Gary's Travel Guide

This page has details of some destinations that I have visited for holidays since the early 1990's, mainly in Europe and the Mediterranean.

The list of countries that I have visited include, Spain, Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca, Portugal, Gibraltar, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Malta, Yugoslavia, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Austria and Switzerland, although not all of them are detailed below.

These are my personal views of each resort I have been to with the weather conditions, resort information, things to do etc, based upon when I was actually there, so some of it may be well out of date.
Like all destinations, what suits one person, will not be the next persons cup of tea, so as these are my opinions, they could well differ from somebody else who has travelled to the same place.

YUGOSLAVIA

Resort: Porec
Weather: Very warm.
When: August 1990
Hotel/Apartments: Hotel Materada
We went just before the war broke out, which was a shame as this is a really nice country. However, this area was just outside the Italian border, so the war didnt really affect it too much and tourists still flock to this destination. It wasn't the most modern of resorts, and the facilities were limited, but if a relaxing holiday with good weather is your scene, then it was certainly worth a visit. Beaches were limited, and most tended to be man made with sloping concrete or pebbles. Beware though, a lot of the beaches were for naturists, so dont be surprised if you meet a lot of naked people!!!!There were many visits to be had, from the local towns and villages, the fyords, and also a day trip to venice, cruising up the Grand Canal on a Gondola.

MALTA

Resort: Bugibba
Weather: Very hot. Mostly 90's, but some days into 100's
When: June 1992
Hotel/Apartments: Hotel Topaz
This must rate as one of the best places I have ever visited. There is so much to do and see, from local crafts to historical interests. From the silent city of Mdina, to the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk, the walled fortress of the capital Valetta, to the prehestoric Hagar Quim temples, which date to older than the pyramids. The colourful waters of the blue grotto, the cliff where the Milk Tray man jumped off, Popeye's Village and the craft village at Ta' Quai, also home of the Maltese national football team, and dont forget, the 365 different churches. For travel, hire a car and go exploring, which itself is an adventure trying to avoid the potholes in the roads. Alternatively, jump onboard one of the 1950's Leyland buses, imported from the UK.

IBIZA

Resort: Figueretas
Weather: On Par with UK Summer/Cold in the evenings due to sea breeze
When: October 1993
Hotel/Apartments: Jabeque Apts
Going out of season had its benefits, namely being quiet, unlike it would be at the height of the summer season. It is 2KM from Ibiza Town and about 1 KM from lively Playa d'en Bossa, with ample goings on for everybody. It has a nice sea-front walkway lined with bars/restaurants, ideal for a pleasant evening stroll. Chic Ibiza Town is worth a visit, with historical interest and panoramic views over the old town. In Playa d'en Bossa, there are clubs, bars, restaurants, and shops aplenty with a water-park for the kids and adults alike.

GRAN CANARIA

Resort: Puerto Rico
Weather: Very warm. Mid to high 80's
When: September 1995
Hotel/Apartments: Ana Rosa Apts
Although we went out of season, it was still very busy. Puerto Rico has the majority of apartments build into the hillside, so you could be faced with a very long walk either to the beach or to the shopping centre, but we were fortunate to be based just off the main area, so we were 10 mins away from both. There are duty-free shops abound selling named goods on CD players, HI-FI, Cameras and watches, but beware, they also sell goods which look like the real thing, but have names such as SANY, SONYO, PANASANIC etc. The crescent shaped beach gets busy during the day, so head down early to get the best spot. You wont starve, as there are an abundance of restaturants all touting for business, which means prices were very low. Two places of interest would be the sands at Maspalomas or a boat trip to Puerto Mogan, a colourful little village.

FUERTEVENTURA

Resort: Caleta de Fuste
Weather: Very warm. Constant breeze makes it cooler than it actually is
When: June 1996
Hotel/Apartments: Castillo Playa Apts
Resort is VERY quite and is ideal for those who dont like the hustle and bustle of the normal holiday resort. The choice of bars/restaurants is also limited, but there is a decent enough choice so that you can eat in a different place each night. This resort is very popular with the Germans, and the area next to the harbour is more or less designed to cater for them. The place is SO quiet, that even in the middle of the afternoon, you can still get a great spot on the beach. Watch out though. The wind that comes in tends to leave you sandblasted! I would recommend a hire car, as it only takes a few hours to drive from top to bottom of the island, visiting the amazing sand dunes at Corralejo in the north, travelling down through the volcanic landscape, to the upmarket Jandia in the south.

