Spain

When you think of private jet Spain, the mind conjures images of flamenco dancers, bullfighters, and white hillside villages. Beyond these traditional associations you'll find that Spain is really several countries within a country, with cutting-edge art museums, green highland valleys, medieval towns, soaring cathedrals, world class cuisine, raucous nightlife, and an immense treasury of sculptures and paintings. Most exciting for any visitor is the national determination to always enjoy life. Whether it's strolling through the park with family, lingering over lunch, or socializing with friends until dawn, living life to its fullest is what Spain does best.

Must See: Of the top attractions throughout Spain, one that consistently ranks at or near the very best is Alhambra Palace. Built in the 14th century by the Nasrid sultans, the palace complex of Alhambra is a royal relic of the golden age of Andalusia, located on a hill at the edge of Granada city province. Alhambra is considered to be one of the top cultural highlights ever achieved by a European. The original fortress here was constructed in 889, with the royal palace added in 1333. The settlement housed tens of thousands of people at one point, complete with numerous mosques (later replaced by the Iglesia de Santa Maria de la Alhambra in the 16^th century), housing, schools and gardens. The citadel is also one of the finest examples of Moorish architecture and engineering. Inside the castle are exquisitely decorated rooms and lavish gardens of the royal palace, such as the Hall of the Abencerrajes. The brickwork, vaulted ceilings, wood inlays, intricate stucco and gold leaf ceilings reflect the grandeur of the period. Many visitors come to Granada, or even Spain, just to see the Alhambra.

Lodging: There are so many choices, as with any European country, but one fantastic luxury selection in Spain is the Vincci Selección Aleysa Boutique & Spa hotel, situated in Benalmadena. An exclusive, attractive boutique hotel where details are all important, this establishment inaugurated on the Spanish Costa del Sol by the Vincci Hotel chain is one of the most sophisticated hotels in Benalmadena. It has a strategic, ideal location on the beachfront, with direct access to one of the best beaches on Malaga coast, and resides in quiet surroundings while still very close to famous leisure spots such as Puerto Marina. Moreover, for those who wish to mix relaxation and tourism its situation is perfect for visiting places such as Malaga, Marbella, Torremolinos, or Fuengirola and it is only a few miles from the capital city's International Airport.

Ground Transportation: Trains are usually quicker than buses but not always, but they're a lot more expensive and it isn't always possible to travel everywhere by train. Traveling by bus in Spain is not generally popular among tourists, but it should be. It's much cheaper and it often isn't much slower - it can even be quicker. The problem is that there are loads of bus companies and no one site that combines all the companies. Having access to a car is a great convenience as it is elsewhere, even when cost is no concern, but isn't always the most practical way to travel in many cases. As with any trip, research before you arrive is essential to the most hassle-free experience.

Recommended Books: Ghosts of Spain: Travel Through Spain and Its Silent Past, Giles Tremlett (2008). The appearance, more than sixty years after the Spanish Civil War ended, of mass graves containing victims of Francisco Franco's death squads finally broke what Spaniards call "the pact of forgetting" - the unwritten understanding that their recent, painful past was best left unexplored. At this charged moment, Tremlett embarked on a journey around the country and through its history to discover why some of Europe's most verbose people have kept silent so long. In elegant and passionate prose, Tremlett unveils the tinderbox of disagreements that mark the country today.

Currency: The Euro is the local currency

Calling Code Spain: 011 + 34 + phone number (all are 9 digits, first number of cell phones is a 6 or 7)

Best Travel Dates and Packing Tips: As usual, the best time to visit Spain depends on the trip that you envision. The advantages of visiting Spain in the summer aren't only the warm weather, but also the fact that some tours only operate at this time of year. This also means that the weather is too hot for some as well, and that there are more tourists during this period. Many cities are deserted in summer as well, as the Spanish evacuate these many internal cities like Madrid and Seville in the unbearably hot months and escape to the cooler coast.

July and August are the busiest periods for international travelers, so if you want to go somewhere where you won't hear too much English, the Costa Brava at this time of year is not the place to be. It can be tempting for some to visit Spain at the hottest time of year so they can guarantee they get a tan. But you may regret this when you see just how hot it can get. June and September are more comfortable times to get bronzed (and don't rule out May and October).

In the winter there are less crowds, with more temperate weather and more events going on. Travel Tip: Take particular note of national or regional holidays that fall on a Thursday or Tuesday. The Spanish tend to take the Monday or Friday between this holiday and the weekend off work (the 'puente' or 'bridge'). You may find a lot of things closed for all four of these days.

This makes it easier to book hotels at the last minute, allowing for a freer itinerary. But the weather up north can get bad this time of year, and there's no beach weather in the south either. If you like to city hop at your own pace, without having to book your accommodation months in advance, then travel in winter. Plan a wardrobe passed on layering no matter when you decide to travel via jet charter to Spain.

Easter (Semana Santa) is another popular time to travel in Spain, especially for the Spanish themselves, as is the week between Christmas and New Year. You might find it difficult to get accommodation during these times, so book in advance.

Cities in Spain