Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Enjoy All That Surrounds Palatinum Golf, Spa, and Sport Resort

Mar Menor
Mar Menor is Europe’s largest natural salt-water lagoon, which is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by only a narrow strip of land known as La Manga (the strip).

During the summer months, Mar Menor’s temperatures rise due to the shallow water and warm atmosphere, making this lagoon a hot spot for water lovers. The average depth of Mar Menor is about 13 feet which makes it possible to venture out several hundred meters before the water has any real depth. The shallowness of this lagoon makes it the perfect location for all kinds of water!

The salinity of Mar Menor provides a great deal of buoyancy, making it one of the safest places to swim in the world. The combination of this buoyancy and the shallowness of the lagoon make it a natural water park for people of all ages.

La Manga
Be sure to set aside a day to enjoy all the activities that La Manga offers.

La Manga, which is also known as “the sleeve”, lies at the southern most part of Costa Blanca. It is a small strip of land that is approximately 13 miles long and makes up the lagoon of Mar Menor. On La Manga visitors will find sailing ports, recreational centers, supermarkets, shops, bars, discos, and many different types of water activities.

Mediterranean Sea
The combination of the wonderful climate, the beautiful coastline and the diverse culture, are just some of the reasons the Mediterranean regions are the most popular tourist destination in the world, attracting approximately one third of the world’s international tourists.

Water activities
-Sailing
-Windsurfing
-Waterskiing
-Kitesurfing
-Jet Skiing
-Scuba Diving
-Snorkeling
-Fishing
-Boating
-Swimming
-plus, so much more!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Spend the Day Shopping in Murcia, Spain

Palatinum Golf, Spa, and Sport Resort is only a short drive to a wide range of shops in Murcia, Spain, which offers everything from department stores to specialty shops to designer boutiques.

El Corte Ingles Department Store
The main shopping area in Murcia is located in the modern part of the city near the El Corte Ingles department store which sells everything from food to haute couture, as well as high street brands including Mango, Zara, Springfield, and Pull and Bear.

Near the El Corte Ingles department store there are many small tourist shops were visitors can buy gifts and souvenirs. The most popular purchases at these shops include leather goods, pottery, embroidered linens and lace, as well as basket ware and jewelry.

Jeronimo de Roda
If shoppers are looking for a bargain, they will be sure to find them at the souvenir and flea market on Jeronimo de Roda, which is located behind the El Corte Inglés department store.

Old Town
The old town with its' superbly restored Colonial buildings, cobbled streets, shops, cafes and restaurants is charming and it's easy to spend quite a few hours here browsing around. Cartagena old town has many boutiques and a variety of small shops near the port.

Calle Trapería
From the cathedral, Calle de la Trapería, one Murcia's main street, runs north through the old town. Together with Calle de la Platería, which branches off it on the left, it is the heart of a busy pedestrian zone well provided with shops. This street has hundreds of shops, ranging from hyper-modern outlets for well-known brand names to traditional top-class Spanish shops selling articles such as hand-made shoes and bags.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Traveling to Murcia, Spain on a Solo Vacation? Have no worries!

1. Collect all related information about local culture, manners, history, safety precautions, etc. The more you know about your vacation destination, the more comfortable and prepared you will be for your vacation, which in turn means the more enjoyable time you will have.

2. Research the climate, season, and weather of the place you are visiting. This will help choose the proper clothing for maximum comfort.

3. Find out everything the area has to offer for recreation and sight-seeing. Planning ahead will make your trip run smoother and will provide you with more time to see and do what you want to do.

4. Purchase foreign currency before you leave. You will be happy to have it when you land tired and disoriented in a foreign airport. Most major U.S. banks sell all types of foreign currency. If traveling to a remote region, bring a wad of cash and guard it with your life. If visiting a safe, developed region, credit cards and ATM cards should work fine. Research that before you leave.

5. Learn useful phrases in the language of your destination. It’ll come in handy if you get lost, need to find a destination, and will come across as a sign of respect to the local culture.

6. For international flights, arrive at the airport at least two hours before the flight leaves. Call ahead to check the status of the flight.

7. Book a non-stop flight if possible. Don't choose a multi-stop flight to save money. That will only cost more due to delays and loss of vacation time. Non-stop flights also help avoid loss of luggage and theft that could occur at connecting airports.

When you arrive:

8. Carry a map with you everywhere. Also, be sure to write down any information which you must remember.

9. Keep an adventurous mind. It’ll help you enjoy your trip, and keep a good relationship with people who you will meet in other countries.

