For the tourist who wants to make the most of their hire car around Murcia you don't have to look vary far. Here are just 5 of the nearest and best places you could consider visiting.
The Murcia province in the Costa Blanca offers holiday makers fantastic resort based vacations as well as an opportunity to immerse your self in some of Spain's historic culture.
The city of Cartagena is located only 20 kilometers from La Manga del Mar Menor along the twisting scenic coastal highway, and 70 kilometers from Murcia it retains some of the area's most interesting historic sights.
At these distances it makes for the perfect day trip in your hire car. Cartagena is a must for any naval enthusiasts, being home to Spain's current principal port and the vast majority of their naval fleet. The port it self is set far back in a natural cove but on both rocky peninsulas forts Galeras and San Julian. stand guard over the harbor.
The history of this natural port dates back to the fifth century BC when it was used by the Greeks and Phoenicians as a natural shelter. The city boasts a lively mixture of modernist architecture interspersed with Roman sites, buildings and monuments. It has all the charm and character of a local Spanish city along with an interesting history.
The Conception Castle is a modernist building which stands square and dominating it has a panoramic glass lift which offers by far the best views of the town. From the top of this lift you can see the Roman theatre, which happened to be found completely by chance .Up until recently much of this city's Roman heritage lay buried and un-disturbed. In 1988 a few blocks were uncovered by heavy rain on the hill side, unfortunately almost an entire neighborhood had been built over the top of the theatre once residents had been happily relocated the painstaking excavation and re-construction of the theatre began; now a must see structure you can even observe the restoration work taking place.
As more and more of the history is uncovered on a daily basis, a trip at the start of your day to the local Tourist information could ensure you don't miss any new developments.
For the more adventurous a short drive from Cartagena (approximately 25 kilometers on the N340) will whisk you away into the stark dramatic landscape for which this region of Spain became so famous. This desert landscape gives the impression that you might be some where like Arizona rather than Spain, Tailored to the more adventurous it's also a great place to take a picnic and soak up the breath taking scenery.
One of the best ways to spend a day with the children has to be a day at the beach. Enjoying the sea and sunshine seems to be becoming a thing of the past in the UK. So make the most of the Fantastic Spanish weather. There are miles and miles of golden, un-spoilt, sandy, blue flag beaches to be enjoyed in the La Manga area.
A trip to the near by beaches of the Mar Menor Lagoon offers 135 sq kilometers of safe shallow waters. The constantly calm warm waters of the lagoon guarantee a good day at the beach will be had by all. Open only to the sea through narrow inlets the lagoon manages to maintain higher salinity levels and a constant temperature around 5 degrees centigrade warmer than the open sea.
The lagoon offers a plethora of water sports from wind surfing, jet skis, sailing and kite surfing, to swimming and diving.
The Calblanque National park known as the 'virgin coast' is a natural area of preservation. It offers outstanding beauty combined with activities to keep even the most energetic holiday makers entertained. Horse riding, cycling, nature walks and swimming in the crystal clear waters are all on offer. This can make the perfect day away from the resort, enjoying blue skies fresh air and the outstanding natural beauty.
Keep a look out for the rare Araar tree a left over from the areas Moorish history. And make sure you stop and take in the extraordinary fossilized dunes.
A little further away The Aquoplolis water park at Torrevieja is one of the biggest and best on the Costa Blanca. Built onto the side of a natural hill the park has more than sufficient numbers of slides and pools to keep the children entertained for hours, but don't forget the sunscreen.
Another great excursion that will keep the children entertained is the safari park at Elche. The fastest route in your hire car is to take the A7 heading North West from Murcia. Here visitors can observe the hundreds of animals at the park from the comfort and safety of a real river boat.
For a slightly more cultural day out the picturesque old market town of Lorca is not to be missed.
Lorca sits in the South West of the Murcia region and boasts a wealth of Churches, Roman villas, works of art, palaces and monuments; along side all of the usual Spanish bodegas, bars, café's and restaurants. However the town is dominated by the large hill top castle and is worth a visit.
