Iberostar official blog where we can meet and decide our next travel destination
Header

Tips on how to cope better when flying long haul

marzo 21st, 2013 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in No category | The View - (0 Comments)

Have you ever flown long haul?  The truth is that on these kinds of flights, the hours definitely don’t seem to ‘fly by’. If you’re stuck on how to fill so many empty hours, then here are a few tips based on my experience. Of course, they’re not all suitable for everyone, but I’m sure that one or two will probably help to make your flight seem shorter.

In my opinion, an absolute must on any journey – and especially a long one – is a good book (and maybe even more than one!). But don’t make the mistake of picking up the first title that catches your eye; read up on the reviews beforehand, ask someone who shares your taste in literature and check out the latest book lists. Reading is a means of escape; it transports you to a different world and time will fly by without you even realising it. And if you’ve got an ebook, then you can take a load of reading matter with you!

Use the time to watch the films that are often shown during a flight. It’s time to put down that book and you’ll see how those 90 minutes or two hours the film lasts simply flash by! It’s also a good idea to take a laptop or iPad style gadget packed with the films or series your busy lifestyle prevents you from watching. You’re guaranteed hours and hours of entertainment. But don’t forget to make sure the battery is fully charged up first!

If you’re a fan of electronic games then you can also take advantage of the time to try that game you haven’t found the time for yet. You just won’t believe how fast time goes when you’re focused on winning the game!

Listen to your favourite music; give your trip a sound track, sit back, close your eyes and relax. With a bit of luck you might even fall asleep – one of the best ways of making time go faster.

A flight is also a great opportunity to chat and meet people – provided they’re receptive. Creating a warm and positive atmosphere is always a good idea, even with the cabin crew. Good conversation and making new acquaintances is another way of spending the time on a long haul flight.

Don’t remain seated throughout the flight; when you’re flying long haul, it’s a good idea to stand up and stretch your legs. Walking up and down the aisle will stop your muscles from going to sleep and also keeps you occupied.

If you need some help to get to sleep, many people find that a small glass of red wine helps them to drop off – but stick to just one; otherwise it may have the opposite effect!

I hope you find these tips useful the next time you fly!

Oscar Niemeyer, the architect of dreams

marzo 7th, 2013 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Local Characters | The View - (0 Comments)

Oscar Niemeyer passed away last December in his home city of Rio de Janeiro at the age of 104. Niemeyer designed many of the most important public buildings in Brasilia, as well as museums, homes, libraries, churches and even sambadromes that can be seen all over Brazil, from Belo Horizonte to São Paulo. Over the last 10 years, his career had received a new impulse and his projects can also be seen around the rest of the world.

In 1940, the young Niemeyer met the mayor of Belo Horizonte, Juscelino Kubitschek, who commissioned him with his first major project: the design of a church and a casino on the shores of Lake Pampulha. Niemeyer’s designs created an impact. His reputation spread and in 1952 he was invited to take part in the design of the United Nations Building in New York, working with architects such as the Swiss-French Le Corbusier. Two years later, his rapidly-growing fame would be finally consolidated with his design for his home in Rio de Janeiro. In 1956, he was commissioned by the-then President Kubitschek to design the principal buildings of a new city: Brasilia. Niemeyer’s hand is also believed to have left its mark on the drawings by Le Corbusier for the Ministry of Education building in Rio de Janeiro, one of the few projects the Swiss architect carried out in Latin America.

Despite his early success which would be sustained throughout his career and the recognition he received towards the end of his life, Niemeyer would also be ostracised for his political ideas. Persecuted for his associations with the constitutional government of President Juscelino Kubitschek, he was forced into self-exile in France during the 1960s.

Between 1991 and 1996 he worked on what many consider to be his finest achievement, the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, described as a sculpture projected in stone overlooking Guanabara Bay and the city of Rio. The foundation that bears his name was set up in 1988.

Niemeyer was the last witness of an age in which architecture was considered to be synonymous with progress, democracy and social justice. They were the most messianic days of what was known as the Modern Movement whose great messiahs included Le Corbusier, Mies Van der Rohe and Walter Gropius.

Winner of the 1988 Pritzker Award, considered to be the Nobel prize in architecture, and the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts in 1989, right up until the end of his life he continued working in his studio with its large curved windows overlooking the famous Copacabana Beach. There he spent his time working on Novos Caminhos, his magazine dedicated to architecture, and on new projects, such as the Arab-South American Library, commissioned by the Government of Algeria.

