Amongst the islands there are eight airports so you’ll always be able to get to exactly where you want to go.

Tenerife coastline, Canary Islands, Spain by Mate Marschalko

Environment

The islands are the only place in Spain where volcanic eruptions have taken place in the modern era. Their volcanis origins have created some stunning, landscapes and coves. This combined with the climate have made them prime real estate for tourist orientated developments. Their position off the northwest coast of Africa means that they can have sunshine all year around. Despite their proximity, these islands have their own specific characters and climates.

Beaches

If it’s the classic holiday line-up of sun, sea and sand that you are looking for then this is the place to go. There are more than 1500km of beaches between the seven islands. You can stay within touch of the tourist areas with easy access to food and bars and sun loungers or drift further afield.

The Sotavento on Fuerteventura is a stretch that goes on for 17 miles on the south-east coast of the island. Here it is easy to find expanses of deserted land. Here the sea is warm all year around so is perfect for floating and enjoying the sun.

While these golden sands are what many people desire there is more variety to the beaches on these islands. El Golfo on Lanzarote has black volcanic sand and a green lagoon making it striking to look at. More volcanic sand can be found at El Bollullo, Tenerife with a stunning surrounding of Volcanic rocks.

You can also indulge in a number of water sports with the winds and waves making these seas perfect for Kite surfing.

El Golfo on Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain by Moni Sertel

Nightlife

With a variety of islands you get a variety of nightlife opportunities. Gran Canaria and Tenerife offer much more of a party atmosphere with Gran Canaria’s Playa del Ingles the party capital of the islands with bars, clubs and restaurants. It is easy to see why this is the destination of choice for groups of young people going looking for a cheap holiday abroad.

Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are much more family orientated with much of the entertainment contained within resorts with child friendly bars and entertainment that everyone can enjoy.

With so many holiday experiences available, the Canary Islands are the perfect location to create a holiday tailored to your specific needs.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article was written on behalf of Voyager Travel Direct.

The post Holidays in the Canary Islands – enjoy warm weather all year around appeared first on Europe Explored.

Going away for a week or two can be quite a stretch to your (already overstretched) budget and your priorities may change whilst trying to find something suitable. Whether you are looking for sun, sea and sand or tracking down an action adventure holiday overseas- everyone is out to find the very best when booking their summer break. Whilst budgeting isn’t usually fun, it has to be done, so here is a rough guide to the best ways to budget whilst you are on holiday.

Elche, Palm capital, Spain / Photo by admin

Determine how much you can afford to spend

Before you start to book anything, sit down and work out how much you can afford to spend. Try breaking this down into flights, accommodation and living costs whilst you are there. It may be cheaper to consider a self-catering apartment rather than a hotel if eating out is going to be expensive. However if you are going somewhere like Eastern Asia, dining out is cheap, cheap, cheap, so your budget will probably stretch a bit further than it would in the US or Europe.

Check out the free attractions

Most destinations will have a variety of free museums, galleries and other attractions to keep you amused during the day. Pick up a travel guide from your local book shop- these will usually tell you what is free and the ones that will blow your budget. Some European countries like Amsterdam or Berlin, have one day a week when all of their galleries etc are free, so be sure to check that out before you go. If you are lucky enough to be a student- remember to take your student cards as many museums and public transport are free to students and young people.

Check out last minute deals

If you don’t mind where you go, but just fancy a few days away from it all, there are plenty of cheap holidays available online, as part of last minute packages. Discounted rates are offered on hotels and flights to fill up spaces still left unsold. If you are willing to take a chance on a lesser-known city, or if you are lucky enough to have flexible working hours- leave it to the last minute and take a look online

Consider travelling at a different time of year

If you are looking to catch some rays whilst you are away, consider going a little later in the year when peak season has died down. Many places will still be relatively warm all the way through to October. Holidays in Turkey for example, will enjoy plenty of sunshine if you are willing to hold off for just a few more weeks. If you go during the summer, you will be faced with paying peak prices, for both your flights and your accommodation, so seriously think about where you want to go and if you can wait until later in the year.

