History Question – Concentration Camps, Germany, Nazi, etc.?

Posted: February 15th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Camp Sites | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

Why were most death camps and concentration camps located in Germany and Poland? Why do you think Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, and Turkey were not?


How to erect a Camp-let Concorde Camping Trailer Tent

Posted: June 15th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: RV Camping | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »




This is a short demo of me erecting my Camp-let Concorde Trailer Tent. (AKA Camplet Trailer) Quick easy convenient camping equipment from Camp-let. It’s so easy even I can do it in few minutes!! www.spanish-vacations.com


Apartment and Chalet camping holidays in France and Spain

Posted: May 30th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Camp Sites | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Discover the delights of apartment and chalet camping holidays in France and Spain with Brittany Ferries. With such a wide choice of great value resorts – all hand-picked in superb settings across all the best regions of France and Spain, we’re sure to have something that’s just right for you.


Winter Breaks in The Canaries

Posted: January 22nd, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Other Travel | Tags: , , , , | No Comments »

Summer may be over in mainland Spain but there are outposts where the season never ends.  Such as the Canaries – the seven islands which are situated just off the coast of West Africa, many hundreds of miles south of the Iberian Peninsula.  A location that creates a great climate all year round.

As a result the Canaries welcome visitors throughout the year and after Catalonia are the second most popular holiday destination in Spain.  Arrivals have fallen by around 20% during 2009 thanks to the current economic crisis.  But millions of tourists will still be booking holidays in the region this autumn, despite the downturn.

Part of the reason for this ongoing popularity is that the Canaries are the closest winter sun destination to key tourist markets such as the UK and Germany.  Which are both just four hours flying time away.  This winter, flight prices for UK visitors also look set to fall thanks to growing competition on the route between the big guns of the low cost flight world.  Which will hopefully help to reduce the price of flights to Lanzarote. 

What sort of weather can visitors expect to enjoy during the winter months?On Lanzarote the temperature averages at around 20 degrees Celsius.  With hardly any rainfall at all.  The days are also longer than back in the UK – with the sun not setting before 6pm at the earliest.  Whilst the Trade Winds that normally buffet the island from March through to August have dampened down. 


The island offers high standards of accommodation too.  Covering all of the bases from high quality hotels through to simple studio apartments.  A growing number of visitors now prefer to book their own accommodation online too – thanks to the growth in internet usage.  And as result interest in – and bookings for – Lanzarote villas have increased enormously over the last decade.

Of course the increase in visitors looking for Lanzarote apartments and villas is good news for travellers to the island as villa owners have had to ensure that clients requirements are met, and those extras and traditional add ons are now included in the price.

The resort of choice during he winter months is Playa Blanca, which is located right at the southern foot of the island. And consequently enjoys the best weather.  Playa Blanca has rapidly evolved over the last decade to become the second most popular destination on the island.  With a wide range of villas in Playa Blanca available for rental with prices starting from around £400 per week.  As well as a fine selection of good quality four star hotels lining the shoreline such as the Princesa Yaiza and the Timanfaya Palace.

The island is a exceptionally well visitied all year holiday destination with many outstanding resorts. Follow the links for more information about Playa Blanca villas in particular or other Lanzarote villas and apartments.


Taking the road to caňa-ville with a TEFL Spain course!

Posted: January 10th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Other Travel | Tags: , , , , , , | No Comments »

The Madrid lifestyle has a lot to offer, whether it be sitting out in the many, glorious plazas watching the sun gently disappear or dancing the night away in Sol. Para mi, being a TEFL graduate for only a few months, the events leading up to the night’s fun in the best part. This commences with caňas and concludes with tapas. Let me introduce, ‘caňas and tapas’. This merge can be taken up any time…

The best bites to eat I have had in Madrid have accompanied caňas. Caňas are small, being served in a mini glass, and are the perfect coupling with a idle Sunday afternoon. Whatever you choose, great tapas is forever involved.

I initially had caňas y tapas in the centre of Madrid, in a great little place in Plaza de Espana. You have to stand, which isn’t as bad as it sounds. The bar makes a very useful prop and you feel exceptionally Spanish ordering caňas whilst making small talk. The waitors were really funny and enjoyed helping us what to choose. The starter dish they bring is fried chip potatoes served with a delightful oily, garlic sauce. With this were three small chorizo sausages. My amigo de espanol and I can’t wait to begin. This garlic sauce is one that should be experienced with friends, not first dates. It was gorgeous. The chorizo was even better, melting in the mouth and making me eager for more! One more beer, one more plate of food. Next up was baby squid in a rich, divine tomato salsa. Fondly remembering the day I decided to come to Madrid, we ate the squid eagerly and chugged the beer. More beer and therefore more food. Next we choose some salami – yum.


