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Tokyo, Japan Travel Guide

2015-01-17T09:01:00.005-08:00

Tokyo, Japan

Although Tokyo looks small on the world map; it’s a whole different story when actually visiting this high-tech city. There are several things to do that include fine cuisine, sightseeing, and an awesome nightlife.

This mass city consists of around twelve million people in the metropolitan area alone. It’s Japan’s capital city and is known for its diverse ideas and wealthy vision of the future while also providing a look at Old Japan; trust me when I say there is something for everyone in Tokyo.

Tokyo Old Districts

History of Tokyo

Imperial history in Tokyo started in 1868, as the last Tokugawa shogun surrendered the Edo Castle to the imperial forces. During the restoration, the emperor moved to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, making the city the formal capital of Japan and renaming the city Tokyo (eastern capital) as distinguished from Kyoto.

One of the most well-known facts about Tokyo History is the 1923 Tokyo earthquake resulting in numerous casualties from many people being injured to about 130,000 people dying. Not only did it wipe out a huge portion of the population it also wiped out almost all of Tokyo places.

Enormous fires had burnt the remains. It was considered one of the biggest disasters of japan up until these last couple of years. The rebuilt city included wide streets designed to stop fire in case of another earthquake.

Buddhist Temple

Climate

Tokyo is sitting in a region where it’s a humid subtropical climate zone. The locals know that their land has 4 distinct seasons. With summers being humid and very warm with average temperatures around 25°C but it’s not unusual for the weather to dish out temps in the higher thirties.

In the winter you can expect some cold nights but the average temperatures usually stay in the 0-10 °C range. Snow is almost unheard of in Tokyo although it’s not impossible for it to happen during a freezing winter day.

Geishas

Getting around in Tokyo

Just like most other major cities, Tokyo is surrounded by automobiles, buses, motorbikes, trains, boats, and subways. The city has a lot to offer when getting around and it’s known to be very easy when finding a ride to get where you’re going.

The roads are different from the United States so driving may need a little adjusting too. Taxis are the preferred way but they tend to be pricey so make sure you bring side cash for things that include traveling around the city.

Akihabara

Things to do in Tokyo

Here are just a few things to do and check out while staying in this beautiful city of Tokyo, Japan. This is just a tiny fraction of what can be done while there. Just riding around the city can be an adventure in itself, but here are some actual places to go to:

Imperial Palace, Edo Castle

Imperial Palace: Edo Castle used to be the seat of the Tokugawa shogun who ruled Japan from 1603 until 1867. In 1868, the shogunate was overthrown, and the country's capital and Imperial Residence were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. In 1888 construction of a new Imperial Palace was completed. The palace was once destroyed during World War Two, and rebuilt in the same style, afterwards. Free admission but is closed Mondays & Fridays. Every other day is open from 9am to 4pm.

Ueno Zoo: Ueno Zoo is the oldest zoo in Japan. It has grown over the years, expanded its area, and been a forerunner in the Japanese zoo world, cheap admission and children are free. Hours are from 9:30am to 5pm but closed on Mondays.

Edo Tokyo Museum: Displaying the city’s history, art, culture and architecture. Closed on Mondays and admission is ¥600. Open daily from 9:30am to 5pm! Closed on Mondays.

Asakusa, Tokyo

Asakusa District: For many centuries, Asakusa used to be Tokyo's leading entertainment district, actualy is where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades survives.

Akihabara District: also called Akiba after a former local shrine, is a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district.

Akihabara in the night

Mount Fuji: is with 3776 meters Japan's highest mountain. It is not surprising that the nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshiped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among artists and common people throughout the centuries.

Mount Fuji, Japan

Travel Guide of Rome, The Eternal City

2015-01-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

Rome, The Eternal City

Rome, also known as the eternal city is definitely a hotspot location with lots of history and culture behind it. Home to about 2.8 million residents, it’s the country’s capital as well as the largest city.

