All About Spain

3 bedroom apartment for sale - Torrevieja

For Sale.

A lovely 3 bed apartment on the 5th floor in secure complex with lift and stairs access provided.

Controlled door entry system.

• 3 bedrooms
• Ceiling fans to lounge/dining area and bedrooms
• Fully furnished
• Sun terrace with sea views, external table and chairs
• Fully equipped seperate kitchen
• Lovely large communal pool
• Very close to amenities including beach

A short walk from the beach, good choice of shops, bars, restaurants, supermarkets, bank, chemist, go karts, golf and water sports. Easy access to the N332 coast road and the motorway opening up the whole of the Costa Blanca.

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Find holiday homes to let near Torrevieja

Mallorca is the largest of the four Balearic Islands with a population of 700,000 residents – a figure which is greatly augmented from May through until the end of September when millions of tourists descend on the island, as this is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain boasting breathtaking beaches and scenery as well as a host of things to do and see.

Mallorca was returned to Spanish rule after centuries of Moorish domination in the early 13th century.  A victory marked by the laying of foundations for what is now Palma cathedral on the site of the Moors main mosque by Jaime II, son of the liberator of the island, Jaime I.

Over the years Mallorca has been a very popular holiday haunt of the rich and famous.  Chopin and George Sands enjoyed a sabbatical on the island – as did Miro and Robert Graves – whilst more recently the island has welcomed VIP visitors such as Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones.

The island is essentially split into two halves.  The south earned a somewhat downmarket reputation during the 1980´s as the Club 18-30´s crowd partied in mega resorts such as Magaluf – a legacy that is still being shaken off today – whilst the north of the island is regarded as a bit more sophisticated, home to historic towns such as Pollensa and attractive resorts such as Alcudia.

Holidaymakers arrive at the island’s sole international airport at Palma before onward transfer to one of twenty resorts dotted around Mallorca, most of which are at least an hour’s transfer time away.

The north coast is home to destinations such as Puerto Pollensa, which is the coastal cousin of the inland town of Pollensa – a former Roman settlement and boasts high standards of accommodation, great beaches and excellent restaurants.

Further along the northern coast lies the resort of Alcudia which is home to the largest beach on Mallorca, extending for around 8km – making it a very popular choice with families, whilst on the east coast Cala Dor is a popular and modern resort with seven separate sandy coves.

Palma is the cultural heart of the island as well as the islands’ capital and is home to a host of historic buildings and museums, whilst also offering a fine selection of shops and restaurants.

Getting to Mallorca is simple as flights to the island are available from most mainland European countries.  Whilst a regular ferry service also sails from both Valencia and Barcelona.

Find out more about the island and book holiday villas in Mallorca direct online.

There are many reasons why people choose to ultimately live in Spain. Some of these are listed below but there are probably many, many more, and each persons reason is as individual as they are. 

Climate.

Spain has often been described as having the best climate in Europe. The eastern and southern coasts such as Valencia and Almeria are mainly dry and warm where people can enjoy the sun, sea and the many quiet beaches all year round, whilst the mountainous regions such as Asturias and Aragon in the North have extremes of temperature which favour outdoor sports like hiking and cycling in summer to skiing in the winter. Many people who own a property in Spain would claim to prefer visiting it in the low season when there are no tourists around and the temperatures are still warm enough to enjoy the outdoor life the Spaniards are famous for.

 Healthy Diet.

The Mediterranean diet (and especially Spain’s) has long been renowned for its healthy benefits. Sun and oranges, delicious seafood, vegetables and very good wines are all words often used to describe one of the finest cuisines of Europe. Olive oil is one of the major ingredients used in cooking Spanish dishes, the most famous of which is paella. Cook at a few of the Spanish recipes we have here and enjoy a glass or two of the Rioja to complement the dish.

 Spanish Language.

Castilian Spanish is the official national language and if you are living in Spain, then you should try to learn it, as Spanish is also one of the World’s leading languages being spoken by more than 450 million people (mainly in Spain, South America and the USA). If you would like to learn Spanish then try one of the many online courses or look in your local area for Spanish language courses close to where you are.

 Spain – several countries in one.

