Unique luxury hotels, fashionable travel and much more

Spain seems to have staged a recovery after suffering a slump in tourist numbers.

Figures recently released by the tourism ministry show that in July, arrivals rose by 4.5 per cent – the third consecutive month of increase. Seven million visitors went to Spain or its islands.

Spain is consistently ranked among the world’s top three tourist destinations — both by arrivals and income earned — along with France and the U.S.

Britons have always been the largest group travelling there, but the recession and the weakness of the pound have seen more and more of them staying at home – the so-called ‘staycationers’.

But it seems another disappointing summer and the gradual strengthening of the pound have inspired the beginnings of a return to the sun-kissed beaches and cultural attractions offered by Spain. Aggressive cost-cutting by tour operators of up to 40 per cent has also helped to turn the tide.

by Andy Moreton

Whether soaking up the sun on the beach or the culture in the city, Luxique has an unrivalled selection of luxury hotels in Spain.

Spain, which pioneered the cheap holiday-in-the-sun package deal, is trying to upgrade its image.

A campaign is attempting to convince the ‘affluent and discerning traveller’ that the country has far more to offer than just the opportunity to stretch out on a sun lounger for a fortnight with a good book. The tourist authorities want to put Spain’s lesser-known attractions on the map, such as its gastronomic and artistic traditions.

Among the destinations being highlighted are the vineyards of the Rioja region, the futuristic Guggenheim Museum in the Basque city of Bilbao and the vast Donana national park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to rare wildlife.

“It’s time to look for customers with high purchasing power because there is plenty to offer them,” said Jose Maria Rubio, the head of Spain’s Hotel and Catering Federation.

General Franco first opened up Spain to foreign tourists in the late 1950s. But his idea has seen Mediterranean fishing villages transformed into a mass of skyscraper hotels, fast-food outlets, bars and nightclubs that are now synonymous with the worst of mass tourism. “Spain is suffering from a perceived loss of authenticity in its coastal destinations,” was how the tourism ministry put it in its Horizon 2020 plan last year.

Like many other holiday destinations, Spain has suffered in the recession. In the first seven months of this year, the number of visitors dropped by 10.3 per cent compared with 2008.

Mr Rubio emphasised that the coastal regions would remain a key factor. “It’s more a question of completing the image of Spain with its culture, natural and historical attractions and gastronomy,” he said.

by Andy Moreton

Whether soaking up the sun on the beach or the culture in the city, Luxique has an unrivalled selection of luxury hotels in Spain.

Holidaymakers on an airliner in Menorca were expecting a lengthy wait when they were told there was a technical problem and an engineer would have to be flown in from the UK.

But a passenger came forward, identified himself as a qualified aircraft engineer and repaired the fault. As a result, the flight touched down in Glasgow only 35 minutes behind schedule.

A spokeswoman for the carrier, Thomas Cook, said the company had followed strict procedures to make sure the man had been qualified to work on the airliner, a Boeing 757-200. He was actually employed by another airline, Thomsonfly, which has a reciprocal maintenance agreement with Thomas Cook.

One of the holidaymakers, Keith Lomax, said that when the man came back on board after his unscheduled work-shift, there was a round of applause. “It was reassuring to know the person who had fixed it was still on the aeroplane,” he added.

by Andy Moreton

Menorca is a charming holiday spot, the middle-sized island of the Spanish Balearics that also include Majorca and Ibiza. If you’re thinking of a sunshine break, try the quaint and historic Hotel Rural Biniarroca, bookable through Luxique.

Property developers on Spain’s holiday coasts were already feeling the pinch well before the present credit crunch.
Hundreds of estate agency offices have closed in the past year since the bubble burst on a construction boom that had been powering Spain’s economy for some ten years.

One company on the Costa del Sol recently resorted to desperate measures in an attempt to sell new homes – offering two for the price of one.

At the Malaga property fair, the company said that buyers of one of its £620,000 ($1 million) beachside homes would also get a one-bedroom flat at a golf resort.

Organisers of the fair reported a significant drop in exhibitors at this year’s event and added that the price of homes on offer had fallen by up to 20 per cent from last year.

The President of Spain’s Association of Constructors and Developers, Guillermo Chicote, said the industry desperately needed government help to aid its recovery. “If the government doesn’t react, this situation could last for another three or four years,” he said.

Even super-rich celebrities are not immune to the property squeeze in Spain. David and Victoria Beckham have apparently been trying to sell their luxury villa in the capital, Madrid, since last year when the couple moved to the US. The price has reportedly come down from £5 million ($8.6 million) to £3 million ($5.2 million).

The five-room villa in the chic suburb of La Moraleja is ‘incredible’ according to the selling agent. It includes two acres of land, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a small soccer pitch and a children’s playground.

by Andy Moreton

Luxique offers a selection of luxury and boutique hotels throughout Spain, including two boutique hotels in Malaga and 12 luxury hotels in the Costa del Sol region.

Travellers to Spain might find the air conditioning in their hotel room not as cool as it once was.

The country has announced an ambitious plan to cut energy consumption and save millions on oil imports. During the sweltering summers, air con systems in public buildings will be set no lower than 26C (79F). In winter, Spaniards will be allowed to turn their heating up to no more than 21C (70F), with hospitals the exception.

Perhaps the most significant of the measures is the intention to cut the speed limit to 50 mph. Others include handing out low-energy light bulbs, keeping the subway system open later at weekends to encourage people to leave the car at home and allowing commercial airlines to use military air routes to make journeys 20 per cent shorter. Street lighting is to be cut by up to 50 per cent.

The six-year energy plan was announced by the Industry Minister, Miguel Sebastian, who borrowed a phrase from President Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

by Andy Moreton