Tourists will discover that Rome is a lively vibrant city that includes lots of attractions such as fancy restaurants and cafes, fun nightlife, and its sleepless streets. Rome is considered a living museum of history from the Roman times to present.

Trajan's Forum - Rome, Italy

History

Rome is believed to be founded in the year 625 BC by modern historians. In the early times, this city was governed by Kings until after the 7th one where Romans eventually took control of it themselves.

So instead of being ruled by a king, they created a council known as the senate. At first the senate was only to advise the king, but then later on the senate appointed a consul, which was more like a president that had a one year term.

This was an effective idea since the decision was made carefully on who to choose, so the next leader knew he could be punished if he did not meet expectations within his one year term. Rome's history spans over two and half thousand years, which have seen its transformation from a small Latin village to the centre of a vast empire, through the founding of Catholicism, and into the capital of today's Italy. This is a long and complex topic; what follows is merely a quick summary.
Rome is traditionally said to have been founded by the mythical twins Romulus and Remus on 21 April 753 BC. The twins were abandoned as infants in the Tiber river and raised by a she-wolf Lupa before being found by a shepherd Faustulus, who raised them as his own sons.

Piazza Venezia, Rome, Italy

Climate

This city has a decent climate where the average annual temperature is usually above 20 °C in the daytime whereas the evening is usually around 10 °C.

January is the coldest month, where the average temp during the day is 12 °C and 3 °C at night. Just like most other places, the hottest months are July and August where the average temperature is 30 °C in the day and 18 °C when night hits.

Rome view

Ways to get around in Rome

There are quite a few choices when deciding how you’re going to navigate through Rome.

If you plan on driving, and are not a registered European citizen, they require that you have an international driving permit (IDP). This must be obtained in order to legally rent and operate a vehicle.

The ideal way of traveling around the city is by using the Public Transit Bus service. They run twenty four hours a day which covers the whole city. The subway metro and Bus tickets are unfortunately, interchangeable within the time validity of the ticket.

There are two metro lines, Line A (red) and Line B (blue), are indicated by a big red sign that is marked by an M. Taxi services are also available but may cost a little extra so the other choices are probably more affordable to most.

St Peter´s Basilica

Things to do in Rome

Rome is a city with a unique history and a vibrant modern life so offers a unique variety of choices for our enjoyment , some of the captive are:

The Pantheon:

Visit the Pantheon, temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and see the beautiful building that looks the same way since nearly 2,000 years ago.

The Pantheon, Rome

The Colosseum:

Rome’s most famous monument, the Colosseum is the largest remaining Roman-era amphitheatre and still to this day provides a glimpse of the histories complex architecture.

The Coliseum

Campo Dei Fiori Markets:

Make sure you get to roam around Campo Dei Fiori markets, you will be thrilled to see what you find in this area.

St Peter's Basilica:

Designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St. Peter's is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture and remains one of the largest churches in the world, its Italy’s largest, richest and most spectacular church.

St Peter´s Basilica, Vatican, Rome

Trevi Fountain:

This magnificent piece of art was designed by Italian Architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Pietro Bracci. The man standing in the middle is Neptun (God of the Sea) accompanied by 2 tritons

It's probably the most famous fountain in the world and the biggest one in Rome.

Trevi Fountain, Rome

Spanish Steps:

Piazza di Spagna at all, be the city's most popular square, the crowd here only made for a fun, lively atmosphere.

Spanish Steps, Rome

Cancun Travel Guide, Mexican Paradise

2015-01-04T13:26:00.003-08:00

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun is a great destination for a well needed vacation not only for adults but for families as well and offers many things to do all throughout the day and night. This hot spot is a dream come true to those that love the warm sun and tropical beaches. The population today is around 600,000 people. It is a paradise on the Mexican coast.

Chichen Itza´s

History

A little over 30 years ago, Cancun was known as a fishing village with a population of roughly 120 people. The process of turning this destination into a hotspot occurred in 1970 when the Mexican government had observed and studied several factors of the area such as the weather patterns, and other conditions.

