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Holiday accommodation - Spanish Islands
There are many comparisons to be made between the Caribbean and the islands of Spain. Golden sands, blue seas, excellent accommodation, good food and the love of a good festival, apply to the Balearics as much as Barbados. The difference comes in cost and time.
Even the furthest Spanish islands are under four hours’ flying time from the UK and some are served by budget airlines. A vast difference between 10 hours flight and a heftier scheduled air fare.
Spain, as popular as its mainland costas may be, has a number of island destinations offering excellent and varied holidays. Some, the Balearics, are just off Spain’s south-east coast while the others, the Canary Islands lie in the Atlantic, just 100 kilometres off the Moroccan coastline.
The two archipelagos may be more than 1,000 kilometres apart but they both have good year-round climates and average 300 sunny days per year. Expect an average of five hours of sunshine daily in the winter and 10 throughout summer.
If it is variety a holidaying family is looking for, then the Balearic Islands have it. The six islands lie in close proximity but are diverse in what they offer.
They comprise three major islands, Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza, plus three smaller pieces of land – Formentera, Cabrera and the uninhabited Dragonera. The islands cater for the tan seekers who want only the beaches as well as the active. Watersports include sailing, scuba diving, waterskiing and windsurfing while other sporting options are golf, cycling, hiking and mountain climbing.
Majorca is the largest island and the most commercial of the Balearics but half of its 76 beaches have Blue Flag cleanliness status. Many resorts have undergone recent improvements. Much of Majorca’s countryside has given way to large expanses of holiday accommodation but there are still some parts which remain untouched.
Its holiday blend includes long, golden beaches, tiny coves, mountains and historic villages. The capital, Palma , has a crescent of white sand beaches and a big choice of bars, restaurants and nightlife. Magaluf, on the western side, is the place for non-stop partying in clubs and bars while Palma Nova has a reputation with families for its clean and safe beaches.
Canary Islands - Accommodation
The Canaries are seven islands lying just 100kms off the coast of Morocco. Four of them – Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife – are not only the largest but the most popular with holidaymakers.
The three smaller islands – La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma, are much-less frequented by tourists. Mountainous and hilly interiors and a few beaches hidden by huge cliffs among isolated coves give away their volcanic origins.
The Canaries have a wide appeal across all ages of families and couples. They are surrounded by the blue clear Atlantic Ocean and boast more than 3,000 hours of sunshine each year. The weather coditions are similar to Florida and Mexico which are on the same latitude. Filling the long sunny days on the Canary Islands is not a problem for those who choose not to spend it all basking on beaches.
The “Big Four” islands have busy resort areas of pubs, clubs and restaurants but with a rented car it is possible to discover isolated beaches. Fuerteventura is one island where, just a couple of hours’ drive from the main resort of Corralejo, idyllic and sparsely-populated beaches can be found. Some of the Canary Islands have long golden beaches where binoculars are needed to see your nearest neighbour; others have curious black beaches – another clue to the archipelago’s volcanic past.
Cheap accommodation Ibiza
Ibiza is a small island with a big reputation for its international clubbing scene. There may be many venues for dancing the night away but many more visitors are attracted to its white sands, blue waters and beautiful scenery. Ibiza Town, the island's capital, has retained its old charm while the party animals head for the clubs of San Antonio where the action goes on until sunrise – and often after.
Accommodation in Minorca
Minorca is a place for relaxing holidays in the small resorts which have grown up around beautiful bays and sandy beaches. The capital Mahon has an attractive mixture of colonial and local architecture, built on a hill overlooking the port with good shops and bars in the town centre. The centre of nightlife is around the harbour.
was known as the “forgotten” Balearic because it is the smallest of the islands and the least developed. Most people visit for the day as there are strict limits on the amount of accommodation.
Formentera - Holiday accommodation
This guarantees a Formentera holiday is very much a “get-away-from-it-all” affair on white beaches lapped by clear, blue waters. Accessible only by ferry, the tourist areas are along the long stretches of beach where windsurfing and scuba diving are very popular in one of the best European locations for them.
Because of their closer proximity to the Equator, the Canary Islands are a few degrees warmer year-round. They offer plenty for those who just want beaches, a cooling swim, cold drinks and a good book as well as those seeking activities and sports.
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