If you were lucky enough to be enjoying a holiday on Mallorca during February, then you might have liked to investigate some of the many carnival events taking place across the island.

Continue reading... Mallorca February Fiesta

Just when you think the carnival celebrations are over on Lanzarote and the streets of Arrecife have returned to normality, then things kick off again in another resort.

Continue reading... More February Celebrations on Lanzarote

The start of February traditionally sees one of the first professional races of the European season taking place on the island of Mallorca. Many of the top European riders use the event to test their form and get used to racing with new teammates. This year the event clashed with another top level race taking place in Qatar, with several teams attracted to the warmer desert weather as a place to start their 2010 campaign.

Continue reading... Pro Cyclists in Mallorca Race

Serious athletes and people who just run for fun are catered for in this year's half marathon race to be held during April in the town of Pollenca on the north coast of Mallorca.

Continue reading... Run for Fun in Mallorca

When you drive into Palma de Mallorca from the east you pass by one of the city's largest but perhaps most perplexing buildings. The huge La Seu Cathedral sits almost uncomfortably on the sea front with busy roads passing close by and only a man-made lake and a narrow strip of parkland separating it from the lines of traffic. It's size also makes it look unwieldy against the surrounding architecture, almost as if it was placed there temporarily until a more fitting location could be found.

Continue reading... Palma's La Seu Cathedral

After losing to a dominant Barcelona in their home game against the Spanish champions on 10th January, Tenerife's footballing heroes were up against it once again at the end of February when Spain's second most powerful team Real Madrid headed across the Atlantic to take on the home team. Despite dropping further and further down Spain's equivalent of the UK Premier division as the season goes on, Tenerife's local football fans are making the most of the promotion they gained last year to welcome some of the world's best footballers to their doorstep.

Continue reading... More Big Football On Tenerife

The general slow down in many industry sectors across Europe is not being taken lying down by the tourism authorities responsible for the Balearic islands that include Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca.

Continue reading... Menorca Benefits from Tourism Investment

For many people, primarily those who have never been there, Mallorca creates the impression of being a typical beach-based resort, often filled with rowdy twenty-somethings on a cheap week away, but for those who have visited the island and ventured away from the one of two resorts that seem to make the holiday headlines, Mallorca is a real jewel in the Mediterranean.

Continue reading... Mallorca Has Hidden Charms

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

Beaches and nightclubs may grab most of the holiday headlines when Ibiza is mentioned but during January and March the island's Flower Power and Hippy era is centre stage at two of the island's festivals.

Continue reading... Flower Power On Ibiza

Colourful costumes, street parades, plenty of parties and of course great food and drink are the ingredients for most carnival events and things are not too different on Ibiza. For five days during February the main towns on the island seem to stop work and get down to the serious business of letting their hair down. If you can't quite imagine what goes on there, then think back to the best fancy dress party you ever went to and multiply it by a factor of ten. Everyone, whether part of an organised group in the parade or just watching from the pavements, is encouraged to dress as brightly, even as outrageously, as possible.

Continue reading... Ibiza Celebrations

During the Summer months, many of our passengers on flights to Ibiza travel to the island to enjoy the thriving nightlife as much as the sun and beaches. The six months or more between the time when most of the clubs close in October through to their reopening in May and June may seem a lifetime, but many will already be planning their trips at this time of year to get the best deals.

Continue reading... Ibiza Summer 2010

During the early part of the year, between January and April most of the towns, villages and cities on Fuerteventura put on some form of carnival celebration. The typical Fuerteventuran carnival includes a street parade, fair ground rides, plenty of food and drink and the endless beat of music from live bands. There are also Carnival Queens in many towns.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura Carnivals in 2010

Most people choose to fly to Tenerife for their holidays, but for the 3000 passengers on one of the world's biggest cruise ships, Santa Cruz de Tenerife was a stopping point on their sea voyage that started in Barcelona during December 2009 and had already visited Casablanca before leaving the Mediterranean to head for the Canaries.

Continue reading... Tenerife Welcomes World's Biggest Cruise Ship

If we are talking about the January weather in the UK too much, it's because it seems to be the only talking point around at the moment but also because it provides a stark contrast to the conditions in many of our winter sun destinations.

Continue reading... A Far Cry From Fuerteventura

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 Spanish music style of Flamenco is the kind of music played during traditional dances with performers dressed in stylish costume. The ladies wear long flowing skirts while the men dress in outfits that symbolise the attire normally associated with bullfighting. But in Spain, Flamenco is better known as a form of music rather than a dance. The castanets, or palillos as they are known locally, are small-hand held percussion instruments usually played in pairs.

Continue reading... Shake Out Your Castanets in The Canaries

We've been writing about the forthcoming carnival events in our various holiday destinations for quite a while now. The celebrations in the various resorts are spread over several weeks during February and March, with the majority of the larger events being held on the weekend of 13th and 14th of February.

