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Away from the yachts and glitz that encompasses the spirit that is upmarket Marbella, on the Costa del Sol, in the sunny south of Spain, you can do more than celebrity spotting if you venture a little way further north.

In the news this week is the little known mountainous region of Sierra de Las Nieves, not quite as breathtakingly immense as it’s similarly named cousin, the Sierra Nevada, but just as beautiful.

Binoculars, bikini and sturdy boots ready? Let’s go…

Where is it?

Fly into the international airport at Malaga and head to Marbella for some sun, shopping and to cast some envious glances at the elegant jet set and their superb yachts, moored as tightly as cars in the supermarket car park at home. Explore Puerto Banus and enjoy the restaurants and people watching, take in some winter sunshine and stay in your own first class cabin, how about trying some of these Marbella holiday rentals?

But what about some exercise too?  North of Marbella you can also indulge your spirit – and enjoy some of the most unspoilt views and areas of Spain.

Mingling with the jet set at Puerto Banus, Marbella

Eco spirit

Awarded with UNESCO Biosphere Reserve protection, and an EDEN European Destination of Excellence since 2008, this rugged area of beauty is worth spending time getting to know.

The EDEN tag is only awarded to special places that promote sustainable tourism, a label that is so important today given climate change and intense awareness of our planet. You can explore this area and get a little walking under your belt – maybe reducing the belt?! – into the bargain.

The Bio sphere area of the Sierra de las Nieves

Walking with purpose

It gets better. From the 26th February until the 4th of March you can join in with the first Andalucian International Walking and Cultural Festival, the starting place is the  little pueblo of El Burgo, a whitewashed mountain village surrounded by Almond and Olive groves,  so typical of the area. Each day comprises walking trails for 2 different levels, depending on your fitness and whether you want to stroll or go for the burn!

What’s that? You like the idea but your partner would rather not?  Then they can happily ignore the exercise and concentrate on the cultural side of the festival! Cookery demonstrations – Andalucian style of course! – or a quiet spot of bird watching in the hills….

Feathered friends

The biggest area of Spanish Fir – El Pinsapo – in the world  is just the spot for nature loversand bird watchers. Species of this and other trees normally seen in the the cooler climate of Northern Europe are found here. Also Pine, Chestnut, Oak and Ash are prevalent. Bring your binoculars and between the tree tops and views expect to catch sight of:

• Peregrine Falcon
• Golden Eagle
• Bonelli Eagle
• Booted Eagle
• Short toed Eagle
• Goshawk
• Sparrow-hawk
• Crested Tit
• Great Spotted Woodpecker – or you might just hear him!
• Griffon Vulture – like a flying Barn Door.

Look out too for the Egyptian Mongoose – the only place in Europe where you can hope to see him.

Eagles – amongst the wild and varied birdlife

Village life

Besides El Burgo, the destination for the fiesta, there are eight more little villages to discover within the Biosphere – all traditional Andalucían pueblos and worth exploring for a slice of real Spanish life away from the Costa.  They are:

• Tolox
• Casarabonela – visit the Moorish castle at the top of the village
• Monda
• Istan
• Ojen – take a trip to the Museum of Wine
• Guaro
• Yunquera
• Alozaina – once defended from an advance by the Moors by village women and kids throwing bee hives at their attackers!
  

Whitewashed cube-like houses, ancient churches, flower filled streets, tiny bars and cafés, a simple Hola will go a long way…soak up the rich and varied history, and maybe some local wine and tapas too! The food is simple and inspired by the wonderful countryside that surrounds you here.

Look out for traces of Roman and Moorish history in the architecture and waterways, and even further back to Neolithic times, discover the caves…

Los Flintstones

You might not see Fred and Barney but the caves in this area are well known.

Tolox allows you the chance to visit one where ancient pottery has been found and it’s also worth a visit for the ferruginous waters these days making it a much visited Spa town. Numerous caves are dotted around the area, so take the safe option and go for the guided tour as some of these are pretty well hidden – and can be dangerous.  One famous chasm known as GESM - Grupo de Exploraciones Subterránea de Málaga -  has a stomach lurching drop of nearly 2000 metres, the third deepest in the world. Hold on tightly to your belongings! Unsurprisingly, it has not yet been explored fully…

Other caves within the park are those known as:

• Cuevas del Moro
• Hoyos del Pilar
• Hoyos de Lifa

Although it sounds like a holiday from hell to me, potholing is also a popular pastime here, and there are many with varying drops up to over 130 metres, and more yet to be discovered, possibly deeper. I feel sick just thinking about it!

climb the highest peaks..

