AUTUMN GETAWAYS

Yes, back to school, post holiday depression, routine, autumn, leaves falling, end of summer… Whatever people say, September smells like sea, relaxation and adventures. All we need is to choose destination, hotel and plans. Bellow you will find the proposal by Barceló chain for these last summer days.

A visit to Hamburg à  The proposal of a hotel in the centre of Hamburg managed by Barceló is ideal for a getaway in September. The city still keeps a good temperature and it is plenty of interesting cultural plans.

Wine route in Jerez à   One of the best gastronomic routes you can do nowadays in Spain. As for accommodation, Barceló offers its hotel next to Moto GP circuit, perfect if you travel as a couple or with family.

Seville and its Magic Island à   After August suffocation, the Andalusian capital recovers its natural condition of top level tourism destination. If you want to rest, the hotel in Isla Mágica recommended by Barceló is a good option if you travel with your friends, partner or with children.

Corralejo Dunes à  The Adults Only hotel in Corralejo which belongs to Barceló is the ideal option to enjoy a late taste of summer next to the beach, in a unique natural environment, just one step away from Lanzarote Island. Perfect for a romantic getaway.

 

Places to extend the summer 2014

If you are someone who, like us, has not been able to threat yourself to a proper holiday, we propose below a number of destinations and hotels that where you can loose yourself, disconnect and prolong the summer, for many has already begun its countdown. Majorca, Cabo de Gata, Ibiza or Minorca… Choose one and don’t let anyone tell you that summer is over.

More summer in Majorca

It begins in May and does not end until well into October. Some years, the weather is good even during the first weeks of November and, although the Mediterranean Sea begins to cool, it is still possible to take a swim in some of its coves. The best areas to enjoy this time of year and find a good budget accommodation in Majorca are north of the island, such as resorts in the Playa de Muro, hotels in Puerto de Alcudia, rooms in Alcudia centre, iconic accommodations like the Hotel Formentor, apartments in Pollensa. In the west you can find good boutique hotels in Santa Ponsa and Costa de la Calma at affordable rates, especially starting in September. Finally, somewhere in the East Coast, most notably hotels and apartments in Cala Ratjada, designed for you to enjoy everything without worrying about anything.

If you are rather a city person, and you do not want to give up the bustling atmosphere of the city even in summer, choose a hotel in the centre of Palma or rent a room overlooking the Paseo Mallorca in the trendy neighbourhood of Santa Catalina or the Paseo Maritimo of the capital. Prices in September go down in these areas, and the cultural agenda in Palma continues to be very active with plans for all tastes and ages, from the independent music festivals to classical music concerts, expositions and opera cycles.

platja-de-muro-12

The calm of Minorca

To forget everything and reconnect with your natural side, we suggest booking a hotel in Minorca or villas in Cala d’en Bosch. Minorca is a Biosphere Reserve, a magical place full of tradition and a spectacular gastronomy. While in September the winds begin to be felt more strongly, the water of the Mediterranean on its coast remains at an ideal bathing temperature and the weather is good for all kinds of outdoor sports, especially hiking.

If you travel with friends, take the opportunity to organize a couple of days hiking in the newly recovered path of Cami de Cavalls, that covers the whole perimeter of the island and offers a very different picture of what is commonly known to a tourist who comes to Minorca. As it is a very long way it should be done in several days. In addition, stopping and enjoying the scenery is really worth it. Minorca is not, of course, an island to visit in a hurry.

Cabo de Gata

More nature, but in this case, in the south of the Peninsula: Almeria and its spectacular coastline full of landscapes that look like straight out of a film. From western deserts to towering mountains overlooking the sea, fertile orchards, sandy beaches full of light… Cabo de Gata is one of those favourite locations for photography lovers, a space in which to lose track of time and places location and to go and enjoy the hours of unlimited freedom. The accommodation in Cabo de Gata is varied and ranges from budget hotels in Almeria to 4 star hotels in El Toyo, one of the most exclusive areas coastal areas, next to the village of Retamar.

Costa de la Luz

Specifically, El Rompido and its incredible strip of sand, that stretches into the sea resulting in one of the most beautiful unspoiled beaches on the coast of Huelva. It is a destination to go alone or with your partner to restore inner peace, energy, reading, sleeping, sunbathing, eating well and enjoy what the Italians call the dolce fare niente. A few meters from the beach there are several hotels, one of the most recommendable, especially if you go with your partner is an adults only hotel in El Rompido, right next to the sand.

