Choice Vilas & Apartments Summer 09

Welcome to the July 2009 issue of Choice Villas & Apartments. Inaddition to our quick and easy-to-use design, allowing you to

locate your dream family holiday even faster, we hope you’ll findour extra edit pages useful too. Choice Essentials (p6) is full of new

product reviews and reader giveaways and Choice Holidays (p8)concentrates on Tenerife. Also, enter our competition (p12) for your

chance to win a holiday to the Paradise Park Resort & Spa, Tenerife.Within the magazine we have retained our popular country/region section

format with a brief introduction to the area and useful website listings tohelp plan your holiday.

Also, if you fancy a holiday home of your own, check out our Propertyfor Sale section towards the back of the magazine.

Choice Essentials 6Win some holiday goodies

Choice Holidays 8Tenerife

Competition 12Win a holiday to the ParadisePark Resort & Spa, Tenerife

Florida 14Balearic Islands 20Canary Islands 22Costa Blanca 25Costa del Sol 26

France 27Cyprus 28Italy 31Portugal 32Car hire 35Flights 35Insurance for car hire 35

Property for sale 36

Editor: Keeley Gordon [email protected] Assistant:Loretta Prince [email protected] Sales:Beverley Sennett [email protected]/Accounts:Wendy Barfoot [email protected]:Peter Lewsey [email protected] Stafford [email protected]

The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors oromissions. Whilst every care is taken, all materialsubmitted to Travel & Leisure Magazines Limited isdone so at its owner's risk and neither Travel & LeisureMagazines Limited nor its agents can accept any liabilityfor loss or damage. Travel & Leisure Magazines Limitedis a completely independent company and can hold noresponsibility for the actions of outside agents. No partof this magazine may be reproduced without priorwritten consent.Please note: property buyers should expect extrafinancial costs such as legal costs, local taxes etc. Allprivate advertisers are totally responsible for their ownwording within their advertisement, and Travel &Leisure Magazines Limited can therefore take noresponsibility as to their content. Please seek legaladvice and thereafter verify all the details of yourpurchase in writing before proceeding.

Published by:Travel & Leisure Magazines Ltd,103 Cranbrook Road, Ilford,Essex IG1 4PU, UKTel: +44 (0)20 8477 1529Fax: +44 (0)20 8514 4536Email: [email protected] by Wyndeham Heron©Travel & Leisure MagazinesLimited 2009

Villas & Apartments

YOUR No– 1 CHOICE FOR RENTING OR BUYING

A VILLA OR APARTMENT

6 Choice Villas & Apartments July 2009

100% waterproof andready for actionDo you wish you could take under water photosor use your mobile phone whilst in the pool?Well you can now with the range of waterproofcases from OverBoard. There is one foreverything from technology cases and waistpacks to duffel bags and back packs. The drytube bags even float if dropped in water!

For everyone,for every holiday,

for everything!Prices vary depending on product and size; a 20Ltr Dry Tube is £19.99 and a Small Aqua PhoneCase is £14.97. Go to www.over-board.com for full product details.

Choice Giveaway: We have five OverBoardcases to giveaway. You can choose from a mobile

phone case, a camera case or a multi-purpose case.

Save your skin withAfterBURN

AfterBURN Sunburn Rescue Gel will help sootheand repair sun damaged skin, unlike traditional

‘aftersun’ products that simply moisturise. The geldraws water from within the skin (the dermis) to

the surface (the epidermis) helping to rehydrate andtreat sun-damaged skin. It’s odourless, non sticky andnon-staining and rapidlyabsorbed and acts quicklyon the skin. It contains noalcohol, addedpreservatives or colouringsand helps to reduce thechances of premature skinageing. AfterBURN SunburnRescue Gel is available fromBoots and pharmacies andleading retailers nationwidepriced £9.78 for 75g.

BUGS AWAYMosi-guard contains only natural active ingredients so it’s

kind to skin and there is no danger of damage to plastics and

fabrics. Protect the whole family including children from three

months old from insect bites with Mosi-guard.Available as Mosi-guard Natural Insect Repellent Aerosol 150ml, Cream 100ml,

Spray 100ml, Roll On 60ml and Stick 50ml, all SRP £5.86.

