Tenerife Blog

The best advertising is recommendations from previous users, and to win an award that comes about as a direct result of your guests saying you provide great service is one worth winning - and that’s what’s happened for twenty of Tenerife’s hotels.

Organised by Thomas Cook Holidays, the awards recognise excellence, and it’s judged by actual guests at hotels who share their experience with the company via a Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire.

As well as awarding the best hotels it allows the company to keep on top of which hotels they use are perhaps not performing as well as others, and being able to make sure the hotels in Tenerife they offer are the best in the travel industry.

Some of the hotels that won awards are already well known to tourists, and in Playa de las Americas for example include the Bitacora and the Hotel Sol.

Los Cristianos is another well known resort popular for Tenerife holidays, and winners include the Paradise Park, Arona Gran and the Los Alisios apartments, while the Barcelo Santiago picked up honours from their hotel in Puerto de Santiago.

The Iberostar’s two hotels in Tenerife’s Costa Adeje both were among the winners, along with the Gran, ensuring all the popular areas for tourists from the UK and further afield were well represented and showing that the island is capable of providing great accommodation in different locations and it’s not just the Tenerife weather that attracts tourists.

Thomas Cook Holidays whose clients made the nominations are one of the UK’s best known travel companies, along with First Choice and Thomson.

For those who haven’t been before, the Tenerife weather is often near perfect on the southern half of the island for a holiday, while the northern half offers lush greenery and beautiful vistas. The cities are always full of life, and the glorious view of Mount Tiede, Spain’s highest point, is one many tourists remember from past visits.

For specific areas, Thomas Cook Holidays offer good information on their travel site about each one, but some of the less known areas are:

Icod de los Vinos (just Icod to the locals) is Tenerife’s premier wine-growing region. Daily life in Icod moves at a more relaxed pace than some other places on the island. If you visit Icod, be sure to visit the Dragon Tree that the locals say is thousands of years old. The beautiful Playa San Marcos with its inviting black sand can be found nearby.

La Laguna is a good place to stay if you enjoy art and architecture, and is more suited for adults than family holidays. The Cathedral dates back to 1515, and there are many interesting churches to explore. The city was once the capital of the island and still bears the regal air of an important place.

Los Gigantes is a city at the foot of massive cliffs which bears the same name. The picturesque marina offers boat trips for dolphin and whale watching, while the town has a good choice of bars, restaurants and shops while out and about.

For more information including press releases visit yourtenerife.net

Gran Canaria Blog

There’s a part of Gran Canaria that has become known by holidaymakers visiting the island as ‘Little Venice’ – the village of Puerto de Mogan.

Away from the bigger resorts it’s a haven of tranquility and still has the air of a traditional village, but with the advantage of good modern accommodation with both a hotel and self catering accommodation available.

Puerto de Mogan’s similarity to the Italian city of canals is no accident. The vision of the designers of the beachfront part of the city was to re-create the quaintness of Venice in a Spanish environment.

It’s located on the southwestern coast of Gran Canaria. The island is the second largest most populous in the Canary Island chain. Visitors from Europe, the UK and further afield for its sunshine, beaches, charm and rich culture.

The island is home to over 800,000 residents. It sees well over twice that many annual visitors. Tourism is an important part of the economy.

A majority of tourist activity takes place along the eastern coast of the island. Much of it is centered around the capital city of Las Palmas.

The western side is less populated and concentrated. This is one reason that Puerto de Mogan’s developers decided to adopt an Italian theme. Created by an Italian designer, it’s one that is unique to the island.

Visitors to the beachside downtown area will be hard pressed to find a motor vehicle of any kind. Instead, Puerto de Mogan caters to the pedestrian.

Designers created arched walkways reminiscent of many Italian cities. Visitors can stroll the bricked walkways which link the town’s shops, restaurants and quaint residences and hotels.

The real nod to Venice, though, is the town’s canals. They run through the village and out into the marina area which opens into the Atlantic Ocean.

While many of Gran Canaria’s popular resort towns feature modern high-rise buildings. This was another deliberate design choice by town visionaries.

The main hotel sits comfortably in the surroundings, and for those considering a week or two’s holiday it can be booked in the UK via Thomson Holidays or independently.

