San Antonio is located on the Balearic Island of Ibiza, just 10 miles from Ibiza Town and 14 miles from the airport. Offering great beaches, a choice of accommodation, restaurants and plenty of clubs, bars and entertainment, the resort has something for everybody. Popular with British

Ibiza, San Antonio

tourists, the resorts endless nightlife attracts thousands of young visitors every year as well as families and couples who tend to visit outside the main summer season, staying in the quieter parts of the bay.

There is a central square and many pedestrianised areas where you will find cafes, bars and shops spreading out from the harbour and stretching all the way along the pleasant tree-lined seafront promenade. A special feature of San Antonio is the great selection of trendy street cafes and ‘chill-out’ bars, including the famous Cafe del Mar where you can relax whilst watching the beautiful

Sunset over San Antonio

sunset. Relax and watch the sunset over a drink or two before hitting the clubs and dancing the night away!

San Antonio has a choice of small beaches on a long bay which takes in legendary spots like the Sunset Strip at Cala Gracio and quieter resorts like Port des Torrent. The best beaches are to the south of San Antonio and at Cala Bou. Beaches with safe shallow waters are found at the sheltered Cala Gracio to the north of the resort and quieter beaches are at Port des Torrent. If you are feeling energetic there are plenty of water sports on offer in San Antonio. There are plenty of diving schools in the area which offer trips to over 80 dive sites for divers of all levels. Diving in San Antonio is particularly good for beginners as the waters here are calm with high visibility.

Away from the beaches there is plenty for the whole family to do, including waterparks, bungee jumping, parascending, karting, horse riding, tennis and much more. Keep the kid’s amused for hours at the San Antonio play park which has sand pits, bouncy castles, trampolines and climbing frames. Pretty San Antonio Harbour offers a range of boating activities for visitors. Sailing along the coastline of Ibiza is on of the best ways to explore the island and soak up some rays along the way. Looking for something different? Why not try the Paintball Lounge Party where the whole family can enjoy a paintballing adventure, with a swim and refreshments between games. At Cala Gracio, on the outskirts of San Antonio you will find the Aquarium Cap Blanc where you can see all kinds of Mediterranean sea life in their natural environment.

Ibiza Nightlife

Don’t forget to check out the clubs and nightlife around Ibiza Town which is easily reached on the night time Disco Bus. Big attractions here are the clubs of Pacha, El Divino and Space. Mingle with other party goers at the street cafes in San Antonio which are the best place for the pre-clubbing scene and to find out what is happening and where!

Ibiza enjoys a gentle climate with very little rain and mild temperatures. At the height of the summer season temperatures average 30C with winter temperatures rarely falling below 10C. August is the ideal time to visit for water sports as the water temperature peaks at around 26C at this time of the year.

Take a look at this website where we found some really good deals to Ibiza. Hope you find what you are looking for.

May the 7th to the 13th 2012 sees the International Horse Fair event at Jerez De La Frontera in Cadiz, Spain. The festival is focused on all things horse related with lots of horsey activities and the best horses in the area. Choose between international show jumping, dressage, livestock auctions and exhibitions plus a horse rally. González de Hontoria park will be filled with horseriders, horses, carriages, flamenco dancers and horse lovers aswell as tourists of all ages who flock to see the spectacle of the famous horse fair here.

Jerez horse Fair 2012

Aswell as equestrian pursuits there will be singing, dancing and lots of food and drink to consume in the many casetas here, aswell as attractions aimed at the children attending. The Jerez Horse Fair is internationally recognised and historically noted, it’s origins were originally as a livestock market over 500 years ago. Andalusian horses will be the main breed on show here due to the location of Jerez in the Andalusian region of Southern Spain, with many tourists and holidaymakers stopping to watch the amazing fair and the festivities throughout the week.

The Jerez horse fair is a main focal point of the Spanish Feria season and is the only Fair dedicated to horses. If you are in the vicinity the Jerez horse fair is well worth a visit, make sure you sample the local tapas and sherry whilst there.

