Vintagespain is offering an easygoing tour.

There are two “Madrids”: the one you can’t help but see, and the one you need a local person to show you. We’d like to invite you to enjoy the experience of “ir de tapas”, as madrileños do.

You will discover hidden spots, even in the very heart of Madrid, each of which has something special to offer, be it a typical dish, a specific type of wine or its atmosphere. Get into the swing of things: go to a bar, enjoy your wine and your free tapa, order something extra to eat if it catches your fancy and, once you’ve finished, move on to the next venue. It´s as simple as that!

Be ready to stand in bars, drinking slowly but surely and sampling a variety of tapas and wines which, although originally from different Spanish regions, have found their place in the melting pot that is Madrid. By the end of the evening you will have discovered the key to wine and gastronomy (some of it is for the fearless only!) and heard many anecdotes of 17th century Madrid, along whose streets we will stroll.

We’ll start in one of Madrid’s most emblematic venues, drinking sherry, the world-famous “generous” wine from Andalusia, and we will learn how this wine is closely related to the origin of the word tapas to refer to small portions of food… some of which we will, of course, enjoy.

The tradition of having food to go with your wine (and not the other way around) is, however, much older. We’ll acquaint ourselves with the history of this custom in an old style Castilian tavern, surrounded by huge blackboards showing the names of dozens of wines sold by the glass and the tapas available.

The concept behind the next place we will visit is as old as it is unique nowadays: the store that conceals a bar, or the bar tucked away at the back of a shop. If you like what you eat or drink in the bar, you can purchase it from the shop. Likewise, if you are intrigued by what you see in the shop, you can sample it in the bar.

We won’t waste any time: onwards to the next bar! This one is all about bulls and matadors: enjoy the traditional Feria fare surrounded by bullfighting paraphernalia.

And finally, we’ll round up the evening in style, with Serrano ham and wine at the last bar that we’ll visit, which can only be defined as a typical “Madrid tavern”. Hidden, dark, cozy, warm, roguish, immortal; like all those places that feature in novels, but rarely in the tourist guides.

Someone said that to be a madrileño you just need to spend the night in Madrid and enjoy the streets more than your home. We offer you the freedom of the city. And its drinks. And its dishes.

The tour includes:

Visit to three or four tapas bars where you would have some tapas and wine. Enough for dinner or lunch
Guided tour of the area where you will learn about some of Madrid’s most characteristic places.
Duration: The tour takes approximately 2h 30 min. Recommended from 13.00-15.30h or 20.00 – 22.30 h.

For Bookings: Vintagespain.com

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UK travellers have shown a noticeable increase in bookings for non euro holidays, the research reveals.

The research carried out by online travel agency www.holidays-direct.co.uk has revealed the most popular holiday destinations travellers searched for online in the last six months. The study monitored which destinations travellers searched for on their website and has shown a noticeable increase in results of non euro holiday resorts

These are the top 10 most searched for holiday destinations

1.  Egypt – Sharm El Sheikh
2.  Turkey
3.  Spain – Malaga
4.  Greece
5.  Portugal – Faro
6.  Croatia – Dubrovnik
7.  Dubai
8.  New York
9.  Bulgaria – Golden Sands
10.Tunisia – Sousse

Non Euro holiday resorts grew in popularity in 2009 due to the exchange rate between the euro and the pound and value for money aspect, a highly important factor for UK holidaymakers since the recession.

The all inclusive holiday trend continued to grow in popularity in 2009 as a budget friendly option for many families and couples alike, with all inclusive holidays to Egypt and Turkey being most popular.

Bookings for package holidays to Europe have increased greatly as holidaymakers want to know they are covered in the event of 3rd party failure for example and for peace of mind. Destinations such as Tunisia, Croatia and Bulgaria are the most popular for package holiday deals.

Holidays-Direct monitor trends and consumer feedback to ensure they give the best service and advice to holidaymakers booking holidays to Europe and worldwide.

Via: pressport

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Andalucia will be presenting its proposals for 2010, aimed at harnessing tourism activity throughout the whole region and creating products to meet the new emerging travel demands. With this in mind it has created the Andalucía Lab, a tourism intelligence laboratory through which the community aspires to become an international reference on innovation matters.