River deep, mountain high

From the depths of the caves and potholes, there are also some highs to discover.  The thickly covered snow capped peaks in winter are dominated by La Torrecilla, rising to 1919 metres, and the surrounding mountains are a joy to walk and climb.  Springtime will bring the smell and sight of new shoots of wild flowers and herbs. Babbling brooks and rivers create flora and fauna on an extraordinary level and in fact the area was once explored and studied  by the Swiss botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier.

Others have since followed in his famous footsteps, and you can too! Whether you choose to join in the fun of the upcoming Andalucian International Walking and Cultural Festival, or just fancy exploring the villages mentioned earlier.  It all makes a complete change form the glitz of Marbella, and provides you with a holiday of contrasts, you can walk in the snow capped mountains and sunbathe on the beach all in the same day! It’s all here waiting for you in the south of Spain  – so why not give it a go?!

Costa lot less! Holidays in Spain on the rise as prices at resorts drop by 40%

Spain could attract a new wave of British holidaymakers following evidence that resort prices have crashed by as much as 40 per cent compared to five years ago.

A fall in local prices on everything from a restaurant meal to suncream has combined with the fact that the pound is at a two year high against the euro to make the Costas more affordable.

The claims come from an annual survey conducted by the Post Office, which measures the prices of eight items in resorts across 33 destinations around the world.

Spain comes out as the second cheapest destination with a price of £37.72 for the eight items, while Sri Lanka, which has seen serious political unrest, was the best value at just £27.95.

At the other end of the scale was Australia at a staggering £115.69 for the same items, together with Barbados, Singapore and New Zealand.

The number of visits by Britons to Spain has slumped by more than three million over the past five years, coming down to less than 10.5million.

High prices, the cost of living squeeze and a desire among Britons to try new and more exotic locations have all played their part in the fall.

However, the Post Office research suggests Spain will now become more attractive, particularly at a time when people are desperate to save money.

The firm’s Holiday Money Report concluded: ‘Resort prices in the Costa del Sol are now 40per cent lower than five years ago, when we conducted the first price barometer.

‘The cheaper cost of travel to Spain will make it a compelling choice for bargain hunters. So does the rising value of the UK pound – up 6.4 per cent against the euro in the past three months.’

The eight items included in the price comparison are a cup of coffee in a bar or café; a bottle of local beer; a can of Coca-Cola; a 1.5 litre bottle of mineral water from a supermarket; a bottle of suncream; insect repellent; a pack of cigarettes; and a three course evening meal for two adults, including a bottle of house wine.

The fact that the selection of items is small, while they are not bought from exactly the same outlet every year, suggests the figures can be skewed. However, they give a general indication of the shift in prices.

The researchers found resort prices have risen in two-thirds of the destinations it surveyed. The biggest rises were recorded in Kenya, where the basket was 52 per cent more expensive than a year ago, and Portugal, where the increase found was 39 per cent.

However, the report found that sterling is stronger against 29 other major currencies than a year ago, which should help offset higher resort prices.

Turkey has seen a tourism boom in recent years on the basis of its perception as a cheap option. This year, it only placed 17th in terms of the cheapest option, while it was 60per cent more expensive than Spain.

The Post Office head of travel money, Sarah Munro, said: ‘Given that sterling is worth around 20 per cent more than a year ago against the Turkish lira, we expected to see a lower barometer cost for Turkey, especially as the country had a disappointing 2011.

‘However, we were surprised to find that local costs have actually risen by 21 per cent and it is only the strong sterling exchange rate that is masking that increase.

‘It will be interesting to see how Turkish resorts respond to the challenge presented by Spain and Portugal. With Greek tourism also facing a fight for survival, we could see a price war  between the eastern and western Med in 2012.’

Italy came out as the most expensive European destination with the basket of items costing £89.03.

Miss Munro said: ‘The message that came out clearly from our holiday budgeting research was that 2012 will be all about affordability.  Holidays may still be a priority but they are not a necessity and people will not knowingly get into debt to fund them.

‘The winning destinations will be those that offer good value not just for flights and accommodation, but for tourist staples like meals out and drinks.”

‘However, it will pay people to keep a watchful eye on exchange rate movements as well as considering easy ways to save money.’

Forget holidays at home and cut-price breaks to Turkey, if you’re looking for value for money the Spanish Costas are the most affordable destination in Europe.