Continue reading... Carnival - The Big One

There may have been a big freeze across northern Europe at the beginning of January but the attractions for tourists soaking up the sun in Gran Canaria were added to on 8th January when the Canary Islands Music Festival started in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Continue reading... Canary Islands Music Festival Schedule

If you go to the Canary Islands for a winter break, don't be surprised to find the locals with a healthy appetite for watching football. The islands currently have several successful teams, one that competes in the top Spanish League and others that play more locally.

Continue reading... Canaries Football Spotlight

When you fly to Lanzarote the aircraft will arrive at the island's main airport in Arrecife. The airport is conveniently situated midway along the east coast making transfers to most of the island's main tourist hotspots relatively short, in fact as the whole island is only around 35 miles long, transfer distances are rarely more than 20 miles.

Continue reading... Arrecife Carnival on Lanzarote

The Mediterranean resort of Antalya in Turkey claims to have grown its January tourist numbers by over 30 per cent in 2010 compared to the same month in 2009. This claim is based on the number of tourists arriving at Antalya airport during the month.

Continue reading... Antalya Tourist Numbers Climb

Tree blossom brings a welcome boost of colour to UK trees in spring, but for Mediterranean islands like Mallorca and Menorca, as well as the islands of the Canaries, spring blossom arrives a little earlier in February thanks to the almond trees.

Continue reading... Almond Blossom In February

Since beach volleyball became part of the Olympics in 1996, its popularity has boomed. In October last year, Tenerife hosted a top level mens tournament at Siam Park.

Continue reading... International Volleyball in Tenerife

Football fans are always treated to a feast of action over the Christmas period when most of the top UK clubs have a series of games. In Europe too, the New Year also sees renewed interest in the game and football fans who travelled to the island of Mallorca during January had a chance to watch some of mainland Europe's top players.

Continue reading... Top Flight Football in Mallorca

Tenerife is dependent on tourism for much of its commercial activity and is working hard to overcome the issues presented by the recession. Resort improvements and hotel renovations are taking place all over the island. Reduced consumer spending power has meant a drop in tourist numbers for many destinations across Europe, with some places seeing as much as a quarter of previous trade disappearing.

Continue reading... Tenerife Counts Tourism Figures

Discovering that you're one of the top ten contenders in line for Britain's most prestigious sports award might be enough to persuade most people to venture up the motorway to Sheffield. For Jenson Button and Mark Cavendish the journey to the BBC awards night was a little longer, as earlier in the month they were both on the island of Lanzarote getting in some warm weather training.

Continue reading... Sports Celebrities in Lanzarote

Add running to your next holiday. More and more people seem to be turning to the sport of running as a method of keeping fit and healthy. As far as equipment is concerned running comes a close second to swimming for not needing any expensive or specialist kit.

Continue reading... Running on Malta and Ibiza

One of the more unusual sporting events on Lanzarote this year saw over 700 competitors setting off on the 23rd January from the African coast and racing the 100 miles or so to Lanzarote. The cash prize for the first one home was a healthy 6000 Euros, so competition was fierce with only the very fittest and fastest in with a chance of winning.

Continue reading... Race to Lanzarote

The sun is already shining on Mallorca and the island hasn't even got to its main event of the year yet. Just like all Spanish towns, Palma's biggest festive event took place, not on 25th December, but on 6th January.

Continue reading... New Year Arts in Mallorca

If you travel to the island of Menorca during January for a quiet winter sun break and you may stumble across an unexpected national celebration.

Continue reading... Celebrate National Day On Menorca

The holiday island of Lanzarote organised a group of marathons with a difference in October 2009, where musical accompaniment was the main feature of running events aimed at athletes of all abilities.

Continue reading... Music Marathon on Lanzarote

Cycling around the roads of Lanzarote may be the choice of professional racing teams for their pre-season training camps or keen amateur cyclists escaping the uncertain conditions of a wet British spring, but Lanzarote has more to offer than just road-based routes.

Continue reading... Mountain Bike Around Lanzarote

If you are visiting Mallorca and like to eat out in the best restaurants then a visit to one of the island's top eateries ought to be on your schedule.

Continue reading... Michelin Star Restaurants 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

A spectacular kite flying day took place in San Antonio, Ibiza on the 25th January 2009. This traditional event is part of the town's month-long fiesta programme and sees hundreds of kites, of all shapes and sizes, take to the air from the town's beaches.

Continue reading... Ibiza Kite Flying Day

When the big nightclubs on Ibiza are approaching the end of their long season the island is gearing up for a ten day Jetski festival that will attract riders from all over Europe.

