Siam water park, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain by stephen jones

One of them is the Siam water park. It is found in the Adeje region (Tenerife) and has the popular tower of power. This tower has a notably long slide which ends with a tunnel passing through a shark tank. You should however not be worried as people are protected from the sharks. In addition to this, there is the vertical slide dubbed the dragon on which one slides at a great speed. For the ones who love surfing, the large pool waves with sandy beaches are sure to catch your attention. Simply, there is something for the whole family.

The Tropical Islands in Germany is another great water park in Europe. It has great indoor pools which are large enough to accommodate about 8,000 people. There are many slides in this place and it is up to you to choose the one you want. Presence of an indoor pool means that the family gets to have a wonderful time irrespective of the environment outside. This place has tropical pools and beaches to make the time spent here simply amazing.

Tropical Islands, Germany by Thomas Kamann

When looking at the great parks in Europe, there is one which cannot be overlooked. This is the Alpamare water park ideally located near the shores of Lake Zurich. This park offers both indoor and outdoor pools to families. It is the largest covered park in Europe. Therefore, you can be sure that the children will have ample space to play in and have fun. The area is more than enough and there is no congestion as it is the case with other water parks in other different locations. To make the experience even more wonderful, there is the underwater music in the outdoor pool.

To add onto the options of wonderful places to have fun with the family, there is the Aquariaz water park in France. It happens to be one of the newest family destinations. It is also the highest but not the biggest. Within this park, any type of slide that comes to your mind is readily available. Notably, the place is open throughout the year including the winter season. Without a doubt, it is one of the best places for families during the summer break. However, if one wants to come with the family to Europe and have a wonderful time, you should first consider going for the passport applications.

These popular locations have been presented by Ellen Nicola who has vast experience of the travel industry. She has worked in this industry for about 20 years. She has also been involved with expanding of online information on travel since the inception of the World Wide Web.

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Huge cruise ship by JUAN RAMON RODRIGUEZ SOSA

With this in mind then we need to examine why Spain has become so popular as a cruise destination? Essentially the country acts as a very useful and strategic gateway to the rest of Europe and Africa as well. A cruise starting from Spain can easily navigate its way through the rest of Europe from other Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Greece to the likes of Germany and France and everything in between. Indeed, many cruises that start off from one of the many ports in the country will often take in the top of North Africa too while Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt very popular destinations for Spanish cruises.

Normally your Spanish cruise will begin to stop off at one of the 3 main ports in the country such as Malaga, Barcelona or Valencia however most itinerary’s will take in at least one of the islands as well with Ibiza or Mallorca very close by or, if you are heading to North Africa, then Tenerife with its volcano’s and scarred landscape is another popular destination.

Enjoying pool on the cruise ship with Tenerife in the background by David Lisbona

Gibraltar is a stopping destination that does not usually feature on many cruise routes but is worth a visit all the same. The ‘rock’ has been a point of contention between Spain and the UK for a while now but it is a recommended stop off point for cruises in the area. A cable car ride to the top of the rock can produce amazing views of the surrounding area and the Strait of Gibraltar and Mediterranean in particular. St. Michael’s Cave, 2 caves in actual fact, is also an attraction. The limestone caves have some fantastic natural beauty and a rich history as ‘cave art’ was recently discovered there dating back some 15,000 years.

A cruise from Spain can last anywhere from 1 week to over a month. A week long or 10 day cruise might see you start from Barcelona, take in one of the islands such as Mallorca before taking off to the tip of North Africa and perhaps at least one other Mediterranean country such as Italy as well. A month long cruise could see you go as far as Brazil or South America while also enjoying everything that Spain has to offer from culture in Barcelona to sunny beaches in the Costa Del Sol. A cruise that takes in Spain is as interesting as it is diverse and because the country features so many different climates, activities, cultural heritages and customs then it is one country that it is very difficult to get bored of.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Dennis Jarvis

Location, Location, Location

By checking out the location of your proposed accommodation and also checking out a few reviews which are plentiful on the internet, you can make sure that your hotel, apartment or guest house is the most suitable for you and your party. If you are a family with young children, the last thing you want is a hotel next to a nightclub blasting out music till the sun comes up. Likewise, if you are a group of friends looking to party hard, you do not want to be in a resort which is full of families who will complain about your partying. By using some of the many review sites on the web, you can make sure that the location you choose has everything you need to enjoy your holiday, whether it be beaches, attractions, scenery or nightclubs and bars.