Plaza Mayor is the best point to start your trip and is easily accessible by hire car. It gained its name in the 18th Century and was designed as the central power base for the town; housing the collegiate, the mayor's office, town hall, prison and any other important types who were deemed worthy. These days many of the buildings are open to the public.
Lorca plays host to many local fiestas and celebrations so be sure to check the diary if you
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Who Flies To Murcia Airport
Mercia Airport although small, functions perfectly for holiday makers wanting to reach the Southern Costa Blanca and Costa Calida regions quickly and cheaply. It's located conveniently between the three major cities of Murcia, Cartagena and Torrevieja. At only 30 Kilometers away from the La Manga resort it is a perfect destination for holiday makers and property owners alike to fly into.
Many of the low cost airlines now fly into Murcia, from a huge range of regional airports. See below for a list of airlines that currently fly to Murcia.
Ryan air
Monarch
BMI Baby
Jet 2
My travel Lite
Flybe
Easyjet
British Airways
Ryan Air appears to be the biggest operator flying to Murcia at the moment with roughly 5 Flights a day originating in the UK. They operate from many regional airports so be sure to shop around for a bargain. The price of these 'budget' flights varies wildly. If you can fly outside of peak times or be organized enough to book your holiday flights a long time in advance huge savings can be made. Alternatively look out for sale weekends when some of these airlines cut their fares, certain destinations are dramatically reduced in price.
These new airlines offer basic 'no frills' flights that greatly reduce the cost to the holiday maker, but be prepared that they may not include in-flight drinks or meals.
The flight time form the UK to Murcia Airport is approximately 2 and ¼ hours depending on which airport you fly from. Spain is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time; don't forget to change your watches and phones!
With Murcia Airport remaining relatively small concerns about large check-in queues and worries about delayed flights or lost baggage can be left at home. Flights aren't forced to conform to strict take off windows such as in bigger airports, because there are far less flights coming and going. Missing these slots and having to wait for another is more often than not the cause of delayed flights.
Having said this it is always essential to make sure you have appropriate holiday insurance in place that will cover you should anything be lost. Legal and General have recently calculated that the luggage and its contents for a family of four traveling abroad for a week long holiday on average amounts to over £3,000 pounds
As so many competitive airlines are now flying to Murcia the choice is very much up to you the customer. Closer and more suitable than Alicante, Murcia is the better option when staying at the La Manga Resort.
Once you arrive the car hire offices are within an olive's toss from the main terminal, and hiring a car in the Murcia region will allow you visit the local towns, villages and local beauty spots that have made this area of Spain so unique and appealing.
Many of the low cost airlines now fly into Murcia, from a huge range of regional airports. See below for a list of airlines that currently fly to Murcia.
Ryan air
Monarch
BMI Baby
Jet 2
My travel Lite
Flybe
Easyjet
British Airways
Ryan Air appears to be the biggest operator flying to Murcia at the moment with roughly 5 Flights a day originating in the UK. They operate from many regional airports so be sure to shop around for a bargain. The price of these 'budget' flights varies wildly. If you can fly outside of peak times or be organized enough to book your holiday flights a long time in advance huge savings can be made. Alternatively look out for sale weekends when some of these airlines cut their fares, certain destinations are dramatically reduced in price.
These new airlines offer basic 'no frills' flights that greatly reduce the cost to the holiday maker, but be prepared that they may not include in-flight drinks or meals.
The flight time form the UK to Murcia Airport is approximately 2 and ¼ hours depending on which airport you fly from. Spain is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time; don't forget to change your watches and phones!
With Murcia Airport remaining relatively small concerns about large check-in queues and worries about delayed flights or lost baggage can be left at home. Flights aren't forced to conform to strict take off windows such as in bigger airports, because there are far less flights coming and going. Missing these slots and having to wait for another is more often than not the cause of delayed flights.
Having said this it is always essential to make sure you have appropriate holiday insurance in place that will cover you should anything be lost. Legal and General have recently calculated that the luggage and its contents for a family of four traveling abroad for a week long holiday on average amounts to over £3,000 pounds
As so many competitive airlines are now flying to Murcia the choice is very much up to you the customer. Closer and more suitable than Alicante, Murcia is the better option when staying at the La Manga Resort.
