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

Congratulations to the Spanish basketball team who won the European basketball championship yesterday in Kaunas Lithuania.

Led by Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol, the Spanish team confirmed they are the best in Europe with a 98-85 win over France. Paul Gasol (Spain), Tony Parker (Spain), Juan Carlos Navarro (Spain), Bo McCalebb (Macedonia) and Andrei Kirilenko (Russia) were named as the top five players of the tournament.

The team now have their sights set on winning the gold medal at next years Olympics in London. The Spanish team came close to winning Olympic gold in Beijing when they narrowly lost to the USA 118-107.

Taking in a basketball game on your holiday deals to Spain is something not to be missed!

Though many tourists might visit Barcelona for its surrealist architecture or its beautiful beaches, there’s actually much more to the city—its people. As Spain’s second-largest city, Barcelona’s large and diverse population provides plenty of interesting characters. And with the Spanish proclivity for leisurely afternoons in a café or around town, people-watching couldn’t be easier in art friendly Barcelona.

Barcelona’s main shopping street, Las Ramblas, is one of the prime locations to be seen (and see others). The La Boqueria market, near the centre of Las Ramblas has a huge selection of fruit and juice vendors and can be a nice location to watch locals and tourists alike. Tourist hotels and holiday apartments in Barcelona line the boulevard, so for those lucky to have a balcony, sitting outside and watching the people walk by is a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Views from Parc Guell

While people-watching the high-class shoppers on Las Ramblas can be enjoyable, with Barcelona’s vast amount of city parks and public spaces, there are much better locations to sit and watch time fly by. Gaudi’s Park Guell has hundreds of hidden corners and park benches of every shape and size. Finding a spot that isn’t already taken can be challenging because it’s such a popular park. There are always interesting characters hanging out in the park—from families to tourists and picnickers, Park Guell attracts every type of person.

Alternatively, Montjuic Park on the mountain just on the edge of Barcelona is a great place for wandering around. With the occasional museum and some well-trodden paths (not to mention the former Olympic Stadium), spending the day outside rather than in can be a nice way to enjoy Barcelona. Plus, the views of Barcelona from Montjuic are unparalleled. Barcelona’s skyline features everything from large apartment buildings to La Sagrada Familia, and hundreds of pedestrian-friendly open spaces.  And with a downtown beach perfect for summer holidays, Barcelona attracts a wide variety of tourists, expats & locals alike. All mixed together in a city full of art and culture, history and inspiration.

La Sagrada Familia

With so many open spaces, pedestrian streets and public parks & beaches, Barcelona is a perfect city for people-watching.

Located on the east coast of Spain, Alicante is a popular holiday destination just 25 miles south of Benidorm. The city has miles of beautiful sandy beaches lined with palm-shaded promenades. Holidaying in Alicante gives visitors the chance to sample real Spanish life unlike the more commercialised neighbouring resorts. The city attracts sun lovers, families, water sports enthusiasts, golfers and naturists. The old town

Alicante

of Alicante attracts visitors to its narrow streets, Spanish tapas bars, restaurants with various types of paella on the menu, bars and excellent shopping facilities. Visitors interested in art and culture will love the displays of treasures including Roman and Moorish sculptures, medieval tapestries and works of art by Dali and Picasso which are housed in the museums and buildings of the city. Alicante is well known for its great shopping opportunities with a huge central market selling just about everything. The streets of the town offer excellent bargain and souvenir hunting at the traditional craft shops, markets stalls, upmarket stores and designer outlets.

Playa del Postiguet Beach

Playa del Postiguet is Alicantes main beach and is a long stretch of fine pale sand. After a dip in the beautiful waters here you can enjoy a tasty al fresco lunch in one of the many beachside cafes. Other popular sandy beaches in the area include Albufereta Beach and San Juan Beach which stretches from Cabo de Huertas to Campello. At Cabo de Huertas there are secluded rugged coves and the beach of Playa del Coco are popular with those looking for quieter beaches. Local buses and trams run an excellent service which links all of the Alicante beaches.