Once the information was known, all it took was some private investors, the Mexican government, and a computer to name this as a perfect location for tourism. It is seen by many as a successful platform for economic planning and urban development.

Cancun beach

Climate

The weather reaches its hottest temperature through the middle of spring to the end of summer. So from around mid May till the end August temperatures can rise up to 34°C. After summer ends you can expect the rainy season to be from September to the end of November which does include the occasional evening downpours.

Getting Around in Cancun

The easiest way of navigating through Cancun is either by bus or cab which are always running. The difference between a cab and bus are the price.

The buses don’t have air conditioning unlike a lot of the cabs but the buses are about 5 dollars cheaper so don’t forget to bring small change in pesos as American coins are not allowed and larger bills can be difficult for them to change.

If you don’t have a clue on where to stop, just make sure you have an idea of where you are heading and let the bus driver know in advance like when boarding. If you plan on moving constantly, then the best bet is to just rent-a-car for quick maneuvering around the city.

Aquarium

Things to do

Almost everything in this city is made to satisfy your stay and have you wanting to come back. Whether it’s you and your family or you and some friends, you will be able to have fun as there are a large number of adventure tours and eco-tours.

If you want to experience snorkeling, fishing, or parasailing, the AquaWorld tour company specializes in this. The Hummer Jungle Tours as well as the Selvatic Canpy Expedition are popular attractions when visiting the city.

Cancun Beach

Cancun has a reputation for it’s nightlife with awesome places like the Coco Bongo, but it’s still kid-friendly and great for family vacations. The main spots for kid activity is the Interactive Aquarium. in addition to the which allows people to swim with dolphins (requires an extra fee for that).

We all know that Cancun is known for being a resort city, and with that being said the ultimate highlight of visiting this beautiful place is for its beaches. Stretched land with warm sand and clear turquoise water is enough to come here. Tourist should bring sun tan lotion and something to keep them busy as a lot of the time spent here will be on the sand and surf.

Isla Mujeres:

You can reach Isla Mujeres is perfect to escape to frantic beat of Cancun, is small island just eigt miles off Yucatan Peninsula, trasnparentes its quiet coastal waters make it a place of relaxation and enjoyment. If you're looking for the right beach on Isla Mujeres, head to Playa del Norte, beautiful and pristine beach.

Isla Mujeres

Dolphinarium:

You may experience great dolphin swim programs such as the Dolphin Ride, in which you have fun playing and learning about these interesting marine mammals, or the more complete and exclusive Primax4, an interactive swim with dolphins program for groups of up to four people.

Coco Bongo:

Considered the spot for nightlife in Cancún, Coco Bongo isn't your traditional, DJ-controlled nightclub. Instead, thousands of travelers pack the house to witness non-stop performances from a plethora of performers.

According to the New York Times, "a typical night at Coco Bongo involves gymnasts performing Cirque du Soleil-style feats, accompanied by smiling dancers with each show ending in an orgasmic burst of confetti."

Coco Bongo, Cancun

Chichen Itza:

Chichén Itzá is a large Mayan archaeological site and one of the most notable and recognized landmarks on the Yucatán: The site itself was originally a main hub of Mayan civilization and has since been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Travel Guide of Bangkok, Thailand

2015-01-01T09:50:00.002-08:00

Bangkok, Thailand

If you’re looking to spice up your traveling adventures then Bangkok should be one of the places on your list. With around twelve million inhabitants, Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand and is also the capital city that is known for its lively streets.

Its high-rise structures, immense traffic congestion, hot weather and mischievous nightlife tend to give people a literal “warm welcome”. Don’t be intimidated by this, instead go in with an open mind and see what different parts of the world have to offer, the people are extremely friendly!