Continue reading... Jetski Festival in Ibiza

Ask anyone to name the islands in the Canaries and most would, without much trouble, come up with the main four islands of Tenerife , Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. After all that's where most of the holiday companies and airline operators provide services for. However there are actually 8 main islands, the others being La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa, the smallest of the inhabited islands of the Chinijo Archipelago off Lanzarote.

Continue reading... La Gomera In The Canaries

Body Boarding or Boogie Boarding is not a new sport, in fact this easier version of surfing is claimed to have been invented in California almost 40 years ago. But don't be fooled, those Californians have a habit of picking an ancient custom and skill, adding a twist and claiming it as their own. The Californian surfboard designer who carved his first body board from a chunk of polystyrene foam was in fact doing exactly what Polynesian natives had done thousands of years earlier to allow them to float and surf the waves around their islands.

Continue reading... Boogie Boarding Lanzarote

One of the best ways to experience the true Gran Canaria is to take part in the annual carnival that started this year on the 26th January 2010.

Continue reading... Las Palmas Carnival

Rapidly turning into Turkey's hottest new kid on the block in terms of tourism, Belek is a region on the coast of southern Turkey which includes the town of Belek itself, the city of Antalya and the stunning Aspendos amphitheatre. Here the coastline is scattered with "blue flag" quality beaches, newly developed tourist centres and a variety of historic and cultural attractions.

Continue reading... Glorious Golf in Belek

Visitors to the island of Fuerteventura may be interested in going along to a new monthly market that aims to promote the produce of local farmers. Alongside tourism, Fuerteventura's next commercial strength is its agriculture, with farmers using the island's clement weather to grow everything from wheat crops, to tomatoes, onions, garlic and even bananas. Much of this activity takes place away from the main tourist areas and unless people make a specific effort, this side of the island can easily be missed.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura's Biosphere Market

While much of Britain still experienced cold, snowy weather and temperatures in Scotland plummeted to as low as minus sixteen, we thought a round up of the weather in our key winter sun destinations would warm you up a little.

Continue reading... Festive Weather Round Up

Ibiza is one of those holiday islands that enjoys a bit of a break from September onwards. The busy summer crowds have subsided and the vast sandy beaches are more easily admired. The tourists who take their holidays in September, having waited until the school-age children have returned home, have been able to enjoy a more peaceful time on the island. Once October arrives everything eases back to a slower pace, the international nightclubs that Ibiza is famous for have had their end of season parties and the islands is given back to the locals for a few months.

Continue reading... Christmas on Ibiza

The Turkish travel industry has been enjoying some golden times recently, times, which in the light of lower tourist numbers in many other established regions, are even more impressive.

Continue reading... Brits Boost Turkish Tourism Figures

Some of the big sporting events in Lanzarote during 2010 have been announced and are already attracting entries from competitors.

Continue reading... Sport 2010 on Lanzarote

The first weekend of December saw the skies of Tenerife filled with colourful paragliders as the island hosted an international competition.

Continue reading... Paragliders in Tenerife

We have just read an article that questioned whether Menorca effectively "died" during November, meaning did everything shut down following the end of the summer season. The conclusion was a resounding "no", with there being plenty to interest visitors on this beautiful island during Autumn. Of course there are fewer people on Menorca once the main summer season slows down, in fact the people count may drop to as low as 30 per cent of the summer peak, but that just means more space and a more relaxing environment for everyone.

Continue reading... Menorca During November

Once again Gran Canaria briefly became home to over 200 yachts as the fleet for the annual ARC trans-atlantic yacht race assembled in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ahead of the event.

Continue reading... Transatlantic Yachts in Gran Canaria

Lanzarote's Open de Canarias de Ala Delta hang gliding competition took place between the 6th and 12th December this year.

Continue reading... International Hang Gliding on Lanzarote

You are never too far away from a classical music performance in the town of Palma de Mallorca. The cultural roots of this town are deep in Mallorca and all forms of music are frequently represented on the event calendar. From the annual Chopin Piano Festival in Valldemossa to the outdoor summer concerts at the towering Bellver Castle in Palma, Mallorca has more than its share of inspirational venues too.

Continue reading... Mallorca Gets Classical

Visitors to Mallorca during the peak months of the summer more often than not stay in their resorts for the duration of their stay. But for those coming to the island during December there are plenty of reasons to take a trip into the capital Palma, to experience the sights and sounds as the Mallorcan Christmas approaches. In terms of music there are many different Christmas concerts, during the early part of the month there was also a varied choice of concerts in different musical styles, that provided something for everyone.

Continue reading... Music Variety in Mallorca During December

If you are looking for a high energy New Year party followed by some peaceful relaxation in the sun away from the cold, wet weather that is currently shrouding the UK, then Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt may be just the ticket.

