Thursday, March 29, 2012

How to enjoy Easter in the Comunidad Valenciana and Murcia.

Easter is aproaching and the spanish beaches will become fill of tourists again, as well as the streets fill of visitors who will assist to the famous processions.

In a few days we will be celebrating Easter. As it´s known, here in Spain its celebrations is very spectacular during these days. Due to the multitude of processions held in the Peninsula there are a multitude of toursts visiting our country.


Which is the preferred destination to spend the holidays?
Due that the major type of religion in all Western European countries is cristian-catholic, there are several national holidays at the same time. Both companies and schools are closed.

Due to its favoured climate and its warm temperatures compared with the rest of the countries, Spain is one of the top destination for tourists during these days. As every year, there will be a great flood of people coming from all over Europe and from midland towards the different coastal areas.

A high number of visitors will choose to come to the Comunidad Valenciana and Murcia, so it is to be expected a large number of visitors who will be looking for a car hire Valencia and Murcia airport, or for an apartment to rent in Alicante. The forecasts ary very positive, that´s why we all recommend to book in advance for these days because we all expect to be 100% booked out.

Why do tourists prefer coastal areas?
Given that these are the first days of the year were we have a nice sunshine and pleasant temperatures, many tourists prefer to come to spend a few days on the beach, making profit of the warm sun rays, getting brown and among the brave ones even dare to take a swim in the sea.

But of course it is not all about sun and beaches. At the same time Spain is known internationally for its processions.

What are the processions?
The processions are parades across the streets, where they walk about with religious images carried on the shoulders of the so-called "costaleros". Each one of them, group of image and "costalero", are known as "paso".

People devoted to this have been training for a long time because they have to carry on their shoulders among the streets the image of Jesus Christ or the Virgin, in a very well organized slow march, with counted steps and a well established itinary. For many it is a truly honor to be able to bear its weight.

I´m off to the Comunidad Valenciana, which are the best known processions?
If our destiny is Alicante, the best known one is the Santa Cruz procession, a brotherhood that already exists 67 years. The route is one of the hardest because they depart from the Santa Cruz Hermitage, located at the base of the Castle in the old town of the city and cover virtually all Alicante´s main avenues. It is celebrated on Holy Wednesday.

The brotherhood "Santísimo Cristo de la Buena Muerte and Nuestra Señora de las Angustias" are responsible for the Silence Procession, which is held on Holy Thursday. This processions is one the most impressive ones for the majority of visitors.

If we are thinking in visiting the province of Valencia, we can go to the Alzira´s procession, which is one of the most visited of the Comunidad Valenciana. Among the most important ones is the "Domingo de Ramos", the "Silencio" one and the "Procesion General del Santo Entierro".

The Comunidad of Murcia has always been very religious and the Holy Week has a very special meaning for them. A variety of processions are held among all the province.

Due that it is very good connected thanks to its airport and because of its wide range of tourist services such as car hire Murcia, and its hughes variety acommodation in hotels and in apartments makes Murcia being one the favourite places to visit during this time of the year.

The processions of Cartagena have been declared of National Tourist Interest and stand out for their spectacular "pasos", the many flowers they are wearing... They are organized by the four main brotherhoods of the city (Marraja, del Cristo del Socorro, Californina and the Resucitado).

The processions of Jumilla date back to the 15th century and its "pasos" images have been made by very well-known sculptors. The most impressive one, without any doubt, is the Holy Wednesday one at the Plaza de Arriba, represented by the townpeople and declared of National Tourist Interest.

At the same time we can see processions in other cities in the area, though they are not as well known, they do attract each year more visitors. Towns as Callosa del Segura, Crevillente, Elche, Gandia, Lorca, Murcia, Orihuela, offers its visitors a wide range of choice throughout the community.

And you? Do you know any procession that we haven´t mentioned?

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

A shortage of rental cars in Easter Week is expected

A shortage of rental cars for the Easter holidays is expected again as a consequence of important companies's closedown of the sector because of the crisis.

Days pass fast, and by leaps and bounds approach one more year the first holidays of this year 2012, the Easter Halidays Week, beginning this year on Thursday the 5th of April. Because this is a very short vacation, a lot of visitors, most of them foreign people, prefer to come by plane or train and once arrived in destination, would like to rent a car.


Up to date we could see really low prices for car hire. As a tradition, many of the foreign customers have reserved their cars with a few months in advance, in order to be sure that will have a confirmed reservation and at the same time to get the best prices available. For example until only 2 weeks ago we could book a car hire at Alicante airport for less than 100 euros per week.

