Alicante, Spain by Claire for Europe Explored

The Climate

The climate in this touristic destination is the main characteristic that attracts thousands of tourists. To be honest, there are places that are only worth visiting during certain seasons of the year, but Alicante can be visited anytime in the year. One of the factors that contribute to that is its appealing climate. During the winter average temperatures range from 13ºC to 16ºC; during the summer you can expect to find average temperatures from 25ºC to 32ºC. During the rest of the year, the temperatures are quite comfortable, usually around 17ºC. Note that during the night the temperatures drop a little bit, but you won’t even notice the difference. By the way, rain it’s something that will not disturb you, Alicante is not a rainy city. Anyway if you want to avoid rain, perhaps October will be the month that you’d like to avoid.

The Transportation System

There are so many beautiful things to visit and do in Alicante, as a matter of fact you will need to move around to explore this magnificent destination, that’s why it is essential to get to know the transportation system. First of all, if you hate crowded buses or metros, avoid using them from July to August since it is the touristic peak. Alicante possesses a very efficient transportation system; you can get around by calling a taxi, using a bus, a metro, a tram, a train. However if you don’t like to wait, if you want comfort and if you’d like to save some money – taxis can be very expensive – then perhaps the best option for you would be renting a car and drive to the places you want and explore the city by yourself, without having to deal with tickets or crowded buses.

Alicante, Spain (a view from the castle hill) by Claire for Europe Explored

The Activities

Let’s have a look at some of the things you may do in Alicante:

1) Get to Know the Locals:

When you are visiting a new city, you will have the opportunity to get to know new people and a different culture. All cultures are different, the locals in Alicante are quite friendly and they will make you feel at ease, they really love tourists and like to share experiences and life stories.

2) Taste the Alicante’s Cuisine:

Let’s face it; Alicante’s cuisine is absolutely delicious. There are extremely good restaurants that are ready to allow you to taste the Alicante’s cuisine. Just pay a visit to the most famous restaurants and let yourself be impressed by the amazing food they will prepare. If you are wondering about the price, most restaurants in Alicante are not expensive, so all you need to do is to sit, eat, and be amazed.

Alicante restaurants, Spain by Claire for Europe Explored

3) Explore the City:

Just rent a car and start exploring Alicante by your own, there are amazing places to visit, there are beaches, there will be monuments, there will be museums, in other words there’s plenty of variety. You can go anywhere; you’ll always find something worth visiting.

4) It’s Time to Have Fun:

If you love to have fun, Alicante is definitely a good choice for you, your family, and your friends. You can participate in festivals; you can enjoy the amazing Alicante’s nightlife and get to know different places, new people, explore fantastic bars, coffee shops, and so forth.

This article was written by Nathan, a writer and an innate tourist. If you are interested in visiting Alicante and want to rent a car to pick you up at the Alicante Airport, all you need to do is to access www.AlicanteAirport.net and you will be a few clicks away from all the information you need.

The post It’s Time To Visit Alicante! appeared first on Europe Explored.

Faro Cathedral, Algarve, Portugal by Greg Pye

The Climate

You can’t ask for a better climate, with a Mediterranean climate, Faro is a perfect choice for everyone who wants to spend all the summer engaging in outdoor activities. The hotter months are June, July, and August. Throughout these months, temperatures can reach the 40ºC, but they usually average the 29ºC – 35ºC. From June to August you won’t need to worry about the rain because during that period, it rarely rains. The winter occurs from December to February, but the temperatures are not very, very low. Through those months you can expect temperatures ranging from 9ºC to 16ºC, not very chilly at all. However, if you don’t like rain, the rainier months are December, January, and February, so during those months don’t forget to wear appropriately if you are going to Faro. The rest of the year, the temperatures average 22ºC. Definitely a pleasant temperature.

The Transportation System

In Faro the transportation network is quite efficient, there are various means of transportation, and the prices are perfectly affordable. Nonetheless, during the summer, there will be way more tourists than in the rest of the year and that is not good for you if you don’t necessarily like packed buses that stop everywhere. In this city you can take a bus, take an airport bus to get from the airport to the hotel, take a cab, use the train, you can always hire a car to pick you up at the airport or you can rent one and drive to wherever you please whenever you want, without the need to wait for the bus, the train, or the cab.

