There are as many lovely ways to celebrate the year's end as there are families celebrating it. True party animals may have booked flights to Sharm el Sheik, Ibiza or the Canaries to start 2012 dancing to the tunes of world famous DJ's. Others may seek the party a bit closer to home, singing Auld Syne Lang and watching the fireworks at Trafalgar Square or even waiting for the countdown and popping the champagne at their own homes.

Continue reading... Happy New Year!

If Christmas has come and gone in a blur of wrapping paper, cold turkey sandwiches and bad Christmas jumpers, revive yourself and your family with a New Year trip to Tenerife and rediscover the magic of the season. On this beautiful island, not only can you find sun-kissed beaches, family resorts and a host of activities, but on 5th January they celebrate one of the most important festivals in Spain - the Procession of the Three Kings.

Continue reading... Procession of the Three Kings

While in the UK we may occasionally hang out a St George flag on April 23rd, that's about as far as our Saint celebrations go in this country. However, in Spain the Saints' days are a chance for Spanish people, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, to celebrate in style with a fiesta, festival or street party. The 8th December is one of the most important of these feast days - the Day of the Immaculate Conception. Jet off for a winter break with flights to Gran Canaria around this time of year and you can become part of one of Spain's most important festivals.

Continue reading... Day of the Immaculate Conception in Spain

The town of Arrecife is home to a wide range of different fiestas and events. A lot of these fiestas and events are popular with people from all across the world and they tend to make use of the flights to Arrecife. One of the biggest events that are held in Arrecife is the fiesta of San Juan.

Continue reading... Fiesta of San Juan

There is a vast array of different festivals that are held within Mallorca. The festival that is known locally as Nit de Foc however it is also commonly known as the Night of Fire. This festival is one of the most popular events within Mallorca. A lot of people use the flights to Mallorca in order to enjoy the festivities. This festival involves a number of big bonfires and these include displays of fireworks. The festival is held every year and this is held within the resort that is known as Parc de la Mer. This festival marks the start of the summer within Mallorca and this is the start of the summer festivals within this area.

Continue reading... Nit de Foc in Mallorca

Pollenca is situated at the Northern end of Menorcas Tramuntana mountains and it is a special location especially for various festivals of Menorca. If you are planning a vacation here to catch these festivals, you can reach by air as there are regular flights to Menorca throughout the year. Pollenca is characterized by the Lluc Monastery and the Port de Pollenca, the beaches of Menorca, the St Albufera wetlands and the Formentor Peninsula. It is quite close to the Bay of Alcudia. Pollenca has several remarkable churches such as the 16th century museum cum a symbol of baroque style called Convent de sant Domingo, the famous Nostra Senyora dels Angels and the Nostra Senyora del Roser.

Continue reading... Sant Antoni fest in Menorca

Parga is a tiny town on the seaside with remarkable landscape and architecture, about 62 km from Preveza. Parga attracts several tourists from many European countries such as Italy. Because of its proximity to the surrounding countries it is a favorite weekend destination of Greece. Parga doesnt have an airstrip, thats why flights to Preveza or Athens can be boarded first and then Parga can be reached either by a car or a bus. Aktion and Ioannina, Preveza are the closest airports to Parga, which host internal flights starting from Athens. The town of Parga has great places to visit such as museums, churches completely influenced by the Venetian architecture because of its constant occupation by the Venetians in the past.

Continue reading... Preveza Kanaria Festival of Parga

The traditional dance festival of Larnaca is something to be cherished throughout life especially of you are a dance lover. The performances are so euphoric and full of enthusiasm that you will forget you belong to another place. It is a festival but has a competitive touch to it and groups from all over the continent participate in it.

Continue reading... Larnaca The Mediterranean Festival of Traditional Dance

Before 1928, the festival known as St Johns Bonfires was celebrated just as it was celebrated in any other part of Europe. The huge gathering of people coming together to burn things such as old furniture is quite a spectacle. But, during the same year, a man from Alicante called Jose Maraa Py improvised the idea of similar nature. In a short span of 3 months the first such Bonfire was planned and organized in Daa de San Juan.