You would find it difficult to describe Spain in just one word or sentence. There are so many assortments of weather, culture and geography that it’s tricky to know where to begin. There is something for everyone in Spain and differences such as plains, mountains, crisp cold mornings, long warm evenings, snow, sun, long sandy beaches, small rocky coves, rural villages or modern cities will give you some idea of the diversity of the country. Take a look at some of our thoughts on places to visit.

 Outdoor life.

The Spanish lifestyle is best described as ‘outdoors’ and if you enjoy walking, swimming, playing golf or water sports then this certainly is the country for you. It is not difficult to lead a healthy lifestyle in Spain if you have the time or the enthusiasm. Many Spaniards take their meals outdoors and spend long hours socializing in the evenings.

 Spanish Culture.

Spain has been dominated throughout history by many different races and cultures, which has resulted in the country having a rich variety of traditions and customs. From the Romans and Iberians to the Moors and more lately immigrants from northern Europe and beyond, all have left their mark on society. Visit the castles, galleries and museums that abound in Spain to immerse you in the culture or just wander the streets of some of the towns and villages to soak up the atmosphere and learn about ‘real’ Spain.

Spanish People.

It is often said that the Spanish know how to enjoy life. They are extroverted people who love to eat and to party but yet they can be described as loyal to their friends and very protective of their families. Foreigners are generally made very welcome in Spain, especially if they try to speak the language, as not only do they bring wealth in to the country but also they have show exceedingly good taste by coming here in the first place and as Spaniards are very proud of their country, this carries a lot of weight.

There are more informative articles about Spain on Rentaccomspain.com

Holiday home in Estapona to let

This luxury penthouse apartment is situated inside the exclusive La Resina Golf & Country Club; with its two beautiful pools, communal gardens and stunning golf course.

The apartment is very spacious, with tall ceilings and marble floors throughout and finished to a very high standard. The two bedrooms are large and comfortable, with large built-in wardrobes. The Master bedroom benefits from a sliding patio door onto the 55m² south facing terrace.

The very latest air conditioning system (with heating) is fitted and the apartment has a large screen plasma TV with a separate stereo system. All furnishings are very elegant and well made.

The apartment has underground parking (with a dedicated space) and a lift provides direct access to the apartment (suitable for disabled people). The entire complex is suitable for children and one of the pools has a large children’s area.

The terrace has comfortable seating for six, with tables and chairs, terrace sofa and sun beds.

Find more holiday homes in Estapona on Rentaccomspain.com

Santa Gema Apartment - Torrevieja

A lovely 2 bedroom apartment consisting of 1 double bedroom, 1 twin bedroom and a double bed settee, fully equipped kitchen including appliances, bathroom with bath and shower, open plan living room/dining room leading on to small balcony overlooking the patio and swimming pool.

It is located in a quiet area in the the centre of the town, 5 minutes walking distance from the sea, beautiful beaches and working fishing port.

Around the apartment there are plenty of restaurants and bars, all within a 10 minute walk and a large market selling everything from shoes and clothes to fruit and vegetables is held every Friday and is well worth a visit for some extra special bargains and souvenirs.

There is a fairground on the promonade during high season, along with a nightly Flea market. Around Torrevieja there are 2 Aqua parks and out of town discos.

More holiday rental properties in Spain

As well as great year round weather and wonderful beaches the holiday island of Lanzarote in the Canaries boasts a whole host of things to do and see, making it an ideal destination for anyone that likes to combine sunbathing with sightseeing.

Timanfaya Volcano Park

The top tourist attraction on the island is undoubtedly the Timanfaya Volcano Park – known locally as The Fire Mountains.  During the 1730´s Lanzarote was rocked by huge eruptions which completely remodelled much of the interior of the island replacing farmland and villages with lava fields and volcanoes.  Today these peaks are all dormant but the region is alive with visitors – as over 900,000 tourists a year tour this surreal scenery which is often likened to the surface of the moon.

Jameos del Agua

Elsewhere on Lanzarote an island born artist called Cesar Manrique worked with this volcanic terrain to create a series of unique visitor attractions the most spectacular of which is the Jameos del Agua.  A project which was undertaken on a grand scale – where Manrique used the backdrop of a collapsed lava tunnel to create a subterranean auditorium, concert venue and nightclub.

