February 23, 2012

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Climb Spain’s White Coast

January 24, 2012 By

If you’re looking for an ideal spot to do a little rock climbing whilst simultaneously enjoying at least a little off-season sunshine, then one of the best options around has to be the Coast Blanca; Spain’s “White Coast”.

 

The scenery is stunning, the climbs are superb, the weather is perfect all year round for the main part, the people are friendly and it almost goes without saying that the cuisine is second to none.

 

The white coast off Alicante offers lots of different options for rock climbers, whatever their level of experience. Rock climbing equipment is also available locally, but it’s still advisable to bring your own unless you speak fluent “climbing” Spanish! This area has what is probably the mildest winter in the whole of Europe – which makes it an ideal off-season climbing base.

 

The evenings and nights can get cold, though, so be prepared for climatic extremes with the right base layers in particular.

 

The Costa Blanca is probably the country’s most varied climbing location. Here, you will find single and multi-pitch sport climbs, traditional climbing and walking routes, sea cliffs and many mountain crags.

 

And of course, the area’s popularity with sun and beach-seeking tourists and British pensioners seeking a little winter warmth mean that it’s incredibly cheap and easy to get flights here. It also means here are countless places to stay that are extremely affordable indeed.

 

The sea cliffs are white limestone, hence the region’s Spanish name, and the sea forms a stunning backdrop for climbing and climbers.  Whatever grade of climbing you’re at you’ll certainly find something here among the cliffs, canyons, mountain ridges and many crags.

 

One of the most dramatic climbs is at Calpe where the Penon de Ifach rises majestically from the sea. Or you could try any of Puig Campana’s 15 pitches, all at grade five or below.

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Things to take on your holiday

January 23, 2012 By

When you’re packing for a trip, there are often some items that you want to take with you from home. Often, people want to bring their favourite brands of toiletries as well as books to read, and a few of the kids’ favourite games. People often bring branded medicines from their home country, too. By doing so, you’re prepared to deal with coughs, colds and headaches without having to seek out medical advice in another language.

However, some families seem to pack pretty much all their home comforts when they go away. How much stuff you can bring depends, of course, on how you’re travelling – by car or by plane. And it also depends on whether you have booked self-catering accommodation or are staying in a hotel.

If you like familiar things around you, it’s probably best to drive and go self-catering. That way, you can bring food and other provisions from home. You can even bring your reliable old Fairy Liquid if you feel like it. The destination you choose can make a difference, too. Some resorts will be geared up to expecting foreign visitors who want to find their old favourites – like Heinz Baked Beans and Bird’s Eye custard – on the shelves of the local grocery store. Many towns in Spain are so used to serving English tourists that the imported products take up as much room as the local ones.

When planning a holiday to a new destination, it’s worth going online and getting some advice. SuperSavvyMe.co.uk has a whole community of bloggers and site visitors who are more than ready to share their knowledge with other readers. All you have to do is put in a question, and check back to see what responses you get.

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Climbing on the Costa Blanca

December 21, 2011 By

Spain has some of the best climbing routes in the world, and is a great place for Europeans looking for a climbing holiday location.

Costa Blanca is easy to get to, and has such a range of accommodation that it’s simple to organise a great climbing holiday on a budget.

From May to October it’s really too hot to make the climbing very enjoyable, you’re best off heading there during the winter – from November until the end of April.  If you do go in summer, the best time to climb is early morning or in the evening.  It can be wet in the winter – occasionally there are prolonged periods of heavy rain called the Gota Fria – but generally the weather is perfect for climbing in sunny conditions.

The rock around Costa Blanca is limestone and routes include bolted ones and multipitch sports routes. You can climb on the coast or up in the mountains.  The main areas for Costa Blanca climbing are:

  • Gandia – crags with single pitch sports routes on the whole.  Six different crags contain over 700 routes.
  • Xalo Valley – these are all single pitch sports routes apart from at Segaria crag. Here you can do the more traditional multi-pitch climbing.
  • Calpe – this is right along the coast and all the routes look out over the sea. There are nearly 300 routes over eight different crags.
  • Benidorm – there are six different crags here, with more than 450 routes.  Some are easy and good for novices, others far more demanding. You can do multi-pitch climbing at Puig Campana but you have to carry your climbing equipment for an hour’s walk to get to the starting point.
  • Alicante – there are thirteen crags with single and two pitch routes for sports climbing here. On the Reconco crag there are fully bolted multi-pitch routes.
  • Murcia – there are more than 240 sports routes on only three crags in this area. One of the big favourites is a crag called Leyva that has very long multi-pitch sports routes.

