trips. Catch up on the local history of Ilfracombe at the Ilfracombe Museum, where you will find interesting facts about the town’s maritime history, and also see a collection of model ships and steamers, which have sailed the Devon coast through the centuries.

Watergate Bay Newquay Cornwall

needahand — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:35:24 +0000

An excellent place that you could visit if you are taking a holiday in Newquay, Cornwall, this year, is the beautiful Watergate Bay, located some two miles north of the resort, near to the village of Tregurrian. With a wonderful long sandy beach, and a bay exposed to north-westerly winds, Watergate Bay is a renowned location for surfing and water sports. Such a great spot that the National Surfing Championships have even been held there in the past. Ideal if you ever wanted to learn to surf, Watergate Bay is also fantastic for kite flying, so while you are learning to surf, the kids can be having their own fun. There is plenty of self-catering accommodation in the area, with caravan parks a plenty, there is also an excellent hotel, called the Watergate Hotel, which overlooks the bay. The vibrant nightlife of Newquay is just a short drive away for your evening entertainment.

Cornwall Map.

Playa Flamenca Beaches

needahand — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:55:49 +0000

Playa Flamenca Beaches - Cala Mosca

For those of you who are heading to the Costa Blanca resort of Playa Flamenca this year, you will certainly be looking for the best beaches to visit in the resort and area, especially if this is your first holiday in Playa Flamenca. Well beaches are certainly not hard to find, in and around Playa Flamenca, and the two main beaches of the resort are Cala Mosca and Cala Estaca. These two beaches are to be found on either side of the seafront commercial centre, where the Post Office (Correos) and the lobster restaurant are located. Above the commercial centre there are apartments for rent, so you could even spend your holiday right beside the beach, if that is your desire. Other decent beaches that you could reach by foot or with a quick car journey from Playa Flamenca, are La Zenia beach, Punta Prima beach, and the two beaches of Cabo Roig, also within easy reach (by car) are the beaches of Campoamor, which are among the best in the region, my actual favourite is Cala Capitan in Cabo Roig. As the beaches are the most likely place you will be heading whilst on holiday in Playa Flamenca, especially if the weather is sunny, which it normally is, you will want to find the best ones to visit. These are the ones you should try out first, then pick the one you like the best.

Campoamor Orihuela Costa Spain

needahand — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 11:53:31 +0000

One of the finest of the Orihuela Costa beach resorts, the attractive Campoamor (Dehesa de Campoamor) is a much loved holiday destination, attracting both Spanish nationals and International holidaymakers. Sandwiched between the beautiful Cabo Roig and the delightful Mil Palmeras, Campoamor has some superb, clean beaches, good amenities, great weather conditions, and is ideally located just north of San Javier airport. If you are planning a holiday in Campoamor, you should have no trouble finding accommodation and there are privately owned and agent administered, self-catering properties, together with hotels and aparthotels in the area. Road access to Campoamor is excellent and as well as the coastal N-332 road, there is a junction marked “Dehesa de Campoamor” from the AP-7 motorway, which runs close to Campoamor and the entire Orihuela Costa region. The Orihuela Costa is in the southern section of the Costa Blanca.

La Zenia Costa Blanca

needahand — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:20:26 +0000

Planning a holiday in Spain this year? Then why not try out the super Orihuela Costa coastal resort of La Zenia and have a great time on the Costa Blanca. Enjoying wonderful sunny weather, La Zenia is a great spot for a family holiday, for couples or just for a short break in the sun to get away from the misery of the UK. Sunbathe on the beach, have a tipple in the local La Zenia bars, luxuriate in the first class La Zenia Hotel, walk along the seafront to nearby Cabo Roig, visit Torrevieja, or just relax in your apartment or villa. Whatever is your thing, you will enjoy it best at the Costa Blanca resort of La Zenia, so why not head there soon for the holiday of a lifetime?

La Zenia Map.

St Lucia Windward Islands Caribbean

needahand — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 16:57:31 +0000

An island country situated in the Windward Islands, Lesser Antilles, in the Caribbean Sea, St Lucia covers an area of about two hundred and thirty eight square miles, it has a resident population of just over one hundred and seventy three thousand. The first settlers in St Lucia came from France, and they found the native Carib people already on the island, control of St Lucia changed continually between France and England, until 1814, when the British finally took over total control of the island. St Lucia is a popular holiday destination and the most poplar time to visit is between January and April when the weather is at its best (this being the dry season). The capital of St Lucia is Castries.

