Self-Catering holidays have always been popular with UK holiday makers. Spain, and in particular the Costa Blanca, has a huge supply of holiday villas and apartments available to rent to UK tourists. If you rent a car along with your villa or apartment, you gain a lot of freedom in what to do on your holiday and when you do it.

One of the most visited tourist attractions on the Northern Costa Blanca is the mountain village of Guadalest. The village sits on top, and partially inside, a mountain outcropping a few miles inland from Benidorm, and about an hour drive from Denia, Javea, Moraira and Calpe.

You have to park in the large car park at the edge of the village as no traffic is allowed in. The village is filled to bursting with shops selling souvenirs, art and crafts, tobacco, drink, and clothes along with numerous bars and cafes. On the way up to the old village itself you pass the photographers who ask everyone to pose for an official photo souvenir, and another photographer just inside the village gates who captures each visitors face for a souvenir key ring.

Guadalest may be small, but every building is open to the public and house several shops and bars, a couple of museums, the town hall (with a dungeon), and a working school. The village square overlooks the Guadalest reservoir and it’s spectacular dam. On the way back down the key rings and photo portraits are usually developed and ready for sale if you want them.

A short drive further on is “El Arco” which means “The Ark”. This is a wildlife sanctuary and looks after rescued animals from circuses, mistreated animals, or pets that no longer have a home. Many of the animals have physical disabilities, and nearly all of them have their story printed on their enclosures.

Back towards Benidorm is the safari park “Terra Natura”. This park only opened in 2007 and is split into three continents, America, Asia and Europe, with an introductory zone from Earth’s beginnings, Pangea. The park is landscaped to match habitats from the three continents with the European area also including a water-park.

Next to Terra Natura is the famous “Terra Mitica” which is a large theme park. Like Terra Natura, the park is split into four zones, Egypt, Greece, Rome and Iberia. Most of the main rides also have a “kiddie” version to go with it, so the whole family can enjoy the rides. When you want a rest from being launched, spun, dropped and soaked, there are many restaurants and fast-food outlets in the park, and also several spectacular shows which are free to watch in various venues around Terra Mitica.

The other big attraction for those who like a holiday filled with action, is Aqualandia. This huge water park is slides, rides and pools for all the family. There are various types of slides, straight, bumpy, or bobsleigh style. A black hole ride in total darkness, a rapid rides of several connecting pools ending in a steep drop, and a lagoon with wave machine to name just a few.

If you do not want to spend all your time in the Benidorm area there is also plenty to do around Denia and Javea. The Safari Park at El Vergel is worth a visit with lions and tigers roaming free in the park, which you drive round in your own car, so the animals can get up close to you. There is also a safer area where you can leave your car and walk round and even touch some of the animals. At the end of the trail you can relax at the cafe or restaurant, and watch the bird and sea lion shows which are included in the ticket price.

For an extra few Euros, or even instead of going round the main park at all, you can swim with the sea lions in a special enclosure. You are provided with a wet-suit and some basic instruction and then swim in the pool with three sea lions swimming around you. The instructor also shows you how to get the sea lions do some of their famous tricks from the show, including pushing you around the pool, an experience not to be forgotten.

For those less energetic, the Costa Blanca valleys and towns are worth exploring. One of the most famous is the Jalon Valley, also known as the Vall de Pop. The town of Jalon is the capital of the valley with the river area being the place that most visitors head for. There are three “bodegas” by the river all selling the local wine, either in bottles off the shelf, or by filling up your own plastic containers direct from the barrel. If you visit on a Saturday morning the area is packed with the weekly “Rastro” or flea-market. The Rastro started as a car-boot sale a few years ago, and now has grown into a large market selling local arts and crafts, clothes, and various second-hand goods.

Other Rastro’s are held in Pedreguer, Denia, Javea, Moraira and Calpe on various days of the week. Details of when these are held are available from tourist information offices.

The Costa Blanca is excellent for a beach holiday, but there is so much more to do in this part of Spain to make your holiday a memorable one.

There is almost no better place to rent a villa on the Costa Blanca than between Calpe, Benissa and Moraira. All year long, it is green, and still there is not a lot of rain. This is caused by a so called “micro-climate”. The area is moist and so the vegetation gets it so needed water and the plants are not dehydrated.

