what’s in your mind if I mentioned one word: Washington D.C.? maybe one thing is for sure you already know is that washington dc is the capital city of the united states, one of the largest cities in the world and the central of the united states government. Besides that, the city is also one of a fairly popular tourist destination. Many things you will find in this town they are generally in the form of historical tourism or some other related to it, you’ll see many magnificent historical buildings, with diverse architecture styles, as well as modern buildings.

Favourite object on washington dc in my opinion is about a great historical adventure which you can start through the popular Smithsonian museums, they are on many subjects from art, history, to aerospace. You’ll find more info about museums dc on this site. Moreover washington is also a paradise for anyone who likes shopping and pleasure seekers because there are a lot of entertainment available in town.

You can start dc shopping excitement within the guide from the website. Almost all are covered so you won’t miss a thing on the city. Washington dc also known as the national center of arts. There are performing artists and so many attraction you can find, I couldn’t mention it one by one since there are too many amusement center which I don’t know exactly, but don’t worry you can always find attractions dc through the list on the website.

Guide to Spain Holidays

Spain has not been a true world power since it was defeated in the famous naval battle against England in 1588; it is still an incredibly beautiful country and one that is rich in history as well as in culture. It is also not a poor or uncivilized culture, being the ninth largest country in the world in terms of economy, and has the fifth largest economy in the European Union.

So what do you like to do?

If you like sports, then a holiday in Spain is a perfect choice, whether you want to play golf or watch a football game or plenty of other fun sporting activities. Go on a hike, go scuba diving in the Mediterranean sea, take a day trip to the Canary Islands, which are a Spanish territory, or stay in Spain and enjoy warm, sunny beaches right outside your hotel.

History

If you prefer history, then Spain has a lot to offer, from ancient castles to World Heritage Cities, of which Spain has the most of any single country in the world. Go exploring historic buildings and learn all about the history of this country which came within a hair’s breadth of controlling most of Europe through taking England.

Adventure & Night Life

If adventure and night life are more your style, then Spain has plenty to offer you, as well, especially since the famous Spanish siestas make for extra energy for late nights. For families, though, Spain also takes great pains to make their country a perfect destination.

Family & Kids

You and your family will love Spain, which is full of all kinds of fascinating treasures from interesting and fun museums to zoos and even safaris. There are nature trails to be walked, natural preserves to be explored, and aquariums to visit where you can even watch the dolphins at play for hours on end.

If your family is into wild rides, there are theme parks all over Spain that offer the family setting that you want and rides enough to satisfy almost any adrenaline junky (at least young adrenaline junkies). These parks are fun and exciting, and have a lot to offer families, including the wild fun that you want in a relatively safe space.

Spain is a beautiful and incredible country with a little of something to offer just about anyone, from the warm climate and beautiful landscapes to the gorgeous palaces and historical buildings and castles. This is a country that is very easy to fall in love with.

Benidorm is situated on the Costa Blanca on the east coast of Spain. It is probably the Costa Blanca’s liveliest resort town and has long been a favourite with British visitors embarking on Spain holidays. Benidorm offers a variety of things to see and do and has something to offer for most holiday makers.

One of Benidorms strongest assets is its award winning beaches. There are two beaches in Benidorm which together stretch for nearly three miles. The beaches are named Lavante and Poniente (Spanish for sunrise and sunset respectively) and are consistently voted amongst the cleanest and most popular beaches in Europe. There is a great variety of watersports available from the beaches including banana boat rides, parasailing and scuba diving.

Other attractions in Benidorm include the waterparks on the outskirts of the town and also Terra Mitica, Spain’s largest theme park. For those wishing to explore further afield, Alicante 25 miles north of Benidorm is the main town in the Costa Blanca and has a variety of places of interest for holiday makers, while coach tours to the thousand year old mountain fortress of Guadalest are also popular. The Costa Blanca region is also famous for its golf and there are over fifteen 18-hole golf courses within a couple of hour’s drive of Benidorm.

There are plenty of gift shops in Benidorm, again aimed at the British holiday maker with prices in the resort being relatively cheap, especially on alcohol and cigarettes. As with many areas of Spain, leather goods are prolific and of good value in Benidorm as are items of jewellery, bags and shoes.

