African Safari

Vacation Villas are great for hosting Family reunions, Weddings, Summer vacations and much more.

Any visitor while choosing for Villa for vacation will be spoiled for choice. Though majority of the villas will have great locations and very luxurious with all modern amenities, few guidelines are must before deciding on your dream vacation rental villa home.

Villa rentals are becoming more popular for families going on vacation in many areas of the world. Villas offer a degree of privacy that just isn’t available at hotels and most resorts. Luxury villa rentals offer a great deal more than the average villa rental in terms of extra accommodations.

Luxury villa rentals are available in nearly every country around the world. Italy, Greece, Spain, Mexico and the Caribbean are among some of the more sought-after destinations. Concierge services and valet parking are only a few of the added comforts of a luxury villa rental.

Most villa rentals of this stature provide a full staff that is available to see that your every need is met while you do nothing but enjoy your vacation.

The rise in direct booking websites has seen a boom in owners advertising their own properties, and as a result holiday makers are seeing a similar rise in villa holiday nightmares.

With the huge amount of concrete gone into building villas in Europe in the last 10 years competition is fierce for holiday rental income and owners have decided to take matters into their own hands to get bookings.

Very often booking direct with owners means your villa may be available for a slightly cheaper weekly rental than similar properties with professional management companies or letting agencies.

The disadvantage to booking direct however is you have no guarantees of the standard on arrival or indeed how professional the owner maybe.

If you are going to renting a Lanzarote villa in the near future you might be wondering what places of interest to see when you are there.

Arrecife is a lively port city that took over from Teguise as the Island’s capital.

Arrecife is home to half of Lanzarote’s inhabitants and the location of Lanzarote’s only multi story building. From miles around the island’s only high rise structure can be seen towering over the city.

Cesar Manrique’s vision for the future of the island prevented the building of any more such buildings and for 30 year this hotel, the Arrecife Gran Hotel, was a mere shell mid construction as authorities debated completion or destruction.

As previously mentioned, the traditional capital was Teguise, some 6 miles further inland. This was selected as protection from the regular pirate raids of old and was the capital of the island for 450 years. It was only in 1852, when the importance of the port was recognized for the marine trade that the capital status was moved to Arrecife.

This piratical past is still remembered today as there are two castles standing guard over the harbour. Although, these days they mainly stand and watch the biggest fishing fleet in the Canaries setting to sea and returning with their catch.

Lanzarote’s most southerly and most westerly tourist resort is Playa Blanca. It is also a more recently developed resort than Puerto Del Carmen and Costa Teguise and there is a lot of building work still in progress, but many tourists still find it quieter than its two earlier resorts. It is just under 40km from the island capital of Arrecife and a little over twenty miles from the airport.

Playa Blanca came about from a fishing village and more recently became the boarding point for the ferry to neighbouring Fuerteventura. There is even talk that the harbour will be adapted to take in cruise ships to pull in more visiting tourists.

The Playa Blanca coastline consists of a 9 km wide bay, split into three smaller bays, including the best known of the three bays, Papagayo. This has the result of making neat beaches with white sand that are safe for swimming and soaking up the sun’s rays. Scuba diving is also possible with the English speaking dive centres dotted about. Although the aquatic life is fairly similar to the whole of Lanzarote, diving over the white sands does make an attractive difference.

There are plenty of restaurants and shopping opportunities in Playa Blanca, but nightlife is said to be a little quieter than its sister resorts nearer to the airport. Most of the holiday accommodation in Playa Blanca consists of holiday villas rather than hotels and apartments and there is a large variety to choose from. Finding villas Playa Blanca is commonplace and there are an excellent choice of villas available.

Want to get your own vacation home? It is possible - the very time.

If you are going to a villa in Lanzarote sometime in the future you might be wondering what places of interest to see when you are there. Well, the capital city of Lanzarote is Arrecife and that is a good place to start with.

Arrecife is a lively port city that took over from Teguise as the Island’s capital. It is sited on the south coast of the island, nestled between Costa Teguise and Puerto Del Carmen. Arrecife is also the home to the island’s airport and a slight detour on the road to Puerto Del Carmen will give plane enthusiasts an excellent treat as they can stand almost at the end of the runway and, dependent on wind direction, have the airplanes passing low level over their heads as they take off or land.