No buildings exceed two stories tall except for a small handful of older ones. Any modern construction is limited by law to two stories or less. This feature adds to the unique charm of the beach town.

Locals survived for centuries on fishing. The city is still home to many native fishermen. However, most of the economic activity comes from tourism in today’s world.

Daytrippers tend to stick to the waterfront area of the city. Tourists who want to stay for a spell and spend a little bit less money can venture further inland. Away from the pricey, tourist driven restaurants and boutiques, visitors can find more authentic cuisine and homier accommodation.

The village is family friendly, with activities for people of all ages. For swimming and sunbathing it’s fairly sheltered, so the water is warm and currents are gentle, helped by the good Gran Canaria weather.

Other popular water activities include snorkelling, boating and jet skiing, as well as surfing if you venture a bit further out.

Puerto de Mogan is widely well known for her Friday market. The open air market draws hundreds of locals as well as tourists every week. Shoppers can find just about anything, from hand made clothing to native produce, fresh fish, and locally made craft and gift items.

A visit to to see Puerto de Mogan is well worthwhile if you’re not staying there during Gran Canaria holidays - most of the coastal towns are connected by a highway.

Some of the eastern towns are even connected by ferry for ease of travel. It’s time well-spent, whether it’s a day trip or a longer stay.

For a Gran Canaria map visit yourgrancanaria.net

Comments from people who have been to the island are often posted on social network sites such as mixx

Lanzarote Blog

There are three main towns In Lanzarote where the majority of people who visit stay:

Playa Blanca, Puerto Del Carmen and Costa Teguise.

Each is different and offers new and exciting things to do.

Accommodation in Lanzarote

The three primary accommodation types are apartments, villas and hotels. Shopping, restaurants and bars are easily accessible. Most restaurants stay open very late to accommodate those who enjoy their night life.

Playa Blanca is popular with those who take Lanzarote villa holidays but they are also available in the other areas.

Relaxation

Beaches are not in short supply - it is an island after all. Snorkeling, swimming and other water sports are readily available. Many sunbathers enjoy watching others enjoy the surf while they take in the Lanzarote weather and incredible scenery.

Nothing beats the total relaxation of a spa day. Local spas cater to seasonal visitors and provide a good way to relax and get away from it all. Sea water treatment centres are in high demand. Sea water is very soothing and therapeutic with a naturally calming effect.

Cafes, restaurants and bars are good places to catch some shade and relaxation. A cool drink helps keep the body hydrated while you enjoy the surrounding sights and sounds.

Sightseeing

Aside from waking up to the horizon outside the window, away from the beaches other locations are deserving of a tourist’s time. Playa Blanca’s new golf course and marina are two examples of the attractions in the southern part of Lanzarote.

Timanfaya National Park is a must see. Plan to spend at least a few hours and enjoy the restaurant if possible. Please keep in mind that you will be treading the top of a volcano and dress accordingly. It will likely be cooler than the rest of the island and rocky ground requires adequate footwear.

Castillo de las Coloradas gets its name from the colourful rocks on the coastline of Playa Blanca. The ruins of an historic castle that was built to help defend the island and its inhabitants from pirate attacks in the mid 1700s are just to the east of the Playa Blanca area.

One of the primary landmarks in the southern part of Lanzarote is the lighthouse, Faro de Pechiguera. Built in 1986, the lighthouse is of fairly recent construction and not that spectacular in itself.

The walk from Playa Blanca to the lighthouse however is absolutely amazing. The trek takes approximately half an hour, depending on pace and offers views of neighbouring islands Los Lobos and Fuerteventura.

Don’t Forget Sunscreen and Comfortable Shoes

The sun’s rays are well known to cause aesthetically pleasing tans as well as types of skin cancer. Take proper care of your skin while visiting the Canary Islands and take sunscreen. Drink a lot of fluids to prevent dehydration and take comfortable shoes.

Sandals and flip-flops are preferred summer wear for most people on their Lanzarote holidays. Some people even prefer to simply go barefoot.

Take more caution and be a little more practical when visiting all of the natural wonders. Hot sand can blister, slippery rocks may cause falls, and volcanic rock may cut your feet. You don’t have to wear them all the time, but you definitely need proper footwear while out sightseeing and exploring the delight that is Lanzarote.

