Travel Places

Most tourists who visit Spain, spend just a day or so in Madrid before moving towards the beaches or other resorts in the country. But Madrid deserves much more than this, it is a beautiful city, vibrating with culture and joy and history abound in every corner.

There is so much to see and do here. If you like watching people and mingling with the crowds, go to Plaza Mayor. Full of bars and restaurants, no one ever seems to sleep here. There are over 3100 culinary places in Madrid, so you are never short of choices. Madrid has the largest number of bars, per capita than any city in Europe, and Spain has some very fine wines. So go out and have a great evening!!

If you want to see beautiful palaces and buildings, go to the Palacio Real – a palace housing centuries of history within its ramparts. The treasures of this palace can keep you riveted for hours.

By far the best place to visit in Madrid is Museo Del Prado. You can easily get lost in this place while looking at one of the finest art collections in the world. It houses Flemish, Dutch, Spanish and German art collections.

If you are fond of good food, go and have a “tapas” at one of the eating places, or have some great fish at Plaza Mayor. If you like live music, join the crowd at Sala Heineken or  La Riveira, or just follow the sounds of a group playing music at any of the Plazas.

Well, what are you waiting for? Madrid beckons.

A citadel, a palace, a fortress, La Alhamabra is all this and much more. It is considered by many to be at par with the best monuments in the world and it is the most visited tourist destination in Spain.

The fortress has existed since the 9th century, but there are references to it only in the 13th century. The Nasrite sultans are believed to be the ones who built some of the more beautiful parts of this palace. In 1492, it became a Christian court, after Isabella and Ferdinand conquered Granada. Each successive ruler left his footprints in some part of this palace, as he added or enhanced the beauty of the fort.

In the 18th and 19th century this monument was neglected and left to be ruined and vandalized. However in 1870, it was declared a national monument, and restored to its days of glory.

If you are planning to visit Granada, we would recommend that you book your entry tickets in advance. Only a limited number of people are permitted inside the complex, and visiting hours are split into 3 time periods – morning, afternoon and evening. In order to avoid disappointment, make all your arrangements prior to leaving for the fort.

Once you have entered the complex, do make it a point to visit the Chamber of Comares and the Chamber of Lions. This palace is one of the last vestiges of Moorish rule in Spain, and it is a beautiful example of their unique architecture and their ability to build monuments that last through centuries.

Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and its most popular tourist destination. Situated on the Mediterranean coastline, it has some stupendous beaches and some funky architecture. It is full of markets and museums and theatres and open air concerts. Here are our suggestions on the dos and don’ts in Barcelona.

La Rambla:

Walk down this avenue and watch the shops and great eating places. But also watch out for your handbags and wallets, since Barcelona is known as the “pickpockets capital of Spain”. Avoid being accosted by touts or guys offering cheap bargains.

Gaudi Buildings:

Take a bus tour and visit the Gaudi buildings. The paradoxical buildings defy all norms of conventional architecture. They are funky, colourful and very individualistic. While you are roaming around also go to see the still unfinished Sagrada Familia.

Montjuic Fountain:

Built in 1929, this musical fountain has special shows in the late evening from 9 pm onwards. Walk up the avenue and sit back and relax. The music and the lighting effects will leave you spellbound. The majestic Montjuic castle provides a panoramic view of the city.

Barcelona Boardfront:

Walk along the beaches on Sunday night specially, to enjoy some live music and drinks. Enjoy Sangria and some tapas, or just visit one of the many restaurants serving Catalan food. This area of town is great to visit if you are on a stag or hen party. Barcelona stag weekends are truly memorable holdays !

Watch out for:

No change trick, do not fall for it, demand your change from them. Firecrackers near you , they will startle you and in the meantime your pocket will get picked. Touts and prostitutes, avoid them, they will rob you very happily and easily.

More than a thousand islands to explore, glorious beaches, some incredible underwater vistas and coral reefs, can you ask for anything more than this? Maldives offers you all this and much more. Surf and sand, relaxation and pleasure, underwater beauty and pristine beaches all combine together to make this a great place to visit.
Getting there:

There are no prior visa requirements for Maldives. A 30 day visa is provided on arrival to almost everyone, based on immigration rules. Tourism is their main bread spinner, so all facilities are provided to make your visit a very happy one.
There are hotels and resorts of all shades and hues here. They range from the very luxurious ones such as Four Seasons Resort to budget places located on the beach. All of them provide easy access to the beach, since most activity centres around the seaside.

What to do there:

If you are interested in just sitting back and doing nothing, there is no better place than this. Time seems to stop here, nothing seems to be hurried or rushed. It is easy to forget the traffic jams and the pollution that we have left behind.

But we would definitely recommend that you try the water sports available here. The water here is in various shades of turquoise and it is crystal clear. There are few places that offer you such great views of underwater sea life. Have a look at the coral reefs, enjoy the diving and snorkelling facilities, and take part in the water sports. Go sightseeing in a boat and look at some spectacular scenery around you.