Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Shanklin and Sandown

Two of the Isle of Wight’s most popular seaside resorts Sandown and Shanklin are situated side by side on the island’s south east coast. Sandown especially has been popular since Victorian times and many of its seafront hotels and guest houses date from these times. Both resorts have excellent sandy beaches and both are backed by wide promenades, Sandown has a traditional English pier, which now boasts an amusement centre. Sandown and Shanklin grew in popularity after the building of a railway line between Ventnor and Ryde. The two resorts experience a lovely climate which is generally better than the English mainland, which adds to their attraction. Shanklin Map.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Orlando Theme Parks – Discovery Cove


Orlando Theme Parks – Discovery Cove - If you are visiting Florida in the USA this year, you may want to consider a trip to the Discovery Cove theme park near to Orlando. The main attraction of Discovery Cove is the dolphin pool, where you can swim with the bottlenose dolphins in an amazing 30 minute session, an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. The park has many other attractions that will also help to make your day memorable, such as the free flight aviary with numerous varieties of tropical birds, the coral reef, where you can snorkel with the fish (even shark and barracuda) and the Wind Away River. To swim with dolphins though, is the main theme in Discovery Cove and the park is open from 9am to 5.30pm. Packages including the swim with the dolphins start at $289, not cheap but well worth saving up for. The park is open all year round and with the weather in Discovery Cove being a warm and humid, subtropical climate, any time is a good time to visit. Map of Discovery Cove.

Monday, February 16, 2009

The Picturesque Town of Altea Alicante


The Picturesque Town of Altea Alicante - One of the prettiest towns on the Costa Blanca, Spain, Altea old town is perched on a hilltop, overlooking the sea close to the huge resort of Benidorm. Separated from Benidorm by the Sierra Helada, Altea could hardly be more different, as yet unspoilt by mass tourism and over development, it still retains much of its old Spanish charm. Altea has one or two decent hotels including the Negret Cap Hotel located right beside the beach, but a better option for a holiday, might be to rent out a holiday villa and enjoy a bit of luxury during your stay. The town boasts a super climate and Altea weather is pretty reliable all year round, Altea is just 45 minutes drive from Alicante airport and is easily reached via the N-332 or the AP-7 motorway. Map of Altea.

Admiral Chief Received in Pilar de la Horadada

Admiral Chief of General Staff of the Navy, D. Manuel Rebollo García, received in the headquarters of the Navy to a representation of the Municipal Corporation of the Municipality of Pilar de la Horadada. Led by the mayor, Ignacio Ramos, pilareños six councilors held a cordial meeting in which they exchanged gifts in memory of so gracious visit. Manuel Rebollo Garcia was born in Pilar de la Horadada in 1945. He joined the Navy and Marine Professional at the age of seventeen years in the Naval Military School in 1969 where he finished his studies and received clearance Navío Ensign of the sixteenth day of July 1974. Their fates afloat as an officer include the destroyer Admiral Ferrándiz the minesweeper Guadalmedina, Galicia amphibious ship and training ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano. Order has been Chief of the 31st squadron of bodyguards, second commander of the patrol commander of the Second Princess and ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano. She has been commander of the following vessels: Tabarca patrol, transport Contramaestre Married, with the frigate Santa Maria was composed in the Standing Naval Force of NATO in the Mediterranean, STANAVFORMED and the training ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano, ship which has made a total of six trips, three of which were around the world. Their destinations include land that has been assigned to the Naval Military School, where he was Professor of Tactics, the Communications Section of the Staff the Navy, the Joint Staff, the Division of Planning Staff of the Stadium as the Navy Chief of Strategic Plans, Advisor to the Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Defense and Chief of the Operations Division of the General Staff of the Navy. Between October 2006 and July 2008 he served as Second Admiral Chief of the Navy. It Communications Specialist Diploma in Marine and Naval Warfare and the Joint Staff. Is in possession of the Grand Cross of Naval Merit, Grand Cross, Cross, Commendation and Badge of the Royal and Military Order of San Hermenegildo, six Naval Merit Crosses, Silver Cross of Merit of the Civil Guard of Encomienda the Order of Agricultural Merit, Fisheries and Food and Medal City of Melilla. The eighteenth day of July 2008 was promoted to Admiral of the jobs and General Admiral Admiral and appointed Chief of the Navy. As to his personal life, is married to Rosa and they have three children, Teresa, and Belen Manuel.

