• Spain has a huge variety of scenery, coastline and culture.The rocky coves of the Costa Brava, the serene white villages of Andalucia, the fiery passion of Cordoba and Seville, the windswept beaches of the Costa de La Luz, the luxury of Marbella
• It’s easy to get a feel for Spanish culture: sample sherry in a Bodega, eat tapas with the locals, see real flamenco in most places but especially in Seville.
• Atmospheric cities with much to offer aesthetically, historically and culturally - Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba to name but a few.
• Great food - tapas is a fantastic invention for the snacking toddler - and very varied
• Hot weather with low humidity,
• Flight time of only around 2.5 hours from the UK.
• There are plenty of airports, so getting to your destination involves very little transfer time
• Roads are good and car hire is reasonable.
• Development means that there’s a wide variety of accommodation, from plush hotels, to tiny hostals, to paradors, to villas of every standard.
• Flights are numerous and the competition means that they are well-priced in comparison with other European destinations.
• There are some great packages, but it’s also easy to ‘do your own thing’ in Spain, even with a baby or toddler(s), or both.
• Yes, parts of the coast line are very developed, but if you avoid the worst areas, a bit of development can make for an easy, holiday-maker friendly destination - easy shopping, good medical facilities, English widely spoken.
• Spain welcomes children with open arms - it has a relaxed, indulgent way of dealing with small children and the joys and difficulties they may bring - nothing is too much trouble and children are welcome in all places - not as a separate ‘race’, but integrated into adult life. Makes for a relaxed, stress-free destination.

Things to think about:

• There is a lot of development and you have to work hard to get beyond it. If you like to imagine yourself as the only tourist in town, avoid the coast
• Very hot in summer.
• Flights are numerous but the cheap fares mean they get booked up very quickly. Accommodation may be available but flights are sometimes not, so don’t leave it too late if not booking a package.
• Roads are modern but driving is fast and furious - not for the faint-hearted driver
• Apart from Barcelona, the main cities are some distance from the coast, so it’s hard to combine both in one stay. Two centres or planned trips are your best bet.

Best times to visit: May-early July, September-October

Flight times from GB: 2hrs 45mins

Time difference: GMT+1hr

Currency: Euros. Credit cards widely accepted, just need some cash for more remote areas.

Capital: Madrid

Web site: http://www.tourspain.es