This was the creation that really helped to put Lanzarote on the tourist map in the 1960s’ earning architectural plaudits around the world.

 Valley of 1000 Palms

Lanzarote is an island of contrasts and the north is as green and verdant as the south is arid and barren.  Nowhere is this more in evidence than in the aptly named Valley of 1000 Palms where locals plant a palm tree for every new born baby, a tradition which has created a breathtaking oasis – with the crowns of countless Canarian palms swaying gently in the breeze.

 Teguise

Lanzarote is steeped in history – thanks to its former role as a staging post between the New World and the Old – which attracted countless privateers and privates to the coastline in search of Inca silver during the 16th and 17th centuries.

 The former capital of Teguise grew rich on this trade – and was the first Spanish settlement in the whole of the Canary Islands.  As a result the town today still boasts some fine examples of colonial architecture – with some buildings dating back as far as the 1450´s.

Lanzarote is a small island – measuring just 60km by 40km, which makes it easy to tour.  The roads are quiet outside of the main resorts and car hire in Lanzarote is very affordable too with rental rates starting at around €13 per day.

Villa rentals in stunning beachfront properties.

There are many fabulous dishes which are typical of the Cantabria region of Spain. The climatic conditions and the livestock farming reputation along with the fact that it is a coastal region give rise to tasty meat and fish dishes.

Some typical dishes of Cantabria are:

cocido montañés (Highlander stew) made with beans and collard greens, cocido lebaniego (Liébanan stew) made from chickpeas, marmita or sorropotún (similar to marmitako), and olla ferroviaria (Railway pot), as main courses.

Other, more specialist cuisine variations and are listed below:

Meat dishes: Beef, ox, deer, roe deer or boar. Most of these meats are served grilled, stewed or with vegetables.

Fish and seafood: Anchovies of Santoña, Colindres, Laredo and Castro Urdiales, angler, hake, sea bass, sole, mackerel, sardine, European anchovies, bonito of the North (of Spain), gilt-head bream, sea bream, scorpionfish, red mullet, as well as some river fish such as trout and salmon. Rabas (fried calamari) and cachón en su tinta (cuttlefish cooked in its own ink). Shellfish such as clam, mussel, muergos (jackknife), cockle, velvet crab, spider crab, goose barnacle, lobster, Norway lobster, periwinkle or European lobster are also found on many of the dining tables of this region.

Desserts: Quesadas and sobaos of the Pas valley, frisuelos from Liébana (similar to crêpes), Unquera’s corbatas (neckties) and Torrelavega’s polkas (both basically puff pastry), sacristanes in Liérganes, Palucos de Cabezón de la Sal and pantortillas of Reinosa.

Cheeses: Spicy cheese of Bejes-Tresviso, quesucos (little cheeses) of Liébana, cream cheese, etc.

Drinks: apple cider and orujo (liquor made from pomace) from Liébana, with its variations: (orujo cream, orujo with honey, herbal orujo, etc.); chacolí, and tostadillo of Potes.

Find some great holiday homes to rent in Cantabria and Asturias

Panoramic views of  mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, indoor water features, swimming pool and spa facilities, and great food, are just some of the aspects to be enjoyed in many of the hotels in Lanzarote.

All of the main resorts: Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise and the capital city, Arrecife, have excellent hotels to choose from, but if you prefer something a little more traditionally Canarian, there are also some great finca-style hotels to be found.  These are often a bit further off the beaten track, though on Lanzarote, you are never more than 15 minutes’ drive from the main towns and resorts.  Renting a car on Lanzarote is a good idea, especially if you are planning to stay at one of the rural hotels or at one that is away  from the main resorts, but it’s not expensive – you can get car hire on Lanzarote from as little as 15 euros a day, depending on the time of year.

There are also a lot of budget style apartments on Lanzarote, often styled as ‘aparthotels’.  These typically have a Reception desk and other central facilities like a swimming pool, bars etc.  Your ‘apartment’ or room might also have a small kitchenette so that you can prepare your own light snacks, just don’t expect to be able to prepare a 3 course meal for 6 people with what you have!

