Love Travelling Blog

Travel diaries providing inspiration for planning the perfect trip

Spain

  • Villacana sign

    Review: Villacana Villa, Cancelada, Spain

    Accommodation Review Overview: Villacana is an idyllic development that has been designed in the style of a typical Andalusian “white town” or pueblo blanco. With its narrow flower adorned passageways and direct access to the beach it is one of the most sought after locations on the Costa del Sol. Villacana Villa Location: The Villa…

  • Casa Carbonell, Alicante

    Discover Alicante: Top Highlights and How to Get from the Airport

    Our last day in Alicante had come around all too quickly and it was our final opportunity to enjoy some warm, winter sunshine. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and then gathered our belongings together so that we could check out of the hotel. Packing was slightly more complicated than usual as we had bought two…

  • The marina, El Campello

    Day Trip to El Campello from Alicante: What to See and Do

    After the previous day’s high temperatures, it felt much cooler as we set off from the hotel and headed towards the Mercado tram/train station near the central market hall. Our planned destination for the morning was to the small town of El Campello which lies in Zone 1 with adult single tickets costing €1.45 (£1.30)…

  • Playa de Levante, Benidorm

    Day Trip to Benidorm from Alicante by Tram: What to See and Do

    After enjoying a relaxing breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant we wandered along to the Mercado tram/train station where we used a machine to buy two Zone 3 return tickets to Benidorm at €6.40 (£5.30) each. The Alicante to Benidorm tram route is on Red Line One, with services every 30 minutes. We took the 10.10…

  • The Santa Barbara Castle

    Alicante: The Best Bits – Top Attractions, Beaches & Local Highlights

    After the previous night’s lack of sleep, we woke refreshed at 8.00 a.m. and headed downstairs for breakfast. The hotel’s restaurant was surprisingly quiet for a Sunday morning so we had our pick of seating options and enjoyed a selection of cured ham, cheese, fruit and yoghurt. After a couple of large cappuccinos and some…

  • Alicante marina

    Top Highlights of Alicante: Best Things to See and Do

    At the time of booking our 6.20 a.m. flight to Alicante it seemed a good idea, breakfast on arrival and a full day of sightseeing in a new destination. In reality, when my phone alarm woke me at 3.10 a.m. to the sounds of a howling gale and rain battering on the windowpanes I would…

  • Jewish Quarter, Girona

    Discover Girona’s Jewish Quarter on a guided walking tour

    We woke to leaden skies and thundery rain – not what we were hoping for on our final day in beautiful Girona. Still, it was a good excuse for a long, relaxing breakfast as there was little point in hurrying outdoors. By 10.30 a.m. the rain had eased slightly so armed with our umbrellas we…

  • Costa Brava coastline

    How to Get to Lloret de Mar from Girona and top things to see and do

    Sun streamed into our bedroom as we drew back the curtains and after a long, lazy breakfast we were ready for another day of sightseeing. Our first stop of the day was just a short walk away at the Museum of Cinema, standard admission €6. We’d already had the pleasure of visiting the Cinema Museum…

  • Cloisters of the Monasterio de Sant Pere de Galligants, Girona

    Spend a Day Exploring Girona’s Top Attractions

    We had slept so soundly it was difficult making a move, but after turning off the alarm clock several times we finally managed to rouse ourselves, coming to life with an invigorating shower followed by a delicious breakfast in the restaurant of the Doubletree by Hilton. Set up for the day, our first stop was…

  • River Onyar, Girona

    Girona City Walls Highlights – Explore the Ancient Ramparts

    We’d arranged a short break to the Spanish city of Girona with a lunchtime flight from Bournemouth Airport on Dorset’s south coast. It was our third time using this airport and it’s always a pleasure as there are plenty of airside facilities and no queues. Our Ryanair flight departed on time with a full load…