Despite the success he enjoyed throughout his career, Niemeyer always claimed that architecture was not the most important thing in the world, and nor was politics. Niemeyer said that for him, life was more important than anything else. With more than 600 completed works to his name and around twenty projects in progress both in Brazil and abroad, this fragile looking man with his penetrating gaze had said that what he wanted was to continue “surprising”.

“If you’d like to discover at first hand the country where this genius of architecture was born, IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts offers you the chance to stay at one of its two hotels in Salvador de Bahía or on the  Grand Hotel-Ship Amazon that sails from Manaus”

,

Tourism and the social networks

febrero 7th, 2013 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View - (0 Comments)

 

Social networks are a rapidly expanding phenomenon that is bringing about major changes to consumer behaviour in general and that of travellers in particular. They are becoming increasingly popular among travellers when planning trips and choosing destinations. Indeed, social networks have opened up a whole world of opportunities for travellers as they can find comments and opinions about possible tourist destinations and the services we can find there. How many of us browse social networks in search of information about our destination prior to departure? What’s more, as travellers, we can also influence the perception other consumers receive of a destination through the comments we post and the contents generated on these social networks.

In the case of most cities, the number of Google searches for “hotels in…” has dropped around 70%, with users preferring other portals that offer the viewpoints, comments and assessments posted by others. The advent of smartphones has also led to a rise in this phenomenon, as most of us now use our mobiles when travelling to comment on our experiences practically in real time, and we also use our smartphones to look for accommodation options.
According to a number of studies, Facebook is the most influential social network when it comes to choosing our holiday destination and hotel. 52% of users claim that they are inspired by the photos posted by their friends and acquaintances when planning their holidays.

Before choosing a destination, we love reading the opinions of others; in addition to finding out what our friends think, we’re also eager to know the opinions of complete strangers and what vision of the city or country we’re planning to visit is really like. We also want to know details of a specific hotel – if it’s conveniently located, if the services are up to scratch, plus we want to see photos. And in that sense what we value most highly are the opinions of Facebook and Twitter users and the chance to the photos posted by other travellers on sites such as Pinterest or Instagram.

The number of social networks is growing by the millions each year, and all because they guarantee visibility, credibility, transparency, honesty, passion and knowledge…plus they’re free!

And what about you, do you regularly use social networks when planning your trips?

,

IBEROSTAR’s fascinating history

diciembre 19th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View | THE WORLD OF IBEROSTAR - (0 Comments)

The history of the IBEROSTAR GROUP goes back more than 120 years, sharing its roots with footwear companies Camper and Lotusse. In 1877 Antonio Fluxá, a master shoemaker, set sail for England to study industrial footwear production. On his return to Mallorca, he gathered together a group of craftsmen from the island’s Inca area and founded the first footwear production company in the Balearic Islands. This enterprising spirit of innovation has been passed down to future generations, through a philosophy based on principles such as love for the profession, honesty, austerity and a commitment to quality.

The Fluxá family were pioneers in using a brand name for their footwear: Lotusse. At the age of 21, Lorenzo Fluxá Figuerola took over from his father as manager of the factory, and continued with the firm’s international expansion. In 1956 he acquired a small travel agency with 6 branches and 40 employees, known as Viajes Iberia, and started to expand the business. One of the maxims Lorenzo repeated over and over again to his children while they were growing up was “You’ve got to be international”.

Years later, Miguel Fluxá would take over the reins of this travel agency. And so, with hard work and enthusiasm for building a dream, combined with the family’s hallmark entrepreneurial spirit, Miguel Fluxá turned his full attention to the tourism business. In 1973 he founded the tour operator Iberojet, and 6 years later embarked on the company’s international venture, opening an incoming travel agency, Iberotravel, with offices in London and Manchester, and Visit US, with branches in Miami and Orlando, to deal with Iberojet customers.

By 1986 Miguel Fluxá had built up a portfolio of companies with a consolidated and widespread reputation. This encouraged him to extend the range of services the Group offered its customers by entering the hotel sector and opening the first IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts hotels in Mallorca and the Canary Islands.

