Easter was a very busy time for us all at our casa rural in Gandía, with a completely full house over the Easter weekend itself. Visitors returned from last year, as well as many new ones visiting us for the first time. The weather had been forecast to be damp and cool, but in the end only a little rain fell over the holiday period, and mostly the weather was fine and warm – always good for our guests on their holidays!

Tony, Trudy and their children Harvey, Monty and Queenie visited us for just over a week, and chose to stay in our self-catering apartment. Tony and Trudy had visited the area last year with a possible view to purchasing a holiday property and wanted to return this time with their children to give them the opportunity to see the region also. The self-catering apartment was the ideal option for them, and allowed them much more flexibility – they enjoyed the sense of independence and privacy that the apartment allows, but at the same time they joined us for most of their evening meals – and even for some breakfasts too! They wanted the advantages of the apartment, but quite understandably Trudy wanted to feel that she had had a break from cooking for the family too!

They had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed their time with us. They also made good friends with a Dutch family who were here at the same time and who had a son of a similar age to Queenie, so all the children were happy to play around the pool and gardens together. They were also great animal lovers, so made firm friends with our three dogs Lola, Aurora and Sandy, and often came on walks to the park with us and the dogs.

They all loved the area and visited the beach as well as seeing many nearby towns and villages on various day trips. Although property viewing was not on the agenda this time – this was to see if the children liked this part of Spain also – they certainly felt that they could come back again soon with the purpose of looking for a holiday home more seriously. They had a great time staying with us, and we most definitely enjoyed their visit also, so we hope to see them again in the near future.
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David and Caroline from Devon arrived for a couple of nights with their two children on their motorbikes – they were enjoying a touring holiday around Spain, starting from the Santander ferry, and returning the same way. In fact, we were the furthest point of their trip, having looped around the northern part of the country earlier on in their visit. They decided they wanted a couple of days relaxation before starting back for the ferry home again, as well as the opportunity to take in the sights of Valencia City. The opportunity to have a couple of nights at a Bed and Breakfast where they could be safe in the knowledge that there was safe and secure parking for their bikes was one not to be missed! They decided, however, not to take their bikes into the city when they went to Valencia, but to travel in by train and spare themselves the possible parking problems which two motorbikes can present in an unknown city.

They arrived with us on Good Friday and made the most of the pool and gardens when they had settled in, before joining us for dinner in the evening. On Saturday there was just time to enjoy the pool some more in the morning before setting off for Valencia for the rest of the day and back for dinner with us again at night. They really felt the benefit of a break from travelling, and by the time Sunday came around, they were much more ready to face the road again – this time they were heading up towards the Barcelona area before making their way further north for the ferry home.
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Tony, Trudy and their children Harvey, Monty and Queenie visited us for just over a week, and chose to stay in our self-catering apartment. Tony and Trudy had visited the area last year with a possible view to purchasing a holiday property and wanted to return this time with their children to give them the opportunity to see the region also. The self-catering apartment was the ideal option for them, and allowed them much more flexibility – they enjoyed the sense of independence and privacy that the apartment allows, but at the same time they joined us for most of their evening meals – and even for some breakfasts too! They wanted the advantages of the apartment, but quite understandably Trudy wanted to feel that she had had a break from cooking for the family too!

They were all keen walkers and loved the fact that there was so much in the way of hill walking and exploring to do in the immediate vicinity of the villa here, and in such beautiful and natural surroundings. One day they took a walk along the orchard roads behind the house, going up as far as the tree line behind, and then returning via a dry riverbed along the base of Penya Roja (Gandía Crag). Whilst there, they took the opportunity to scramble up to the base of the climbing rock faces to see the caves there and enjoy the wonderful views across the Marchuquera valley and even to spot Villa Florencia nestling in the distance!

Another day, we gave them a lift up to the hiking base station on the outskirts of La Drova up in the mountains behind us, and they enjoyed the next couple of hours hiking back down the mountains along the marked-out pathways back towards home. The weather was actually perfect for that kind of hike – pleasant, but not too hot and sunny. They absolutely loved the views and the feeling of being so close to nature again, and by the time they returned to us at the villa, the sun was shining and it was just in time for lunch followed by a long warm afternoon by the pool!