Try Using The Lingo

It can be a little daunting going to a foreign country where everything is new and you don’t understand the language. If you try to pick up some of the language and try out a few words, you will be surprised at how this encourages the locals to communicate with you. Even if it is just saying “hello” and “goodbye”, “can I have the bill please?” Or “can I have two cold beers please?” by making the effort you will get a much friendlier response in general.

Weather

Spain has a very varied climate, being the second most mountainous country in Europe, it has some excellent skiing and snowboarding resorts in the north of the country, or if the cold is not your thing then it has a plethora of locations in the south which has a warm climate year round. In places such as Tenerife you get an average of over 2800 hours of sun a year with an average temperature of around 24°C, more than enough for the sun worshipers out there.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by shortCHINESEguy

Party Like The Locals

Spain is one of the party capitals of Europe and the locals love a good fiesta. It may be worthwhile considering timing your trip to one of the major festivals so you really get to soak up the atmosphere and culture of this beautiful country. You can check out the Semana Santa festival in Seville, Malaga, Valladolid or Leon which happens the week leading up to Easter Sunday or San Fermin (Pamplona Bull Run) in Pamplona in early July. There is even the Tomatina Tomato Fight which happens on the fourth Wednesday in August in the Valencian town of Buñol. By timing your visit to one of the spectacular festivals you can certainly make sure you have a visit to remember and learn how to part like the Spanish do.

Attractions

Spain not only has some of the best beaches and resorts in Europe, along with some of the most famous festivals in the world, it also has attractions galore for all discernible tastes. You have the moon like landscape in Tenerife, the majestic Pyrenees, or you have museums abundant such as the Prado Museum in Madrid, or world famous architecture such as the Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s unfinished Cathedral in Barcelona. There are also water parks all over the coastal region of Spain and also the islands so you will find it easy to cool down and have some fun families and groups of friends alike.

Conclusion

By doing a little bit of homework before booking your next holiday to Spain, you can make sure you save yourself a few headaches and make it the most memorable experience to keep you coming back year after year. After all how can 23 million people be wrong!

This article was written by Andy Wright on behalf of Travel Republic. Travel Republic offer some of the best Holidays in Spain available. Andy is a seasoned traveller having visited many of the world’s travel destinations and enjoys submersing himself in the local culture to gain the true experience of the country he visits.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Hector Garcia

If you should head to the Canary Islands then you will be certain to have a great holiday and there are many things that bring visitors to them time after time. First of all, these islands boast incredible weather. Being just off of the coast of Africa they are very hot as you can imagine, and this makes them ideal for beach holidays and for relaxing in the sun. At the same time as islands they also have lots of beach, and many of these are great for surfers.

The tourism on many of these islands is very pronounced meaning that there is a lot laid on for anyone wanting to visit including great nightlife and clubbing, and lots of places to eat and relax. However the islands are also known for their unusual and often stunning scenery – these islands feature volcanic terrain that looks sparse and desolate and almost like the surface of the moon or Mars.

If you want to visit the Canary Islands then you have several options of places to visit:

Tenerife

Of the Canaries, Tenerife is perhaps the best for night life and the one most associated with clubbing holidays and nights out drinking. To this end it has a fantastic strip of clubs and activities and a hugely bustling nightlife. At the same time though it also has plenty to do in the day and has great beaches and places to eat. One of the sites of most interest for tourists is undoubtedly Mount Tiede which is a volcano you can travel to the top of. Here the volcanic terrain is perhaps at its best – and interestingly this was actually the site on which the original Planet of the Apes was filmed.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Bill

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is another great spot if you’re after a good nightlife and the best spot for that is the YUMBO center which has everything you could need for a great night out. Again the island also has brilliant beaches for relaxing and even a small desert that you can trek through and get some great photos.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is similar to both Tenerife and Gran Canaria in terms of climate and night life, though it enjoys a slightly more muted evening out with a little less drunken debauchery (though some of that still goes on) and a marginally cooler climate due to an ever-present breeze. This makes it the Canary island of choice for those who want to relax and kick back. At the same time it is also the island with the most impressively varied landscape of all – with more volcanic terrain, as well as mountain ranges, another desert and even caves. At the volcanic region of the island you can also enjoy having your dinner cooked for you by the heat of a volcano.

Nick Ball is a web enthusiast and maintains a Lanzarote Guidebook for all his travel queries which he likes to share through his blog. The latest column added to his guide are the list of Flights to Lanzarote.