Continue reading... Alicante-St John's Bonfires

The yearly carnival is a much awaited event in Arrecife-Lanzarote. Every year the processions are held between 3rd February and 9th March in Arrecife. Arrecife, which also happens to be the capital of the island, is visited by tourists all over the world because of the various festivals celebrated with merriment and enthusiasm. The annual carnival is one of the most famous festivals of the Canary Islands. The festival has been in vogue for a very long time. It is not celebrated only by the residents of the Islands but several tourists across the globe joyfully participate in it.

Continue reading... Arrecife Lanzarote Carnival

With a festa being held almost every weekend, its hard not to bump into one of these during your holiday in Malta. No matter which time of year you visit Malta, you are sure to find at least one festa being organized in one of the villages. Its hard to believe that such a small island can have so many events in a single year. Its strategic location left it bare to several attacks, where the country ended up being ruled by Greek, Roman, French and British rulers. This is probably the reason for its unique culture and a whopping 60 festas held every year from May to September.

Continue reading... Malta Festa - The Village Feast

Continue reading... Easter in Skiathos

For such a small country, the Mediterranean islands of Malta have a rich and vibrant history. With North African and Arabic influences, theres been an incredible mix of rulers and occupiers over the centuries, yet all of these markson this beautiful, sunny nation create something individual with a distinct andcharming character.

Continue reading... malta guide art holidays

If you are a big fan of carnivals, festivals and any forms of parties, then Lanzarote is the place to be. This island hosts a vast number of events for any one calendar year and of course, 2010 is no different. Some of their famous festivities have already occurred, but you can attend those next year if you missed them this year. They are the February carnivals, the festivities for Holy Week at Marchs end, the Day of the Cross celebrations in May, Junes Lanzarotes Corpus Christi celebrations and of course the Heineken Jazz festival which takes place every July.

Continue reading... year-round festivities in lanzarote

For the rest of this year, there are still many events to come and you can still make this island your number one vacation spot for this year. You have already missed the Heineken Jazz festival, but its annual so you can go next year, it takes place in July. You would have also liked the Easter celebrations, but as stated before, there is always next year. Lets take a look instead on the events that are coming up.

Continue reading... tenerife for the holidays

The Canary Islands are located in Spain and are known for their year round festivities. Gran Canaria as the name suggests, is one of the largest islands within the set and it lives up to the name by offering a calendar of events that makes the island worth visiting any time of the year. The vents are often kept in and around the area of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria which is also the capital of the island. Many of the big festivals took place earlier in the year, but there are still many more to come. You may have missed the Music festival in January; the Opera festival in February or even the Jazz Festival in July, but they will be here again next year and there are still many of the good ones that you can still experience this year.

Continue reading... Festivity Non stop on the Gran Canaria Island

The Virgen del Pino festival, also known as the 'Feast day of the Virgin of the Pine', will be taking place on the 8th of September in Terror, a beautiful village in Gran Canaria. During the time of this festival, a lot of flights to Gran Canaria bring thousands of pilgrims to this annual religious festival. If you really want to know more about the culture and history of the Island, then this is an ideal destination for your holiday.

Continue reading... Virgen del Pino Festival in Gran Canaria

There is a week-long preparation that goes into the festival. Many shop owners cover their shops before hand with huge plastic covers as a protection from the mess. There are also few rules to adhere to. It a part of the rule to squash the tomatoes before hurling them at people. However, any objects other than tomatoes are not to be thrown!

Continue reading... La Tomatina Festival in Spain

The 15th of August is a national holiday in Malta and on this day, Gozo and other villages will be bubbling with the Santa Marija festival. The majority of Maltese festivals are religiously inclined due to a strong Catholic presence in the country. But nevertheless, this festival (Santa Marija) is a remarkable attraction for tourists and a huge source of traditional pride for the people of Malta. Every year, families in Malta look forward to this ceremony as they would to Christmas or Easter because it offers that special opportunity for family bonding and that great sense of community in Malta. It works to such extent that family members who are away or abroad come home to take part in the festival.