Mosi-guard is available to buy online at www.safariquip.co.uk;

www.ifsogo.com; or from MASTA Travel Clinics, Waitrose, Superdrug and some independant pharmacies. www.mosi-guard.com

Choice Giveaway: 10 x Mosi-guard Natural Insect Repellent Aerosol 150ml

Choice Essentials

Forget early mornings and stressfultraffic jams and stay at an airportTravelodge the night before yourflight. A family room will

accommodate either: two adults and twochildren under the age of 16 or three adults andall you pay for is the price of the room whichstarts at £29. All Travelodge rooms offer en-suitefacilities, luxury king-size bed, flat screen TV, wifiand free tea / coffee making facilities.

The latest Travelodge opening is HeathrowCentral. The hotel has a hopper bus service toTerminal 1, 2 and 3. There is on-site car-parking

and customers can get up to 60% off airport

parking by booking in advance for stays overfour days or more with BCP.

The 304 room hotel is styled in the company’snew room style and has a Bar Café that offers anall-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, snacks, eveningmeal and bar service. Throughout the summer

Travelodge is launching a 99p cream tea offer atsome of its airport hotels which includes:Heathrow Central, Heathrow T5, Gatwick,Stanstead and Manchester. The cream teaconsists of a large scone, a pot of clotted cream,a pot of either strawberry or raspberry jam anda collection of teas. To book visit

www.travelodge.co.uk

With hotels at every major UK airport and rooms

from just £29, there’s no excuse!

Reviews & Giveaways

Choice GiveawaysHow to enter: Entries can be made by going to

www.choicetravelinfo.combefore the Friday 21 August 2009 and entering yourdetails under ‘competitions and giveaways’. The winnerwill be announced and published on the website afterthe closing date. Terms and conditions on the website.

Safe belongingsin your room,at the beach orby the poolThe security experts atYale have introduced ahandy new portableTravel Safe that can beattached to any fixedobjects in your hotelroom or while you’re outand about to keep yourbelongings safe.Available in black orwhite, the slim-line safecan hold your passport,spending money andmobile phone, and comeswith a steel cable, whichcan be securely lockedaround a wardroberail, parasol or even arestaurant table. Designed to fit inyour handbagor travelbag, the safecomes with afour-digit combinationlock and has astrengthened casing forfurther protection against

attack and theft. The Travel Saferetails at £9.99 andis available fromwww.argos.co.uk

Whether you’re clubing in Ibiza orcruising in the Caribbean, Boots hassome great products to see youthrough the summer.

Soltan mini sunscreen (75ml SPF25–£4.99) is ideal for keeping inyour bag. It won’t take up muchspace and with UVA & UVB filters toreduce the sun’s burning effect onthe skin, it could be your mosttreasured handbag item!

Other vanity case must haves fromBoots include No7 Quick Thinking 4in 1 Wipes (30 wipes) £6.90; BootsSmile Totalcare MouthwashCoolmint 75ml 79p; Botanics CoolingFoot & Leg Spray 150ml £3.99;Extracts Mini Body Butters, 50ml£2.45 and Extracts Mini BodyWashes, 75ml £2.45. www.boots.com

Handbag essentials from Boots

Choice Villas & Apartments July 2009 7

10% off

For the man who haseverythingThe Travelwrap for him is so luxurious itwill make even the hardest person to buyfor feel special! The classic look and sharpcolours will never go out of fashion and thequality and finish of the Scottish cashmerewill make everyone feel at home. TheTravelwrap for him is available in plainshades of charcoal, oatmeal, silver, black andan eclectic choice of charcoal/silver stripeand makes the perfect travel accessory totake on board a flight, cruise or simplyrelaxing at home or in the garden.Travelwrap for him is the deluxe wardrobeinvestment for the discerning man and willsoon make it to the top of his list offavourite travel items along with the comfyt.shirt, the linen trousers and the vintageleather wash bag!The Travelwrap costs from £191 and comeswith a protective linen bag beautifullywrapped in the signature TravelwrapCompany box – a gorgeous gift forsomeone special. Or maybe you would liketo treat yourself – Travelwrap is alsoavailable for women and children. Go towww.thetravelwrapcompany.com forfurther details or phone 0844 800 1296.