The Activities

As you can imagine, in a sunny city like Faro, which is also the capital of the region of Algarve, most of the activities will be related in some way with the water and the sun. Anyway, let’s have a look at some interesting things you can do here:

1) Enjoy the Sun:

In the summer the sun in Faro is absolutely amazing. The temperatures are high and you’ll surely want to pay a visit to the beach. Make sure you arrive early because most beaches will get crowded and you don’t want to lose the best spot. During those sunny days, just go outside and enjoy the sun and the beaches in Faro.

2) Relax:

When it is time for vacations our mood is immediately boosted, isn’t it? Because during our vacations we will have the opportunity to have fun, to escape stress, and above all, relax. In Faro you will have a lot of places where you can relax. The hotels are fantastic, so you can relax there. You can go to the spa and achieve the level of relaxation you want. Alternatively, you can go to one the amazing beaches in Faro, choose a good spot, lie there and relax.

3) Get to Know:

Get to know the culture, get to know the gastronomy, get to know the people, get to know the city. In Faro you will have a completely magnificent place to discover.

This article has been written by George, a writer and traveler. If you’d like to visit Faro and want to rent a car to pick you up at the Faro Airport you may want some information about it, all you need to do is to access www.FaroAirport.eu and with a simple click all your questions will be answered.

The post Faro – The Portuguese Capital Of Tourism appeared first on Europe Explored.

Break of dawn, Majorca, Spain by David Petty

Here are some of the best ways you can save money on a trip to Majorca.

Flights

Comparison websites are the best way to check out your flights. They do the legwork for you, finding the cheapest deals on your selected dates. Travel Supermarket, Expedia and Cheap Flights all offer a useful service.

Contrary to popular belief it can pay off to book flights early. Particularly during the popular months there may be a late rush to buy tickets. Avoiding peak times, such as the school holidays and weekends may also help to cut costs.

A good tactic is to sign up to email alerts from your favourite travel sites. Then you don’t miss out on any ticket sales. This article by the Guardian offers expert advice on bagging cheap flights.

Food

The key to eating on the cheap is to avoid the major tourist spots. You will often pay a premium to dine where the masses want to go. Instead find out where the locals recommend. Not only will you save money, but you will get a real feel for native life and cuisine.

The best tactic is to dust off your Spanish, and talk to shop owners or the proprietors of your hotel. If you want to establish what’s out there before you depart, you can find useful lists of expert recommended restaurants online.

Playa de Muro, Majorca, Spain by PRINSOTEL HOTELS

Activities

Majorca’s warm climate means that there are plenty of activities you can do that won’t break the bank. The island is strewn with beautiful beaches like Playa de Muro, a never-ending stretch of golden sand and turquoise sea.

Adrenaline junkies can get their fix with Experience Mallorca and their range of instructed activities, such as scuba diving for around sixty pounds.

Accommodation

Just as with flights the key to getting a deal on your accommodation is to do your research and compare. Sites like Hotelopia offer hotels in Majorca for as little as 15 pounds a night.

You can get deals if you book last minute or out of peak season. The best thing is to subscribe to emails from travel sites to get alerts about sales.

Palma de Majorca, Spain by Cristian Bortes

Extra Tips

If you fly with a budget airline you are likely to pay extra to store luggage in the hold. Instead try to minimise how much you take and pack it as hand luggage.

Many travellers also overlook the fact that most credit cards add a 3% cost to the exchange rates banks themselves get. The Halifax Clarity credit card has no foreign exchange rate fee anywhere in the world. Using one just for spending overseas can save you money, as long as you make sure to pay it back in full to avoid interest.

A holiday in Majorca doesn’t have to break the bank. In comparison to many destinations you can find very reasonable deals. A little extra legwork could mean that you can enjoy a great family holiday for a great price. Do you have any money saving tips to share?

The post How To Do Majorca On A Budget: All The Fun Less Of The Cash appeared first on Europe Explored.