Spain

Upon saying its name, Spain conjures up images of sun-drenched beaches, beautiful people and life’s most hedonistic pleasures. The home of flamenco, bullfighting, the Sierra Nevada mountains, and that beautiful language that caresses the ear and inspires passion, this is a country that draws visitors like moths to a flame.

Its famous cities are home to some of the most spectacular architecture in Europe, its glittering coastline is one of the most dreamed about holiday destinations in the world and Spaniards passion and love of life is as infectious as the lifestyle. Spain is home of the coveted siesta; an almost compulsory time of napping and relaxation taken at the hottest time of the day, in the early afternoon following lunch. This seemingly slothful practice is actually ingenious, after siesta people return to work and school revitalized and refreshed, working on until the early evening.

The Country is home to too many beautiful cities to name and yet there are some that simply must be mentioned. The nation’s cosmopolitan capital of Madrid manages to balance sophistication and a party atmosphere perfectly, Barcelona is a visual feast with the spectacular architecture of Gaudi scattered throughout the city, and Valencia is home to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches. San Sebastian is hedonism at its peak; just one day there and you will never want to leave.

When you tire of the cities head to the small inland villages and with medieval churches and castles, cobbled mazes of streets and authentic Spanish culture. Head north and see the awesome Pyrenees mountain range or the majestic Sierra Nevada in the south, where you can ski for a fraction of the cost of many places in Europe.