Authentic Spain

[MissDollyMix]

Starting to think about a holiday for the summer - would like to go to Spain as the children have never been (only to Tenerife which I’m not counting!) DH speaks pretty much fluent Spanish and the DC are doing well in the language at school - I’d like to give them more opportunity to actually immerse themselves both in the language and the culture of the country. I don’t really want to stay in a big international hotel type place- would prefer somewhere self catering, ideally with lots of local restaurants to explore in the evenings. Would love to have some interesting places to explore and sightsee. So really, I’m open to any suggestions … I haven’t been to mainland Spain since I was a child and my grandparents used to have a villa on the Costa Brava but I don’t remember much about it! Likewise DH went a lot as a child but doesn’t remember much about it! (He learnt his Spanish in Mexico…)

This is more or less what we’ve got planned for Easter, and staying some nights in Tangier too. What’s the museum you recommend there?

I would suggest the Costa Verde - not too hot in summer, either.

Seville and Costa de la Luz.
You can fly to Faro in Portugal cheaply and easily and then its an easy 1 hour drive over the open border to Ayamonte. Stay there for a bit and then head to Seville, its doable as a day trip from Ayamonte but better to stay there a couple of days

The Kasbah Museum in the old town. Lots of street vendors on the way which are interesting.

Cadiz

Seville will be so hot in July and August.

Authentic Spain and beachy, Sanlucar De Barrameda, in the very lively central square full of restaurants, we were one of what appeared to be two other English voices.

We also stayed in Sitges, flying into Barcelona. The next station from Sitges is Vilanova i la Geltru a Spanish town with a rambla, a beach and marina. Plenty of restaurants, a food market etc. Tarragona and Reus are in the same area. Both really unspoilt and authentic.

Whereever you go, do self catering and use local markets and shops, eat out as much as you can though into the early hours.

I lived in Valencia in the city centre and love the place. The centre wasn't affected by the Dana flooding and you'd be helping the Valencian economy by going there. It's a lot more touristy now than when I lived there but the city has a lot to offer and there are lots of great places within easy reach.

Getxo just outside Bilbao is gorgeous with beautiful beaches and incredible food. It's Basque country so they consider themselves Basque first and foremost and it's truly a gorgeous place and we found it child friendly. Weather is typically more like Cornwall than the Costas but we went in late May and it was around 25 degrees most days. You can get the light rail into Bilbao itself for beautiful pintxo and visiting the Guggenheim as well as going up in the funicular for amazing views and the city is really walkable and very beautiful especially the markets and the old quarter.
You're only about an hour by car from San Sebastian too for day trips and more delicious food.

Thank you all so much for such wonderful inspiration!

We've been on the long ferry from Portsmouth twice.

Favourite parts around there were the picos de europa - we stayed in Potes. Beautiful mountains and walks and the beaches are fab along that coast near San Vincenti de la barquera

On a separate trip we stayed near San Sebastián and loved it. Several days we went to the beach at Zarautz where we found a great surf school that worked really well for our kids who were about 13, 11 and 7 then

I like the small inland towns and big villages, about an hour and a half north of the Costa del Sol.