Once you arrive the car hire offices are within an olive's toss from the main terminal, and hiring a car in the Murcia region will allow you visit the local towns, villages and local beauty spots that have made this area of Spain so unique and appealing.
As in the UK seat belts must be worn at all times by all occupants of the vehicle both in the front and back. This is common sense these days in the UK but is still rigorously enforced in Spain.
Recently the rules for motorway overtaking have been re-written in Spain; make sure you clearly indicate before overtaking as well as when you pull back in on a Spanish motorway. Likewise when entering a motorway from a slip road ensure you wait until the white line becomes broken before pulling out. Not obeying either of these rules could land you with an on the spot fine.
Children under 12 years of age must not travel in the front of a car in Spain unless the car is fitted with a suitably adapted seat belt restraint. This is a rule we don't have in the UK and when you and your family are enjoying a holiday it can be easily forgotten.
Should you break down in Spain a warning triangle is compulsory. This should be carried in the car at all times. If the car is Spanish registered you actually have to carry two so make sure your hire company has equipped the car with these before you leave the rental office. Similarly, high visibility vests need to be carried incase of breakdown. If you should be unlucky enough to breakdown on a motorway make sure you and your passengers don't sit in the vehicle on the hard shoulder. Leave the car with the hazard lights on and warning triangles set up at the appropriate distances away, sit safely on the grass verge until help arrives.
A 'green card' for driving in Spain is not compulsory but it's a good idea to advise your insurers of your intended trip. It's also a good idea to let your bank know that you are traveling abroad so that they don't put a hold on your card if transactions pop up in places they wouldn't expect and they think they might be fraudulent.
A vast majority of Spanish filling stations now accept credit cards out of hours I.e. between 12 pm and 3 pm, or late at night. However your card may not work as they are designed for Spanish credit cards only. Be sure to top up with fuel regularly and during shop opening hours to avoid running dry.
Always carry with you a new photo identity driver's license, your passport, vehicle registration certificate and relevant insurance documents from your hire company.
Having read all of these precursory 'do's and don'ts' try not to worry, driving in Spain is straight forward and really very similar to the UK. A Hire car is a fantastic way of enhancing your holiday experience, make sure you take full advantage of it and enjoy it to its fullest.
Recently the rules for motorway overtaking have been re-written in Spain; make sure you clearly indicate before overtaking as well as when you pull back in on a Spanish motorway. Likewise when entering a motorway from a slip road ensure you wait until the white line becomes broken before pulling out. Not obeying either of these rules could land you with an on the spot fine.
Children under 12 years of age must not travel in the front of a car in Spain unless the car is fitted with a suitably adapted seat belt restraint. This is a rule we don't have in the UK and when you and your family are enjoying a holiday it can be easily forgotten.
Should you break down in Spain a warning triangle is compulsory. This should be carried in the car at all times. If the car is Spanish registered you actually have to carry two so make sure your hire company has equipped the car with these before you leave the rental office. Similarly, high visibility vests need to be carried incase of breakdown. If you should be unlucky enough to breakdown on a motorway make sure you and your passengers don't sit in the vehicle on the hard shoulder. Leave the car with the hazard lights on and warning triangles set up at the appropriate distances away, sit safely on the grass verge until help arrives.
A 'green card' for driving in Spain is not compulsory but it's a good idea to advise your insurers of your intended trip. It's also a good idea to let your bank know that you are traveling abroad so that they don't put a hold on your card if transactions pop up in places they wouldn't expect and they think they might be fraudulent.
A vast majority of Spanish filling stations now accept credit cards out of hours I.e. between 12 pm and 3 pm, or late at night. However your card may not work as they are designed for Spanish credit cards only. Be sure to top up with fuel regularly and during shop opening hours to avoid running dry.
Always carry with you a new photo identity driver's license, your passport, vehicle registration certificate and relevant insurance documents from your hire company.
Having read all of these precursory 'do's and don'ts' try not to worry, driving in Spain is straight forward and really very similar to the UK. A Hire car is a fantastic way of enhancing your holiday experience, make sure you take full advantage of it and enjoy it to its fullest.