The rooftop pool at SHA Wellness resort has views of Benidorm, the mountains and the sea
Happy is the holidaymaker who can spend a fortnight, or even a week, in Spain. But such is its proximity to the UK – and so numerous are the flight options between the two – that it’s also the perfect choice for tourists with less spare time.
A long weekend in Madrid or Barcelona rarely fails to please, but for those looking for something a little bit different – or to suit a particular special interest – here are some short-break inspirations.
Music
Hardly a surprising choice for nightlife, but Ibiza is increasingly becoming an island for those who love the music, rather than just the opportunity to party.
The Ibiza Rocks festival has been running since 2005, with a big name playing every Wednesday night between June and September at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel in San Antonio. This year’s line-up included Plan B, Friendly Fires, Tinie Tempah and Dizzee Rascal.
The popular Ushuaia Beach Club in Playa d’en Bossa – this year hosting a range of stars from Sasha and Pete Tong to The Human League and Kool and the Gang – now offers a similar chance to stay where you play. Ushuaia Beach Hotel opened in May and is a high-end spot with suites with indoor Jacuzzis and swim-up rooms with direct pool access.
The restaurant is Asian-themed with teppanyaki tables, and the facilities include a professional recording studio and wristband-activated Facebook stations. The rooms are white and minimalist – perhaps a good thing for a soothing morning after the night before.
Sample package: Flexible Trips offers three nights on a B&B basis at the Ushuaia Hotel from £476, flying with easyJet from Stansted on June 6, 2012. flexibletrips.com, 0800 916 0656
Golf
The Costa del Sol hasn’t been nicknamed the Costa del Golf for nothing. There are 45 courses along this Spanish coast, and four of them are ranked among the top 10 courses in Europe.
The climate is golf-friendly: mild for most of the year but not too sweltering even in summer. And with a myriad of flights to Malaga it couldn’t be easier to pop down and tee off for a long weekend.
The Hotel Almenara is a great choice for a golf-focused short break. There are three nine-hole courses on resort – the Oaks, the Lakes and the Pine Trees – and each offers a very different challenge. As well as being regarded as offering the best in-resort golf in Spain, it’s also in the perfect location for some of the Costa del Sol’s best championship courses, including the Robert Trent Jones-designed Sotogrande Old, both San Roque courses and Ryder Cup course Valderrama.
The hotel has 148 spacious rooms spread across one and two-level villas, which are set in gardens with views of the golf course and the sea. For any non-golfers who want to tag along, there’s a beach club, a spa, and activities such as tennis, sailing and horse riding. For sightseeing, Jerez and Gibraltar are nearby.
Sample package: Medhotels.com offers 30% off at Hotel Almenara until October 17, starting from £46.75 per person per night on a B&B basis in a twin or triple room. medhotels.com, 0844 875 3466
Spa
Spain is home to some lovely spas. Well-established players such as the huge Asian-style Oriental Spa Garden in Tenerife’s Hotel Botanico have recently been joined by the boutique Shanti-Som Wellbeing Retreat, which opened in the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park 45 minutes from Malaga airport earlier this year.
One of Spain’s finest destination spas is the ultra-luxe SHA Wellness Clinic. It’s a serious spa, with focused programmes for health goals, but this doesn’t mean pampering is off the menu. The roof terrace, with panoramic views of Benidorm, the mountains and the sea, is home to a huge infinity pool, a vast Jacuzzi and sun loungers, and treatments include everything from facials and massages to Botox and yoga. Guests stay on a full-board basis and most are stunned by how tasty a macrobiotic diet can prove.
Sample package: Wellbeing Escapes offers a four-night SHA Wellness Discovery Break from £1,599, including flights, transfers, full board, access to a schedule of activities and treatments. wellbeingescapes.co.uk, 0845 602 6202
Parador de Santiago de Compostela is the oldest hotel of its kind in Spain
Heritage
Any area of Spain can deliver when it comes to historical sights, but for those who really want to immerse themselves in the past, why not suggest a stay in the world’s oldest hotel?
Unsurprisingly, this is one of the Paradores de Turismo de Espana, the state-run hotel chain of properties in historical buildings. The very oldest is the five-star Parador de Santiago de Compostela, which started life in 1499 as a hostel for pilgrims walking the Way of St James.
Hostels seem to have gone downhill since the 15th century, as this one features cloistered courtyards, ornate carvings and four-poster beds in many of the rooms. The parador is right next to the cathedral, on the famous square Praza do Obradoiro – very convenient for sightseeing.
Sample package: Kirker Holidays offers three nights’ B&B at the Parador de Santiago de Compostela from £798, including Ryanair flights from Stansted and private car transfers. kirkerholidays.com, 020 7593 2288
Brits abroad
No, not a visit to one of the ex-pat communities up the coast from Alicante. We think of Spain as one of the UK’s nearest neighbours, but there’s one area of Britain that really is just next door. Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, and sits at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean.
The Rock may be closer to Africa than the UK mainland, but visitors will feel at home striding past red pillar boxes and policemen wearing helmets. However, with Moorish and Spanish influences strongly felt, the cultural mix is wide – clients can spend their Gibraltar pounds on tapas, tagine or traditional British roast beef.
Cadogan Holidays now offers twin centres pairing Gibraltar with Tarifa, a seriously Spanish fishing village just across the Straits of Gibraltar. Its long sandy beach is a surfers’ hotspot, but it’s just as enjoyable for less active tourists, who can soak up the rays or relax in the town’s pavement cafes.
Sample package: Cadogan offers a five-night break staying for two nights at the four-star The Rock Hotel in Gibraltar on a B&B basis and three nights’ room-only at a boutique guesthouse in Tarifa from £499, including flights from Gatwick departing October 13 and all transfers. cadoganholidays.com, 0845 615 4390