Continue reading... Plan your New Year Party in Sharm

As a holiday island that relies on tourism for much of its commercial activity, the authorities in Mallorca have a responsibility to their business community to provide a continuing stream of events and attractions that help bring visitors to the island all year round. Mallorca has slowly developed a tried and tested seasonal shift that sees the springtime favouring the activities of cyclists and athletes, who come to the island for warm weather training. Then the long summer panders to the millions of sun and beach lovers who enjoy the island's many perfect resorts. Autumn sees a switch to sailing and also culture that brings art and music festivals to the island. At the end of the year Christmas provides a perfect bridge to the golfing season that takes over in the New Year.

Continue reading... Mallorca's Seasonal Shift

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

The normally quiet town of Inca, lying 17 miles north east of Palma on the island of Mallorca, suddenly became the centre of attention during November. The Autumn fairs of Inca are traditional events that go back many years and attract huge crowds over the 4 weekends which started on 24th October.

Continue reading... Dijous Bo on Mallorca

When promoters were looking for the perfect place to host a Christmas Fair in Palma de Mallorca, the unique Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) was always going to be a frontrunner. This unique open air museum, village and shopping centre was an obvious choice for somewhere that could be transformed at Christmas into something very special.

Continue reading... Special Authentic Christmas in Palma Mallorca

Flights to Lanzarote donated by Thomas Cook helped a team of three that triumphed in a charity jail break challenge during November.

Continue reading... Thomas Cook Flights Assist Charity Jailbreak

December is now upon us and Christmas celebrations are starting to begin in earnest with many countries seeing traditional Christmas fairs and markets springing up in their towns and villages.

Continue reading... Christmas Fairs and Markets

With the festive season just a few weeks away, plans for getting away for some seasonal sun may be uppermost in the minds of those who prefer to spend the period in a warmer climate.

Continue reading... Christmas Getaway

November and December are the perfect months to explore the lesser known areas of Mallorca. Hire a car, hop onto a bus or use Mallorca's rejuvenated rail network to travel to some of the islands traditional towns and villages. Many visitors to Mallorca stay in the beach resorts either side of the capital Palma, the coastal areas in the north around Alcudia and Pollenca or the beach resorts on the east coast like Cala Millor or Porto Christo.

Continue reading... Exploring Mallorca

The islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote are no strangers to the international film industry. Tenerife hosts an international film festival, the next edition of which happens in June 2010 and the islands have also been used numerous times in films such as The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy and also several episodes of Dr Who.

Continue reading... Film Crew in the Canaries

The island of Fuerteventura has a long history of successful agriculture, so what better way to sample some of that produce than to try some traditional Fuerteventuran dishes during your visit.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura Food Tradition

Does the name Meadowlark ring any bells with you? Maybe not, but if you were a watcher of children's TV back in the 1970's the name may start to awaken some fond memories of your carefree childhood days. Meadowlark was one of the happy-go-lucky characters in the children's Hanna-Barbera cartoon representation of the famous Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. That team became a worldwide phenomenon at the time and the current members of the team are still pleasing audiences around the world today. Their recent international tour included visits to the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. The team made one of their final appearances of the current tour when they performed in Monastir , Tunisia on the 16th October at the Pavillion Salle Couverter.

Continue reading... Harlem Globetrotters on Tour

The Mallorca Festival of Music has now concluded, its two final concerts were held in October and November.

Continue reading... Mallorca Festival of Music

If you were due to be on holiday in Tenerife during the first weekend of November and were upset about not being able to get to Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea play Manchester City or to Upton park to watch West Ham play Everton, then you could try a little local football on your holiday island.

Continue reading... Premier League Football on Tenerife

In Europe the Autumn period seems to be the time when many areas host festivals celebrating local produce and cuisine. A little research has revealed that food fairs are now held in many popular tourist areas at the end of the summer season and serve to provide visitors with a taste of local cuisine and traditions.

Continue reading... Food Fairs in Autumn

The town of Sa Pobla is one of the larger towns in Northern Mallorca, but being situated around 20 miles to the north of Palma and set inland it doesn't receive much attention from tourists visiting the island. This is a town populated largely by native Mallorcans, without the abundance of holiday homes that are a feature of some of the more picturesque parts of the island. The main industry around Sa Pobla is agriculture and the flat countryside around the town is a patchwork of well cultivated fields growing all kinds of produce.

Continue reading... Sa Pobla Autumn Fair

During October the St Peters Singers, a fifty strong chamber choir from Leeds, England performed a number of concerts during a short tour of the island of Mallorca.

Continue reading... St Peters Singers in Palma

There were two International sporting events that featured on the events calendar of the island of Lanzarote during November.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Sports November

The fifth annual Volta Menorca is a three day off-road mountain bike challenge that was held this year on the 10th, 11th and 12th of October.