The strongest commitment by Andalucia is in the rural and nature segment, a key product for attracting travellers all year round to certain areas such as the spectacular Cazorla, Segura and las Villas Natural Park, one of the inland destinations with the greatest traditions in the entire region.

Continuing along the same lines of strengthening inland tourism, a sector which represents 20% of the total tourists visiting the Andalucá, initiatives such as the Guadalquivir Turístico project have been launched with the intention of establishing the river as a unifying element and converting it into a great tourist and leisure route.

To structure the mineral-medicinal water resources of 15 Andalusian municipalities and to meet the growing health and beauty tourism demand, projects such as the Andalusian Thermal Villas Sustainable Tourism Initiative are being introduced.

It is intended through this initiative that these cities, towns and villages spread out over the eight Andalusian provinces (Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and Almería) recover their individual character, as well as their appeal and prestige as unique destinations.

Via FITURNEWS

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The 30th edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) is taking place in Madrid, Spain between 20 and 24 January 2010 and will pay specific attention to the topic of sustainability in the hotel industry.

The Trade Fair, organised by IFEMA, has created, jointly with the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Madrid Tourist Board, the monographic section FITUR GREEN, which will include proposals designed to promote rational energy use in the hotel sector.

This initiative falls under the auspices of the European Hotel Energy Solutions project, which was conceived to respond to the growing phenomenon of climate change and its impact on tourism.

Its aims include encouraging the application of renewable energy sources in accommodation for tourists in the European Union Hotel Energy Solutions is organised by the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Hotel & Restaurant Association; the European Renewable Energy Council and the French Environment and Energy Management Agency. Furthermore, the UNWTO is the executing bureau for the project.

Read more FITURNEWS

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The principal objective is to promote the region’s character and position it as a reference for wine, nature and cultural tourism. The promotion of the Jacobean Year 2010 (A Jacobean Year is when St James’s Day (July 25) falls on a Sunday – the next will be in 2021) including wine tasting, the signing of agreements, children’s activities on the St James Way (Camino de Santiago), arts and crafts demonstrations and wine therapy treatments will be the main points.

The Province’s and Autonomous Community’s stand built in the shape of a wine glass, will feature special areas showing images of the region, a specific area for promoting the Jacobean Year 2010, with a special focus on the St. James Way on its journey through La Rioja. The promotional area offers complete Bluetooth applications allowing visitors to download information on the Jacobean route directly onto their mobile phones.

The Regional Minister of Tourism, the Environment and Territorial Policy will be signing collaboration agreements with Turespaña for the promotion of the St James Way (The Way of St James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned) and the implementation of an enogastronomy campaign with Google.

Also being promoted on the stand will be the Verdura de Calahorra Museum, the El Barranco Perdido Palaeontology Park and all the information on themed routes offered by La Rioja.

The proposals from the region’s wine cellars and museums, its enotourism activities, its infrastructures for organising conferences and congresses and sports tourism, are just some of the key features to be presented by La Rioja at FITUR 2010.

VIA FITUR

www.lariojaturismo.com

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Its Fairs and exhibitions driving hotel prices up in Europe.

In 46 of the 50 tHPI cities hotel prices have increased in comparison to the previous month.

The most expensive European cities are Geneva (184 pounds), Venice (175 pounds) and Stockholm (150 pounds). These previously mentioned cities have reached their highest level this year.

An obvious rise in comparison to the previous month can also be seen in Italian metropolises: In Milan hotel prices have increased by 41 percent to 145 pounds, in Venice by 33 percent (175 pounds) and in Rome by 31 percent (132 pounds).

Asides from the growth of city tourism in September, large fairs and exhibitions account for the rise of hotel prices. For example, in Milan travellers can visit Fashion Week and Venice has an International Film Festival.

Overall, hotel prices in Italy have increased by 13 percent in comparison to the previous month.

Spain is an exception: Overnight accommodation prices are three percent cheaper than last month. The cheapest hotel rooms in Europe can currently be found in Granada (65 pounds), Krakow (66 pounds) and Valencia (71 pounds).

Read the full article in HSMAI

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