I’ve Been to Spain 11 Times

I love all there is to love about Spain and although I’ve been to Spain 11 times, I haven’t even glimpsed the Tapas (my poor way of saying touched the surface).

Spain is the holiday favourite for everyone from the UK because it has everything that touristic Brits want with their 2 weeks off in the Summer. And that usually amounts to two things: all-day sun and cheap booze. Spain was my very first holiday and I hope one day to live in Spain. Following is why I’ve been to Spain 11 times and why it’s not enough.

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My Thoughts on Spain

I have fond memories of Spain that span right back to a child with family and that typical British holiday to Spain in the 90s, later just leaving my teens with friends and a few more fun trips in my twenties.
The culture of the Spanish intrigues me. I love the people’s passion for the best things in life like family and food, the glorious food like paella, tapas, cured meats, seafood, olives and dozens more, the many dances that originated in the country, the vast variety of landscape across the country, the lifestyle like siestas and families eating out late at night and of course the delightful weather.
Spain has it all and while you could spend years travelling the entire country, why not start with a two-week Spain itinerary first? Get to see the very best places, discover excellent cuisine and roam around this epic country.
I am learning Spanish and am loving it.

Picture of me in tropical green long dress with white wall behind me and Marbella villas in the background. Ocean in far background.

The Early Ones

Majorca

I was lucky enough to go on my first ever holiday abroad when I was just 18 months old. Of course, I don’t remember a thing but I have heard wonderful stories from that trip and seen the photos and videos. My aunty, uncle, cousins and neighbours (aunty, uncle and cousins were also neighbours) were already in Spain and my mum, dad and me were flying out a few days after to surprise them.

There’s great pictures and videos that epitomise classic Welsh holidays to Spain in 90s and these include, but not limited to, less than 1 euro pints, hypnotists, pub quizzes and karaoke.

Tenerife

In 2000, my sister had arrived making our family a family of four and our first holiday was back to Spain but this time to Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands are a 4 hour flight from the UK unlike the rest of Spain because they are adjacent to North Africa and hot all year round.

I have great memories of this holiday including karaoke, Siam Park (the best waterpark I’ve been to), meeting new friends and my sister took her first steps here ha!

Salou

We are super close to my mum’s friend and her son and we went on a few holidays together and three of them were in Spain, first being Salou. I vividly remember the hotel we stayed in, the pool and my outfits (including a knock off Brazil World Cup bright yellow football t-shirt and gingham pink bikini). Gotta love the early naughties.

Gran Canaria

The same group went to Gran Canaria, my second of the Canary Islands, but my memories are quite foggy of this one.

Lanzarote

I definitely remember everything about Lanzarote and how windy this Canary Island was. We nicknamed our resort costa tebreeze (well, maybe someone else named it that years ago and my 11 year old self found it hilarious).

18+

Tenerife

Not the first choice for the usual girls’ first holiday but Tenerife was my first holiday ‘alone’ with three of my friends when I was 17. It was a blast. We did all of the shennanigans that you’d except and it is not for this blog. So I’ll move one.

Magaluf

Not what you think. A last minute trip, I went with my dad for three days, had a few bevs, sunbathed and father/daughter time in the most unlikely of places. I was in sixth form at the time and I remember going to the common room on the Thursday and telling my friends I was going to Magaluf the next day and they were like what?! and I said I’m going with my dad. It was class.

Benidorm Twice

Loved, loved, loved these two holidays. Went with friends on both in the same year. Absolute scream from start to finish!!! I LOVE Benidorm and I don’t care what anyone says.

Most Recent Ones

Ibiza

This is a great story. My partner is in love with Ibiza and the first time he went, I was in Portugal and he was arriving home a few days before I was. We both booked the rest of the week off work and so while I was in the airport sad to leave Portugal, he text me to say he’d booked us flights to Ibiza for the very next day! Ha, it turned my day right around. I landed home, washed all my holiday gear and re-packed my suitcase.

We had the best few days in Ibiza, it’s truly a magical island and my favourite place in Spain. To be fair, it hasn’t had much competition so far haha.

Marbella

For a friend’s hen, we went to Marbella on the Costa del Sol and a posh place it is indeed. We stayed in a lush private villa with a huge balcony to ourselves not far from Puerto Banus (the main strip). The seafood was stunning especially the Paella on the beachfront. Contrary to popular belief, Marbs is for carbs.

The Next 11 in Spain

There’s so many places I want to visit in Spain but these are my top 11:

San Sebastian (give me the food)
Catalonia (I want the food)
Seville
Madrid
Cadiz
Granada
Fuerteventura (last of the Canary Islands for me)
Bilbao
Cordoba
Santiago de Compostela
Valencia

Marbella Beach in Costa del Sol Spain. Sand in front, sunbeds and umbrellas in centre and ocean in background. Blue sky.

Thanks for reading this quick and personal post about the 11 times I’ve been to Spain!

I’ve Been to Spain 11 Times | Travel Journal

Contents

My Thoughts on Spain