Continue reading... Fireworks and Food at Santa Marija fiesta in Malta

Towards the end of August, Mallorca will be hosting several interesting festivals which are great if you want to make the most of your money and time during your holiday in Spain. In order to secure your summer holiday, it might be worth booking your flights to Mallorca around the dates of these festivals. What these festivals have in common, aside from having their roots embedded in religion and traditions, are entertaining dances and dainties which are way too tempting to resist.

Continue reading... Mallorca festivals in August

When it comes to putting on a show, the Spanish can always be counted on. To say otherwise is to understate the fact that they like all forms of entertainment. You can expect an extraordinary performance with an oriental flavour when Mallorca celebrates the Chinese Lantern festival. With so many festivals happening in the month of August, this traditional Chinese festival, also known as La Fiesta de les Llanternes, is one spectacular and unique celebration that every family and the Chinese communities in Mallorca look forward to. This colourful festival has also been a source of attraction to thousands of tourists on holiday in Mallorca. You can still be a part of this festival which takes place on the 24th of August, if you start the booking of your flights to Mallorca now.

Continue reading... Chinese Lantern Festival in Mallorca

The Algarve is famous for its excellent seafood cuisine. This remarkable attraction can be tied to the long stretches of seashore and harbours dotting the whole region, which contribute to the richness and beauty of Algarve. The area shows off its qualities during the Sardine festival in Faro. Every year, there is an influx of visitors and flights to Faro because of this summer festival, which takes place in the month of August on the Riverside zone in Portimao. Thousands of sardine enthusiasts return to Faro during this event to participate in the fun and challenging competitions which this festival offers.

Continue reading... Sardine festival in Faro

Between the 15th and 25th of August, the patron saint of Lanzarote's Capital Arrecife is celebrated in style. During the daytime, much of the activity is concentrated around the El Charco area itself, where traditional island sports such as Canarian sailing and wrestling are celebrated and a new Miss Lanzarote is elected annually. The whole event then culminates in an impressive fireworks display on the main beach promenade on the night of the 25th.

Continue reading... Festa de San Gines and the Juego del Palo

When it comes to celebrations, the Spanish don't do things by halves. On the 5th of August, Alicante will be hosting the Virgen del Remedio festival, a cultural festival in honour of the matron saint. Among the floods of summer celebrations in Alicante, this festival manages to stand out. It is definitely worth visiting if you have booked flights to Alicante.

Continue reading... An open-air summer fiesta in Alicante

Spain is famous for its all year round festivals. Though most of them are religiously inclined, they are nevertheless enjoyed by all kinds of people, which is why a great number of flights to Arrecife and other Spanish cities are sold every year. Arrecife is a city in the Canary Islands with unique and colourful festivals. If you are looking for a really great time, San Gines festival is well worth a visit.

Continue reading... San Gines festival in Arrecife

When you feel you have been too hard on yourself and looking for a holiday to release that long built tension, this fiesta will be a good opportunity to let your hair down and mingle with the fun and life-loving locals of Lanzarote.

Continue reading... Nuestra Senora del Carmen fiesta in Lanzarote

The small Cycladic island of Tinos is home to a very special icon. The icon of the Virgin Mary, founded by the nun Pelagia in 1922, is homed in a spectacular neoclassical church called Our Lady of Tinos. It is believed that the nun found the icon as she was directed by the Virgin Mary herself in a dream. Our Lady of Tinos is not only attributed to have performed a number of miracles, being known as the Greek Lourdes, but it also reflects national identity as it was founded within the first days of the declaration of Greece as a modern independent state and is the Patron Saint of Greece. The icon is encased in gold, silver and jewels, and is surrounded by gifts, while outside the church pilgrims make their way up to the building on a special rubber mat on their hands and knees.

