Costa Tropical

Situated in the beautifully sunny Andalusia, the Costa Tropical always makes for a popular winter getaway as statistically it enjoys more sunshine than any other part of Spain at this time of year. Thanks to the mild winds from the north of Africa and the warm Mediterranean Sea, the Costa Tropical typically enjoys an average daily temperature of 18 degrees in the winter months – ideal at a time when much of Europe dips to sub-zero temperatures.

Almunecar, Motril and Salobrena are the three most popular Costa Tropical destinations, due to the extensive sandy beaches and clear blue waters, which consistently are rewarded the ‘Blue Flag’ for excellence. Although the Costa Tropical boasts undoubted beauty and guaranteed sun, it hasn’t succumbed to the overcrowding so associated with many parts of Spain, making this even more of a pull for families looking to combine striking shorelines, with a relaxed, stress free holiday.

Motril is the biggest tourist resort on the Costa Tropical and boasts the most distractions, where you will find excellent shopping, plenty of watersports as well as bars and restaurants.

Almunecar boasts a sturdy Moorish castle to explore as well as a small archaeological museum.  Close by are the shady gardens and Roman excavations in Majuelo Park as well as the family-friendly Loro Sexi bird park and cactus gardens.

Car hire in Spain

Barbados

As the winter bites hard and we succumb to the January blues, the natural white sands and turquoise waters of Barbados should be enough to tempt anybody away from home.

With the benefit of car hire you are able to explore this diverse island; from the immense beaches and rugged cliffs to the inland paradise found at the beautiful Flower Forest and Farley Hill National Park.

For some of the best beaches, head to the west coast, where the sea is generally calmer. Mullins Bay near Speightstown is always popular and especially good for families thanks to the amount of water sports available. A short drive to Paynes Bay and Holetown also on the west coast is particularly rewarding, where you will also find excellent beaches, with good snorkelling and other action packed water sports. The beaches are all manned by lifeguard teams, meaning you can relax as the gentle breeze washes over you, while the youngsters can enjoy a paddle in the warm sea.

Arguably, Barbados’s most beautiful beach is to be found on the south east coast at Bottom Bay, where you can unwind in a serene setting of towering palm trees and limitless white sandy stretches. 

Older children will appreciate a drive to Harrison’s Cave. This spectacular cavern system is almost a mile in length and contains some impressive stalactites and stalagmites, with some formations measuring in at almost 30 feet in height, all seen via taking an electric tram.   A trip to the most northerly point of the island should include a trip to the Animal Flower Cave with more underground displays and colourful sea anemones.

Or, discover how sugar is made at the Sugar Museum midway between St James and St Thomas.

Further beautiful scenery can be enjoyed by driving to the east coast, where you will find the small settlements of Cattlewash and Bathsheba. Here you will see where the massive Atlantic waves have moved huge boulders onto the beach. The beaches here are, for the most part, quiet and uncrowded – apart from the odd surfer searching for the perfect wave.  And the views here are breathtaking, especially during sunset or sunrise.  In fact, why not enjoy the panoramic views along with a delicious lunch at the Round House Inn just outside Bathsheba.

Car hire in Barbados