Half of the island’s inhabitants reside in Arrecife and the site of Lanzarote’s only multi story building. From miles around the island’s only high rise structure can be seen as a giant above the city. Cesar Manrique’s vision for the protection of the island prevented the building of any more such buildings and for 30 year this hotel, the Arrecife Gran Hotel, was a mere part completed shell as authorities debated completion or destruction.

As previously mentioned, the traditional capital was Teguise, some siz miles further inland. This was chosen as protection from the regular pirate raids of old and was the capital of the island for 4 and a half centuries. It was only in 1852, when the importance of the port was recognized for the marine trade that the capital status was moved to Arrecife.

This piratical history is still in evidence today as there are two castles standing guard over the harbour. Although, these days they mainly stand and watch the biggest fishing fleet in the Canaries setting to sea and returning with their catch.

Playa Blanca is Lanzarote’s most southerly tourist resort. It is also a newer resort than Puerto Del Carmen and Costa Teguise and there is ongoing building work still in progress, but many tourists still find it quieter than its two earlier resorts. It is just under 40 kilometers from the island capital of Arrecife and a little under 35 km from the airport.

Playa Blanca was originally a fishing village and more recently started use as the stopping point for the ferry to near by Fuerteventura. There is even a possibility that the harbour will be enlarged to take in cruise ships to allow in more visiting tourists.

The Playa Blanca coastline consists of a 6 mile wide bay, split into 3 smaller bays, including the best known of the 3 bays, Papagayo. This has the effect of producing neat beaches with white sand that are suitable for swimming and soaking up the sun’s rays. Diving is also possible with the English speaking dive centres dotted about. Although the aquatic life is differs little from the whole of Lanzarote, diving over the white sands does make an unusual alternative.

There are a wide variety of restaurants and shopping opportunities in Playa Blanca, but nightlife is said to be a little tamer than its sister resorts nearer to the airport. Most of the tourist accommodation in Playa Blanca consists of holiday villas rather than hotels and apartments and there is a large variety to choose from. Finding a villa to rent in Playa Blanca is commonplace and there are an excellent choice of villas available.

Looking for vacation home? Read more here.

Every year, millions of Americans weigh their travel options when considering a fun trip for the entire family - and many love theme parks.

Do you love Ohio theme parks but hate the high prices and long line-ups? Do you plan a family vacation every year to Six Flags, but are tired of fighting the crowds and constantly opening your wallet? If so, keep reading for a basic guide that will help you survive the ups and downs of Ohio’s roller coaster parks.

Can Your Kids Handle It?

Certain rides may come with age restrictions, but theme parks don’t. However, just because you can take your three-year-old to Six Flags, does that mean you should?

Remember, younger children can really slow down the pace of the day as you make your way from the rides to the potty to the cafeteria and back to the rides. Smaller infants are often easier as they can be pushed in a stroller, but it also limits your options as a parent. However, before you take your kids to a theme park, ask yourself if they’re ready.

Be Realistic About Cost

A frugal five-night vacation for a family of four near Ohio theme parks will run about $2,000 - plus transportation. Roughly one-third will be for tickets, a third for food, and the rest for lodging and incidentals. But there are ways to cut back.

To save money, try to avoid buying anything inside the park. For example, pack light and healthy snacks like granola or apples to keep your kids going without draining your bank account on expensive park food. Also, purchase items like hats and sunscreen before you arrive.

Avoid the Crowds

Finally, call the park you want to visit and ask for a vacation-planning guide and a map so you can plot out your plan of attack. In general, theme parks are laid out in a giant convoluted circle. Theme park vets will tell you that most people veer to the right after entering the gate - so go left and work your way through in a clockwise rotation.

You can also avoid the crowds by heading straight for the rear of the park and slowly work your way toward the entrance. While you make your way to the front, you’ll avoid the rush of people. Also, get a map of the park ahead of time and plan out your route the day before.

Say No to Ticket Lines

Buy tickets in advance. The main ticket window is one major line that can be skipped entirely. Arrive when the park opens with entry tickets in hand.

Where to Go

Probably the most popular out of all the Ohio theme parks is Cedar Point. It’s the biggest amusement park in the world and home to some of the highest and longest roller coasters too. Other parks in the area include Six Flags, SeaWorld, King’s Island and numerous others.

Most people who go on holiday, especially breaks by the beach in places like Spain, Portugal and France often end up staying in hotels and whilst I have nothing against them, there are plenty of other alternatives.

