Valencia Overview

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain and is situated on the Mediterranean Coast. It’s a beautiful city and is known for its historic buildings. As well as  the F1 Grand Prix de Europe, it has also played host to the 2007 America’s Cup. It’s due to host the America’s Cup again in 2010 and is also the venue for one of Spain’s most famous festivals, Las Fallas, which is held in March each year.

Getting to Valencia

Valencia Airport is situated in Manises, about 8km away from the city, and is sometimes referred to as Manises Airport. Several airlines operate flights from the UK to Valencia and you can also fly to Valencia from a number of other European destinations.

Alternatively, you could fly to Madrid or Barcelona, take advantage of the airport car hire facilities and drive to Valencia. It will take you three and a half hours to drive from Barcelona to Valencia in your rental car and about four hours to drive from Madrid to Valencia.

Valencia Street Circuit

The current European Grand Prix takes place through the streets of Valencia (although it has taken place in many other countries during the history of Formula 1 racing). The first European Grand Prix in Valencia was in 2007 and the race is due to be held there until 2013.

The circuit is 5.4 km long and is in the port area of the city. It has 25 turns and the drivers aim to complete 57 laps.

Valencia Hotels

You’ll find many hotels to choose from in Valencia, from budget hotels to luxury hotels.

If you can afford to splash out, try the 5-star Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort. It’s situated near the marina, within walking distance of the circuit and has 253 rooms and suites, comprised of: 39 classic rooms; 69 superior rooms; 105 deluxe rooms; 30 executive rooms; 8 junior suites; and 2 presidential suites. For sea views, opt for a deluxe or an executive room. Facilities at the Hotel Las Arenas include outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a gym, a spa and several bars.

Other hotels in Valencia include the Holiday Inn Valencia, the Westin Valencia, the Tryp Oceanic, the Hilton Valencia and the Eurostars Gran Valencia Hotel.

Attractions in Valencia

If you’re travelling to Valencia to see the Grand Prix of Europe, it’s worth extending your stay there by a few days, as there is plenty to see and do. Here are some of the city’s must-see attractions:

• The City of Arts and Sciences – One of Valencia’s top tourist attractions, the City of Arts and Sciences is comprised of four main buildings. El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia is the city’s new opera house. It seats more than 1,800 and hosting a range of events, including ballet, theatre productions and musical performances. L’Hemisferic includes a planetarium and an IMAX cinema, whilst El Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe is a fantastic science museum with many interactive exhibits. The Oceanogràfic is Europe’s largest aquarium and is home to more than 500 different species. You can also explore the city’s beautiful garden areas.
• Valencia Cathedral – Constructed in the 13th century on the site of a mosque, the cathedral incorporates a range of architectural styles and its bell tower is one of the city’s main landmarks. Its famous for housing the Holy Chalice, which cathedral officials claim is the chalice from which Christ drank during the Last Supper, and some people claim that it is, in fact, the Holy Grail of Arthurian Legend. The cathedral contains some stunning works of art, including paintings by Goya, and you can also visit the Diocesan Cathedral Museum.
• The Silk Market – Located by the city’s Plaza del Mercado, the Silk Market dates back to the 15th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Botanic Garden -The University of Valencia’s Botanic Garden has a collection of more than 4,500 species of plant and is a great place to spend an afternoon.

Essential Information

Valencia is one hour ahead of the U.K. and the currency used there is the Euro.

Image: Chosovi

Barcelona Overview

Barcelona,  Spain’s second largest city, is situated in the northeast of the country, on the Mediterranean Coast, and is the capital of Catalonia. It’s known as a city of culture and is famous for being the home of the Picasso Museum and many of Gaudi’s buildings. It also has some excellent restaurants and shopping areas.

Getting to Barcelona

The city’s main airport is Barcelona International Airport, also known as El Prat Airport, which is about 11 miles from the centre of Barcelona. Many different airlines operate international flights to and from Barcelona International Airport and you can get to the city centre from the airport easily by hire car, bus, taxi or train.