British holidaymakers will get more for their cash on the Iberian Peninsula than any other hotspot, with prices in Spain dipping to a four-year low, according to a new survey.

Recession-hit Spain has slashed prices after the number of Britons visiting the country dropped by 15 to 20 per cent, due to the double whammy of financial woes at home and the buoyant euro.

Back in business: The Costas have dropped prices to tempt back tourists

Hotels, food and other everyday items are now more affordable in Spain than in any other holiday destination.

A three-course evening meal on the Costa del Sol costs on average £23.58 compared to £37.74 in Greece and £43.86 in the Turkish resort of Marmaris.

And when it comes to other items such as suncream, a bottle of beer, insect repellent and soft drinks, Spain’s Costas also come out on top, with prices often half those found in other holiday resorts.

According to the poll by Post Office Travel Money, Miami is the most expensive destination, with a meal and nine everyday items averaging a whopping £92.81.

The same items cost more than £80 in France and Italy and more than £70 in Brighton, Egypt and Cyprus. In Spain they came to just £42.15.

After years of high prices and low visitor numbers, Spain is now 36 per cent cheaper than it was in 2007.

Its affordability is making it a favourite holiday destination with Britons once more, with visitor numbers up 11 per cent year on year for 2011.

Prices in the top resorts
Country
Resort
Average price of goods
Spain
Costa del Sol
£42.15
Bulgaria
Sunny Beach
£44.79
Portugal
Algarve
£49.63
Greece
Corfu
£58.87
Dubai
Jumeirah
£59.37
Malta
Various
£68.97
Turkey
Marmaris
£69.51
Cyprus
Various
£70.74
Croatia
Kvarner
£73.55
UK
Brighton
£77.01
Egypt
El Gouna
£78.30
France
Brittany
£81.48
Italy
Sorrento
£88.21
USA
Miami
£92.81
‘As we can see from the Post Office figures, Spain is offering extremely good value and it’s not just restaurateurs dropping prices, but hoteliers as well,’ said Sean Tipton, spokesperson for ABTA The Travel Association.

‘The pound has rallied against the euro, but the exchange rate problem has been completely wiped out by the low prices being offered.

‘Spain should be congratulated for recognising the problem and doing all it can to change it and encourage holidaymakers back.’

Other countries are now following Spain’s lead and dropping their prices to boost tourism.

Turkey has dropped prices by 13 per cent, Egypt by 12 per cent and Greece and Miami by 10 and six per cent respectively.

Sarah Munro, Post Office head of Travel Money, said: ‘This year’s barometer shows that prices are pretty competitive in the top European holiday destinations even though sterling remains unpredictable.

‘While Spain in undoubtedly best value overall, the healthy price fall in Greece means that this traditional favourite can once again be considered a good bet for wallet-watching holidaymakers.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1376768/Cheap-summer-holidays-Spain-tops-poll-affordable-holiday-hotspots.html#ixzz1JyZGNZQl

Calendar – Up & Coming Events Guide

The south of Spain is an ideal holiday destination at any time of year, with its warm temperatures and blue skies.

WHAT´S ON IN ANDALUCIA IN NOVEMBER

By Fiona Flores Watson

With the arrival of November, flamenco events abound, with festivals and competitions all over the community. Three film festivals this month are kicked off by the Seville Film Festival, featuring the latest movie to cover the history and most important performers of Andalucia’s famous art form, as we wait to hear if UNESCO has granted it cultural heritage status. Meanwhile, it’s a good month for gourmets (especially carnivorous ones), as pigs around Andalucia are slaughtered at the fiesta on St Martin’s day, and chestnuts and mushrooms are gathered, cooked and enjoyed.

Here is our own selection of events around Andalucia in November.

25 NOVEMBER
PILGRIMAGE: ROMERIA DE SANTA CATALINA
JAEN

The city’s main annual fiesta celebrating its patron saint, with a mass and procession taking place near the Castello de Santa Catalina. A huge communal meal at this urban romeria comprises paella and sardines, while other attractions include horses and regional costumes.

