Tee off on the Costa Brava

SPAIN’S Costa Brava region reports #golf visitors to the area have increased to more than 103,000 over the past two years. In figures collated by the #CostaBrava Tourism Board, they show a 67% growth in European golfers to the region between 2013 and 2015, driven by visitors from France, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.

Ramon Ramos, director of the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board, said: ‘It has been very encouraging to see such an upswing in the number of golf visitors to the region – and in particular, the increase of Catalan golfers visiting Costa Brava. Our data shows this group grew the most over the past two years, quadrupling to more than 26,000. Coupled with new flight routes to Girona-Costa Brava airport announced by Jet2, Transavia, and Ryanair for 2016 and 2017, we remain confident this momentum will continue and look forward to welcoming new – and returning – golf visitors to one of Europe's most distinct and culturally-rich golf destinations.’

UK price comparison site TravelSupermarket identifies the Costa Brava as the fastest-growing short-haul destination for this season, based on a surge in internet searches received during the first quarter of 2016, compared to the first three months of 2015.


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Accolade for golf resort

PGA CATALUNYA RESORT has been named Europe’s Best #Golf Development at the International Property Awards. 

Industry experts cited it as the best example of a golf and real estate development in Europe due to its exceptional facilities, design, continued investment in infrastructure, and location.

In 2013/2014, the resort was voted Spain’s best golf course at the world golf awards and, for the fourth consecutive year, by Top100GolfCourses.co.uk.

The #CostaBrava resort – 50 minutes from Barcelona – has two world-class courses and a range of villas and apartments.

www.pgacatalunya.com

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Take the train to the sun!

HOLIDAYMAKERS can avoid the airport scrum during summer school breaks by taking the train to Europe's coastal resorts … rail strikes (in Britain and across the Channel) permitting. 

Loco2, a train travel search-and-booking engine, suggests these trains to the sun:

FRANCE: BRITTANY COAST – Take the Eurostar to Paris, then TGV direct to Quimper. Picnic and paddle on the fine white sands of Cap-Coz; discover the Celtic heart of Quimper; and older kids can learn to sail at nearby Bénodet. This part of Brittany lends itself to exploration by train, with regional TER services available inland to Auray or out to the coast of the Quiberon peninsula. 

Journey time* from eight hours, with an optional stop for lunch in Paris. From £63 one-way.

SPAIN: COSTA BRAVA – Travel by Eurostar to Lyon, and onward by double-decker TGV to Girona. Two new rail routes combine to make this a stress-free journey. A Eurostar from London goes direct to Lyon, avoiding changing trains in Paris. In Lyon, it's a same-station change to the train to Girona or onward to Barcelona, on board the new double-decker Euroduplex service. Bucket-and-spade fun at the white sands of Tamari and tiny yet perfect Sa Caleta, in the shadow of a medieval castle; make a splash at Aquabrava waterpark at Roses; and stroll the ancient walled city of Girona.

Journey time* from 10 hours, with time for lunch between trains in Lyon. From £86 one-way.

ITALY: LIGURIAN RIVIERA - The Eurostar to Paris, then the Thello night train to Milan, and finally a scenic InterCity ride to Sestri Levante. The fun of a night train, with sleeping cabins and a restaurant car, the views of the Ligurian coast from Genoa southwards. Play on the exquisite beaches around Sestri Levante; explore towns such as Portofino; and cycle the coastal greenway from Levanto to Framura.

Journey time* from 16 hours overnight. From £89.50 one-way, including four-berth couchette on the Thello night train.

*Journey times are calculated from London St. Pancras International, London.

loco2.com 

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Greek Islands last-minute bookings surge

GREEK euro crisis or no Greek euro crisis, online travel agent On The Beach reports a sharp rise in last-minute bookings for holidays on the country’s most popular islands. 

#Zante (also known as Zakynthos) leads the way, with sales up 115% on the previous year. Other islands performing particularly well include Crete (+62%), Corfu (+47%), Kos, (+42%), and Rhodes (+30%). 

Last-minute holiday bookings to #Spain are also performing well, up 54% on the previous year. The Costa Brava region looks like being the overall Spanish winner, with bookings up by almost 200% on 2014. 

Other destinations proving popular for #last-minuteholidays include the Turkish resort of Bodrum, the Balearic island of Menorca, and Paphos in Cyprus.

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