Away from the beach there is plenty to do on your family holidays to Alicante. A visit to the cathedral and Santa Barbara Castle, the harbour and the marina should not be missed. Santa Barbara Castle sits on a hillside and not only offers amazing panoramic views of the city and the coastline but also houses several exhibitions of Arabic and medieval art. The whole family will love a tram ride along the coast to picturesque Campello, a boat trip to the small island of Tabarca and of course a visit to Benidorm. There are also plenty of theme parks, water parks and zoos along the coast for family days out. Alicante is a spacious city with lots of green space with plenty of parks, gardens and woodland where you can take a picnic

Alicante harbour

and enjoy the surrounding flora and fauna. For the more energetic there is a leisure park which is located by the Tossal Mountain where a range of activities like mountain biking, skating, mini-golf and bowling can be enjoyed. Alicante is surrounded by some beautiful countryside with woodland, mountain paths and marshland waiting to be explored. Guided walks make a welcome escape from the beaches on your family holidays to the Costa Blanca. Carrascal De La Font Roja nature reserve has beautiful pine forests which are home to a multitude of different animals and birds, including badgers, wild boar and golden eagles.

Carrascal De La Font Roja

Alicante offers a wide range of different dining venues including traditional Spanish restaurants alongside restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, from Moroccan to Thai. The city also has plenty of cafes and bars for a quiet relaxing break.

Due to the city’s close proximity to the airport and great all-year-round mild climate Alicante is a popular destination for direct holidays during the summer and also during the winter season. From May to October Alicante enjoys fine sunny weather, especially in the peak months of July and August. Summer temperatures reach up to 29C with the height of the season seeing around 10 hours of sunshine every day. Winter temperatures rarely fall below 13C, often seeing 5 hours of sunshine a day.

The Spanish resort of Benalmadena is located about 12 miles from Malaga airport, between Torremolinos and Fuengirola. A popular destination with families and holiday makers of all ages the resort offers good affordable accommodation, plenty of facilities and a beautiful sandy beach.

Benalmadena

The beautiful beaches of Benalmadena stretch for six miles along the Costa del Sol coastline. This long wide sandy beach has shallow waters which ideal for safe swimming for the whole family on their holiday deals to this popular resort. Parents can relax on the beach knowing there are lifeguards on duty who are keeping a watchful eye on the children playing in the sea. The promenade behind the beach is lined with hotels, apartments, cafes, bars and small shops. For quieter, more secluded sunbathing there are rocky coves and inlets along this coastline.

Benalmadena Marina

Benalmadena is also home to an award-winning marina brimming with modern yachts and luxury cruisers. The marina is home to an aquarium, sailing centre and numerous cafes and bars. Scuba-diving and sailing are available from the marina, as well as boat hire, deep-sea fishing trips, catamaran cruises and excursions to Torremolinos and Fuengirola.

Away from the beach is the authentic Andalusian village of Benalmadena Pueblo. Sitting up in the mountains, this traditional Moorish village with its narrow streets, whitewashed houses, quaint shops and lookout castle, the Castillo de Colomares, is a must to visit on your cheap package holidays to Benalmadena. As with all the resorts on the Costa del Sol there are plenty of golf courses to choose from along with other activities including water sports such as scuba-diving, wakeboarding, water-skiing, sailing and kayaking, fishing, horse-riding and cycling. For the more adventurous there is quad biking, off-road buggy riding and paintballing. The whole family will enjoy Tivoli World

Benalmadena Cable Car

theme park, the Aquarium and a cable-car ride up the mountains. On the cable-car ride you will be taken 800m above sea level where you will see stunning views of the coastline and across the sea to Gibraltar and Africa. On reaching the summit visitors can take a donkey ride tour of the area and also visit the Bird Sanctuary. If you are feeling really energetic forget about coming back down in the cable-car and instead come down on foot or by mountain bike. Tivoli World is the largest theme park on the Costa del Sol with rides, attractions, concerts, shows and gardens with fountains, making a great day-out for all the family. If you are looking for a day out of history, culture, shopping and dining then a trip to the cities of Seville and Grenada will fit the bill.

Benalmadena enjoys a lively nightlife, including a casino for those wanting to have a flutter. The resort has a wide range of evening entertainment including jazz and salsa clubs, discos, bars and restaurants, many of which are found in the marina area.

Benaldamena Beach

Enjoying a typically Mediterranean climate, Benalmadena has an annual average temperature of 21C and around 330 days of sunshine each year. The peak season sees average highs of 26C with up to 11 hours of sunshine a day but the coastal breezes help to make the heat less stifling. Water temperatures at this time are around a pleasant 22C. Spring and autumn temperatures average between 17c and 22C with 7 hours of sunshine a day and is a popular time for visitors wishing to partake in outdoor activities like walking, cycling and sightseeing. December and January are popular for golfing holidays as the temperature drops to around 15C, making perfect conditions for a round or two.