Travel paradise

[Dooleyxm]

Spain is a worthy visited country in the world and I have been there quite a few times. I think once you're in Spain, you can't miss costal del sol where you can enjoy a comfortable sunbath and barcelona where you can taste the really sandy beach. And tenerife is the summer resort, you can go to there in summer. People of Spain are mostly friendly and hospitable and you won't be worried about anything in your travel.
Hope everyone have a good time in Spain!

[paul m]

Originally Posted by Dooleyxm

Spain is a worthy visited country in the world and I have been there quite a few times. I think once you're in Spain, you can't miss costal del sol where you can enjoy a comfortable sunbath and barcelona where you can taste the really sandy beach. And tenerife is the summer resort, you can go to there in summer. People of Spain are mostly friendly and hospitable and you won't be worried about anything in your travel.
Hope everyone have a good time in Spain!

I might agree with most of this although the Costa del Sol from what I've heard is wall to wall hotels .... but hardly "Eco Travel"?

[Aderes]

Yes, I like my trip to Spain also. It is a beautiful country to visit and cities like Madridand Barcelona are all unforgetable, and I'd love to go back for awhile. If you're in Barcelona be sure to check out the Picasso museum as well. Finally I think the best way to get around Spain is by train and you can see the landscapes along the way.

[paul m]

Originally Posted by Aderes

Finally I think the best way to get around Spain is by train and you can see the landscapes along the way.

Oh yes - and to get there as well - the last time we went we had the new Trenhotel sleepers which are quite luxurious and not too expensive
How to travel by train from London to Spain:* Madrid, Barcelona, Seville...

This year by boat though, just for the chance of seeing whales or porpoises in the Bay of Biscay!

[Guy F]

Spain is a great country, only visited the mainland once but the scenery and wildlife was great. To find the 'wilder' places you probably have to head inland a bit though (except for the coto donana), and away from the major tourist locations.
Guy

[miongzhena]

Spain is really a beautiful country that I have come to ever. I like all the beautiful scene there and the sandy beaches all. I think anyone who has ever come there that he is sure not to forget the experience of the beautiful trip. Also the places madrid and tenerife. I’d like to make a trip there again and go all over Spain.

[Tanny]

I don't believe it, all this hype over Spain. I cannot think of anything more revolting than lolling about on a hot beach among a crowd of beer-bellied tourists, or wandering through a crowded street sweating among all those other sweaty humans. I see them nearly every day on the telly and I am determined never to go there. My kind of holiday is to get away from all humans as much as possible and wander among the hills, woods and any other wild places, and lose myself in the arms of Mother Nature.
Tanny

[paul m]

Not all of Spain is like that e.g.

but like you I don't see why these adverts for the touristic hotspots find their way into these fora ....

Originally Posted by Tanny

I don't believe it, all this hype over Spain. I cannot think of anything more revolting than lolling about on a hot beach among a crowd of beer-bellied tourists, or wandering through a crowded street sweating among all those other sweaty humans. I see them nearly every day on the telly and I am determined never to go there. My kind of holiday is to get away from all humans as much as possible and wander among the hills, woods and any other wild places, and lose myself in the arms of Mother Nature.
Tanny

[paul m]

Here's a nicely considered piece considering all the various aspects (good and bad) of vacation travel:
BBC NEWS | Magazine | Benidorm - the new face of eco-tourism

[wrldtrv]

Cities like Madrid and Barcelona are quite unique when visiting from the USA. The Aura of these cities is quite different that anything we have here.

[The Woodman]

A concerted effort by some / one to use this thread as an advertising tool methinks.

However, as we are thinking about Spain and from one who hates beach - lager - sun - sand - boorish Brits holidays there are some fabulous places to see wildlife in Spain. My favourites are the Picos de Europa in the north and Extramadura in the mid west.

No links to edit on this post, goosey!

[paul m]

There are times when conventional tourism looks rather/especially sick: Cruise ships still find a Haitian berth | World news | The Guardian
... but it is likely that sooner or later many luxury travellers will come into contact with poverty and natural disasters: earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes ... what do tourists do in these circumstances? Or should they not be there in the first place?

[The Woodman]

I'd rather not taste the really sandy beach, thank you!

[paul m]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

...... My favourites are the Picos de Europa in the north and Extramadura in the mid west.
..........

Any recommendations about where and how in the Picos? We went there a few years ago but only got to spend a few days in the Cantabrian corner of the peaks (Puente de and such ......
Parques Naturales, Cantabria, N. Spain, August 2007 - Wildlife Photography )
Bad planning - we got the boat at Santander which is quite convenient but then had to go back east to pick up the rest of the party and go to the Pyrenees. Next time would like to get trains from France - I say 'trains' because there are at least three different railways in northern Spain which, apparently, don't always join up ..... Across Green Spain by narrow gauge rail

[The Woodman]

I've just got the map out and consulted with the transport manager who has a better memory than me!

Just a comment or two about Santander. There is deep water trench not too far offshore in the Bay of Biscay where some of the beaked whales can be found. Had avery memorable trip from Falmouth with a company called Ultimate Pelagics and saw the sunrise over the Spanish mountains on a flat calm sea. Dolphins and beaked whales everywhere.

Do NOT stay in the cheap Motel Golf in the town. Though we'd save a bob or two on what looks like a decent place on the web picture is in reality a squalid ****hole above a transport garage. Bounded by the motorway to the north, railway and link roads to the south and the huge FerroAtlantic 24hr operating foundry immediately to the west that coats the area in a brown hue. You can even make it out on Google earth! Engine oil on the carpet, broken electrics, broken shower, dirty linen saw me sleeping in my clothes. I was too tired to complain and glad to leave. That was the only negative aspect to the whole trip.

Travelled west along the older coast road, CA 131, to San Vincente which is a pleasant working fishing port. 9km further west, took the N621 south to Potes from Pesues. We stayed in a fabulous appartment "Olmares" in a small village called Basieda on the west side of the valley 12kms south of Potes on the CA 184.

The countryside is absolutely fabulous and a high point was the Cares Gorge 15km to the north west. Wildlife everywhere and I cannot recommend it enough.

Potes is a nice town to have for a base and has all you need to replenish stocks.

If you would like any further info, PM me please.

How about freewheeling in the car for 19 km? Can't do that in Cumbria!

[paul m]

This looks like my idea of fun and not too far to travel:
Yorkshire Steam Railway | Treyn Holidays

[basquesteve]

Not too far to travel

20 hours drive, I'll stick to Spain only 55 minutes away but miss the Steam Engines

[Drosera]

Originally Posted by Dooleyxm

Spain is a worthy visited country in the world and I have been there quite a few times. I think once you're in Spain, you can't miss costal del sol where you can enjoy a comfortable sunbath and barcelona where you can taste the really sandy beach. And tenerife is the summer resort, you can go to there in summer. People of Spain are mostly friendly and hospitable and you won't be worried about anything in your travel.
Hope everyone have a good time in Spain!

Isn't this just spam?

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Drosera

Isn't this just spam?

Yes, it was before my time or it would have been zapped.

I could, but won't get rid of it as it has been replied to. Ignore that post as there are more interesting ones in ther thread .

[Drosera]

Originally Posted by goosey

Yes, it was before my time or it would have been zapped.

Was there a "before your time"?
So what is the history of WaW?