Hotel Palacio Blanco, SPAIN

Special Events: Rent the whole hotel with private kitchen for weddings, company director conferences, activity weekends, parties etc. Contact them for the details.

Facilities include a rooftop exercise swim-spa pool, and a fantastic sunbathing terrace with stunning views of the town, to the castle and the mountains beyond. Relax, sunbathe and help yourself to a drink from one of their honesty bars. In the courtyard with the sound of the trickling fountain, you can have breakfast, relax or just chill out after a day's sightseeing.

Some of the most interesting sightseeing tours of the town include: Fortaleza - the 13th Century Castle with it's 16 metre tower; Palacio de los Marquises de Beniel - a superb palace, restored and now a municipal building, built in the Mudejar style; Hospital of San Marcos - founded in 1487 by catholic monarchs; Four convents and monasteries of architectural merit - San Francisco, Santa Clara, Sant Jose and Las Carmelitos; Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor - 16th Century Church in Mudejar style, formerly a mosque during the Arab times; Iglesia de San Juan Bautista - 15th Century Church, interesting for it's late gothic architecture and superbly naturalistic sculpture Cristo Crucificado by Pedro de Mena; Casa de Cervantes - a superb 16th Century building, now a language school, where the author of Quixote used to stay when visiting Velez; and Museo de Semana Santa - a museum dedicated to the religious festivals of Easter.

Getting there: Velez Malaga is located within easy reach of 4 international airports.The closest is Malaga Airport is served by all of the major low-cost airlines including British Airways, GB Airways, Monarch, FlyBe, EasyJet, RyanAir, Thomson, Excel.Velez-Malaga is also within easy reach of the airports of Granada (1 hour 45 minutes), Gibraltar (2 hours) and Seville (2 hours 15 minutes).

Airport transfers: All international airports offer car hire facilities, taxi services, train and bus services. If you require an airport pick-up, they can arrange this either via their partner mini-bus service or local taxi. Please enquire at the time of booking.

Residential Spanish Cookery Classes at the hotel during the winter months, starting from 1st October through to the end of March 2011.
Local Chefs, Chandra and Jane Barker,who have lived in Spain for over 20 years, will teach how to make authentic Spanish and local Andalucian tapas, main dishes and the traditional paella. A cultural trip to Malaga city to the newly opened Wine Museum for wine tasting, see the art at Picasso´s Museum and experience the amazing architecture of the Moorish Alcazaba Palace and Gibralfaro Castle ? all included in the experience.
2 evenings of paella and live flamenco and, Morrocan tagines with live belly dancing are planned in the central courtyard, as well as the fun and informative cooking classes, will make this a very special experience.
For a 3?day mini-break prices start at 400 euros per person and for a 6 day holiday from 750 euros which includes all transfers, accommodation and food (based upon 2 sharing a room but excludes the cost of flights to Malaga airport).