Latest news with #Tarifa
The Guardian
21-07-2025
- The Guardian
‘It's the low-key moments that stay with us': the secret to happy summer holidays with the kids
On a walk with my children, now in their mid-20s, I asked them what they remembered best from their school summer holidays. I expected to hear about the fiesta we witnessed in the heat of Tarifa, Spain, or be berated for the time I booked early flights to Crete, leaving us sitting in the waiting room of a resort from 4am until check-in time. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. I was greatly amused (and slightly relieved), then, to hear my son say: 'Our summer books – that time we collected all those random things, took them home and stuck them into a book.' He was delighted that we've kept them. My daughter said: 'Soup on the beach.' We'd stayed on the Isles of Scilly (one of our favourite destinations), and had promised them a bonfire next to the sea on our last night. Of course, by the time we got around to it, night was falling – and with it the temperature – and poor four-year-old Lulu got tired and cold. We wrapped her in a blanket, propped her on a rock and gave her a mug of bonfire-heated tinned soup – and watched as the colour sprang back into her cheeks. The point of this (rather sentimental) reminiscing is to show that you don't need expensive foreign holidays or trips to amusement parks for your children to have a good summer. It's the low-key moments that tend to stay with us – and they can be as simple as a fun craft activity or a makeshift meal under the stars. Sure, lazing on a beach in the Algarve for a week or two is what keeps parents going through the winter months, but the 4am start for the ferry or the queues at passport control can start to undo the benefits of a holiday. If you're looking for ways to entertain your children during the holidays but sadly can't just down tools and take the day off, read our guide to the summer holidays. It includes lots of ideas for inexpensive activities to do around your home or garden, from den-building to arts and crafts, as well as short and longer days out. We've also rounded up the best garden games for children of all ages. Don't ever feel guilty about not being with your children for the entire school summer holidays, nor for amusing them with low-cost activities. Sometimes, the simplest activities turn out to be their most memorable. The best wedding gifts in the UK: 13 ideas that couples will actually want The best moisturising lip balms to hydrate and protect your lips The best gins for G&Ts, martinis and negronis, from our taste test of 50 'Unbelievably terrible': the best (and worst) supermarket vanilla ice-cream, tested and rated 'It's hard to know what to wear when the sun comes out,' says fashion and lifestyle editor Morwenna Ferrier, 'so it always seems strange just how little thought we give to it.' But we've done all the thinking for you in our bumper guide to summer dressing, with 69 ideas for women, men and the kids. From a spicy marg T-shirt and a purse for your beach change to perfect men's shorts and a bag charm for grownups, there's something here to suit every summer style. Monica HorridgeDeputy editor, the Filter If you've ever planned to spend the evening outside only to be tempted back on to the living room sofa, it may be time to upgrade your garden furniture. Whatever the size of your outdoor space, there'll be a sofa, bistro seat or bench to suit in design expert Claudia Baillie's guide to the best garden furniture. There are also tips for buying vintage or secondhand furniture if you'd rather avoid buying anything new. Have you made an eco-friendly swap that's stuck? Maybe you found a microfibre cloth that transformed your skincare routine, plastic-free cleaning products that actually work, or a shopping tote that finally broke your addiction to plastic bags. Let us know by replying to this newsletter or emailing us at thefilter@
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Daily Mail
The pretty town dubbed 'Bali of Europe' - with flights from £30 and £2.50 cocktails
With its beaches lined with palm trees, crystal-clear water and cheap prices, it's no surprise that Bali is a dream holiday destination for many. But the cost of long-haul flights means that a holiday in the Indonesian paradise can come at a hefty price. Luckily, there's a cheaper alternative that's much closer to the UK. According to travel influencer Travel with Rafa, Tarifa in southern Spain offers a similar vibe to the Indonesian island. In a video posted to YouTube, Rafaela says: 'It feels like a tropical paradise in the middle of the Mediterranean. It feels like the Bali of Europe!' Tarifa sits just nine miles across the shore from Morocco so it's no surprise that temperatures average 25 degrees in August. The town is located on Spain's Costa de la Luz or Coast of Light, so beaches are its top attractions. Tarifa's