*image courtesy of spain.info – find out more about the jerez horse fair by visitng the website.

During Easter week in Spain everyone throughout the country turns out to enjoy and take part in one of the many traditional events which take place at this time of the year. Fiestas take place all over the country, an experience not to be missed if you are lucky enough to be visiting at this time of the year. Each region of Spain celebrate ‘fiesta week’ in their own unique way. This is an emotional time when the people of every city, town and village have an active part in the celebrations. The streets are filled with amazing colourful floral displays, the beating of drums and many religious parades. The celebrations continue throughout the day and the night, making Easter one of the longest fiestas in Spain. This is an amazing time to take advantage of the many holiday deals to Spain and experience some highly emotion celebrations and processions.

Albacete

Albacete

The crowning moment of Easter week in the province is the Tamborada festival when 20,000 drums invade the town of Hellin.

Cartagena

Thousands of people mark the end of Easter week in Cartagena. At this moving time, the people join together in song to intone the salve Maria to the Virgin Mary.

Cuenca

Easter week celebrations in Cuenca include the Religious Music Week Festival when concerts are held in historic buildings, including the cathedral.

Elche

Elche is home to one of the most beautiful processions in the country. Taking place on Palm Sunday, this procession features the customary palm leaves.

Leon

The highlight of the week here is when Saint John and the Virgin Mary meet in the Plaza Mayor square, marking the end of the Easter processions.

Lorca

Lorca comes out tops on originality, with processions that include scenes from the bible and from ancient civilisations.

Malaga

To be truly moved, visit Malaga to experience the ritual of the freeing of a prisoner when the figure of Christ blesses the convict.

Murcia

The highlight of Easter week here in Murcia is on Easter Saturday when the procession of Cristo Yacente passes beneath the Santo Domingo arch.

Salamanca

Celebrations here have an amazing backdrop of the city’s wonderful monuments. The Maundy Thursday services in the University and the taking down of Christ from the cross are two celebrations not to be missed if in Salamanca.

Seville

The religious brotherhoods (cofradias) of Seville parade elaborately decorated statues (pasos) of the Virgin Mary through the narrow streets of the old town. These Baroque statues are carried under canopies and have gold and silver crowns, beautifully embroidered cloaks and velvet tunics.

Valladolid

If you are interested in sculptures you must visit Valladolid where you can see many priceless Baroque art religious statues.

Zamora

Zamora

Experience the night-time processions together with the Gregorian chanting.

Don’t miss out on the many last minute holiday deals to Spain at this time of the year.

The tiny island of Ibiza is known as the party capital of the world, hosting some of the biggest and most famous parties and club nights in the world. Just a two hour flight from the UK, Ibiza is the third largest of the Balearic Islands which are located just off the coast of Spain.

Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel

Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel, the hotel that changed the face of the Ibiza party scene, returns for a second season with some top headline acts. Last year, the hotel enjoyed a successful first season with 100% occupancy and more than 40 unique poolside parties. The official opening of the hotels famous poolside daytime parties will be held during the last weekend of May; however the hotel will open its doors to guests on May 1st. With star performances by Luciano and top DJ’s from Cadenza Records on Saturday 26th May and super megastar Fatboy Slim on Sunday 27th May the summer season will definitely be starting with a bang so don’t forget to book your cheap holidays to Ibiza before the rush!

The hotel will host its first big event of the season on the Sunday when Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) will perform his greatest hits such as ‘Praise You’ and Right Here Right Now’. Cook is one of today’s top names in electronic music and

Fatboy Slim

his shows involve not just playing his own patented brand of ‘party acid house’ but also a complex audio-visual production. His shows have included projecting lasers onto the Great Wall of China to performing on top of a trio electrioc (a huge truck loaded with thousands of watts of sound equipment) during the Salvador de Bahia Carnival which was attended by more than 5 million people on the streets.

