The Spain Travel Deals Blog

Typically when I am recommending restaurants which I feel offer the best Spain travel deals for tourists to any Spanish city, I generally try to refer them to the best options for local cuisine.  I feel that one of the most enjoyable things about any international holiday, is having the opportunity to sample the foods that a country is most known for.  That being said, I realize that travelers do have their favorite dining preferences, and they may want to look for a specific variety of cuisine while in Spain.

For this reason, I want to tell you about a particular Chinese restaurant that I think offers excellent Spain travel deals for your money.  The establishment I am referring to is the China Garden restaurant at Avenida Doctor Severo Ochoa, 2 in Benidorm. 

Now there are quite a few Chinese restaurants in Benidorm, but I have yet to find one that offers food at such a high level of quality for such low costs to the customer.  When you visit this restaurant for the first time, you will notice that they have quite an extensive, and varied menu.  This is always a plus for me when selecting a restaurant, especially if I am dining with friends or family.  Such a large menu means that you will find something to suit every taste at China Garden.  If you are not very familiar with Chinese cuisine, the restaurant can also be very enjoyable as it affords you the opportunity to sample such a good variety of foods.

If you’re looking for low cost options, be sure to check out the set menu items  at China Garden.  I find these options particularly impressive as they include several courses with a half bottle of wine for around five Euros.  Such a good price is fairly unusual for a resort town like Benidorm.  Even if you don’t order from the set price menu, you are unlikely to spend more than 10 Euros per person for an evening  here.

What makes this restaurant an even more attractive dining option is the staff.  They help to create a very inviting, and laid back atmosphere for the restaurant.  They also seem to remain upbeat and attentive to each individual customer regardless of how large the evening crowd is.  (I will say, this place does seem to be full most of the time, and you will find that many locals recommend it for visitors).  When looking for the best Spain travel deals at restaurants or for anything else, I have found that the opinion of locals is often the best indicator of how good an establishment is apt to be. 

So, in short, upon taking into account the quality of food and service, the special attention that is taken to ensure that you have a good dining experience, and the low price of a meal, I would recommend China Garden to any tourist to Benidorm.  The restaurant offers some of the best Spain travel deals for a Chinese meal that you are likely to find in the city.

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I realize that many of the people who are likely to visit this site are undoubtedly looking for Spain travel deals in well traveled  areas of the country.  They may want to enjoy one of Spain’s many beaches, or just take in some of the best sights.  For this reason, I have decided to put together a post about accommodation in another Spanish resort town that is popular with tourists.  Today, I want to let you know about the Terralta Apartment complex in Benidorm.

The complex offers visitors a quiet stay in a suburban residential area that is still well connected with the main tourist areas of Benidorm.  A walk from the property to the old town area should take you no more than 20-25 minutes.  That being said, I will caution you that the complex sits on top of a sizable hill.  The walk should still be no problem for most, but those with any mobility issues might find it more difficult.  Luckily, if you’re not up for the trek, a bus stops right outside the complex and taxis are also close at hand.

I have decided to profile this accommodation for a number of reasons.  Firstly, rental properties can often offer better Spain travel deals than hotels, especially for those traveling with a larger group.  Second, this place offers a more peaceful alternative to a city center stay. 

The rooms at the Terralta complex are well maintained and frequently cleaned.  I think you will also find that they are surprisingly spacious, making the place an even better deal for the money.  Each apartment has a kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave for preparing small meals.  There is also satellite television in the apartments, and you’ll have a balcony from which you can enjoy the outdoors and surrounding scenery.

There are two very well maintained swimming pools on the grounds.  The pool area is staffed with a lifeguard throughout the day, and is spacious enough for guests to really enjoy sunbathing.  It is also nice that one of the pools is kept as adults only so that older guests can have a more relaxing experience. 

In addition to the pools, there is fairly reasonably priced bar and cafe on the grounds, if you want to dine in.  You will also find an on-site convenience store, with a larger grocery store easily reachable by bus. 

More restaurants and a wide variety of entertainment can also be reached with a few minutes bus ride, or on foot.  You will be pleased to see that Lavante beach is within easy reach as well. 

If you’re looking for more things to do on the site, you can also enjoy the fitness area, and a games room.  There is entertainment for families traveling with children as well.

