Andalusian tours
The beautiful region of Andalusia, in the southernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula, is definitely worth visiting. It is easily accessible by plane, ship or car and has a very good motorway, train and bus network. There is a large variety of accommodation in all areas, from hostels with shared facilities, family homes, luxury hotels and beautiful inns.
Bearing this basic information in mind, you might feel encouraged to explore this province with a vast history and culture and strikingly beautiful landscapes.
Are you staying in Malaga and want to see more than sun and beaches, are you planning a weekend getaway or maybe even planning a longer tour through Andalusia? Here we give you few useful ideas, when planning your tour.
What kind of tour would you like to do? Do you tend rather to cities and culture?
Seville, the capital of southern Spain has a huge historical heritage and the city´s monuments and culture make it a beloved and admired destination by the national and international tourism. Seville has an international airport and also the high speed train AVE. Two of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia are Granada and Cordoba, with their vast Moorish heritage sites, gardens and patios. Last not least, Malaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol, breathes the lively and cheerful, yet relaxed atmosphere of a southern seaside town, combining culture with leisure.
A weekend trip visiting Seville, Malaga, Cordoba or Granada can be an unforgettable experience both in winter and summer. You can travel alone, with friends or plan a romantic getaway.
Do you prefer adventure tourism or do you prefer to stroll through the nature and one of the natural parks or National Parks in Andalusia?
In the vicinity of Malaga there is also a great offer of rural tourism which combines adventure with nature in more than 15 protected areas within the province, with a large variety of forests, rivers, mountains, flora and fauna.
Would you like to discover the Andalusian gastronomy?
Andalusian cuisine is very complete: fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and seafood. The dishes have a strong connection to Arab culture. To discover the essence of a region with the five senses is a unique and pleasant experience in almost all occasions. The richness of the land and climatic condition have given place to a great variety culinary delights and wines. Jerez for example is famous for its Sherry wines and Málaga and Granada are unbeaten with their delicious Tapas (cold or warm snacks) and in the mountain ranges of Sierra Nevada village Trevelez is produced the famous ham Jamón Serrano.
Which province of Andalusia you feel more attracted to?
The seven andalusian provinces differ by large contrasts in their landscapes and main attractions: Almería is a province of pure contrast, uniting the idyllic beaches of Cabo de Gata with Tabernas Desert and the high mountain ranges of Sierra Nevada in the west. Granada province is crowned by the white peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, one of the Spanish National Parks. Towards the Mediterranean Sea the terrain falls steeply, creating a special microclimate which gives place to the Costa Tropical, where are grown tropical fruit. Malaga, further west is with the Costa del Sol one of the most visited tourist destinations. Yet further west, we find the province of Cadiz, bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and with a different kind of light and vegetation, receiving the name of light coast (Costa de la Luz). Bordering with Portugal, there is the province of Huelva with large extensions of forests, home to the second National Park in Andalusia, Doñana.
Inland there are the provinces of Seville with the fertile river valley of the Guadalquivir and the only river port of Spain; Moorish Córdoba with the mountain ranges of Sierra Morena and Jaen with the mountain ranges of Sierra Cazorla, a natural paradise.
Or would you tour the whole region in a five star Hotel train from the Belle Epoche?
El Al Andalus train comprises cars constructed in France in 1929 and which were used by the British Monarchy for their holiday travel from Calais to the Riviera.
What time of the year do you want to travel?
Andalusia does not only offers great beaches, historic cities, culture, adventure tourism and magnificent countryside in summer, but also is a favorite holiday destination in winter, since Sierra Nevada with its magnificent ski station is situated only 25 minutes by car from Granada. There is guaranteed snow from November to May, the slopes are wide and suitable for everyone. After a day of skiing you can enjoy the lively atmosphere, restaurants, discos and pubs. Of course, do not fail to visit Granada, home of the Alhambra Palace and unparalleled cuisine.
Travelling on your own account or an organized Tour?
Either way, if you want to discover Andalusia on your own or prefer an organized trip in the following places you can find some good information: In local tourist offices are often available as well offers by local providers, as for instance nature walks provided by local experts who lead weekend expeditions. Especially in rural areas you might find interesting non commercial tours. Good spots for this kind of information are the local town halls and municipal sports centres.
There are as well many local providers for guided tours through the andalusian Natural Parks and National Parks.
Travel agencies generally offer day trips and weekend tours to many places in Andalucía and as well Morocco and Portugal; the prices usually include meals and accommodation. Some agencies offer tours that are free of charge provided the participants listen to sales talks by those who sponsor their excursion.