Choice Special Offer: Enterthe code: VILLA10 for 10% off

any of The Travelwrap for Himcollection of Travelwraps atwww.thetravelwrapcompany.comuntil 31 August 09.

Your first choice for travel,accommodation and days out

www.choicetravelinfo.com

What’s new?Loro Parque, Puerto de la Cruz

Tenerife’s newest attraction isLoro Parque’s KatandraTreetops. The park will beopening a free flight aviarynamed Katandra Treetops thatwill include over a hundreddifferent species of birds suchas cockatoos, pelicans and fruitpigeons. The new exhibition isdue to open latesummer/autumn 2009. LoroParque is home to the largestcollection of parrots in theworld as well as killer whales,sharks, penguins, sea lions,dolphins, iguanas, tigers,monkeys and many many more.www.loroparque.com

Siam Park, Costa Adeje

The very latest addition toTenerife’s exciting theme parksis Siam Park, a Thai-themedwater park, with detailedsculptures and lush greenvegetation. Visitors canwonder around the FloatingMarket, drift peacefully alongthe Lazy River, relax on theThai Beach, swim along with

alligators, surf the largest man made wavesin the world and enjoy the fun sea lions.Adrenalin-seekers will love the Tower ofPower, with its breath-taking 28 metredrop and heart-stopping finale or theVolcano, where the darkness envelopsyou as you increase speed or for theless-adventurous, sheer relaxation canbe sought on the largest (9,500 squaremetres) white sandy beach in Tenerife.www.siampark.net

TEA, Tenerife Espacio de lasArtes – Temporary display ofRoland Penrose’s surrealistart Santa Cruz

The innovative TEA (Tenerife

Arts Space) opened in October 2008 and is the latestaddition to Tenerife’s museums and contemporaryarchitecture. The spectacular building, designed by theprestigious Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre deMeuron and Spanish architect Virgilio Gutierrez, aims tobecome a leading example of contemporary architecture.The futuristic building is set between the contrasting oldand new districts of Santa Cruz and has an extraordinarydisplay of photography, paintings and sculptures includingthat of a respected surrealist artist from Tenerife namedOscar Dominguez. www.teatenerife.eswww.webtenerifeuk.co.uk

T3 AthleticSphere, Tenerife Top Training Centre – LaCaleta de Adeje

The High Performance Tenerife Top Training Centre openedin October 2008 and is located in a quaint fishing villagenamed La Caleta, in Tenerife South. Also known as the T3AthleticSphere, the sports centre is fully equipped with thelatest developments in sports facilities and will offeramateurs the chance to unite in a welcoming atmosphere.The indoor swimming facilities include Spain’s only counter-current swimming machine with hydrodynamic streams,which is also the most modern of the 20 existing machinesin the world. www.tenerifetoptraining.com

Been there and done that? The chances are that youhaven’t! Visitors to Tenerife are blessed with heaps of

spectacular attractions, both new and old but how manypeople actually leave the poolside and take the time to

explore? The largest of the Canary Islands, is lucky enoughto enjoy year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches, a rich andvaried landscape and some of the most colourful fiestas andcarnivals in Spain – can you be tempted?

Choice Holidays

Further informationTenerife Tourism Corporationwww.webtenerifeuk.co.uk

Hotel Paradise Park Resort & Spawww.hotelparadisepark.com

Airport Parking – Holiday Extraswww.holidayextras.co.uk

Strelicia flower ©Tenerife Tourism Corporation


Playa de las Americas ©Keeley Gordon

Sailing ©Tenerife Tourism Corporation

Church, Puerto de la Cruz

©Tenerife Tourism

Corporation

Playa de las Americas ©Keeley Gordon

Discover Tenerife

Old favourites

Get up close with the dolphins: Take a boat tripfrom the south coast and keep your eyes peeled forPilot whales and Bottlenose dolphins in the straitsthat separate Tenerife from its neighbour LaGomera. It’s sometimes possible to see WhiteWhales.

