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Posts tagged spanish
Monetary Conversions of No Concern to Spanish Tourism
018 days
by admin
in Popular Destinations
Spanish tourism officials anticipate a rise in British tourists in spite of the pound doing poorly against the euro.
Parts of Spain, including the Balearic Islands have been popular tourist destinations for decades. This isn’t expected to falter any time soon.
The ‘Majorca Daily Bulletin’ recently interviewed Ignacia Vasallo of the Turespana Spanish Tourist Board.
Mr. Vasallo is confident in Spain’s allure and believes it will remain a popular tourist destination throughout 2008.
He told reporters ‘Spain is still one of the cheapest eurozone destinations, so the slight increase in a bottle of beer, for example, is not going to turn people away.’ In fact, he predicts a 2 percent rise in tourism for the 2008 season.
According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin he said, ‘While the credit crunch may persuade British consumers to put off selling the house or buying a new car, it will not deter them from going on holiday this year.’
First-quarter figures help solidify Mr. Vasallo’s predictions. Spain attracted nearly 10.7 million tourists during the first quarter.
The dollar and pound are indeed lower in value against the euro than they have been in a very long time. This doesn’t mean people are foregoing their beloved island holidays. (more…)
Seville : Popularity as a tourist destination
056 days
by admin
in Popular Destinations
Seville is home to a number of monuments that reflect its long and rich history. It is home to the minaret of La Giralda, which is located in the Cathedral of Seville, one of the biggest cathedrals in the Christian world. The cathedral was built between the years 1401 and 1519. It contains the longest nave in Spain and is built in a medieval and Gothic style. It was built where the city’s mosque was situated and it used parts of the mosque in its construction. It also features large amounts of gold in its extravagant decorations. It is a must-see from an architectural and historic point of view. The minaret is now the bell tower of the Cathedral and is a symbol of Seville.
The city also houses the Alcazar Palace which was a Moorish palace whose building began in the 14th century. It is worthwhile to visit the Casa de Pilatos, the beautiful 16th century palace; the Torro del Oro, the 13th century tower whose top, it is rumored was once covered in gold; the old Town Hall; the Archive of the Indies and the Museum of Fine Arts. One of the most charming areas of Seville is the old Jewish Quarter. Full of small winding streets, it surrounds the area of the Cathedral. The Parque Maria Luisa was built in 1929 and contains many delightful monuments and museums. There are many other monuments and beautiful buildings in Seville that are worthwhile to visit.
The nightlife in Seville is vibrant and fun. No other city in Europe has as many bars per capita, as Seville does. If you are visiting during the summer months, you should visit Isla Cartuja at night and you can find many open-air discos. There are a number of annual festivals and other entertainment that happens during the year in Seville.
Due to Seville’s popularity as a tourist destination, there are many accommodation options available and tourists to the area can choose from a traditional hotel to a modernized palace. There are approximately 20,000 accommodation options for visitors so it is likely that you will find the ideal accommodation to suit your budget and style.
Real Spain in Spanish Villas
072 days
Some of these Spanish villas are best experienced with services included into the package. This makes for a more relaxing experience without the worry of doing your own cleaning or cooking your own meals. However, the downside is making sure you make it on time for meal times as most come with continental breakfast and sometimes with cooked dinner. This would be good for people who do not have intention of going out a lot and want to stay indoors more.
Staying in Spanish villas will mean that you are further away from any main city centre spots as many of these villas are located nearer the countryside or in the outskirts of the holiday destination. Some villas are smaller, but are situated near the main centre areas with beachfront views. These tend to be more expensive because of their location, easy access to local amenities and have good transportation links.
The villas that are situated in remote areas nearer the countryside indeed have great views and beautiful surrounding sceneries; however, they may exclude internet and even a telephone line. Therefore, you will need to look into the basic facilities offered in these villas.
Very often with a packaged holiday in Spain, you get what you pay for, but with a bit of research and hunting around you may be lucky enough to find something that will offer something slightly more generous for the asking price. These can be booked up very quickly so it is a good idea to start searching for these early on when looking to book a holiday. Villas have quickly become a popular choice for accommodation in Spain. These can be booked through an agency or directly with an independent owner.
Many of these Spanish villas can be booked online and are guaranteed to have pictures on the website. If you are unsure about staying in your chosen villa then going for one with recent pictures and good reviews will be the best option for you. You can find out more about the villas by reading up on forums and discussion boards where people talk about their experiences in the villa.