Circuit de Catalunya

The Circuit de Catalunya is situated in Montmelo, about half an hour’s drive from the centre of Barcelona. It opened in September 1991 and hosted its first F1 Grand Prix later that month. The circuit is also used for a range of other motorsports events.

You can get to the Circuit de Catalunya from Barcelona by train.  On the Grand Prix weekend, there are shuttle buses which will transport you from the station at Montmelo to the circuit. Alternatively, you can drive there in your Barcelona hire car – leave the AP-7 highway and take exit 13, 14 or 15 to get to the circuit.

Barcelona Hotels

If you’re heading to Barcelona for the F1 Spanish Grand Prix, you’ll find many hotels to choose from. For a touch of luxury, try Le Meridien Barcelona, a 5-star hotel on the city’s famous Las Ramblas. It has 233 rooms and suites, a restaurant and a bar, and claims that many celebrities have stayed there. It’s within easy reach of many of Barcelona’s main attractions.

Other hotels in Barcelona include: The Princesa Sofia Hotel, the Hotel Rivoli Ramblas and the Grand Hotel Central.

Attractions in Barcelona

Barcelona is packed with attractions, so if you’re travelling to the city to see the F1 Spanish Grand Prix, it’s worth extending your stay so that you can explore it.

The city is particularly well known for being the home of some of Antoni Gaudi’s most beautiful buildings, the most famous of which is the Sagrada Familia, the Catholic church which Gaudi began in 1883 and which still remains incomplete. You can see Gaudi’s work at a number of other locations within Barcelona, including Parc Guell. Another must-see attraction for anyone interested in the arts is the city’s Picasso Museum.

Take a stroll around the city’s Gothic Quarter, take a tour of Camp Nou (the home ground of F.C Barcelona) and explore Las Ramblas (whilst making sure that you keep an eye on your wallet), before trying out some of the city’s excellent clubs, bars and restaurants in the evening.

Essential Information

Barcelona is one hour ahead of the U.K. The currency used is the euro.

Image: Mutari

Here are three places that you can visit on day trips in your Malaga hire car:

1. Ronda. The historic and picturesque village of Ronda is situated to the west of Malaga and it will take you about an hour and 40 minutes to drive there in your Malaga hire car. Park your rental car and take a stroll through Ronda to see some of its historic buildings and ruins, such as the Arab Public Baths, the Palace of the Arabian King and the Palace of Mondragon. Ronda is also known as the birthplace of modern bullfighting, and you can visit its bullring and take a tour of the Bullfighting Museum.

2. Benalmadena. This Costa del Sol resort lies to the west of Malaga and is comprised of three areas: the Old Town (Benalmadena Pueblo), the beach resort (Benalmadena Costa) and the neighbouring commercial district of Arroyo Miel. It will only take you about half an hour to reach Benalmadena in your Malaga rental car.

Head for Benalmadena Costa and take a stroll along the beach or wander through the cobbled streets of Benalmadena Pueblo, where you can enjoy seeing the traditional Andalucian architecture, shop for souvenirs or stop for a meal in one of the restaurants. In the Arroyo Miel district, you’ll find some great family attractions, such as Tivoli World, which has a wide range of rides and shows.

3. Granada. The city of Granada is about an hour and a half’s drive from Malaga, but it’s well worth making the journey, as there is plenty to see and do there.

Granada has some beautiful architecture, with many of the city’s historic buildings showing a strong Islamic influence. Make sure that you visit the Alhambra, which was constructed during the 14th century and was the official residence of Granada’s Muslim rulers. Within the Alhmabra, you’ll find the Alcazaba, the oldest part of the site, and the Palace of Carlos V, which was constructed during the 16th Century on the orders of Emperor Charles V, as well the Casa Real, which includes the beautiful Court of Lions.

Other attractions in Granada include Granada Cathedral, the Archaeological Museum of Granada and Sacromonte Abbey.

