Two of the best loved resorts on the Costa Dorada coastline of Catalonia, Spain, Cambrils and Salou could not be more different. Salou, the typical Spanish holiday resort, aimed at package holidays and especially British tourists, Cambrils the traditional Spanish fishing town, retaining much of its old charm and attracting a larger number of Spanish nationals rather than International tourists. Cambrils has plenty of sand for the traditional beach style holiday, but is especially renowned for its seafood restaurants which are supplied by local fishermen who land their daily catch in the harbour much as they have done for many centuries. Cambrils has a long history, but has hung on to its traditions and not been spoilt by over-development, the old town still has narrow cobbled streets and the air of a Catalonian fishing village. Despite its modern look and feel, Salou too has a long history and was actually first settled by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago, it was also a Roman settlement as the Romans set out from nearby Tarragona to conquer the Iberian Peninsular, it grew as a tourist resort during the 1960’s and expanded with little regard to aesthetics, becoming a sprawling mess of apartment blocks and high-rise hotels. Salou is still popular however, with those seeking a particular style of holidays and being provided with everything they need in that regard – lots of entertainment, plenty of sandy beaches, amusements and sports activities, in fact there is so much to do that obtaining a car hire vehicle is advisable to get the most from your visit. Salou is the location of the large Port Aventura theme park, one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Both resorts enjoy a wonderful climate which is of course one of the major draws for tourists, the weather in Salou and Cambrils is generally warm and sunny in the summer months and mild during the winter.
February 22, 2010
February 20, 2010
Vilamoura Algarve Portugal
One of Europe’s largest beach resorts, Vilamoura on the Algarve, Portugal, is a built for tourism complex some 14 miles west of Faro. Covering an area of around 20 square kilometres, Vilamoura is built around its huge marina, where there are moorings for over 1,000 boats and numerous large luxury hotels for accommodation in the resort. The development of Vilamoura began in the 1970’s, with an emphasis on sports facilities, very popular with golfers, there are 6 golf courses in the immediate area. Water sports too, are a big attraction with sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, water-skiing, fishing and parasailing all well catered for. The wonderful Vilamoura weather is of course one of the main attractions of the resort, as is the fine sandy beach which extends for some three kilometres, those looking for a bit of culture may want to head north of Vilamoura beach, where some Roman remains remind visitors of the areas rich history. Vilamoura Map.
Cala Millor Majorca
Located to the north of Porto Cristo on the east coast of Majorca, the beach resort of Cala Millor is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the island. Boasting superb beaches (the main beach is over a mile long), and a good range of facilities, Cala Millor is a great choice for a family holiday, of course another factor which is a major attraction is the wonderful Cala Millor weather, which is very reliable during the months May to October. Tourism began in Cala Millor as far back as the 1930’s, though the main boom did not gain pace until the 1970’s and 80’s. Worth a visit whilst in Cala Millor is the wildlife park, Safari Zoo, located about a mile to the south of the resort centre. Cala Millor Map.
January 22, 2010
Praia da Rocha Portugal
One of the best known and earliest established beach resorts on the Algarve coastline of southern Portugal, Praia da Rocha has attracted large numbers of holidaymakers since at least the 1930’s. Undergoing significant developed since those early times, Praia da Rocha draws an ever increasing multitude of visitors who arrive to delight in the superb beach, the bustling nightlife and the wonderful weather that the resort enjoys. No doubt the main attraction of all of these is the fantastic golden, sandy beach, which lies beside the attractive red sandstone cliffs another notable feature of the resort, the cliffs are formed into numerous weird shaped rock formations, some interesting subjects for a photo or two. The ancient city of Portimao is just a short drive or a good walk away (about a mile and a quarter), Portimao is a busy port and the 2nd largest city in the Algarve region of Portugal. You can view a map of the Praia da Rocha area here: Praia da Rocha Map.
Lagos Portugal
One of the highlights of the Algarve region of Portugal is the historic town of Lagos, former headquarters of the famous explorer Henry the Navigator. Crammed with historic buildings despite being severely damaged in the great earthquake of 1755, Lagos has some of its old city walls, a 17th century castle and many interesting post earthquake buildings and monuments. Also a well known area for surfing, this part of the Algarve coast is windswept and battered by the Atlantic Ocean, with numerous prime locations between Lagos and Sagres in the extreme west. For beach lovers, Lagos is perfect as there are lots of wonderful beaches in the area and some charming little seaside resorts nearby, this is of course as well as the delightful Lagos weather which alone attracts many visitors. Despite this, the old town is the main draw, best explored by foot, visitors can wander the narrow winding streets taking in the atmosphere and imagining what the place was like when Portugal was a major seafaring nation. The port area dates from Roman times and was at that time called Lacobriga, it would have been a major trading town, servicing ships going along this busy coast. Later controlled by the Moors, it came back into Christian hands in 1241 and enjoyed the boom created by Portugal’s growing Empire in Africa and South America. Present day Lagos has a population of around 18,000 most of which is concentrated near to the coast, the main industry is tourism. Lagos is around 65 kilometres from Faro and its airport so you may need to hire a car should you wish to visit. Lagos Map.
January 17, 2010
Lanzarote Resorts – Playa Blanca
Located in the extreme south of Lanzarote in the Spanish Canary Islands, the town of Playa Blanca was formerly just a small fishing village. In recent years Playa Blanca has become one of the largest resorts on the island, but has not yet been too badly spoilt by this rise to notoriety. Boasting some fine sandy beaches, the one to the south at Playa de Papagayo of particular note, Playa Blanca is also the main ferry port for accessing the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura (where the beaches are even better). Playa Blanca has a decent range of shops, bars and restaurants and is ideal for family, beach style holidays. The main attractions for visitors to the resort are the traditional charm and the excellent Lanzarote weather, which is ideal for winter breaks away from the cold and damp of northern Europe.