If you are planning a holiday with a group of friends or with your family, renting a villa can be an excellent idea.

You rent most villas on a weekly basis and when you first look at the price, it can often seem to be a little expensive. What you must remember is that you will be renting what effectively is a whole house and not just a room.

So if you are going on holiday as a family or with a group of friends it can actually work out to be really good value for money.

The most obvious advantage of a villa over a hotel is space, they are usually pretty big houses, this can be a real advantage especially if you have children, giving everyone space to relax and when needed, space to get away and enjoy some time alone and space to entertain.

When you are renting a villa in Lanzarote there are lots to see and do, not just the beaches and Timanfaya National Park.

The island is easy to tour whether in a hire car or in organized tours. Take your pick!

There is a restored white windmill to visit within the gardens, which includes the site’s caf? for a welcome refreshment or snack.

The crater has been half erroded by the sea, hence not being visibly chopped, and filled with sea water that has filtered through the black sand that keeps the sea from the crater.

The water in the crater has created a green lagoon, which is caused by the algae living in the water and it contrasts spectacularly with the surrounding black sand.

These are a complex of underground caves that were left in the lava some 3,000 years ago and were used as shelter to the early population when the pirates of old came invading.

You only get to discover it by visiting the cave and I’m not about to tell you now!

Puerto Del Carmen is roughly centrally along the southern coast of Lanzarote, only around a 10 minute trip from the island’s airport in Arrecife.

Puerto Del Carmen started off life as a small fishing village and the old harbor remains for visitors to experience and visit the many seafood restaurants. It now encompasses around 4 miles of beaches, including wide beach expanses and small coves.

There are many scuba diving schools in Puerto Del Carmen for both the learner, the experienced and those wanting to further their diving careers. Both PADI and BSAC are generally accepted and English is spoken at many diving schools. Most schools dive in the same small bay from which shore entries and harbor entries are available on a range of dives, including a reef with Pink Coral. Motoring further out are the Los Erizos wrecks at a depth of about 20m. A collection of boats sunk to create an artificial reef for divers to explore just outside of the harbor entrance.

If you fancy seeing the array of sea-life on offer, but don’t want to learn to dive, there is always the yellow submarine tour, which also visits the wrecks. Keep an eye open for the divers watching the submarines go by… There are also cycle hire stores in the main shops and a new golf course under construction on the out skirts of the town.

With Lanzarote’s strict planning permission there are no high rise buildings in the resort. Finding Puerto Del Carmen villas to rent is commonplace and there are an excellent choice of villas available.

Also learn about vacation home - how to get one.

When you are renting a Villa in Casares you might like to visit the pretty mountain villages running between the Rio Guardiaro and the its tributary the Genal. The Ronda to Algecciras road is well worth the trip for the white town addicts. Although the route boasts 15 pubelos blancos (white villages), most are in fact quite small, with places like Alpandeire shrinking over the last few years to just 200 or so inhabitants. The small towns such as Alpandeire and Benalauria speak of their Berber past. All these derive their living from chestnut farming.

The larger towns such as Benaojan and Montejaque are most famous for their tinned pork products.

Worthy perhaps of a half or full day visit in its own right is one of Andalucia’s most dramatically positioned pueblos blancos, Arcos de la Frontera. The pueblo balances on a rocky ridge, its whitewashed houses and stone castle walls stopping abruptly as a vertical cliff face plunges down to the fertile valley of the river Guadalete below.

The town enjoyed settlement in Neolithic, Bronze Age, Tartessian, Phoenician and Roman periods although it is reputed its time under the Moors was one of its most successful. For the settler plentiful water and the pueblo’s defensive position were the main attraction.

Due to its exceptional architecture and impressive location 1962 saw the pueblo declared a historic-artistic monument. The original town is a maze of cobbled streets that lead up to the castle, the Castillo de los Arcos. From there one can see fantastic views over the town and the rolling plain below.

Today Arcos’s population circa 28,000 is split between the old town and the newer town. For the old town follow Cuesta Bel?n up the hill. In the centre of the old town is the cobbled Plaza de Cabildo. There is a good viewpoint, however watch out as there is a 150 metre high foot drop!

One of the memorable images of the pueblo is Calle Maldonaldo and Calla Cuna, both are lined with lovely buildings built by the wealthy citizens of the 18th-century and covered by traditional Spanish grilled windows.