Visit yourlanzarote.net for more information and social media like twitter for thoughts from those on their trip right now.

timesharerelief360 report:

With a new court ruling there is expected to be up to 400,000 illegal timeshare contract compensation claims that could reach up to 2 billion €(euro). It has been ruled that a timeshare developer in Gran Canaria must pay back double the amount of the timeshare deposit by Magistrate D. Juan Carlos Socorro Marrero.  There are currently over 200 live claims for timeshare miss-selling in the Spanish court system against Anfi Del Mar. More claims were coming in at a rate of 10 per week before this ruling.

Spanish law also states that even if a property is sold and all encumberments and debts are passed on to the new owners those new owners will still be liable for new compensation claims. Within the industry it is said up to 200 developers that operate out of Spain, Balearics and canaries are trying to sell of timeshare resorts that have or soon will have actions brought against them.

Some brand name European timeshare developers have been taking illegal deposits up until as late as 2009. The European regulatory body representing timeshare owners in Europe has had some of its paid members break these same laws in the past. With this new ruling timeshare owners will finally get the chance to take on large corporate brand developers. As long as the timeshare development still exists you will be able to reclaim a double deposit if you paid after the cooling off period in 1996.

A useful article for anyone considering buying a property appeared recently at thisismoney.co.uk:

The choice is yours. A holiday home can be bucolic or blingy, quiet or hectic, easy-to-reach or hard-to-find — and on the Balearics, that means a choice between sister islands Menorca and Mallorca.

They may be a mere 20-minute flight from each other, but they are exact opposites. One is tiny, elegant, with oodles of unspoilt beauty; the other is larger, much more developed, and wealthy with a contemporary edge.

Interestingly, both islands’ holiday home markets have, to some extent, bucked the downward trend that characterises mainland Spain, where prices in the Costas are still far below their 2006 highs.

Menorca remains the less well-known of the two locations for Britons, but it is the one to choose for chic, unspoilt elegance.

Its 125 miles of coastline are truly uncrowded — there are just 90,000 Menorcans plus another 10,000 second-home owners — and few parts of the coast have any major developments.

It takes 90 minutes to travel the island on roads lined by dry-stone walls. Much of the inland region is sparsely populated, with occasional clusters of white-walled, pink-roofed fincas and the odd small settlement.

At the eastern edge of the island is its new capital, Mahon, with a modern, low-rise harbour. At Menorca’s western tip lies the old capital, Ciutadella, a well-preserved Moorish town centred on a handful of beautifully restored squares and a maze of quiet backstreets.

Busiest area on the whole island is its quaint but crowded harbour, where visitors mingle with local fishermen landing the catch for the restaurant tables that line the waterside.

Prices are down 15% to 25% on their 2006 highs, according to estate agent Engel & Voelkers. ‘Main buyers here are Spanish, followed by British and German, with increased interest from Swiss, Irish and Italians.

More than 50% of buyers are aged 40 to 50 and about 30% are 50-plus,’ says E&V’s Sebastian Boelger.

Rhona Hutchinson, of Integrated Relocation Spain, a buying agency that helps Britons purchase homes on the Balearics, says: ‘Prices have traditionally been lower on Menorca (than Mallorca) and continue to be so.

‘There are hotspots along the southern coast between S’Algar and Binidali where more upmarket properties have been built.

‘Construction on what is termed “rustico” land has long been restricted, but in the past eight years the law has changed and it is simply not allowed. The island is very quiet,’ she says.

Part of its appeal — but not always welcomed by second-home owners — is the difficulty in reaching Menorca in winter. Direct flights from the uK reduce significantly from October to March, and ferry services to the Spanish mainland are curtailed too.

There is no such problem with Mallorca, the much larger Balearic island with more than a hint of bling. It’s easy to get to year-round, and has a round-the-clock lifestyle.

‘As a destination, Mallorca continues to offer a sophisticated infrastructure and an array of modern facilities,’ says Georgina Richards, of Knight Frank.

Prices here, too, have fallen 20 per cent to 30per cent, but she says years of investment have paid off for the island, which is still improving its infrastructure.

