Spain

If you are coming to Spain for the first time, be warned: this is a country that fast becomes an addiction. You might intend to come just for a beach holiday, or a tour of the major cities, but before you know it you'll find yourself hooked by something quite different - by the celebration of some local fiesta, perhaps, or the amazing nightlife in Madrid, by the Moorish monuments of Andalucia, by Basque cooking, or the wild landscapes and birds of prey of Estremadura. And by then, of course, you will have noticed that there is not just one Spain but many. Indeed, Spaniards often speak of Las Españas (the Spains) and they even talk of the capital in the plural - Los Madriles , the Madrids.

The cities - above all - are compellingly individual. Barcelona, for many, has the edge: for Gaudí's splendid modernista architecture, the lively promenade of Las Ramblas, designer clubs par excellence , and, not least, for Barça - the city's football team. But Madrid, although not as pretty, claims as many devotees. The city and its people, immortalized in the movies of Pedro Almodóvar, have a vibrancy and style that is revealed in a thousand bars and summer terrazas. Not to mention three of the world's finest art museums. Then there's Sevilla, home of flamenco and all the clichés of southern Spain; Valencia, the vibrant Levantine city with an arts scene and nightlife to equal any European rival; and Bilbao, a new entry on Spain's cultural circuit, due to Frank Gehry's astonishing Guggenheim museum.

Not that Spain is predominantly about buildings. For most visitors, the landscape holds just as much fascination - and variety. The evergreen estuaries of Galicia could hardly be more different from the high, arid plains of Castile, or the gulch-like desert landscapes of Almería. Agriculture makes its mark in the patterned hillsides of the wine- and olive-growing regions and the rice fields of the Levante. Spain is also one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, and there is superb walking and wildlife in a dozen or more sierras - above all in the Picos de Europa and Pyrenees. Spain's unique fauna boast protected species like brown bears, the Spanish lynx and Mediterranean monk seals as well as more common wild boar, white storks and birds of prey. One of Spain's greatest draws is undeniably its beaches although with infinitely more variety than you would be led to believe from the sun-and-sand holiday brochures. Long tracts of coastline - along the Costa del Sol, in particular - have been developed into concrete hotel and villa complexes but delightful pockets remain even on the big tourist costas. On the Costa Brava, the string of coves between Palamos and Begur are often overlooked, while in the south there are superb windsurfing waters around Tarifa and some decidedly low-key resorts along the Costa de la Luz. In the north, the cooler Atlantic coastline boasts the surfing sands of Cantabria and the unspoilt coves of Galicia's estuaries. Offshore, the Balearic islands have some superb sands and, if you're up for it, Ibiza also offers one of the most hedonistic backdrops to beach life in the Mediterranean.

Wherever you are in Spain, you can't help but notice the Spaniards' infectious enthusiasm for life. In the cities there is always something happening - in bars and clubs, on the streets, and especially at fiesta times. Even in out of the way places there's a surprising range of nightlife and entertainment, not to mention the daily pleasures of a round of tapas, moving from bar to bar, having a beer, a glass of wine or a vino (dry sherry) and a bite of the house specialty.

 Spain has some of the best beaches in the northern hemisphere. Around 500 Spanish beaches have attained Blue Flag* status: the highest number in all of Europe. Many of Spain’s beaches and coastal areas are extremely beautiful and/or set in very picturesque areas. The Blue Flag beaches, are extremely safe, have very clean water and are looked after to prevent environmental damage caused by tourism and its impact.

* Blue Flag is an eco-award given to beaches and marinas if they are deemed to have good water quality (clean), are safe and developed with a strong regard for environmental sustainability.

Spanish Weather

What good is a beach without good weather? Spain has a national average of around 320 days of sunshine each year. The southern and eastern coastal as well as the Balearic and Canary Islands of course bumps the average up somewhat. Inland Spain can be colder and wetter, particularly during the winter. However, stick to the coastal and you should be able to avoid Seasonal Disorder Syndrome with brighter and sunnier days!

Flights to Spain

Spain is very well established on the flight paths of the major and minor airlines, so getting a flight is easy. The price of flights to/from Spain from/to European is also very reasonable.

The Spanish Cost of Living

The Spanish enjoy a much lower cost of living than most of its European counterparts. It is also a much cheaper place to live than North America. You will literally get more bang for your buck in Spain.

Spanish property Prices

The price of Spanish property makes investment a very attractive proposition for foreign investors. Although the market is comparatively tough right now, there are still bargains to be found if you are prepared to do your research.

Spanish Services

As Spain has been providing for large-scale tourism since the 1960s, the travel, shopping, infrastructure, medical, entertainment and educational infrastructure is exceptionally good.

The Spanish Lifestyle

Combined with a lower cost of living, the Mediterranean diet, fair weather and more relaxed way of life makes for a happier and healthier you.

Golf in Spain

Spain and golf go hand-in-hand: Spain is one of the most popular destinations in Europe (if not the world) for golfing enthusiasts.

Spain offers a combination of exceptionally good golf courses, cheap flights and a climate that enables golfers to play throughout the year… without using an umbrella! And for the times in between a round of golf, Spain offers a multitude of attractions, sights, culture and other recreations to keep a whole family entertained.

8 Reasons why Spain