Logistics
Transport, accommodation etc - a starter to help with the planning of your next trip is to be found here.
Flights. Charter flights and packages are OK but appear to be more prone to delays then scheduled flights. With the arrival of Ryanair who fly all over the place) and EasyJet, and BMiBaby reliable low-cost airfares are now a reality especially if you travel out of the school holidays. In the past 12 months we have had flights to Barcelona, Malaga, Palma and Nice for less than £50 return.
Picture: Montserrat, only an hour from Barcelona but hardly known to a British audience
Climbing: Much of the climbing in the areas covered by our guides is of the 'Sport' variety and it has to be admitted there is some pleasure in travelling light, with the sun on your back; all very un-British. All that is needed for these climbs is a ten quick-draws and a single rope, 60m x 10mm will be found most useful. For climbers operating in the lower grades it is worth pointing out that on bolted climbs it is possible to push yourself, and those operating at VS on British rock should be able to push themselves up bolted climbs of 5 and even 5+, despite the fact that comparative grade tables suggest these could be as hard as E1.
Car Hire: A hire car is pretty useful in most of these destinations though it is possible to manage without if you really have to. Try a web search for Jet Car, Holiday Autos or Sun Cars for starters
Accommodation: depends at least in part in what kind of holiday you are after.
On the Costa Blanca we invariably travel independently, booking self catering accommodation before we leave the UK. Some areas have stacks of places to rent, especially all parts of the Costa Blanca. A magazine like Private Villas list properties with UK owners and contact number. Another site worth a visit to is Terracottages who have a variety of places close to the main climbing areas. A high rise in Benidorm may be the easiest option but it is unlikely to be the cheapest, pleasantest or most convenient. On the Blanca we have stayed at venues as far apart as from the outskirts of Alicante, right up to Gandia to cut down on the driving and enable us to capitalize on the superb climbing available the full length of the Costa Blanca.
Cracking Accommodation on the Costa Blanca
 Calpe has long been a great centre for climbing on the Blanca and whilst working on the latest guide we have been using accommodation organised by Unitursa who offer a variety of apartments right by the beach and within walking distance of the Penon. A look at their Home Page (click on the insignia to the right) should inspire! A two bedroom self-catering pad sleeping four in comfort is available from €28 per night in the low season, for the mathematically challenged that is about £5 each, and its right by the beach. |
On Mallorca self-catering accommodation is less easy to come by though the two links above should give you a starter. A recent discovery is the very classy sounding Honor Vell, accommodation in Bunyola, only a stones throw from Sa Gubia the islands premier cliff. The owner Ramon is offering a 20% discount for people who stay there in the winter month's and 10% for mentioning that you reached him via my web site. Also interesting is the fact that he has a boat and reckons to the know the whereabouts of areas ripe for development, now that does sound interesting. Ramon can be contacted by e-mail on honorvell@honorvell.com
At El Chorro there is a new camp ground just beyond the village (quite civilized but gets little sun in the winter) a refugio in the village (Spartan and rather unfriendly) and there is Finca La Campana, see the Terracottages link above. The cottages owned by expat Brits John and Val Howard are the classiest accommodation in the area and form a superb base, with many of the cliffs within walking distance. Currently the details are: two cottages, two sleeping 4/5 people and two cottages sleeping two people. They currently rent by the week only - at £250 a week for the larger ones and £150 for the smaller. They are self-catering and fully equipped. Have a look at La Almona Chica where the cottages are described and availability can be checked.
For something a little different check out Oliver Woolley's web site, Climb Catalunya. He runs holidays in Catalunyna, is happy to collect you from Barcelona airport, feed and water you and point you at all the best bits of rock in this impressive area.