‘The Port Adriano marina extension in the south-west will provide another super harbour, with even more moorings for yachts up to 60 metres in length.

‘The Spanish Airports Authority is investing £203m in Palma’s international airport to improve and expand facilities, with further investment planned for Palma’s private aerodrome at Son Bonet,’ she says.

Twenty airlines fly from Britain to Mallorca and, once there, its recently improved roads and decent railway service mean all five regions of the island are easily accessible.

One region is its capital, Palma, just 10 minutes from the airport and with pretty stone houses and apartments in the sought-after Cathedral Quarter.

The city has a burgeoning reputation for good shops and a busy nightlife. Many Britons prefer holiday homes here to more traditional coastal or mountain areas.

On the north-west coast, a 45-minute drive from the airport, once-tiny ports such as Soller have blossomed into handsome marinas. On the east coast — considered the best-value area for homes —there are unspoilt towns such as Arta and Capdepera.

Inland, the island is rugged and mountainous, but not as remote as it used to be. One-time quiet villages such as Alaro and Santa Maria are now fairly busy. This region is popular among selfbuilders of large homes.

The final Mallorcan area is the south-west, just 30 minutes from the airport, but infamous for the club haven of Magaluf and crowds of Britons troughing all-day english breakfasts. But the prettiest area here is Andratx, an attractive and increasingly affluent port.

There are now about 11,000 British-owned holiday homes on the island, including those of Andrew Lloyd Webber and former James Bond Pierce Brosnan. International celebs who have invested in homes on Mallorca include Antonio Banderas, Boris Becker, Claudia Schiffer and Michael Schumacher.

Jan Westwood, of The Property Finders on the island, says that on the lower-priced east coast you can get a two-bed apartment minutes from the beach for £119,000.

‘At the other end of the scale, a new waterfront villa at Cala D’Or in the south-east is on the market at £1.01m, having been steadily reduced from its asking price of £1.6m. Prices have reduced to the same level as the last quarter of 2006 and appear to have bottomed out,’ she says.

And on islands as diverse as Mallorca and Menorca there’s plenty of choice — whatever kind of home and whatever kind of lifestyle you’re after.To read the full article click here

For Menorca property for sale details visit menorcaprops.com - for Majorca flights yourmajorca.net

Majorca

Majorca Blog

Often family holidays can centre around the beach, and finding a good one near to your hotel or villa is an important part of having a good time - and getting it wrong can mean the whole trip is a bad experience.

So where are the good beaches in destinations ideal for a family holiday?

For Majorca, the most popular European vacation island, the answer is Playa de Muro, according to a recent leading quality British newspaper’s travel section.

Playa de Muro is located in the north of the island when looking at a map of Majorca, and the closest holiday resort is Alcudia, popular with both German and British tourists.

The travel section reports that the goldensands are ‘never ending’ and that the beach has earned Blue Flag status, with a number of good hotels located along the beach, offering a good choice for those wanting to be near a beach and searching the internet for Majorca hotels.
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They advise that you can wade out quite a long way in the clear water before getting out of your depth, so this is a great option if you have small children. You can hire a pedalo, try all sorts of watersports or take a boat trip.

It’s often a bit breezy, so good for kiting too. If you need a bit of peace and quiet while enjoying the great weather in Majorca. Paths lead to the Albufera nature reserve, which is the largest wetland area on the island.

There is no shortage of bars and restaurants according to the report, whether you want paella, patatas bravas or pizza. If you walk along far enough, there are quieter parts of the beach with picnic areas in the shade of the trees by the dunes.

And for those about to go on their holidays in Majorca they even give some advice about how to find Playa de Muro:

From Alcudia, drive along the bay, past the S’Albufera Nature Park. There are lots of free places to park. You can also get there by bus.

Internet versions of national newspapers are a rich source of good information for tourists to read about destinations - The Daily Telegraph in the UK being one example of quality journalism. In Europe and North America travel journalists write about diverse but related travel topics, and subscribing to them is money well spent, but many are still freely available. Social media also has independent reviews, such as Yahoo Buzz.

More information about the islands and photographs of Playa de Muro are available at yourmajorca.net

Not sure whether to book your holiday to Menorca or Majorca?