Continue reading... Volta Menorca 2009

There were two International sporting events that featured on the events calendar of the island of Lanzarote during November.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Sports November

Colourful skies were promised at the annual Fuerteventura Kite Festival in November this year.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura Kite Festival

Once again Gran Canaria briefly becomes home to over 200 yachts as the fleet for the annual ARC trans-atlantic yacht race assembles in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ahead of the event.

Continue reading... Transatlantic Yachts in Gran Canaria

The world famous club scene on Ibiza approached the big closing party season in late September.

Continue reading... Ibiza Clubs Round Off 2009 Season

With the Canary Islands being surrounded by Atlantic Ocean you would expect much of their commercial and leisure activities to involve water, but that is not always the case. However during October this year a group of hardy athletes tackled a challenging journey across the waters between two of the islands.

Continue reading... Lanzarote to Fuerteventura Swim

Almost 20 years after his last performance on the island, Leonard Cohen returned to Mallorca to give a concert at the Palma Arena.

Continue reading... Leonard Cohen in Palma

With professional cyclists competing in the 21 stage Tour of Spain, or Vuelta a Espana, the island of Ibiza was putting together final preparations for its own, smaller scale, event.

Continue reading... Cycle Tour of Ibiza in October

During the summer months the resort of Alcudia on the northern coast of Mallorca transforms into a buzzing beach location, fringed with a huge selection of luxury hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes and one of the best sandy beaches on the island. Once the peak months of the summer are gone, everything starts to move at a slightly slower pace, although the resort doesn't quite return to the peaceful, quiet rural zone it once was before tourism discovered it.

Continue reading... Alcudia Fair in October

Mallorca's three month long Jazz Voyeur Festival continues at the Conservatori venue in Palma with four interesting concerts during November.

Continue reading... International Jazz in Palma Mallorca

Runners who love wine were able to combine both of their desires on 21st June when Club La Santa on Lanzarote held its first ever Wine Run. The race, over the half marathon distance, took runners through the wine region of the island, providing them with tasting samples en route.

Continue reading... Vintage Run on Lanzarote

Music and the island of Mallorca seem to be very closely linked and the pretty port of Soller hosted its own series of concerts during September and October this year.

Continue reading... Port de Soller Festival on Mallorca

During September the island of Fuerteventura celebrated one of its most important annual festivals.

Continue reading... Fuerteventuras Lady of the Rock

The Canary Islands International Jazz Festival was in full swing this year kicking off with a series of great performances where the beach at Telde on Gran Canaria and Puerto de la Cruz on the north coast of Tenerife both played host for opening night concerts.

Continue reading... Gran Canaria and Tenerife Open Jazz Festival

The smaller island of Gomera, off the coast of Tenerife hosted its first Gomera Rock festival in August this year.

Continue reading... Tenerife Gomera Rock festival

Mallorca has a fine reputation as a summer beach holiday destination however there is a lot more to this amazing island than just fine beaches and holiday resorts.

Continue reading... Felanitx Festival in Mallorca

The night clubs are well known but dancing of a different type took centre stage on Ibiza during August.

Continue reading... Dance and Celebrate on Ibiza

The main holiday season may be starting to wind down in some mainland European resorts, but the Canary Islands have a year-round season to enjoy.

Continue reading... Events in Lanzarote during August and September

The beachfront area in Palma, Mallorca played host to an exciting surf event at the end of August.

Continue reading... Mallorca Surf Action 2009

Cars of all shapes, sizes and age will depart Plymouth in England during December on a long journey to Banjul in The Gambia.

Continue reading... Plymouth Banjul Rally

Tenerife is an exotic island that's known for a large ex-Pat British community delivers so much more ithan what you've come to expect. It is a scenic volcanic island, the largest of the seven Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of north west Africa. Tenerife is the most populated island of the Canary Islands and Spain and is famous as the "island of eternal spring" (Isla de la Eterna Primavera) as the average winter temperature is 22 degrees Celsius while in summer average temperatures remain about 28 C. Tenerife is sunny all year round.

Continue reading... Tenerife Island of Eternal Spring

The small but perfectly formed island of Menorca is somewhat overshadowed by its flashier and more famous neighbours Ibiza and Mallorca. But this compact slice of paradise which lies off the coast of Spain in the Med is a Balearic jewel, too, and a great getaway for families, couples and singles.

Continue reading... Minorca - Part 1

The eastern most island of the Canaries, Lanzarote is a place of spectacular natural beauty. This unspoilt volcanic island will bowl you over with its extraordinary rock formations, mountains, seascapes and desert plains. With so much to enjoy here, Lanzarote is a superb beach break for a relaxing or active holiday.