However, as dates are closer to the Easter Week prices begin to increase. For example now we can hire a car in Murcia from 130 euros and everything points that prices will increase as Easter holidays aproches.
But why do the prices increase?
As we already know the big majority of car hire companies renew the cars of the fleet constantly and as soon as the low season arrives they sell most of the vehicles, keeping the right number of cars for the winter season.
This year the economic situation is very dificult and finding finansation it is now a real challange for most of the companies. Beeing in this situation the companies can not renovate their fleet of vehicles. This way the big majority of car hire companies will have to resign with buying a lot less vehicles that the normally acquire buy this time.

As well is very important to point that important companies of the sector have suspended its activity as a consequence of the financial crisis in which Spain is immersed.

Conclusively, there are less car hire companies and the ones that support the pressure will a minor availability of cars for hire. This situation involves a shortage of fleet in curcial seasons like Easter Week and summer, besides a predictable rise of prices by this time.

How does this affects the travelers?
When the number of vehicles is very low, the companies have no other choice but to increase prices and many times the ones that makes last minute reservations will have to pay very high prices. This is all the way round than in a normal situation, when the last minute bookings haves special discounts.

The ones that have decided to rent their car until today, can say that they have paid a really low price for the Easter holidays. The ones that want to rent a car, it will be advisable to make theis booking now, and so will be sure they will pay a moderate price and at the same time being sure that they will have a car hire for those dates.

What about you? Are you going to risk and not hire a car until the last moment?

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The Fallas of Valencia are up to begin!

From the 9th to the 19th of March is when they delebrate the famous Fallas of Valencia. The Levantine capital will be invaded by thousands of visitors searching for the smell of gunpowder, the impressive monuments, the music and the  festivities around the streets during these days.

Once again, Valencia´s streets are filled with happyness, entertainment, concerts and people looking for fun.

We´re talking about the Fallas of Valencia.

Huge cardboard monuments are erected in the middle of the streets anywhere around the city and its towns. Each year with more daring designs, always trying to satirize all kinds of topics related to politics, famous artists...

The Fallas, also known as the "Fiestas Josefinas" are held in honor of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the carpenters. These festivities were born as a result of burning old stuff as a way of celebrating the end of the winter season and entrance of the spring season. In Valencia, the fallera capital, they last for about 1 month and they are a genuine show of color, smell of gunpowder and noise by the millions of firecrackers which are explode at all hours.



This year, despite of a budget reduction, the celebrations haven´t lowered down their level and do keep attrackting tourist from all over the world. There will be held variuos activities and music bands to entertain all visitors along the city.

This year their will be performances of many soloists and groups such as Colti, Celtas Cortos, Ariel Rot, etc. Apart from them, many other lesser-known groups will be performing as well with their own songs and with wordlwides greatest hits to encourage the atmosphere.

Of course during these days we also will be enojying of the typical Fallera music. The more than 300 bands will start touring around the streets every morning at 8 o´clock waking up everyone, forming a true spectacle all over the city.

All the Fallas are part of a competition. On the 18th of March is when a specially elected jury will decide which Falla is the best of all. Not only the Fallas will get rewarded, there will also be a reward for the best Ninot of the normal Fallas and for the infants one, which saves itself to be burned on the 19th.

During the las three days of this festivity, are taking place the Flowers offering to the Virgin. Thousands of Faller@s from all the districts give honor to The Virgin with a bouquet of flowers, and bunch to bunch they make an intense colourful mantle at the monument.

The last day of the Fallas is when they celebrate the well known Nit del Foc. Its when they celebrate the greatest pyrotechnical spectacle of Valencia. This year they expect over than 600.000 visitors to join this event. Just when finishing is when they burn all the statues, a whole year work. Many of its visitors cannot hold back their tears.

This is the moment when they start again working for the Fallas of the next year.

All the information about the Fallas for its visitors can be found at http://www.fallasfromvalencia.com/

Which is the best way to go to the Fallas?
To come and visit Valencia during these days, if you travell by plane to the capital of the Comunidad Valenciana, the best thing to do is hiring a service of car hire in Valencia to be able to move around comfortably to all the strategic points of the city during these days.

If you prefer to spend a journey through the different towns where they celebrate this festivity, its advisable to travel by plane up to Alicante Airport and hire a service of car hire in Alicante. Many villages between Alicante and Valencia are also celebrating these festivities, particularly Denia, Oliva, Gandia, Sueca...

Where about are you going to celebrate this festivity?