Ride with the camels: Take a camel ride at theCamello Centre at El Tanque or a donkey or ponyride at the Oasis del Valle in the Orotava Valley

Natural salt pools: Enjoy the natural salt waterpools along the coastline of Puerto de la Cruz –swim, sunbathe or just ‘people watch’ at the CostaMartianez. For safe, calm swimming conditions headto the Lido at Martianez beach

An explosive day out: Appealing to all ages, a visitto the Parque Nacional La Canadas del Teide is anabsolute must. Fascinating volcanic rock formationssurround Mount Teide. The National Park wasdeclared a natural heritage site by UNESCO last year.

Adrenalin junkies: The warm climate is perfectfor many activities including canyoning, caving,climbing, hiking, horse riding, mountain biking,paragliding and scuba diving. The most popular divesites are off the south east coast from centres suchas Radazul, Las Eras or Las Galletas where diverscan find slopes, walls and spectacular chasms.

FactsThe average temperature in winter is20ºC while in summer it’s 23ºC. The seatemperature stays between 19 and 25ºCall year round.

The south of Tenerife has the highestnumber of hotels and apartments on theisland.

The Teide National Park, dominated bythe volcano that gave it its name, andwhich stands at a height of 3,718 metres,is the most visited park in all of Spain.

FestivalsHearts of Tejina La Laguna, last weekendin August

One of the most original festivals in Tenerifetakes place each year. It is known as the"Corazones de Tejina" (the hearts of Tejina) inhonour of Saint Bartholomew. Its strangename comes from the custom of makingthree large, two-metre high hearts frombeech tree sticks decorated with flowers andfruit. The three neighbourhoods of the "Callede Arriba" (Upper Street), the Calle de Abajo(Lower Street) and El Pico (the Peak)compete to see who can make the mostbeautiful heart.

Fiestas of Nuestra Señora delCarmen Los Cristianos, first week ofSeptember

The tourist resort and fishing harbour of LosCristianos, celebrates the festival of the"Virgen del Carmen" on the first Sunday inSeptember. On this day, the patron saint offishermen is honoured by leading aprocession across the harbour in a brightlydecorated boat followed by a convoy of otherboats. There is a wide range of events and afestive atmosphere that lasts for various days.

Siam Park ©Siam Park

Mount Teide ©Tenerife Tourism Corporation

Siam Park ©Siam Park

P l e a s e q u o t e C V A w h e n r e p l y i n g t o a d s10 Choice Villas & Apartments July 2009

Tene

rife

www.alandowtenerife.co.uk ★ www.alandowlanzarote.co.uk

www.alandowcyprus.co.uk ★ www.alandowspain.co.uk

★

★

★

★

★

★

TENERIFE ✷ LANZAROTE ✷ CYPRUS ✷ SPAIN ✷ FLORIDA• QUALITY APARTMENTS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES •

PERSONAL SERVICE FOR SHORT & LONG TERM RENTALS FROM THE OWNER

Contact Alan Dow, email: [email protected]

Choice Villas & Apartments July 2009 11P l e a s e q u o t e C V A w h e n r e p l y i n g t o a d s

Tenerife

TENERIFE SOUTH - LA CALETA FISHING VILLAGE - ACCOMMODATES 10

• Five-bedroom villa and two bathrooms• Twenty-minute drive from airport• Sun terraces and swimming pool• 50 metres to shops, cafes and restaurants• 30metres from the sea front

• One mile from Adeje Costa Golf Club,a new 18-hole course and driving range

Contact Mike Carroll

Tel: 01484 510846 Fax: 01484 425953

Email: [email protected]

LOW SEASON £800/WK

HIGH SEASON £1300/WK

The Hotel Paradise Park Resort & Spa is a family owned andrun hotel situated in the resort of Los Cristianos in the Southof Tenerife. The hotel has a variety of room types to suit all,

including standard twin rooms, twin rooms with lounge for familiesand larger groups, junior suites and executive junior suites. There arealso several one and two bedroom apartments on the complex forthose who prefer a more independent option. All rooms have abalcony.

