Some can be pretty obvious, but there are also those gems that not many people think or know about and are just waiting for you to discover. The likes of Spain and France can offer busy, vibrant locations, but others such as Corsica and the Greek Islands can allow for a slightly more laid back approach to holidaying. Just remember to look for great currency exchange rates when you buy currency, as it will make the trip much more enjoyable knowing that you’ve got the best rates of foreign exchange.

On the Island of Crete, Greece by Wolfgang Staudt

Spain

Mainland Spain is possibly the most popular tourist destination in Europe and the main reason is very likely because the country offers so much versatility in terms what you can do as a family, a couple or as a group of friends.

Thanks to the country being so vast, there are numerous options of where to go, whether it be out in the countryside or a city break in Madrid or Barcelona and there’s always the endless amount of beach resorts. As if that wasn’t enough, Spain’s Balearic Islands consisting of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, as well as the Canary Islands, offer so much more and can offer great coastline environments, but that little bit quieter than the mainland.

The coast of Mallorca, Spain by Andrés Nieto Porras

The UK

Although it may not be known for its stunning summers, the UK still offers some superb locations to visit. The British Isles has a wonderful array of destinations on its coastlines that include Cornwall, Devon and North Yorkshire towns such as Whitby and Scarborough.

The Scilly Isles and the Isle of Wight also make a visit worthwhile, whilst the likes of Wales and Scotland can offer a completely different feel to mainland England. Other notable locations include the Lake District, The Cotswolds and Norfolk.

Scilly Isles, UK by Tom Corser www.tomcorser.com

Corsica

Some may think that it is impossible to both avoid mass tourism and have a wonderfully beautiful location to holiday in Europe, but the tranquil island of Corsica can offer just that.

All 600 square miles of the island are unspoilt and delightful to behold and doesn’t suffer from being overcrowded like other Mediterranean islands. As well as beautiful coastlines, Corsica is also adorned with massive mountain ranges that can often take your breath away, as well as numerous lush forests and glacial mountain lakes.

Beach in Corsica, France by Luciano

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Puerta Palma Badajoz, Mallorca, Spain by Charly Morlock

Island Paradise

Situated in the Balearic Sea, 200 kilometres East of Valencia, Mallorca has a culture not normally seen by the droves of visitors form Britain.

It is accessibility from mainland Spain and Europe, almost equidistant from Valencia and Barcelona, is one of the main reasons why it has become so popular for the likes of tennis stars Raphael Nadal and Boris Becker, super model Claudia Schiffer, as well as kings and queens (the King of Spain often takes breaks here), politician and famous musicians.

It’s not surprising that with 200 beaches the island’s coasts are the primary attraction for holidaymakers, but it’s the more secluded spots of the island’s interior, where former farm houses have been converted, and villas built for the seclusion that many of the rich and famous crave away from the lime light.

A bay in Mallorca, Spain by Jon Rawlinson

Popular Pursuits

One of the most popular pursuits on the island is sailing, and if you head down to any marina, you’ll see enthusiasts setting off on the beautiful turquoise water. Or if sailing is not your sport one of the 20 golf courses might be closer to your tastes, or the amazing hikes and cycle track into the stunning wilderness.

There is an undeserved reputation that the island has developed, with resorts lining the coasts, but that shouldn’t distract from the Mallorca hotels that epitomise luxury, and massive yachts that are worth millions of dollars berthed at the private marinas.

Culture

Mallorca’s capital, Palma, has an incredible mix of the medieval and the modern, it is in fact named after the Roman city of Palmaria. Being so close to North Africa, Spain was spent many centuries ruled by the Moors, the general term used to describe the many tribes.

Their presence was certainly felt more in the south of Spain in the cities of Cadiz and Seville; but Mallorca was also under the rule of the Moors until the 13th century when it was taken back by the Spanish and became a vital port in the Mediterranean.

There is a strong multicultural presence in Palma (just like Cadiz and Seville) where you can see a distinctive mix of Gothic, Roman, and Arab architecture.

It is not surprising that once you look past the crowds of sunburnt Brits, the throngs, of taxis and endless beach umbrellas that Mallorca is truly a calm and beautiful paradise, and will surely continue to draw the rich and famous for decades to come.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.jumeirah.com/en/Hotels-and-Resorts/Destinations/Mallorca/Jumeirah-Port-Soller-Hotel–Spa/

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Sunrise over Formentor, Mallorca, Spain by Tobias Lindman

Climate in Majorca

One of the great things about Majorca is the climate.  It is typically Mediterranean, with very dry and hot summers.  Temperatures are almost always in the high twenties during the summer and the winters are very mild.  Furthermore, because of the sea, there are few extremes in temperatures and the sea breeze is very pleasant, taking the sting of the very hot days.  Best of all, rainfall is incredibly rare in Majorca, with rain generally only falling from late October to early February.  The climate is but one of the many reasons why Majorca has the nickname of the “Island of Tranquillity”.  It is hard to imagine that an island that has a real party reputation could be classed as tranquil, but it is actually true because it has a mountain scenery that is nothing short of magical, hidden little cove beaches and the most stunning old villages and towns.

North East Majorca

The north east of the island is full of the most amazing cliffs, as well as offering visitors the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range.  The mountains are dotted with sleepy, ancient little towns and villages.  The homes are truly tiny and have gorgeous green shuttered windows.  The walls are stone and ancient and wild flowers cascade all over them.  It will feel as if you are Alice in Wonderland and everything around you is really small.  If you venture to the foot of the mountains where they meet the sea, you can spend some time in one of the little local villages and watch the boats sail in.