  • Day 1. A week in Palma, Mallorca

    We decided to exchange the chilly Easter weather of northern England for a week on the Mediterranean, staying on the largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca.  My husband hasn’t visited Mallorca since he was 13 and following a weekend visit to the island last year with my younger son,  I’m hoping to convince him that…

  • Day 2. Visiting Port D’Andratx, Mallorca

    We woke to bright sunshine and there was no sign of the previous day’s late afternoon rain showers.   Although some tables had been set out on the terrace for breakfast everyone seemed to think it a little chilly and guests were all dining indoors.  Breakfast consisted of a large buffet along with show cooking…

  • Day 3. Castell de Bellver, Palma, Mallorca

    From our hotel room we could see Bellver Castle on the hilltop so after breakfast we decided to walk up and take a look.  It’s quite a steep climb, first along a road and then up very many stone steps to the castle entrance.  It was another sunny morning but the cooler days of April…

  • Day 4. Riding the vintage train to Soller, Mallorca

    After watching a BBC television series entitled ‘Great Continental Railway Journeys’ which featured a delightful old wooden train that runs between Palma and Soller we wanted to take a ride on it ourselves. The train line was established in 1929 to link Palma with the north west coast of the island.  Trains depart from its…

  • Day 5. Exploring Alcudia, Mallorca

    Whilst eating breakfast we watched two large cruise liners come into port but it was a rainy start to the day so the passengers wouldn’t being seeing Palma at its best.  Our plan for today was to visit Alcudia situated in the north east of the island.  We travelled by TIB bus who operate longer distance bus services…

  • Day 6. Valldemossa & Palma, Mallorca

    A lovely sunny morning for a visit to the village of Valldemossa in the Tramuntana Mountains, 17 km north west of Palma.  We travelled there by TIB bus from Palma’s central bus station at Playa D’Espanya, the journey taking only 30 minutes and the bus stopping just once at the island’s university UIB.  The campus is located in…

  • Day 7. Santa Ponca Bay, Mallorca

    Another warm, sunny morning so our plan was to take a walk along the waterfront at Santa Ponca.  Buses run from the Paseo Maritim (seafront) in Palma just outside our hotel and there are two options, a direct service by motorway taking around 20 minutes or the coastal route which takes one hour.  We opted…

  • Day 8. A walk through Palma, Mallorca

    As our return flight to the UK wasn’t scheduled to depart until 4.00 pm we had plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast overlooking the harbour.   It was a dull, cloudy morning and for the first time during the week I felt a bit chilly going outdoors in just a lightweight dress and…

  • Day 1. A weekend in Barcelona

    An Autumn weekend spent in Barcelona

  • Day 2. A day in Girona

    A day out in Girona

  • Day 3. Sightseeing in Barcelona

    After breakfast we returned to Placa d’Espanya where we had seen the Font Magica light and sound show.  It all looked very different during the day but nonetheless beautiful.   Our next stop was along to the seafront and a walk from Port Vell, home of the large marina to Plaza Portal de La Pau…

  • Day 4. Montjuic Castle and La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

    Our first stop of the morning was to the Montjuic Castle ‘Castell de Montjuic’, set atop Barcelona’s highest point at 173 metres.  To get there we took the Green Line metro to Parallel and then transferred to the Montjuic funicular tram.  It’s then either a steep, 15 minute climb through the gardens to the castle…

  • Day 1. A spring break in Andalucia

    Our Ryanair flight to Malaga departed on time at 08.45.  It was the first time we had flown Ryanair since free seat allocations had been introduced.  It was a big improvement avoiding standing and queueing ages to be able to sit together.  We were also fortunate to have an empty seat next to us on…

  • Day 2. A day in Marbella

    For breakfast we headed to a nearby bar which had cured hams hanging from the ceiling.  We feasted on freshly baked croissants and frothy coffee before taking the 10.00 am bus along the coast to Marbella.  Travelling by bus was the only option as there are no train lines on this section of coastline.   The…

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