The post How to Holiday on a Budget appeared first on Europe Explored.

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.

The post Majorca’s Road Less Travelled | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Benidorm bay / Andrew Parnell

Beach lovers will find Spain holidays to be the safest bet for a summer sun, sea and sand holiday, with the Costa del Sol, Costa Dorada and Cost Brava lined with family friendly beach resorts with every facility you could wish for.

Cheap Benidorm holidays are a great choice for families, couples, singles – in fact, everyone who fancies some fun in the sun that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The main beach, Playa Levante, stretches out for over 2km and is home to over 5,000 sunloungers. This gives an indication of just how busy this beach gets in peak season.

It’s easy to see why this beach is so popular, as its facilities are second to non. A wide range of watersports are available for adults, as well as mobile magazine libraries for those who just want to kick back and relax. For little ones, several play areas have been built on the beach, as well as a wet play area, water slides and diving boards. Clean and safe (colourful picture boards help prevent children getting lost in the crowds), this beach is the pride of Benidorm, and a real treat for those booking Benidorm holidays.

Away from the beach Benidorm has plenty to offer. Spend a fun-filled day at the Terra Mitica theme park, or the Aqualandia waterpark. Or wander the Old Town to discover a different side of Benidorm.

If you can’t be persuaded that Benidorm is for you, why not try family friendly Salou or lively Torremolinos instead? Or the quieter resort of Benalmadena? You’ll be spoilt for choice when choosing summer holidays to Spain as it’s the place to be for fun in the sun this summer.

View Larger Map

The post Spain: Cheap Benidorm Holidays and More appeared first on Europe Explored.

Strandja mountain / Evgeni Dinev

In every country there are many interesting places to see and usually they are not the resorts. Because the resorts are built for tourists – and all you see there are other tourists and things build especially for them.

So better open a map and pick a random point of any EU country. You are likely to point to a town or village that’s well worth visiting. Don’t want to do a blind pick? OK, I’ll share seven ideas with you – seven places in Bulgaria that are far more interesting than lying on the beach. Here you are:

1. Strandja mountain

Even if you come here for trekking you are more likely to end up in Vitosha, Pirin or Rila. Almost no one goes to trekking in Strandja because it’s not as close to Sofia (the Capital) and it’s not as popular. Strandja is not a typical trekking destination. It’s a low mountain and climbing wouldn’t be a primary reason to go there. You should visit Strandja because of its natural beauty and because of its wildness. There are not many tourists going there, not many huts or paved roads. Its real and wild nature is rarely seen in Europe.

At the same time, reaching Strandja is not hard at all – you can approach the mountain from Malko Tarnovo which is just 76km away of Burgas. And Burgas is one of the largest cities in Bulgaria, just at the black sea. So you can land Burgas directly by an airplane or travel from Sofia by train or bus. Then there are buses going several times per day from Burgas to Malko Tarnovo and the other towns and villages at the foot of the mountain.

2. Lozenska planina

Yes, that’s another low mountain. Mountains are among the most interesting places to see in Bulgaria because they aren’t too high, and area easy to reach. At the same time the nature is well preserved. There are also many small villages around the mountains where life goes with different (slower) pace.

The greatest thing about Lozenska planina is that it’s really close to Sofia. In fact you can reach it with a regular city bus to the villages German or Lozen and it won’t take more than an hour from the city center. One of the best one-day trips you can do there is to drop at Lozen or German and walk through the mountain to the other village. It’s a really light trek, good for everyone – and it’s safe to do it at any time of the year.

3. Svoge and the villages around

Of course you don’t have to be interested in trekking or even seeing natural places. Maybe you prefer cities and towns, that’s why you came to Sofia. But the capital isn’t Bulgaria – life in the country is different. Do you want to see it? Svoge is a small town of nearly 9,000 inhabitants and is just 30 – 60 minutes train ride away of Sofia. Great for one-day trip! At the same time it’s pretty developed – there are several restaurants, two hotels, many stores and places to have a drink.