History

When looking back at the ancient times, canals and rivers were the traditional lifeline of Thai people. However, in today’s age the people provide a cool and exciting way of seeing Bangkok rather than usual traffic-congested, hectic channels usually presented to tourists.

The rivers & canals were used as a spot for trading as well as traveling in most of the country for centuries. Once Bangkok took the name as the Kingdom’s Capital in 1782, canals crosscut and converged at various points throughout the city. Western diplomats and merchants referred Bangkok as “Venice of the East.”

Many of the city’s foreigners tend to stay in hotels and apartments near the river. Riding along the waterways will definitely provide you with a glimpse of the city’s glorious past times, and a view of the beautiful cultural surroundings.

Ancient City, Bangkok

Climate

The city is known for its tropical wet and dry climate. The average temperature usually reaches around 25-32 °C. The winters are usually mild and rainy, due to the monsoon season, but summer weather can take a toll on some tourist. If extreme heat is not for you then the best time to visit would be outside of the June – August months.

Getting around in Bangkok

Technology has allowed for modern public transport systems to be very efficient and safe. With that being said, Bangkok is extremely easy in order to get where you’re going.

The rail systems are linked to the main business area, including the shopping markets in addition to entertainment. Boats, or river taxis are usually utilized for historic sites and riverside attractions. Don’t worry about taxis as everywhere you look, you will spot at least one.

Buses tend to be old and slow, but definitely a decent way when traveling to see what it’s like to live like the locals. Motorbike taxis (tuk-tuks) are also another option if you prefer speed and are in a rush; however they are not the safest way of getting around.

Things to do in Bangkok

Wat Arun Temple

Here is a list of things you should not avoid while visiting Bangkok. The night life can be an amazing experience so don’t forget to take many pictures. Consider checking out the following:

- Visit theGrand Palace & Wat Prakeaw

Built in 1782 - and for 150 years the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government - the Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed, that continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail

- Wat Arunaka The Temple Of Dawn

Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn, is named after Aruna, the Indian God of Dawn. Sitting majestically on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, the legendary Wat Arun is one of the most striking riverside landmarks of Thailand

- Chinatown Market

Bangkok’s Chinatown is a popular tourist attraction and a food haven for new generation gourmands who flock here after sunset to explore the vibrant street-side cuisine. Packed with market stalls, street-side restaurants and a dense concentration of gold shops, Chinatown is an experience not to miss.

Chinatown Market

- Foot Massage and Fish Spa

A rejuvenating spa treatment in one of Bangkok's luxurious spas or a famous traditional Thai massage offers the perfect antidote after a long day of shopping and sightseeing. Foot spa by fish is a health-related activity that has become popular in Bangkok and throughout Thailand within the past several months. It is being offered at more and more locations such as in spas and massage parlors.

Fish Spa

- Rooftop Sunset Cocktail

Bangkok is home to some excellent rooftop bars and restaurants with great views of the city. Although drinking or dining at some of these venues can be expensive by normal Thai standards, the experience is unique enough to make it a justifiable extravagance for your trip to Bangkok.

Soi Comboy Neon Lights

- Soi Cowboy

Soi Cowboy is a red-light district in Bangkok, Thailand. A short (150 meter long) street with some 40 bars the go-go bars follow the pattern common in Thailand: alcoholic drinks are served and women in bikinis dance on a stage. Topless or even nude dancing.

Travel Guide of Eastern Cape, South Africa

2014-12-31T09:06:00.003-08:00

Port Alfred, Eastern Cape.

You will find an abundance of sunshine during the entire year in the Eastern Cape. This is an excellent spot to choose for a vacation. If you’re the type of person that loves beautiful green scenery, astounding seaside, or spots filled with tons of natural beauty, than the Eastern Cape is somewhere you would want to visit. Enjoy ours Travel Guide os Eastern Cape.

People come to this area to get out of their usual element which is usually strenuous city life. The Eastern Cape serves as a great resort with its astonishing mountains, beaches, game reserves, and amazing landscape. Out of South Africa’s 9 provinces, the Eastern Cape is the 2nd largest. This is also the birth place of famous leader Nelson Mandela.