After consolidating the Group’s hotel business in Spain, the company continued with its expansion strategy, opening its first establishment in the Caribbean. The beachfront 5 star IBEROSTAR Bávaro Resort opened in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic in 1993. Since then, this area of the business has enjoyed spectacular growth.

In keeping with the company’s ambitious expansion strategy, 1998 saw the creation of  Iberworld, an airline specialising in charter flights with hubs in Palma de Mallorca, Madrid and Tenerife. This was followed shortly after by founding of Iberojet Cruceros. By 2004, the original 6 travel agencies had become 500 branches situated throughout Spain, and one of the country’s leading tourism groups.

That same year the company created the IBEROSTAR FOUNDATION. The key areas of action of this non-for-profit institution are social aid, cultural development and cooperation for development with a particular focus on children.

In 2006, the  IBEROSTAR GROUP sold its tourism division dedicated to the outbound side of the business, including the tour operator Iberojet, as well as other brands such as Solplan, Turavia or Viva Tours, Iberworld, Iberojet Cruceros and Viajes Iberia network of travel agencies. The aim was to boost the development and expansion of its main area of business, its hotel division.

IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has based its strategy on the following values:  a vocation for service, quality, value for money, innovation and sustainability, promoting and respecting local cultures. A team of more than 23,000 professionals around the world work each day to maintain and strengthen these hallmarks of the Group’s identity.

The latest stage in its ongoing development was the launch of a new category of hotels - , The Grand Collection, offering luxury accommodation for its most demanding customers.

The fourth generation of the Fluxá family is now directly involved in running the company, in keeping with its enterprising spirit, and IBEROSTAR is committed to continuing to invest in those countries it already operates in and to extending its business activity to new destinations and markets.

Hungarian gastronomy

diciembre 14th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in DESTINATIONS | SOMETHING DIFFERENT | The View - (0 Comments)

Despite the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables in Hungary, they are not the basis of the country’s gastronomy. Indeed, the ingredients you’ll always find in Hungary’s most traditional dishes are meat and spicy flavours.

The most typical dish of all is goulash, a thick soup or stew made from meat, onion, pepper and paprika.  In autumn, visitors to the city of Kalosca, situated on the banks of the Danube, will immediately spot the strings of red paprika peppers that hang from the whitewashed walls of the houses, forming a colourful contrast. Yet although goulash in undoubtedly the best-known dish, and paprika the most popular spice in Hungarian cuisine, there is much more to the country’s culinary tradition, which includes a wide range of sweet and savoury dishes.

Pörkölt is another delicious stew. A close relation of goulash, it is normally made from beef or pork – although other types of meat can also be used – as well as various types of vegetable, again including a generous amount of paprika.  It is served warm with some type of Hungarian pasta such as tészta, galuska or nokedli.

Pork is the most popular type of meat amongst Hungarians – although their recipes also include other types such as beef, chicken, duck or goose – and they have a local breed that is widely known and admired: the mangalica, a hairy, domestic pig whose principal characteristic is its lean meat.

Other traditional Hungarian dishes include csirke paprikas or chicken with paprika and töltött paprika or stuffed paprika peppers. The Hungarians also eat a lot of cabbage, an ingredient that features in many recipes and is even fermented (savanyú kaposzta). One of the best-known recipes is probably töltött káposzta or stuffed cabbage.

Also well worth trying are the palacsinta, fine pancakes or crêpes that can be served with sweet or savoury fillings. The simplest and most traditional versions are filled with jam or cottage cheese, but there is also the gundel palacsinta –the type normally served to tourists – filled with walnut cream and chocolate sauce.

Special mention must be made of the humble, yet truly delicious pogacsas. These are small bread rolls, normally round in shape, made with different ingredients such as cheese, potato, paprika, onion, garlic and/or a range of seeds like sesame, sunflower or poppy. You’ll find them everywhere you go: they’re a delicious snack and a firm favourite with foreigners.

Téliszalámi or Hungarian salami is another well-known Hungarian delicacy. Originally from the city of Szeged, it is made using traditional methods and has a number of characteristics that set it apart from Italian salami. It comes in several varieties, including a version with paprika (what else!) and is made using a mixture of pork and beef (csemege szalámi) and smoked sausages.

