Spain Introduction

Spain has been a popular destination for British holiday makers for more than 30 years. It is easy to reach with only a short journey, it benefits from a fantastic Mediterranean climate, it has great beaches, well known towns and cities that provide you with an insight into its culture and history, what more could you want from a holiday?

There won't be enough time for you to explore the entire Spain in one trip so it is well worth making many holidays to Spain to understand about its traditions as each region has its own type of culture and history.

Relax over a glass of the local cider in Asturias, eat paella in Valencia, or watch flamenco dancing in Andalucia.

Nor is a Spanish holiday restricted to mainland Europe. Just off Spain's Mediterranean coast are the Balearics, a collection of islands made up of Ibiza, Menorca, Majorca and Formentera. Here you'll find the same great beaches and warm sunshine, as well as a mix of lively nightlife and quiet, secluded villages.

Off the west coast of Africa you'll find another Spanish holiday favourite, the Canary Islands. Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Gomera all enjoy year-round sunshine and are home to a varied and breathtaking range of landscape.

Weather in Spain

Lots of sunshine and little rain is the perfect description of the weather in Spain making it a great year round destination.

High summer (May -September) sees average temperatures of approximately 30ºC but these can reach 40ºC between 1pm and 3pm.

Spain enjoys a warm year round climate and is extremely hot during mid-summer, in July and August. The rest of the year the climate is generally temperate in the north, but warm in the south. The best time to visit is during spring or autumn, except for the Atlantic coast, which has heavy rains in October and November.

The coastal regions especially enjoy a warm climate throughout the year whilst enjoying a warm Mediterranean breeze. Temparatures can rise to around 40 degrees centigrade during the mid summer period in July and August.

The further you head inland the hotter it becomes, especially towards the central area of Madrid. However, Madrid and the high central area can get very cold during winter.

Some regions of Spain particularly inland mountainous such as the Sierra Nevada can experience heavy rain and cold temperatures between November and March.

Beaches in Spain

With over 5,000 miles of coastline, Spain offers the beach lover a wide array of destinations. From the tranquil, fine golden sandy beaches lapped by the Mediterranean in hot and vibrant Andalucia, Valencia and Cataluna to the dramatic plunging cliffs and sandy bays washed by the Atlantic ocean along Spain's northern coast - whatever your choice you're sure to find the perfect beach location on Spain's mainland.

From the dark volcanic sands of the Canaries to the delightful coves of the Balearics Spain is Spain is the perfect destination for those in search of sun and sand at any time of year. Proof of this lies in the thousands who return year after year. Here you will find a broad, varied array of attractions, with beaches offering a multitude of options for entertainment with the family, water sports and fun by day and by night.

Whichever region you choose, here you will find excellent facilities and clean, sandy beaches, with approved security services, excellent access and respect for the environment. All this is guaranteed by the quality certificates granted to Spanish beaches after evaluation of these parameters. The blue flag rating is the most widely known, but there are other highly prestigious, demanding systems also in place. These include the Q for Quality distinction, awarded by the Spanish Tourism Quality Institute (ICTE).

Eating Out in Spain

Eating out in Spain is relatively cheap and meals are usually substantial instead of gourmet. Get a small taste of everything with the Spanish speciality of Tapas. Tapas are small dishes of snacks which are served anytime especially in small bars. They cover all types of foods from seafood to vegetables. Many Spanish people make an evening of hopping from bar to bar trying different tapas. Another of Spain's favourite dishes is Serrano Ham.

Spain is famous for its fish delicacies and simply must be sampled, especially if you get to coastal areas. Paella has long been a Spanish favourite, based on either meat or seafood. Every region in Spain has its own specialities

The Spanish tend to eat traditional continental breakfasts, a light lunch and an evening meal, late. In the Canary Islands, the papas arrugadas salted, baked potatoes served with hot red and tasty green sauces are addictive.

Nightlife in Spain

Music and dance, food and drink, if anyone knows how to have fun, it's the Spanish. Spain has some of Europe's best nightlife and people don't even think of going out to dinner until 10pm, let alone the drinking and dancing that invariably follows.

Popular holiday resorts like Benidorm, Torremolinos, Magaluf, Playa de las Americas and San Antonio have bars, clubs and discotheques open until the early hours of the next day!

The best part of Spain's nightlife is that it does not only refer to dancing and boozing throughout the night, nightlife in Spain also experiences people out for a dinner with their families, socializing and enjoying with coffees and Sangria at the road side cafes till the dawn.

Nightlife in the islands of Spain such as Ibiza and Canaries are also famous and have nightclubs jammed from late evening to well into the next morning.

Spain has a wealth of night-time attractions to suit all tastes and ages.

Car Hire in Spain

Renting a car in Spain is relatively a simple thing to do. You need to be 21 or over and carry a valid licence which you have held for a minimum of 1 year. An International Licence is not neccesary, but highly recommended as you could be refused without one. Children up to 3 years old must be in a child seat, and children up to 12 years are not allowed in the front of the car. Please note that in Spain they drive on the right side of the road.

Many UK Tour Operators and Retailers have pre-negotiated rates with most reliable local companies and prices are usually cheaper by booking in advance. Check out our fantastic pre-booked car hire rates now here>>

Airport to Resort Transfers in Spain

Arriving at a foreign airport can often be a strenuous affair and with most customers traveling independently these days having a pre-booked airport transfer is an essential part of your holiday package. Local taxis at the airport can sometimes be limited or with long queues, by booking a pre-booked you can not only make a fantastic saving on your transfer but also avoid all the stress of queues and haggling with taxi drivers. Book your airport transfer service here now >>

Airport shuttle bus service in Spain

In most of our gateway airports you can pre-book an Airport Shuttle Service. This is a pre-booked only service that operates between the relevant airport and holiday resort. In normal times you can expect to wait up to 30 minutes for your shuttle bus to arrive however as this is a pre-negotiated service and only available to participating travel companies then expect to pay far less to get from the airport to your destination accommodation than other traditional forms or transport such as local taxis. Book your airport shuttle service here now>>