Stuck for the Perfect Xmas Present? - Red Letter Days

If you need something special for someone special, look no further than Red Letter Days.   They have a great selection of Christmas gifts ranging in price, and even have a sale on - for instance book an Aston Martin thrill for just £88 [reduced from £110], or book Orbing for Two in Brighton for just £36!!


Visit Red Letter Days and book your perfect Christmas Present .... or for someone's birthday.

Las Palmas - Big Wheel

You may remember us talking about Las Palmas in Gran Canaria being an earmarked site for a giant wheel - simar to the London Eye.  Now, Las Palmas Council has been urged to make a decision, or risk losing funds. 

Back in the summer, the Council announced that the wheel was to be located in the heart of Las Palmas with the hope that it would increase the city's appeal to tourists.  However, it would appear that plans have "gone cold" and the grant of Euros 50,000 which has been set aside, may be withdrawn in the next few weeks if the site of the wheel is not decided upon.

The delay has, however, been caused by the need for detailed technical studies which will reveal if the site initally chosen will be able to support the weight of the 60m wheel.   We will bring you news as soon as a final decision has been made.

Canary Islands win Best Stand

The Canary Islands won best stand at the recent World Travel Market held in London the 2nd week of November, which is the first time in the islands' participation.

The presentation of the Canary Islands was split into 4 categories :  volcanic experience, wellness delight, family welcome and water sports.  Rita Martin - the regional tourism minister - commented that it showed that the islands were a mature destination but innovative at the same time, changing in line with the demands of visitors in recent years.

Street promotions includes photos of Teide and La Orovata on 10 London taxis with pictures on the receipts as well.  The Heron Quays Bridge [one of the longest and busiest bridges in London] sported a 50m billboard of Tenerife. 

The UK press also learned of a major promotion for Tenerife - the Association of British Travel Writers is staging its annual conference there in January 2010 and is the first time Spain will be hosting the event which will be attended by over 100 journalists from some of the most prestigious English language media.

Lonely Planet Magazine - Subscription Details

If you are interested in reading about travel - why not treat yourself to a 12 month subscription to the Lonely Planet Magazine.  The BBC Shop describes the magazine as "the new glossy travel magazine for people with a passion for travel and new experiences."  It goes on to say "Whether you're planning your next trip or simply looking for a good read, Lonely Planet Magazine is your monthly guide to the best of everything travel-related."

Currently you can get 12 issues for the price of £29 [reduced from £42].  Just visit the BBC Shop for more details.

Tenerife Hotels receive TUI Awards

It has been reported that 3 hotels in the Costa Adeje area, Tenerife have picked up an award - named the "Holly"

The hotels are the Colon Guanahani, the Roca Nivaria and the Hotel Jardines de Nivaria - all belonging to the Adrian Hoteles group.  The Colon Guanahani has won the award on 10 previous occasions and Jardines de Nivaria on 9.  However, this is the first year that the Roca Nivaria has been recognised [but it has only been open for 3 years]. 

TUI is one of the world's largest tour operators with over 2000 hotels worldwide on its books.  It awards 100 Hollies each year and the factors contributing to the winning of the award are quality throughout the hotel and the service offered, the excellence of its installations and its human resources, standards of rooms, garden areas, pools, restaurants - all of which are judged by clients staying at the hotels.

Corona Holidays can provide you with a quotation to stay at any of these hotels as they are not exclusive to the TUI group.  Just contact us for hotel accommodation with/without flights.

Tenerife Tapas Route

Residents in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife as well as visitors to the area have been enjoying the Tapas Route event which was organised by the council, the regional Chamber of Commerce and local business associations in the hope to stimulate the restaurant trade in the area. 

The Tapas Route invites people to visit each restaurant which is taking part in the event in order to try their particular "tapa of the day" with a glass of wine for just 2.50 euros. People taking part also have the chance to win prizes by collecting 10 stamps on their Gastronomic Passport which has been produced especially for the event.

We have lots of accommodation available in Puerto de la Cruz - just contact us if you would like a quotation.

What's on in Mallorca

If you are in Mallorca up to the end of November - here's an idea of what's on in Mallorca.
26 Nov : Auditorium in Palma starting 20:30Balearic Symphony Orchestra - Salvador Brotons conducts this concert in which Carmen Yepes performs as guest soloist on the piano.  Programme : "Ritual de payesia" by Samper: "Concerto for piano" by Schumann: "Symphony No 1" by Barber and "An American in Paris" by Gershwin. 
Price : 26 euros [stalls]  16 euros [amphitheatre]
27 Nov : Teatre Prinicpal in Sala Gran, Palma starting 21:00Nixon - Frost, by Peter Morgan - In 1077 ex-president Richard Nixon granted the famous journalist David Frost an interview.  Frost used his ingenuity to get an apology to the world from Nixon for the infamous Watergrate scandal.
Price : 20 / 18 / 14 / 12 euros
27 Nov : Auditori de Porreres starting at 22:00Joan Miquel Oliver in concert - The composer and lyricist for the band Antonia Font - Joan Miquel Oliver is the biggest Catalan-language pop artist in the past 30 years. 
Price : 12 euros

