Spain Holidays

The Mainland

Located in south west Europe mainland Spain borders France and Portugal to the north and west respectively with the south and east coasts wrapped in the Mediterranean's blue waters. Mainland Spain is large and so the climate can be very different, for example San Sebastian in the north west to Seville in the south East. The mainland boasts the major cities of Barcelona and Madrid as well as many more dotted throughout. Then there are the holiday destinations, the Costas, Andalucía and the coast from Malaga.

The Balearics

Made up of the three islands Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza lying off the east coast of the mainland in the Mediterranean. Each islands has its own characteristics and feel Majorca is the largest and offers the most variety with the major city and gorgeous old town, Palma. The one time ‘party island’ Ibiza is much calmer these days and offers beach side or secluded hillside retreats. Menorca is the smallest of the islands and remains a family favourite due to it’s laid back nature.

The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are located off the west coast of the mainland in the Atlantic Ocean. There are four main islands and each has their own characteristics. Tenerife is the largest and boasts wonderful hotel resorts along most of the coast line. Gran Canaria is more relaxed whilst Lanzarote features the amazing moon like landscapes once you’re off the beaten track. Fuerteventura is known for its beach side water sports due to the higher winds.

The best beaches in mainland Spain can be found in the Costa’s, that is Costa Blanca, Costa Brava, Costa Del Sol, Costa Dorada and Costa del Almeria. There are numerous across the coasts of both the Balearics and the Canaries.

The most famous of Spanish food, Tapas, is available everywhere you’ll visit and we highly recommend trying as much as you can! High on the menu is local fish with locally grown vegetables and fruit too such as tomatoes (unsurprising given the La Tomatina festival!). In Palma, Majorca you’ll notice a shift in the tapas to be more focused on the local Palma Ham. The northern town of San Sebastian is a food lovers haven with many Michelin starred restaurants and well known reputation for excellent food throughout.

The currency of Spain is the Euro. Cash machines are widely available and cards are accepted pretty much everywhere.

If you’d like to see more of Spain than a typical holiday why not consider joining of our our small group guided tours? These aren’t the old fashioned stuffy coach tours you’d once seen exploring Europe! These are guided free flowing adventures taking you to explore your destination and experience the local life. Certainly most tourists won’t experience where these tours will take you.

You can quite easily travel throughout Spain. Hiring a car is straight forward but more often than not you’ll need to start and end at the same point. The roads though are modern, well signposted and it’s pretty straight forward, driving is of course on the right through, and not the left. You’ll always be able to find a spot to stay along the way and no doubt you’ll discover amazing places to eat too!

Travelling by train is also easy. The rail network is comprehensive and modern especially between major cities. Look out for traveller passes which may end up being better value than individual tickets.

The weather in mainland Spain and the Balearics  is good from March to October. The Canary Islands though have good weather all year round which make them a wonderful choice for any getaway between November and February if you’re looking for some sun! In the height of summer temperatures can reach well over 100F so do be careful. The South is typically hotter with Seville and the surrounding area becoming very hot and hence you’ll find the traditional siesta remains a featured part of life.