The road from Calpe to Moraira is a lovely drive (if you are on a holiday…) with many curves and places to enjoy the beautiful views to the Mediterranean. It is also nice to visit one of the many “calas” small beaches from sand or pebbles and many nice rock-formations where you can enjoy the sun in all privacy.

On some of the beaches, like in Cala Baladrar, there are nice little bars where you can relax and take a nice cool beer or ice-cream, or some of the typical Spanish “tapas”. If you look down to the south, you will have a great view to the “peñon de ifach”, the mighty rock that divides Calpe´s two beaches.

If you take the road from the coast to the inland, you will get to Benissa. Most of the properties on this coastal strip are on the land of the Benissa town hall. The landscape is enchanting with hills and valleys, olive trees and orange trees, and some times, as you turn the corner, the magnificent sea-view will just take your breath away.

In Benissa you will find supermarkets with everything you need to fill your refrigerator to the top with Spanish and good old “imported” groceries from the UK and the rest of Europe. Of course you cannot have been in the Costa Blanca without having tried to make your own Paella. Many of these villas have a set to make home-made Paella. If you are not into fish you can use the barbeque and grill until late at night as the climate in this area allows you to stay outside by the pool till late, late, late….

If you move up on the coastal road you will get to the town of Moraira. This cosy little fisher town offers you very nice restaurants and bars. Especially one of the ice saloons near the harbour offers you fantastic fresh home made Italian ice-cream. Near the harbour are very nice sandy beaches with lot or space for children to play and where you can hire jetski´s and all kinds of boats.

To be here for one or two weeks will get even the most stressed out person relaxed. The laid-back Spanish atmosphere will affect anyone wanting a nice holiday in a positive way. I hope to see you soon !

If you go on holiday to the USA you can visit Universal Studios. Would it be possible soon to visit the “Ciudad de la Luz”?

Today is the last day of the so famous Alfaz del Pi filmfestival, a festival with many new and old movies to enjoy, even on a big screen at the beach. Every year the festival draws thousands of people to Alfaz del Pi and her “Albir” beach.

On the Albir beach, more film history is to be seen at the “boulevard de los Estrellas” or Boulevard of stars, where the famous stars of the Spanish domestic film industry have their own star in the marvel pavement of the boulevard. Now, this combined with moviescreen at the beach and the yearly handcraft market the atmosphere is really nice!!

In Alicante for a few years now, they have constructed the “Ciudad de la Luz” or the city of light, a very large complex functioning as film studios.

Antonio Banderas has had his shootings for “el camino de los Ingleses” in 2006 and now they have “Asterix and the Olympic Games”, a French-Spanish production with a budget of almost 57 million pounds, toped by the massive Roman Polanski production “Pompeii”, said to be the most expensive European production costing a little over 90 million pounds sterling.

Before the old master can do his magic with exploding volcanoes and streaming hot earth our friend from the Caribbean Johnny Depp will shoot his newest movie “Shantaram” in October this year.

So you see, Costa Blanca has it all!

That´s all Folks !!

End

While enyoing your Costa Blanca Villa or Costa Blanca Apartment a visit to Valencia may not be missed on your Costa Blanca Holidays !

Every city has a past … and all cities should have a future. Valencia has, for centuries, revelled in its history. But only recently has it begun to lay the foundations for the years ahead.

The city has experienced a remarkable rebirth over the last decade, transforming itself from an industrial sprawl into a ‘must-visit’ European destination. This renaissance has allowed Valencia to grow more than any city in Europe. The financial investment has been staggering. But it has been wisely spent, allowing Valencia - for so many years in the shadow of Madrid and Barcelona - to once again go head to head with the big boys.

Now is the ideal time to enjoy the revamped Valencia. Meander through ancient streets and glimpse a landscape that rejoices in progress and celebrates the past. The Plaza del Ayuntamiento provides an attractive starting point. It contains the imposing Town Hall, a building that reflects the city’s capacity to seamlessly merge the old and new, with parts of the edifice dating back to the 18th century, but the majority - including the glorious facade - constructed in the early 20th century.