The busy nightlife is another of a Benidorm holidays highlights, with something available for everyone. There are all sorts of live shows and bands, karaoke, bingo and adult entertainment available as well as a hoard of bars and clubs that will appeal to younger tourists. Many of the restaurants in Benidorm are geared towards the British tourist, so expect to find plenty of places serving the usual British food as well as the expected fast food joints and Chinese and Indian restaurants. For those looking to try some authentic Spanish cuisine, there are several bars and restaurants offering tapas and locally caught seafood along the old harbour.

If you are looking for an authentic Spanish experience from your holiday in Spain then Benidorm is probably not the best choice for you as many have likened it to England in the sun. But if you are looking for entertainment, nightlife and fun in the sun, it may just be an ideal destination.

Catering for every taste, all year round, Spain is one of Europe’s top country’s to visit and is particularly popular with the UK holidaying market.

 

Spain is located in south-western Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with Gibraltar, the capital is Madrid. France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay are north and to the west is the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal. Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe after France.

 

For those looking for a beach holiday, there are excellent beaches to be found near Malaga, Huelva and Almería in the south and near the coasts of La Manga, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Euskadi. For the livelier there are plenty of crowded beaches on the Costa de la Luz and the Costa del Sol.

 

For those who want to soak up some culture, unique architecture can be found in Córdoba, Salamanca, Granada, Toledo, Madrid. Antoni Gaudí’s architecture can be found in Barcelona, along with the Picasso museum, and Madrid is home to Spain’s top three art museums.

 

Spain holidays will cater for many different tastes including walking in the fabulous countryside, especially around the Aragón area. Andalucía has the Sierra Nevada mountain chain and offers skiing resorts near Granada. Between Guadix and Baza cave-dwellings can be found, cave hotels, and beautiful natural parks.

 

The hottest times to visit Spain are between May and September as well as April and October in the south. High season begins during Holy Week (Semana Santa) and includes festival days. Summer is the obvious high season for coastal and interior regions in Spain when tourism reaches its height.

 

There is always something for everyone in Spain and if you just want to wander the streets of the main cities, the locals are very welcoming, receiving up to 30 million tourists every year. Spain is also a popular choice for those who wish to move abroad as the climate is excellent but not too hot and there are numerous ex-pat communities full of British citizens who have relocated to the country.

Ending summer time and the Spanish coasts start to be less crowded and much more quite. September is an excellent month to get rid off the northern rain and fresh temperatures now that Spain is plenty of light and sun but the temperatures are not that high as it used to be in July and August.

Apart from these facts, flights and holiday rentals in Spain drop off their prices and become more accessible for those who can´t afford a holiday during the high season. It is easier to find a cheaper flight ticket to Spain thanks to the low cost companies as Ryanair, Thomas Cook and Easy Jet for instance. Getting a last minute offer for your accommodation is not a bad idea either, www.spain-holiday.com is a reference.

Some holiday ideas for your September holiday lettings Spain:

-      Stay at Costa de la Luz and enjoy the white sandy beaches and the clean clear Atlantic waters.

-      Play golf, see equestrian dance, 4-wheel drive and quad bike excursions at “Dehesa de Montenmedio” in Vejer (Cadiz).

-      Practice windsurf and kite surf along the Tarifa coast.

-      Visit Morocco for a day trip, it is just 35 minutes by ferry from Tarifa to Tanger.

Places like the Balearic Islands, Costa del Sol, and Costa Blanca that receive a great number of visitors every summer are now an option to take into account for a more quite and cheaper vacation. These areas are wonderful for family trips due to its numerous activities that can be done to get fun.

 

An increasing number of European travel agents say they’re beginning to see the start of a pick-up in sales for summer holidays. Tui, Europe’s largest tour operator, has announced that its revenues from tourism are expected to increase this year from 14.1bn Euros to 15bn Euros. It said it expected the market to grow by between 3 and 5%. Tui believed sales in its three major markets – the UK, France and Germany – would increase this summer, particularly after the FIFA World Cup, to be held in Germany in June.

