Top 5 Historic Paradores in Spain

Here are five of Spain’s most stunning, history-rich Paradores

Top 5 Historic Paradores in Spain Top 5 Historic Paradores in Spain

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The Ultimate Compilation of Travel Resources

The following is a list of travel resources I have found to be incredibly useful while planning a trip or while on a trip

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How to master the art of negotiation while traveling

The Souks of Marrakech in Morocco are a market that will test and sharpen your skills at negotiating

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When booking a holiday, one of the most important aspects is the accommodation. The right accommodation can make a holiday absolutely perfect, while the wrong type of accommodation can ruin a holiday.

Finding the right type of accommodation may seem daunting at first but there are a few handy hints to make the task a lot easier. The first aspect to look at when considering accommodation is the location. There is no point in paying low prices for accommodation in the middle of nowhere with no available transport. The easiest way to check the location is to locate the property on a map, paying attention to nearby transport options such as buses and subways. If the accommodation is not located near the centre of a city or town then make sure that the transport runs frequently and late at night or if there is parking available for hire cars. Also, is the accommodation is located within the city, the safety and noise level of the area should be taken into consideration.

Another important consideration for finding the right place to stay is to assess what type of accommodation is needed. For families; hotels, guesthouses and holiday camps offer secure accommodation with handy services. Large groups of individuals, particularly stag and hen parties are more suited to large apartments which can be shared. Smaller groups and individual travellers will find hotels suitable as well as hostels which provide basic accommodation. Special consideration must be taken for sporting holidays such as ski trips or surfing holidays, as storage for equipment and location are important.

This accommodation can vary in quality and one way to avoid booking poor quality accommodation is to be aware of previous customer`s reviews which can often be found on independent travel websites. For hotels, the star rating is a good indication of quality while other types of accommodation may be awarded local tourist commendations as well as international awards for service. Another aspect to be aware of is that some accommodation offers unique features such as art hotels which are available in a number of cities.

Of course all these different types of accommodation vary in price with the cheapest typically being hostels and the most expensive being luxury hotels. However, cheap accommodation of all types can be found simply by shopping around and taking advantage of special offers. A number of websites offer special deals on accommodation particularly for last minute bookings but the accommodation will also usually offer special prices and discounts.

By following these handy hints, there`s no reason why booking accommodation can`t be simple and stress free. With so many great examples of accommodation across Europe such as Barcelona secret rooms and hidden rooms in Paris, there are lots of great places to enjoy your stay.

Everyone needs a little sunshine in their lives and during the darkest depths of winter it can really chase the blues away if you fly off to a winter sun destination. There are lots of easily accessible places to spend a few relaxing days or weeks.

India is a truly diverse country with many different landscapes, regional variations of language and culture and ethnicity. For the beach-based break, head to the tropical destination of Goa, which offers palm fringed, soft white sand beaches and the fantastic local cuisine is world famous. Many thousands flock here during the winter months and it is easy to see what the attraction is.

Head to the United States of America and go south to the state of Florida, which offers the holidaymaker a wide variety of options. Treat the kids and the adults to a trip to Disneyland or venture even further south to the Florida Keys and follow in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway by taking in some deep-water fishing.

To really experience the opposite seasons travel to the other side of the world and visit New Zealand. This beautiful country has truly spectacular scenery with vast mountains, rivers and lakes. There are natural springs to bathe in and at the top of the North Island, you can witness the coming together of two oceans, a sight once seen will never be forgotten.

Barbados offers a tropical paradise holiday with an edge of excitement. This island is surrounded by the beautiful, calm Caribbean Sea and enjoys a year round pleasant climate. The people are extremely hospitable and there is a very relaxed atmosphere to life here. There are lots of shopping opportunities, great nightlife locations, golf courses and lovely beaches, with associated water sports, to enjoy. This place is also known as the `little England of the Caribbean`.

Venture to Morocco and you will be rewarded with the opportunity to immerse yourself in a rich and interesting local culture. The souks in Marrakech are definitely not to be missed and there are many great and ancient buildings to visit in Fez, the capital city or, possibly the most famous city of Casablanca. For a beach break, visit Tetouan.

Whatever else you have planned for the long dark nights this winter, make sure you take advantage of London deals and don`t miss out on the chance to top up your Vitamin D.

There are so many exciting opportunities for adventure holidays across the United Kingdom. With activities such as hiking, horse riding, canoeing and kayaking in locations across beautiful locations including Welsh valleys, the Scottish Highlands and English moorlands the United Kingdom is the ideal choice for adventure holidays.

One of the most popular types of adventure holiday are water sports based holiday. These holidays include white water rafting, kayaking and canoeing. In terms of white water rafting, the two best locations in the United Kingdom are the River Trywryn in North Wales and The River Dee in North East Scotland. The River Trywryn is the location of the Canolfan Trywryn Whitewater centre and provides everything that beginners need including tuition and equipment hire. Both these locations are within close proximity to large towns with a wide range of accommodation available making it easy to plan white water rafting adventure holidays.

For kayaking and canoeing there are a range of excellent locations to try the sport or enhance existing skills. For beginners there are several half day taster courses available as well as intensive five day courses, teaching all the essential skills. These courses are available across the country with some of the best centres located in Wales as well as the opportunity to try sea kayaking on the North Coast. Many centres also offer accommodation packages which can include camping or local accommodation options.

Adventure holidays also take place off the water and one other popular type of adventure holiday is a climbing holiday. This can either incorporate traditional outdoor climbing and hiking or more modern indoor climbing. A number of activity centres including the Black Rock Activity centre in Somerset, offer rock climbing tuition as well as the full range of climbing safety equipment, ensuring ultimate safety especially for young climbers. There are also a number of centres located within the Peak District in Cumbria which offer hill trekking holidays as well as tuition in hill walking skills such as navigation.