There are also a few new ‘spa-style’ hotels on Lanzarote, offering a wide range of pampering treatments.  Given the laid-back style of the island in general, this is perhaps not a surprising development, and may continue to grow in prominence.

You can see a wide range of hotels in Lanzarote by paying a quick visit to the All Things Lanzarote website, which is also packed with ideas of places to go and things to do on the island, as well as details of flights from the UK to Lanzarote, and car hire.

The Canary Islands are the second most visited region of Spain after Catalonia and whilst the rest of the country is now packing away the sun loungers for another year, these seven specks of Spain are just gearing up for their busiest time of the year as hundreds of thousands of sun starved Northern Europeans will be planning and booking holidays in the Canaries over the coming weeks.

Lanzarote is the most easterly island in the archipelago located closer to the coast of Morocco than the rest and boasting very low rainfall and temperatures that will hit 20 Celsius plus throughout the winter months. 

Whilst there are three main resorts on the island the best choices for anyone keen to maximise their sunshine hours are the two main resorts of Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca.  Which both enjoy a more southerly location.

Playa Blanca is situated right at the bottom tip of the island – just across the Bocaina Straits from Fuerteventura – offers some of the most breathtaking beaches on Lanzarote, such as the all-natural set of bays at Papagayo, which are located around fifteen minutes walk from the town centre.

Until around fifteen years ago Playa Blanca really was no more than a quaint little fishing village.  But today all that has changed as it has become the fastest growing resort on Lanzarote and the second most popular destination on the island. It offers high standards of accommodation with a wide selection of four star hotels and luxurious holiday villas for visitors to select from.

Puerto Del Carmen is located around twenty minutes back along the island’s south eastern coastline and whilst the microclimate here isn’t quite as reliable as in Playa Blanca, tourists can still expect to enjoy plenty of days on the beach during the winter months.

Puerto Del Carmen is the oldest and most popular resort on Lanzarote offering a big range of restaurants, bars and clubs.  Accommodation in the resort is dominated by apartment complexes specialising in good value sunshine breaks.

A weeks stay on a typical holiday complex here starts at around £180 per week, which is the price per apartment and not per person.  Factor in reasonably priced flights – with major players such as Ryanair and easyJet now competing on the Lanzarote route – and it’s easy to construct a good value winter break.

Find out more about winter holidays in Lanzarote and book direct online

Costa Teguise is the third largest resort on the popular holiday island of Lanzarote.  It was developed during the 1970´s under the aegis of the locally born artist Cesar Manrique and is located just fifteen minutes from Lanzarote´s sole international airport at Arrecife.

The whole concept of Costa Teguise was dreamt up by Manrique as a sister coastal resort to the former island capital of Teguise located some 10km inland and first started to take shape in the 1970´s – anchored by the five star Gran Melia Salinas Hotel and the Pueblo Marinero, Manrique´s re-creation of a typical Canarian fishing village.

The idea was to create Lanzarote´s first upmarket resort – and for a while this worked well as Costa Teguise attracted moneyed guests from Germany and Scandinavia as well as the UK and Spain, but as tourism developed, prices dropped and the resort became more of a package holiday destination, known for its all inclusive hotels and British bars.

That being said there is still plenty to recommend Costa Teguise.  Not least the beautiful beaches that helped to make the resort popular in the first place such as the main stretch of sand at Playa Cucharas, which is ideal for families with small children as the beach here shelves gently into the ocean, along with the small bay at Playa Jablillo and the well appointed beach at Playa Bastian,all of which are now united by a seafront promenade.

Costa Teguise makes an ideal base for anyone who wants to explore Lanzarote´s leading tourist attractions as the bulk of these – such as the Jameos del Agua, Cactus Garden and Mirador del Rio are all located within twenty minute drive of the resort.  Shopaholics are also well served by the two weekly markets in Costa Teguise and the major market that takes place in Teguise every Sunday.

The resort itself has a well planned and spacious feel and although as it is entirely man made, it is sometimes difficult to discern where its organic hub lies. 

Accommodation standards in the resort are high – with no less than five good quality hotels for visitors to choose from whilst there are also plenty of self catering options for those who prefer the privacy of a villa or apartment break.

Find out more about the resort and view a selection of holiday villas in Costa Teguise for rent.