Continue reading... Lanzarote - Part 1

In a move that appears to be bucking the trend experienced in other parts of Europe, the Greek Islands are seeing improved tourist figures for the first four months of the year.

Continue reading... Greeks Islands Proving Popular

Ibiza is a place where the club scene is nothing short of legendary. But beyond the nightlife, Ibiza sizzles during the languid summer days with sublime beaches, hippie charm, and nature's beauty. The locals are hospitable with long held artistic traditions and inventive culinary skills. In short, Ibiza is much more than the party capital of Europe and has fast become a favourite holiday vacation for families and couples, too.

Continue reading... More To Ibiza Than Clubbing

Deciding on a new destination for your next holiday is both exciting and difficult. The prospect of discovering new and wonderful places is set against the worry of potentially being disappointed with your choice of location. Travel brochures have pages of tempting pictures of beautiful scenery and attractive descriptions and the resorts themselves use all kinds of marketing strategies to attract as many visitors as possible. As part of this promotion you may have heard some resorts describe their beaches as "blue flag", but what does that actually mean?

Continue reading... Blue Flag Beaches

Despite so many opportunities to relax here, Palma also is a city that encourages activity and exploration. Main tourist beaches offer a range of activities such as volleyball, windsurfing, water and jet skiing.

Continue reading... Palma Part 2

The 7th Bodrum Ballet Festival is scheduled to take place in August this year, with the historical Bodrum Castle being the main venue.

Continue reading... Bodrum Ballet Festival

The towering Bellver Castle, situated in the woods high above the city of Palma in Mallorca, is home to an annual music festival during July.

Continue reading... Music Towers above Palma

FlyThomasCook have announced an additional weekly flight to extend the existing offerings to three flights per week between Manchester and Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.

Continue reading... Extra Flights to Fuerteventura

Extra flights have been added to the schedules at FlyThomasCook which bring greater flexibility for passengers travelling to the island of Lanzarote from Manchester, East Midlands and Gatwick.

Continue reading... Extra Flights to Lanzarote

Visitors to the island of Lanzarote next weekend will have the opportunity to sample the Festival of Arrecife, a series of musical events taking place at different venues around the city on Friday and Saturday.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Festival in Arrecife

Menorca is often quoted as being preferred over Mallorca as a holiday destination for Spanish tourists and it may be the quieter, more relaxed feel of its resorts that attracts them. Certainly Menorca is a great place for a family holiday.

Continue reading... Peaceful Menorca

Starting on the 3rd of July 2009, the 18th Canaries Jazz Festival kicks off with performances on Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Acts from all over the world are playing during the week long festival and on the second day concerts are taking place on 4 different islands in the group.

Continue reading... Canaries Jazz Festival

FlyThomasCook will add a new Tuesday flight to its Manchester - Arrecife route that, together with the existing Thursday and Sunday flights, will bring more choice and additional flexibility for people flying to the island of Lanzarote. The additional flight will operate from 4th August until 27th October 2009 inclusively.

Continue reading... Extra Flights to Lanzarote

The festival is being organised by the Cyprus Centre of International Theatre, which was founded in 1977 to promote theatre on the island. During the month of July eight different theatre groups will be welcomed to the island with performances taking place at venues in Paphos, Limassol and Nicosia. Prices for each performance are 17 Euros.

Continue reading... Paphos venue for celebration of Drama

The Canary Islands are rightly proud of their residents and one of them, artist Cesar Manrique, has left a distinct impression on many of the islands but particularly on his home of Lanzarote. Manrique was sadly killed in a car accident in 1992 but his life on the islands has left behind many legacies.

Continue reading... Swim in Style on Tenerife

Holidays in Turkey are certainly increasingly popular with some remarkable beaches, luxury resorts and a spectacular coastline that changes from developed tourist destination to isolated countryside at the turn of a peninsula. At the western end of the south coast, between the Gulfs of Gulluk and Gokova, lies the city of Bodrum. Although it is surrounded by a varied choice of smaller holiday resorts, Bodrum itself is a popular location that offers an eclectic mix of ancient culture, indulgence in luxury and exciting modern trends. By day Bodrum revolves around two attractive bays, a busy marina full of luxury yachts, an ancient castle and long, palm-shaded promenades. By night in Bodrum comes alive with hundreds of bars and restaurants, outdoor socialising and some of Europe's most exciting nightclubs.

Continue reading... Bodrum Comes Alive at Night

There are now several annual jazz festivals held on the island, and a permanent jazz club has found a home in the Hotel Saratoga, a four star hotel in the centre of Palma with views over the harbour area. The hotel hosts the Blue Jazz Club where artists play in the seventh floor bar every Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the season. The venue is perfect for some summer evening jazz as it offers outdoor areas with spectacular views over the bay and city.