If you decide to take the train you may also want to see the villages on the way from Sofia to Svoge. Small, rural, very peaceful and so close to the big city – this is what makes them cool for a trip.

4. Pazardjik

And if you prefer bigger towns that are still calm and quiet, Pazardjik is just 1-2 hours away of Sofia. It’s a nice sunny town that will give you idea how people outside of the big cities live. At the same time it’s large enough to have the malls, stores, and services that big cities have. If you get up early in the morning you can see Pazardjik in a day and then go back to the capital (assuming you are staying there). But don’t worry – if you want to sleep in Pazardjik, there are plenty of hotels.

5. Dobruja

Bulgaria is not just mountains. If you want to see the beauty of the plane areas, Dobruja is your place. Here “place” isn’t quite correct thing to say, because Dobruja is a large area covering big part of North-East Bulgaria (and South-East Romania). It’s also the place where the country grows most of its wheat. You are going to see large areas that are just flat with lots of golden wheat growing on it (assuming you come in the summer).

Dobruja landscape / Andrea de Poda

There are several bigger towns in Dobruja – Dobrich, Shumen, Targovishte, Varna, Ruse, etc. From any of them you can easily reach villages to see rural life, and the beauty of Dobruja. Varna is perhaps the easiest to reach by plane from abroad, or by a bus or train from Sofia. From Varna you can travel to Dobrich in less than an hour. And then you’ll be at the heart of Dobruja.

6. Razboishte Monastery

Are you interested in visiting monasteries? Bulgaria is famous for many of them. The most popular is of course Rila Monastery. But if you prefer something less popular and less commercial, I recommend you to visit the Razboishte Monastery. It’s located in the most western part of Bulgaria, and is still easy to reach from Sofia. First get a bus to the town of Godech – it will take about an hour. Then Razboishte village is just 10km away which can be taken by another bus or car. Then walk 1km to the monastery.

7. Hisarya

OK, here’s a little bit more “touristic” place. But still most of visitors to Bulgaria don’t manage to go there. Why should you go then? Because there are more than twenty different mineral springs which were the primary reason for founding the town ages ago. The quality of mineral waters in Hisarya is proven and the resort is famous for them in the whole world. But that’s not all – you can see historical stuff like Roman ruins preserved for centuries.

How to reach it? First go to Plovdiv – A big city a couple of hours away of Sofia. There are planes going to Plovdiv too. And from Plovdiv, buses to Hisarya go every 30 minutes during the day. The trip takes about 1 hour. There are many places where you sleep in Hisarya. If you prefer you can sleep in Plovdiv where you’ll find many hotels and youth hostels.

So how does it sound – eager to visit Bulgaria yet?

Want more ideas and information like this? Visit https://bulgariatravelhacker.com!

View 7 Less Known Places To Visit In Bulgaria in a larger map

The post 7 Less Known Places To Visit In Bulgaria appeared first on Europe Explored.

A Shoreline in Majorca, Spain / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Andrew Havis

Majorca’s Beaches

Majorca has more than its fair share of sun, sea and sand – in fact, it’s known for having some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean. The only problem for visitors is which beach to choose. Magaluf in the south west is every popular, with 900 metres of beach, a new promenade and lots of bars and restaurants. It’s great for singles and young couples as the area is known for its nightlife. In fact, it’s the island’s nightclub capital. Families may prefer somewhere a bit quieter.

You can find a great family beach at Alcudia. Not only is the sand as fine as that on a golf course, but there’s a children’s playground and shallow water. Lots of watersports and restaurants on the beach make this the perfect place for a day out. With three beaches, Palma Nova is another good option. If you’re not bothered about watersports then Cala Tuent in the north east and Calas de Mallorca in the south east both offer plenty of space for sun worshippers – and nice scenery too!