The Sunday Mirror has compared to the two and has come up with this advice:

Pale blue sky, deep blue sea, red-hot sun. And a perfect summer soundtrack dancing across the water from the speakers on our boat. We’re on the top deck of a beach-hopper called Fiesta, sailing slowly east along the south coast of Menorca.

As Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side fades into Otis Redding’s Dock Of The Bay, I take a sip of cold Estrella beer and gaze ahead to the pretty cove where the Fiesta is about to dock. And hope that if I ever get to heaven, it might be something just like this.

Four of us are on a Thomas Cook package to the Balearic island of Menorca, the quiet little sister to brash Ibiza and Majorca.

We’ve signed up for a Castaway Cruise, sailing from the west-coast port of Ciutadella at 10am and back at 5pm after visits to two idyllic beaches. The Û50pp ticket includes chicken paella plus helpings of sangria and pomada (gin and lemonade).

A day earlier we joined a Shop and Sail tour of the capital, Mahon (Û40pp). It was my birthday, so we forgot the shopping to enjoy a Cava-fuelled tapas lunch at Bracafe in Plaza Colon (www.bracafe.com, tapas Û3.50-Û8). After lunch we visited the Xoriguer gin distillery on the waterfront. Founded in the 18th Century to keep British sailors happy, they don’t bother showing how the gin is made… the tour cuts straight to the free samples (www.xoriguer.es).

Then it was a short stumble to the jetty for a boat tour of Mahon harbour, second largest in the world after Hawaii’s Pearl Harbour. All around are reminders of the 1708-1802 British occupation, from Admiral Collingwood’s house to the mansion where Lord Nelson romanced Lady Hamilton.

We’d gone all-inclusive at Hotel San Luis in S’Algar, and could have lazed away our week with drink on tap and an all-you-can eat buffet. About two-thirds of guests here are cheerful British over-60s who like to put their feet up. The bar closes at 11pm, so they’re sure of a good night’s sleep too.

But we wanted to see the island. We had a hire car and on a cloudy Sunday we drove to the upmarket harbour of Fornells. King Juan Carlos of Spain sails in here for lobster stew at El Plas restaurant on the waterfront… at Û75 a bowl. On Monday the sun finally got his hat on and we hit the beach at Cala En Porter, one of the best villages for Menorca holidays. To reach this scenic cove you walk down hundreds of steps from the town - or drive down a back road like us. After a swim in the crystal water we collapsed on to sun loungers (Û17 a day for two plus parasol).

The sun stayed out all week and we found a new beach to laze on every day. Our cruise took us to a tiny cove, Cala Turqueta, and a wide bay, Son Saura. The only facilities are basic loos, but the beaches are totally unspoilt. Like all secluded Menorcan beaches, full-on nudists mingle with regular sun-worshippers and one or two visions almost put us off our packed lunch!

We visited three-mile long Son Bou, a developed ribbon of sand with beach bars. And we tried busy Cala Santa Galdana, a large cove with top-class facilities, but too built-up for our taste.

We spent our last day on what turned out to be our favourite beach, Cala Mitjana. It’s impossibly pretty, totally sheltered, with walks along the wooded cliffs.

And with an iPod on shuffle, I created my own soundtrack to make the heavenly scene complete.

Majorca.. best for the buzz

There’s something they don’t tell you about Majorca. It has a town that can up sticks and move - houses, shops, churches the lot - in just a couple of minutes.

You’ll discover the secret if you take an hour-long trip on the historic electric train that trundles into the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains from the island’s capital, Palma.

One moment you’ll see your destination, Soller, in a bowl-shaped valley as you look out of the windows on your right.

Shortly afterwards it will be on your left. It appears the valley has been magically transported from one spot to another.

I spent a good few minutes looking puzzled as those with a quicker grasp of these things explained the town appears to move because of the way the narrow-gauge tracks snake their way round the mountains.

First you approach the valley one way, then you make a gradual turn and come back the other… so the view is reversed. Simples, as they say. (www.sollertrain.com, Û17 return).

Soller is famous for its orange groves and terraces of ancient olive trees and had a nice, laid-back, slightly arty feel. And there’s a cute tram that will take you the 3k down to the port, with a wonderful curved bay and all the cafes and restaurants you could wish.