Continue reading... Religious Pageantry in Tinos

Alicante is a prestigious city in Spain, known for its long summers and mild winters. This city is famous for its love of life, music, fireworks, festivals and gourmet dining. Alicante takes pride in its traditions and cultural values which show through in their festivals. These festivals take place throughout the year, but the summer festivals are more popular with tourists due to the number of flights to Alicante during this season.

Continue reading... Alicante Festivals and Gourmet

Malta is a country with a rich and vibrant culture. If there is one thing the Maltese are known for, it is their love for cultural and religious festivals. Most of these festivals take place throughout the year. If you are a fun-loving, vivacious music-lover with an appetite for special foods, this is a good opportunity to mingle with the Maltese for these fantastic festivals.

Continue reading... Join the Maltese summer festivals

Every year, the biggest wine festival in Malta takes place at the beginning of August in Valletta.

Continue reading... Taste the Wine of Malta

If you are a beach lover, at the same time looking for other fantastic attractions to make your holiday a fulfilling one, you will love this beautiful and popular province in Turkey. Antalya is famous for its long summer, coastal attractions, mountainous scenery and natural beauty. Its beaches are unique for their long sandy stretches, rocky nature, and sparkling water. One of the most popular amongst families is the Lara beach for its beautiful long length of golden sand, curved cove and turquoise crystal clear water. There are various collections of recreational amenities available on the beach for holiday makers like water slides for kids, Turkish bath, sauna and aqua therapy at a much reduced rate. You will also find water sport activities like jet-skiing, wind surfing, parasailing and boat trips.

Continue reading... Sun, Sand, Sights and Side attractions in Antalya

Tenerife is an island known for its spectacular events. Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival is one of such events. This carnival attracts millions of people from everywhere being one of the best celebrated events in Spain. If you are looking for lively entertainment and the time of your life, now is not the time to miss this carnival. Since this is a very popular event, it might be a good idea to book flights to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in advance. This time of the year is a ideal for getting great deals on flights and cheap hotels.

Continue reading... Don't be left out of the parade in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival

Are you looking for a last minute break with a difference? Are you bored with beach driven holidays? Would you like the chance to experience a traditional Catholic country festival? Then the Mediterranean island of Malta is the place for you.

Continue reading... Two day feasting in Malta: Imnarja-feast of St Peter and St Paul

The Festival of San Juan on June 24th is a major event in the Spanish calendar as it is associated with the coming of summer. The Spanish never need an excuse for a party and the day is celebrated in both urban and rural areas with bonfires and festivities. These fires are particularly popular in the Catalonian and Valencian communities, and in some areas the date is also celebrated as Catalan nation day.

Continue reading... The Festival of San Juan

The town of Pollensa in the north of Mallorca has a dual personality. Inland lies the old town of Pollensa itself with its fine architecture, pretty market square and a choice of luxury hotels. More recent development has created the area of Puerto Pollensa, a yacht marina flanked by a sweeping sandy beach on one side and shady promenade walk on the other.

Continue reading... Two Festivals in Pollensa on Mallorca

With its blue skies and balmy climate, Menorca is a hotspot all summer long. For a guaranteed scorcher of a holiday, though, the time to visit is during the midsummer festival of San Juan held from the 20th to the 24th of June this year, when the island is ablaze with bonfires and fireworks and every school kid is armed with a bagful of bangers!

Continue reading... More Bangers For Your Buck

By far the biggest occasion during April was the two day visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the island, an event that commemorated an unfortunate event that happened almost two thousand years ago. That was the time when St Paul's boat was shipwrecked on Malta while he was on a voyage to Rome. The Saint remained on Malta for 3 months and there are many locations around the island that exist due to this unfortunate accident. In Rabat there is St Paul's Grotto and Church that was built in the 17th Century. It is claimed that the grotto was also used by the Romans as a prison and it was also an air raid shelter during the 2nd World War.

Continue reading... Malta Spring Celebrations

Everyone is asking when the severe winter weather in the UK, the harshest for the past 30 years, is finally going to let up. But the UK shouldn't feel too bad, because there are plenty of other European countries that have experienced equally poor weather. Countries like Belgium and Germany have also been suffering under very cold, wet and snowy conditions for several weeks now.