Luciano is a Swiss-Chilean DJ, producer and founder of Cadenza Records, and is one of the biggest stars of the global electronic music scene. As a DJ, Luciano has performed at most major clubs and festivals in the world from Ibiza to Berlin, Peru to Tokyo, via London, Frankfurt and Sao Paulo.

Other artists due to perform include Usher, David Guetta and Moby together with special hotel guests such as the Hilton Sisters, Puff Daddy, James Blunt and Dennis Rodman and many many more.

Ibiza

Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel is part of the Fiesta Hotel Group, a Spanish hotel group founded in the 1960′s. The company has 50 hotels in 6 countries: Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Sicily and Brazil, all with a shared philosophy of leading standards of customer service together with a high value price ratio. Watch out for last minute holiday deals to the ‘White Isle’ and visit the must-go venue for the best ibicenco party scene.

After indulging in all kinds of pleasures over the Christmas and New Year period why not get into shape in 2012 with one of the many holiday deals on offer to La Manga Club in Spain. This prestigious five-star venue has a wide range of health and fitness breaks to suit all abilities. La Manga is an ideal venue for fitness training at any time of the year with extensive facilities including a large comprehensively equipped gym

La Manga Club

and 25 metre indoor pool. Nearby Mar Menor and the Mediterranean Sea allow open-water swimming and the surrounding areas of beautiful countryside provide a variety of routes and terrain for running and cycling. High performance bicycles can be hired from the Independent Activity Centre on the resort. The resort also offers unrivalled sport and leisure facilities including three 18-hole championship golf courses, a 28-court tennis centre and a 2,000sqm spa and fitness centre.

In addition the resort offers a choice of a five-star hotel, four-star serviced apartments and townhouses and more than 20 bars and restaurants.

La Manga has a long standing reputation for sport and activities, with amazing facilities for golf, tennis, football and much more, but now has a host of experts heading specialist courses and retreats designed to get guests in peak condition.

Independent fitness specialist Fitness12, owned by celebrity and professional sports trainer Steve Halsall, is offering breaks at La Manga Club which focus on cycling, detox, triathlon, spa and yoga. The four day retreats offer coaching and nutritional advice from experts with a personalised 12-week programme given to guests to ensure they make long-term changes rather than just for the one weekend they are at the retreat.

Walkactive training camps will run in April and October by TV fitness guru Joanna Hall. These camps are ideal for participants of all fitness levels. These programmes are designed to improve posture, reduce joint impact, increase fitness and change body shape. Joanna focuses on her unique walking techniques which ensure correct postural alignment.

La Manga golf

Adventure Fitness, run by former TV Gladiator and commonwealth athlete Kate Staples and double Olympic gold medallist Daley Thompson, is planning a variety of fitness camps throughout the year which will cater for everyone from mums looking to lose a bit of weight whilst on a family holiday to energetic youngsters taking their first steps in athletics.

There is something for everyone, including the children, on your last minute holidays to La Manga Club which is located just 20 minutes from Murcia Airport and an hour from Alicante in Spain.

The Madrid Food Festival takes place in restaurants and bars around the city centre from the 23rd January through to the 5th February 2012. This is an ideal time to take a winter sun holiday to Spain and take in this lip-smacking festival which is certain to tantalise your taste-buds.

Gastrofestival Madrid 2012

This two week gastronomic festival, called the Madrid Gastrofestival, puts Spanish cuisine under the spotlight, giving food lovers the chance to sample some of Spain’s amazing gastroculture in the restaurants, bars, food shops and markets in Madrid.

Top chefs, including Heston Blumenthal and Joel Robuchon, will be at the 10th edition of Madrid Fusion from the 24th to the 26th of January. This is a three day event which includes workshops, demonstrations and talks relating to gastronomy, not to be missed on your holiday packages to Madrid in January.