The pueblo enjoys its culinary history and Tapas bars can be found in the old town huddled around the central Callej?n de las Monjas. Excellent examples are the Mes?n El Patio, a cave-like bar. If celebrating a special occasion try perhaps El Convento on Marques de Torresoto, a 17th-century palace. For the best views in Arcos have a drink on the terrace at Parador on Plaza del Cabildo.

Arcos also has the Guadalete river which is lined with olive and orange groves. If you want a dip in hot weather visit the reservoir, the Lago de Arcos, part a protected area.

There are plenty of suitable Costa Del Sol Villas in which to stay to tour the area, choose from Casaras, Calahonda, Mijas Costa, Benahavis or Benalmadena.

P.S. For the tips about buy vacation home - read this post.

The most unique aspect of many towns and cities in Ethiopia is their distinctiveness. Probably the best known is Addis Ababa, large and bustling, whereas Harar is an ancient walled city where you feel yourself slipping back in time. In stark contrast to Addis Ababa is Axum a town located somewhere in the middle of nowhere, while Bahirdar is lush and tranquil.

Breathtakingly beautiful Gondar Ethiopia is typically Italian and art-deco in style. Gondar Ethiopia is one of those must-see places for travelers.

Those who know Gondar well regard it as a very special place amidst 17th century castles that resemble something from a Disney fairytale and its attractive 1930’s architecture. One can also be tempted to linger much longer than planned by the sights and scents of a vast array of colorful flowers.

Gondar Ethiopia is situated in the North - West of Ethiopia, south is Tana Lake and north are the Simien Mountains. With impressive roads to the north and east many tourists travel to Gondar from Bahirdar, Axum or over the Simien Mountain range.

This is the best of what can be experienced in the Abyssinian plateau, but one should be prepared to travel over some rough roads found in this part of northern Ethiopia. The road to Axum was built by the Italians in 1930s when they occupied Ethiopia and is a masterful piece of engineering. The road climbs and falls with sharp bends that go on for much longer than any map would suggest. It passes over the Simien mountain range, the highest in Ethiopia, and that makes it a firm favorite with travelers.

Trekking in Simien is a blooming attraction, tempting those who want the adventure of visiting one of the few remaining un-spoilt travel destinations. This is undoubtedly one of those places, but for how long will it remain so ?

It does not matter how one gets to Gondar, you will find it alluring and want to stay longer. For those who travel trying to search traces of history this place unquestionably offers a lot, presenting a perfect offer of breath taking views.

The Gondarine Empire
Founded along one of the earliest trading routes, Gondar became a center where slaves, salt and other precious goods like gold and ivory were bought and sold. It is not known exactly when Gondar began life as a trading center.

It is however clear, that Gonder’s rise is closely tied to the movement of the empire’s political center that occurred in the 17th century. From that point forward it grew to be the fixed capital of the country, the first since the Axumite empire that predated it.

During the so called “Gondarine Empire” and for some time after, the Emperor traveled with his court and ruled from pitched encampments. Gonder remained at the center of political power in the Empire until the middle of the 19th century and soon after, the town was cast aside and fell into decline.

Italy began a war in Ethiopia and occupied the country from 1936. Emperor Haile Selassie I, concerned that staying in the country would mean death to him and those close to him, left to Europe and continued political struggle for his country. By this time Gondar was a place of the past, its ancient castles becoming ruins.

The town however with its healthy climate and its charm became a favorite place of the Italian occupiers. Those who killed its people and settled in their country started a new phase in the history of Gondar. They made it the capital of the newly formed Amhara region and started building houses: hotels, residences, administration offices.

They even constructed an artificial lake, to give the Governer a view from his residency which has since become one of Gonder’s most desirable hotels. The town was created in an art-deco style, where Italian coffee houses and restaurants were plentiful and that is true to the present day.

About the Author
Dr. Hanna Rubinkowska has plenty of travel experience to Ethiopia. A lecturer at Warsaw University, Department of African Languages and Cultures she specializes in the history of Ethiopia.

You can find more information on travel in ethiopia at ethiopiantour.com or you can read the second part of this story at gonder ethiopia where you will also find more information and facts about travel to Ethiopia.

The gear alone will guarantee people will take one look at you and wonder what on earth you are doing. After that question gets answered they’ll launch into what does your gear do?