ALGARVE

Resort: Praia da Vau
Weather: Very warm to hot
When: June 1997
Hotel/Apartments: Vau Costa Apts
This was an upmarket area of the Algarve, and was not very touristy at all, so the choice of eating places was VERY limited. This meant a daily 40 min walk into Praia da Rocha, where there there was life!! Because it was so quiet, it was the ideal place to relax, a nice pool, and a short walk, albeit down a very steep hill, to a lovely beach.

TENERIFE

Resort: Los Christianos
Weather: Hot. 80's into early 90's
When: July 1998
Hotel/Apartments: Atlantida Apts
We were located at the far end of Los Christianos, in an apartment complex which more or less had everything on site. Kiddies clubs, play areas, daytime activities for kids and adults, evening entertainment, on site bars, snack bars and restaurant. The beach wasnt too popular, I think due to the fact it was black volcanic sand rather than the usual golden colour, and the main ferry terminal to La Gomera was just across the harbour. The main area of the resort is crowded with bars, shops and restuarants, including a Burger King, KFC and Pizza Hut. The next area along, Playa da las Americas is linked to Los Christianos by a promenade so if you want something more lively to 6 in the morning head for the night life here. For excursions, you can visit the giant volcano at Mount Teide, head out to sea and watch the whales and dolphins or just relax in the sun with a nice cold beer!

MAJORCA

Resort: Cala D'Or
Weather: Very Warm
When: July 1999
Hotel/Apartments: Hotel Martha
This was a large complex which catered for families. 2 large pools, daytime and evening entertainment for both children and adults alike. We were in an area called Cala Egos, which was quite small with just a few shops and a limited number of restaurants, but there was a mini train that came at regular intervals which took you into the centre of Cala D'or. The beaches at Cala Egos were quite small and became crowded, but this didnt stop the kids enjoying themselves. Eating out was the usual fayre that you get at any Spanish tourist restaurant, but it was reasonably priced and most of it edible. We didnt go on any tours, but chose to walk a lot and make best use of the pool and the beach.

FRANCE

Resort: Disneyland Paris
Weather: Mild and reasonably warm. Little drizzle.
When: April 2000
Hotel/Apartments: Hotel Climat, Noisel
Our first trip to Disnelyland paris and we got good weather for it. We travelled down by car and stayed overnight at Dover. Got the ferry first thing next day and drove down to Paris in about 3 hours. Roads were clear and the french service stations were clean and tidy. Our Hotel was a bit on the small side, but we didnt mind as it was just somewhere to sleep. Disneyland itself has 5 main areas with rides for all agents, from "Its a Small World" to "Space Mountain". There are numerous restaurants and fast food outlets but they do tend to be expensive. Thats Disney for you. Some rides are very popular so take advantage of the FASTPASS system, where you take a ticket an come back during the times specified and it means your wait is in minutes rather than half hours or full hours.

MALTA

Resort: QAWRA
Weather: Very Hot, 100's
When: July 2000
Hotel/Apartments: Hotel Canifor
Our 2nd trip to Malta, this time with our kids. The Hotel was clean and tidy and this was the first hotel we had stayed at for years on a half board basis (we prefer Self catering). The food was of an ok standard but you were rushed to eat it and then get out to make way for the next people. I like to relax on holiday so towards the end we gave up and chose to eat out at a few different restaurants to relax and have an enjoyable meal. The kids went to the Dolphin Clubs each day and had a fab time. The only disappointing thing is that the pool was too small and there are no beaches close to the area. However, there are plenty of areas to walk to and pass the time. We hired a car again and chose to explore the island, finding the areas we last saw when we were here in 1992. The kids enjoyed the visit, exploring the prehestoric temples, Popeye Village etc.

GRAN CANARIA

Resort: Sonnenland, ouside Maspalomas
Weather: Very Hot, 100's
When: July 2001
Hotel/Apartments: Vista Dorada Apts
These apartments were a bit out of the way from any real shops or the beach, however, there was a bus service to the beach at Maspalomas. Otherwise, it was a taxi ride to main shoping area. One visit worthwhile is to Palmitos Park, cross between a zoo and an animal sanctury. Great day out for the kids, but ensure you take suncream and a hat as it gets HOT!!!. Sioux City, western style BBQ night, with food, drink and action on the set from a Western Movie. Enjoyable night, but expensive when booked through tour operator. We also booked a whales and dolphin tour. We didnt see any, but it was an unforgetable experience due to the choppy seas. The boat crew started to hand out bin liners to everybody and the toilet seemed to have a revolving door, it was used that much. Everybody was glad to get back on dry land again. But again, great weather, good pool, fantastic beach as Maspalomas and came home relaxed.