History

The Eastern Cape has had its moments in history of unfriendly confrontation. This is the place where Xhosas, Afrikaners & the English encountered each other for the very first time. In the course of white settlement of the Eastern Cape, the Xhosa groups stayed inland most of the time, within the region of Bushman’s River as well as the Kei River. Ever since 1770, they’d been up against the Afrikaner Trek Boers whom approached from the west part. The two Boers and the Xhosa settled as stock-farmers.

The two groups had competition for land and eventually had disputes with one another, which then lead to wars referred to as grensoorlöe. Politics of the colonial authorities made an effort to impose the separation of black and white settlement spots with Fish River serving as the border. However, the more the community progressed into an up to date state along with a powerful military services, caused the whites to aim towards a plan of land annexing plus the subjugation associated with the African population.

In the midst of the Nineteenth century, the land that was previously inhabited by Xhosa was now in the hands of white settlers. In 1910, the South African union was founded. The British colony as well as the independent Boer Republics became united. This resulted in a modern “democratic” state where only whites could vote.

Port Alfred, Kellys Beach

Climate

There are several varying factors of the Eastern Cape’s Climate. If you are on The west, you’ll most likely face a dry sparse rain during the later months, with frosty winters but nice warm summers. The area Tsitsikamma to Grahamstown gets much more precipitation, and this is somewhat equally dispersed and temperature ranges but are usually mild. If you happen to go further east, rain fall tends to be plentiful along with humidity increasing, sort of like a subtropical region along the coast including some summer rainfall.

Elephants family

Ways to get around in the Eastern Cape

When you fly into the Eastern Cape you will be led to one of the two airoports located in Port Elizabeth and East London. Traveling around in a car or truck is the ideal option specifically between towns and cities.

Minibuses are also offered when moving in longer distances. The train services are suitable pertaining to areas like the Wild Coast if you want beautiful scenery otherwise; being on the road is the best decision.

Tsitsikamma Sunset

Tourist Attractions in the Eastern Cape

- Seaview Lion Park

The Seaview Predator Park is a privately owned, 120-hectare animal park, over-looking the sea in the beautiful area of Seaview. The Seaview Predator Park offers the public educational animal interaction and invites you to become ‘Part of the Pride’, as you come, ‘Face to Fur’, with our lions, tigers, and many other beautiful wild animals, many of which are free roaming, get a chance to play with lion cubs. Self-drive through the Seaview Predator Park, in your own vehicle, (4X4 vehicles not needed).

- Nelson Mandela Museum

The Nelson Mandela Museum is situated on the N2 highway in Mthatha in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. It promises visitors a memorable cultural experience and insight into the life of Nelson Mandela, with guided tours and a heritage trail that follows his in his footsteps.

- Tsitsikamma

Along the South Coast of South Africa lies one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world, home to the Garden Route National Park.

- Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is a centre for tourism, containing attractions such as water sports, beaches, nature reserves, and sheltered coves and Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, UnderWater World marine park, Aussie World with the Ettamogah Pub, The Buderim Ginger Factory, The Big Pineapple and the Majestic Theatre at Pomona.

- Addo Elephant Park

Addo Elephant National Park is a diverse wildlife conservation park situated close to Port Elizabeth. There is a main camp, featuring a swimming pool, restaurant, flood lit water hole and various accommodation, four other rest camps and four camps run by concessionaires.

Amsterdam, The Party Capital of Northern Europe

2014-12-29T16:40:00.001-08:00

Amsterdam City

Amsterdam has over 1.000.000 people living in the urban area and is also the cultural and financial center of the Netherlands. Amsterdam is also known as Venice of the North, as it has approximately 1600 bridges and small canals here and there. Amsterdam has everything to offer from design, culture to history; and it is also the party capital of Northern Europe.