For further information visit: www.hotelparadisepark.com

The hotel boasts a host of facilities including:● Six swimming pools:

• one on the roof top solarium, designated an adults only area, • a main pool in the family area,

• a second adult only pool,

• two pools in the hotel owned leisure area and a kids pool.

● Pool Bars

● Restaurants

● Roof Top Solarium (adults only)

● Spa facilities

● Daily entertainment for adults and

children

● Free shuttle bus to beach

● Gym

● Hair Salon

● Shop


‘We don’t just cater forkids, we cater for the

whole family’

How to enterTo be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize simply go to

www.choicetravelinfo.combefore Friday 21 August 2009 andenter your details under ‘competitionsand giveaways’. The winner will bepublished on the website after the closingdate.

Prize must be taken between 4 Sep – 18Dec 09 subject to availability. Flights andHoliday Insurance not included.

Terms and conditions on the website.

A 7 night stay at the 4★ Hotel Paradise Park Resort & Spa

in Los Cristianos, TenerifeThe prize consists of 7 nights accommodation in a Junior Suite

for 2 people on half board basis

Image: Discovery Cove ©Orlando CVB

Florida is the perfect holiday destination forthe entire family, whether you look toplease your five-year-old son or your 65-

year-old mother! From its sandy beaches to itsbreathtaking parks, Florida has everything fromhistory to the hottest attractions.

Siesta Public Beach in Sarasota is a family-friendly beach with shallow waters,year-round lifeguards and the whitest sands inFlorida. The Everglades National Park is theonly subtropical preserve in North America,With its luscious wetlands and more than150 miles of canoeing and walking trails, thisreserve will excite a family of nature loversof all ages.

Florida is known for its enticing stores,malls and outlets filled with merchandisethat is sure to delight – for some of thebest shopping, travel up the west coastto Northwest Florida. With both DestinCommons and the Silver Sands FactoryStores, this is a true shopper’sparadise.

For the perfect match of history,culture and beauty, travel toFlorida’s east coast and

experience St. Augustine – thenation’s oldest city. St.

Augustine amazes visitors

with its ancient cobblestone streets, quaint cafés anda host of historical landmarks and attractions, such asthe 310-year-old Castillo de San Marcos NationalMonument, allowing you to travel back to the earlySpanish empire in the New World.

For a taste of everything, visit Walt Disney World,where you are bound to find something to pleaseeveryone, from one of Orlando’s best shoppingdistricts to Blizzard Beach or Epcot and AnimalKingdom – not to mention the amazing nightlife!

Useful infoTemperatures Orlando

Dec–Feb 23°C Mar–May 28°C Jun–Aug 33°C Sep–Nov 29°C Average daily maximum - guide only

Currency US dollarwww.xe.com (currency converter)

Further infowww.visitflorida.com/destinations

Getting thereBritish Airways www.ba.comVirgin Atlantic www.virgin-atlantic.com


Flor

ida


Florida

Vacation Rentalson Beautiful Captiva Island

Photo gallery on our website

www.captiva-island.com001-239-395-2490


Flor

ida


Florida

Picture © Turespaña

About a hundred miles off the east coastof Spain lies a group of islands blessedwith a combination of nature, climate

and culture that has transformed them intotourism giants. The Balearic Islands consist ofMajorca (Mallorca in Spanish), Menorca andIbiza, plus the smaller Formentera andnumerous minor islands. Drenched insunshine, the Balearic Islands boast stunningscenery and sandy beaches, pulsatingnightlife and rural serenity; but perhaps thekey to their success is their individuality:each of the main islands has its ownpeculiar look and feel, and is associatedwith a particular type of holiday.

The Balearic Islands can be found justoff the east coast of Valencia, with theclosest island being 85 km from themainland, whilst the furthest lies 333km away. Various bays, coves andcapes dominate the smooth coastlinebut there are a few ruggedlandscapes and cliffs to be seen.Majorca has the largest mountains

of the islands with somesummits reaching 1,445 metres

(Puig Major) and 1,340metres (Puig de

Massanella).