They had a great time on their visit to us, and by the end of their time here they felt almost certain that they would want to come back for more of the same! Possibly next time they will resume their property search, as they have decided that this area has a huge appeal for them – lots of great walks in the countryside, close proximity to fabulous award-winning beaches, and just a beautiful area in which to spend some time to unwind from the stresses and strains of everyday life back home! We look forward to seeing them again soon.
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How to spot a bargain and snap up excellent deals on a Spain holiday with OnTheBeach

When it comes to securing a little bit of summer sun, many UK holidaymakers will choose to save up and head abroad.

Whilst the recession and a climate change awareness campaign have both worked extremely hard to encourage British citizens to invest their money within the UK and take holidays here in Britain, there is nevertheless a strong tradition of holidaying on the continent which continues to generate huge turnover.

For many of us, the first place we’ll think of is Spain. Welcoming over 50 million tourists a year, it is one of the world’s favourite destinations – not least because a Spain holiday could include anything from kite-surfing (in the Canaries) to jumping over bonfires (St Joan festival in Barcelona) to gourmet food (San Sebastian) to excellent hiking and skiing.

One of our main concerns in the next few years is having a holiday without splashing out huge amounts of money. This has been tricky for several years since the credit crunch, as those of us also supporting families find the necessity for a holiday made more and more financially difficult.

Thankfully, the popularity of Spain makes it a great place to seek out good value cheap deals and last-minute breaks. We’ve been talking to OnTheBeach, a specialist budget holiday website, and they’ve provided us with some excellent tips which we can share with you as you search for ultimate holiday bargains.To discover the road to sunny harmony check out OnTheBeach’s holiday infographic.

Families

If you are looking for a family holiday, keep an eye out for special advertised deals that include children going free. This usually occurs at all-inclusive resorts, and it may mean that you have to pay for both adults in full – but you’re then getting two or three extra people in on the deal. Obviously time is not on your side as you have the school holidays as your window for holidays, so deals like this are your best option, rather than looking off-season.

Off-season

That delicate period after the school holidays and before the change of weather is an excellent time to head to Spain. From August onwards keep an eye out on hotels and tour operators looking to get rid of last-minute packages and resorts. We highly recommend September-October for Spain, particularly the south, where you can still encounter temperatures up to 35 and 40 degrees Celsius.

Combined deals

OnTheBeach specialize in finding combined deals and tailor-making them for your requirements. This requires a little flexibility, but if you can get the dates right, the cheapest deals will come from buying 50% off hotels in combination with a cheap flights rather than a whole package in one.

Even if Ibiza is the undisputed king, this year looks set to see the return of an old favourite to the Party Holiday rankings (this time from the mainland), and another beautiful Spanish island. So without further ado, here’s our top three:

Benidorm
Benidorm used to have a terrible reputation, but in recent years the local council has been taking steps to make it a more attractive place to go and they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Even though the permanent population is just 75,000, Benidorm is more densely populated with skyscrapers than anywhere else in the world. This is due to a planning law that required a certain amount of green space around every building, so Benidorm is a surprisingly green place to visit.

Then, there’s the beach, where most of the bars and clubs are to be found. The city is on the Costa Blanca and you’re guaranteed great weather almost throughout the year. A growing number of cultural sites helps offer something a little extra when you’re recuperating from the night before.

Mallorca
The largest and most populated of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca has always had a reputation as a place to go for a party, and particularly it’s most famous resort, Magaluf. For a great, cheap holiday, with fantastic holidays and a huge party scene, Magaluf is a popular pick. However, for something a little quieter you could pick one of the equally well-developed resorts along the south coast. In fact, anywhere you go on Mallorca it’s beautiful, so take your pick and you’re guaranteed a great time.

Ibiza
What is there to say about Ibiza that hasn’t already been said? The island is a holidaying juggernaut and doesn’t show any sign of losing its popularity soon. Recently, the local authorities have looked to restrict licensing for bars and clubs a little bit, but it hasn’t made the nights out any less brilliant, or the clubs any less popular. What they have managed to do, however, is attract a load of live music, like Radio 1’s in Ibiza events, so there’s always loads to do.