Some travel companies are suggesting prices for destinations other than Germany in June might actually be lower than last year – precisely because of the World Cup. Tour operators generally dislike global events such as the Olympics and World Cup because a higher number of people prefer to spend their time at home.

Manny Fontenla-Novoa, the Chief Executive of Thomas Cook, said he believed the Eastern Mediterranean would be his company’s holiday hotspot this summer. “Over the past two years, Spain has had a declining number of visitors from the UK. We thought this was to do with Spanish hoteliers putting up their rates, which made Greece and Turkey look cheap by comparison.

“Now the Spanish have dropped their hotel prices, so it’s back in favour. Sales of holidays to Majorca are 5 per cent up, for example, so we think Greece is where the bargains will be,” he said.

ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, announced in April it expected record numbers of travellers to head off to European and worldwide destinations over the Easter break – a record 2.4 million people. That number is substantially ahead of the figure for the same period last year, at 2.2 million passengers.

Overall, however, although the number of people booking traditional package holidays has increased over the last ten years, they make up smaller proportion of the total holiday market. And packages have in fact declined this year for the third year running. Across the board, bookings for packages are down five per cent over the year, though it’s believed this figure is more than offset by the number of people who are constructing their own ‘DIY’ holidays – buying flights and accommodation separately, particularly in Spain.

A spokesperson for Thomson said, “Spain is doing very well, but that is largely because we are putting more no-frills flights on. You can fly from Gatwick to Alicante for £30, and a lot of people are buying their own accommodation to go with that.”

As for the hottest destinations this year – not those with the highest number of visitors, but those with something a little different to offer, ask ABTA and they say: Brazil.

A spokesman said: “A number of major tour operators have put on direct charter flights to Northern Brazil. The country has so much going for it, including a rich and vibrant cultural heritage, amazing beaches, and the biggest rain forests and rivers in the world. Your money will also go far and who knows, you may even get to see the world’s best footballers play.”

Getting ready and planning an annual holiday used to be a relatively easy task – either pay at a travel agent up-front or put down a deposit and make some monthly payments, and holiday companies knew their market, and while some destinations would fade and new ones would appear, it was a steady pretty predictable industry.

Technology, low cost airlines, and people’s expectations have changed all that.

Popular holiday destinations for many Europeans included Spain and the islands of Majorca and Menorca.

The traditional two week holiday is fast becoming redundant, with many families now taking two, three and sometimes even four shorter breaks a year, with some of those two or three day trips.

Traditional travel agents are certainly having to adapt to the new world of travel, for not only are they having to rise to the challenge of a different market place for the number of holidays and time taken from a decade ago, but unless they have a strong on-line presence they are in a declining market, as more and more people change from booking at a bricks and mortar store to creating their own holidays on the internet.

A good example of the changing tourist scene is the Menorca holidays market.

The Spanish island’s economy is pretty reliant on tourism, and in the seventies, eighties and nineties marketed itself successfully as a quiet destination, with two week package holidays typically taken between June and September the normal tourist season.

But now in an effort to stay as a major player in the European holidays game, the season has been extended from June back to April, and from mid September to early October.

In addition not only is the typical holiday no longer two weeks but one, the island is also marketing itself as a holiday destination good for three and four day breaks.

Although the scenery and terrain may be enough in itself to keep holidaymakers busy for a fortnight, Menorca is rich in culture and history for those who take culture breaks for three or four days. Examples are the collection of ancient stone monoliths which bear tales of prehistoric times.

Daytime summer temperatures hover around the mid to high seventies farenheit on the island, and are mid sixties to mid seventies in the months Menorca is broadening her season for, tourists who might visit in April, May, September and October.

Menorca, like many holiday destinations, has adapted to a fast changing holiday mix, but will no doubt hope that there aren’t too many change of habits coming along in the future that might rock the boat.

Travel agents in the not so distant past in the UK knew their market – two weeks in Spain in July and August for the majority of bookings, with most people booking in January and paying six months of instalments.

Technology, low cost airlines, and people’s expectations have changed all that.

Popular holiday destinations for many Europeans still included Spain and the islands of Majorca and Menorca.