Image: Elena Magaeva

Malaga International Airport is situated about 8km to the southwest of the Spanish city of Malaga, on the Costa del Sol. Malaga is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations, with attractions such as the Alcazaba (the city’s Moorish fortress) and The Picasso Museum, and Malaga International Airport is also the main airport for tourists heading for destinations such as Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola. As a result, the airport is extremely busy, with 12,813,472 travellers having passed through it during 2008.

Both domestic and international flights arrive and depart from Malaga International Airport, and a number of UK airlines operate flights to Malaga. At the moment, the airport has one runway and two terminals, although a second runway and third terminal are being constructed. Flights from the UK arrive at Terminal 2 (also known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso), and most flights depart from this terminal as well (although check-in is divided between the two terminals).

The terminals include shops and food outlets, and there are also several VIP lounges. Unusually for an airport, there is an Exhibition Hall between the terminals, where you can see works by local artists. There is also a museum, The National Museum of Aviation, which is housed in the original terminal building, about ten minutes away from the current terminals.

It’s worth noting that there are no hotels at the airport itself and there are also no left luggage facilities.

There is a railway station at the airport, so you could take the train to the city of Malaga or to Fuengirola, and there are also buses and taxis available outside of the terminal. Improved rail links to the airport are also planned as part of the ongoing expansion of the airport.

However, the easiest and most convenient way to travel to and from Malaga International Airport is probably by car. There are a number of car firms operating from the airport, but if you want to get the cheapest deals, it’s worth booking your Malaga Airport hire car in advance. You can then have peace of mind from knowing that when you land you will be able to just pick up your rental car and drive to your destination.

Using Malaga Airport’s car hire facilities also means that you can just drive straight to the airport when your holiday is over and drop your car off before checking-in, so you won’t have to worry about relying on public transport or taxis to get you to the airport on time.

In the next post in this series, we’ll be taking a look at Nice Airport and its facilities.

You’ll need to set aside a whole day in order to really explore the Terra Mitica theme park, as it’s packed with rides and other attractions. The park has six themed areas, each of which includes rides, shops and food outlets:

• Egypt – the highlight of this section of the park is the Falls of the Nile water rollercoaster, in which you’ll travel down a 20m drop and a 10m backwards drop in a sarcophagus-shaped boat. There is also a junior version of the ride, Akuatiti, for young children, which doesn’t include the drops.
• Greece – The main ride in this area of Terra Mitica is the Triton’s Fury water ride, where you’ll float past scenery which represents some of the stories of sea voyages made by ancient explorers from Crete and Mycenae, before getting a rush of adrenaline as you head over the waterfalls. Other rides in the area include The Labyrinth of the Minotaur laser gun ride, the Titanide rollercoaster and Synkope, a  ride on which you’ll be suspended 35m from the ground on a spinning disc.
• Iberia – This area of the park includes the Arietes bumper car ride and Jabato, a smaller bumper car ride for younger children. You can also watch the Red Beard pirate show here.
• Rome – Adrenaline junkies will find three excellent rides to entertain them in this section of the park: the Magnus Colossus rollercoaster, which reaches a speed of 100 kmph; Inferno, a vertical coaster which takes you spinning upwards, forwards and upside down along the track at 60mph; and The Flight of the Phoenix, a thrilling free-fall ride. The Rome area also includes some excellent rides for children, including  Ayquesutus, a junior version of The Flight of the Phoenix, and if you head for Roma Square, you can watch gladiators battling under the warmth of the Costa Blanca sun.
• The Islands – Rides in this area of Terra Mitica include the Rapids of Argos water ride and The Anger of Akiles pendulum ride. You can also take a trip to the Mermaids’ Coast and even to Hell on Ulysses’ Adventure, watch the Tarantela show or ride on the Mithos Carousel.
• Ocionia – Terra Mitica’s most recently opened section of the park is home to the Pyramid of Terror and The Battle of the Pyramid paintball game. You can also try out the zip wires in the Atalya Adventure Park, see the views from the top of the Infinnito observation tower or head to the Port of Alexandra to board a boat for a relaxing trip on the river.