There are no large rivers on the islands, this is dueto the moderate rainfall, the permeable soil and theactual size of the islands themselves and its waterwaysare dominated by watercourses and torrents. Thesubsoil, however, houses important aquifers that havegiven rise to major caves of extraordinary beauty, thatinclude the Caves of Drach and the Arta Caves inMajorca, and Xoroi Cave in Menorca.

Useful infoTemperatures Palma, MajorcaDec–Feb 15°C Mar–May 19°C Jun–Aug 28°C Sep–Nov 23°C Average daily maximum - guide only

Currency Eurowww.xe.com (currency converter)

Further infowww.visitbalears.com

Getting thereEasyJet www.easyjet.comIberia www.iberia.com

Image ©Tenerife Toursim

Most visitors go to the Canary Islandsbecause the weather is reliable, thebeaches are good and the tourist

facilities are fantastic, but there is a whole lotmore to discover on the ‘blessed islands’.

Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro,Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzaroteform the Canary Islands and they lie in a partof the Atlantic Ocean known asMacaronesia, which includes thearchipelagos of Madeira, Salvajes, Azores,Cape Verde and part of Morocco. It’s easyto assume that the Canary Islands are partof Africa with the closest point on theAfrican coast only 210km away fromGran Canaria, but it was in fact Spainwho eventually conquered the CanaryIslands with a long quest between1402–1495.

Throughout the years the CanaryIslands relied on an economy ofsugar cane, wine, cochineal,bananas, tobacco and other

agricultural resources before thetourism boom in the fifties,

which saw holiday-makersflocking to its shores.

They vary dramatically between western andeastern ends of the chain, but all offer a wonderfulclimate throughout the year, which every winterattracts thousands of European weather-fugitives totheir beaches, towns, volcanoes, forests and deserts.

The only problem you have now is deciding whichisland to visit – you can of course island-hop by planeor boat so why not visit them all!

Useful infoTemperatures Sta Cruz, Tenerife



Further infowww.canarias-turismo.com

Getting thereBritish Airways www.ba.comIberia www.iberia.com


FuerteventuraLanzarote


Lanz

arot

e

Bungalow La Casita Los Techos VillaPuerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote

Contact Annaley Yates Tel: 01253 300435 Mob: 0772 0763378 [email protected] www.lanzarotevillas.info

Exceptional 3-bed 3-bath bungalow villa in the exclusive area of Los Mojones, completely private, just 10 mins walk frommain promenade, beaches and Puerto del Carmen. Fully fitted kitchen, private off-street parking, large heated pool, sun

bathing terrace, BBQ and covered outdoor eating area. Pleasant dining area with viewsof pool and terrace. Lounge with comfortable, modern corner suite and plasma digitalTV with UK channels. External laundry area. Master Bedroom Lovely airy room withking size bed, fitted wardrobes and superb ensuite bathroom. Bedroom 2 Twinbedded room, fitted wardrobes and ensuite bathroom. Bedroom 3 Situatedacross the terrace from main bungalow, twin beds with ensuite bathroom, alsosmall kitchen area with fridge and sink. Arrecife Airport 10 mins approx.

Completely private, spacious villa on several levels with marvelous views of the volcanic mountains. Magnificent11m heated pool and sun bathing terraces, covered games area, family-sized hot tub, BBQ & bar. Fabulous daylounge with Sky TV and DVD player. Fully fitted kitchen. Beautiful dining area.Master Bedroom with king size bed, huge dressing room, en-suitebathroom. Bedroom 2 Enormous twin-bedded room with dressing room anden-suite bathroom. Bedroom 3 King-size bed and en-suite shower room.Bedroom 4 Twin-bedded room with en-suite shower room. Bedroom 5Separate from the main house, overlooking the pool. Twin-bedded roomwith en-suite bathroom. Sleeps 10. Arrecife Airport 10 mins approx.


Useful info

Temperatures Alicante



Further infowww.spain.info

Getting thereBritish Airways www.ba.com

EasyJet www.easyjet.com

Image ©Turespaña

In the south west of Spain in the province of Alicante, the Costa Blanca isa land of many contrasts with golden beaches, green valleys, mountains,quaint villages and over 150km of coastline overlooking the beautiful

Mediterranean sea. With the sun shining almost all year round, its naturallandscape makes the Costa Blanca an ideal destination for all kinds of sportingactivities, including horse-riding, trekking, bicycle-riding, mountaineering andnumerous water-sports. On average, seven out of ten visitors to the Valencianregion choose to stay in Benidorm, the Costa Blanca’s main tourist resort withthe capacity to cope with 300,000 tourists over the peak-season period.

