As summer approaches most of us will be looking forward to kicking it back on a nice quite beach, possibly  with the family, lazily sunning ourselves and letting the worries of real life wash away. If however this idea sounds utterly boring then Hotelopia will let you in on a little secret.

While the masses of Europe head for southern Spain, Italy and France we would like to take you to an action packed week in the French Alps. Many people are oblivious to the abundance of activates the Alps has to offer in summer, and if you know where to look you can find a whole host of outdoor activities ready and waiting under the summer sun.

Take the cycling Mecca of Alpe d’Huez for a prime example, in summer this skiing refuge transforms itself into an adventure sports heaven. The 21 hairpin bends leading up to this resort have led to some of the greatest moments in cycling’s history. If you feel up to the challenge hire a timer from the bottom of the mountain, get on your bike and see how your efforts fares against cycling’s best. If you prefer something a little more dirty, then you’ll be pleased to know the vast majority of ski lifts stay open in the summer months enabling you to throw your mountain bike onboard and head off to some of the Alps most challenging downhill runs.

Paragliding is another option if you have no fear of heights, and looking down on a summer alpine setting is a breathtaking and highly recommended activity.

If this all sounds a little too much then Alpe d’Huez still has something for you. The valley has 143 miles of beautiful, marked hiking trails and 12 lakes within walking distance from the resort, so you’re easily able to cool off after a hard day.

Just this one small mountain has so much to offer, so with a little time spent looking you are guaranteed to find an activity to your liking in the Alps. The mountains, meadows, lakes and scenery in this summer paradise deserve your time; and we can guarantee that once you’ve been you will forget all about that bucket and spade and be back for some more.

A week of flamenco, feasting and horses makes Seville’s April Fair, “La feria de Abril” one of the most spectacular festivals in Spain. This year, it will be from Monday the 2^nd until Sunday the 9^th (the exact dates change depending on Easter).. It officially starts with the illumination of the gateway at midnight, on the Monday, it is the night of the pescaito when people have fried fish for dinner inside the casetas. That night is when all the members of each caseta get together.

The following days there will be lunches and dinner with tapas, relaxing chats about life, Sevillanas and Flamenco singing and dancing in traditional dresses and visits to friend’s casetas. Some will also horse ride around el Real or hire a carriage. Gastronomy is part of Sevilla’s life, and it is also a very important part of La Feria; Jamón Serrano, fried eggs and fried fish are the most typical food to eat. This or other tapas are always topped up with some Manzanilla mixed with 7up, a very refreshing drink called “rebujito”.

Most casetas are private, and joining one can be expensive, however there are a number of casetas open to the public, where you can drink, eat and dance as much as you are willing to. Some sevillanos can invite you for a drink and a tapa, even if they don’t know you, but remember it is not an invitation for the afternoon!

Colourful and cheerful, this festival is the reflection of the spirit of the city: come and visit!

Gibraltar couldn’t have a better mixture, it is a vibrant destination that combines the spirit of the Mediterranean with British Tradition, an interesting place to visit if you happen to be arround.

The border between Spain and Gibraltar is defined by the Airport, so it has to be closed every time a plane needs to land. Once you are in it, you really feel in England, apart from the fact they drive in the right side of the road.

If you are planning to walk around this British territory of around 7 km2 here is what we recommend:

Shopping: Gibraltar shops are tax free, thanks to the tax free status Gibraltar enjoys. This is specially interesting in parfumes, watches and other high value objets. Don’t forget to take a look at the shops in the Main Street.

History: From a historical point of Gibraltar has been in the middle of many battles and several different countries have claimed it, each leaving a mark on the area, as well as remnants of their own occupation of Gibraltar. Do not miss the opportunity to talk to Gibraltarians, they are very helpful and will be delighted to tell you their impressions.

Nature: The Rock of Gibraltar can be accessed by taxi, buses or cable car, on the top you will have some amazing views of the sea, the Mediterranean to one side and the Atlantic Ocean to the other. On sunny days you will be able to see Africa, on the other side of the strait. The semi-wild Barbary Macaques form an integral part of the Rock, they interact with tourists, but you should be careful, they can bite! Moreover, you shouldn’t miss the spectacular St. Michel cave.

Nature, history and shopping a great blend topped up with excellent views, take a closer look…

Although Spain is still the most popular destination for Brits, if you are looking for a last-minute bargain we recommend we recommend you to look at flights to Egypt and Tunisia, where prices have dropped after the events in the past few months.

Easter, plus the extra bank holiday of the Royal Wedding give us a fantastic opportunity to go abroad and enjoy the early sun of April. Temperatures around 25-30 degrees Celsius and some UNESCO places to visit are one of the many reasons to visit.

If, with the extra days off, your idea is to go a little bit further away, check out some very affordable flights to Dubai, a luxury destination of great interest with its buildings, its artificial islands, its hotels and architecture making this a paradise in the middle of the desert.