Windmills of Amsterdam Canals

History

Founded as a small fishing town during the 12th century, the capital of the Netherlands became one of the most important trading places in Europe during the prosperous 17th century. During that time the Canal Belt area was constructed and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010. The city quickly expanded in all directions during 19th and 20th century, giving the city a mix of classic and modernist look.

Houseboats

Getting around

The central area is relatively small and easily accessed by foot. There is also a public transportation system, which is affordable if you want to go further away. The tickets can be bought from vending machines at metro/train stations or from a conductor on a tram. The day-ticket that gives you access to all public transport costs roughly around 8€.

Amsterdam Canals

Climate

The best time to visit Amsterdam is during July/August, when the average temperature rises to 22°C. If you want to see the world-famous tulips blossom the best time to visit is during spring. The winters are cool; the average temperature during January/February is approximately between -1°C and +5°C.

Tulips

Things to do

The best way to spend a day in Amsterdam is to walk around and see the canals, check out the historic Begijnhof court, visit Vondelpark and relax at Bloemenmarket flower market. The city has over 60 movie theatres that offer entertainment if the weather is bad.

Amsterdam, as the party capital of Northern Europe also features hundreds of different night clubs for those who like to rave. Many tourists travel to Amsterdam just to visit the coffee shops, which sell cannabis legally. However, a new law is in the making, making purchasing cannabis illegal for tourists.

Granada Glorious of Al-Andalus in Spain

2014-12-28T13:14:00.003-08:00

Granada City

Situated at the foot of the southerly Sierra Nevada ski resort, Granada is one of the most splendid cities of eastern Andalucia. Granada is the capital of the Granada province which is within the larger autonomous community of Andalusia and is called home by 250,000 inhabitants. It sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and at the confluence of three rivers: the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. On its southern side is 103 kms of fabulous Mediterranean coastline, with the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical in close proximity whilst, in between, lies a fertile plain producing exotic fruits.

View of the Alhambra from the Mirador of San Nicolás

History

Granada dates back to prehistoric times. When the Romans colonized the southern part of Iberia, they built their own city there, calling it Illibris. The Arabs, invading the Peninsula in the eighth century, gave the city its current name of Granada. Founded during the Caliphate civil war of the 11th century due to its militarily defendable position, the village quickly grew into one of the most important cities of Al-Andalus (Moorish Spain). In 1228, The Nasrid Dynasty established the Emirate of Granada which was to remain in place for more than 200 years and their architectural influence is still felt in the city today. However, the tides of change were flowing against the Emirate and on 2nd January 1492, Emir Muhammad XII, the last Muslim ruler on the Iberian peninsular surrendered to the Los Reyes Católicos (‘The Catholic Monarchs’) Ferdinand II and Isabella I after defeat at the Battle of Granada.
Being the last Muslim city of Spain to be reconquered by the Christians, Granada has an unmistakable Arab flavor, and Moorish and Christian elements go hand-in-hand.

Catholic Kings Square - Granada

Climate

The climate in Granada is extremely sunny with little rainfall. The winters are generally mild with temperatures ranging from 1oC – 12oC and hot summers 17oC – 33oC.

Gardens of Generalife - Alhambra

Getting around

Granada airport is located 15 km west of the city and offers mainly domestic flights, especially to Madrid and Barcelona. However there are a few seasonal international flights to Rome and Paris. Granada’s train station Estación de Granada, is located 30 mins walk north of the city center. Services are provided by RENFE and links with Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla daily. The bus station can be found on the outskirts of the city, 3km from the centre, with the number 3 or 33 bus providing connections to the city proper.

There are a number of operators with the most important being ALSA, who offer services to cities such as Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Malaga, Seville and many others.The local bus system is run which offers a number of lines that run all across the city, including 5 lines that focus on all the main tourist attractions. Single tickets cost €1.20 , with multi-trip card options also available (€5 for 7 trips, €10 for 16, and €20 for 33 trips).