View The Canary Islands – where to go? Spain in a larger map

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by JUAN RAMON RODRIGUEZ SOSA

Hiking in Tenerife

The point is that there is so much more to the landscape of this magical island. For one it is home of Pico Del Teide, which is Spain’s tallest peak, at a towering 3718m. It has incredible forestry and rock formations, volcanic colours as you go inland, so definitely pack your walking boots. The basic rule if you are looking for a more unique and cultured experience is to head away from the south-western resorts. The capital of Tenerife is a prime example and is actually largely untainted by tourism, being right up on the north east of the island. It has the most incredible carnivals second only to perhaps Rio De Janerio, with amazing traditional fiesta spirit.

The English Tenerife

If however you are looking for white sand, neon lights, night clubs, foam parties and banging tunes, get yourself down south to Los Cristianos, Playa de Las Américas or Costa Adeje. You will be able to buy pie and chips, and even a full English breakfast! Also down in the southern region, you can go to one of two of Tenerife’s incredible waterparks. Siam Park is a Thai themed park with a multitude of thrilling slides, or Aqualand where you can even get to see a dolphin show. Other more animal orientated water activities are the submarine safari, where you can go dolphin and whale spotting in a transparent submarine. Spectacular underwater scenes where bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales are known to migrate, also white and sperm whales are known to have been sighed.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Javier Sanchez Portero

Culture in Tenerife

For a more ‘intellectual’ attraction you could go to the region of Chacona and visit The Gumar Pyramids. The pyramids are not, as you at first may think, ancient like the Giza Pyramid in Egypt. They are in fact the subject of serious controversy, implying that they may be as recent as the 19th century. It is said that there were many such constructions throughout Tenerife, but they have been systematically taken apart for cheap building materials. The site of the Gumar Pyramids used to contain 9 structures, but today only has 6. Excavations have as yet only been inconclusive.

On the south coast, you can go to Icod De los Vinos and visit Cueva Del Viento (Cave of Winds) which is the largest volcanic cavity in the world. Also this is where you can find the ancient and mystical Dragon Tree, which is said to be over 800 years old. It is called a ‘Dragon Tree’ as when the leaves are cut they secrete a red resin which is said to be the dried blood of dragons. This apparently has healing properties, and in the past it was extracted on an industrial scale to make varnishes and lacquers, and as a result, the Dragon Tree is a protected species.

Daryl loves to discover places off the beaten track and stays in tenerife villas all the time, but you could also find him in a ibiza villa from time to time.

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You will appreciate that car hire providers in Tenerife offer some good and really reasonable service for customers, any time you solved the above mentioned difficulties. To reach their clients preferences, Tenerife Car Rental services offer an extensive choice of cars and brands. You could decide upon affordable cars, starting from as less as 7 Euros daily up to high priced luxury cars.

Not alone the major players, for example Dollars, Avis, Alamo or Europcar present an amazing service, you will additionally discover a lot of modest local car hire providers that provide professional quality. Before you’ll appear on the island, you can get a hold of the Tenerife hire car company, should you fancy. Tenerife car rental providers may well be more than willing to assist you, just get in touch with them either by phone or mail. Typically they can and tend to supply you with plenty of information on beach locations, parks, sightseeing venues and all the most important facts you want to know when traveling Tenerife. Despite the fact that all these informations will be really handy, be sure to inquire about a map of the island.

Tenerife Airport Facilities

Most commonly the car will wait for you at the airport, nevertheless for visitors who choose to not exit right away, Tenerife airport includes many various services. The airport Reina Sofia is linked with a great number of global locations and so the favourite entry point to the island. The airport is situated near the motorway within the beautiful south of Tenerife. Bypassing the airport is not possible because it is properly signposted.

Coffee shops, bookstores, bars, dining places, gift and duty free shops along with banking, ATMs or mailing services you can also find in the Tenerife airport.

Tenerife, the Island of Lasting Spring

Having an architectural and also natural beauty, Tenerife is usually a popular destination for a large number of visitors. The natural spots are really amazing and complete the human created architectural destinations. The island supplies extraordinary vacations because of its spectacular beaches, night life and delightful traditional meals. In summary, Tenerife is actually a must-see location for every traveler.

Rent a Car Spain researches and analyzes prices of car hire companies to get the lowest quote for you in all important destinations through Spain. Spain car rentals price is totally inclusive, with no hidden fees. Spain Car Rentals has the best price guarantee to ensure that you are getting the best prices accessible on your car hire Tenerife.

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