Use the trip to rest is essential, but if it is the first time you visited this coast, we can not but recommend that you can organise a couple of routes to see around them you will definitely enjoy it, marshlands, long beaches, gastronomic tours, parks…  Huelva is a paradise waiting to be discovered and moreover in September when the weather is still good and everything is much quieter than in August.

4 Fashionable beach destinations for summer 2014

August is… sun beach, cocktails beside the sea, parties until dawn, street games, laughs from a ship, friends, family, love. August is the happiness of those who wait all the year for their holiday month. This is why it is essential to choose well where to make the most of it. If you love the sea, do not hesitate: look for the best beaches below and enjoy!

CADIZ BEACHES

Andalusia coast, from Costa del Sol to Costa de la Luz, is a paradise for sun and beach tourism lovers, for those seeking relax without giving up to fun, sport and good cuisine. If we have to opt for one of its destinations for this summer, we would choose Cádiz beaches without hesitation. Known as “tacita de plata” (silver cup) Cádiz and its surroundings are some of the best places in Spain for getting away and relaxing on the sea shore this month of August. You must visit Zahare de la Sierra, Calas de Conil, Arcos de la Frontera, and go wale watching to Tarifa.

Accommodation in Cádiz

MALAGA COAST

Now we go to Costa del Sol, from Torremolinos to Marbella, going through Fuengirola and visiting a town from time to time. Malaga is a unique province when you are planning to spend your holidays on the beach. Its varied landscape and complete tourist centres make of it the ideal destination for travelling with children or erderls. Comfortable and very versatile, with leisure plans for all tastes, it is the meeting point of quietness and fun for all ages. It is essential to go for a stroll in the centre of Malaga, to visit the Picasso Museum and dinner or go clubbing to Larios street.  If you want to have a good time with children, Fuengirola has several parks and interesting leisure centres.

Accommodation in Malaga coast

FUERTEVENTURA BEACHES

Island full of magic and striking landscapes is the perfect definition for Fuerteventura.  From Corralejo to Jandia, we find paradise beaches forming a destination where rest and comfort converge as in any other place. Nature, exotic flavours, art, tradition… But especially, guaranteed sun and wonderful waters where we can practice all types of water sports for all ages. Do not miss the lively ambience of Puerto del Rosario, Cofete beach and Barlovento, a good dinner in Morro Jable, the Corralejo dunes and Lobos Island.

Accommodation in Fuerteventura

IBIZA BEACHES

The white island is not just for enjoying the craziest summer nights. Ibiza is also a sun and beach destination plenty of exclusiveness and nature enclaves of overwhelming beauty where we can be carried along by the placidity and incredible calm of the Mediterranean. You should not miss the Sundays afternoons in Benirrás, the hippy markets in Es Canar, a walk in Vila and Dalt Murada…

Accommodation in Ibiza

Magaluf or how to make the most of a developed tourism destination

Although there are many (so many) tourism destinations in Spain that are aware of being overexploited and crowded, only a few have known how to find the escape route, the method of revitalising the lost charm and recover the attraction that have made them the focal point of tourists from everywhere.

Benidorm, Torremolinos, Salou, Palma Beach… Examples for every taste and all of them, with greater or lesser success, have begun plans to change their future: Palma beach, in Majorca, took the first steps some years ago with a comprehensive change plan that intended to recover more space in front of the sea for promenade and park, making the hotel a second line one and offering a recreation and amusement area much bigger that the current area. Remodelling hotels, creating big natural areas, improving connections… The arrival of the economic crisis and the loss of limits by an autonomous administration tainted by corruption have stalled the project, leaving it in stand by.

Others are still studying the best way to confront their challenges of the future, in the case of Benidorm, where this year will be celebrated the tourism forum dedicated precisely to look for solutions to turn the capital of Costa Blanca into a Smart City Destination. For now, the steps taken are diminutive and the city keeps anchored to a 60’s tourism that does not find support in the current demand.

Sandos Monaco Hotel in Benidorm

Sandos Monaco Hotel in Benidorm

Nevertheless, the administration and government pairing and the private initiative seem to have found a solution for being worth the effort of keeping investing in these developed areas.  A good example is the case of Melià in Magaluf with the creation of its new concept of resort: Calvià Beach, or some hotel chains like Sandos, Fiesta, Garden Hotels or Marconfort, that this summer will release a new theme hotel in Benidorm.

The Magaluf case

The Melià Hotels International group has been an author of one of the most successful reactivation projects of a developed destination in Spain: the Calvià Beach Resort project declared of regional interest that has received support from public institutions as the Balearic government and the Calvià council.