Other services worth a mention are the on-site laundry facilities, internet access (3 Euro/hour), and paid parking facilities. 

With apartments renting for about 47 Euro ($70 US dollars) per night for two people, this complex offers very reasonable Spain travel deals for your stay in Benidorm.  You can find this reasonably priced accommodation at Avenidada de Nicaragua, 44 in Benidorm.

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If you’re planning a trip to Tenerife, in the area of Playa de las Americas, then you can find some excellent Spain travel deals for a room at Parque Santiago III.  This resort with apartment style lodgings is  a great place to stay for those who want to be right on the beach (Note: There are several Parque Santiago complexes, so be sure to book number 3 if you want a beachfront stay). 

The apartments at this complex are very well maintained.  The rooms are kept clean, and the staff is very diligent about helping guests with whatever they may need.  Employees here are English speaking, and do everything they can to ensure that the resort itself is well kept. 

This accommodation is particularly well suited for families traveling with their children.  You have a number of apartment sizes to choose from here.  Studio apartments sleep up to two people, or you can select something with up to four bedrooms, so that your entire family can stay comfortably.  All apartments enjoy satellite television and kitchen facilities (studios have a kitchenette).  However, if you want to dine out there are a good number of restaurants on the grounds.  This makes Parque Santiago 3 one of the better Spain travel deals for a beachfront stay, as you can meet all your dining needs without leaving the property.

Food options at the resort include establishments serving local island dishes, Spanish cuisine, Italian, and Chinese food.  There are also various cafe style eateries where you can by snacks and drinks, including some poolside options.

With regard to the pools,, they are large and well maintained with ample space for sunning.  There is a separate pool for children, and a water park that is always supervised by members of staff.  There are also playground facilities on the property.

Another nice addition to this resort is an onsite mall with over 150 different shops.  This is quite nice for guests should their happen to be a day of bad weather during your stay.

If you do want to venture away from the resort at any time, there are many good restaurants in the area, as well as clubs for nightly entertainment.

If Parque Santiago sounds like the right place for your holiday, you can find it at Avda. Litoral s/n in Playa de las Americas.  Rates for studio apartments can be as low as 50 Euros (75 USD) per day.  So, if you are looking for Spain travel deal on a beach holiday, I think you’ll find this an excellent choice. 

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One of the goals I have for this blog is that it should offer you  information about as many notable Spain tourist attractions as possible.  Today, I would like to start this off by telling you about Castillo de Loarre in Huesca Provence, Spain.  Located less than an hour by train from Madrid, Huesca and the castle make an unforgettable side trip if you are based in the capital.

Being a fan of historical attractions myself, I would highly recommend a visit to Loarre Castle.  With its construction started in the eleventh century, Loarre is the oldest fortress castle complex in Spain.  It is remarkable how well this structure has stood the test of time.  Indeed, two of the rowers which still stand on the grounds today are from the first period in Loarre’s construction.

Considering that they date back to about the fourteenth century, the imposing outer walls of the fortress, and their accompanying towers are equally impressive.  The historical significance of the complex has long been recognized.  A major restoration of the castle, took place in the early nineteenth century, and there have been a number of other campaigns which were undertaken to preserve the structure in more recent times.  More than a century ago, the castle became one of Spain’s national monuments, and it remains a popular attraction today.

Some of the contemporary interest in Loarre Castle can no doubt be attributed to its presence in film.  (Several scenes from the popular 2005 movie Kingdom of Heaven were filmed on the grounds).  Hollywood’s interest in Loarre Castle will come as no surprise to you once you have had an up close view.  Although the entrance to the complex can be reached by car, I recommend arriving on foot if you are able.  Walking from the village below to the entrance will afford you some great photographic opportunities, and a more atmospheric experience.

Once you arrive at the castle, you can elect to undertake one of the 50 minute guided tours that are offered in several languages (including English), throughout the day.  The price of admission for adults is 2 Euros or 3.50 Euros with guide.  Given the low cost of entry, and the fact that the castle is an easy, and relatively inexpensive side trip from Madrid, I would say that Loarre Castle is one of the more exceptional Spain travel deals in the northern part of the country for tourists interested in historical sightseeing. 