Useful info

Temperatures Malaga



Further infowww.spain.info

Getting thereBritish Airways www.ba.com

Ryanair www.ryanair.com

Image ©Turespaña

Around Malaga to the east of Gibraltar, the Sun Coast has built itssuccess on its warm air and sea and almost guaranteed sunshine.Resorts range from Marbella – with its exclusive marina at Puerto Banús

– to Torremolinos; add the dramatic mountain scenery and spectacular caveat Nerja and a wealth of sporting options, and the Costa del Sol emerges as avaried and complete holiday destination. There are 11 marinas on the Costadel Sol, putting the region ahead of the rest of Andalusia in sailing andwatersports facilities. Most of these ports have magnificent nightlife and toprestaurants, with many stylish boutiques and shops of all kinds. The Costa delSol is also a golfer’s paradise.



Useful info

Temperatures Bordeaux



Further infowww.uk.franceguide.com

Getting thereEasyJet www.easyjet.com

Air France www.airfrance.co.uk

France is the biggest country in western Europe, and also one of the mostdiverse. It has oceanic, continental and Mediterranean climates, soaringmountains (including Europe’s highest), rugged plateaux, dense forests,

sun-drenched vineyards and olive groves, sweeping plains traversed by greatrivers, and mile upon mile of beaches on three different seas. It has diverseregions, with their own distinctive cultures and languages. It has ancient citiesfull of architectural splendour, juxtaposed with the sharpest of moderntechnology and design. It has some of the world’s greatest art treasures, datingfrom the Stone Age to the present day. Above all, though, France has a certainapproach to life that makes time spent here special and unique.

Cyprus is the third largest island in theMediterranean Sea and despite being atthe crossroads of three continents, it is a

distinctive place that can feel blissfully apartfrom it all. There are beaches to suit just abouteverybody, from families with small children toseekers of solitude and the Troodos Mountainsoffer an alluring contrast to the coast. Explorethe narrow stone streets of Nicosia for a tasteof history, where crimson flowers cascade fromwindow pots and the aroma of traditionalbaking wafts through open doorways.

Along the route that leads from the portcity of Limassol to Paphos, is a magnificentstretch of coastline where you can swim inthe sea at Petra tou Romiou, whereAphrodite emerged from the sea-foam inancient times. In the Akamas region, hikersexploring the area's rich flora can cool offat the grotto where the love goddessbathed after her amorous interludes!

A tradition of celebration andhospitality is always present in thevibrant seaside town of Limassol.From the Wine Festival inSeptember, to the Carnival inFebruary, music, parades, anddancing is a way of life!

Shopping boutiques,inviting cafés and a palm-

lined promenade lead the way to the Larnaka MedievalMuseum, housed in a 17th Century fort. Not far fromLarnaka is the enchanting village of Lefkara, onceadmired by Leonardo da Vinci for its exquisitehandmade lace.

Life in the southeastern corner of Cyprus revolvesaround the sea, with water sports of all kinds readilyavailable. East to Protaras, glorious beaches spread outunder the sun, while just inland the white-washed townof Paralimni boasts open-air tavernas known for theirsucculent grilled fish.

Image ©Cyprus Tourist Office

Useful infoTemperatures Paphos



Further infowww.visitcyprus.org.cy

Getting thereBritish Airways www.ba.comEasy Jet www.easyjet.com


Cypr

us

Aura Holiday Villas are an exclusive groupof 2 and 3 bedroom detached holiday villasin the Coral Bay area of Paphos, Cyprus.

Contact Tel: 00 357 26935373 Mob: 00 357 99385910 Email: [email protected] www.auravillas.com

Each villa has it’s own private swimming pool and balconies, which all enjoy magnificent andunobstructed views of the Mediterranean Sea. They are elegantly designed and have been builtmetres away from secluded sandy beaches and local amenities, such as supermarkets andtavernas. The bus stop is 100 metres away and gives easy access to the popular sandy beach ofCoral Bay, the fun and exciting nightlife of Kato Paphos, and all the shops of Paphos town.