Continue reading... Storms Force Tenerife Events To Be Postponed

The local council on Tenerife decided to maintain some access restrictions to certain mountain areas and woodlands, following the high winds that blew across the island at the end of February. The authorities were worried that some of the damage caused could still be hazardous to visitors, so they placed restrictions on certain activities.

Continue reading... Access to Tenerife's Mountains Restricted

If you happened to be spending a break on Malta during the second half of February then carnival tradition and sporting excellence awaited as two of the island's main annual events took place before the end of the month.

Continue reading... Malta in February

The tourist authorities of the island of Madeira have recently published a listing of some of their most significant cultural events for 2010.

Continue reading... Madeira Publicises 2010 Events

Forgive us for mentioning carnival events yet again, but for our travellers to Lanzarote, here is a review of the island's carnival events which kicked off on Saturday the 13th of February. There were also some events in the period leading up to this date including a children's fiesta and a series of plays.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Prepares To Celebrate

While many towns and cities across Spain are gearing up for their annual carnivals during February and March, the island of Mallorca steals a march on them with its Fiesta of San Sebastian during January.

Continue reading... Celebrate San Sebastian in Mallorca

The island of Mallorca and its capital Palma , like many places in Spain, prepare for a traditional Christmas and New Year that centres around four main events. Christmas Eve is important with concerts and Midnight Masses held in many churches, including the famous Seu Cathedral in Palma itself. Christmas Day is a time for relaxation and spending time with family. New Years Eve sees another excuse for celebration, with parties and fireworks displays illuminating the island's skies and then finally the celebration of the Epiphany on January 6th sees children receiving gifts in much the same way as UK children do on Christmas Day.

Continue reading... Mallorca Beyond New Year

The 17th December, was the shortest day of the year in Funchal on the island of Madeira in 2009, dusk arrived at 4 minutes to five in the afternoon only 600 minutes after sunrise. Compare that to London whose shortest day came a day or two later and was only 470 minutes long. So a winter break on the island of Madeira will not only provide more sun and warmer temperatures, but the days will be over two hours longer too.

Continue reading... Funchal's Shortest Day

For many the Christmas period presents the perfect opportunity to take a short break and get away for a little rest and relaxation. For some a cosy chalet in snow covered mountains is the ideal break while others yearn for some warm sunshine. Being only a short flight from the UK, Lanzarote offers the combination of convenience and value for British tourists seeking some warmer weather.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Christmas

New Years Eve celebrations seem to be getting bigger and bigger every year. London now stages a major public fireworks display, centred on the London Eye on the Thames, while TV news broadcasts always show the New Year being welcomed in different parts of the world. These reports usually show fireworks displays in Edinburgh, Paris, Sydney, Copacabana beach, Hong Kong and or the million or so revelers who converge on Times Square in New York. The New York celebrations are interesting as they first started in 1904 to commemorate the opening of the New York Times' new offices, when 200,000 people came to enjoy an all-day party put on by the newspaper. It is now estimated that 1 billion people worldwide watch the Times Square celebrations.

Continue reading... New Years Eve on the Algarve

September is a wonderful month to spend some time in Cyprus and this year was no different. The very hot days of the high summer are gone and milder weather, together with a wide selection of cultural events, make the island a pleasant place to spend a week or two.

Continue reading... September Events in Cyprus

The annual Kataklysmos Fair starts on 5th June in Larnaca, Cyprus with a performance of Greek dancing and music on the seafront stage, followed by a fireworks display. The word "kataklysmos" means flood and the celebration is unique to Cyprus, coinciding with the Greek Pentacost. The celebrations are thought to link back the birth of Aphrodite who emerged from the waves and turned the ground around her into a sea of flowers. The flood is celebrated as something that cleanses mankind and enables new life, and is a event marked in a similar manner in many cultures around the world.

Continue reading... Annual Kataklysmos Fair in Larnaca