But people have become more adventurous, and trips to Egypt, Jordan and other destinations not really thought of a decade a go are now very much in vogue.

The traditional two week holiday is fast becoming redundant too, with many families now taking two, three and sometimes even four shorter breaks a year, with some of those two or three day trips.

Traditional travel agents are certainly having to adapt to the new world of travel, for not only are they having to rise to the challenge of a different market place for the number of holidays and time taken from a decade ago, but unless they have a strong on-line presence they are in a declining market, as more and more people change from booking at a bricks and mortar store to creating their own holidays on the internet.

A good example of the changing tourist scene is the Menorca holidays market.

The Spanish island’s economy is pretty reliant on tourism, and in the seventies, eighties and nineties marketed itself successfully as a quiet destination, with two week package holidays typically taken between June and September the normal tourist season.

But now in an effort to stay as a major player in the European holidays game, the season has been extended from June back to April, and from mid September to early October.

In addition as not only is the typical holiday no longer two weeks but one, the island is also marketing itself as a holiday destination good for three and four day breaks.

Although the scenery and terrain may be enough in itself to keep holidaymakers busy for a fortnight, Menorca is rich in culture and history for those who take culture breaks for three or four days. Examples are the collection of ancient stone monoliths which bear tales of prehistoric times.

Daytime summer temperatures hover around the mid to high seventies farenheit on the island, and are mid sixties to mid seventies in the months Menorca is broadening her season for, tourists who might visit in April, May, September and October.

Menorca, like many holiday destinations, has adapted to a fast changing holiday mix, but will no doubt hope that there aren’t too many change of habits coming along in the future – but if there is they will respond quickly enough to esure the island’s place in the tourists plans.

Utilizing the services of a travel agent to plan your next vacation is something that you might want to consider. It is usually a good idea to proceed with caution when dealing with money. However, when planning out a vacation, which has many different variables which can impact the amount you spend, you do not want to leave anything to chance. Here are some reasons why working with a travel agent to plan your vacation is a good idea.

Reason #1: Your travel agent has extensive knowledge about trip planning

When you’re planning a vacation, the process can become pretty stressful. In many cases, you are not sure what the weather conditions will be like when you arrive at your destination, and it can be difficult to find your way around if you are not familiar with your surroundings. Also, in many cases, once you have finally settled, you are not sure which activities and sights to experience! A travel agent can help you navigate through all of these obstacles.

If you’re the type of person who enjoys simply choosing a destination, getting there, and letting the rest take care of itself, then planning your trip isn’t necessarily difficult. But if you prefer to have your itinerary carefully laid out before you head off, then a good travel agent can really save you some time and unnecessary frustration.

Your travel agent can help you choose when to fly, find a comfortable hotel within your budget, plan your itinerary for you, and provide you with up-to-date information about travel documents, vaccinations, and anything else you might need to travel to your chosen destination. With the help of your travel agent, planning your trip should be much easier and less stressful, leaving you free to enjoy yourself that much more.

Reason #2: Your travel agent can help you save money

Typically, working with a travel agent won’t cost you any more than if you had planned the trip yourself. In fact, you are more likely to save money than to spend more money. Typically, travel agents have access to cheaper flights, lower hotel prices, and more, because they deal in bulk, rather than just booking one trip (as you would do if you booked the trip yourself). They have access to bulk discounts, which means that even with their commission added on you will rarely pay any more than if you had booked the trip yourself. You will also save yourself the hassle of planning and booking the trip alone.

A good travel agent can help you save money. They know when the cheapest times to fly are, when hotel off-peak seasons start, how to get bulk flight deals, and other tricks of the trade that can help you get more for your money.

Reason #3: Your travel agent is familiar with your destination

If you are traveling to an exotic or obscure location which you have never visited before, then working with a knowledgeable and experienced travel agent is a must. Your travel agent can help you find accommodations, events and activities, and provide you with tips on traveling safely. If you manage to hit the jackpot and find a travel agent who has actually visited your destination, they might also be able to tell you about those little bonuses that most people won’t know about. Places such as the weekend markets, where to find authentic souvenirs, and the best restaurants, all the things that will make your trip even more enjoyable.