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Accommodation In The Spanish
0123 days
Look into all the different options to find the one that will best suit you and your needs.
There are a number of hotels to choose from that range in price and location. Hotels in Madrid are rated from one to five stars, with the five star hotels being the luxury options. Hotels include service such as laundry and complimentary breakfast. You can expect a middle of the range hotel to cost in the region of 75 euros per night.
Aparthotels are apartments that are found within hotels. These offer many of the additional services that hotels offer, such as laundry, breakfast in your room, reception and wake-up calls, however they are more private than a hotel. They are also larger than hotel rooms as they are apartments and so they often suit those who are traveling as a family and may want some extra space. They are rated by a key system and you will generally find that when comparing a hotel of 3 stars with an aparthotel of 3 keys, the aparthotel will be a slightly cheaper option.
Another good option for a family, who is on holiday in Madrid, is the self catered apartment option. These will provide you with more space, more privacy and more freedom than staying at a hotel or even an aparthotel. They will also give you more of a feel of living in the city. You can generally expect to pay from 75 euros per day for these apartments.
Youth hostels, otherwise known as albergue juvenile, are the cheapest holiday accommodation option available. They will generally cost you around 15 euros a night. These have shared sleeping dormitories which are usually same sex. They may also provide family or group rooms. These are a great place to stay for single young travelers as they are cheap, you will meet other fellow travelers and you will find out a lot about what is happening in the region.
The word “hostal” is a Spanish word that is used to refer to a small, typically family-run hotel. These hostals are cheaper than staying in a hotel as they do not offer the same amenities as hotels. They are rated from one to three stars. You can generally choose to rent a room either with or without a private bathroom, in which case you will need to use the shared bathroom. It is similar in concept to a guesthouse. They are generally clean and friendly with plenty of tourist information at hand.
You should look into the area that you would like to be based in before you look for accommodation options to choose from. The center of the city is noisy and full of bustle. If that suits you, you should look to stay in the area of Puerta del Sol. If you want to be in a quieter area, but still near the center of the city, you can stay near the Paseo del Prado.
Spanish Vocabulary – What Makes It Unique?
0140 days
by admin
in Culture and History
When you make up your mind that you want to learn Spanish, there are some basic words in the Spanish vocabulary that you will want to make sure you learn as well as remember. Every language has fundamental terms and phrases that furnish the foundation of the language, and if you are in a Spanish-speaking region, or a part of your city or town where Spanish is regularly spoken, these phrases or words will help you to practice your skills of Spanish, as well as give you additional incentive to learn more of the language.
Knowing The Basics
Hola. In the Spanish language, ‘hola’ means ‘hello’. Even if you are not that articulate in Spanish, make sure that you are courteous and are also able to speak to the people that are around you. This is an excellent way to break the ice, as well as to ask for assistance in speaking Spanish if you do not know all the various words to form a phrase. You might also discover that various native Spanish speakers do not talk in the English language, so you will be able to learn a great deal from each other.
Gracias. Saying thank you (Gracias) is an additional Spanish word you will need to know. If you are asking some questions (regardless if it’s spoken in broken Spanish) demonstrating your appreciation in the native language will certainly be well-received by those people who speak Spanish fluently.
And, if you are doing a favor or something else for somebody else and they convey their gratitude by saying ‘Gracias’, you can then answer by saying ‘de nada’ (you’re welcome) or ‘no hay de que’ (it’s nothing), so you can help to make native speakers feel more relaxed, and to exercise more of your Spanish vocabulary.
Beyond The Basics
Learning other Spanish words that suggest good manners, for instance ‘perdoname’ (excuse me), por favor (‘please’) and lo siento (‘I’m sorry’) will also assist you to find your way around if there are not a lot of people around who speak the English language. Keep in mind that, in any type of language, manners go a long way.
Donde esta…? If you are lost in a Spanish-speaking nation, and need to find your way to the closest restroom (bano), restaurant (restaurante), library (biblioteca), or movies (el cine), you will need to start your question with Donde esta (where is…?).
In the majority of cases, even individuals who do not speak the English language will be able to work out the place you are trying to get to if you start the conversation with this phrase. It may also be a wise idea to carry along a dictionary with you, so that you will have the ability to learn the words from the Spanish vocabulary used for city locations.