Terra Mitica is one of many attractions that you can visit on a Spain car hire holiday, and you can book your hire car in advance and pick it up when you arrive at Alicante airport.

Image: Virdu

Majorca has been a tourist destination and a fantastic getaway for Europeans since the early 1950s. This island, the largest of the Balearic Islands, is in the Mediterranean Sea and hosts hundreds of thousands of tourists from the UK, Germany, France and other European nations every year. With a fantastic combination of activities, a relaxed atmosphere and an abundance of sunshine, Majorca is a perfect place to go for your next holiday, family vacation or romantic getaway.

Getting to Majorca

Getting to Majorca is easy. Direct flights take off from all major European cities and you can also fly from the Spanish mainland destinations, such as Barcelona. As in Spain, car hire costs vary according to the time of the year and availability, but package deals are almost always available and will significantly reduce travel costs.

Majorca itself offers a wide range of activities and attractions. The warm waters of the Mediterranean are ideal for all water sports, and you can enjoy snorkelling, water skiing, scuba diving, jet skiing and sea kayaking. If you fancy something less energetic, you can just relax in the sun on one of the island’s many white sandy beaches.

There are restaurants, bars, cafes and pubs everywhere on the island. In addition to the restaurants and bars associated with Majorca’s hotels and main tourist resorts,venturing to the local restaurants for a taste of the Catalan and Franco- Spanish influenced cuisine is highly recommended. A trip to Valdemossa, a hillside village in the South West of the island, will provide you with plenty to see and do for a day, and you can also enjoy an evening of authentic dining there.

Majorca is a shopping paradise.  La Palma, the capital of the island, is particularly well known for its shops and its narrow streets are filled with shops selling handmade arts and crafts objects. More upmarket shopping can be found in the Centro Porto Pi and, for even more exclusive brand names, you can head to Avenue Jaume III, where you’ll find  internationally known fashion and jewellery boutiques. To find Majorcan specialties, try the flea market that takes place every Saturday morning at Avenida Alomar y Villalonga. One of the best places to do locally-inspired shopping is at the weekly market in the town of Sineu, near Inca.

As mentioned,  all inclusive holidays are probably the most common and best way to enjoy a  holiday in Majorca. Combinations that include flights, hotel accommodation and car rentals can save holiday seekers significant sums of money and often even include meals and other perks.

The Elche Palm Grove is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is the perfect place to go for some shade when you want to escape from the Costa Blanca heat. There are more than 200,000 palm trees in the Elche Palm Grove, which is one of the largest palm groves in the world and is the only palm grove in Europe. The grove has its own microclimate and irrigation system, and leaves from its trees are used during two important events which are held annually in the city of Elche – the Palm Sunday procession and the Elche Mystery Play.

Don’t miss the Imperial Palm, which is situated in the the Priest’s Garden within the palm grove. Named after the Empress Consort of Franz Joseph, Elisabeth, the Imperial Palm is the largest palm tree in the grove and has seven branches. You can stroll around the grove and also visit the Palm Grove Museum, which has exhibits relating to the history of Elche Palm Grove, and its microclimate and irrigation system.

If you’re making the journey to Elche Palm Grove, it’s also worth parking your hire car and exploring the city of Elche. You can visit the old Arab Baths, take a stroll in the Municipal Park, visit the Basilica Santa Maria (which was completed in 1784 and incorporates a number of architectural styles), and visit the Palaeontological Museum, the City Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art or the Municipal Festa Museum (which features exhibits relating to the history of the Elche Mystery Play).

You can also use your hire car to get to some of the fantastic beaches near Elche, which include La Marina, L’Altet and El Pinet.

If you want to hire a car to visit Elche, you can book your hire car online and pick it up when you arrive in Alicante. A number of car hire firms, such as easyCar, have car rental facilities at Alicante airport.

Image: José Carlos Díez

Parque Warner opened in 2002 and was originally known as Warner Bros Movie World Madrid. It is divided into five themed areas: Hollywood Boulevard; Old West Territory; DC Superheroes World; Cartoon Village; and Warner Bros Movie World Studios.