And now it’s time for dessert! The most famous are dobostorta, a mocha and caramel cake; somlói galuska, a sponge cake with walnuts and raisins soaked in rum and served with melted chocolate and whipped cream;   beigli, a kind of Swiss roll filled with poppy seeds (traditionally eaten at Christmas); and rétes, The Hungarian equivalent of Austria’s apple strudel consisting of several fine layers of pastry with various fillings (typical of all the countries that made up the former Austro-Hungarian Empire). One of the most famous versions of this delicious dessert is túrós rétes, which is filled with cottage cheese.

My mouth is watering, so shall we head for Budapest to sample these culinary delights?

“IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has a 5 star hotel in Budapest, the IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Budapest, situated in a prime location, surrounded by splendid buildings, embassies and shopping areas.  Built in 2011, the rooms are nothing short of luxurious perfection”.  

, , ,

A stroll around the world’s most delightful Christmas markets

diciembre 5th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View - (0 Comments)


Christmas is just around the corner. Our thoughts will soon turn to tree decorations, the Christmas Day menu and the presents that Father Christmas or the Three Kings of the Orient will be bringing. And to get your Christmas shopping off to a great start, there’s nothing better than rummaging around the Christmas street markets that are held in towns and cities all over the world.

Christmas shopping is a great excuse for taking a holiday. The origins of these markets lie in Europe, especially in Germany, and date back to the 14th century. Cologne is said to have the best street market in Germany, although the truth is that there are 4 separate markets scattered around the town, the most spectacular of which is Am Dom, held in the square of the same name opposite Cologne Cathedral. However, Dresden boasts the country’s oldest market; situated in Striezelmarkt, it has around 250 stalls. Berlin’s Christmas market is another impressive sight, with the stalls huddling around the Kaiser Wilhelm Church.

In Copenhagen, the market is held in the grounds of the gorgeous Tivoli Gardens, the oldest amusement park in the world.  Vienna, with its famous coffee shops and delicious cakes and pastries, served all year round, is also home to no fewer than three Christmas markets, each with a special attraction that inevitably fills visitors with Christmas cheer. But if Father Christmas was guided by his taste buds, then there’s no doubt about it: Brussels would be one of the first stops on his Christmas Eve route.   Prague’s two most famous Christmas markets are held around a giant Christmas tree that stands in the square of the Old Town. Ornately decorated stalls sell anything and everything, from Bohemian glass and puppets, to cakes, pastries and plaited bread loaves.  Occupying one of the city’s prime locations, opposite the imposing Strasbourg Cathedral, we find France’s biggest and oldest Christmas market known as Christkindelsmarik. London is renowned for its markets that take place all year round, although visitors will also find several traditional Christmas markets, the most popular of which are in Southbank and Hyde Park.

In Hungary, Christmas is the most important celebration of the year, due to the fact that it coincides with the Feast of Saint Stephen, the founder of the Hungarian state.  The country’s best-known Christmas market is held in Budapest, although the markets in Győr, Pécs and Sopron are also well worth a visit.

The Christmas spirit pervades the air in the streets of Croatia, where numerous markets take place.  The most traditional market in Zagreb is held in Ban Jelacic Square. There visitors can buy Christmas decorations, hot sweet wine, local crafts and all types of delicious local Christmas fare.

Thanks to its ancient ties with Austria and Germany, the most authentic Italian Christmas street markets are to be found in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige. There visitors will find several large markets in the historic quarters of towns such as Bressanone or Brixen, Brunico, Merano, Vipiteno, Trent and Arco.  However, other Italian cities including Rome, Florence, Bologna, Naples and Verona also hold picturesque Christmas markets.

People in Spain have a special affection for Christmas time; elaborate nativity scenes are traditionally set up in almost every home together with the Christmas tree. Spain’s biggest Christmas market is held in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor.  The Christmas market in Barcelona, which is connected to the Feast of Saint Lucia, is also an eye-catching event. Yet throughout Spain, you’ll find traditional markets lined with stalls selling Christmas decorations, figures for the nativity scenes, Christmas trees and typical sweets.

Although not quite so traditional as in Europe, on the other side of the Atlantic Father Christmas won’t find it too hard to add a few markets to his Christmas shopping trail. One such market is to be found in Chicago, in the heart of the Chicagoland district, a sight not to be missed.

In short, Christmas markets can be found around the world in all shapes and sizes, although Europe definitely takes the cake. So where shall we start?