The season that lies ahead in 2012 will be our sixth full year of operation, and we are looking forward to a year of welcoming back previous guests as well as meeting new ones for the first time.  The New Year period has already been and gone and was a busy time for us, with a full house of guests, many of whom had come for the excellent rock-climbing to be found in the area.  We hope to have more rock-climbers visit us in the future, as this is an activity – along with other outdoor and nature-related interests – that we are actively promoting.  In the cooler months of the year the area is a haven for those looking for an outdoor holiday rather than one based around sunshine and beaches.  Mountain biking, hiking, horse riding, bird watching and hill walking are just some of the other activities that can be enjoyed in the immediate area around the villa, or at most within a 20 minute drive. 

Diversification has to be a positive thing, especially in the uncertain economic times that seem to face everyone at present– in whatever European country you find yourself.  In past seasons, we have directed our marketing efforts at a wide range of nationalities as well as at the local Spanish holidaymaker and house renter.  Indeed, our flexibility and the range of accommodation options that we can offer have proved to be a popular concept with our guests.  Many – particularly in the peak holiday season – still prefer to go for the traditional Bed and Breakfast type of visit and spend much of their time during the day exploring the surrounding areas and attractions.  However, even these guests (more often than not) also choose to take advantage of our evening meal service, so in fact have all the advantages of a friendly country hotel but without the constraints that are traditionally associated with that type of accommodation. 

Other guests prefer to have self-catering accommodation, and this is where our apartment comes into its own.  Although it is an integral part of the main house, it has its own entrance, two en-suite bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen and living room.  Guests staying here, however, also have full use of all the other facilities of the villa including the option of evening meals.  Sometimes, however, we are more than happy to offer “Casa Rural” type accommodation to those who are looking for that particular option.  This involves renting a room (as you would on a Bed and Breakfast basis), but without the breakfast – or indeed any other of the catering that we generally offer.  For these guests – and it is generally a Spanish concept – we are happy to allow them to ‘self-cater’ in the main kitchen, which obviously they might have to share with any other guests staying here at the same time.  However, the facilities and the space have always meant that this has never been a problem and has proved a cost-effective and convenient choice for many guests. 

Another possibility is that of Villa Rental (renting the entire house (with or without the apartment depending on numbers) ), which means that groups of up to 16 people can spend time here together, but with sufficient space that it never seems crowded or cramped.  This option has been chosen in the past for either weekend lets – usually for Spanish hen parties – or else for longer stays when an extended family wanted to holiday together.  In this case, guests have full access to the whole property, and basically rent the villa for their vacation with exclusive use of the kitchen, living areas, gardens, etc.  We are still on the property, but in our separate apartment so do not in any way intrude on our guests’ privacy, but are nevertheless on call if any help or advice is requested. 

So we anticipate that we will welcome our guests in 2012 with as wide a range of options and choices as possible, and making ourselves known to as many different types of holidaymaker as we can.  Traditional overnight Bed and Breakfast guests, apartment renters, weekend party groups, special interest holidays, or Spanish “Casa Rural” guests – we look forward to meeting them all during the coming year.  We are enlarging and improving our sun terraces around the pool so there will be even more space for our guests to relax and make the most of the gardens and the beautiful weather that we hope to see in the year ahead. 

The animal lovers amongst our guests will not be disappointed either, as we now have a third dog who has joined the household – a beautiful and placid Spanish Mastiff called Lola who is the very epitome of the expression “gentle giant”, and who we are sure will charm each and every one of our visitors.  She is joined by Aurora and Sandy, so we now have the full set – small, medium and large!  Cat lovers will also be pleased to hear that Sparkle (our Siamese looking cat) continues to thrive, and has grown from a tiny bottle-fed kitten to a healthy 18 month old beauty, so the entire Villa Florencia family is ready and looking forward to welcoming all our guests in the coming season. 

We hope that many new visitors will come for the first time, but of course it is very gratifying when previous guests come back to us again. If the weather is as good for the rest of 2012 as it has been so far, it should be a year to remember!

Penya Roja Climbing Lodge is a beautiful and spacious country home, located just minutes from two of the Costa Blanca’s best climbing rocks, Gandia Crag and El Bovedon or an easy drive to any of the Rock climbing sites on the Costa Blanca.

Your hosts , Nigel and Mark, run the Penya Roja Climbing Lodge with all of its facilities and comforts like a small country hotel and combine this with a welcoming feeling of informality and relaxation. Our aim at the Penya Roja Climbing Lodge is to provide an exceptional standard of individual service to our guests, making them feel that they are in a friendly and informal atmosphere where they can relax and unwind without the usual constraints of a conventional hotel.