Reason #4: Your travel agent can help you get the vacation you really want

From rock-climbing in the Swiss Alps to a relaxing beach vacation in Spain, there are vacations to suit every requirement and personality type. With so many choices available in terms of destinations and activities, it’s not always easy to know what you want.

What do you want out of your vacation, and do you know how to achieve it? Your travel agent definitely does, and can use his or her experience and knowledge to make sure you get the trip you really want. A good travel agent will quickly find out exactly what you want out of your trip, and will go the extra mile to make sure everything, from flights, hotels, and activities, meets your needs.

Reason #5: It just makes sense

Working with a travel agent won’t cost you any more than booking the trip yourself, and you may even save money. Also, a travel agent can save you a lot of time and headaches, and you may even find that a knowledgeable agent will be able to help you access some of the best and most exclusive events and activities at your destination, which you might not have known about without the help of your travel agent.

Really, it just makes good sense to plan your vacation with the help of a travel agent. With all of these important factors coming into play when you book your next trip, there’s definitely no good reason not to use a travel agent!

FROM BARCELONA TO BILBAO, THE SPANISH LANDS ARE THE PLACE TO CHILL IN STYLEBudget airlines have brought us a step closer to Europe and the climate has always been a pull for us pasty northerners, but recently, the Iberian cities don’t seem to be out of the press. A whole new world of style has been born in Spain. Chef Ferran Adria leads the Spanish cullinary scene with his globally revered, triple-Michelin-starred restaurant, El Bulli, situated on a remote, rocky beach 2 hours from Barcelona. His vociferous support for Spanish produce, Sherry and wines has made the rest of the gastronomic world sit up and take note and has propelled Spain to new heights of international respect. The list of fantastic restaurants and bars within Spanish borders is endless, but we’ve put together a selection of not-to-be-missed venues for a weekend in the sun.

IBIZA

Ibiza or Eivissa, depending on where you emanate from, is Spain’s most famous island and its double name is mirrored in a peculiar split personality that has developed over the last ten years. It is known as the clubbing capital of the world, drawing music connoisseurs from across the globe for its jaw-dropping DJ line-ups and its range of superclubs that hold thousands. At the same time, thanks to reality shows like ‘Ibiza Uncovered’, the so-called Isla Bonita is burdened with a reputation for attracting the worst element of Brits abroad. Lary lads and loose lasses stumble through the streets of San Antonio wreaking havock, making mischief and collapsing in a heap at the end of the night. But beyond all of this, there is a very sophisticated element of Ibizan life – a third personality that escapes most of the tourist trade. A new generation of bars have evolved into world class venues with slick interior design, atmospheric lighting, extensive cocktail menus and some of the best resident DJs in Europe.

When the Warhol bar opened in December 2001, its mission was to attract the stylish and beautiful, and now anyone who’s in the know in the music, fashion or media worlds can be found flocking to it for album launches, catwalk collections or photoshoots. The Base Bar continues to draw the music buffs and Café Mambo on the opposite side of the island has stolen the glory from Café Del Mar next door as the best place to watch the sun go down. Wine Bar is a new development, whose proximity to Pacha nightclub has sealed its future as an all-year fashion hang-out where you can dump vodka limóns in favour of fine wines and Fino. Then there’s cushion-strewn Mao Rooms, from London’s Chinawhite crew, which has become a first class lounge on the Ibiza scene.

For food, L’Elephant is the island’s top French restaurant, located in the small town of San Rafael just outside of Ibiza Town. Sa Capella is a beautiful and impressive restaurant housed in a 16th Century church resplendent with stone statues, foliage and faultless service. La Casita in Cala Llonga is a sleek and stylish terrace restaurant serving gastronomically inventive dishes from its old farmhouse location.