Cornwall Getaway Tours
There can surely be no more attractive proposition for a weekend away than a trip to Cornwall. Blessed with stunning coastlines, rugged scenery and charming locals, people who have been here before will surely visit again. People from outside the region probably associate trips to Cornwall with a long and tiresome car journey, thankfully there are now other travel options available. It is now possible to fly to Cornwall from a number of regional airports throughout the UK and even from Cork in the Republic of Ireland.
The real beauty of a short break to Cornwall by air is that it is relatively hassle free in comparison to some foreign destinations. No passport control, no immigration queues, simply a point to point flight which is surely a plus for many people especially those travelling with children. Newquay is the UK's surfing capital and as a result attracts thousands of tourists from around the world every year, but it's not all surfing. There are a whole host of activities and attractions in Newquay and the region that are suitable for people of all ages and persuasions.
These attractions include but are certainly not limited to: The historic town of Padstow, the Lizard Peninsula, Flambards and of course the world famous Lands End. Although cheap flights to Newquay have been in service for quite a time now the number of airports where you can fly from is increasing all the time making it easier for people from across the country to getaway from it all and enjoy some fresh coastal air. The roads in Cornwall are not exactly what one would call built for mass transportation so taking a flight is a convenient and surprisingly cost effective option especially when one considers the cost of fuel from motorway service stations.
There are many information resources online that contain a cornucopia of information about Cornwall and its various attractions, some may include information on where to book flights and perhaps even feature some suggested travel package deals. Summer is obviously the busiest time to visit Cornwall and the prices of hotels can be quite high in comparison to the low season between October and May. However, Cornwall is a magical place to visit at anytime of the year and accommodation options range from old country houses to caravan parks, there really is something for everyone and every budget.
Globus Tours and Globus Vacations
When it comes to planning vacations and getaways, Globus Tours is easily considered one of the best services in the world. Providing more than two hundred and fifty vacation options in seventy different countries, Globus offers a wide range of travel styles that customers can choose. Few companies provide the range of options that are available with any tour or vacation that is arranged through this company.
The history of Globus goes back to Switzerland in the late 1920’s. The founder of the company, a young man named Antonio Mantegazza, caught the vision of wonder and awe that visitors to his country often expressed. After borrowing money to purchase a small rowboat, Mantegazza began to transport tourists across nearby Lake Lugano. As he rowed them across the lake, he would share information and local folklore about the area, much to the delight of his customers.
In a short period of time, Mantegazza expanded the business to include a fleet of rowboats. The rowboats were soon augmented with several motorboats that could accommodate even more passengers. For land travel, he established a tax service that proved to be helpful for locals as well as tourists to the area.
From these humble beginnings, Globus expanded to include operations in England, Belgium, the French Riviera, and Holland. By the dawn of the 21st century, the company offered tours and vacation packages all over Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australia, and Africa. Along with moving into more areas around the world, Globus also developed a series of travel packages with unique styles. The variety of locations and travel styles has helped to keep the company a unique commodity in the travel industry.
One of the most popular travel styles offered by Globus is known as escorted travel. With this service, Globus provides tour directors who handle all the minor details of traveling, such as hotel accommodations, transportation issues, and even planning visits to local sites of interest. Within the general style of escorted travel, the customer can choose from excursions that are filled with many planned activities, or opt for something with a slower and more flexible pace.
Just about any type of tour or vacation can be planned using the resources available through Globus. Options include ocean and river cruises, independent travel packages that allow customers to go virtually anywhere they wish, faith based tours that include sites that are of interest to various faith traditions, and guided tours of countries and groups of countries. You can even book a simple vacation in one spot if that is your preference.
One of the advantages of using Globus for tour and vacation planning is the enormous amount of resources the agency brings to the table. Because of the worldwide presence of Globus, they can often command pricing from airlines, hotel chains, and resorts that simply cannot be obtained elsewhere. This means that the overall travel costs are much more likely to be affordable with Globus, even though the options are much broader than what other agencies can offer.
The efficiency of Globus ensures that the matter will be handled quickly and with as little inconvenience to the client as possible.
As with many companies, Globus has an online presence. However, they are not only found on their own site, but on other travel websites as well. Each site contains detailed information on each of the travel packages offered by the company, and several different tools that are very helpful before and during the vacation or tour. You can also find online resources to help in the planning and selection process. There is even a way to make contact with live Globus agents if the client prefers to ask questions or make arrangements with a person rather than online. Also, there are pages on which clients share their experiences with Globus and offer insights into how the various tour styles function. This is an excellent resource for someone who may have no idea what is involved with a European river cruise (for instance) and how Globus conducts this type of tour.
Globus Tours has the resources of a multinational corporation coupled with the accessibility and friendly nature of the local tour agency down the street. With an excellent reputation built on the basis of customer care and tour packages that are some of the most affordable of their kind, is it no wonder that Globus customers would not think of using any other travel service.