Our B&B accommodation consists of 5 spacious bedrooms (three twins and two doubles) all have air-conditioning and heating, are well furnished and benefit from housekeeping services on a daily basis. Complimentary tea and coffee making facilities are provided in each room and all have modern en-suite bathrooms with power showers.

Additionally there is a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom self contained, self catering apartment for rent.

The lodge also has ample car parking facilities – we would suggest that guests hire a car in order to derive the greatest benefit from the surrounding towns and countryside.
The public rooms of the Penya Roja Climbing Lodge include a bar and lounge for the use of all our guests, where – depending on the season – you can either have a refreshing drink after a hard day’s rock climbing around the pool, or enjoy your favourite after-dinner liqueur in front of a log fire on the cooler winter evenings.
Breakfast and dinner are both served on the glass-enclosed terrace which has panoramic views of the nearby orange groves and mountains.

For those who wish to venture further afield, the Penya Roja Climbing Lodge provides an ideal base for daily excursions to Valencia, Benidorm or Alicante

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Spain is not just about sun, sea and sangria, it’s about the Moors, the Reconquest, El Cid, Hernan Cortes, the Conquistadors, the Golden Age, Don Quijote, the Camino de Santiago, Flamenco, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, paella, seafood, the Alhambra, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Velazquez, Goya, Murillo, Andres Segovia, Joaquin Rodrigo, Carmen, Napoleon, Wellington, the Spanish Armada, Catalyuna (Catalonia), Andalucia, or Andalusia if you prefer, Rafael Nadal, Fernan Adria – the list goes on and on.

Books4Spain has been established by Rod Younger, an Anglo-Spaniard and author, to help you discover Spain and its rich history and culture through books, as well as to provide you access to useful, relevant and interesting information about living, travelling or holidaying in Spain.

Our intention is to try and re-create the experience, attractions and benefits of a traditional bricks & mortar independent bookshop but with the added convenience afforded by the Internet and technology to offer better choice, an easier way to discover books about Spain, great customer service and, ultimately, to enable our clients to learn more about Spain, its culture and history.

We have a small but growing network of reviewers who are either experts in a particular field, e.g. Therese Wassily Saba for flamenco and classical guitar (www.myflamencodiary.com), or who are book lovers and lovers of Spain and who write the Books4Spain Reviews for specific books.

Customer service is a priority for us and we aim to respond within 24 hours to any emails and to try and resolve any questions or queries as quickly as possible. We are human and we are new so the site is constantly being improved and our book selection increased.

We welcome any feedback or suggestions you may have with regard to the site and our book selection – we are always looking to add quality books about Spain to the site so please do email us your suggestions/recommendations to suggestions@books4spain.com and we will use our best efforts to source the relevant book(s).

Authors such as Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell, Laurie Lee, Gerald Brenan, George Borrow, Richard Ford and Washington Irving have long been fascinated by this amazing country and we hope that Books4Spain enables you to discover, and share in, their experiences and those of many others.

We look forward to being of service to you.

Many people are seeking alternatives to the seaside resort holiday that is centred around lots of sunshine and doing as little as possible except maybe reading a book on the beach or around a swimming pool.  Pleasant as that prospect may be, spending two weeks with nothing else on the agenda can become a little monotonous.  More and more holidaymakers are looking to combine some of the lazy sunshine holiday concept with a certain amount of activity, and it is here that the area around Gandía and the whole area along the Costa Blanca can really come into its own. 

The beautiful mountain scenery that lies almost immediately behind the coastal resorts along the Costa Blanca provide for a whole host of activities that are only now being fully recognised by local towns and businesses as equally valid and attractive reasons to come to this part of Spain.  An obvious recreation in the La Safor mountains near Gandía is that of hiking and walking, and there is a wide choice of routes that have been mapped out for the enthusiast, ranging from easy, gentle walks to more strenuous hikes and climbs.  Local authorities have started producing maps showing the recommended routes to follow, and these are also signposted along the way to make things even easier and more “user friendly” and less daunting for the first-time hill walker.  There is also a hiking information centre in the hills behind Gandía where many of the local routes are centred upon, set in an area designated of special interest and natural beauty.  As an extra point of interest, some of the routes also make use of disused railway lines in the area and the hiker will find themselves taking unspoilt and scenic routes between towns and villages, often even walking through former railway tunnels along the way. 