This exciting food festival includes food tasting, special set menus at affordable prices and guided visits to museums and art galleries. The event is attended by world famous chefs who

Madrid

offer special menus in various restaurants across Madrid. You can eat at Michelin starred restaurants, bars serving tapas washed down by a few beers, delicatessens where you can sample a wide-range of foods and also visit the Mercado de San Miguel. This is an amazing restored historic market with food and wine stalls where you can sample a whole variety of gourmet goodies, including oysters and champagne, Galician octopus, Catalan canelones, artisan cheeses, Jamon de Bellota and a choice of wines such as Ribera del Duero, vino de Rioja, Cava, Sherry and Priorat.

Take advantage of the many late deals to Madrid which are available throughout the internet and don’t miss out on this tasty Spanish event.

Located between the low hills that separate the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor Sea, La Manga Club is an unrivalled sports and leisure complex just 20 minutes from Murcia Airport and an hour from Alicante.

La Manga Club Resort

Many holidaymakers are concerned about their carbon footprint when on their family holidays to Spain. Visitors to La Manga Club in Spain can rest assured that this five-star resort has introduced a range of environment policies to reduce its energy consumption and water usage. La Manga has been one of Europe’s premier sport and lifestyle resorts for nearly 40 years and is now leading the way with its environmentally friendly policies. By implementing an environmental management plan, La Manga Club has managed to minimise its carbon footprint whilst still maintaining the high standard of facilities it offers. All departments of La Manga Club are working closely together to make the resort as eco-friendly as possible.

La Manga Club has a good strong supply of solar power as the area enjoys more than 300 days of sun a year. Between 30 and 40 percent of the energy required for hot water and the heating of the pool at the resorts five-star Hotel Manga Club Principe Felipe is now obtained by solar power which is also a source of power for the golf clubhouse. There are plans to extend the use of solar power across the whole of the resort.

Simple measures, including the introduction of aerators on taps, flow control and timers, have enabled the resort to reduce water consumption

La Manga Club Spain

in the hotel and the fully serviced Lomas village self-catering accommodation by 60 per cent. Seventy per cent of the water used in maintaining La Manga Clubs three championship golf courses, eight international standard sports pitches and its numerous gardens is recycled water provided by wastewater treatment plant.

Covering an area of about 1400 acres, La Manga Club offers an amazing five-star hotel, Luxury holiday apartments and extensive sports facilities, including three championship golf courses, a twenty-eight court tennis centre and eight grass sports pitches. The resort is also home to many leisure facilities, including the La Manga Club Spa with 13 luxurious treatments rooms, comprehensive fitness centre and indoor swimming pool, more than twenty restaurants and bars, and meeting and banqueting facilities.

La Manga Club has hosted many major sporting events including the Davis and Fed Cup tennis matches, the Spanish Open golf championship and is a regular host to international football, rugby and cricket teams who come to the resort to use the first-class year-round training facilities.

La Manga Club Golf

The resort is a staunch supporter of women’s golf and is currently the official overseas resort partner of the English Women’s Golf Association and is in its second year of a three-year agreement to host the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School. La Manga Club is also the venue for the Ladies Murcia Open and regularly hosts top women’s amateur events and teams.

If you are looking for the perfect resort with excellent sporting and leisure facilities on your direct holidays to Spain then you need look no further than La Manga Club.

The magnificent city of Cadiz is located in southern Spain close to the city of Seville. If you are looking for a more traditional holiday to Spain then Cadiz is the ideal choice for you. Thought to be the oldest city in Europe, Cadiz is steeped in history with places of historic interest and

Cadiz Cathedral

museums to keep you occupied on your cheap package holidays to the Costa De La Luz. Cadiz also has a good selection of restaurants, tapas bars and shops.

The charming old quarter of Cadiz is Moorish in appearance with narrow cobbled lanes connecting large plazas, white washed houses, a cathedral with a stunning golden dome and the remains of the city’s 18th century walls.

Donana National Park

The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Donana National Park, will be of particular interest to nature lovers. The park occupies the right bank of the Guadalquivir River at its estuary on the Atlantic Ocean. This diverse park has marshland, fixed and moving dunes, lagoons, scrub woodland and maquis. It is also home to one of the largest heron colonies in the Mediterranean region, five threatened bird species and is the winter habitat for hundreds of thousands of water fowl every year. The park is also home to Spanish lynx, Adalbert’s eagle, Black vulture, red kite, reptiles and amphibians.

