The Tourist's Introduction to Spain

Spain is a member state of the European Union, on the Iberian Peninsula which is in the Southwest of Europe. Featuring plenty of hot sunny beaches as well as having a history full of the likes of the Romans and Muslim invaders who have left their mark on the country it's also famous for its more modern attractions.

Barcelona is one of the country's most famous cities and is the home of one of the busiest ports in Europe. From there plenty of cruises can be taken around the Mediterranean as well as being a city that is vastly popular with tourists in its self. Famous for artists like Picasso and beautiful churches it features plenty of culture for tourists who are looking for this type of holiday while knowing how to add flair to the day with its various restaurants and nightlife. Of course one of its most famous attractions is the Camp Nou stadium which is a stadium most football fans will be found visiting because of it being the home of one of the most successful and popular football teams in Europe. Beyond that it's a city full of gothic architecture and a gateway to the Mediterranean which attracts many tourists throughout the year.

Along with Barcelona, Madrid and Bilbao are also popular cities to visit with their definite Roman feel which show the history of the country as part of the former Empire. With its many art galleries and relentless nightlife these are definitely the perfect example of what Spain has to offer the tourists from all over the world.

Not all of the Spanish culture is popular with tourists though. The controversial bull fights and Running of the Bull in Pamplona is still controversial but a part of Spanish heritage. Not a choice of entertainment for everybody it still has its place in Spain even if there has been international condemnation by groups such as PETA for a sport that they see as cruel.

As with most countries in Europe Spain is a very easy country to travel to, especially with its port. Plane travel is another popular option for those not wanting to take cruises through Barcelona and Spain is always a popular option for holidays, especially for people from the United Kingdom where it's said Spain is one of the most visited countries.

It should be noted that Spain does have the potential for terrorism from Basque separatists such as ETA. Recently they have announced they will no longer be taking part of any armed activity in the country though so it is hoped that Spain will be a safer option now. Even with this tourists are not normally targets for this type of group.

Spain will always be a popular destination for tourists all over the world especially from countries such as the United Kingdom. As well as offering both a cultural and historical holiday destination it's also the gateway to the Mediterranean with its busy Barcelona port offering many cruise options.

You can find out more on Spain if you visit my EU travel site here: Spain attractions and about Barcelona here: Barcelona attractions for free

Original article

Holiday Parks - An Introduction to the UK Industry

Holiday parks in the UK refer to self catering accommodation complexes, traditionally consisting of mostly caravans but also extending to lodges and apartments.

A number of companies have built up larger portfolios of holiday parks in the UK, increasingly allowing them to move closer to full holiday resorts. Depending on the facilities and also the time of year, they may target families or couples of the older generation. Some resorts such as Butlins are also known for hen parties.

The largest holiday park operator in terms of the number of resorts is Park Resorts. They operate 39 different locations throughout the UK, all of which are near to or on the beach. All the parks have caravans and many have lodges as well as bungalows, chalets and even 2 hotels.

Haven is probably the most well known of these companies in the UK. Almost all their accommodation at their 35 venues is caravans. Like Park Resorts, all the Haven Holidays parks are situated around the UK's coast. Almost all have at least an indoor or outdoor pool, many have both and some have extensive slides or a Space Bowl water ride.

Park Holidays UK and Parkdean are the other two large UK park operators with 25 and 24 locations respectively. Unlike the other companies mentioned, Park Holidays UK focuses specifically on the south of England.

John Fowler Holidays operate 14 more basic holiday parks whose facilities don't tend to stretch beyond a small swimming pool and entertainment/dining venue. Hoburne operate 7 resorts in the South West of England.

The three final companies worth mentioning are among the smallest in terms of quantity of parks but are actually incredibly well known. Pontins and Butlins have 5 and 3 parks respectively, and are very definitely holiday resorts with extensive facilities and even some hotel accommodation. Center Parcs is on the edge of the holiday park category, usually costing more with their lodge-only accommodation in tree filled grounds.

Apart from the beaches that many holiday parks are known for, most now have at least one swimming pool. Almost all have a restaurant and some form of evening entertainment, whilst some have dedicated stages for shows. Another popular feature is the kids club, so that parents can spend some time relaxing without their children. In general, activities relate to the outdoors with organised sports, golf and mini golf, fishing and nature trails. However, other parks have indoor features such as large games rooms and even bowling alleys.

With the different experiences available from different companies and locations across the country, holiday parks in their wider definition are likely to appeal to a greater portion of the population, especially with the ease of taking a holiday without any air travel, and without much difficulty finding a parking space.

If you're considering taking a trip to one of the UK's holiday parks, it's worth researching all the available options in terms of company, location and specific facilities. Find Parks is a new directory of UK holiday parks with feature listings, reviews and most importantly the ability to filter through the hundreds of potential resorts by desired features such as swimming pools, golf courses and more.

Original article