Through The Keyhole: Who Rents A Holiday Apartment Like This?

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Everyone “knows” that people from different countries have their own characters, quirks and foibles, but can you tell someone’s nationality by their choice of holiday apartment? Guess which apartment someone will choose by where they come from? Or is it all just nonsense and “pin the tail on the donkey”? We here at veoapartment have acquired considerable experience in the field, and while our research is still at a preliminary, “art rather than science”, stage, we think we can see some definite patterns emerging from the apparently random chaos.

metro world map from artpause.com

Australians are a no-nonsense, down to earth people. They also have to come a long way, at great expense, to get here, so they need to stay a long time to make it worthwhile. Their principle requirements are therefore a washing machine, and a fridge for the VBs. Apartment Feria 1A

The French Every Frenchman thinks he’s a cordon-bleu chef who can cook better than any 5-star restauranteur, so a big kitchen with a gas burning stove and all the knives you can handle is absolutely essential. Apartment Gerona

Americans want the biggest of everything, and since the entire family have come to visit their child who is studying Spanish at Seville university, short of renting the Alcázar Palace they’ll go for an apartment like this one. Apartment Catedral Terrace

The British never see the sun for more than 5 minutes at a time at home, so will want to make the most of a holiday in Seville by renting an apartment with a roof terrace. If it has a view of the cathedral so they don’t have to interrupt their sunbathing to see it, so much the better. Yorkshiremen will also need somewhere to keep the whippet. Apartment Pajaritos B

The Japanese will want somewhere close to all the sights so they can be visited with maximum efficiency, as well as being handy for the shops. Apartment Salvador Terrace

The Germans are looking for something that’s not German. Will choose an apartment in an authentic neighbourhood like the Macarena or Alameda. Apartment Relator 1

The Irish Flying Ryanair leaves them with extra cash to splash out on somewhere upmarket with lots of space. Apartment Mariscal 4

The Scandinavians need somewhere with lots of wood and hi-tech bathrooms to stop them pining for the fjords. Apartment Santa Paula Loft

The Dutch Rent an apartment because you can’t park a motorhome in the city centre. They will choose somewhere compact and cosy. Apartment Teodosio 1

Would you like to add to our list?

Seville Neighbourhoods

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It’s well known that Seville has the largest preserved old centre in Europe, and that this is part of what gives the city its unique charm and fascination. It’s less well known that its different neighbourhoods (barrios) all have their own special character too.

El Centro, the Centre, is the commercial heart of the city around the famous pedestrianised shopping streets of Sierpes and Tetuan, and the four squares – Plaza del Duque and Campana at their north end, and Plazas Nueva and San Francisco at the south. It’s the most modernised part of the city (this isn’t all bad – have a look at the Metropol Parasol, Seville’s newest iconic building), but still includes El Salvador church, the City Hall and the Fine Arts Museum among many other fine buildings.

The Barrio Santa Cruz is famous for the picturesque squares and narrow streets that once made up the Jewish quarter of the city. The modern neighbourhood also includes the main monumental area, with the Alcázar Royal Palace, The Archive of the Indies, and the Cathedral and the Giralda tower. For the best views of the Santa Cruz and Arenal climb to the top of the Giralda tower.

El Arenal, is the area between the Avenida de la Constitución and the river, and gets its name from the Maestranza bullring – or more exactly from the yellow sand in the arena (arena is Spanish for sand). Less touristy than its neighbour it still boasts some impressive monuments, such as the Torre del Oro (Gold Tower) and the Ataranazas, the mediaeval shipyards, as well as a pleasant riverside walk. There are lots of very good tapas bars, too.

San Vicente is the residential neighbourhood between the Guadalquivir River and the Alameda de Hercules, which is the largest open space in the old centre and one of its main nightspots. The area also includes a number of monasteries and convents and the famous Basilica del Gran Poder.

La Macarena is the least touristy part of the city, and is regarded by many as its most authentic neighbourhood, and most representative of the lives of ordinary Sevillanos. Visit calle Feria and its market for a taste. Also go and see the Macarena Basilica, and the gate and old walls of the city.

Although not technically part of the historic centre, the neighbourhood of Triana, on the right bank of the river, is almost as old, and was once the sailors’ and gypsy quarter. It’s the traditional home of ceramics and flamenco in the city, and many famous performers and bullfighters were born there. Calle Betis has lots of bars and nightclubs, and a great view across the river to the centre.