Cala Blanca Beach Menorca

needahand — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:06:31 +0000

When visiting the Menorca coastal resort of Cala Blanca, you will no doubt be looking for the main attraction of the resort, which is of course, the beach. The white sandy beach which in fact gives Cala Blanca its name, is surrounded by modest cliffs, which are peppered with luxury detached villas, some private, some available for rent. Beside pretty pine wood lie the residential areas of the resort and also what there is of a commercial centre, Menorca being very quiet in this respect, but a few shops and bars to provide visitors with the essentials. You will probably spend most of your time in Cala Blanca on the beach, enjoying the sunny weather and relaxing beside the clear, blue, Mediterranean waters. You could also head along to neighbouring Cala Santandria, where an equally pleasant beach is available or for change pop along to the city of Ciutadella, where you can visit the pretty harbour and see some historic buildings, as this was once the capital of Menorca (Minorca).

Upwey Weymouth Dorset

needahand — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:05:43 +0000

A charming little village which is close to Weymouth in Dorset, Upwey is well known for its Upwey Wishing Well, which is at the source of the River Wey in the South Dorset Downs. The Wishing Well which has been a tourist attraction in Upwey since Victorian times, it now actually a tea room, set amongst some delightful water gardens. Close by is a water mill, originally built in the eighteenth century it was remodelled in 1802. The water mill even featured in a book by the famous author Thomas Hardy. Upwey’s parish church of Saint Lawrence dates from the thirteenth century. Upwey is a good spot for your stay in Dorset and there are a number of self-catering cottages available in the village. Just a short way (5 miles) from Upway is the ever popular seaside resort of Weymouth, well loved and well visited even in these awkward times for the British coastal resort. Weymouth has plenty of sandy beaches, perfect for a family trip when the weather is fine. Easily accessible is the Jurassic Coast a beautiful world heritage site.

Lowestoft Maritime Museum

needahand — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:10:13 +0000

One of the most popular attractions in the Lowestoft, Suffolk area, the Lowestoft Maritime Museum is located in Whapload Road, and opened in 1958 as a resource for local people to trace the maritime history of this area. Ideal for a visit when the weather is not so good, it was founded by the Lowestoft and East Suffolk Maritime Society in Robert Sparrow’s cottage, in what is known as “Sparrows Nest Park”, the museum housed in a small cottage, has rooms featuring various aspects of Lowestoft’s maritime history, specifically the fishing industry, with exhibits of nets, tools and trawling equipment. So if you are planning a visit or holiday in the Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth or Corton areas, this year, be sure to head along to this fine museum and learn something of the industry which has been so important for the area. The address of the Lowestoft Maritime Museum is: Maritime Museum – Sparrows Nest, Whapload Rd, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1XG. Telephone Number: 01502 561963. Website: lowestoftmaritimemuseum.org.uk Lowestoft is 3 miles from Corton and 12 miles from Great Yarmouth

Sa Coma Majorca

needahand — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:23:28 +0000

A town on the eastern coast of Mallorca, Sa Coma is in the Sant Llorenc des Cardassar district and is close to the equally popular resorts of Cala Bona and Cala Millor. Its biggest attraction is its superb sandy beach which attracts holidaymakers like bees to a honey pot, each day you will find hundreds of sun worshippers basking in the sunny weather and topping up their tans. Well loved by Germans, Brits and the Spanish themselves, Sa Coma’s economy revolves almost entirely around tourism, with seafront hotels, self-catering apartments and detached holiday villas, peppering the area. Sa Coma even attracts a celebrity or two, with Paris Hilton owning a holiday home there, it being one of her favourite places. Not really a hot spot for shopping, you will only really find the ubiquitous supermarkets, and holiday shops in Sa Coma, though what is there is ample for the needs of the average tourist in Majorca. For an hour or two away from the beach, you could head to the small safari park (the Auto Safari Zoo), located just outside the town. Sa Coma is around 70 kilometres from majorca’s airport. Sa Coma Map.