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As my last post dealt with Spain travel deals that can be found on accommodation in Seville, I thought it appropriate to highlight one of the many good restaurants to be found in the city for this article.  Today, I want to tell you about Taberna Coloniales, a bar and tapas restaurant at Plaza Cristo De Burgos 19, in central Seville.

The first thing to take note of regarding this establishment is it’s seemingly wide spread popularity among both tourists and locals.  If you ask people about reasonably priced restaurants in Seville serving authentic Spanish dishes, they are almost sure to mention Taberna Coloniales.  Indeed, if you are looking for a good Spain travel deals in Seville; this is one restaurant you will not want to miss.  The prices here are lower than almost any similar establishment.  (You won’t pay more than 10 Euros, or $15 US dollars, for anything on the menu).

In addition to the excellent prices, Taberna Coloniales is simply an interesting place to dine.  The building is in a scenic location with a number of outdoor tables which allow you to enjoy the sights and sounds of one of southern Spain’s most vibrant city centers.  The inside of the establishment is quite small, and because this place is so popular, you do need to be prepared to wait for a table.  I would recommend arriving early in the evening if you plan to go for dinner.  You can always have a drink at the bar inside while you wait for a table, and just enjoy the atmosphere.

The small size of Taberna Coloniales, coupled with the flurry of activity you will find on any evening here, gives the restaurant a cozy and inviting feel.  The decor adds a uniquely Spanish touch to the environment, making this location one of the better Spain travel deals in Seville for tourist looking for a truly authentic experience.

In addition to being quite inexpensive, you will find that this restaurant offers very generous portions.  Any of the tapas on offer here will make a delicious full meal.  You will also notice that the menu is quite large and varied.  There are some interesting varieties of tapas that you might not find in other establishments.  There are many tasty options, so you are sure to find something here that appeals to you.  If you plan to stay in Seville for awhile, I recommend visiting this place more than once to try out some of the different items on offer.

You’ll also be pleasantly surprised by the staff at Taberna Coloniales.  They are friendly and quite helpful to visitors.  Even though the restaurant is almost always full, they seem to have orders ready in a very timely manner, and are quite equipped to handle the large daily crowds.

All in all, this is an excellent place with a good reputation throughout Seville.  Visitors are sure to enjoy a good inexpensive meal here.  I hope this review is useful to you in your holiday planning.  Please come back to the site soon for more information about Spain travel deals.

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As accommodation can be one of the most costly components of any holiday, I have featured a number of articles about Spain travel deals on offer at hotels throughout the country.  Today I want to look at a hotel in the southern city of Seville.  Seville is brimming with activity and culture.  The city has many interesting sights, and is a tourist experience you won’t want to miss.

If you want a peaceful and affordable stay during your time in Seville, then I recommend taking a closer look at Silken Al Andalus Palace.  Located at, Avenida Le Palmera s/n, esquina C/ Paraná, the hotel is a quiet and comfortable option for your stay.  Now, one thing you need to bear in mind is that Silken Al Andalus is outside of central Seville, so if you are looking for something in the midst of the city, this option may not suit your needs.  However, if you want to avoid the extra noise and crowds that you will often face with city center accommodation, then this hotel does offer good Spain travel deals for your money, along with excellent service.

As far as on-site amenities go, Silken Al Andalus is fairly well endowed for the price.  Within the grounds you will find a large swimming pool, a number of restaurants (including a cafeteria style option and a good Italian option), and a nice fitness room.  A sauna and a bar are also available to guests.

You will find that the hotel has quite a modern feel, with uniquely decorated rooms, and a large comfortable common area.  Business travelers will also find that conference space is available to them, and wifi internet access is available throughout the building.

Although the hotel is fairly large, the staff is attentive and helpful, and the suburban setting of the property feels quite safe.  As I have said, this particular property is a bit outside the city, but you will find that it is well connected to Seville’s town center when you want to venture in and see the sights.  A taxi stand is located just outside the hotel, and you will also be very close to a bus stop.  Buses arrive here every few minutes throughout the day, and for just over two Euros, you can reach the city in about 10 or 15 minutes.  If you have a car, the hotel also offers parking within the grounds for a price of 12 Euros per day.

With rooms averaging around 81 Euros ($120 USD) per night, Silken Al Andalus Palace is offering some very reasonable Spain travel deals for tourists to Seville who are looking for a quiet stay in a modern hotel.