The work of the first phase, finished in October 2012, consisted in remodelling or restructuring 4 holiday hotels in Magaluf targeted at families to turn them into specialised hotels for very specific types of travellers with median and high purchasing power: sportsmen, couples, foreign young people… In all, around 1 km of the coast of this famous Majorcan town principally focused on the British tourist, where since several years ago the tourism bussiness and the socioeconomic data of the entire area registered it was plummeting.

Sol Cala Blanca Hotel

Sol Cala Blanca Hotel

Among the new revived hotels stands out the Beach House – called since the end of the last year ME Majorca– that incorporates a Nikki Beach, concierge service and the famous Wave House, targeted at young people and surf lovers, and includes a giant waves pool one step from the sea. Right beside are the Sol Cala Blanca Hotel and Sol Antillas Barbados, that still preserve some of the ancient essence of Only Adults holiday hotels and hotels for kids linked to the beach resorts line Sol Hotels; and finally, the inclusion of the theme park Katmandú creating the first hotel with theme park of Majorca.

Careful design and innovative facilities inviting to enjoy an experience in the hotel that gives value to the destination have been the key elements that have marked this project. Thanks to this, the hotel group has obtained a tourism merit badge from the Department of Industry recognising the effort made in the modernisation of a developed area, in this case Magaluf and, in general, the entire Palma Nova coast.

Discovering the city of Medellin

Unknown to many, Medellin is a Colombian city of friendly and warm people where to find numerous events, rich cuisine and a pleasant weather all year round.  Hotels in Medellin are waiting for you!

Located in a mountain valley, this quiet town has a growing interest especially in the historic centre, where you can visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, Bolivar Park, the Berrio Park, the Cathedral… Medellin is a perfect plan for an escapade.

Panoramic view of Medellin

Panoramic view of Medellin

But, besides the historical centre, the diversity of environments is one of the highlights of Medellin. In North Carobobo you can enjoy the nature, art and the knowledge of its university, while in the Barrio Prado neighbourhood you can admire an outstanding example of local architecture with houses of different styles and streets and gardens with a noble style, such as the Casa del Teatro or Tres patios.

On the other hand, the Managing and Business Area hosts the headquarters of the municipal and departmental governments, public companies, the Plaza Mayor… it is an essential location for all business travellers.

El Poblado is the equivalent of the Golden Mile of Medellin, with luxury shops, restaurants, nightlife and the long Avenue of El Poblado, ideal for a walk. It is a unique neighbourhood for leisure activities. The Lleras Park is ideal for tourists and young people, the La 10 for shopping; Via Primavera and Provenza for exclusive shops, the main park of El Poblado to relax from the hustle and the street of La Buena Mesa to experience the diversity of cuisines and restaurants in Medellin.

Staying at a hotel like The Charlee in Medellin you will discover all this and much more.

Accommodation that never go out of style

It is very common that we review those more innovative hotels, the most avant-garde tourist proposals or the most interesting formulas that will allow our readers to discover new design hotels. In this occasion, wrapped in autumn’s melancoly and with a little post-vacational syndrome, we have written a short but honest summary of destinations and accommodations that, in our opinion, will never go out of fashion.

Iberostar Marbella Coral Beach

Iberostar Marbella Coral Beach

The rebirth of Costa Blanca

Benidorm is a classic destination. A destination that has been gradually associated with national and foreign tourists of a certain age, and its eccentric skyscrapers that shape it as one of the European cities with the largest skyline in the continent. Something that surprises everyone that visits it for the first time. Many are those that think that this urban development is an aberration, bearing in mind the Mediterranean environment that surrounds it. As time passes, Benidorm has revitalised and changed into a vintage destination, to which many visit it as a new experience, different and fun, away from the connotations attributed in the past.

In Benidorm there is a beach… and hotels. Choosing one among all the ones available can be stressful, as the decision can be a success or a total mistake. Our recommendation in this sense, and after covering several hotels in the area, are Benidorm’s aparthotel of the hotel chain Marconfort, the Flamingo Playa and the Flamingo Benidorm, two accommodations with All Inclusive next to the beach of Levante. Ideal for those travelling with friends or family. Its services and facilities are complete, and the personalised attention of their staff is unbeatable.

Marconfort Beach Club Hotel Torremolinos

The magic of the Costa del Sol

The hotels in Málaga never go out of style. The city where Pablo Picasso was born, offers beaches that are a haven for families and surfers, and that year after year, the Costa del Sol sees how the magic of its natural beauty continues to have effect an effect on tourists. In addition, the province has many faces. On the one hand, the classic family destination of Torremolinos keeps its pull despite the changes in national tourism trends, recovering from the current economic crisis. On the other hand, Marbella and its luxury resorts near Puerto Banus, that maintains its pulse and retains its status and glamour.

