A guest post by Joe Johnson, a fan of Spain and all it has to offer the tourist of today. More great reasons to visit wonderful Andalucía in 2012!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ski, Beach and City
all in One Holiday? Look No Further Than The Sierra Nevada!
When it comes to holidays, there are many misconceptions
about certain destinations, for example many people from outside the UK are
under the impression that it always rains there; completely inaccurate of
course!
While some of these
misconceptions may simply be the result of misguided folklore, there are other
widely held beliefs that can be put down to a lack of local knowledge, for
example, did you know you can ski in Spain? That’s right, the country famed for
hot weather, beaches and blue sea has it’s very own snow-covered peaks.
But where? We all know the Alps nestle in the heart of
Europe, but it’s certainly less clear where exactly in Spain you can go
hurtling down a glistening piste; enter the Sierra Nevada, this mountain range
is located in South Eastern Spain and houses one of Europe’s most southerly ski
resorts.
Spain of course has always boasted this and other resorts, including
the Pyrenees, but only recently has the country’s ski resorts re-entered the
favour of tour operators alongside it’s already length repertoire of tourist
attractions.
So what can the Sierra Nevada offer?
·
Over 100km of slopes
·
20 lifts
·
Facilities that cater for every ability level
·
Modern stylish hotels and chalets
·
Numerous restaurants and bars
Clearly the Sierra Nevada is well equipped to please ski
buffs, complete beginners, and those just tagging along for the booze. Well
established resorts in France, Austria or Switzerland are often quite
specialised, meaning they only suit near Olympic-level pros, or young revellers
for whom skiing itself is a minor concern, but because the Sierra Nevada is
fairly isolated then it caters for everyone, meaning if you have a group with
different needs, Spain is the obvious clear choice.
It’s not just the Sierra Nevada that offers variety however,
the entire region around the mountain is perfect for tourists, with a number of
cities a short drive away, and the coast just a little further.
Granada
The city of Granada is located in the foothills of the
Sierra Nevada and offers a unique experience in that it is one of the few
Spanish cities that enjoys a backdrop of beautiful snow-capped peaks. It has
more than just great to offer however, most notably The Alhambra, a vast,
exquisitely crafted fortress built in 1492 with Arab influences. Other popular
attractions in Granada include...
·
Numerous Moroccan coffee shops complete with
Shisa Pipes
·
Enjoy Free Tapas (as long as you buy a drink!)
·
The Hammam baths where you take a relaxing dip
·
The Albayzín, an open air museum
Not being content with having an exciting, multicultural on
its doorstep, the Sierra Nevada region is perhaps one of the few places in the
world where you can make the transition from ski gear, log cabins and crisp white
snow, to sun, sea and sand in less than an hour.
Venture south from the mountains and be greeted by the Costa
Tropical, officially the joint sunniest
coastal area of Spain (along with the Costa Almería), enjoying 320 days of
sunshine every year. This area is relatively untouched by tourists, at least
compared to resorts further west along the like Málaga and Marbella, smaller
costal towns like Motril and Almunécar offer beach living at a slower pace.
This region of Spain really does offer up some incredible
variety and makes the ideal location for a ski holiday with a difference. Visit
at the end of the Ski season if you want to maximise your chances of sunning
yourself on the beach.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe is a quarter Spanish and loves going south east to Spain on
holiday
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete