Spain has long been a favourite of British holidaymakers but many
of us are now looking for more than just lying on a beach. Not only
does Spain have a fabulous coastline, it also has a beautiful
mountainous interior sprinkled with historic towns and villages,
and a spectacular
natural environment, perfect for sports and
activities. With so much to explore, a wealth of history and
culture and a feast of wonderful gastronomy, Spanish breaks are now
just as much about a weekend in Madrid as they are a walking
holiday in the Pyrenees. There are few countries with so many
hidden treasures.
Of all the countries around the Mediterranean, Spain is the most
popular destination for low
cost, low fare and budget airlines.
There are at least fifteen budget airlines flying from the UK to
Iberian Peninsula. The spurt in Brits independent travel to Spain
is attributed to the growth of no-frills airlines and increasing
public confidence in self-booked travel. More people are also
taking short breaks to Spain using budget airlines in addition to
their main
summer or winter holiday.
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.
UK visitor numbers went up by 10% to 16 million last year. More and
more Brits travelled to Spain independently. According to Spanish
Tourist Office, the numbers of UK package holidaymakers to Spain
fell by almost 4% while the number of independent travellers
increased by 30%.
Whilst Spain is one of the world's leading destinations for the
package holiday there is more to this country than the beaches of
the Costas and islands. The independent traveller will want to move
around see what more Spain has to offer.
The mountains of Spain have proved increasingly attractive in
recent years to those adventurous souls in search of rocky mountain
highs in the depths of the British winter. A combination of cheap
flights and favourable year-round temperatures has led to a
burgeoning reputation among Britain's seasoned walkers and
climbers. At around 3,500m, the Sierra Nevada is recognised by
accomplished mountaineers as a significant step up from climbing in
the UK, where the highest peak, Ben Nevis, stands a mere 1,344m
high.
Holiday In Wales To find out more about holidays to Spain and Costa Blanca,
please visit
James Villa Holidays.
Over 40 million (mainly British and German) tourists visit Spain each year, plus some 20 million day trippers.
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