Hey it’s all pretty bizarre looking stuff when you first see it. The board alone looks like someone took the wheels off a skateboard, and the kite, well people think you’re going to fly that thing but don’t see quite how that is going to happen. Fun, it’s pure fun for all.

Learn to Kite Surf

Whether or not you want to get into kite boarding will be a strictly personal decision, but isn’t there this little spark of adventure simmering in the back of your mind that says “GO FOR IT?” Sure there is, and you know in your heart of hearts you will give it a good run for the money.

Kite Surfing Holidays

Kite boarding isn’t like water skiing, although it is similar in that what pulls you through the water is the brightly colored kite high above floating on the cross currents of a stiff wind. As you might imagine, getting a constant pull from the breeze is a bit like trying to herd cats.

Part of the great fun of kite boarding is learning how to adapt to the prevailing conditions. This means working on your kite boarding skills, and that will indeed take some practice. You see kite boarding and steering that kite is a bit like trying to steer a large bull into a pen. You’d best be quick and agile and have a good command of your hands and feet.

Kitesurfing School

There have been some monumental advances in kite technology since this sport got rolling, so dealing with changing wind speeds and getting a good grasp of the basics is even easier than it used to be. So, suit up me pretties and get ready for the time of your life.

Also just to paint the full picture here… from loving all types of sport including mountain biking and downhill involving crazy speeds jumping over logs and flying down mountain sides the fun and excitement was unrivaled by any other sport. That was until I go interested into Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Now, after all the fun I’ve had with these two incredibly addictive sports, Kiteboarding which involves fighting the waves and soaring into the air above waves on gorgeous beaches could very well become my third great sporting love… time will tell!

If you are staying at a Casares Apartment on the Costa Del Sol you it is well advised that you visit the area of Manilva. Better known as a municipality, containing El Castillo, Hondacavada, Manilva, Sabinillas and El Puerto de la Duquesa, it runs parallel to| the coast. It is a very rural area and in the 16th century vineyards dominated the landscape. These days lots more vegetables and fruit are farmed. Steeped in history its location near to Straits of Gibralter has meant that practically every invader has passed through. As was commonplace wherever they went it is was the Romans who left most evidence of their presence.

To name but a few Roman remains in the area are the Roman villa of Sabinillas, the ruins of what apparently was a tower on the El Hacho hill, and some ceramics at Haza del Casare?o.

Modern Manilva is a vibrant developing resort filled with typical Spanish charm but developing quite quickly to cater for the tourist. There is an abundance of restaurants and bars to suit all tastes and pockets.

The area has plenty of excellent golf courses, Finca Cortesin, home of the Volvo Masters commencing 2009 is right next door to Casares Del Sol, with Casaes Golf just over the road and Duquesa Golf and Country Club, Estapona Golf Club and Donna Julia Golf club being all being only a short drive away form the complex.

Built in 1767 is Duquesa Castle, which is well worthy of a quick tour. It was constructed during the reign of Carlos III. Named after Duquesa de Arcos, wife of D. Lu?s Crist?bal Ponce de Le?n, master of the lands in Casares. The castle was errected on existing foundations laid down in Roman times with sloping walls on the outside of which there are loopholes for riflemen. The fortress had a batter of 4 X 2 for defence. The castle’s garrison consisted of 25 infantry, 10 cavalry and 10 artillerymen plus their respective officers. The castle was taken and held by the French for a time during the Peninsular War, in the early years of the 19th century, and 50 French troops man the Castle and use it to control the main coastal road.

Near by, Las Palmeras is a brand new development, which is located in an elevated position at the rear of Calahonda giving wonderful views over rural areas to the sea. There are a wide varieties of different types and sizes of rental apartments available in Las Palmeras. These range from 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms apartments (sleeping 6 persons), to 3 bed roomed penthouses. There are a number of pools for use. The apartments are of a very generous proportion being approx 110sm internally and having balconies of 42.5sm.

There are plenty of suitable Costa Del Sol Apartments in which to stay to tour the area, choose from Casaras, Calahonda, Mijas Costa, Benahavis or Benalmadena.

Wanna get vacation home? Read more here.

Puerto Del Carmen is situated roughly centrally along the southern coast of Lanzarote, only around a short journey from the island’s airport and capital in Arrecife. Puerto Del Carmen began as a small fishing village and the old harbor remains for visitors to explore and visit the many seafood restaurants. It now encompasses around four miles of beaches, including wide beach expanses and small coves.