best-rated beach is Playa de Bolonia, which one reviewer describes as 'spectacular'. Writing on Tripadvisor, 'Inaki Rubi' says: 'Huge, clean, spectacular. The sunset blows your mind.' Playa de los Lances is the town's next best-rated beach and has been praised for its 'crystal clear water'. A reviewer writes on Tripadvisor: 'Super nice beach with very fine and great opportunities to take a break. You can watch the kite surfers walking. Great lifestyle.' And while you can sunbathe on Tarifa's beaches, the town's Atlantic waves attract surfers, kite surfers and wind surfers. Beginners can sign up at one of Tarifa's multilingual kitesurfing schools to learn the ropes while experienced kitesurfers can check out the waves at Playa de Valdevaqueros. After hitting the waves, Brits can visit one of the town's many beach bars which serve cocktails for just €3/£2.50 at happy hour. When it comes to eating out, seafood is the main event on many restaurant menus with swordfish a popular choice. If you fancy ticking another continent off your bucket list, the ferry to Tangier in Morocco takes around one hour. How to get to Tarifa Britons can reach Tarifa by flying directly to Gibraltar. EasyJet offers flights from Manchester and London while BA flies from London. The flight takes just under three hours from London and tourists will then have a one-hour drive to Tarifa once in Gibraltar. The town is also easily reached from Malaga Airport, which is generally cheaper to fly to from the UK. Direct flights to Malaga are available from Nottingham, London, Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle and more, with offers available for just £30. Once in Malaga, it will take tourists just over two hours to reach Tarifa. If Tarifa doesn't appeal, why not take a look at the Italian city that's been named one of the world's best places to visit in 2025? Genoa has one of the world's largest medieval town centres. Within its depths, tourists will discover a labyrinth of caruggi (alleyways) packed with historic monuments.
News.com.au
10-06-2025
- News.com.au
Tiny ‘Bali of Europe' town has beautiful beaches
A beach town in the south of Spain has been compared to Bali thanks to its beautiful beaches and laid-back vibes. Tarifa is the most southerly town in mainland Europe, being less than nine miles from Africa. It is often named the kite surfing capital of Europe thanks to its strong winds making it a popular sport there. Travel influencer and photographer Scarlett compared the vibe to being similar to 'Santa Cruz in California'. However, it is also often called the Bali of Europe thanks to its huge sandy beaches. Another influencer, Travel with Rafa, said: 'It feels like a tropical paradise in the middle of the Mediterranean. It feels like the Bali of Europe!' Playa de Bologna beach is one of the popular beaches where you can also go hiking as well. Otherwise there is also Playa de Los Lances which is where you will spot most of the kite and windsurfers. Or the Bali-like beach Playa de Valdevaqueros, which is home to the surfer-style Tumbao Beach Bar. Tourists should also head to Waikiki beach bar, with its thatched umbrellas, or Aloha Bar for €3 ($A5) cocktails. Near this is the Baelo Claudia, the ruins of a 2,000 year old Roman town. If you want to explore the Old Town, it is home to beautiful tapas bars, nightclubs and local shops. This is where the night-life is as well, with many of the streets filled with both tourists and locals. But while it is very Spanish in its atmosphere, it's also easy to see Moroccan influences as well with Moorish architecture. Puera de Jerez is the ancient entrance of the walled town, and where you can also visit the 800-year-old Castle of Tarifa. On a long walkway is Isla de Tarifa, which has some of the best views of the town. While there are a number of hotels and B&Bs to choose from, there are also a number of campsites and caravan sites. For example, Via Villagio Tarifa has glamping pods right on the beach or Dunas Tarifa with palm tree cabanas and safari lodges. Tarifa is also easy to get to, being around an hour from Gibraltar by car. Or, if you're in Morocco, it is around one hour by ferry from Tangier which you can fly to from the UK for $A40 with Ryanair. You should visit the city of Tangier as well, which has been named a top holiday spot by Vogue last year. Not only are new luxury hotels popping up, but it has even been used to film Jason Bourne, Mission Impossible and James Bond.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- The Sun
Tiny ‘Bali of Europe' town right by Africa has beautiful beaches and £20 flights from the UK
