Guide to Spain

As popular with the older generation as with the young, Spain offers an enormous wealth of holiday destinations and an unerring ability to throw up the unexpected and unspoilt.

The British first begun travelling to Spain 40 years or so ago on package holidays and regions like the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Costa Brava suddenly became household terms.

We have a less polarised view of Spain as a holiday destination now, and the same people who first travelled to Spain 30-40 years ago are discovering the variety and culture that Spain offers as well as settling there in many cases in retirement.

The Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol remain the most popular regions, the latter with its Moorish influence, mild winters and colourful fiestas. But it is the enormous variety that many tourists are now beginning to discover. The Atlantic coast and the Pyrenees are a magnificent sight with their rugged natural landscape, while the culture and sophistication of Catalonia is a must for any visitor.

One of the main attractions for the British in Spain is the lifestyle. Lazy summer days by the pool descend into fun filled evenings in restaurants and bars – and if you travel just a little further than the main tourist hotspots you will find a world where the tourists and the locals reside beside one another.

The relaxed lifestyle makes it perfect for the over 65s traveller – whether you enjoy watching the world go by in a café in the afternoon or dining for hours in the evening. The flight is a short one and amenities and access to medical care is simple and easy. English is widely spoken and in many areas the number of resident British is very high, particularly in the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol. In the winter too, the weather can still be mild enough to enjoy a seaside break at a relaxing pace – ideal for the over 65 holidaymaker.

The Spanish also know how to party like no other country with each town and village having a series of celebrations or fiestas each year that really are a sight to behold. If you thought you’d seen fireworks in the UK, then you really haven’t witnessed a Spanish fiesta.

This locality is one of the keys to Spain. Each area is fiercely proud of its heritage and independent culture – some even have their own language – and the notion of Spain itself can sometimes be an uneasy one. Don’t expect to be able to shop on days reserved for special celebration but certainly do plan your trips around them if you can.

If you want to sample life with a quality unsurpassed, then Spain can offer you a glimpse in a couple of weeks.

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