where to go??????

[blakeyz]

Can anyone recommend where to go in Spain as a 1st foreign holiday.My hubby and I both early 40s and no kids with us,don't want anything tacky like Blackpool with sun.Any ideas gratefully accepted

[vehelpfulguy]

Well it isn't Spain, and I have never been there, but have you considered the island of Maderia. It is owned by Portugal and is south west of Spain/Portugal.

http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/location.ht ml

This is packaged as an "adult" island and there are no towns with loads of yobs and drunks.

Because it is volcanic there are not loads of beaches so it does not attract the young kids who just want to get drunk and fight.

I know a few adults who have gone there and really enjoyed it.

It is fairly hilly island and it supposed to be beautiful, with much flora and fauna.

More here

http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/index.html

[vehelpfulguy]

Loads of images from the island of Maderia here:

http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/images-maps .php

[POLLIANNA]

Being in my thirtys i have really enjoyed holidays in Palma Nova and also Salou. With Salou you can visit Barcelona and Monserrat. If you like a bit of culture. With Palma Nova you are far enough away from Magaluf but if you want to see the night life it's only a 10 min walk away. Palma itself is worth a visit. Have also enjoyed many holidays to Zante if you want a change from Spain. Try logging onto Tripadviser and put in the name of the place you fancy and it will bring up reviews of the place itself and also accomdation, good or bad.

[hau kola]

La Manga is lovely,we went last year.Playa Paraiso is on the Mar Menor lagoon and when it was a full moon there was a mirror image of La Manga strip on the water-quite breathtaking.We went in october and it was quite hot and very reasonably priced.

[Buenchico]

With many destinations in Spain, you have to choose between a beach holiday and a city one. Barcelona has the best of both worlds; it's got great beaches (with some superb restaurants right on the sea front) but it's also an historic city, full of culture.

Barcelona has loads of cheap flights, from many UK airports, either directly into Barcelona airport or linked by an expres coach from Girona or Reus. It's easy to get around with a cheap, efficient metro and tram system:
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/?go=jN7uAYLx/o IJaWVQCb4ZU93ygJVYLOpRQdvyIue/wAW6Ddhyhal0Y8Jy bdczumN4RSbo3CRL94sJBt7u1Kc=

Chris

[blakeyz]

many thanks to you all.some great ideas and good information to us virgin travellers.will view all suggestions.thanks again.

[sasha011]

How about the canary islands?

[nickmo]

And have a look at http://www.andalucia.com

Stacks of info about the south of Spain and destinations, reviews, accommodation etc.

Islands are good to see - Balearics to you...or Canaries as above..

Cheap flights to Andalucia area and take a car hire to Ronda - lovely little hotels with authentic atmosphere and wonderful food - - or Tarifa - 3 miles of sand, old town with bars and little restaurants.

Barcelona is cosmoplitan plus a beach if you have the need - plus one of the best markets to wander round and eat tapas all day long - easy to get to, and very chic.

Or somewhere without too many tourists is to go to the Basque region, like Bilbao - north coast of the Atlantic Spain - bit like Cornwall in scenery and loads of culture too...http://www.idealspain.com has good links and info for details.

Really wherver you go you'll have a good time. Enjoy!

[Dee Sa]

dont pick Benidorm of Torremolinos !
truly Madeira is lovely but its very Portugese not Spanish.
try Majorca, Porto Cristo is [ was ?] fairly quiet.
good luck