27 Nov : Cultura Club in Palma starting at 23:30Tulsa in concert - Presenting her latest disc "Solo me has rozado", Miren Iza [known as Tulsa] presents her latest work.
Price : 10 euros
28 Nov : Auditorium in Palma starting 21:00Temporada de Ballet - Exquisite dancing by the Compania Victor Ullate marked by Beethoven's music. 
Price : 60 euros and 42 euros
28 Nov : Esglesia Vella in Caimari starting at 20:00Ars Muisicae - The group uses period instruments in their original state or replicas for music of the 17th and 18th centuries. 
Price : FREE!
28 Nov : Plaza Major in Pollensa starting at 12:00Estol de Tramuntana - This Mallorcan folk dance group is comprised of musicians, singers and dancers, dressed in typical Mallorcan costume.  They perform dances and folk songs from the island, such as boleros, jotas and fandangoes - among others.
Price : FREE!

28 Nov / 29 Nov : Auditorium in Palma starting 18:00Disney Celebration - A musical in English by the youth company Centre Stage Juniors and directed by Richard Conway-Jones.  The programme is a selection of musical pieces from the most famous films from Disney.
Price : 12 euros
29 Nov : Ses Voltes in Palma starting 12:00Aires de Pla de Marratxi - A folklore and cultural association performing regional dances of Mallorca.  Using costumes from the 18th century to the early 20th century.
Price: FREE!

30 Nov : Teatre Principal in Santayi starting 12:00
Duo Flores-Caravaca - Piano and clarinet concert given by this duo of performers.  Classical music with a repertoire comprised of works by the great composers.
Price : FREE!

Exhibitions in Tenerife

If you're in Tenerife, why not visit one of the following exhibitions:

Costa Adeje - Plaza del Duque
Until 30 November you will be able to see paintings of La Orotava, Los Realejos, San Juan de la Rambla, La Laguna and Puerto de la Cruz by Tenerife artist - Osman

Arona - Town Hall
Until 25 November displaying paintings of Tenerife by Matias Agular

Las Galletas - Cultural Centre
Until 4 December paintings by Juan Martin

Santa Cruz - Tenerife Espacio de las Artes [TEA]
Until 6 January, a photographic collection of Ordonez-Falcon [Room B]
Until 17 January, lanscapes of Tenerife by Thomas Ruff [Room C]

Los Cristianos - Cultural Centre
Until 30 November - Good Morning Art, paintins of tattoos
Until 4 December - art collection in first floor hall

La Laguna - Museum of Science and the Cosmos
Until 31 December - photographs: Tenerife un balcon al Universo

Olive Fair in Mallorca 21/22 November 2009

In Mallorca on the 21/22 November?  Why not visit Caimari near Selva to the north of the island and go to the 11th trade fair on the olive?  You will find Caimari and Selva just north of Inca.

Festivities revolve around the olive and the products derived from the olive.  An olive mill will be open to the public during the day which is located close to the town square and you will be able to see how olive oil is produced. 

Also, there will be stands selling typical Mallorcan products and exhibitions with displays of tools used during the harvesting of the olive and popular songs will be sung abut the work in the fields.

Costa del Silencio - Garanana Parque

Costa del Silencio in Tenerife has recently undergone a 2million euros facelift which involved roads being resurfaced, new pavements and a general "spruce up" of the area. Work has now started on an extensive urban park which could take up to 18 months to complete.

The new Garanana Parque will see the introduction of sporting courts, leisure and recreational areas, an amphitheatre, a skating park and skateboard zone, a running track, bicycle lanes, a climbing area, a tree covered plaza and numerous playgrounds for children. There will also be public toilets and security cameras installed.

Interested in a Tenerife holiday? Take a look at our Tenerife special offers.

Recipe for Rioja Potatoes

The region of Rioja is best known for its wine.  However, it also has a reputation for its cuisine.   Rioja potatoes is an ideal dish for the winter months ...



Ingredients :
1 kg potatoes
Chorizo
2 cloves of garlic
1 hot pepper
1 large onion
1 red or green pepper
Bay leaf
Paprika
Olive oil
Salt

Preparation :

1. Finely chop the onion and pepper and place in a saucepan with a little olive oil on a low heat until the onion is amost transparent.  Add the finely chopped garlic and the bay leaf and cook for a further 2 minutes.
2. Peel the potatoes and cut into pieces and add to the dish with the sliced chorizo.
3. Cover with water, add a pinch of salt and paprika and the hot pepper [if the chorizo is spicy, you may want to leave out the hot pepper].
4. Once boiling, lower the heat and leave to simmer for 40 minutes.
5. Adjust the seasoning as necessary and serve.