Nasride Palace - The Alhambra

Things to do

One of the most brilliant jewels of Granada is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the fourteenth century. This mighty compound of buildings, including the summer palace called Generalife with its beautiful fountains and gardens, stands at the foot of the Sierra Nevada.

The hill facing the Alhambra is the old Moorish casbah or medina called the Albaicín. One of the oldest districts, it has been declared a World Heritage Site, along with the Alhambra and Generalife.

The Plaza de San Nicolas, at the highest point of the Albaicín, is famous for its magnificent view of the Moorish Palace.

Sacromonte Hill, which overlooks the city from the north, is famous for its cave dwellings, once home to a large gypsy community. Here, you can find some of the best flamenco shows in Andalucia.

Perhaps the most important Christian monument of Granada is the Cathedral. Built in 1523, Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand are buried there in the Royal Chapel.

If the children become a little bored with sightseeing, they will just love the activities available in the nearby Sierra Nevada ski resort or the beautiful beaches not too far away.

For more information view: The Alhambra Patronato

Costa del Sol, Amazing Destiny in Spain

2014-12-28T09:32:00.004-08:00

Malaga City

Costa del Sol, is a region in Andalucía, Southern Spain. It consists of small quiet coastal cities and towns along the coast. Annually millions of tourists visit the sunny beaches of Costa. Costa del Sol area used to consist of small fishing villages but was turned into a popular tourist destination in the late 20th century.

The Costa includes the city of Malaga and some smaller towns, such as Torremolinos, Mijas, Fuengirola, Estepona and Marbella, which is world-known hotspot for the rich and famous tourists. It stretches around 150 kilometers around the south coast. The most developed area is the southwestern corner, which has been constantly developed for the needs of tourists.

Malaga Beach

History

The population of Costa del Sol used to live in small white fishing communities on the hilltops around the coast. Costa was discovered in the late 50’s for its unique culture and of course the sunny beaches.

Costa del Sol Sunset

Climate

Costa del Sol experiences typical Mediterranean climate with warm summers and rainy, cool winters. Costa del Sol reaches average temperatures of 29 degrees Celsius or even higher during the summer months. Sea temperature stays constantly above 23 degrees, which most people will find enjoyable. If the heat is too much, the best time to vising the Costa is during April and May when the temperature is between 23 and 27 degrees. As Spain is close to Africa, dust storms take place occasionally. Sunblock is recommended to anyone visiting during the scorching summer months.

Costa del Sol - Mijas

Getting around

The best way to travel between the towns of the Costa is by bus. They run frequently during daytime and are cheap. If you happen to visit towns during nighttime you have to pick a taxi back, since buses don’t traverse then. Taxis are quite affordable, but make sure the driver has his permit attached to the windscreen.

Cruise shipping has become an essential industry at the port and a major driver of investment in Málaga. In 2012 there were 651,517 passengers visiting the city on board cruise ships calling at the port, including those who started or ended their cruise in Málaga.

The four ports of Marbella are primarily recreational; although both Puerto Banús and the Puerto de la Bajadilla are permitted to dock cruise ships, neither operates regular service to other ports. The port of Bajadilla is also home to the fishermen's guild of Marbella and is used for the transport of goods.

AVE (Alta Velocidad Española, AVE), a high-speed rail service operated by Renfe, the Spanish national railway company, inaugurated the Córdoba-Málaga high-speed rail line, a standard gauge railway line 155 kilometres (96 mi) in length, on 24 December 2007. Designed for speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph) and compatibility with neighbouring countries' rail systems, it connects Málaga and Córdoba.

Puerto Banús - Marbella

Things to do

Costa del Sol is definitely a sunbather’s paradise with miles of sandy beaches and clear skies. In case you get tired of getting tanned, you can always head to Tivoli World theme park or the aqua parks in Torremolinos and Mijas. View more in: Visit Costa del Sol

Dolphins in Selwo Marina - Malaga