You can search for a holiday apartment by neighbourhood on veoapartment.com where you will find a short video showing the essence of each barrio, a list of things to see and do and some recommendations for tapas bars in the area. All of our apartments are within easy walking distance of the important monuments, as the historic centre of Seville is comparatively small – so the choice of neighbourhood is more a question of personal preference as to the kind of surroundings you’d like to enjoy during your stay.

Skiing in Granada

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View of the Sierra Nevada from the San Nicolas Lookout in Granada

Not unnaturally, when most people think of a holiday in southern Spain it’s some combination of sun, beaches and monuments like the Alhambra or Seville Cathedral that will spring to mind, and indeed these are certainly not to be missed. But if your winter holiday thoughts are turning to snow and skiing, we may have a surprise suggestion for you – take your skiing holiday in Andalucía! More specifically in the Sierra Nevada, just outside Granada.

For non-Spanish people this could be one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Sierra Nevada is actually the most southerly ski resort on the continent, and it’s only possible because these mountains overlooking the fabled city of Granada are the highest in Spain. The season usually begins in late November, and lasts until April or May, so now’s the time to start planning. Andalucia.com has some good practical info about the Sierra Nevada Skiing Area.

The resort itself offers everything you would expect, including more than 100 km of ski slopes, places to buy or hire all the equipment, tuition, and lots of other activities, as well as shops, restaurants and cafés. Moreover, because it caters mostly for the Spanish, it’s usually not crowded during the week (though it can be a different story at weekends), and being in southern Spain the weather is often bright and sunny, although it can get pretty cold at night.

But it’s the location that creates the opportunity for a holiday that’s just that little bit different. Because the resort is only 45 minutes by car from the centre of Granada (and less than an hour even on the bus), what you can do is not restricted in the way it is in some resorts (in fact, as its less than 100 km from Granada to the coast you can go skiing in the mountains in the morning and swimming in the sea in the afternoon!). With a holiday apartment in the city as a base you can not only go on the piste when you want, you can also take a day or two off (especially if you’re unlucky to have bad weather) for sightseeing and exploring in one of Spain’s most magical cities.

In summer the closeness of the mountains and the Sierra Nevada National Park gives options for getting out of the city and going walking, climbing, cycling or horse-riding in a spectacular setting.

Holiday Houses in Seville and Granada

Sevilla | Getting Around Town

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If you’re in Seville on holiday, or for any reason really, you’ll probably spend most of your time in, or very close to, the “casco antiguo“, the central part of the city within the route of the old city walls. It’s quite compact and very walkable – you can usually everywhere you need to in less than twenty minutes. Indeed, in most of it, walking is the only practical option. The one drawback is that it’s easy to get lost in the maze of narrow streets, so remember to take a map with you. Your hotel or apartment can probably give you one, but if not, you can get a free map from one of the tourist information offices in Plaza San Francisco or Avenida de la Constitución (21B).

Public Transport – There’s a fairly extensive network of buses connecting the centre to the suburbs, but none that cross the centre. The buses on the inner ring road and to Santa Justa and the Cartuja are quite handy though. The tramway connects San Bernardo train station and San Sebastian bus station to Plaza Nueva. Fares on the buses and tram are €1.30 per journey, and there are multi-journey tickets too.

Sightseeing buses – This hop on-hop off bus service has been greatly improved and now has three routes to choose from, with sections inside the city. A walking tour is included, and the tickets, price €15, are valid for two days.

Car – The general advice is don’t drive in the city centre. It’s even easier to get lost than when you’re walking, and parking is both expensive and difficult to find. If you need a car for day trips out of town rent a car from one of the agencies at Santa Justa, the main railway station.

Taxi – The official taxis are white, and reasonably cheap and numerous but they can be expensive in the centre because of the one way systems and narrow streets.

Rental Bikes – Seville has an official bike rental system called Sevici with lots of pick up and drop off points all over the city. With an extensive system of dedicated cycle paths, it’s a cheap, fun way to get around, and a good way to get to places like María Luísa Park or the Cartuja. There are also some private rental shops and organised bike tours.

Horse Carriages – These cost about 50 euros for a group of 4-5 on a 45 minute ride. A bit kitsch and corny, but if you’re strapped for time you can see the Plaza de España and María Luísa Park in less than an hour.