Palma de Mallorca, Spain by SBA73

South East Majorca

The south east of the island is just as beautiful and enchanting as the north, but this part is full of pastures and almond groves.  There are some beautiful little farmers’ villages, where it feels as if time stood still.  Don’t be surprised to see some people sleeping outside of their home if you have arrived there during siesta time.  There is also a beautiful marina where the jet set seems to gather in expensive luxury yachts.

Culture and Arts in Majorca

Besides sun, sea, sand and – as you now know – beautiful scenery and villages, Majorca is also a great place to soak in some culture and arts.  There are many monasteries and sanctuaries dotted across the island, many of which have long been abandoned.  Some offer accommodation for travellers, so you may even choose to spend the night.  One beautiful monastery is the Carthusian monastery.  This is found in Valldemossa and you will be able to view some works of art by some of the world’s most famous painters.  Francis Bacon, Picasso and Henry Moore are but some of the names you may find here.  Even Palma, the capital and touristic hotspot of Majorca, offers plenty of off the beaten track adventures, with gorgeous little hidden streets in which you will find traditional tapas bars and little craft stores.

Clearly, if you are able to find a cheap Jet2.com flights to Majorca, you should go for it.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Kevin Poh

Italy Summer Festivals

One thing Italians enjoy is being Al Fresco. Throughout the summer Italian towns and cities make the most of the warmer days and evenings by holding a range of outdoor concerts and music and art festivals. The venues for the festivals are exciting and innovative and range from ruins to public spaces. The type of music on offer varies from classical composers and opera shows to new live music.

Festival dei Due Mondi

Translated as “The Festival of Two Worlds”, this performing arts festival takes place in Spoleta and showcases a broad spectrum of artistic disciplines, from ballet, opera, films and art. The festival has been running for over 60 years, and celebrates the amalgamation of European and American art. Festival dei Due Mondi usually takes place in June and July each year.

Soundlabs Festival

Usually in August, Soundlabs is a more contemporary festival that celebrates the international independent music scene in the rural area of central Italy. Soundlabs usually hosts popular acts from the UK, US and Italy and is popular with European tourists.

Verona Opera

The Verona Opera series is a true taste of authentic opera in Italy’s most elegant open air arena – the Roman amphitheatre of Verona. Shakespeare fans will be pleased to visit this popular town to be steeped in history and rich Italian poetry in motion.

Summer Accommodation in Italy

Unless roughing it and making most of the camp sites at some of the more alternative music festivals appeals, there is a good choice of accommodation in Italy to suit all budgets. The most popular cities to stay in are Rome, Florence and Venice, and all of these areas have large (and expensive) hotel chains such as Hilton and Grand that can provide luxury and convenient accommodations.

For those wanting to break away from the confines and expense of a hotel room, clever travellers opt for schemes like LoveHomeSwap.com that offer home exchange Italy services allowing owners of holiday apartments and second homes to swap locations for their holidays in whichever cities across Europe and elsewhere in the world they choose to visit and can find a suitable swap in.

Summer Sight Seeing

A trip to Italy can be finished off with a trip to the leaning tower of Pisa to see it for real. The Tower is open until 11pm in the summer, and in the same trip tourists can also visit the Cathedral, Cathedral museum and Baptistery.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Forbfruit

Ibiza and trading

Strategically positioned between mainland Spain and Africa, the island was a highly sought after colony and trading post. Due to this it has had a turbulent past and many different leaderships. Often visited by the ancient Greeks, and ran by both the Carthaginians and the Romans. The Carthaginians founded Ibiza town, which became an important port. They also built the Salinas, which was very important for the production of the islands most valuable asset; White Gold i.e. salt.

The Romans come to Ibiza!

123BC saw the arrival of the Romans. They used the island primarily for wood and soldiers, and also learned about growing grapes and olives. Naturally they also constructed lots of roads, bridges and indeed cities, such as Alcudia. The 4th and 5th centuries saw the Vandals and the Byzantines, when the first basilicas were established. After then came the Vikings and the Moors, who were quickly displaced in 707 by the Arabs who reigned supreme for the next 5 centuries. During the Christian domination, the Muslims were driven out by the Catalans. In the 1400s, due to the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, the island officially belonged to the Kingdom of Spain. There was a lot of pirate activity around this time, particularly around these islands.

The hippies come to Ibiza!

However more recently, was the invasion of the hippies in the 1960’s. Upon seeking and indeed finding this hedonistic paradise, and a culture unchanged for thousands of years, they began the traveller/tourist trend that now almost engulfs the islands past. However as with all the invasions the people of Ibiza have suffered, they vehemently hang on to their traditions. There are plenty of rural towns which remain largely untouched, and many towns have joined the ’Agroturismo’ scheme, which promotes a locally sustainable holiday experience. This is naturally a good idea, which will hopefully stop larger corporations taking over the island. That is an invasion definitely to be avoided and probably, under the surface as always, one of the biggest threats.

Ibiza – a lot more than Nightclubs and bars

As you can see Ibiza is not the new nightclub capital of the West, it is a deeply cultured and historic place, of distinct and acute beauty. It is paramount for the island to retain its culture, so if you visit it would do the place justice at least be aware.

Daryl always stays in ibiza villas and has even been known to stay in a few apartments in tenerife in his youth.

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