Central Post Office Facade, Madrid — Buy at AllPosters.com

Madrid is the capital of Spain, housing 3.3 million in the city centre and 6 million in its metro region. Travelers considering a vacation here will be happy to know that rental cars aren’t necessary, since the inexpensive metro system is one of the best in all of Europe.

There is something for everyone in the Madrid neighborhoods. Malasa?a houses alternative pubs, bars, cafes and novelty shops. Lavapies is both cosmopolitan and hippy at the same time, with African and South American influenced shops, Indian restaurants and some of Spain’s best coffee houses.

The bohemian neighborhood of La Latina offers excellent tapas restaurants, micro-brews and the El Rastro flea market. Moncloa, near Universidad Complutense, is a student hangout with cool shops, cheap food and budget-priced drinks. Chueca is the gay district of Madrid, with trendy art galleries, cafes and high-priced shops.

Another rich area of Madrid is historic Salamanca. Huertas is a popular tourist destination, with a high concentration of popular hotels, restaurants and pubs. Read on for more travel tips to help you get the most bang for your buck in Madrid!

Eating is a crucial component of any vacation and Madrid travel is no exception.

The Spanish are known for their use of spices like saffron, pinchitos, paprika, bouillons and sea salt. They use some of the world’s best olive oil to cook their dishes and combine rice with meat and vegetables in sumptuous feasts. The Spaniards are also very good at using every part of an animal, much to the chagrin of visitors with sensitive stomachs.

Those with adventurous palettes and strong stomachs may want to try local favorites like Oreja (pig’s ears) Callos a la Madrile?a (tripe with beans), Sopa de Ajo (garlic soup), Bacalao a la Madrile?a (salted cod in a sauce) or Rabo de Toro (stuffed cow or bull’s tail). Madrid novelties aside, you won’t want to leave the city centre without trying manchego cheese, manzanilla wine or croquetas and Madrid dipping oil.

Plaza de Cibeles, Cibeles Fountain, Madrid — Buy at AllPosters.com

Naturally, after eating all that rich food, you’ll need to walk around and see the sights of Madrid. At the ultra-modern Cosmo Caixa (science museum), you’ll catch a glimpse of how the Earth was created, how tornadoes work and play with interactive exhibits that will keep the kids busy for hours. Visit a zoo, an amusement park, a garden and a bullfighting school at Casa de Campo, which is the “Central Park” of Madrid.

At Casa de Am?rica you will see stunning 19th century architecture and, the locals warn, you may even see a ghost! Capricho de la Alameda de Osuna is one of the most tranquil settings in bustling Madrid. As a hideout for Napoleon’s soldiers, these well-manicured gardens are fit for a duchess (the Duchess of Osuna, to be exact). Nuestra Se?ora de la Almudena is a neoclassical cathedral built in the 19th century, which tops many Madrid travel plan itineraries. Similarly, the art museum at Bas?lica de San Francisco el Grande cannot be missed.

A vacation is also a great opportunity to go shopping and find newfound treasures to take back home. Madrid travel offers numerous fashion boutiques, specialty shops and shopping districts to choose from. Calle Preciados and Calle Montera are only accessible by foot and showcase both women’s and men’s apparel. Calle Serrano is home to the most sophisticated designer boutiques and art galleries.

Similarly, Calle Goya and Calle Alcal? are popular designer shopping streets. Calle Princesa and Calle Bravo Murillo have a number of great clothing and shoe shops. In El Rasto, shoppers will find more than just clothing, as pet accessories, furniture, art and books can also be purchased here. Another eclectic area is Calle Gran V?a, which is bustling with clothing shops, cinemas and popular hotels. La Vaguada is the region’s largest shopping mall, with over 300 stores in a small area, as well as a cinema, bowing alley and several trendy cafes. As you can see, there is much to do in Madrid, Spain!

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La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain — Buy at AllPosters.com

Until 1860, Barcelona’s city walls were greatly restricting as regards geographic growth of the city was concerned. From the 15th Century up to that point the city was comprised within these streets: the Rondes de Sant Pau, de Sant Antoni, d’Universitat, and de Sant Pere, the Passeig de Lluís Companys, the Avinguda Marqu’es de l’Argentera, which continues as the Passeig Colom, and the Avinguda del Paral.lel close to your barcelona apartments.

La Rambla was the only wide street within this area. Until the beginning of the 18th century La Rambla was simply just a stream running alongside a path, but soon houses were being built and trees planted.

By 1775 the old city walls by the medieval shipyard at Drassanes had been destroyed and towards the end of the century the Rambla had taken on the appearance of a sort of tree-lined avenue.

The top (and start) of the Rambla runs from Plaça Catalunya down to the bottom where it merges with the junction where you can see the Columbus monument. While most refer to it simply as La Rambla (Catalan) or Las Ramblas (Castilian), it is actually possesses five names.

First up at the top end is the Rambla de Canaletes, given its name due to the presence of the Font de les Canaletes fountain which has existed there since ancient times. Following that is the Rambla dels Estudis, which bears that name as a result of the 15th century building, Estudi General or Universitat. This university was subsequently demolished in 1843.