Make sure you also allow a few minutes for the station. Yes, the Estacion del Norte, a few hundred metres down Calle Ribera, next to the city’s bullring. This is no ordinary railway station. Inaugurated in 1917, it’s a shining example of Valencian modernismo, full of decorative touches so often neglected in purely functional buildings. The other great square in the city is the Plaza de la Virgen. Surrounded by stunning architecture, it’s a pleasing location for a coffee while you take in the sights. At night the place is a hive of activity, with rollerbladers entertaining the crowds.
Food is a serious passion for all Valencianos and, in fact, it is difficult to ever witness the locals without some item of food being fed into their mouths. There are, unbelievably, seven eating periods in a typical Valencian day. But, as with all cosmopolitan cities, there is a wide variety of restaurants to feed the habit. A popular place for a fine but reasonably priced meal is Pizzeria La Vita e Bella, located on Calle d’En Llop just off the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. This superb restaurant, sympathetically converted from an old draper’s shop, successfully recreates the ambience of 1920s Valencia. The tagliatelle in green pesto, by the way, is to die for.

If you’re coming to Valencia for nightlife, you have certainly chosen the premier destination in the whole country. Valencia has always been a party town. The fiesta capital of Spain, the Valencianos are renowned for legendary weekends - when Friday runs into Sunday morning without a siesta in sight. Whether grooving in Barrio del Carmen, the real heart of the city, or chilling out at Playa de la Malvarrosa - a great atmosphere is guaranteed.
Malvarrosa is Valencia’s beach resort, where the city meets the coast. The hordes descend here en masse in the summer, with all the beautiful people hiding behind their Gucci sunglasses intent on eating the finest paella and making sure that lunch lasts for the rest of the day. If you fancy following in the footsteps of the legendary Ernest Hemingway, check in at La Pepica - the last in the line of restaurants in the Las Arenas area, north of the port.
If you are able to visit in March, you can enjoy the city’s world-famous Las Fallas festival. Lasting an entire week, with the papier-mache burning taking place on the last day, you will need a strong constitution to see out the whole fiesta. But many people do, and this is surely one of the greatest parties on earth.

Make sure you visit the City of Arts and Sciences, where you might consider spending a whole day in the best marine centre in Europe (L’Oceanografico) or in El Museo de Las Ciencias, a hands-on interactive science and technology experience. It is while you are here - surrounded by buildings at the vanguard of modern architecture - that you begin to understand what Valencia is all about: the perfect fusion of past and present, vision and inspiration … and fun for all of those who visit.

Benidorm is also famous for it´s Stagparties, read this artikle by John Tarr on how to have a Costa Blanca Holiday stagparty!

Whether you are a participant at a stag party or you are the reason why one exists you are sure to have a good time. For those of you who do not know what a stag party is, another word for it is bachelor party.

Each stag party is designed for the particular group in mind. If you are in charge of putting together an event such as this you will want to keep in mind a few things. First and foremost you must respect the groom’s wishes.

The events that take place during a stag party depend entirely upon the soon-to-be married person’s preferences. For example, some grooms or brides prefer not to have strippers at their parties. Therefore, if you are part of the wedding party and you are planning this event you may not want to hire a stripper, or take your bachelor/bachelorette party to night clubs or strip joints.

Other stag party groups may prefer a more activity-oriented event. Therefore, they may decide to have an entire weekend booked. For example, they may spend a night in a different city and join in on some pain balling activity, or clay pigeon shooting. Other groups may decide to take part in off road racing in rented dune buggies, four-wheelers (quad bikes) or 4×4 vehicles.

Some stag parties take place on a beach, either at a private beach house or on a public one. Often will take place at these parties includes swimming windsurfing, and sipping cocktails-preferably not all at the same time.

There are some people who prefer to go out on the town and experience the night life. Therefore many stag parties occur at night time. In order to make these parties as safe as possible the stag party group is often encouraged to hire a limo driver. Usually alcohol is allowed on board for those who want to drink. Otherwise, at least the people who are passengers are allowed to ride from club to club in style.

The reason why most stag parties take place is for the groom or bride to enjoy what is often called one “last hurrah” before tying the knot. It is often a way to help an engaged person to be less nervous about approaching a wedding day-getting through cold feet syndromes with a bang, if you will.

Sometimes a stag party can prove to be a strong test for some people. If they make it through the entire night without having “too much fun” (Read between the lines.) then they may consider themselves ready to be married. However, this night is often more of a celebration of both the end of single hood and the beginning of the married life.

Entire stag parties can be planned without picking up the phone. However, if you have any questions you can often find the help you need online. You can either find this help by calling or by e-mailing a representative. You have quite a bit of choices when it comes to planning a stag party.

John Tarr is a copywriter for Stag Party Weekend across the UK and Europe. Learn more about Stag Party.