Other food-themed seasonal fiestas held around Andalucia in November include the Fiesta de la Castañas, or chestnut festival, (also known as the toston, or roasting) on 1 November, Dia de Tosantos (see above). Locations for this festival include the village of Alpujarra de la Sierra (Granada), the Serrania de Ronda (Malaga), for example in Igualeja and Cartajima; while in Pujerra, it is held from 1-3 November. Singing and dancing accompany the roasting of the chestnuts.Jornadas Micologicas, 19-21 November
Mushroom collecting and talks by experts in Constantina de la Sierra (Seville)

La Merendica, 25 November (Dia de Santa Catalina)
An outdoor countryside feast in Santa Fe (Granada) with special St Catherine’s Day pastries.

Fiesta de la Chanfaina, 28 November
Celebrates an ancient traditional dish of meat, potato and herbs (which originates in central Spain) in Totalan, Malaga.

Fiesta de Mosto, 27 November
Fair to celebrate this fermented grape juice in Atajate (Malaga).

CULTURAL EVENTS

1 – 30 NOVEMBER
DANCE: FESTIVAL MES DE DANZA
SEVILLA

Contemporary dance is celebrated in this month-long festival, which returns after its break last year. The theme of this year’s festival is “Dance and Technology”.

8 – 27 NOVEMBER
MUSIC AND DANCE: NATIONAL FLAMENCO ART COMPETITION
CORDOBA

One of Europe’s oldest jazz festivals, and the only one on the “Europe Jazz Network”. Concurso Nacional de Arte Flamenco Cordoba

TO 26 NOVEMBER
MUSIC AND DANCE: OTOÑO CULTURAL FLAMENCO,
BAEZA

19 NOVEMBER – 7 DECEMBER
MUSIC: FESTIVAL DE MUSICA ANTIGUA DE UBEDA Y BAEZA
JAEN

Two events in Jaen’s most architecturally stunning towns this month, both of which are World Heritage Sites: major flamenco artists, including Rocio Segura and local talent Joselete de Linares, perform at the Flamenco Cultural Autumn festival in the beautiful, bijou town of Baeza. You can find more details on the official website for Baeza itself. The festival of medieval music, which takes place both in Baeza, and its nearby, larger sister town Ubeda, takes as its theme this year, the “globalisation” of music from 1492. Concerts include Music of the Crusades (3 December); and a procession and outdoor programme of renaissance dance on 6 December. Baeza’s official website www.baeza.es

TO 22 NOVEMBER
EXHIBITION: DALIA KHAMISSY – ESPACIOS ABANDONADOS (Abandoned Spaces)
ALMERIA

The Lebanese photographer documents the aftermath of the 2006 Israeli invasion – abandoned furniture and personal items left behind in houses half-destroyed by shelling; how war suddenly makes the personal (your living room) into the public (an open space with walls blown away). Centro Andalucia de la Fotografia, Almeria.

TO 22 NOVEMBER
EXHIBITION: DEXTER DALWOOD RETROSPECTIVE
MALAGA

The British artist brings his Turner Prize-nominated show, offerinf his own perspective on major events and personalities of the 20th century (from the Brighton Bomb to Truman Capote and Michael Jackson), to Andalucia’s foremost contemporary art gallery – CAAC Malaga.

24-27 NOVEMBER MUSIC: FLAMENCO DRUM FESTIVAL JEREZ

The zambomba drum is traditionally played at Christmas time, to accompany groups of people who get together to sing traditional flamenco-style seasonal songs (carols, or villancicos), known as zambombas in Andalucia. These pre-Christmas parties, also called zambombas, take place around Jerez city. In this festival, there is no division between artist and audience; everyone joins in singing, dancing and playing instruments.

TO 1 JUNE 2011 EXHIBITION: THE SERRA COLLECTION, CASA NATAL PICASSO MALAGA

A chance to see 25 ceramic pieces by Picasso, at the house where he was born, now a museum. Museo Casa Natal is part of the Fundacion Picasso .

EXHIBITION: ESSENCE OF SEPHARDIM
CORDOBA
TO 31 DECEMBER

Cordoban photographer Córdoba Francisco Sánchez Moreno, together with the Network of Jewish Quarters in Spain “Caminos de Sefarad” (Sefarad, or Sephardi, is the name for Spanish Jews), has focussed on the Jewish quarters of the 21 towns in Spain which form the network. One of the three remaining synagogues in Spain is in Cordoba, which is also the only Andalucian town in the network.

The exhibition of 63 panoramic-format photographs (three of each town), in the Tourism and Heritage Department in calle Rey Heredia, shows historic scenes of the presence of Jewish communities in Spanish towns, both in the past and to this day – to remember the time when the Sephardim used to be part of our society.

For more information about the exhibition
For information about Caminos de Sefarad