A BEACH town in the south of Spain has been compared to Bali thanks to its beautiful beaches and laid-back vibes. Tarifa is the most southerly town in mainland Europe, being less than nine miles from Africa. 6 6 It is often named the kite-surfing capital of Europe thanks to its strong winds making it a popular sport there. Travel influencer Scar l ett compared the vibe to being "Santa Cruz in California". However, it is also often called the Bali of Europe thanks to its huge sandy beaches. Another influencer, Travel with Rafa, sad: "It feels like a tropical paradise in the middle of the Mediterranean. It feels like the Bali of Europe!" Playa de Bologna beach is one of the popular beaches where you can also go hiking as well. Otherwise there is also Playa de Los Lances which is where you will spot most of the kitesurfers and windsurfers. Or the Bali-like beach is Playa de Valdevaqueros, which is home to the surfer-style Tumbao Beach Bar. Tourists also head to Waikiki beach bar, with Bali-like thatched umbrellas, or Aloha Bar for €3 cocktails. Near this is also the Baelo Claudia, a 2,000 year old Roman town now ruins. If you want to explore the Old Town, it is home to beautiful tapas bars, nightclubs and local shops. Exploring the Beautiful Costa de la Luz This is where the nightlife is as well, with many of the streets filled with both tourists and locals. But while it is very Spanish in its atmosphere, it is also easy to see Moroccan influences as well with Moorish architecture. Puera de Jerez is the ancient entrance of the walled town, and where you can also visit the 800-year-old Castle of Tarifa. On a long walkway is also Isla de Tarifa which has some of the best views of the town as well. 6 6 While there are a number of hotels and B&Bs to choose from there are also a number of campsites and caravan sites. For example, there is Via Villagio Tarifa, which has glamping pods right on the beach or Dunas Tarifa with palm tree cabanas and safari lodges. Tarifa is also easy to get to, being around an hour from Gibraltar by car. Or, if in Morocco, it is around one hour by ferry from Tangier which you can fly to from the UK for £20 with Ryanair. Here is why you should visit the city of Tangier as well, which named a top holiday spot by Vogue last year. Not only are new luxury hotels popping up, but it has even been used to film Jason Bourne, Mission Impossible and James Bond. What is a holiday in Tarifa like? Here's what one writer thought after visiting. Old town Tarifa after 11pm turns in to what, in Britain, we might class as a street party. There is a courtyard with bars all around it and seating in the middle which is so lively it almost has festival vibes. Poniente's lazy start to the day looks even better when you learn that the clubs don't even open until 2am so you'll be needing that lie-in. So if you go to Tarifa and find kitesurfing really isn't for you then you won't be short of things to do. They say if you can kite in Tarifa, you can kite anywhere. In the mean time, here is another Spanish island off the coast of Africa. And a £5.1billion underwater tunnel could connect Spain and Morocco. 6
The Guardian
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
It's showtime in Andalucía! How I found my voice on a musical theatre retreat
'Do you prefer alto or soprano?' asks Steve Moss, poised at his electric piano. My mind goes blank. I'm usually more of a pinot grigio girl, but that's not the answer the former musical director of Les Misérables is looking for. Although I struggle to carry a tune in a bucket, I'm an enthusiastic karaoke singer, a big musical theatre fan and a shameless show-off, so Sing the Greatest Showman, a residential singing retreat in Spain, is right up my street. Founded by Zane Rambaran, a veteran concert promoter with his roots in musical theatre, Sing Eat Retreat offers a choice of breaks here throughout the year (from Sing Les Mis to Sing Mamma Mia), with 30 hours of tuition by West End professionals. (In October, Sing The Sound of Music will be held in Salzburg too, with guests recording tracks in a studio and performing in the actual movie locations. I've already packed my dirndl.) Our base in Spain is Huerta Belinda, a gorgeous Spanish finca close to the surfing mecca of Tarifa, where we'll have five days of one-to-one and small group sessions on vocal technique, acting through song and performance preparation. The villa has eight rooms and some of the 21-strong group (mostly women in their 40s and 50s – and 60-something Ray, the only man) stays in Mesón de Sancho, a charming hotel nearby, but all of us eat together. I'm no stranger to pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone, but staring at a musical score – all impenetrable squiggles to me – under the expectant gaze of a West End director, I think I've pushed it too far this time. As Steve, who has been musical director of Mary Poppins as well as Les Mis, takes us through the song This Is Me!, breaking it down into easy chunks, I struggle to follow the music and can't decide which octave to sing in. I end up squalling up and down the bars like an angry seagull. I ask Steve if I'm a lost cause. 