FRANCE

Resort: Disneyland Paris
Weather: West for most days
When: July 2002
Hotel/Apartments: Disney's Sequoia Lodge
Our 2nd visit to Disneyland and this time we stayed at one of the Disney hotels. It was a good experience and handy for the short walk to the park itself, but was it really worth the money to stay here? This time, Disney had opened up a new park, Walt Disney Studios. This had film effect, stunts, animation, more roller coasters etc. It was the quieter of the 2 parks and you can easily see most of it in 1 day. Unforgettable is the Studio Tram Tour and Motor, Camera, Action. As it was the summer, both parks were very busy with long waits for the popular rides, however, it didnt dampen our spirits and we just chose carefully what and when we wanted to go on.

MINORCA

Resort: Son Parc
Weather: Very Hot, 100's
When: July 2003
Hotel/Apartments: Beach Club Apts
Having been to the 2 other Balaeric Island, we chose to try Minorca for a change. This was another family orientated resort, with plenty to do for the kids, the Childrens clubs, play park, large pools etc. The beach was on the door step and it was lovely white sand, with a very gentle slope into the sea which carried on well into it so you could venture out far and still stand. The local bus service is regular and we took a trip into Mahon, the capital, for some sightseeing and souvenir shopping. SOn Par is a developing resort, so dont expect lively bars, abundance of restaurants etc as there are very few. Most of them serve good food and it made for an enjoyable evening. Son Par is on the headland and is a "supposed" short walk to Arenal D'en Castell. We took that walk, foolishly just before midday. There is no proper path, just barren land, with a few trees and bushed to negotiate. Boy, did it feel like we had walked for hours under the midday sun, exhaused and sweat dripping. We did walk back though and vowed never to do it again.

LANZAROTE

Resort: Puerto del Carmen
Weather: Quite Hot, 80's
When: July 2004
Hotel/Apartments: Atalaya Apts
Again, something new this year. Having been to the 3 other main Canarian islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventure, the last missing piece was Lanzarote.When we arrived it was cloudy, but warm. The apartments were great, although there was a climb of about 60 stairs to get to our apartments. It was lovely and quiet and we were overlooking the pool which was also very quiet, so much so that you didnt have to fight to get a sun lounger or in the pool for a swim like some other resorts we have been to. Del Carmen is like any other tourist resort, beach, shops, restuarants, icecream parlours and crazy golf!!! It has a big beach so there is always room to get a spot even in the afternoon. Eating out was pleasant on most nights, although there was 1 chinese buffet which I didnt enjoy at all. Unfortunately, I dont remember the name. However, the other restaurants all serve similar fayre, mainly steaks , chicken, and pork dishes. If you venture into one of the chinese restaurants, check out the liqueur they give to you after you have finished your meal. Some of them have dead lizards in them. Dont worry, you cant taste them and I am still living. We went on a few organised tours. The yellow submarine goes under the sea so you get to see all the wonderful looking fish that live beneath the surface. Also try the Southern tour, which takes you into Timanfaya National Park, which is the volcanic landscape, ride a camel up a mountain and drive along through the area which was created when the volcano erupted many years ago.

FRANCE

Resort: Disneyland Paris
Weather: Cold
When: October 2004
Hotel/Apartments: Kyriad Disneyland
Our latest trip to the park at Halloween time, saw Frontierland turned into Halloweenland, complete with orangemen and spooky going ons. We stayed just outside of the parks and there is a free shuttle bus every 15 mins to and from the park itself. This time, our kids were older and there were a few rides we hadnt been on before, such as Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Aerosmith's Rock and Roller Roller coaster. Main reason being was that before, our kids were too small, so we didnt bother. Now they are older, they could enjoy them. Aerosmith is hysterical. It is one of the fastest roller coasters I have been on...... darkesness looms, then flashing lights, loud rock music, twists, turns, corkscrews etc. Brilliant!!!! Did all the other usual rides for the umpteenth time, "Pirates of the Carribean", "Peter Pan", "SNow White", " Flying Carpets of Agrabah"....and "Its a Small World". You never get tired of it and its a great break for a few days.