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 Whether it is Spanish villas, luxury resorts in Spain or even Spain travel as a concept - there is something undeniably alluring about holidays in Spain.
"If we look at the sheer number of people going, Spain is still the number one top seller," a spokesperson for the Association of British Travel Agents told the Edinburgh Evening News.
And this really says it all. Holidays in Spain have always been and will always be, it seems, popular with British holidaymakers.
Currently, the UK is in the grip of a much publicised credit crisis, but the opinion of commentators throughout the travel industry remains much the same - that Britons will not be put off taking their summer holidays.
In fact, the credit crunch may be encouraging Brits to holiday closer to home this summer and, with ever increasing numbers of flights to Spain available, the choice might not be whether to go to Spain so much as where to go in Spain.
A new study by isango! suggested that there are seven crucial components to a successful holiday abroad, with western Europe and Spain highlighted as the "ideal" locations.
"Forget travelling to the far corners of the world... Brits would much prefer to holiday closer to home," isango! notes.
The study also showed that travellers are no longer content with simply lying on a beach and want to combine relaxation with shopping, "adventure", visiting cultural attractions and eating while abroad.
In terms of culture, BAA's Kevin Lang told the Edinburgh Evening News that Spain remains a popular holiday choice with Brits looking to experience "the rich city culture of Barcelona, Valencia or Madrid".
"I think the fact that people are travelling more than they've ever done before has meant that people are more open-minded and more curious about visiting countries and cities that probably wouldn't have been high on a list some years ago," Mr Lang noted.
Food indeed could be a driving factor behind the popularity of holidays in Spain after the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) noted in June 2008 that travellers looking for a "gourmet experience" choose Spain as their base when travelling to the Mediterranean.
Frances Tuke, a spokesperson for Abta, noted that Spain was famed for its cuisine and that people were "very interested" to find out for themselves what the food is truly like.
The recent Taste of Spain festival in London was "incredibly successful" and "really captured people's imaginations" for holidays in Spain, she added.
At La Manga Club, food is a key element of any holiday experience. There are more than 25 restaurants situated around the resort, featuring food from a dozen distinct regions and cultures, with exquisite Mediterranean cuisine offered at the Amapola Restauarant and Mexican dishes at the Andale Restaurant.
South-east Asian cuisine is served at Asia Restaurant and pizzas and pastas are available at Luigi's.
Activities are a crucial point in the perfect holiday, according to the isango! study, and a Spain vacation certainly offers plenty of opportunities for adventure.
Andalucia in southern Spain offers holidaymakers a wealth of activities from hot air balloon rides across the mountains to horse riding on the beaches.
Indeed, the Guardian named the Andalucian coast as number one in a list of top ten pony trekking holidays around the world.
"With North Africa in your sights, you'll gallop through the waves towards the sand dunes at the windsurfer's paradise of Tarifa, canter through tranquil pinewoods on secluded nature reserves, and explore hidden villages where you can enjoy an ice cold fino against dramatic views sweeping out over the ocean," the publication enthuses.
Horseriding is one of the many activities available on holidays in Spain at La Manga Club as the resort is famously home to professional sporting facilities including golf courses, tennis courts, football pitches and a state-of-the-art gym.
And while Abta spokesperson Sean Tipton remains confident that "people are much more likely to cut back on other aspects of their life rather than forego a summer holiday", consumers may be contemplating ways to save money once at their resort in Spain.
Another Abta spokesman told the Edinburgh Evening News that while holidays in Spain are still popular, "people are no longer necessarily going to Spain for a package holiday".
In such times of economic crisis, Spanish villas could be a viable alternative to all inclusive holidays as travellers can control their own finances in terms of food and activities.
La Manga Club has a selection of villas with shared pools and private pools, many of which come with private terraces and barbeque facilities.
What seems certain is that tight budgets won't stop the determined travellers from taking holidays this summer.
"Can you imagine if you had to explain to your young children that they weren't going away on holiday this year? That's how important holiday's have become - foreign holidays in particular," Mr Tipton noted.
Would you like a quote for your La Manga Club Resort Holiday. |
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