If walking and hiking does not appeal, an alternative is cycling and mountain biking.  This is a recreation that is hugely popular amongst local people, and it is not hard to see why.  Bikes can be hired locally, either as an independent daily or weekly rental, or in the company of a guide who can take the enthusiast along routes in the hills and mountains if a road trip is not what you have in mind.  Stunning mountain views are the reward for a steep climb through many of the villages and towns in the area, and then of course there is always the extra reward of the exhilarating downhill trip at the other side!  It is very easy to combine a route that takes in a mountain section, followed by a return along the coast and maybe a swim in the sea all in the same trip – the best of everything! 

Nature lovers can also indulge themselves along the Costa Blanca by visiting the areas frequented by the many species of birds in the area – both local and (depending on the time of year) migratory.  There is a large designated nature reserve of wetlands to the south of Valencia City that will be of particular interest to the bird watcher, and this is home to a great number of species as well as a stopping point for birds that are passing through on their seasonal migrations.  In addition to this specific area, the entire stretch of coast provides excellent opportunities for spotting a wide range of birds, including many birds of prey in the mountains.  Guided bird watching tours can be arranged by local experts who can take the visitor to the best starting-off points, depending on the particular types of bird that are of particular interest.  This can in fact be an excellent way of combining the different activities that the area lends itself to so well – walking through beautiful scenery whilst at the same time spotting varieties of birds and wildlife the visitor is unlikely to encounter at home. 

And all this, of course, is available along the Costa Blanca in a climate so very much milder and warmer than what the visitor would probably be used to at home.  Indeed, the long mild season that this part of Spain generally experiences makes it perfectly possible – and maybe even preferable – to take a break at a time when the mainstream holiday crowds have either not yet arrived or already returned home.  The visitor can then benefit from lower airfares (rather than having to pay the premium normally levied during school holidays), cheaper accommodation costs, and of course a less crowded environment than during the traditional peak season.  

Alternatively, if some members of a group want the more traditional high-season holiday activities of sun and sea, this can be combined with the interests of the walker and nature lover all in the same trip.  The Costa Blanca and the La Safor region in particular really does have a lot more to offer than first meets the eye.

Last week we were pleased to welcome a couple from Edinburgh who had booked to stay with us for a week of late summer sunshine. Brian and Ruth are keen hill walkers and hikers, and wanted to spend some time in nice weather preparing themselves for a walking challenge that awaited them after their return to Scotland.

During conversation, it emerged that both Brian and Ruth are doctors back home in Scotland and were both feeling the need for some well earned rest and relaxation – as well as pleasant walking in the sunshine.

This part of the Costa Blanca has some magnificent walks, and it is fast becoming a recognised destination for hikers and hill walkers as well as more serious climbers. Routes are for the most part well signposted and marked out, and lead participants through beautiful scenery and tranquil surroundings. Estimated times are displayed as well as the level of difficulty involved, so there is something suitable for everyone in the area around here.

Brian and Ruth were to be staying with us for six nights, so they had time to combine plenty of walking and exploring with some relaxation in and around the pool, as well as one day’s sightseeing in Valencia City. Typically, they would take advantage of the designated walking routes in the mornings, often have lunch in a restaurant at the end of the walk (maybe sampling the local specialities of paella and fideua), and then later in the day return to Villa Florencia for some afternoon sunshine.

The weather on the Costa Blanca has been especially good this year and remained so for the duration of their stay, without the sometimes erratic changes that can take place in September. Days have been pleasantly warm and even night time temperatures have been staying much milder than usual.

Their excursion to Valencia was planned for the Sunday of their stay, as they wanted to get a feel for the place, without necessarily visiting every tourist sight in the guidebook! They went up by train and walked around the historic area, and were able to do so without the crowds of people that might have been around on a weekday. A trip on the tourist bus completed their visit and gave them a good impression of what a lovely city Valencia is.

Brian and Ruth were delighted that their time with us was a perfect opportunity to get a late summer sunshine break and prepare themselves for the chill that would probably await them on their return to Scotland. They were more than pleased with the variety of walking routes to be found near our guest house, and feel that they would like to come back in the future to do more of the same.

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It was an absolute pleasure to have them visit us, and we would certainly hope to see them with us again in the not too distant future.

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