Spain is somewhere we’ve travelled extensively over many years, both on land and through numerous cruise visits, and yet we keep finding completely different reasons to return.
There are the obvious favourites: Barcelona, Madrid, the Costa del Sol, Mallorca and the Canary Islands. But Spain can also be about smaller coastal towns, food-focused city breaks, luxury resorts, walking holidays and journeys through parts of the country that feel far removed from the traditional image of a Spanish holiday.
Our most recent adventure proved that perfectly.
We walked the final 116 kilometres of the Camino de Santiago, following the French Way from Sarria through Galicia to Santiago de Compostela.
After days spent walking through the countryside and small villages of northwestern Spain, we finished with some time beside the sea, and a city stay in A Coruña.
It was a completely different Spanish holiday, and one we absolutely loved.
We’ve travelled throughout Spain on personal holidays, work trips and cruise itineraries.
We know Barcelona and Sitges, have spent time around Malaga, Marbella and the Costa del Sol, travelled through the north and explored the islands.
Phillip also spent a brief period working in Tenerife, so the Canary Islands have been part of our travels for many years.
What we particularly like about Spain is the choice.
We can spend a weekend eating our way around a city, have a few nights beside the beach, check into a beautiful five-star resort or build a much more adventurous journey.
And having now walked part of the Camino, we’ve discovered yet another Spain that we want to see more of.
Those different experiences help us think about Spain as a collection of very different holidays. The right choice depends on the pace you enjoy, the atmosphere you want around your hotel and how much exploring you hope to do.
We would draw on that variety when discussing your plans, from the practicalities of a walking journey to choosing a resort where you can settle in for a week. A familiar country can still offer something new when the arrangements reflect what interests you now.
Why do we keep returning to Spain? Because even after travelling extensively across the country, we’re still finding completely different versions of it.
Our latest trip involved walking 116 kilometres across Galicia, eating fantastic seafood and finishing beside the Atlantic in A Coruña.
The next might be Barcelona and Sitges, a luxury resort in Marbella, an island escape in Mallorca or some winter sunshine in Tenerife.
That’s the joy of Spain.
You think you know it, and then it gives you another reason to go back.
We also like being able to build a rewarding holiday around just a few priorities. You may want time for art and restaurants, a comfortable base near the coast or a walking route that gives each day a clear purpose.
That flexibility is useful when different people want different things from the same trip. Exploring can sit alongside quieter days, with a change of setting when it adds something worthwhile.
For us, the best Spanish holidays give the place enough time. There should be room for an enjoyable meal, a neighbourhood you want to return to and the moments that happen between the plans.
Walking the Camino can give a holiday a different focus, with the journey becoming as memorable as the destination. Our own experience from Sarria to Santiago showed us the pleasure of noticing the countryside and stopping in places we might otherwise have passed.
We would discuss the daily distances, accommodation and pace before shaping a route. There should be enough time for the walking itself, as well as breaks and a comfortable evening after each stage.
Leave room to enjoy arriving in Santiago rather than arrange an immediate departure. A few quieter days afterwards can provide a satisfying finish, with time to reflect on the journey and explore somewhere new.
Barcelona offers plenty for a city break, but the most enjoyable days need not be filled from morning to evening. Choose a few architectural or cultural experiences that interest you, then leave space for the streets and neighbourhoods around them.
We would plan any important visits around a manageable programme, with time to pause for lunch and return to your hotel if you prefer. The waterfront can provide a different setting when you want a break from the busier streets.
A few nights make it easier to find your own rhythm. There is more opportunity to revisit a favourite place and enjoy the city between the sights you came to see.
Madrid gives art lovers plenty to explore, with the Prado among the city's major attractions. We would choose the visits around your interests rather than assume you want to spend every day inside a gallery.
Leave time for the parks, streets and places to eat that make the city enjoyable in its own right. A relaxed lunch can balance a morning of sightseeing, with a quieter afternoon before heading out again in the evening.
The neighbourhood of your hotel matters when you want that freedom. A comfortable base and sensible journeys between places can help the break feel relaxed, even when you have several particular experiences you want to include.
Mallorca rewards a little exploring, whether you are drawn to Palma, smaller towns or a different stretch of coast. Choose a manageable outing and give it enough time rather than try to cover the whole island in a day.
We would consider how often you want to head out before recommending transport arrangements. A car may be useful for several independent trips, while a guided outing can suit a holiday with fewer excursions.
Keep some days free to enjoy your accommodation too. The pleasure of a good base is being able to explore when it appeals and return somewhere familiar for a relaxed afternoon, a swim or an unhurried evening meal.
Malaga can be more than the airport at the beginning of a Costa del Sol holiday. A short stay or a thoughtfully planned visit gives you time to explore the city before changing the pace at your coastal hotel.
We would choose a few experiences around what interests you, leaving room to walk, pause and enjoy a meal. There is no need to build a demanding sightseeing programme when the main attraction is discovering another side of the region.
Consider the journey onwards as part of the arrangements. Allowing enough time for both settings makes the city and coast feel like complementary parts of the holiday rather than a rushed arrival day.
A comfortable Tenerife resort can provide the focus for a holiday when you would like to take life more slowly. Give yourself time to settle in, enjoy the setting and decide which outings appeal once you arrive.
We would choose the property around how you like to spend the day, considering the room, dining and atmosphere alongside the facilities. A few planned experiences can sit between days with very little arranged.
There is no need to make every holiday a touring journey. A relaxed breakfast, time beside the pool and an enjoyable evening can be enough, particularly when the aim is a welcome change from the rhythm of life at home.