'I don't necessarily think that everyone can carry a tune, but I think everyone can improve,' he says, kindly. 'People always leave the retreats a better musician in some way, whether it's an improved singing voice or just learning to stand still when they're performing.' Well, I can definitely stand still. All retreats induce a naturally bonding environment, but there's something rather special about singing together. Much of our group has choir or am-dram experience, while others – like me – are complete beginners, and about half have come alone. Prior to arrival, guests fill out a questionnaire about their singing ability, what they want to achieve, and a clip of them singing Happy Birthday so tutors can assess abilities and arrange groups, but all levels are welcome. Our group includes guests from Switzerland and Spain; sisters Trish and Janet from Ireland, who sing in a choir; Emma, a teacher from Cambridge who runs musical theatre groups; and Miracle, a self-proclaimed 'nomad' who is on her fifth retreat here. One thing we all have in common is our love of musicals. Days start with breakfast in the villa, followed by a group warm up before we splinter off for workshops. The week is run along the same lines as preparation for a West End show, with vocal coaches, musical directors and choreographers. 'In the first week of a new show we do vocal calls,' says Steve. 'We start with note bashing, recording it on our phones and making notes on the music, then the cast can go off and practise. By the Friday we do a sing through of the show, have a sit through with the orchestra, then the directors and choreographers start working their magic.' Performance practice is led by Maria Graciano, who appeared in Miss Saigon and Wicked! and was the resident choreographer for Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Vocal coach Zev Chaplain teaches us about the physiology of singing and importance of warming up our vocal cords with lip trills, owl hoots, and ho, ho, ho's in the style of the Jolly Green Giant. One of the (many) highlights is a three-hour masterclass with Luke Bayer – who starred in Everybody's Talking About Jamie and Rent in the West End – giving us priceless advice and feedback on our performances. Over the week, singers are picked out for solos – not me – and all of us can have a one-to-one session with a tutor. There are plenty of breaks – it's a holiday after all – and this is where friendships blossom, with the contagious sounds of singing around the villa as people practise their scales. Any free time is spent by the pool, sunbathing in the gardens and soaking up the glorious views across the Strait of Gibraltar. There's little opportunity to venture farther afield, but most guests arrive a day or two early to explore the beaches and sand dunes of Tarifa. If you ask Zane, he may take you along when he walks Charlie, his dog. Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion Eating is a big part of the retreat too, and the food is delicious: Spanish breakfasts, fresh salads and soups for lunch, roast chicken, paellas, curries in the evening, along with plenty of wine and beer. After dinner, we congregate in the lounge and chat over more wine, before someone inevitably fires up the karaoke machine. When I arrived at Huerta Belinda, I was tempted to sit at the back and mouth the songs, such was my lack of confidence in my singing ability. But as the week progresses, I find I enjoy singing more and want to belt the tunes out with the rest of them. Thanks to Zev, I learn to breathe properly and really notice an improvement in my vocals. Part of it is because I don't want to let the rest of the group down. No one is coming into this half-heartedly; we want to put on The Greatest Show. It isn't just me who finds her voice. Elinor from Barry, a hardcore musical theatre fan (she won the quiz), loved to sing but lost all confidence after being criticised at school. 'This week has been life-changing for me. It's given me back my voice,' she says. The crescendo of the week is a concert on Friday night, with a real audience. During the day, our nerves start to show as we rehearse. But come 8pm, as we step on stage and sing the first 'whoahs' of The Greatest Show, they're quickly replaced with dopamine as the altos, sopranos, and Ray the tenor – and all the soloists – bring their A-game. It feels incredible. Waiting in the wings before our final song, I look around at my new friends, hugging, laughing, congratulating each other on their performances. It's been an incredible week both musically and emotionally. And it turns out I can hold a tune, after all. While it's far (very far) from West End-worthy, it doesn't make Charlie howl, which I'm taking as a win. The trip was provided by Sing Eat Retreat. Trips from £995, including tuition and performance practice, seven nights in a villa or hotel (five days full-board, one day half-board, including drinks)