10. Traveling alone does not mean that you will be lonely. It only means that you will have more opportunities to meet interesting people in a faraway place. Some of these new friends you may know for the rest of your life.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Enjoy one of the Many Festivals in Murcia, Spain

One of the best times to visit Palatinum Golf, Spa, and Sport Resort is when there is a festival taking place in Murcia, Spain. These festivals are a great time for visitors to better understand the area and its unique traditions.

Holy Week
The Holy Week procession, which is hosted by the city, is the most famous festival throughout all of Spain. This traditional festival portrays the events that lead up to the Crucifixion of Jesus according to the New Testament. During this festival, life sized sculptures, created by Francisco Salzillo, are removed from Salzillo’s museum and paraded around town in an elegant procession among flowers and candles. These sculptures pause at stations which are meant to reenact the final moments before the Crucifixion.

Huerta Parade
The Huerta Parade, the most colorful festival in Murcia, comes the Tuesday after Holy Week where locals dress up in traditional huertano clothing to celebrate and on Saturday they fill the streets for the Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) parade.

Three Cultures International Festival
Murcia also celebrates Three Cultures International Festival each May. The festival was originally organized with the intent of overcoming racism between the three cultures that reside there: Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Each year, the festival celebrates these three cultures through music, exhibitions, symposiums, and conferences.

Fiestas de Septiembre
From the first Friday of the month until the Monday, 10 days later, Murcia (city) celebrates the Fiestas de Septiembre. During this period, there is a grand fair for all ages, as well as many concerts and the heralded bull fights!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Travel Around Murcia, Spain

When visiting Palatinum Golf, Spa, and Sport Resort in Murcia Spain, you have a few options depending on how you would like to go about traveling around the area.

Flying
Whenever flying in and out of Murcia, Spain, you will go to the Murcia-San Javier Airport (MJV), which is located at the edge of the Mar Menor. There are regular daily flights in and out of Murcia at this airport.

Take the Bus
Bus transportation is provided by LatBus, which operates both the urban and interurban bus services. The bus station is located on the western side of town, near Museo Salzillo. Local bus services include Cartagena Alicante, Orihuela, and Lorca. Alsa also has daily buses going to Granada (3.5 hours), Valencia (4 hours), and Madrid (5 hours).

Ride the Train
If you would rather take the train, RENFE (La Red de los Ferrocarriles Españoles) is situated south of the Rio Segura. Up to five trains travel daily from Murcia to Madrid (4.5 hours) and trains also operate hourly to Lorca and Alicante (1.5 hours).

Car Hire
In the summer months, when the area has more tourists, car hire services provide a comfortable alternative to riding the other crowded transportation systems. Car hire companies have representatives at their own receiving area at the San Javier Airport of Murcia.

Tramway Transportation
The Tramway is another alternative to get around the area. Currently there is about a mile and a half of service available but construction is currently taking place for the production of 4 more lines.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Enjoy Murcia, Spain’s Many Natural Wonders

Take In The Beauty of The Parque Natural de Monte el Valle
While staying at Palatinum Golf, Spa, and Sport Resort, be sure to experience the Parque Natural de Monte el Valle, located on the outskirts of Murcia. The Parque is an abrupt landscape with marked slopes, tree-lined avenues, and ravines. It is also interesting to note that this park has 16 different flora species listed, all which are protected on a regional level. The Parque Natural de Monte el Valle is the most important natural area of Murcia and is among the four most important in Spain.

Enjoy the Beaches of Mar Menor
Murcia, Spain offers visitors some of the most beautiful beaches around, nearly all of which are located on Mar Menor, Europe’s biggest natural salt-water lagoon.

During the summer months, Mar Menor’s temperatures rise due to the shallow water and warm atmosphere, making this lagoon a hot spot for water lovers. The shallowness of this lagoon makes it the perfect location for all kinds of water sports such as windsurfing, sailing, waterskiing, and jet skiing. The salinity of Mar Menor provides a great deal of buoyancy, making it one of the safest places to swim in the world. The combination of this buoyancy and the shallowness of the lagoon make it a natural water park for people of all ages.

Take a Walk through Murcia, Spain
Palatinum Golf, Spa, and Sport Resort is set within the Murcia Mountains offering all guests a magnificent setting to take in. The Murcia Mountains also offer guests miles of nature trails for walking, hiking, and horse riding. Most trails have predominantly well prepared and maintained tracks and paths, while some trails even start at various levels of the mountain so you don’t have to start at the bottom to see the breathtaking views from the top.

Caves to Explore
Why not explore a few caves on your visit? The Cave of El Puerto and The Cave of Monigotes are particularly spectacular locations and contain cave paintings in a multitude of shapes and hues. They contain many impressive stalagmites and stalactites as well. Guided tours are available in some of the caves.