The Resort of Puerto Rico Gran Canaria

The Resort of Puerto Rico Gran Canaria - For the best family holidays on Gran Canaria in the Spanish Canary Islands, you need look little further than the resort of Puerto Rico. Though at times Puerto Rico receives some negative press, it has everything needed for a splendid family beach style holiday with 2 calm and safe swimming beaches, with all the usual facilities, sun loungers, parasols, lifeguards, toilets, beach bars, restaurants etc. Puerto Rico has some excellent water sports facilities including jet-skiing, swimming, fishing, scuba diving and windsurfing. Puerto Rico, similar to all the southern resorts of Gran Canaria, benefits from a terrific all year round climate, with the weather in Puerto Rico comprising wall-to-wall sunshine throughout the year (actually more pleasant during the traditional winter months). Night time entertainment is second to none on the islands with a huge choice of bars, restaurants and clubs in which to wine, dine and while away the evening hours, in the daytime there are boat trips to be enjoyed, coach trips to the island’s attractions such as Palmitos Park or Holiday World, nearby resorts such as Arguineguin or Puerto Mogan, and beaches to laze on and enjoy the sun. What more could you want in a Family holiday? Map of Puerto Rico.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Tax Advice for Spanish UK Residents

If you are a UK citizen living in Spain (which many do these days), you may need to get proper Spanish tax advice to avoid having complicated problems later down the line. You need to define the country in which you are legally required to pay your income tax, for Spain, if you are resident for over 183 days per year you need to declare your world-wide income. In the UK you need to provide proof that you are actually living in Spain, before being relieved of UK income tax obligations (a form FD9 Spain/Individual is what you need). In Spain the limit where no deductions are made is 10,000 euros and the minimum tax rate is 24%, the minimum tax allowance is 5,050 euros per year which rises by 900 euros per year for every year over 65 (up to 75 after which it goes up by 2,000 euros per year). If you are in any doubt, get some decent Spanish tax advice from an accountant (Spanish) who knows his stuff, this will save you a headache later on in life.

Benidorm Spain – Whats the Attraction?

The undisputed holiday capital of Spain is without doubt the resort of Benidorm, located in the Costa Blanca region about 30 minutes drive from Alicante airport. What makes Benidorm so special? Is it the wonderful beaches, Benidorm has two main beaches Playa Poinente and Playa Levante, and these stretch for many kilometres of unbroken sand? Is it the vibrant and exciting night life, Benidorm has hundreds of bars, restaurants, clubs and discos? Is it the wonderful climate, everybody enjoys the weather Benidorm has to offer with over 300 days of sunshine each year? Or is it the great range of theme parks, Benidorm is second to none with the famous Terra Mitica, the exciting Aqualandia, the fascinating Mundomar Marina and Exotic Animal Park, the inspiring Terra Natura Safari Park? Who knows exactly what it is that attracts visitors to Benidorm, but attract them it does and in fine style with over 4 million visitors per year. You can view a map of Benidorm with most of the main attractions featured here: Benidorm Map.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Playa de las Canteras and Vegueta Las Palmas

Two entirely contrasting districts of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Playa de las Canteras and Vegueta also lie at opposing ends of this great city. Playa de las Canteras is the prime beach for the city and as such has all the modern facilities that such an attraction should have, its 4 kilometres of golden sand attracts visitors throughout the year, they come to enjoy the safe warm waters of this reef protected beach. On the other hand the ancient district of Vegueta was where the original city was founded in 1478, its narrow streets concealing attractions which take visitors back many centuries, head here to see interesting museums, the cathedral and steep yourself in the history of this historic city. Las Palmas Map.

Costa Dorada Resorts – Miami Playa

One of the lesser known but emerging coastal resorts on the Costa Dorada, Miami Playa has some excellent beaches in an area of attractive coastline with pretty bays and coves. Within easy reach of the resorts of Cambrils and Salou, and also the ancient city of Tarragona, Miami Playa is an ideal base for visiting the coastal regions and hinterland of the Costa Dorada.

The Inland Town of Aguimes Gran Canaria

One of the lesser known inland towns of Gran Canaria in the Spanish Canary Islands, Aguimes has a population of twenty two thousand and its skyline is dominated by the huge towers of its magnificent church the Iglesia de San Sebastion, a fine example of Neo-Classical architecture, constructed in the eighteenth century. Easy to reach from the coastal resorts of Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles, Aguimes is also close to Gran Canaria airport.

The Fishing Port of Puerto de Mogan

A former little fishing port, the now desirable Puerto de Mogan on Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Spain, has been developed into a charming holiday resort with a smallish man made beach and a lovely yacht marina, with a good selection of facilities. The small crescent shaped beach was made of sand from Africa and is quieter than most of its counterparts, definitely a Gran Canaria beach worth visiting. A mostly low-rise resort developed adjacent to the old fishing port, the holiday zone is attractive and pleasant and a world away from such ugly Gran Canaria developments as Puerto Rico, Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas. Puerto Mogan has its own little yellow submarine, in which tourists can watch the island’s fascinating marine life, it is a renowned area for tuna and marlin fishing and holds a Marlin fishing contest each year. Puerto Mogan is in the south of the island and is a Gran Canaria travel destination which enjoys a delightful climate with Puerto Mogan weather being just the job for holidays both summer and winter. Puerto Mogan Map.