BARCELONA

Physically compact, yet culturally enormous; bohemian, and at the same time ultra chic. Barcelona is one of those cities that is all things to all men. It’s hub of creativity, with internationally renowned art galleries, designer shops and architectural delights that are second to none. Glitzy modern façades juxtaposed with the unique contorted architecture that is Gaudi’s legacy. Delightful squares and meandering boulevards that invite you to amble along for hours, glancing in the designer shops north of Plaça Catalunya. Then break your journey in the basement bodegas and tapas bars of La Rambla. In the summer, you can relax beachside at one of the scores of bars and restaurants along the Mediterranean coast of the Olympic port, dining on morning fresh seafood with a cold Manzanilla at your side. Aqua is a favourite hangout with bleached wooden tables and chairs spilling onto the beach front. For something more urban, Lupino, in one of the grafitti-ridden backstreets of the Raval district, is a fashionable spot with an alfresco terrace in similar style to one of London’s Hoxton haunts. Its slick, warmly lit interior is in direct contrast to the industrial carpark and the boqueria market that it looks out onto. The gourmands would prefer to venture into the commercial district to critically acclaimed Comerç 24 (closed in August), where the El Bulli trained chef, Carles Abellan, serves fantastic modern style tapas to a well-to-do professional crowd. For those of a more adventurous nature, a trip into Mount Tibidabo will provide views over the bustling city. A day at the theme park on high can be followed with drinks at Mirabelle and then completed with cocktails and dancing at the converted mansion known as Partycular. The sophisticated Eixample area offers a number of trendy escapes such as lounge bar Smooth, with its awesome selection of wines and Sherry, and velvet-clad Snooker, which won design awards when it opened a decade ago. El Ascensor in Ribera attracts the beautiful young things and with any luck you’ll be caught in the lift with one of them as you ascend to the modern designer club.

MADRID

It’s big and bustling, it’s loud and crowded, lascivious characters skulk in dark corners, and taxi drivers will try to rip you off. It’s a capital city and no mistaking it. Slap bang in the middle of the Spanish mainland, Madrid is hot – and with none of the forgiving sea breeze that blesses Barcelona, the teracotta cityscape looks practically kiln-baked. But it’s not all stress and strife. The best place to start relaxing is in Paseo del Prado, the expansive promenade that puts all of the city stress on hold. Down the spine of the Prado are three gurgling fountains that are fed by a subterranean stream. Adjacent to Prado is the beautiful, landscaped Retiro park, alive with street performers, bandstand and boat rides on its artificial lake. Sandwiched between the two is the botanical garden, an oasis of peace at the nucleus of the city. Café Miranda captures the spirit and colour of Madrid. Modern European cooking accompanied by a vampish dinner show with drag queens and a psychadelic decor. Drag queens feature at Gula Gula (Gran Via 1) too, where eating at the self-service buffet is a colourful and entertaining experience. A more sophisticated option is La Vaca Veronica where market-fresh ingredients are combined to terrific results. For something on the fashionable tip, Larios Café is a glamorous spot and its delicious Cuban cuisine is popular with the arty designer crowd. But if you’re looking up-market then Salamanca is the area to head for. The Beverley Hills of Madrid, Salamanca is awash with high class restaurants and glitzy bars. El Mentidero de la Villa (C/Santo Tomé 6) or grandiose Pedro Larumbe (C/Serrano 61) for exquisite fish, Estay for contemporary tapas or Boulevard for quaffing with any A-listers that are in town. Another trendy getaway is El Viso Madrid (C/Juan Bravo 31) set on a number of floors with a beautiful terrace bar, basement club and a very well-heeled young clientele. For a change from the norm, La Ida is a funky, chilled bar with no signage to give it away and an unconventional interior design. Frequented only by those ‘in the know’, it’s definitely worth seeking out.