There are many scuba diving schools in Puerto Del Carmen for both the learner, the experienced and those wanting to further their diving log book. Both PADI and BSAC are generally accepted and English is spoken at many diving schools. Most schools utilize the same small bay from which shore entries and harbor entries are available on a range of dives, including a reef with Pink Coral. Motoring further out are the Los Erizos wrecks at a depth of around 60 feet. A collection of boats sunk to create a reef for divers to visit just outside of the harbor entrance.

If you fancy seeing the different types of sea-life on offer, but don’t want to go diving, there is always the yellow submarine tour, which also visits the wrecks. Keep an eye out for the divers watching the submarines go by… There are also cycle hire stores in the main shopping area and a new golf course under construction on the out skirts of the town.

With Lanzarote’s strict planning regulations there are no high rise buildings in the resort. Finding Puerto Del Carmen Villas is commonplace and there are an excellent choice of villas available.

Meanwhile, Costa Teguise is situated roughly centrally along the southern coast of Lanzarote, only around a twenty minute trip from the island’s airport and capital in Arrecife. The island’s traditional capital of Teguise is only about 10 to 15 minutes’ drive and is quiet, except during its weekly Sunday market, when many bargains and traditional wares are to be discovered.

Costa Teguise did not develop from a traditional village, but is a well laid out purpose built tourist resort. As such it is well laid out with shopping areas mingled around the various hotels and beaches. As with all of Lanzarote’s structures, there are no high rise building in sight and a large choice of apartments, villas and hotels.

Diving is possible from the handful of English speaking PADI and BSAC diving schools, but only really try out dives are carried out as the local playa, Playa Jabillo, at only 15 feet depth is not sufficient for the majority of training. Most dive schools will run customers along to Puerto Del Carmen or for something totally different, along to the lava caves of Mala.

On the main beach there are wind surfing schools and a vast area of sandy beach with the usual amenities and a shopping centre behind it. Many of the hotels in the central area have the benefit of direct beach access. There is the only currently completed golf course on the island near to Costa Teguise.

Finding a villa to rent in Costa Teguise is easy and there are an excellent choice of villas to choose from.

For tips about vacation home - read this post.

If you are in need of a winter break over these cold, wet months to get away from our short days and long nights, then you may be wanting to get away to a destination with a bit of sun, sea views and probably neither too far away for travelling nor too costly.

An escape to some far flung exotic retrerat might be the preserve of the rich, but what can the rest of us mere mortals do for a winter holiday? Where is near by, sunny and pleasant to go to?

Well, in my opinion, the Canary Islands fit this description ideally. The islands that make up this group usually have superb weather all year around. Their climate is typically warm in the winter, whilst not always too hot in the summer, when some of the Mediterranean islands can become unbearable. And very few days of rain per year, within the tourist areas!

Tenerife is possibly the best visited of the Canary Islands and not only is it the largest, but it is also the most populated of all of Spain’s islands. It is very easy for find Tenerife Villas with private pools for hire and flights from the UK to the island are easy to arrange. It offers several tourist resorts, which include the ever popular Playa de las Americas, which is lively with plenty of night life opportunities. Other popular tourist resorts in Tenerife include Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Los Gigantes, home of the massive sheer cliff faces, dropping vertically into the Atlantic Ocean!

Another very popular location within the Canary Islands is Lanzarote. Of all of the Canary Islands, Lanzarote is the one that is nearest to mainland Africa and can be affected by a gentle wind at times. Although in summer, this can be very welcoming. In my experience, Lanzarote has been a bit cooler than Tenerife during the summer months.

As with Tenerife, there are plenty of Villas in Lanazrote with private pools to choose from and book and with flights to the capital city of Arrecife taking around only four and a half hours from the UK, it is a excellent out of season destination. Two of its main resorts are Puerto Del Carmen and Costa Teguise, both pleasant resorts and neither too distant from the airport. Costa Blanca is a little further away, at a guess taking up to 30 to 45 minutes to drive there from the airport. The entire island is a lot more compact than Tenerife and it is possible to drive around the whole island in a day, allowing time to stop off and enjoy various scenic spots.

If you are looking for a winter break and don’t want to venture too far from the UK, then the Canary Islands do make a good destination. Have a look at them and see which of the islands appeal to you.

How to get a vacation home - useful tips.