Continue reading... Jazz in Mallorca

Having spent half a million Euros on a campaign to improve beach safety, the regional Government of Majorca is asking local coastal councils to play their part. The problem of jellyfish, which some are expecting to find their way closer to the shore this year, is receiving additional attention. The authorities are hoping to implement a type of early warning system, where anyone making sightings out at sea is being encouraged to contact the emergency authorities on the island, who will communicate with local beach management teams to provide warnings for holidaymakers.

Continue reading... Majorca aims for Safer Beaches

Top tennis player Rafael Nadal may have been beaten in the French Open but he is still fully supporting the promotion of tourism for his homeland, namely the island of Mallorca. Nadal, who comes from the town of Manacor on the eastern coast of Mallorca, had to make the difficult decision to leave the island when aged 14 and move to the Spanish mainland to pursue his tennis career. It proved to be the right move as the 23 year old has been world ranked number one since August 2008, but the top player loves his homeland and still lives in the family home on the island with his grandparents, parents and uncle/coach Toni Nadal. Rafael is a regular at the local tennis club in Manacor and was there recently preparing for the French Open.

Continue reading... Nadal Supports Tourism in Mallorca

Club La Santa in Lanzarote is regarded by many as one of the best sports resorts in Europe. It certainly has plenty to offer in terms of facilities and the mild winter climate helps to attract thousands of sports people to the island throughout the year. The club first opened in 1983 and has grown in stature and size consistently ever since, however a recent issue has brought a temporary halt to development work aimed at expanding facilities.

Continue reading... Additional Sports Facilities in Lanzarote

The Greek islands of Rhodes, Crete and Zante are among many holiday destinations in Greece that will benefit from the smoking ban that is being brought forward to July 1st 2009 from its original introduction date of January 1st 2010. With smoking banned in public places across much of Europe already, Greece is one of a few countries yet to introduce the legislation that bans smoking in public places like restaurants, hotels and cafes. The fact that smoking is still allowed in these places at the moment comes as a surprise to many visitors of holiday destinations in Greece and has been seen as a significant disadvantage by tourist authorities.

Continue reading... Smoking Ban in Greece brought forward

Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, got its second tramline route this weekend when operator Tranvia opened an additional link to its network in the city. The new line supplements the existing line by adding a route between the areas of Tincer and La Cuesta. On the opening day the company organised all kinds of events to celebrate the occasion and for the first two days of operation was offering free journeys for all passengers. The existing line runs for a distance of around 8 miles between La Laguna to Santa Cruz and the new line adds a further 2.5 miles of line between Tincer and La Cuesta.

Continue reading... Expansion of Tram network in Tenerife

Divers will be spoilt for choice here as Corralejo offers many diving sites for all diving levels to view vibrant fish, sea urchins and volcanic rocks.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura - The Canary Islands - Part 2

The island of Lanzarote is a great place to relax for many people, but on one long day in May there were plenty of people doing just the opposite. The Lanzarote Ironman triathlon is regarded by many as the toughest triathlon in the world. Besides having to contend with the huge distances and endurance challenges involved, athletes also have to battle against the unique conditions the island throws at them. These normally include the high temperatures and windy conditions that prevail on Lanzarote's volcanic landscape. There is very little in terms of vegetation when you get up onto the higher mountain roads on the island and the wind can feel relentlesss for a tired cyclist.

Continue reading... Lanzarote's Longest Day

Talking about the nightclubs on the island first. One of the most famous is perhaps Pacha, which is a large venue and the only club that is open all year round, with others not opening until late May. The claim of being the largest club is now owned by Privilege which has an unusual history. The club started life as a local swimming pool which became popular after a bar was added and it started playing music under the name Club Rafael. Name changes, storms, closures and new investment has brought the club to where it is today, the biggest nightclub in the world.

Continue reading... Discover Ibiza

The islands are no strangers to motorsport events as the larger Rally Islas Canarias takes place earlier in the year and usually attracts large crowds. As a nation the Spanish are great fans of all motor sports. Fernando Alonso is their top Formula One driver while Jorge Lorenzo, who was born in Palma de Mallorca, is a top Moto GP rider.

Continue reading... Fast Cars in Gran Canaria

The most prominent feature of the small town of Felanitx on the island of Mallorca is certainly an imposing one. Felanitx is a thriving town in the south of the island, 12 miles north east of Palma but perched on the top of a 510m high hill on the outskirts of the town is the stunning Monastery of Sant Salvador.

Continue reading... Majorcan Monastery hosts Concerts

An intoxicating coastline of white sandy beaches plus top restaurants and clubs, Palma is a mecca for the traveller who appreciates the very best of everything. The capital of the Balearic Islands, Palma is upmarket, eternally chic, and perfectly suited for walking as it's compact and navigable for pedestrians.

