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Spain - The Kingdom of Spain
Traveling to Southern Europe's Golden Jewel
Spain's unique geography yields an incredible landscape with many fascinating features. Spain is the largest sovereign state of Europe's Iberian Peninsula. Its borders consist of the Mediterranean on the east and south, and Portugal on the west. The Atlantic Ocean touches the south, west and north boundaries. France also shares the northern limits. Traveling to this coveted region of Europe is more affordable now than ever before.

Spain's Allurement 

The popular sites in Spain are almost too numerous to mention. Almost. The contemporary culture is the product of rich history and the convergence of many different peoples. The landscape has, of course, natural as well as man-made attractions. As many have, myself included, you may be considering a trip to España.
Perhaps you have already researched all that this stunning country has to offer. If not, here are some things to think about.

Origins and Development of Spanish Architecture 

The architecture of the Renaissance era and the Spanish Baroque period left behind some absolutely astonishing structures. From an architectural standpoint, Spain has been a cultural crossroads throughout history. There are cathedrals and mosques that transcend Christian and Arabic influences. The essence of such combines spiritual and ethnic aesthetics. Castles and old remains of ancient cities blend Mediterranean and Northern European styles.

There are magnificent structures located all over the country. Thankfully, while traveling across the country I quickly realized that near every one of these sites were timeshares. If you don't know what a timeshare is I will give you a quick overview: A timeshare is a type of vacation accommodation often located at a resort. You can buy or rent time with resort chains and then exchange it for a timeshare in another location if you wish. These locations are literally all over the world. A great way to take advantage of this opportunity is a timeshare resale, which offers, on average, 60% off the resort price. Anyway, if you want to experience the diversity in Spain's attractions, timeshares are a great way to get around conveniently.

Experiencing the Culture in a Cost-Effective Manner

Unless you are made of money, and even if you are, you may be interested in efficient budgeting. At the same time, Spain has so many outstanding entities that you will not want to squander any chance to see a particular part of it. My personal preference is to avoid tours and go create adventures on my own. With this choice I sometimes sacrifice the option to attain interesting knowledge from those who conduct tours. Also, there are certain places that require the company of a tour to gain access. Tours can be expensive, but there are also ways to find discounts. Group discounts, if you are traveling with a number of people, is an avenue to consider.

Also, a search online can often turn up deals and packages on tour fees coupled with airfare. From city to city and town to town you will observe discernible differences in the people, the food (mmm…we'll get to that in a second), and the physical appearance of both the metropolitan areas and the countryside. This makes it difficult to avoid guided tours because occasionally the cost of the tour itself will make up for the expenses involved in getting from one place to another. So, in other words, contemplate what your objectives are and the pros and cons of going it alone versus guided expeditions.

Spanish Cuisine 

If you are anything like me, you can choose a vacation destination solely based on the food there. Okay, well maybe not solely, but that's huge in my book. I have already mentioned how diverse Spain's culture is. This diversity directly correlates to the variety of cuisine around the nation.
 Jamon Iberico
There is one word that I feel encapsulates Spanish food: Fresh. Different regions of Spain have different indigenous produce and styles of preparation. That is what makes the food so diverse from a nationwide point of view. In my experience the more rural areas, that are supplied by open-air markets and prepare meals by hand, are unrivaled in freshness. However, even in big cities such as Madrid and Barcelona you will see very quickly there are no slouches in the kitchen. Even timeshare resorts have very skilled catering services so don't fret if you are restricted to your resort hotel (depending on location, certain times of the day and night make it difficult to find an available eatery) for a meal.

There are a couple differences in dining in America and dining in Spain. First of all, eating healthy is undeniably delicious. In fact, it is hard to find a dish that isn't good for you. Even the traditional deserts are often fruit based. Spanish chocolate is perhaps the sweetest secret in the realm of Spanish dining. Secondly, there is no hurry when you are eating. Relaxation is a side dish with every meal.

A few free suggestions regarding food: if you find yourself in Andalucia partake in any dish with shellfish, of which there is a plethora. Also, in Andalucia is the Jamon Iberico, a pork dish that is completely different than anything else in the world. In the North, Navarre is famous for its stuffed piquillo red peppers and many of Navarre's meals are more based around vegetable dishes. Amazing.

Outdoor Enthusiasts and the Lay of the Land The Pyrenees Mountain range basically forms the border between Spain and France. The Pyrenees are actually older than the Alps and are a common destination for those who are interested in finding a spot for good skiing, camping, rafting and climbing.

Spain's Mediterranean coast is a place of breathtaking vistas and refreshing atmosphere. Surfing and windsurfing hotspots can be found at various locations. Scuba diving, swimming and sailing are perfect pastimes for the eastern coast. An interesting alternative to traveling and the subsequent lodging complications are timeshares on houseboats.

Unbeknownst to many, Spain has a fine collection of island territories. The Canary Islands are located off the coast of Morocco and provide yet another unique place to explore. Tenerife is perhaps the most famous of the seven islands that make up the archipelago. Tenerife features immaculate beaches and exciting nightlife.

Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands and is also a very popular island destination. Much like Tenerife it has spectacular beaches and plenty of bars, restaurants and nightclubs, certainly a "must see" destination for your Spain getaway. No matter where you choose to go, remain confident that you are never far from timeshares that can serve as low cost home-away-from-homes. Traveling on a budget is not always an easy task, but Spain is definitely a place you should see. I hope this little guide has been helpful, and don't forget through all your experiences and adventures make sure to have fun!

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