For people who always like to pack their rock climbing shoes when planning a holiday, the Costa Blanca can be a perfect holiday destination.

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Why not explore the mountains in Spain?

September 20, 2011 By

If you’re heading to Spain this year and you want to try and do something a bit different, why don’t you head up into the mountains and hills in the European country?

There are some fantastic opportunities on offer all the year round in the Spanish mountains, from walking and trekking to mountaineering and skiing. Bearing this in mind then, there’s never a bad time to visit the country, as you’ll bound to find something to do.

One of the most popular regions to visit in Spain is Andalucia, thanks, in part, to the multitude of budget flights now available to the area.

This is a great place from which to explore the hills and mountains, as you have everything from the rolling hills of Alpujarras to the Sierra Nevada.

If you’re heading there in the winter, and you’re going to be at fairly high altitude, it makes sense to have mens waterproof jackets to hand.

Waterproof jackets will ensure the wet weather doesn’t get to you quite so much, so you’ll feel more comfortable if it rains – great news when you’re up in the mountains.

Whether you’re after a pleasant stroll in the countryside, or a hike up one of the peaks of Europe, you’ll find something to suit and appeal to you in Spain.

The timeframe you choose will, to a certain extent, dictate how far you can go on your travels as well.

There are some high mountains in southern Spain, so there are plenty of great trekking options around there. If you fancy a five-day trip, you could head to Los Tres Miles, while those after a shorter hike could ascend Mulhacen – the highest Spanish peak.

Wherever you decide to go, you should make sure you have the right clothing to hand – you never know when the weather might change unexpectedly.

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Best Cities To Visit In Spain

August 31, 2011 By

There are many vibrant and beautiful cities to visit in Spain, so many that you probably won’t get them all in on one trip. But with the AVG high-speed train now reaching more and more cities it’s never been easier to pack as much into a trip as possible. Accommodation can be a hostel, hotel or even a tent although tents can be very uncomfortable in very hot weather. Amongst the tapas, flamenco dancing and bullfighting, here is a brief guide to the best cities:
1.    Barcelona – Barcelona has it all, great weather, a beach, history, architecture and nightlife. See the La Sagrada Familia basilica, designed by Gaudi and the most famous building in Spain, or you can catch a game or do a tour of Camp Nou Stadium, the home of Barcelona FC or check out the bustle of Les Rambles – Spain’s most famous promenade.
2.    Madrid – Is a huge city and can be overwhelming. The pace of life here is fast and exciting and you’ll need a reasonable amount of time to get to grips with it. Gawp at Picasso originals at the The Reina Sofia art gallery or hit Malasaña and Chueca to party all night long in one of Madrid’s best clubs.
3.    Seville – It might be small but there’s loads to do. Seville is home to the biggest gothic cathedral in the world and the Seville Alcazar – a palace and garden complex. Oh and did we mention it gets hot here. Oh so hot
4.    Granada – Small but mighty, but you’ll be spoilt for choice for things to do in Granada. The tapas are fantastic here and you can find it for free! Don’t miss a chance to see the Alhambra a beautiful 800 year old Islamic fortress with fantastic views over the city.
5.    Valencia – Valencia is the third most populated city in Spain but is relatively small. However it’s a charming city, the site of the fire-breathing Las Fallas festival and not far from Bunol the site of La Tomatina (the tomato) festival. Plus this is the place that paella was invented!!

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What to know about Spain

February 28, 2011 By

Spain is situated in Western Europe.  It spreads across 195,400 square miles which is about twice the size of Oregon state and bigger than the state of California. It has borders with France, Morocco, Andorra, Gibraltar and Portugal. Its coastline is along the Atlantic Ocean, The Mediterranean Sea and the Cantabrian Sea.

The ancestors of modern humans came to Spain around a million years ago, Humans as we know them today settled in the area about 35,000 years ago. Phoenicians began to start cities and trading posts in Spain in the 11th Century BCE, soon after the Greeks arrived in ninth century BCE.

Today Spain is a beautiful country with years of history and cultural heritage which can be seen in the landscape, architecture and people, all this making it one of Europe’s most loved tourist destinations. The major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona offer wonderful food and beautiful architecture.  Areas such as San Sebastian are home to more upper class places ideal for those with money to burn. For the tourist who loves architecture then Castillo de Santa Barbara or Alhambra are great to check out.

Everyday flights go to Spain from most of the world’s major airports, but you can also get to Spain by bus and train from most of Europe. Boat travel is also available from Morocco and the U.K.

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