The origins of Capoeira

noviembre 14th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in SOMETHING DIFFERENT | The View - (0 Comments)

During the age of slavery (from the 16th to the 19th centuries), Brazil received some of the largest numbers of slaves shipped mainly from Angola, Mozambique and Guinea. These Africans were set to work on the sugar and cotton plantations where they all lived crowded together in slave quarters known as Senzalas.

There are various theories surrounding the origins of Capoeira; one suggests that it comes from a dance by Angolan men who wished to court the young women, whilst another questions whether Capoeira was brought by the Africans or if they actually redefined it in Brazil. However, the most widely-accepted theory is that Capoeira was conceived as a dance that acted as a smoke screen for the training sessions of the slaves as they learned to fight. This would explain the fact that today it is a mix of dance and fighting techniques.

Whatever the case, it is clear that the origins represent a form of resistance to the oppression the slaves endured under their masters. An art that they were originally forced to practice in secret and which would forever provide spiritual comfort and succour for those that practised it.

The word capoeira comes from clareira- the Brazilian Portuguese word for a clearing, which in turn comes from the expression  caá-puêra: in the Tupo-Guarani family of languages  caá means ‘bushland’ and puêra, ‘that was’; in other words, it refers to a space that has been cleared of crops and used to practise this dance.   Capoeira therefore takes its name from the space where it was practised.

Capoeira can not only refer to the body movements made by the dancers; indeed, the music also plays an essential role in this form of cultural expression. The sounds of traditional percussion instruments such as the berimbau, caxixí, atabaque, agogo, pandeiro, reco-reco and xequerê retain the essence of their African roots, and are accompanied by the songs of the capoeiristas, which vary in accordance with their function. Two capoeiristas dance together energetically in a spontaneous choreography that simulates attacks, provoking a response from the opponent who dodges and moves away in time to the music. The objective is to prove the capoeirista’s superiority over his opponent. The basic movement is known as ginga, whereby the entire body moves rhythmically to the sounds of the  berimbau, in order to keep the body in a state of relaxation and its centre of gravity in constant movement, ready to dodge, attack, counterattack or flee, in direct contrast to other, far more static martial arts. It is widely believed that the movements recreate the attacks of various animals, mixed with the malice of the white man.

Capoeira is a cultural manifestation made up of dancing, fighting, music, songs, bodily expression and games…a series of elements that come together in an authentic philosophy for life. In order to discover Capoeira at first hand in all its glory, there can be nothing better than a trip to Brazil where you’ll find examples of this art at every turn.

“IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts hotels in Brazil offer visitors the chance to enjoy thrilling experiences, including a first-hand insight into Capoeira. The outstanding location of the IBEROSTAR hotels in Salvador da Bahia and the Grand Amazon hotel ship that moors in Manaus are a unique opportunity to explore this country’s fascinating culture”.

, , ,

Fancy a delicious Caribbean cocktail?

septiembre 26th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Snapshots | The View - (0 Comments)

The exact origin of the word cocktail is unknown, although numerous theories abound. Yet wherever the word may come from, these long drinks have been around for centuries. The first written reference to a cocktail dates back to the 16th century, and several classic mixes have been around for many years. Examples include the Old Fashioned, a bourbon cocktail that first appeared in the late 18th century.

The word cocktail is known to have been in use in the USA back in 1809. Thirty-five years later, Charles Dickens described one of his characters, Major Hawkins, as a person capable of downing “more cocktails than any other known gentleman”.

Following the introduction of the Prohibition in the USA, outlawing the production, sale, transportation and import and export of all types of alcohol, the industry went underground. These illegal alcoholic beverages often tasted disgusting, and people preferred to conceal their taste with fruit juices and fizzy drinks.

And when it comes to finding the finest fruit juices, where better than the Caribbean with its wide range of delicious tropical fruits? Where or who invented the Caribbean’s famous cocktails is still a topic of heated debate. For instance, the appearance of the famous Painkiller is attributed to the islands of St. Croix (the US Virgin Islands) and the British Virgin Islands.

Exotic and tropical, elegant and sophisticated, or fun and extravagant, Caribbean cocktails are as varied as the very islands they originate from. One of the things these refreshing drinks have in common is the use of delicious natural tropical fruits, herbs and spices, some of which are native to this region. Fresh ingredients such as bananas, pineapples, coconuts and citrus fruits blend with spices harvested in the region including ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper from Jamaica to create mouth-watering sensations that bear the hallmark of the Caribbean. In the Dominican Republic, intriguing-looking twigs are left to soak for several weeks before becoming the main ingredient of the Mama Juana, a delicious drink that locals claim will cure all ailments, from impotence to the common cold.