(Information by Travel Assotiation Afta)

Holidays always make you hungry; as a tourist, you need to see a lot of different places in just a few days. Join us for a gastronomic journey in which we will visit some of the best restaurants in the world, according to the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world published by the Restaurant Magazine.

First stop: Denmark. Noma won the 1^st prize yesterday night. It is the second year in a row so Hotelopia has decided it deserves a chance, for the most sophisticated ones we recommend Copenhagen as a destination and Noma as the star of the evening.

Spain, a must:  Spain has 3 restaurants in the Top 10 of the list: El Celler de Can Roca in the 2^nd position, Mugartiz, number 3 and Arzak, who has gone up 1 since last year to the 8^th position.

So if your holidays are not only about visiting Cathedrals, Museums and Parks but also about enjoying the food don’t forget to check the list, there are restaurants all around the world that are worth going to!

Have you ever wandered the origin of Easter eggs?  We have all searched for easter eggs when we were kids, or bought some colourful handpainted eggs in a market, but where does this symbol came from?

The egg is widely used as a symbol of the start of new life, just as new life emerges from an egg when the chick hatches out.  It is a pagan symbol of the rebirth of the Earth in celebrations of spring.  The early Christians adopted it as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus, its “rebirth”.

Easter eggs are traditionally hidden in England and Easter Europe and searched for after by children. In the origins, they were painted chicken hard-boiled eggs, but nowadays it is either chocolate or plastic.

Go and search for your Easter eggs during the holidays!

In Costa de la Luz you’ll find a little bit of everything, making it the ideal location for all types of holidays: with friends, with your partner, family or as you wish.

The beaches in this area are characterised as being extensive with very fine, white sand. The majority of them dispose of all the services that you could need: toilets, showers or the classic beach shack bar.

If you want to take a break from the beach, you can do the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos (Route of the White Villages) or visit El Estrecho Natural Park.

The nightlife is superb, above all on long weekends and during holiday periods. There is a wide variety of places to go and areas with different atmospheres, so you can choose the one you like best. All in all, without a doubt you can spend a very complete holiday here and forget about your daily routine back home

Book your hotel in Costa de la Luz.

Continue Reading…

Two videos in which we can see all the different English accents from around the world. Funny and Interesting at least, enjoy!

Easter is here, only a few more days to go. We are sure some of you are still deciding where to go.  Do you want to join us to one of the tradional markets in central Europe? Come along!

Vienna: Multi-coloured markets fill the Austrian capital during Easter. You will be able to see Europe’s biggest mountain of Easter eggs or enjoy some amazing marzipan, chocolate or praline creations. If you are not into the sweet universe, other stalls Hill offer you decorative objets and tradional craft works. If you need more information visit wien.info.

Prague: The Czech Republic is also famous for its Easter Markets. The old town has scattered stalls in which you will find the traditional Easter eggs, hand-painted as well as other crafts.

Both cities offer a wide range of touristic opportunities, markets are just one of hundreds, so if you liked the idea make your reservation to Vienna or Prague in Hotelopia and enjoy European traditions.

Croatia is becoming a popular destination for holiday makers who are bored of the usual suspects Europe has to offer. Hotelopia agrees that this Adriatic country is definately worth a week or two of your time. With over 1,000 islands, its many spectacular national parks, mountains and vast natural lakes you really have no excuse and, if we’re honest, you’re a little spoilt for choice.

If you’re not too familiar with this beautiful part of Europe then let Hotelopia highly recommend beginning with the island chains that lie off the west coast. The beautiful island of Hvar is a perfect place to start.

With several ferries, catamarans and trimarans leaving the cities of Split, Dubrovnik and others on a regular basis you can soon find yourself hoping from plane to boat and on to the shores of Hvar.

Unusual in the Adriatic for its fertile land, Hvar is covered in natural springs, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit orchards.  Its hillsides are sheltered in pine forests and vast lavender fields, the smell of which on a late spring evening is enough to make you want to stay forever.

The island and its natural beauty are also steeped in history stretching back to 3,500BC. After becoming part of the Greek then Slavic civilisations, the Republic of Venice brought industry in the medieval periods seeing wine and oil production boom. The island also has the Venetians to thank for some of its most spectacular architecture still covering the island, especially in the capital Hvar Town and Stari Grad further to the north.

The capital Hvar town is littered with churches, homes and streets dating from the medieval period and after brisk a walk up to the castle perched high above the town, you deserve to take seat in one of Hvar’s fantastic sea food restaurants and sample the catch of the day.

A great way to see what the rest of the island has to offer, is by scooter. Enabling you to take your time as you work your way over the hills of lavender fields to the north and east of the island, stopping off at secluded beaches and old towns dotted along the coast. Beware however this island has the power to make you stay for longer than you planned and don’t forget the rest of Croatia is still waiting…