Porto Petro Majorca

needahand — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:59:06 +0000

Located close to the upmarket Majorca resort of Cala D’Or, the pretty fishing village of Porto Petro has now started to attract its own visitors. Largely unspoilt this charming little village with pretty harbour and small sandy beach, is ideal for a tranquil family holiday, away from the noise and crowds of Magaluf and similar mass tourism resorts. Just a half hours drive from Majorca airport, Porto Petro is also pretty convenient to get to, and an ideal way to spend a holiday there is to rent one of the detached villas, which overlook the resort. Make sure you choose a villa with a private pool, then you can certainly make the most of the warm weather conditions and have a peaceful pleasant stay.

Minehead and the Exmoor National Park

needahand — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:13:17 +0000

A coastal town and civil parish located on the edge of the Exmoor National Park, in Somerset, Minehead has a population of just over 10,000 and a history stretching back to the Iron Age. Perhaps best known as the location of the famous Butlins Holiday Camp, which opened its doors in 1962, and is still popular today, Minehead has also been a significant port over the centuries, though has lost most of this trade over the last hundred years or so. A pretty seaside town, Minehead attracts many tourists, especially during the summer months, when the weather is at its best, it has the usual seafront promenade, lined with cafes, amusement arcades and guest houses. Ideal as a base for touring the Exmoor National Park, Minehead offers the opportunity for enjoying a traditional seaside holiday, whilst being close to areas of great natural beauty. Within the Exmoor National Park are numerous pretty little villages, which are a joy to visit, one of the closest, Dunster, is famous for its castle. Other nearby villages include Porlock, Luccombe and Tivington. Minehead is also the starting point of the longest countryside walking trail, the South West Coast Path, if you fancy an extremely long walk. The nearby coastline is craggy and treacherous, but also very picturesque, so be sure to enjoy some coastal walks while you are there. Minehead Map.

Puerto Rico Gran Canaria Apartments

needahand — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:59:13 +0000

Puerto Rico Gran Canaria Apartment

Delightful one bedroom apartment currently available for holidays in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands. Situated in a hilltop setting this super little apartment can accommodate up to four people and benefits from the use of a lovely communal swimming pool, ideal when the weather is hot and sunny. Fully furnished and equipped for your family holidays this apartment in Puerto Rico is a great choice for your stay on the island. Offering 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchen, lounge, dining area, terrace, TV, fridge, washing machine, communal pool and gardens, accommodation is on a self-catering basis. Gran Canaria holidays are offered in this Puerto Rico apartment from just £225 per week. Puerto Rico is in the popular southern part of Gran Canaria, where the weather is hot and dry right through the year, ideal for winter time holidays away from the cold and damp of the UK. It has a good beach and splendid facilities, with plenty of bars and restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. If this apartment is not to your liking, we have other apartments and villas available for rent in Puerto Rico and throughout Gran Canaria.

Cala Dor Majorca

needahand — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:17:33 +0000

A large, rather touristy resort built around a number of small coves and bays, Cala D’Or is situated on the east coast of Majorca, and developed as a holiday destination somewhat earlier than many of its counterparts. This former fishing village, is now barely recognisable as such, and styles itself as a rather upmarket resort, based around its chic marina. A quick look at the boats in the harbour at Cala D’Or, will tell you that this is a resort favoured by the well-heeled, though don’t let this put you off, if you are planning a visit, as there is plenty of affordable accommodation to be had in Cala D’or, with a choice of hotels and plenty of self-catering villas and apartments to rent. When the weather is good, the place to head is the beach, though in July and August, get there early to get a decent spot, when the weather is not so good, try visiting one of the local street markets, such as at Porto Colom or Felanitx.

Cala Bona Majorca

needahand — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 12:42:52 +0000

Another Majorca fishing village, turned holiday resort, Cala Bona is a good spot for water sports enthusiasts, and its appeal to holidaymakers was increased by the addition of three man-made beaches. Somewhat quieter than its better known neighbour Cala Millor, Cala Bona (which means “Good Bay”), provides an ideal location for a laid back family holiday. When the weather is sunny, the place to be is the beach, and with 3 to choose from, you should be able to find a decent spot. While you are staying in Cala Bona, take some time out for a trip on the glass-bottomed boat, and get an interesting insight into the varied sea life to be found off this part of the Majorca coast.