Palma Majorca, Spain / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by John Burke

Exploring the Capital

If you want to spend some time out of the sun, there’s still plenty to do in Majorca. Palma is a good place to start. You can pick up transport around the island from Plaça d’Espanya which is underneath a large park. Kids will enjoy the themed play areas while you wait. Included in Palma’s chequered history is a period of Moorish rule and one of its most famous sights, La Seu, is a cathedral built on top of what used to be a mosque. This heritage is also on show in the warren-like Old City whose narrow streets are well worth exploring and the Arab Baths, though in disrepair, are well worth a look.

Outside the capital are other historic and picturesque sights, so be sure to leave the beach for a sightseeing trip at some point during your stay.

Marian Jaime writes for Suntransfers who offer transfers from Majorca airport to get your holiday off to a fabulous start.

View An Introduction to Majorca – the biggest of the Balearic Islands Spain in a larger map

The post An Introduction to Majorca – the biggest of the Balearic Islands | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by David Baron

Promenade des Anglais is the most popular promenade here which is situated along the coastline with azure sea. There is the vast majority of hotels, so if you are looking for accommodation in Nice, here you certainly find one, especially those luxurious.

The historic center is a jumble of narrow streets, taste and smell, restaurants, cafes and shops. When you walk through those places, you’d think that people do not spend their time differently than with a food.

Nice has also its own castle, situated on the hill, so it is worth to climb there especially in the evening when it offers great views of the illuminated city. The castle is a place of regular concerts and theater performances in the summer. Nice Cathedral built in 1650 – 1699 is a National Heritage Site of France located in the old town.

If you wish to enjoy the festival days you should come here in February, when the city holds an annual carnival. From museums you can visit Marc Chagall Museum, a national museum dedicated to the work of painter Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. The shops, bars and casinos can be found really everywhere.

Well, Nice is ideal for those who love lazing and luxury and want to spend their holidays with a drink in one hand and sun cream in another one. If you would like to see something around Nice, you can visit Saint-Paul – a medieval village with magnificent views of the coast, Cannes or Monaco.

View Nice – the largest resort of the French Riviera in a larger map

The post Nice – the largest resort of the French Riviera appeared first on Europe Explored.

If you’re on the hunt for somewhere which offers plenty of year-round sunshine, top of your European wish-list should definitely be the Canary Islands.

While they’re owned by Spain, making them part of the European Union, the Canaries are located just off the north-west coast of Africa, which explains the great weather they experience.

Sun, sea and sand are what you’ll get if you head to the island group, which comprises Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, among other destinations.

Whether you’re into lazing around on a beach – perhaps after spending the night in a tent under the stars, or snorkelling along the shoreline, there’s something on offer to you in the Canaries.

For the adventurous types, Tenerife may well appeal as it boasts Spain’s biggest mountain – Mount Teide – which you can ascend through the Canadas del Teide National Park.

En route, you’ll pass the Chinyero volcano, which last erupted in 1909, and you’ll be able to check out some stunning views once you reach the mountain’s summit. Perhaps you might want to consider pitching up tents to watch the sunrise in the distance from the peak the next morning.

More than 12 million tourists head to the Canaries each year, so they’re clearly an extremely popular location. And this is with good reason since they have the weather, beaches and natural attractions to boot.

Average sunshine hours vary throughout the year, but even in the British winter, the Canaries see temperatures of around 17 to 18 degrees C, making for a balmy springtime climate.

If you’re a fan of exploring marine life on your holiday, you’re bound to fall in love with everything on offer on the island group.

The waters boast everything from loggerhead sea turtles to sharks and stingrays, so you’ll see a whole host of different beings under the sea. If you head out on a boat trip there’s a chance you’ll encounter the common or bottlenose dolphin, or even a short-finned pilot whale on your travels.

Whatever you’re after from your holiday, the Canaries are bound to offer it to you, all the year round.

View Make the most of year-round sunshine in the Canaries in a larger map

The post Make the most of year-round sunshine in the Canaries appeared first on Europe Explored.