Greece Travel Tips and Guide

Lanzarote is one of the most popular islands for European holidaymakers, not just for the traditional summer weeks but for winter too, as the weather for the island - often in the 70's even in December and January - make it the ideal destination for tourists from Northern Europe to head to to escape the winter blues.

And being able to relax on the beach and catch some rays over the Christmas and New Year festivities is enough in itself to tempt many to take a holiday in Lanzarote then.

But now a leading internet site has confirmed what many holidaymakers to Lanzarote already knew - that not only are the beaches great but one Lanzarote beach ranks among the best in the world.

The site points out that while Lanzarote is just a hundred miles off Africa, it is Spanish, and describe the locals as 'passionate'. And of Lanzarote's 90 beaches they say the best one, which ranks among the best in the world, is on the south of the island, at Caleta del Congrio, with an 87 per cent privacy rating.

They also suggest that those who like wind surfing should head for a different Lanzarote beach - the four mile long Famara Beach.

Other areas that were in the top beach list include Barbados, Turkey, Paros in Greece, Loreto in Mexico and Malibu in California.

World class beaches and water sports aren't all that await Lanzarote tourists though. Puerto Del Carmen for example, which is one of the island's most popular towns for holidaymakers, is a hub of excitement for many family activities.

And if the Lanzarote tourist is looking for a sports filled holiday rather than a family one, Puerto Del Carmen offers sports enthusiasts a wide range of activities. Locally owned diving shops often take tourists on amazing underwater adventures to various places around the island. Diving schools are available for those who wish to learn to dive or snorkel.

Windsurfing, swimming, boating, jet skiing and paragliding are also very popular water sports enjoyed by many locals and tourists. Sports enthusiasts also can enjoy golfing, cycling, running, hiking, camping and other local activities, including the Ironman competition.

Costa Teguise, another area favoured by tourists taking holidays in Lanzarote, is the smallest of the three large resorts on the island. It is about 6 miles northeast of the capital city Arrecife. The entire resort is built on former lava fields and saltpans. The resort consists of several apartment blocks, bungalows and villas. Primary attractions are the golf course, a marina, commercial shops and entertainment. Many visitors enjoy the water park in the outskirts of the resort.

Playa Blanca is a quieter area of the island, and often preferred by those who take villa holidays rather than hotel accommodation. Once a small fishing port, Playa Blanca is very popular with families due to its size and many family friendly beaches. Two more beaches were recently added to Playa Blanca to help make up for the lack of space on the main central beach. Along the well maintained and manicured streets there are several shops, restaurants and clubs. Lanzarote's Playa Blanca offers many sports and attractions for tourists of all ages.

But above all, if Lanzarote should be a magnet for any particular type of tourist, it has to be the beach lover - there's 90 to choose from including one of the best in the world!

Greece is located in Europe, surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas. It is a peninsula country. Windsurfing in Greece is a very popular sport. It became so because of Nikos Kaklamanakis during the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.This mountainous country, with plenty of Islands offers ideal wind conditions in which to enjoy windsurfing.

The PBA, which is also known as the world association for professional windsurfers, has met every year since 1993. The World Championship windsurfing competitions have been held in the islands of Greece, and especially on the lovely Golden Beach. As one of the prominent mecques of windsurfing in Greece, Golden Beach graces the island of Paros, which is in the Cyclades, with amazing windsurfing opportunities.

The best area to practice windsurfing is the regions of the Aegean Sea which are blew by a summer wind coming from the North. These winds are called the Meltemi winds. These winds blow from May to September and their wind force is strongest during July and August. The fierce intensity of these winds will vary depending upon the region. Such winds are found in islands Naxos and Paros, found in the Cycladic Islands. Because of these helpful wind conditions, thousands of windsurfers flock here every summer.

There are other popular watersports that people enjoy in Greece. There is one called Kiteboarding. Kiteboarding is a blend of elements of windsurfing, surfing and what is known as wakeboarding. This is a rather new sport that first became really popular back in the 90's, and is also called kitesurfing. Depending on the size of the kite, you can kiteboard at different wind strengths. The bigger your kite is, the lighter force of the wind you can enter in and this can go the opposite way. Kiteboarding is actually easier to earn than windsurfing or just plain surfing. Surprisingly to the students, they are able to get up on their boards after only two lessons form a certified instructor.

Another watersport enjoyed in Greece is what is known as wakeboarding. It is very like water skiing, the most familiar watersport, in which the wakeboarder is pulled behind a boat at speeds of up to 24 mph. main difference between plain waterskiing and wakeboarding is that the boarder uses a single board, resembling a snowboard instead of skis, with bindings. This is fast becoming very popular sport all over, especially in Greece.

For surfers who would like to join a club, there are a variety of windsurfing clubs in Greece. One popular example is the Paros Kite Boarding Center. This Club is a shoreline with a sandy bottom, shallow water and perfect wind conditions. This beach is good for levels beginner through advanced kiteboarding and windsurfing. The Paros Kite Boarding Center has certified, expert windsurfing instructors that can start out the beginner and even teach novice surfers new tricks, all at the learner's own pace.

Something to consider when particpating in any watersports while vacationing in Greece is to think about the weather. The weather in Greece is has mild winters, warm summers, and is cooled by a variety of seasonal winds. Their summers are delightfully sunny and is met with very little rainfall! These weather conditions easily lend themselves to a very enjoyable summer holiday in Greece. Greece is an amazing country with lots to offer the tourist. The most popular attractions of the country is the many picturesque beaches dotting its shores. With 13,676 km of coastlines, one will definitely find the beaches of his dreams

It would not be difficult for a visitor to find the ideal beach to visit and participate in their favorite watersport when there is up to 13,676 KM of scenic shorelines. The beaches themselves offer a lovely picture for people to sit quietly and gaze upon. there are beaches that are covered in sand so white you might be blinded if the sun hit just right, with crystal-clear, turquoise waters. You might also see beaches hugged by huge cliffs or fragrant pine forests, or even palm trees.