Friday 11 April 2008

Barcelona Bank on Poker Faces

The Casino Barcelona is set to rival the famous Monte Carlo one in May for a World Poker Tour event. It's the second time that the event has been held in Barcelona and more than 400 players are due to take flights to Spain to take part!

Hundreds of fans will also be in the Catalan capital from May 21st until May 27th with the finals being held on May 27th itself.

If you are coming to Barcelona, don't forget to see something of the countryside whilst you are here and add the spectacular scenery of the Costa Brava to your trip. It will definitely be worth your while!

Looking for a hotel? Search for quality hotels throughout Spain with our partner Venere in the table to the right and get great deals to make your stay memorable! Just enter the name of the city or town or area and hit Find.

Tuesday 1 April 2008

Costa Brava Weather in May and June

How to Get The Best Out of the Weather in May and June?

Costa Brava weather is always a topic of conversation close to everyone's hearts when they are either in the hospitality industry or vacationing in the area. It makes a world of difference to what you wear, how much clothing you bring with you, what you pack and how much you enjoy your holiday.

May and June are my favourite months of the year in the Costa Brava - well in Spain altogether! Bright, warm, sunny days with none of the accompanying humidity which can blight the hotter months of July and August await the visitor in May and June.

With 300 days of sunshine, Spain is ahead of the European pack when it comes to sunny weather conditions and May and June are the best of the bunch!

Blossom and flowers bedeck the trees and flowerbeds. Jasmine scents the air. Everywhere looks clean and fresh from the spring rains. Peace and tranquillity abound.

It's the time before the madding crowds arrive and fill the beaches with their suntan oils and noisy ball games. Yet all the restaurants and cafes are open and keen to serve you.

Colourful sun-brolly's and awnings spread their cheer across the pavement, enticing you to take life at a slower pace, stop awhile and enjoy the view.

Stroll around ancient towns like Besalu and imagine the Roman soldiers of old garrisoning the beautiful houses lining the River Fluvia, which flows down from the volcanic mountains of the Garrotxa region of the Costa Brava.

A number of these houses, built on four or five levels are today fine restaurants with first-class service and menus.

Try Pont Vell with its wonderful narrow staircases and spectacular views, great food and lovely ambiance; La Curia Reial or El Fogons de Can Llaudes in the Square, all of whom subscribe to Volcanic cuisine using traditional methods of cooking local produce to entice all tastes.

Wend your way down to the coast and the lovely fishing villages of Tamariu, Aigua Blava and Llfranc. Sit in the warmth of the Spanish sun and soak up the relaxed, easygoing atmosphere in one of the small cafes or restaurants that line the small bays.

That's one of the beauties of the Costa Brava. Because of the naturally wild make-up of the coastline with plunging cliff-faces and treacherous seas crashing into the rocks, the area has been preserved from high rise hotels. More sympathetic building has taken place, which moulds itself to the surroundings - much of it traditional, lending an air of permanence and dependability.

Why not pack up a picnic and hike down to one of the myriad picturesque little coves tucked away off the beaten track. Swim in the warm, clear waters of the Mediterranean. Discover the old goat-herd and smuggler's pathway which hugs the coastline and find deserted inlets to eat your lunch.

Plan a day-trip to Barcelona and stroll the wide boulevards of this fascinating Catalonian city, with its Gaudi buildings and unfinished Sagrada Familia which will remain a work in progress until at least 2041, but is the region's most important landmark with its 18 soaring towers.

Costa Brava weather in May and June allows you freedom from coats and scarves. A time to cast off the winter woollies and fully embrace the warmth and light of summer!

Get out those summer clothes now and make a plan to visit and allow the Costa Brava weather in May and June to seduce your senses and restore your joie de vivre!

There's so much to see and do here, I've only touched on a few. I invite you to use these suggestions to help you plan your Costa Brava Spain vacation. and I'd also like to offer you free access to my short report, Costa Brava Holiday - What Else Is There Apart From Sun, Sea and Sangria on a Costa Brava Holiday? You can download it by going to Costa Brava Spain.