Holiday destinations in Spain

By Mark Hodson, Sunday Times Travel Writer and Editor of 101 Holidays

Spain is Britain’s favourite holiday destination. We’ve been heading down to the Costas in droves ever since the 1960s. But there is plenty more to Spain than high-rise resorts and sports bars. With a rich culture, beautiful countryside and fabulous food and wine, it remains one of the greatest countries in the world for a holiday, whether you want to lounge on a beach, explore a historic city or find an idyllic rural bolthole.

Villa holidays are hard to beat if you want a lazy break in the sun with privacy and lots of space. They are ideal for families and groups of friends. There are some wonderful places to stay in Catalonia including medieval Pals and the pine-fringed bays of Calella and Llafranc.

In the far south-west of Spain, the Costa de la Luz is one of the country’s sunniest regions and boasts the finest beaches on the mainland – long swathes of soft sand protected by dunes. There are many great villas in the region.

In the rush to reach the south, many Brits neglect the north of Spain, which has lovely uncrowded beaches, rolling countryside, fascinating villages, mountains and great food. The provinces of Cantabria, Asturias, Galicia, Navarra and Salamanca are rich in culture and great value. Stay in a self-catering cottage or traditional small hotel.

If you love sports, head to La Manga Club in south-east Spain. It has great facilities including three championship golf courses, a 28-court tennis centre and a luxury spa, plus top-notch sports courses for children of all ages.

Few tourists are aware that Spain has a couple of excellent state-run luxury trains with overnight cabins. The Transcantábrico offers 7-night tours of Galicia and Cantabria while La Robla – which was launched in 2010 – does 3-night trips along the coast of Northern Spain.

Take a walking holiday in beautiful Catalonia, where you can enjoy gentle strolls along the coast, or hit the peaks of the Pyrenees. The Picos de Europa in Northern Spain is great for wilderness and wildlife spotting, or you could explore the timeless, unspoilt landscapes of Galicia or Castile. We recommend Inntravel’s hotel-to-hotel walking which gives you both independence and the security and back-up of local experts. Your luggage is transported each day to your next hotel.

Another great way to see the Spanish countryside is on a cycling holiday. Again, Catalonia is a great destination. This gentle ride along the Catalan Coast is one of our picks.

Or you could take a wine tour to the vineyards of Rioja or Catalonia. A trip to Andalucia and Jerez – the home of sherry – is also particularly fascinating.

If you love Spanish food, take a gourmet cooking break to the country’s culinary heartland with a top chef. You’ll learn how to cook classic dishes, enjoy tastings and market visits. Destinations include Seville and Rioja, and the Alpujarras.

If you don’t want to fly – and you appreciate the company of others – consider a coach tour. Catalonia is the easiest region to reach. Anywhere much further south is not really practical.

If you’re a single parent, try The Kids and Me.

Short breaks and other holidays in Spain

Love Spanish food? How about a hands-on cookery course in a beautiful whitewashed village in the mountains of Andalucia. Book for 4 or 7 days with Annie B’s Spanish Kitchen.

Here’s a great idea for young kids: take a walking holidays with a donkey. Walk along gentle country trails with your trusty steed (which can also give rides to flagging youngsters). Choose between 4 and 7 night itineraries.

Couples looking to chill out should head to DDG Retreat in the hills of Andalucia. It’s an eco-friendly spa retreat set in beautiful natural woodland with five individually designed casas inspired by the owners’ travels around the world.

You can also join a luxury health retreat in Andalucia that combines yoga, fitness, hiking, massage, a healthy diet and nutritional advice.

Islands in Spain

The Canary Islands are ideal for year-round sunshine, and there is a lot more to find than pile-’em-high resorts such as Playa de las Americas. Lanzarote is particularly attractive and has some excellent villas with pools. Tenerife has many charming hotels and a rugged volcanic interior to explore. We recommend Abama Golf & Spa Resort in Tenerife and Princesa Yaiza Hotel Resort in Lanzarote, both of which are especially good for families.

For a real away-from-it-all experience, try the island of La Palma or the stunning island of La Gomera reached by ferry crossing from Tenerife. It has a beautiful Parador.

For an unspoilt beach holiday, the tiny isle of La Graciosa just north of Lanzarote is idyllic.

The Balearics are the most popular holiday destinations in Spain. Mallorca has a reputation for downmarket package tourism, but once you get away from the crowded resorts you’ll find beautiful scenery, mountains, deserted coves, pine forests and quaint villages. Simpson Travel has a great selection of villas, including Fishermen’s Cottages, near the beach at Cala San Vicente which cost from £395 pp including flights and private transfers based on two sharing. If your budget is larger, consider a luxury staffed villa in Mallorca.

Mallorca’s capital Palma is overlooked by many visitors to the island, but it’s a beautiful city of cobbled squares, tapas bars, historic buildings and elegant shops making it ideal for a city break.

Ibiza is not just for teenage clubbers. This beautiful, sophisticated island has some magical corners and a great collection of luxury villas. Check out Ca’n Pau in Santa Eulalia, which sleeps 12 and has a lagoon-style pool and gardens.

Menorca is quieter than its two neighbours but has some beautiful sandy beaches, making it ideal for young families. Check out this collection of villas.

Specialist tour operators to Spain

Inntravel offers a range of walking and cycling holidays in Spain.

Kirker Holidays specialises in luxury short breaks, city breaks, music and culture holidays and luxury rail travel in Spain.

Villa operators in Spain include Simpson Travel, Vintage Travel, Villa Select, PCI Holidays (Catalonia) and CV Travel (Ibiza).

Casas Cantabricas is a specialist in Northern Spain.

Cachet Travel has holidays in the Canary Islands.

in:spa runs health retreats in Andalucia.

Annie B’s Spanish Kitchen runs cookery courses in Andalucia.

Sovereign offers short breaks to Spanish cities.

Leger Holidays offers coach tours to Spain.

The Kids and Me specialises in single-parent holidays.