It’s a popular area for Majorca villa holidays.

We Britons have long loved Majorca and it’s a sure favourite with many celebs and sports stars, from the likes of Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and to Patsy Palmer and tennis names Boris Becker and Rafael Nadal.

If you go you’ll find Palma city itself has plenty to keep you occupied. The place has a buzz which I liked - you got the feeling there is a lot going on.

I could easily have stayed longer, but wanted to see more of Majorca. So next morning we went south to the port of Colònia de Sant Jordi and took a 12-seat speedboat to Cabrera, one of the islands off the coast.

It was a lovely two-hour trip - once I’d got used to sitting astride a padded tube and clinging on. It was great swathing through the water and the sea was a lovely shade of blue… pretty well matching the colour of a couple of passengers after they’d dived in during a stop inside a cave. I’m told the water is beautifully warm later in summer, but one test of the temperature when we were there and I decided my teeth didn’t need reminding of how to chatter (www.marcabrera.com, adults Û38, under-12s Û30).

Afterwards we stopped off at the Jaume Mesquida winery in Porreres. They make 200,000 bottles a year and use “biodynamic methods” meaning they are nature-friendly (www.jaumemesquida.com). We were meant to be doing more sightseeing, but the lure of our pools at the Hotel Hilton Sa Torre was too strong. It’s a lovely place in what seems the middle of nowhere… but is an easy 16k from Palma Airport and Majorca flights home.

To read the full article click here

Majorca Blog

As reputations go, Majorca has a real mix of attitude from people who might be considering a holiday on the well known Spanish island that has proved so popular with tourists in the past.

On the one hand there is the image of Magaluf to consider. It’s a town that attracts some but is a definite turn off for others.

And for tourists who prefer peace and quiet to a walk on the wild side, Magaluf is set to become even more of a party magnet as ‘Mallorca Rocks’  has opened - sister hotel to the successful ‘Ibiza Rocks’ just across the water.

Fantastic for the young, and young at heart who can discover Majorca as well as Ibiza. For those who like their clubbing and nightlife Mallorca Rocks will be the centre of a Majorca holiday for many of them.

And the Majorca hotels could benefit as stag weekends and hen parties view Majorca as an alternative to Ibiza, bringing in good revenue year round from young Europeans with disposable incomes.

Flights are inexpensive to the island, and with airlines operating from many regional airports from the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe, for students and other young people the cheap flights could see visitor numbers in this age group rise considerably this summer.

Majorca Holidays

But for couples and families who don’t want 24 hour partying, and are looking for a good relaxing sunshine holiday, is Majorca a good destination for them this year?

The answer is a definite yes, there’s another side to the island that’s ideal, and if they choose the right location it would be hard to imagine they’re on the same island as party loving Magaluf - but they would still get the good deal for their Majorca flights.

When looking at a map, on the north-west side of the island is Soller. And it is here that holidaymakers can escape to another world, and it’s quiet enough to enjoy while having a good amount of activities going on, to be enjoyed year round.

A tram connects the port to the town, and Deia - another village ideal for family holidays - is closeby, and there is a train that runs through the wonderful Majorca countryside to the capital Palma - a great day out enjoyed by many staying in Soller either in one of the hotels or Majorca villa holidays.

The port is a wonderful place to while away a few hours, with yachts calling in from all over Europe. The harbour area has a good amount of restaurants and cafes serving a variety of food including local dishes all day, and there are also apartments to rent with sea views here for holidaymakers.

For a good family holiday this summer, Soller could be the answer for a quality trip.

For a profile of Majorca including travel information visit yourmajorca.net

The Coventry Telegraph have run a good article about the island, and comment:

MINORCA is quite simply a Spanish treasure trove of natural beauty, a place to take a relaxed and unhurried approach.

Located in the centre of the western Med, it has more beaches than its Balearic bigger sisters, Majorca and Ibiza combined.

As we travelled by coach to the hotel I was quick to notice its quiet bays of soft sands and overjoyed when I found one right next to where I was staying – the Audax Spa and Wellness Centre – which sits on a pine-clad hillside, in Cala Galdana, in the south of the island.

