The following article is taken from Eye on Spain, www.eyeonspain.com

Holidaying in Rural Spain

Rural hotel room SpainSpain is still the most popular choice for holidaymakers and as the euro falters, the British could be quids in as costs for everyday essentials keep going down. But how many of us actually listen to that little voice that tells us we are completely missing the point! As we head out to the Mediterranean Costas to indulge in the, lets be honest, "same old, same old" of sun, sea and sand and lashings of Ambre Solaire; for many families the thought of forcing our way in to the mass of inland Spain, just doesn't appeal. How wrong we are!

In Spain reasonable prices are not limited to mass tourism. The excellent network of country cottages, farmhouses and rural hotels offer quality and luxury at such a fair cost that you could find yourself luxuriating in your own pool before slipping between the finest cotton sheets in a 16th Century perfectly restored "Masia". Prepare your own gourmet meal in a top of the range kitchen with seasonal produce bought that day in the market, or if your middle name isn't Jamie, then enjoy the gastronomic delights prepared by the regional local chefs.

The opportunities in Spain for recharging in any of the diverse and glorious landscapes are endless. Fighting for your space on a resort sun bed, or avoiding the dive bombing of other children in the pool, really can not compare with the peace of your own pool, surrounded by mountains, views out to sea, or enjoying the sheer space your children have to play in. Then there are the endless sports activities; white water rafting, horse riding, mountain or quad biking etc. Many country houses have their own tennis courts, where you can have a few matches with the family and friends before heading out into the local towns for "aperitivos" and "tapas".

Long established as a fashionable holiday for the discerning Spanish, the Internet has stiffened the competition between rural accommodation and now quality, comfort and the friendliest of welcomes are taken as standard. Consequently "casas rurales" and "hoteles rurales" are flourishing despite the harsh economic climate. Another key factor in Spain's blossoming for international travellers is the AVE, the high speed train network which now links the main cities of Spain. Having explored Madrid and its surroundings, in under two and a half hours you could be stepping off the train into the Moorish splendour of Seville. Or head the other way and in the same time be alighting in Barcelona, the sophisticated capital of Catalonia.

Long gone are the days of rickety trains and uncomfortable journeys, the AVE on board experience includes restaurants, cafes, films, music channels, entertainment activities for children and a full timetable of services with guaranteed punctuality. Thanks to the AVE, vastly improved road networks and the thriving rural accommodation market; we can now stop playing about on the fringes of what was seen as the impenetrable mainland, get in there and enjoy stunning Espana.

 


Comments:

CommentDateUser
I quite agree with Karen. There are some lovely areas in inland Spain to be enjoyed. We have just restored an old cortijo near Caravaca de la Cruz in Murcia and have turned it into a small boutique hotel (5 ensuite bedrooms) and are enjoying quite a bit of Spanish custom. At the moment though we do not appear to have reached the English market, which is a shame as Caravaca de la Cruz has alot to offer, especially this year as it is celebrating its 7 year jubilee (an honour bestowed on it by the Vatican). If you are interested please see our web-site www.casapedrobarrera.com and we will try and help you enjoy inland Spain.6/15/2010 11:24:00 AMDenise Drake
Great to know there are some nice little hotels out there as we fancy exploring rural spain some point, so this will give us a starting point. Only problem I have is that my Spanish is not very good, so it would be useful if the site had an English version.6/15/2010 12:02:00 PMMarlene Smythe
Marlene: To which site do you refer? Thanks! We adore driving around rural Spain! In fact, we are not at all keen on driving in urban areas, but away from the larger cities, it is a pleasure!6/15/2010 3:51:00 PMJanice
We to have a rural retreat near Bedar in Almeria. We have guests from literally all over Europe but not that many English as they are yet to discover this part of hidden Spain.6/15/2010 4:25:00 PMjane breay