Spain boasts long stretches of sandy beaches and once you leave the spurious glitz of the tourist resorts, you'll find the real Spain which shimmers to the strum of flamenco guitars.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of Spain hotels.

Madrid: the city that loves art
Madrid is not a sightseeing haven like Paris or Rome but there are a host of attractions like the Prado museum, Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace. Sit at one of the many cafes and observe the passing procession and the street artists.

Transport: how to get there and around
Madrid’s large airport, Barajas, is accessible by metro from the city. Once downtown you can walk around as the area is quite compact. Transport options include the bus, metro and taxi.

Weather
As a whole, Spanish weather is glorious from April to November. Madrid’s summer reaches 30 C where as the winter can drop to 0 C.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Madrid.

Attractions & Events
Spanish people love to celebrate, Festivals are part of their culture. You can enjoy the best of the festival fun during Semana Santa and also from Sept to Oct.

*The popular Carnevale is held from February to March.

*During May there are two main events to mark in your diary – 2 May, The Fiesta de la Comunidad de Madrid and 15 May, Fiestas de San Isidro.

*The bullfighting season starts in February, Madrid hosts the world’s largest bullfighting ring.

Barcelona: vibrant metropolis
An increasingly popular destination, Barcelona’s modern face is fashionable and vibrant but still holds the Spanish traditional spirit. Parts of the city are haunted by the spirit of the eccentric genius Gaudi who fantastic architecture dazzles the imagination.

Transport: how to get there and around
Barcelona’s international airport is located only 7.5 miles out of town. It is also possible to travel internationally to Barcelona by train. If coming from Italy or the Balearic Island another options is the ferry.

The town is pedestrian friendly which helps when exploring the sights on foot. If you want a faster way to get around, the metro is an easy option.

Weather
Summer temperatures can reach a simmering 34 C. The most pleasant weather is between May and July. When October comes around it starts to cool off with a little rain.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Barcelona.

Attractions & Events
With 15 official holiday days annually, Barcelona likes to celebrate.

*There are 10 days of fancy dress and dancing parades during Carnaval in Feburary-March.

*Catalunya's patron saint, Sant Jordi is celebrated on the 23rd April.

*For dancing, music and theatre don’t miss Festival del Grec, from June to August.

*For something a little different, Festes de la Merce, has a swimming race and a fire race on the 24 September.