| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 24/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 47 |
| Copyright: Other |
Rural spain by Liz Hall
Heading south to sample the good life
Holidaymakers continue their fascination with country living
The British public’s enchantment with the idea of gently strolling through almond groves, with just a carafe of local wine and a few Spanish mountain goats for company is reflected in the impressive sales of the latest ‘good life abroad’ autobiography, Driving Over Lemons – touted as the best in the genre since Peter Mayle’s Year In Provence.More than 200,000 copies have been sold of the former Genesis drummer Chris Stewart’s quirky account of life on a peasant farm in the Alpujarras mountains in Andalucia.
The interest aroused is not purely literary though – tour operators have noticed growing numbers of people seeking to make their dream of the good life in sun-drenched southern Spain a reality, if only for a few weeks.
Mundi Color sales and marketing manager Tony Maniscalco said he has witnessed”a considerable growth in holidaymakers seeking an alternative to the lying on a beach, ‘here we go here we go’ type of holiday.”
And rural Andalucia, the most southerly chunk of Spain, is high on the list.
Not only is Andalucia beautiful, it is also easy to get to and tourist friendly.
For those who fancy a taste of country living, the choice of picturesque properties off the beaten track include cosy hotels, villas, old olive mills and cortijos (traditional farmhouses) or even the cool caves in the mountains around Granada.
Magic of Spain, Travellers’ Way and Mundi Color offer a wide selection of rural properties.
The trend towards independent accommodation is confirmed by Airtours, Thomson and Cosmos who are pushing the option of independent villas with a private or communal pool in the pretty countryside outside of the main resorts.
Cosmos’ figures show an increase in bookings for independent villa holidays in Spain.
Cosmos head of beach products Owen Whitehead said: “So many people feel they have just skimmed the surface of Spain and now want some independence and a chance to discover more away from the main resorts.”
For those who would rather be pampered than self-cater, there are some ideally situated hotels.
Thomson has expanded its range of small family-run hotels in quieter locations under its Small and Friendly programme, which was launched last year.
This year, Magic of Spain has introduced Los Caracoles in the white-washed village of Frigiliana near Nerja, an unusual hotel with suites shaped like its namesake – snails.
At the top end of the market, Unicorn specialises in upmarket properties such as the government-run paradores. Introduced this year is the Hacienda Benazuza, a luxurious 10th-century converted olive farm located 10mins from Seville.
For those who can afford to really splash out, the Hotel Bobadilla tucked away in the Loja hills is a peaceful and exclusive option, available through Unicorn and Magic of Spain.
While people do want to go rustic, on the whole they still want access to good facilities.
Travellers Way managing director Jon Harris said: “We quickly found out that holidaymakers didn’t want to go into the heart of rural Andalucia, where there is no swimming pool or restaurant or anyone to help them.”
Unicorn director Jim Southon said one benefit that Andalucia offers over some other parts of the Mediterranean is that its tourism industry has matured. “Overall, not only are standards higher in accommodation and food but the handling of tourism is much more professional than in countries further east,” he said.
Rich pickings: Andalucia’s scenery ranges from olive groves to snow-capped mountains in the Sierra Nevada
Juicy fruit: Travellers’ Way features the Cortijo La Parra which has its own farm with fruit trees