A more gentle option for adventure holidays is horse riding and this can include horse trekking, tuition as well as advanced tuition for more experienced riders. One great location for horse riding is one of the many activity centres located in the and around the Scottish Highlands which provides beautiful scenery, health and well treated animals and well equipped staff. For children who are proficient horse riders there is also the chance to enjoy an unguided trek.

There are many more types of adventure holiday and these holidays are not just suitable for families, but also stag and hen parties who can take advantage of accommodation such as cottages in Lake District as well as apartments in nearby cities. Regardless of the type of activity the holiday is, there are so many brilliant locations and service to help make it the best holiday possible.

Camping in Europe means different things to different people; a backpack camping trip favoured by the independent traveller will bear no resemblance to a two week camping package holiday for parents with three children in tow. Whatever kind of camping holiday you are planning there are an number of universal tips which will make the trip as enjoyable as possible. Once you have chosen your destination you need to think about your equipment.

Choosing the right tent to suit your needs – taking into account how many will sleep in it, how frequently you will be moving on during your trip, how important living space will be.

Packing light is essential if you are taking your own tent, the tent itself and all the additional equipment you`ll need to be comfortable by necessity means there won`t be a great deal of space left for clothing, toiletries, toys, books or luxury items; this holds true whether you are going to be carrying your temporary home on your back or packing it into the boot of your family car.

Lists are essential when you are packing for a camping holiday, for the first time camper this can be a bit tricky but we keep our list from one year to the next and refine it with each trip.

Having a practice run at home is a really good idea for first timers. Even if all you gain from this is knowledge of how to put the tent up efficiently it will be worth it, but if you can have a go at cooking and sleeping out too you will get a valuable insight into how comfortable you are and get an idea of whether you think there are things you can`t leave behind or others you probably won`t need.

With this useful information under your belt it is time to choose your campsite. Facilities on a campsite vary tremendously from simple pitches with basic toilet and shower facilities to resort style sites with shop, pool, restaurant, bar and entertainment. Many campers love sleeping under the stars and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle but still enjoy being surrounded by all the facilities on offer in places like Eurocamp Waikiki Holiday Park where there are fantastic sports facilities as well as swimming pools and where the on-site restaurant and entertainment keep all the family happily fed and amused the whole holiday long.

In Spanish speaking countries, Paradores are a unique type of hotel that are located in beautiful historic buildings such as castles. At the turn of the century many of Spain’s historic buildings were sadly neglected and underused and it was decided that they should be turned into luxury hotels to promote tourism in Spain. This project was supported by Alfonso XIII of Spain and the first parador was opened in 1928 in Gredos, Ávila. Paradores proved to be a popular idea and soon a number of state run hotels located in ancient fortresses, castles, palaces and even monasteries were set up throughout the country.

Here are five of Spain’s most impressive, history-rich Paradores

1. Parador de Pontevedra (also known as Parador Casa Del Baron)

This stunning hotel is set right in the heart of the beautiful medieval old town of Pontevedra. This hotel was built within the old ancestral home of the Counts of Maceda and has a wonderful old worldly grandeur that has recently been enhanced by extensive renovations. This beautiful historic hotel offers luxurious surroundings combined with the latest conveniences including air conditioning, satellite television and an excellent onsite restaurant.

2. Parador de Baiona (also known as Parador Conde De Gondomar)

This historic building was once the fortified mansion of the governor of Baiona (Bayona) and occupies a privileged position overlooking the town in its own peninsula location known as ‘Monte Real’. You have to cross the causeway to get to this stunning hotel and this was famously the site at which the Pinta, one of Columbus’ ships, first landed back in Spain with the news of the discovery of the Americas. The grounds and beaches around the Parador Baiona are beautiful and very secluded and provide some wonderfully romantic walks. Parador de Baiona offers you all the modern conveniences including a swimming pool, sauna, private car park, air conditioning and conference facilities.

3. Parador de Santiago De Compostela (also known as Parador Hostal Dos Reis Catolicos)

This is one of the oldest hotels in the world and has been a hostelry since the 1500’s. This was once a traditional ‘pilgrims rest’ house and provided accommodation for those undertaking the arduous ‘Way of St. James’. Parador de Santiago offers a luxury experience and is close to a number of interesting sites including the magnificent Cathedral Del Apostol. This Parador Santiago provides an excellent combination of old worldly charm and modern facilities.

4. Parador de Alcaniz (also known as Parador La Concordia)

This stunning hotel is located on a high hill top overlooking the border of Aragon (across from Catalonia). This was originally a castle and convent and was the headquarters of a fascinating group of holy monks known as the Order of Calatrava. These monks were battle trained in order to protect the populace from invaders. This first class hotel has some magnificent original gothic and baroque features and offers some amazing views over the beautiful countryside. A fabulous restaurant, pleasant local walks, lovely landscaping and luxury accommodation make this one of the top Paradores available in Spain.

5. Parador de Granada

This is located in one of Spain’s most amazing architectural jewels, the Alhambra. This Moorish building is one of the great treasures of Granada and was once the old Nasrid Sultan’s palace and grounds. This Parador is the perfect location for being enchanted by the gardens and fountains, and the detailed patterns covering every wall of the Alhambra palace. This has all the luxury and awe-inspiring features you would expect from such an exulted building with a prestigious location and amazing views over the city of Granada.


Guest post by Escapio.com, the reservations website for unique historic, luxury & boutique hotels