Bahia Palma Nova

Going to Palma Nova in Mallorca next year?  Why not stay at the 3 Star Bahia Palma Nova?

This is a very popular hotel located on the beach promenade overlooking Palma Nova beach and just a 10 minute walk to the centre of Magalluf.   We have an excellent offer available for next May flying from Gatwick [other UK airports are available] on a half board basis at just £298 per person for the week.

You will find the Restaurante Bahia Palma Nova at the front of the hotel - specialists in paella and fresh seafood.  Sit on the covered terrace, enjoy the views over to the beach and relax.   I have eaten at this restaurant on 3 occasions now, and cannot fault any of the food and the service has always been excellent.

If you would like us to look at a stay at the Bahia Palma Nova or another hotel in Palma Nova just give us a call or send an enquiry.

Dijous Bo - Inca, Mallorca

Dijous Bo 2009 is due to be held on Thursday 19 November 2009 in Inca, Mallorca where people gather at a trade fair comprising a huge variety of products in the shape of a grand exhibition. 

The fair takes place right after the Santa Maria la Mayor festivity and is an important market with the whole of Mallorca participating.  The types of exhibitions taking place including livestock contests, musical performances and sports.

If you would like to stay in Inca or the surrounding area, just give us a call or send an enquiry and we will be delighted to assist.

La Palma Observatory

It has been reported by Island Connections that the Spanish goverment will be supporting the bid for La Palma to receive an even bigger telescope.

Only a few months ago the massive GTC telescope was unveiled and La Palma's Observatory is lobbying to secure what is going to be the world's biggest telescope - which will be the size of a football pitch.  Currently, there are 2 possible locations for the instrument - the Canary Islands and Chile.

The Obervatory is generally not open to visitors, but the public can visit on specific days in summer.  Guided tours are in English, German and Spanish.  The area the Obversatory is located in - Roque de los Muchachos - can be visited the whole year round.  Back in September when La Palma suffered from forest fires, astronomers at the Obervatory came up with a way of raising funds.   Members of the public were asked to make a donation when they came to the Observatory during the open days [which is normally free of charge] and all the donations were passed to the Red Cross for distribution.

Manchester to Marrakech - New Route Launched

Easyjet announced the launch of a new route from Manchester to Marrakech in Morocco by recently offering complimentary camel rides in the city centre of Manchester. 

Paul Simmons - Easyjet's UK General Manager, commented that Marrakech is an ideal destination for winter sun with fantastic weather, the largest traditional market in Morocco and a square that bustles with bazaars, snake charmers, acrobats, musicians and tempting food stalls. 

The new route provides a three-times-weekly service.

If you are interested in a holiday to Marrakech, just give us a call on freephone 0800 5 677688 or send an enquiry.

Tenerife Guanche Mummy

It has been reported that efforts by the Tenerife authorities to have the mummified remains on a native Guanche returned to the island for permanent display in a museum have been turned down again.  The Spanish government has turned down the application on the ground that moving the fragile mummy from Madrid to Tenerife to too high a risk to take - although the culture minister - Angeles Gonzalez - has agreed that its home should be in the Canary Islands.  The remains were discovered in a cave near Guimar.

However, the Tenerife authorities have not given up their fight to get the remains returned even though they have been in Madrid since the end of the 18th century.

Guimar is famous for its pyramids - known as the Piramides de Guimar.  Built by the Guanches, they were once dismissed as piles of stones heaped by local farmers who were clearing the land.  However, upon closer inspection by archeologists 3 pyramidal constructions were revealed - each at least 100m long - which had been carefully built, arranged in large steps, with a smaller staircase climbing to a ceremonial platform on top.


Now carefully rebuilt to what is thought to be their original form, a platform and series of walkways allow visitors to inspect the pyramids - there's no climbing allowed.

If you would like to stay in Guimar and visit the pyramids we can arrange accommodation and/or flights for you.

Liverpool Airport - Flights to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura

Easyjet has announced that they have introduced a new Airbus 320 aircraft at Liverpool Airport and will be laying on additional flights to both Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

The new aircraft will seat 180 passsengers and Trevor Spinks, easyJet's UK commercial manager, has said "We've listened to customer feedback calling for more routes to the sun and are confident our two new routes to the Canaries will be a huge success."

If you are interested in travelling to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and would like us to look at booking your flight and/or holiday accommodation, just let us know.

"Benidorm" at the Sol Pelicanos Ocas Hotel

Ever wondered where the series "Benidorm" is based ... look no further than the Sol Pelicanos Ocas Hotel. 

The Sol Pelicanos Ocas Hotel is a 3 star hotel situated in the lively, popular resort of Benidorm, just 300 metres away from Levante Beach and very close to a wide variety of restaurants, bars and shops. The old town and tourist centre are around 25 minutes walking distance.

If you would like to stay at this popular beach hotel, just give us a call or send an enquiry.   We currently have an offer for 11 May 2010 for 7 nights on half board including flights for only £295 per person per week - other dates are available.