Over the years, Minorca has become successful in avoiding the effects of becoming a tourist-stricken land mass. Instead it has kept its lush greenery and natural splendour.

The modest island is sprinkled with shimmering harbours, solitary coves snuggled between cliffs and relaxing walking trails. But that’s just a taster of a much bigger picture.

The first leg of the trip began in the eastern part of the island, the Port of Mahon, which is one of the deepest natural harbours in the world.

To read the full article click here

Depression can come in many forms and the causes be varied.

Unemployment and poverty are well known and understandable causes of depression, but suicide isn’t unknown among the successful and wealthy too.

Something as simple as the weather can have affect some people – the SAD syndrome has become more known about in recent years in both Europe and Northern America, where long dark winters impact some.

Diet is another cause for depression, and for those whose illness is due to diet happily something can often be done about this. Not eating and low blood sugar levels can cause erractic mood swings.

The general consensus among health professionals is that most people are not paying enough attention to their diets. Few are getting enough daily physical activity. Even more alarming are statistics showing that many people are dying from preventable illnesses. Others are becoming increasingly depressed or affected by emotional problems.

For many depression carries a stigma, and that’s it’s considered a mental illness results in many people being unwilling to seek qualified medical help.

Dealing with Depression

Depression affects many facets of a person’s health. It can affect the body’s normal functions, moods and thoughts and the way they behave. Depression varies in severity from person to person. Some sufferers may not even realise that they are displaying symptoms of the illness. Some of these symptoms are:

Trouble concentrating

Constantly feeling sad without knowing why

Sudden mood swings

Unusual behavior

A diagnosis is usually made if these and other symptoms persist for more than two weeks. For severe cases, drugs may be prescribed, but treatment recommendations also include exercise and changes in diet. In many cases a combination treatment option is best.

Diet as a Treatment for Depression

It is an acknowledged fact that diet does not affect the body only on a physical level. It also has an effect on a psychological level. While not considered a complete course of treatment, diet can lead to positive changes for people suffering from depression. Some suggestions for alleviating the symptoms of depression with proper diet are:

Eating foods rich in antioxidants, as this helps to prevent free radical damage, which can affect brain function.

Getting enough protein to help improve concentration and energy levels.

Consuming healthy carbohydrates instead of processed carbohydrates. It is best to consume whole grains and legumes to maintain overall mood and reduce stress levels.

Using Holidays To Help Deal with Depression

The significance of getting away from it all to help battle depression can never be overstated. Many people use the chance to go on holiday to keep stress at bay. For many Brits, nothing beats the Spanish island of Menorca. With its pristine beaches and diverse offerings, it is one way to battle stress and depression.

Its healthy Mediterranean diet also includes the foods listed above. Anyone who spends time in Menorca could put themselves on the path to healthier living. It places a lot of emphasis on healthy carbohydrates and unrefined cereals, fish, vegetables and fruit. Studies have shown that following a diet rich in these foods may even help keep depression at bay.

Menorca is known for her quiet fishing villages and laid back resorts. Its holiday package differs from those of other islands in the area. It is geared more towards holidaymakers seeking relaxation as opposed to hard partying. The island also has a variety of attractions and sights to keep any visitor engaged.

Part of Menorca’s appeal rests on the fact that overdevelopment has been strenuously resisted. Her numerous green spaces make it a refuge for tourists who like to enjoy nature’s unspoilt beauty. The capital of Mahon and old capital Ciutadella offer numerous sight seeing opportunities, just the thing to wrap up a stress free holiday.

Menorca holidays needn’t be expensive, especially for UK residents. There’s an array of airlines who provide flights to Menorca.

For accommodation there’s a good choice of hotels, and companies like James Villa Holidays have a good choice of villa holidays in Menorca – often coming with its own pool.

There are no straightforward rules for beating depression. Making lifestyle changes, even small ones, can help improve one’s overall sense of well-being. Going on holiday to de-stress is an important part of the journey towards good mental and physical health. Whether you choose Menorca or some other destination, it will have a positive impact in the long run.

More details for Menorca are at http://www.yourmenorca.net including holiday deals, articles and news on their Menorca information blog while holidaymakers often recount their travel experiences on the island via social media