The Rambla dels Flors comprises the next section and takes it name from the fact that it was the only place in the city during the 19th century that sold flowers and of course the many stalls found there are still selling them by your barcelona apartments. The Rambla dels Caputxins follows; it takes its name from the old house of Capuchin friars there.

Finally comes the Rambla de Santa Mònica, taking its name from the parish church located there. Unfortunately this area has become one of the less savoury parts of the city and at night finds itself acting as a sort of red light district.

NB: Don’t forget to browse our gallery of colorful, eye-catching Barcelona Posters

Buy at AllPosters.com

We may be in the land of the Catalans but that hasn’t stopped them embracing a piece of culture from another part of Spain. You see, in Pueblo Español near your barcelona apartments you will be able to immerse yourself in something very Andalusian.

In the Tablao de Carmen spectators can witness on a daily basis mesmerizing shows combining authentic Spanish dance and music.

The Tablao de Carmen was created as a tribute to Carmen Amaya, a famous Flamenco dancer who made her name in Barcelona. She was born in 1913 in a gypsy quarter in the area now known as Vila Olímpica. It was in 1929 before King Alfonso XIII that she made her debut and it is in this very location that the Tablao de Carmen was set up.

The shows put on by this organization are known for delivering only shows of the highest quality. Viewers are guaranteed great rhythms to go along with the dance. Well known Spanish artists, accompanied by aspiring artists looking for their big break, (tablaos have historically acted as a springboard for young artists) participate alongside the dancers.

The show explores the many different facets of Flamenco so visitors can really absorb the variety of this musical art. Guests will be spoilt rotten with the focus of the show alternating between music, song and dance.

The venue is superb as well. Designed predominantly with the colours of southern Spain in mind, albero yellow and red ochre, the room is laid out like a small theatre ensuring every table has a great view of the entertainment.

But you can really make a night of this event as there is the option of being served dinner or tapas before the show. Guests can buy dinner and show tickets or simply just skip the dinner and pay a little less to watch the show.

For 69€ you can enjoy dinner and the show. At 45€ you will get tapas and for 35€ you will just see the show, but of course be prepared to buy drinks (a jar of sangria is refilled for free!)

It is located at Avenida Marqués de Comillas in Pueblo Español. It’s a short walk from Plaza Espanya which can be reached by taking the green or red metro line from your barcelona apartments.

NB: Please also take a moment to view our superb gallery of Barcelona Posters & Fine Art Prints

Part of the thrill in planning a family vacation comes in imagining the seemingly endless options you may have available to make a fun trip. The world is simply filled with enjoyable travel packages that can take you to exciting lands. And one of your “can’t miss” choices is playing some of the great golf courses in Spain.

If you want to combine amazing prices with an incredible golf hotel, Spain is where you need to go. The service is at European levels, the grounds are incredible, the golf is even better and the prices are affordable.

The majority of golf hotels and resorts are centered in and around Costa Del Sol, home to famous courses like the Robert Trent Jones-designed Valderrama Golf Club.

But that’s not the only hot course in the region or the country. Costa del Sol is home to 36 courses alone and Spain itself offers hundreds of both public and private courses for you to enjoy. To find out more about the region and the best courses, keep reading.

Andalusia and Coast Line

Costa del Sol is located in Andalusia and it’s only a 50 minute flight from Madrid. Along this incredible coastline, there are piles of amazing courses. Aside from the golf though, you can enjoy beautiful Spanish towns, hike nearby hills or simply lie by the beach and relax.

Best Gold Courses in the Area

Valderrama isn’t just a difficult course - it’s also hard to obtain a tee time unless you have a lot of advance notice. If you can’t get into Valderamma, you may want to try one of the following other courses or resorts. The Golf Club Marbella was also designed by Robert Trent Jones and is located close by. The Real Club de Golf Las Brisas is historic and gorgeous. The Golf Torrequebrada is tortuous and a course for the truly adventurous.

Other Activities in the Area

Along the fabled coastline, now bursting with hotels, marinas and casinos, there are also many small harbors where boats can be chartered for fishing expeditions and water skiing. Yet if visitors have already found enough water on golf courses, they should consider other diversions, such as excursions to Grenada, Seville and small whitewashed towns in the Sierra Nevadas first settled by the Phoenicians and Romans centuries ago.

But no matter what your pleasure, whether it’s golf, a cultural adventure, or even a short ferry ride to Morocco from the port town of Algeciras - at day’s end, eat and drink heartily, because on the Costa del Sol, particularly at its many beachside restaurants, the no-frills cooking is pescadito sardines and small squid or calamaritos, usually roasted on spits and, best of all, served with famous sweet Malaga wines.

Places to Stay

If you’re looking for a golf hotel, Spain has numerous options. For luxury, try the Marbella Club Hotel. For variety, take in the Atalaya Park Golf Hotel and Resort. For a central location, opt for the La Cala Golf and Spa Resort. And if your heart is set on absolute luxury, try looking into the Fairplay Golf Hotel and Spa, a five star hotel with an award-winning course.

Don’t forget to check out our Golf Gallery for a great selection of golf posters and prints.