Among the hotels in Torremolinos that we reviewed to include in this list, we have chosen two  belonging to the hotel chain Marconfort. The Griego hotel and the Beach Club hotel, two of the classics in this holiday destination, chosen mainly by spanish families of the interior. In Marbella, we are sticking to the Marbella Coral beach, and in the area of Fuengirola, one of the most comfortable hotels located in the beach of Los Boliches, the Confortel Fuengirola hotel.

Hotel in Fuengirola

Hotel in Fuengirola

Natural beauty on the coast of Barcelona

Another classic and family orientated destination in Spain, one of the most protected agains’t foreign mass tourism, is the coast of Barcelona. Away from the bustle of the capital and along the Mediterranean coast you find towns like Pineda del Mar, Calella, Malgrat de Mar and endless towns that have been kept almost intact, retaining its traditional essence of fishing villages. The most appreciated in this area, is its atmosphere, an to a generation it reminds them of a time when summers were blue and they could run around freely along the towns streets.

Preserving the tradition from father to son, those who visit this coast of Barcelona during the summer holidays are usually Spanish, many with a second home in the area, others accommodated in small hotels with character and staff that feels more like family. Along this line, we choose several hotels from the hotel chain Fergus Hotels, available in the coast of Barcelona:

Fergus Style Mar Mediterrania

Fergus Style Mar Mediterrania

The Fergus Style Mar Mediterrania, off the coast of Santa Susanna and completely refurbished in 2013. We like it for its exterior designer spaces, with areas of a solarium terrace and an amazing swimming pool in which to spend hours reading a book. The town of Santa Susanna, is also one of the most beautiful of all this coast.

The Fergus Montemar, an All Inclusive hotel in Pineda de Mar with the advantage of having the beach very close and all the services that can be found in the centre of the town. Good atmosphere, personal attention and surprising facilities for an All Inclusive: Jacuzzi, gardens, relax area, cocktail service, children’s playground and kid’s club…

The Fergus Espanya, a historic hotel in Calella that could not be forgotten in a list that mentions traditional holiday accommodations in Spain that, even after so many years have not gone out of style. With a large group of loyal tourists, this hotel in Calella, is a symbol fro tourism on the coast of Barcelona. Informal and with a spirit that makes all its guests feel at home, it has managed to earn the affection of all those that visit it at some point.

Benidorm gets an update

Nothing ever surprises, or almost anything. There are few things we haven’t already seen in this century, but sometimes we get surprised: I never thought I would even think of recommending it, but after talking to some friends who assure it is worth it… I have decided to leave a door open and give it an opportunity. It is said that Benidorm is being renovated, and that the most consolidated destination in Spain is becoming a new moneymaker for family holidays at an affordable price and with an added value, modern services and a juvenile atmosphere!

Marconfort Hotels in Benidorm

Marconfort Hotels in Benidorm

Well, sorry about my scepticism, but it has taken me time to accept it. However, there are some facts that make me think maybe now thinks are really changing and the hotel sector of the area has seen the writing on the wall and has gotten cracking. If that is true, I really support them. As a traveler mother I would love to see how one of our most beautiful coasts recovers its charm, becomes a destination for quality tourism and aims at giving an excellent service to its visitors.

I admit this is not going to happen overnight, but it is happening quickly. One of the things that has surprised me the most is, for example, the philosophy of this hotel in the centre of Benidorm: design rooms and suites close to Levante beach, special services for families (including laundry!), free internet access in the common areas of the hotel, entertainment for children…

Marconfort Benidorm Suites Hotel

Marconfort Benidorm Suites Hotel

This idea truly differs from the concept I had in mind of an accommodation in Benidorm (leaving 5-star accommodation apart, of course), and I think I could even spend a pleasant week there with my children. It is true that Levante beach is one of the most crowded beaches in Spain during summer, but it is also true that one of the advantages of Benidorm is that it is a lively all-year-round destination and the climate is perfect for those who are searching for a bit of sun and relax in a different location.

Benidorm is being updated, and as the hotel we have already mentioned, there are many accommodations that are investing in change, in design spaces, and most importantly, in much more specialised services designed for the different guests they may accommodate. I include the capital of Costa Blanca in the list of my possible trips. Maybe it is not my first destination, but it is there: everyone deserves an opportunity, isn’t it?