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I have spent several blog posts telling you about various Spain travel deals which can save you money when traveling to some of Spain’s busiest, and most popular tourist cities.  However, you may be interested in seeing some areas of Spain that are less frequented by tourists.  Perhaps you are looking for a short getaway from the major cities so that you can enjoy Spain without all the large crowds, and get a feel for what the country is really like.  If this sounds like you, then I would like to suggest a visit to the city of Zaragoza.

Zaragoza is located fairly close to the cities of Barcelona and Madrid.  This makes it a wonderful idea for an addition to your holiday if you have already visited one of these two larger cities.  Luckily for tourists, the city is very well served by various forms of mass transit.  You can quickly visit Zaragoza via Spain’s high speed rail system, or you might choose to fly into the city’s airport, which is served daily by a number of airlines.  If you are really looking to save money, and you have a bit of time, you can find Spain travel deals for coach service to Zaragoza as well.

Once you arrive, you will be pleased to learn that because of its small size, Zaragoza is very walkable.  So, you can see all the sites quite easily without spending a lot on transportation.  If you do want some help getting around the city, and finding all the must see locations, a trip on the tourist bus is only 7 Euros.  As I said in a previous post, bus tours like this can be some of the best Spain travel deals for first timers to a city.

I think you will find that despite its small size, Zaragoza has many great sites to see.  Cathedral de la Seo (a beautiful Gothic church),  and Palacio de la Aljaferia (a magnificent castle boasting golden ceilings), are among the best tourist destinations.  There is also a very large, and wonderfully maintained city bark that you are sure to enjoy.

If you want to visit Zaragoza, I can recommend a good, inexpensive hotel as well.  Hotel Sauce, at Calle de Espoz y Mina 33, is a privately owned hotel which is ideally placed for visiting Zaragoza.  You will find that the city cathedral, along with a wide variety of restaurants is within easy reach.

In addition to its prime location the hotel has a very attentive staff.  Rooms are kept very clean, and employees are happy to help travelers.  If you prefer to eat in the morning, a good sized Spanish style breakfast is made available.  Free wifi internet is also conveniently available for guests to take advantage of.

This hotel’s small size and excellent staff give it a more personal feel than you might find elsewhere.  On top of that, with rooms starting around 60 Euros ($90 US dollars), Hotel Sauce represents one of Zaragoza’s best Spain Travel Deals.

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Any European travelers looking for Spain travel deals on airfares have undoubtedly come across both easyJet and Ryan Air.  For those who don’t know already, these two companies are among the biggest players in discount air travel within Europe.  Today, I wanted to do a quick post about some of the advantages and disadvantages you may face when using either of these two companies to travel around Spain, or within another area of Europe.  (Please not that this post will not be relevant for anyone looking to book tickets to Spain from outside of Europe.  However, if you ate planning to visit multiple Spanish cities, or go on an extended European holiday, you may find it useful).

First let’s take a look at Ryan Air.  A look at the front page of their website will usually reveal the current deals that are being promoted.  This airline is well known for advertising very low fares (sometimes as low as one British pence) for a one way trip.  This may sound unbelievable, but you need to remember that this price is before taxes.  In, my experience, it is also unlikely that you will find such a cheap price for both the outgoing and return segments of your trip.

Another issue that I have has with Ryan air in the past is that they offer service to more out of the way airports for some flights.  For example, if you want to travel to Barcelona, Ryan Air only offers flights to Reus.  From this airport, it is roughly a 90 minute journey to Barcelona’s city center.  With easyJet, you can book a ticket directly to Barcelona airport.  The trade off here is that easyJet tickets can be a bit more expensive.  However, when looking for the best Spain travel deals, I feel it is important to factor convenience into the equation.

While on the subject of ticket price, I have to say that I prefer easyJet’s method of including all the taxes in their quoted price right from the start.  (Everything is included except for an optional fee for any hold bags, and a third party tax.  Both of these fees are revealed later in the checkout process).

Of course, anyone would agree that the prospect of getting a Ryan Air ticket for just one pence is enticing, but I would personally prefer to see all the taxes included in the price up front.  With regard to customer service, I have been reasonably satisfied with both airlines.  They both offer the basic level of service that you might expect from a discount service, and both offer the convenience of an electronically available boarding pass.