Plaza de Espana is the perfect location to seek out tapas bars. It has a lot of side streets that all have a plethora of individual bars. Just be warned that your continued proximity to Gran Via is equal to the prices going up. Plaza de Espana is a fantastic mix of Old and New Madrid. For €7 our bill got us three caňas and that means 3 plates of free food. So why didn’t we stay all night you might think? Because there are too many other bars in the area!

I could not stay much longer, I had to go hom and lesson plan. Reaching home after a rather dizzy ride on the Madrid metro I settle down to put my TEFL qualification to good use and start to plan my business English lessons. Fill on tapas and content on caňas, this comes very easy. Another exciting night! Here’s to the next time I go out in Madrid!


Visit Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

Posted: December 16th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Other Travel | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment »
Coat of arms of Canarias (Spain)
Image via Wikipedia

Lanzarote is a favourite holiday destination for many European holiday makers and is situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. And this group of islands were once considered by historians to actually be the long lost city of Atlantis.  Today the Canaries are second only to Catalonia as the most visited region in Spain.  Welcoming millions of holidaymakers every year .

Although all part of the same island group however differences between the islands are very noticeable, however as each island enjoys its own quite unique character and cultural development.  A typical example of this is the governance of the islands with the eastern islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura governed from Las Palmas on Gran Canaria.  Whilst the islands of El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma have their administrative capital on the island of Tenerife.

Lanzarote hasn’t only been a recent tourist destination though as the islands has been attracting British and foreign visitors since the 1900’s .  But modern tourism only started to take off during the 1970´s.  As General Franco began to loosen his stranglehold on Spain As the area was in desperate need of a boost to its economy after years of restriction.

Today the island is happy to welcome visitors that number into the millions as they arrive from all over Europe and other parts of the world, and bizarrely even tourist from the Spanish mainland.  Many of whom seek to swap the oven like heat of the peninsula for the cooler and more temperate climes of the Canaries during August.


The growth of internet usage has changed the tourist market worldwide.  And Lanzarote is no exception to this trend.  As more and more people eschew traditional travel agencies to build and book their own breaks direct online.  This has led to an upsurge in demand for apartments and villas in Lanzarote. With self catering accommodation in the main resorts making up a sizeable proportion of the total amount of tourist beds now available here.

The most luxurious rental villas in Puerto del Carmen can be found in areas such as Risco Prieto.  Which enjoys a prominent position above the old town, overlooking the traditional harbour area which is in the process of redevelopment (Lanzarote style) into a beautiful marina which will have all the trapping of luxury for its visitors.

Whilst travellers looking for villas in Playa Blanca should would be best looking at the Montana Roja and Rubicon Marina areas.  As this area has a particularly wide range of quality rental accommodation at reasonable prices.

Not all Lanzarote’s visitors are lured here by the beaches however and rural tourism is increasing in popularity as visitors seek to experience the culture and natural out of resort lifestyle the island is so famous for.  Visitors that take time out to tour the island are amazed to find out how unspoiled it is .  Prompting many to return time and time again to experience the true Lanzarote in countryside fincas and rural apartments.

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Canary Mellow – Discover Lanzarote This Summer

Posted: September 7th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Other Travel | Tags: , , , , , | No Comments »

The small but scenic Canary Island of Lanzarote can be found just off the coast of West Africa. But has long been governed by Spain – and is one of the most popular holiday hot spots in Europe with British and Irish tourists. Thanks to the fact that the island has a great climate with year round sunshine (averaging around 20 degrees over the year), over ninety beautiful sun drenched beaches and an excellent range of holiday villas and apartments.


There is a wide choice of Lanzarote apartments but if you prefer a more luxurious holiday then you can grab yourself a bargain Lanzarote holiday villa this summer as lower than expected visitor number means there are some good deals to be had.

At just four hours flying time Lanzarote is one of the closest winter sun holiday destinations to the UK. And is serviced by a number of the biggest low cost flight operators – such as easy Jet and Fly Monarch. Which means it is usually possible to pick up cheap flights to Lanzarote for as little as £200 return from all major UK airports.

The sole airport on the island is called Arrecife and is located around 3km outside of the island capital of the same name. Thanks to Lanzarote´s relatively small size (it measures just 58km by 34.5km) transfer times from the airport to the island’s three main resorts are mercifully quick. With Puerto del Carmen just ten minutes from the airport, Costa Teguise fifteen and Playa Blanca around thirty five minutes away.