Yet without a doubt, Caribbean rum rules supreme. It’s no secret that this spirit extracted from sugar cane is the key ingredient in most of the cocktails from this corner of the world. Golden añejo, white, seasoned with spices or added to an infusion, this spirit family is famed for its effectiveness in treating the symptoms of flu, heartache, homesickness and cold, and above all, for instilling life into the most insipid of cocktails.

If you’re visiting the Caribbean, you’ll find it impossible to resist the delights of cocktails such as the Mojito, Banana Daiquiri, Piña Colada, Coco Loco, Peanut Punch, Caribbean Cosmopolitan or Dragon Punch to name just a few of the most famous.

And one more thing to bear in mind: the essential requirement of any cocktail worth its salt is not just a great flavour, but also its capacity to enhance the mood, good company and boost some great conversation. Cheers!

, , , , , , ,

Discover Jamaica’s superb beaches

septiembre 24th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in DESTINATIONS | The View - (0 Comments)

 

 

Jamaica is quite simply a stunning country; a captivating island that offers visitors countless natural wonders and outdoor activities to suit all tastes. It is famed the world over for its musical culture based on reggae and its greatest star, Bob Marley. The number of musical rhythms that have originated on this island is quite staggering if you consider its relatively small size (240 km long and just 80 km wide) and its population of just 11 million; reggae, ska, dub and rocksteady are some of the most important. And naturally, all these musical styles emerged against the backdrop of Jamaica’s magnificent beaches, as they all have a beat that blends in perfectly with the beach.

Jamaica boasts several truly stunning beach areas. One of the most outstanding is Ocho Ríos, home to two of Jamaica’s finest beaches: Turtle Beach and Mallard Beach. There’s also the legendary James Bond Beach, which owes its name to the fact that the creator of this world-famous character, Ian Fleming, lived there for a time. It was also the location where classic scene from Dr. No, in which the gorgeous Ursula Andrews emerged from the water in that stunning bikini, was filmed. Visitors to Ocho Ríos will also find Dunn’s River Beach, where Dunn’s River flows into the Caribbean and where you can walk under the falls that mark this meeting point between river and sea.

Negril is another of Jamaica’s best-known tourist attractions. This exotic place is one of the most famous in the country as some years ago it was a favourite spot amongst the hippy community. Today, unspoilt beaches form a wild setting that makes you feel at one with nature.

Boody Bay is one of the area’s principal beaches, and the ideal choice for listening to reggae music whilst relaxing on the beach. The superb Long Bay Beach is also well-known: 11 kilometres of fine white sands bathed by turquoise waters that are so transparent that they reveal the coral reefs beneath.

Blue Lagoon Beach is Jamaica’s most famous natural lagoon; it was here that the film of the same name – The Blue Lagoon – starring Brooke Shields was made. Lying east of Port Antonio, the most outstanding feature of this lagoon is that the colour of the water changes depending on the angle of the sun, shifting from one shade of blue to another. The fabulous beach that surrounds it is backed by lush vegetation, forming a truly paradisiacal landscape.

Jamaica is renowned as a land of limitless liberty and freedom. Its brightest star is undoubtedly Montego Bay, nestling in a vast crescent-shaped bay, and the site of world-famous beaches such as Doctor’s Cave, Walter Fletcher or Cornwall Beach.

Doctor’s Cave Beach is not only the region’s social hub, but its crystal-clear waters are also believed to have special healing properties. From here, glass-bottomed boats take visitors on trips to admire the underwater coral gardens. This is one of the island’s finest natural beaches and the perfect starting point from which to explore the northern region: undulating landscapes dotted with golf courses, pools in all shapes and sizes, narrow twisting streets and transparent calm waters that lap gently onto dazzlingly white sands.

Walter Fletcher is a quiet beach in Montego Bay, ideal for families travelling with lots of children. It naturally boasts stunning white sands, yet its most important feature is the calm water, making this a safe beach for families with small children. The Aquasol Park is another attraction, when fun and laughter are guaranteed all afternoon long.