Overall, I tend to choose Ryan Air for price, and easyJet for convenience, when they offer a route closer to my end destination.  I would recommend that that you check with both companies before booking a ticket.  I would also suggest that you do not discount large carriers, as research will often uncover some excellent Spain travel deals from them as well.

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There are many ways to tour Spain, but if you have never visited the country before, it can be difficult to find the places you really want to see.  Luckily, there are a number of bus companies that offer great Spain travel deals for tourists who want to take in the highlights of a city.

I won’t go into detail about specific tours that are available in this post.  (That is something that will be covered in future writings).  Rather, in this auricle, I simply want to go over some of the things that you need to consider when deciding which tour is right for you.  You’ll have many options here, and it is important to select a tour that caters to your specific needs.

First, you will want to consider how the tour is conducted by the touring company.  I have been on city tours where passengers remain on the bus for the duration of the trip.  If you choose one of these tours, you will generally be driven to key tourist sites in the city, and given a detailed explanation of each site.  You may be told about the landmarks by a tour guide hosting your trip, or, as is often the case on a bus tour, you may be given an audio device that provides recorded narration in your language of choice.

While these types of tours are very useful on a rainy day, or when you have only a very short time to visit a city, these are not the tours that I generally recommend.  If you are planning your first trip to a city in Spain, I would suggest that tours which allow you to get on and off the bus, and visit each site at your leisure, generally offer the best Spain travel deals.

One selecting one of these types of tours there are a number of things to consider.  Firstly, I would recommend that you start a bus tour of this type in the morning, so that you have enough time to complete the entire loop of the tour.  You should be able to find out how long it takes to go from start to finish on a tour, and which sights are included that you would like to see,  If you also remain mindful of what time buses will be available to pick you up at each site, you should be able to budget your time accordingly.

Also, if you are interested in a particular type of sightseeing experience, try to locate a themed tour.  For example, some tours visit primarily historical sites, making them an attractive option for a history buff.  Finally, there are often special Spain travel deals for people of a certain age or status (ie. students, children or senior citizens).  Be sure to check if anyone in your part is eligible for a discount.

Bus tours can often be excellent Spain travel deals for the first timer to a city.  Just be sure to do your research first, so that you can book the perfect tour for your trip.

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Today, I have another article for you about Spain travel deals in Barcelona.  This time, I want to tell you a bit about how you can get around the city itself without wasting a lot of time and money.  Now, before I go on, I want to say that it is definitely a good idea to do some walking around in the city if you are able. Barcelona is a beautiful city, and you will want to be out and about so that you can see all that it has to offer.  I would always recommend getting a centrally located hotel, and doing some exploring on foot if time permits.

That being said, you may only have a short time to visit Barcelona.  It may also be the case that you have booked accommodation outside of the main city, or that you or a traveling companion has mobility issues.  If that is the case, then I would suggest that you take advantage of some of the excellent Spain travel deals offered by Barcelona’s cheap and efficient public transport service.

In this post, I want to talk about an excellent deal that can be had when you choose to purchase a T10 transport card.  As in many cities you can either purchase individual travel tickets every time you use public transport, or you can buy a T10 pass, which is valid for several journeys.  More specifically, the pass can be used for up to ten journeys.  It is useful for trips carried out on several modes of transportation including the city’s metro, busses, and train service.

In addition to the convenience it offers by allowing you to utilize different forms of transport, the pass can also be shared with other members of your travel group.  (Please note: If two members of your party use the pass to take the same single journey, this will count as two individual uses).

It is also worth noting that a journey which combines two or more forms of transport (ie. Metro and bus), can be counted as a single journey if the total travel time does not exceed 75 minutes.  This can also be a big money saver, as you will not need to waste another use on the card just to change forms of transport.

Do keep in mind that you will usually want a T10 pass for zone 1.  (There are six zones in the transport system, but most sites are in zone 1).  The price for this type of ticket is just 7.70 Euros, as opposed to 1.35 per ticket, should you choose individual tickets.  This makes the T10 one of the best Spain travel deals for intercity transport in Barcelona.  Pick your pass up at the city airport or at a metro or train station once you start your trip.

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