SEVILLE

It is the flamboyant heart and soul of Spanish culture and a city that lives for tradition. From religion, which is embedded in its very essence, to football, politics, food and drink, the Andalusian capital thrives on its roots. Bull-fighting and flamenco are at the centre of its cultural calendar. And tapas is simply the done thing, for it was in Seville that the global obsession was born.Languishing at Spain’s southern tip, the sun-baked streets bask in the glory of a near-tropical heat. It is explosively colourful and architecturally stunning, its foundations carved from a multitude of occupations that span three millennia. The people smile, things move ever so slowly and mañana never seems to come. A weekend is simply not enough in Seville. You need time to stroll around from tapas bar to tapas bar, soaking up the atmosphere and the locally made Sherry; to meander along the river at sunset, stopping to crack open a bottle of Amontillado to mix with the rays of a sinking sun; to wander through the charming squares and the winding, cobbled streets of the Jewish quarter; and to drift from one hip bar to the next in trendy Alameda. Restaurants are less commonplace than in Barcelona or Madrid and Tapas bars take precedence. Egaña Oriza (C/San Fernando 41) combines bar and restaurant with elegance blending Basque and Andalusian cuisine in an expansive early 20th Century terazza. Another magnificient dining experience is La Albahaca – an exclusive townhouse which serves imaginative Spanish fusion dishes. Casa Robles serves gourmet Sevillian cuisine and is favoured by the Spanish royal family. Its sister restaurants Robles Placentines and Robles Tapas offer a less formal environment. La Colonial de Vinos y Viandas (C/Valpaiso 13) is the place to head for Spanish wine lovers – an amazing array of wines are accompanied by Cuban cigars and tasty tapas. Or try the inventive Mediterranean cuisine at La Madraza (C/Peris Mencheta 21), where you can titilate your taste-buds while gazing at the artworks on the walls which double as a gallery space.

BILBAO

Fifteen years ago, Bilbao was just a busy port and an old iron mining town. Fondly called ‘Botxo’ by the locals (Basque for ‘hole’), Bilbao escaped becoming a hole (literally) in the 90s with the gentrification of the dock area and the creation of such cultural magnets as the Guggenheim Museum and the concert hall, the development of the park, and the Sir Norman Foster designed metro system. The best way to get the most out of Bilbao is by way of a Txikiteo (the local version of a pub crawl) with a glass of Sherry and a plate of tapas in each bar. Alternatively, go top-end with Michelin-starred Zortzika – the lunch menu is best value. There’s also relaxed, but fashionable El Perro Chico, which looks out onto the recently cleaned river. Tapas bars tend to be more on the dark traditional side, but Harizki (Ledesma 7) goes against the grain offering gourmet style dishes in a slick, bright interior. As with other bars around Calle Ledesma, this place stays open a little later than the rest of the city. Worth a visit too is Artajo (Ledesma 4), where locals swear by the mussels in anchovy sauce.

JEREZ

The people of Jerez live for Sherry. Flamenco is a favourite pass-time and while drinking and dancing are woven into the fabric of life, it still remains a relatively peaceful and unspoilt part of Spain. Beaches and mountains are within reach at either side, vineyards and orange groves surround it and the ruins of once magnificent castles punctuate the landscape. It is a beautiful and ancient city, which despite being serviced by the no-frills airlines, still manages to evade mass tourism.The wide avenues of the city centre are full of shops and tapas bars are everywhere. Pass by Las Bridas for the kind of portions that you can share around or head for La Abacerio (Plaza Rafel Rivero) for a lively evening in alfresco surrounds. Good tradicional cuisine is to be had at Gaitán or El Gallo Azul (Calle Larga) for something a little more experimental. And whatever you do, make time to visit one of a many bodegas that are open for Sherry-tasting tours. It’s an unforgettable experience and one that will ensure you go away itching to come back.

SAN SEBASTIAN

One of the most fashionable places in Spain to holiday, San Sebastian couldn’t be further removed from the cheap resorts of the south. Golden beaches are beautifully maintained, landscaped parks and gardens, majestic mountains and the thrashing seas of the Bay of Biscay combine to dramatic effect. Designer shops keep the spendthrift upper classes happy as do some of the finest bars and restaurants in the country. Arzak is at the top of the list of restaurants to visit for the foodies (you are recommended to book at least a month in advance). Chef Juan Mari Arzak is often at your side to help you decide on dishes which change daily. Akelarre with its mountain location and views over the Atlantic offers a combination of traditional local cuisine and modern Basque interpretations and is not to be missed. All of the late night action happens in Parte Vieja, where tapas bars line the streets (try La Cepa, Martinez, Ormazabel and Gaztelu all on C/Agosto) and you can dance and drink until the very early hours.