Cornwall Beach is a lively, bustling beach, perfect for meeting new people and having a great time with the family or group of friends either on the beach or splashing about in the sea. It also has lots of eating options including a wide range of dishes and prices.

“If you’d like to enjoy these beaches and much more besides, IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has three 5 star holiday resorts in Montego Bay: the IBEROSTAR Rose Hall Beach, the IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Rose Hall (adults only) and the IBEROSTAR Rose Hall Suites. “

,

Spanish gastronomy: quality, variety and mouth-watering flavours

septiembre 21st, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Snapshots | The View - (0 Comments)

From tip to toe, Spain boasts a wealth of gastronomic delights that are famed throughout the world. It is impossible to speak of just one type of Spanish cuisine; of a single style of cooking or just one basic ingredient. Indeed, when describing gastronomy in Spain, a countless variety of dishes and styles inevitably springs to mind.

Yet perhaps olive oil – the king of all dishes – is the one common denominator. This ‘liquid gold’ can be poured on raw or used for frying features in the cuisine of all the country’s regions. It forms an essential part of the Mediterranean diet, although each region has gradually created its own culinary specialities, producing unique dishes of superb quality that are becoming increasingly admired by visitors and tourists. The tradition of eating tapas such as potato omelette and savouring a platter of cold meats – especially the mouth-watering cured Iberian ham, is also popular throughout Spain.

If we start our tour in the north of the country, in Galicia, then we must talk of the delicious shellfish from the Cantabrian Sea, and the way the locals prepare the freshly-caught octopus, spider crabs, velvet crabs, scallops, Norway lobsters and goose barnacles. Even after a delicious seafood platter, you should always leave room for dessert, which in this case simply has to be the famous Santiago Almond Tart.

Their neighbours in Asturias are famed for their fabas or butter beans, an ingredient to be found in many dishes in this region, although the Asturian fabada always comes out on top when it comes to their delicious stews and casseroles.

In Cantabria and the Basque Country the fishermen prove their know-how bringing to shore the finest fish that skilled chefs transform into delicacies such as Marmitako (a delicious way of preparing tuna) or the famous salted anchovies that the people of Cantabria are so proud of.  Don’t leave this region without tasting the delicious anchovies in vinegar or some of the countless recipes for hake known to the people in the north of the country.

The cuisine favoured by the communities that live on the shores of the Mediterranean is renowned around the world. When in Catalonia, make sure you don’t miss out on dishes such as Escalivada (roasted vegetables), Escudella (a hearty meat stew) or Catalonian butifarra sausage. In Valencia rice rules supreme, and the numerous types of paella are known and admired all over the world. The East of Spain is famed for its numerous rice dishes, although one of the most popular is undoubtedly Arroz Abanda (rice cooked in fish stock).

In Castilla y León, game and hearty stews and casseroles are just two of the gastronomic delights of this region where roast suckling pig and leg of lamb most definitely taste better than anywhere else. In La Mancha, make sure you have the opportunity to taste their tomato and vegetable mix known as Pisto, and Gazpacho Manchego, which is completely different from the Andalusian chilled soup.

In Andalusia, the hot dry climate has made chilled soups such as Gazpacho andaluz and Salmorejo firm favourites on any menu. These refreshing healthy dishes are typical of southern Spain. Also not to be missed is the fried fish, known as ‘pescaíto’ and Andalusian-style calamari, plus a host of delicious vegetable and fish dishes prepared in a simple and appetising way.

The most popular dish in the Canary Islands is undoubtedly papas arrugadas – literally ‘wrinkly potatoes’ -, served with spicy mojo picón sauce. Make sure you try some Gofio (a traditional flour made from toasted grains and that is not used anywhere else in Spain), or Rancho Canario, a substantial recipe made from chick peas, potatoes, thick noodles and meat.

Visitors to Menorca in the Balearic Islands will enjoy the typical Mahonés cheese and lobster stew.  When in Mallorca, make sure you try the traditional ‘frit mallorquí’ – fried meat and vegetables –, tumbet – a mixed vegetable dish – , stuffed aubergines, sobrasada sausage and, of course, the famous ensaimada pastry. In Ibiza, give in to temptation and treat yourself to the delicious Flaó and Formentera’s fish salad.

Naturally, it would be unforgivable not to accompany any of these dishes with a glass of fine wine; there are numerous varieties and designations of origin well worth discovering throughout Spain. But that’s another story.

, , ,