Lying inland from Cadiz are the Pueblos Blancos (White Villages) which are small villages with chalk coated houses which date back to the Middle Ages. Four of the best villages to visit are Setenil, Grazalema, Arcos de la Frontera and Zahara de la Sierra. Bird watchers will be in their element with many species of eagles and vultures being found in the villages. There are also some bull breeding farms around Medina Sidonia where you can see the bulls grazing in

Cadiz

their natural environment.

Situated at the end of Cadiz is the 2 mile stretch of Blue Flag beach called La Victoria. During the peak summer months there are small beach bars and facilities available at the beach which narrows as it reaches Santa Maria del Mar Beach and is accessed by ramps and steps from the promenade. Sitting between the Castle of Santa Catalina and San Sebastian is La Caleta Beach which is usually much busier than La Victoria and Santa Maria del Mar. Less than two miles out of Cadiz is the beautiful white sandy beach of Playa de la Cortadura which is ideal for lazing in the sea and taking a dip in the clear blue sea.

Cadiz Port lies between the Atlantic and Northern Africa, near to the Strait of Gibraltar. The port is a popular stop-off for many cruise ships and is also the terminal for ferries travelling between Spain and the Canary Islands.

There are many towns in the surrounding area including Jerez de la Frontera which is the centre of the sherry industry and home to the regional airport. A tour of the bodegas (cellars) and a visit to the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art are a must on your last minute holidays to Cadiz.

Spain’s Costa Dorada stretches south west from Barcelona to Tarragona on the east coast. With beautiful sandy beaches backed mountains, quaint villages and coastal towns the Costa Dorada is a popular all year round choice for bargain holidays. Families flock to the area not just for the excellent climate and superb sandy beaches but also for the great children’s attractions. Together with the resorts of Cambrils and La

Costa Dorada Coastline

Pineda, Salou forms a 10 mile continuous beach resort. This 10 mile stretch of the Mediterranean has beautiful sandy beaches which are ideal for relaxing in the sun, swimming and a wide range of water sports.

The whole family will love a trip to the Aquopolis Water Park at La Pineda and to Spain’s best known theme park at Universal PortAventura. The Aquopolis Water Park is located on the outskirts of La Pineda and is a great place for cooling down when the weather hits its peak. You will even get the chance to swim with sea lions at the park! PortAventura theme park has 5 themed zones with thrilling rides, shows, restaurants and shops to keep the whole family happy throughout their visit. When you need to take a break from the thrilling rides there is PortAventura Aquatic Park which is a themed park with splash

PortAventura Rollercoaster

pools and a large indoor area.

Salou is the liveliest of the Costa Dorada resorts and is ideally placed for visiting PortAventura. Cap Salou is much quieter and an excellent choice if you want to relax on the beautiful Salou beaches and in the secluded coves. Downtown Salou offers a great choice of restaurants, cafes, bars, discos and nightclubs.

Cambrils is a more traditional resort with sandy beaches, cobbled streets, restaurants, tapas bars and a pretty fishing harbour. Some of the best Costa Dorada restaurants, serving exquisite Catalan cuisine, are found in Cambrils.

The Costa Dorada resort of Sitges is particularly popular with the gay community. This cosmopolitan resort has elegant mansions, top class museums and plays host to many carnivals and film festivals. Sitges is well known for its vibrant nightlife.

Barcelona

When on your holiday deals to the Costa Dorada don’t forget to visit the amazing city of Barcelona where you will find amazing sights and some great trendy restaurants. When you need a break from the beach you take a trip to Tarragona where you will find Roman ruins and a magnificent cathedral and a visit to the monastery at Montserrat is also a must do. Hikers and nature lovers will be amazed at the surrounding countryside which stretches inland towards the mountains. Discover quaint little villages and wander through the vineyards and almond orchards for quiet relaxing day out.