Prices per week – 2 bedroom villaLow season

£330 £550 £990Mid season High season


Italy is not just a place; Italy is a world-famous cuisine, the most glamorous cars,footballing legends, and some of the most beautiful art, music and architecturethe world has ever seen, as well as one of its greatest empires and most

influential languages. The country traditionally divides into three mainland areas,plus the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The north boasts many fascinating cities,including the region’s largest, Milan and Turin, as well as the Alps and the ItalianLakes. The south is dominated by Naples; and has the added attraction of nearbyMount Vesuvius and the excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum. Between northand south lies the Italy that has become the beloved haunt of distinguished tourists.

Useful info

Temperatures Rome



Further infowww.italiantouristboard.co.uk

Getting thereEasyJet www.easyjet.com

Alitalia www.alitalia.com

At the south-western extremity of Europe,Portugal’s history and culture areinseparable from the sea. Once a great

imperial power, it is now better known forsunshine, golf and fortified wine. The Costade Prata, the Estoril coast and Costa Azul allcompete for the attention of tourists, but bestknown are the beaches and year-roundsunshine of the Algarve in the far south.Nature has blessed Portugal’s 850 km ofcoastline with a bit of everything, fromenchanting beaches to varied, breath-takingcountryside and the Atlantic coast is prizedby surfers and windsurfers across Europe.

The coastal towns are also rich inPortuguese heritage, discover thecolourful seafaring and fishing traditionsand end your day by sampling some ofthe finest fresh fish in the world.

Lisbon is the Atlantic capital,blessed with natural beauty andsteeped in fascinating history andthe only European capital withAtlantic beaches. Take the trainalong the north bank of the

Tagus estuary and discovermiles of golden sandy

beaches. The beaches of

Estoril and Cascais are home to a number of royalcastles – a stunning legacy of the times when thekings of Portugal spent their summers there. Lisbonalso has a rich and colourful seafaring heritage, in the16th century, ships set sail from the beaches of theRiver Tagus to chart a route to far-off India. The city’spassion for the sea continues to this day, visit theParque das Nações and you’ll discover Europe’slargest aquarium.

Useful infoTemperatures Faro, Algarve



Further infowww.visitportugal.com

Getting thereEasyJet www.easyjet.comTAP Air Portugal www.tap-airportugal.co.uk


Portugal

Contact Hugh Cross Tel: 020 7823 2032 (office hours)or 0780 193 1721 Email: [email protected]

Casa Martin, Nr Loulé Sympathetically converted farmhouse in peaceful, ruralsurroundings with private swimming pool and terraces.Five mins by car from charming market town of Loulé,excellent for shopping and dining.Faro airport and the coast 20-min drive. Car hire isessential. 1 double and 1 twin bedroom, large showerroom and comfortable lounge. Fully-equipped kitchenand dining room. Wood fire and electric radiators.Situated on high ground amongst fields of almond,olive and fig trees with coastal views. Shady tiledcovered terrace, large built-in barbecue with tileddining table and benches.Accommodates 2–4. Prices from £350/wk.


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Car hireFlights

Insurance for car hire

Telephone: 0845 045 0152www.charterflights.co.uk

• Discount Flights Worldwide • Car Hire

• Airport Car Parking • Holiday Insurance

DESTINATIONS • Balearics • Canaries• Caribbean • Cyprus • Greece & Islands

• Italy • Portugal • Spain • Turkey • USA

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LOOK NO FURTHERFOR THE HOLIDAY HOME OF YOUR DREAMS!Now all properties for sale are collected together intheir own special section. Villas and apartments for sale, separated into easy-to-use country sections with fabulous propertiesfrom all around the world.


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‘BEST BUYS’ on the Spanish Costas

Tel/Fax: 0034 965 320024 E-mail: [email protected] A ROOKEIndependent Property Consultant

www.villavalue.com

Choice Vilas & Apartments Summer 09

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