The bulk of visitors to the island arrive on package holidays so will find themselves travelling to their resort on coaches organised by their tour operator. But for the growing band of independent travellers there is no shuttle bus service to the resorts. Which means they need to rely on either taxis – which are available just outside the main arrivals terminal. Or hire cars – which are also readily available at the airport.

Hiring a car in Lanzarote is surprisingly cheap in relation to many other holiday destinations around the world. As it is possible to rent a basic class C vehicle for as little as €20 per day. Whilst petrol is also much more affordable than in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.

Around 40% of all visitors book hotels in Lanzarote. Which are of a high standard, particularly in the island’s newest resort of Playa Blanca in the south of the island. Where all establishments built over the last ten years are of a four star standard and above.

Whilst the bulk of the best villas in Lanzarote are located in and around the resort of Puerto del Carmen. Which was once known as a small fishing village called La Tiñosa before package tourism first really took off on the island. Transforming it into the most popular resort on Lanzarote.

Lanzarote also offers holiday makers plenty to do. As the island boasts lots of natural beauty – such as the Valley of 1000 Palms and the famous Green Lagoon at El Golfo. Along with some incredible man made attractions – such as the Mirador del Rio and the Cesar Manrique Foundation. Which was constructed by the island bon artist of the same name from five underground bubbles in the lava flow. And which is – by some distance – the most unique property in lanzarote.


Learn About Spain : Puerta Del Sol

Posted: September 3rd, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Other Travel | Tags: , , | No Comments »

“Gate of the Sun”, or Puerta del Sol, is a very popular tourist spot in Madrid.

The gates were once the entrance to Madrid. Like many towns in medieval times back in the 15th century Madrid was protected by a large wall with Puerta Del Sol serving as the only entrance. The name of the gate became well known through out the trading world because Spain at one time was the center of the known world. Even after the fall of Madrid’s walls, the gates remained a place for tradesmen and dignitaries alike to meet. In fact, Puerta Del Sol is still considered a popular meeting spot to this day.



Spanish architecture looms big through out Puerta del Sol, speaking of a past of opulence and grandeur. One famous example is a gigantic sculpture of a bear eating fruit. The fruit the bear is eating is supposed to be from the madrone tree where Madrid derives it’s name from. The bear itself is a great symbol for the people of Madrid.

The House of the Post Office is one of Madrid’s most important sites and is located nearby to Puerta Del Sol, it is central to New Years celebrations, there is also a paving slab which marks the start of the six major highways which cross over Spain. That means it’s not just a good place to start exploring the city, but the whole country.

Just a short distance away from Puerta del Sol you can visit other tourist attractions, like the Plaza Mayor or the Palacio Real; the Royal Palace. The city’s governmental body, Parliament, is also a short distance away. You can board a train at the Metro station and visit this location.

Dozens of restaurants, side street shops, and other attractions are there, so it takes a good half day to visit. Go in the evening if possible as the bars and cafes fill up with tourists and citizens alike and street performers arrive to entertain those present.

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Your Guide To Spain : The Royal Palace Of Madrid

Posted: September 2nd, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Other Travel | Tags: , , | No Comments »

Madrid’s Royal Palace, or Palacio Real, is famous for its amazing statuary and splendorous classical architecture, as well as the monuments and gardens that surround it. Occupied by a long series of Spanish rulers until 1931, the palace, which took 25 years to build, was once the center of power for a dynasty that ruled half the then-known world in the 18th century.

While the public has access to only 10% of Palacio Real, that small percentage is impossible to see in a single day. The Palacio Real boasts nearly three thousand rooms. There are over two hundred balconies and over 40 grand staircases. It is laden with heavy and ornate furnishings and other ornaments of that time that speaks of the grandeur in which the Spanish royalty lived.

You’ll see the Throne Room, from which the plans and strategies of what was once the world’s greatest superpower were formulated, and the Royal Armory, which displays a number of weapons and armor, along with a range of medieval torture implements used in the Spanish Inquisition.

Tours also pass through the famous Royal Library, which houses many first editions of important Spanish writings, and the Royal Pharmacy, which has an interesting view into old medical practices, and also the amazing banquet hall, where much notable European royalty has dined.

Outside of Palacio Real, you can walk through the Royal Gardens (which are the most famous in Madrid), enjoy the sight of the Manzanares River, and watch the changing of the guards.


A guided tour of the palace, lasting about two-hours, is the ideal way to both see the sights and to learn the history. Be sure to book these $30 tours in advance, especially in the summer months, as they sell out quickly. Taking photos isn’t permitted, though you can purchase postcards and picture books at the end of the tour to remind you of what you’ve seen.

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