If you are looking for a great Spanish holiday then the Costa Dorada makes an excellent choice with plenty to do and see.

Barcelona’s bustling nightlife attracts a huge international crowd each year. The sheer diversity of the bars and clubs here arguably makes it one of Europe’s top partying destinations. But although Barcelona is generally an awesome night out, there are two sides to the story. To put it bluntly, many bars and clubs during the high season are simply overcrowded, overpriced and, in some cases, rather pretentious tourist traps. It’s fair to say that these types of establishments really don’t do the city justice, and anyone who’s familiar with Barcelona knows there is much, much more on offer – you just have to look in the right places.

To feel the true rhythm and vibe of Barcelona’s nightlife, no other district can compare to the charismatic El Gótico, which is considered by many as the heartbeat of the city. By ducking into this labyrinth of narrow, shady streets you’ll find hidden gems around almost every corner – trendy bars, hip clubs and cosy tapas joints that create an effervescent atmosphere that teems with life. For me, El Gótico encapsulates the very essence of Barcelona – a lively, cool and down-to-earth place. This is reflected in Plaça de George Orwell; a small, tucked-away square located bang in the middle of the district. So if you’re looking for a chilled out, interesting spot where you can perch undisturbed and enjoy a few beers with friends, then this is it.

placa de george orwell

Interestingly, the square is probably better known for the history that surrounds it, and the rather ironic connotations that stem from this, than anything else. Allow me to give you the run down. In 1996 the square was named after Orwell, not because of his outstanding literary achievements, but instead to pay homage to his contribution to the Spanish Civil War, where he fought on the Republican side. Now, here comes the strange part. The author of ‘1984’, the satirical novel about a society ruled by the all-seeing eye of Big Brother, may have been slightly surprised to discover that just a few years later (2002), a security camera was installed in the very plaça that bears his name, keeping strict, 24-hour watch over anything and everything that happens there. Talk about ironic…

The truth is that Plaça de George Orwell, dubbed “Plaça Tripi” by locals, hasn’t always been the, erm, cleanest of areas. In the past it was known to attract an, let’s say, alternative crowd made up largely of tramps and marijuana users, as well as pesky pickpockets. The extra surveillance was merely a measure installed to counteract the activities that occurred in this somewhat run-down square and, in general, this didn’t go down too well among the locals. For them, these added security cameras infringe civil rights and represent an unnecessary governmental effort to improve Barcelona safety, which has stripped the square of its character, privacy and authenticity.

So, why would I want to go to a place like this, I hear you ask? Well, it must be said that since the introduction of these measures, “Plaça Tripi” has cleared up its act and the stereotypes attached to it have largely disappeared. Granted, you might still occasionally come across the odd dodgy character, but a lot of its original spirit and soul remains. With the recent renovation of the square, where a playground for children was constructed just last year, the plaça nowadays is still a popular hangout for locals – full of typical bars and cheap eateries, including tasty Greek food and takeaway kebabs.

Even the plaça’s neighbouring streets offer up delights. One such example would be El Mariachi bar (found on the corner of Carrer dels Codols and Carrer d’en Rull). If you manage to find it, this bright and colourful, albeit tiny, hangout is owned by musician Manu Chao and boasts a stylish, yet nonchalant and unfussy atmosphere. Again, it’s ideal for unwinding with good friends and you’ll feel like you’ve really stumbled upon a secret.

These are exactly the type of places that make Barcelona, Barcelona. Wrapped up in history, character and vibrancy, they just ooze cool. Plaça de George Orwell might not be the perfect place to take the family (or maybe it is, what with its new playground?), and some locals may argue that this is yet another urban area subject to government repression. But if you’re looking to escape the crowds and experience the authentic side of the city, it’s well worth a visit.

This post was a guest post written by Tom Lukjaniec- from Oh Barcelona.com
Photos by Lauren Manning