The Costa del Sol is pretty much where modern tourism began in Spain. The term was coined in 1930 as the cult of sunbathing first appeared, but tourism really took off in the 1960s with the advent of popular air travel. However to think that the Costa del Sol is just a place for lazing on the beach could not be further from the truth.
We first realised the special pleasures of fresh-water swimming on Corsica, but here are seven natural swimming pools (amongst many, many others) in Spain. In no particular order, the first on our list is the Charco Azul de Chulilla in the Los Calderones Natural Park, in the mountains behind Valencia.
Finding new hotels, villas and apartments that tick all of our boxes is not always easy, but here are a few places that have been added recently. Actually they mostly reflect our move to include a few more villas and apartments to our lists.
We never cease in our quest for the very best small hotels, so here are a few of our most recent discoveries, starting with a house once owned by the Luttrell family of Dunster Castle. The Great House in Timberscombe is a Grade II listed building that is the epitome of gracious living.
Tripadvisor just published their list of top city destinations in the world, and it was gratifying to see a lot of Little Hotels' destinations featuring highly. This is what they said about our favourite cities.
It was over 30 years ago that we first came across the Molino del Santo, when we stayed there with our (then) young family. We were enchanted by the location, the gardens, the people and the whole concept of staying in a hotel so small that the staff knew our names and our favourite tipples in next to no time.
Little Hotels doesn't do 'bland'. Big chain hotels are not for us, so every hotel we list has its own individuality and character. Some have more character than others though!
There are sixteen National Parks in Spain, protecting and showcasing the immense geographical and biological variety of the country. They include everything from vast mountainous areas such as the Picos de Europa or Ordesa and Monte Perdido to over 200 lakes in Aigüestores i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
Big cities can feature some pretty impressive landmarks, but for the most spellbinding beauty we must turn to the small towns and villages that abound throughout the world. Here is our pick of some of the most delightful locations that should be on everyone's bucket list. The great English designer William Morris once declared Bibury to be the most beautiful village in England.
I'm not good with heights, and that's something which rather annoys me. So whenever I'm presented with something high, steep or precipitous I'm determined to face down my fears. As soon as I read about it, I was fascinated by the Caminito del Rey in Andalucia.
