Alan Hazel, Author at A Luxury Travel Blog - Page 3 of 5 : A Luxury Travel Blog

The best beaches in the world

By Alan Hazel on May 15, 2016 in Attractions, Europe, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Regions, Spain, Speciality Travel, Western Europe

With more than 8,000 km of coastline, Spain has long been a primary destination for European sun and surf seekers. In fact, Spain is the third most visited country in the world, thanks in no small part to its seemingly endless beaches and sunshine. But it’s not simply the quantity of hidden coves or vast

Luxury developments on the horizon in Andalusia's Malaga province

By Alan Hazel on Apr 19, 2016 in Attractions, Europe, Going Out, Regions, Spain, Western Europe

Though the Andalusian resort town of Marbella, on Spain’s southernmost Mediterranean coast, has long been renowned as a luxury travel playground of the rich and famous, the Costa del Sol itself gained a bit of a reputation for lower end tourism and overcrowding, particularly to the west of Malaga city. However, in recent years Malaga

The Andalusian festival season is in full swing for Spring

By Alan Hazel on Mar 15, 2016 in Europe, Events, Leisure Travel, Regions, Spain, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

Andalusia is a region known as much for its colourful and culturally rich festivals as it is for the seemingly endless supply of warm sunshine over its Mediterranean coastlines and seas of shimmering olive groves. Happily, these festivals and fiestas run right throughout the year so there’s bound to be something interesting happening no matter

The best culinary tour agents to satisfy your appetite for Andalusia

By Alan Hazel on Feb 16, 2016 in Europe, Food and Drink, Leisure Travel, Regions, Spain, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

There has been much buzz in the culinary world of late about the emergence of the fine food scene in Andalusia, particularly in Malaga. With eight Michelin stars awarded to restaurants in Malaga province and a total of fifteen across Andalusia, the region is challenging the long standing prominence of the Basque Country and Catalonia.

3 new Michelin stars herald Malaga's world class cuisine

By Alan Hazel on Jan 16, 2016 in Europe, Food and Drink, Going Out, Regions, Restaurants, Spain, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

Many would rightly credit the global prominence of Spanish cuisine to such pioneering restaurants as El Bulli, Arzak and Mugaritz that first made their mark more than a decade ago, and El Celler de Can Roca near Barcelona tops the list today as the world’s best restaurant. While the Spanish Basque country and Catalonia continue as

5 favourite food markets in Malaga

By Alan Hazel on Dec 19, 2015 in Attractions, Europe, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Regions, Spain, Speciality Travel, Western Europe

Many a food loving traveller will tell you that one of the best ways to get an authentic feel for a locale is to visit its central food market. It’s always a feast for the senses that, for most, will lead to a feast on the table either at home or right there at the

5 reasons for a winter holiday in Andalucia

By Alan Hazel on Nov 17, 2015 in Attractions, Europe, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Regions, Spain, Speciality Travel, Western Europe

While Andalucía is well known as a sun-seekers paradise, I have a little secret to share… summer is not the nicest time of year to visit. Sure, if you only have that short time for a break, you like it hot, and you want some guaranteed rays then it’s a good choice. However, there are

A taste of Malaga in five historic dishes

By Alan Hazel on Oct 22, 2015 in Europe, Food and Drink, Regions, Spain, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

Andalucian cuisine presents a tantalising array of flavours rooted in historical influences introduced by the Phoenicians, Romans, Islamic Moors, Jews and Christians amongst others. All is based on the freshest of local ingredients and here you find the finest fresh seafood, wild game and fowl, and an abundance of exotic spices such as saffron and

How to plan the perfect destination wedding in Andalucia

By Alan Hazel on Oct 01, 2015 in Europe, Regions, Spain, Western Europe

Thanks to its temperate climate, dramatic sun-swept landscapes and romantic traditions, Andalucia is one of Europe’s top spots for a destination wedding abroad. But with so many things to consider it can be complicated to organize such an important event well in a foreign country or little known location. Below are some of the most

Autumn in Malaga Province, a harvest bounty of Spanish culinary festivals

By Alan Hazel on Aug 26, 2015 in Europe, Events, Food and Drink, Regions, Spain, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

Maybe you’d like to visit southernmost Spain for the reliable, sunny weather this Autumn, or perhaps you’re planning for a tour of one of the iconic cultural and historical sites such as the Alhambra in Granada or the Mezquita in Cordoba after the summer crowds have thinned. There’s always a great reason to visit Andalucia

Unspoiled Andalucia: 5 reasons to visit La Axarquia this season

By Alan Hazel on Jul 17, 2015 in Attractions, Europe, Events, Food and Drink, Going Out, Regions, Spain, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

Few people outside of the region itself know La Axarquia by name. Though technically still part of the well known and well tread Costa del Sol, La Axarquia is in many ways the antithesis of what the Costa del Sol has come to be associated with, having preserved its natural beauty and historic culture, having

The world's best olive oils and mills: a tour of Andalusia

By Alan Hazel on Jun 16, 2015 in Europe, Food and Drink, Regions, Spain, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

Many a cultured traveler will have seen their fare share of wineries, tasted some of the finest vintages and built a good knowledge base around grapes and wines; but how many of these same people can name more than a few varieties of olive (there are in fact hundreds) or describe the difference in taste

4 reasons to hire a personal concierge for your next trip

By Alan Hazel on May 15, 2015 in Travel Miscellany

As more and more people forego the luxury of possessions for the luxury of unique experiences, the personal concierge business is booming. Few travelers have the time, contacts, or knowledge and insight necessary to arrange those truly unforgettable experiences in any location around the world. Of course, the rich and famous themselves have a team

5 new reasons to visit Malaga, Spain

By Alan Hazel on Apr 18, 2015 in Accommodation, Attractions, Europe, Going Out, Hotels, Regions, Spain, Western Europe

In the past ten years the city of Malaga has spent €100 million on the development of the arts, with additional spending on tourism infrastructure. With more than 30 museums, the city is rising in prominence as a world class destination for cultural enthusiasts of all sorts. It is only fitting that Malaga, the birthplace

Malaga city in 5 grand gardens

By Alan Hazel on Mar 23, 2015 in Attractions, Europe, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Regions, Spain, Speciality Travel, Western Europe

With its privileged position on the temperate Mediterranean coast and as one of the southern most cities in mainland Europe, it’s little wonder that the city of Malaga would be so alive with lush and thriving gardens. Indeed, many private gardens on the hills above the city would themselves be worthy of an entrance fee

Get lost! 5 Andalucian pueblos to lose yourself in

By Alan Hazel on Feb 14, 2015 in Attractions, Europe, Going Out, Regions, Spain, Western Europe

Renowned for its pretty white-washed pueblos and characterful cities, Andalucía offers a virtually endless scenic route for cultural and historical explorations. It’s no wonder that many of these villages have maze-like clusters of narrow, irregular streets, given that they were founded thousands of years ago. However, much of this can be attributed to the Moors

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