Continue reading... Palma de Mallorca - Balearics - Part 1

With a lush and dramatic landscape and so much to do both on sea and land, Fuerteventura possesses riches to attract both the budget and discriminating traveller all year round.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura - The Canary Islands - Part 1

During the months of July and August sixteen trawlers will monitor the coastlines around Majorca and the other islands in the Balearics looking for and catching jellyfish. The creatures tend to move into warmer waters during this time of year and can be swept up onto beaches by onshore winds. By catching any shoals that are close to the shoreline the authorities predict that the threat will be reduced and therefore improve the holiday experience for visitors to the islands.

Continue reading... Jellyfish clean up in Majorca

Keen to showcase the natural and raw beauty of the their islands, the Canary Islands Tourist Board has sponsored a garden at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. The tourist board responsible for promoting the Canary Island Archipelago is working hard to maintain the strong ties between the island group and visitors from the UK. Tourists from the UK have always formed the majority of visitors to the seven Spanish islands located off the North African coast which include Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

Continue reading... Canaries come to Chelsea

It is possible to see the occasional dolphin or basking shark in UK coastal waters, particularly off the Cornish coast, but if you are looking for bigger creatures such as Minke whales, Sperm whales or Blue whales then Fuerteventura is only a four hour flight from the UK.

Continue reading... Whale watching in Fuerteventura

A varied mix of over forty events are planned across the seven islands, featuring cultural performances of music, film and theatre, sporting competitions and traditional celebrations.

Continue reading... Plans Announced for Canaries Celebration Day

The Balearic island of Menorca is often overshadowed by its larger neighbour Mallorca, but there are some wonderful places here that have remained largely unknown to many. Menorca is often quoted as being preferred over Mallorca as a holiday destination for Spanish tourists and it may be the quieter, more relaxed feel of its resorts that attracts them. Certainly Menorca is a great place for a family holiday.

Continue reading... Peaceful Menorca

The Rod Stewart concert, on the 16th May, is expected to be the biggest of the 3 main rock and pop events to come to Tenerife over the summer and the organisers have chosen to put on the outdoor concert at the Golf Costa Adeje resort in order to cater for the demand expected. This is easily the biggest concert to come to the island since Sir Elton John played to 20,000 people there in January 2008.

Continue reading... Tenerife Gears up for Musical Summer

The Lanzarote Ironman event has taken place annually for the past 17 years and has become one of the premier races on the world triathlon calendar. Competitors face a 3.8km sea swim, followed by a 180km bike leg looping around the island's volcanic terrain and finally a gruelling marathon distance run around 4 laps of a course at Puerto del Carmen.

Continue reading... Lanzarote plays host to Sporting Ironmen and Women

The streets and squares of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria are preparing to welcome the world's best freestyle skaters as the first round of the 2009 World Cup Series for the sport comes to the island in the middle of May.

Continue reading... Street Skating comes to Gran Canaria

The island of Fuerteventura in the Canaries has its own unique mix of wildlife dictated largely by its climate. The weather is rarely cold on Fuerteventura and warm dry days are the norm almost all year round. It is because of this that the island has a very limited number of animals living wild. There is however a zoo on the island at Oasis Park that is home to 200 species but hardly any are native to the island.

Continue reading... Find the Wildlife in Fuerteventura

The opening of the Siam Park water complex was certainly long awaited. Construction started back in 2004 on what is reputed to be the biggest water park in Europe, but delays and construction problems delayed the opening by 16 months.

Continue reading... New Water Park in Tenerife

Mount Teide in Tenerife is the spectacular high point of the island. In fact, as well as being the highest point of the Canary Islands, it is also the highest mountain in the whole of Spain which is all the more remarkable when you consider that Spain is also home to the Pyrenees. In the Pyrenees, which strech from the Atlantic coast across to the Mediteranean between France and Spain, there are almost fifty peaks higher than 3000m but none are as high as the 3718m peak of Mount Teide.

Continue reading... Tenerife High Point

Just imagine all the ingredients required for a perfect golf holiday coming together nicely.

Continue reading... The Perfect Golf Holiday

If your holiday to Mallorca needs to include more than just endless lazy days relaxing on the beach then the island has plenty to offer those willing to explore the island. Mallorca has dramatic coastal scenery but inland the Tramuntana mountains provide a completely different geography. Almost one hundred years ago a railway line was built to link the capital Palma with the town of Soller in the north west of the island. The purpose of the 27 kilometer line was to ease the commercial development of the Soller area as previously the only way to reach the capital was the long journey over difficult mountain terrain.

Continue reading... The Old Train to Soller in Mallorca

For wine regions around the world the harvesting of a new vintage is the most important period of the year and many, including the Spanish region of Andalucia, celebrate with a range of traditional festivals.

Continue reading... Celebrate the New Vintage in Andalucia