Hollywood Boulevard is the entrance point of the park and you’ll find the Teatro Chino (Chinese Theatre) here, as well as a number of restaurants and shops.

Old West Territory’s rides include the Coaster Express (a 1,275m long wooden roller coaster) and the Río Bravo log flume ride. You can also watch a Wild West themed show, and there are several food outlets and gift shop.

DC Superheroes World is home to rides such as the thrilling Superman and Batman La Fuga coasters and the Mr.Freeze tower ride, whilst Cartoon Village will keep younger members of the family entertained with its children’s rides and appearances by Looney Tunes cartoon characters.

If you’re an adrenaline junkie, make sure that you ride the Stunt Fall coaster in the Warner Bros Movie World Studios area of the park. You can also watch a driving stunt show, take the “Cine Tour” and stop off for something to eat in one of the restaurants here.

Parque Warner is the perfect place to visit on a day-trip if you are staying in Madrid particularly if you are on a car hire holiday. It will only take you about 30 minutes to drive from Madrid to Parque Warner Madrid and you can park your rental car in Parque Warner Madrid’s car park for a small charge. There is so much to do at Parque Warner Madrid that you should allow a whole day to explore it.

Photo: Miguel303xm

In the next in our series of posts about attractions that you can visit in Spain, we take a look at Fuengirola Zoo, which is located in Fuengirola on Spain’s Costa del Sol, and which is a great place to visit on a day-trip if you’re staying in the area.

Fuengirola Zoo opened in the 1970s, but was redeveloped between 1998 and 2001 in order to improve conditions for the animals and provide a “full-immersion” zoo experience for visitors. It is now home to more than 1,300 animals and is involved in a number of animal breeding and monitoring programmes.

The zoo has more than 140 species of mammals, fish, reptiles and birds, including Sumatran tigers, meerkats, orang-utans, lemurs, gorillas, gibbons, chimpanzees, pythons, crocodiles, turtles, flamingos and lorikeets. There is also a children’s play area, a gift shop and two restaurant areas.

If you are visiting the Costa del Sol during the summer, you can explore the zoo at night and watch the animals in the moonlight.

Fuengirola Zoo is particularly good to visit as part of a Costa del Sol car hire holiday. You can rent a car at Malaga airport and it will only take you about half an hour to drive to Fuengirola Zoo from Malaga and about twenty minutes to drive there from Torremolinos.

In this post, the first in a series looking at some of the specific attractions that you can visit in Spain, we take a look at Terra Natura, a wildlife park located just outside of Benidorm on Spain’s Costa Blanca.

Terra Natura is divided into four themed areas: Pangea, Europe, Asia and America. In the Pangea area, you can see snakes, including diamond-back rattlesnakes and green tree pythons, as well as tarantulas, lizards, scorpions and bush babies, and in the Europe area of Terra Natura, you can see donkeys, horses, turtles and deer.

Exhibits in the Asia area of the park include elephants, Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, saltwater crocodiles, leopards, water buffalo and Sumatran tigers, whilst the America area is home to armadillos, macaws, boa constrictors, jaguars, Capuchin monkeys, marmosets, ocelots and squirrel monkeys.

Other attractions at Terra Natura include the “Birds of Prey Challenge” zip wire and the “Flight of the Parrots” and the “Flight of the Birds of Prey” shows.

Terra Natura is set out beautifully, with mock  ruins and themed architecture, and pathways lined with trees and flowers. It also has several restaurants and cafes, and there are gift shops in each area of the park.

It will take you at least four hours to explore Terra Natura properly, so it’s wise to plan to spend a whole day at the park so that your visit doesn’t feel rushed. The park is open all year round, but opening hours vary, so make sure that you check them before visiting.

Terra Natura is only about 10 minutes’ drive from Benidorm and about 40 minutes’ drive from Alicante, so it’s a great place to visit as part of a Costa Blanca car hire holiday.

Image: © Carolyn Marshall | Dreamstime.com