What's the best Spanish island for first-time visitors?

For UK travelers: Mallorca (largest, broadest hotel selection, direct flights from most UK airports). For US travelers: Tenerife or Gran Canaria (year-round sun, UK-flight-friendly to MAD then internal). For couples: Ibiza for boutique adults-only or Menorca for calm beaches.

Costa del Sol vs Costa Blanca — which to pick?

Costa Blanca (Benidorm, Calpe, Alicante) is the UK family heartland — wider beaches, more family AI, slightly cooler. Costa del Sol (Marbella, Benalmádena, Málaga) is the couples/spa pick — more upscale dining, Puerto Banús nightlife, slightly warmer.

Which Spanish resorts are best for UK families?

Costa Blanca: Hotel Best Benalmádena, AR Diamante Beach. Mallorca: Hotel Vibra Beverly Playa, MLL Caribbean Bay (AI), Minura Cala Galdana. Tenerife/Gran Canaria: Hotel Best Jacaranda, Hotel Best Tenerife, Servatur Playa Bonita.

Are Canary Island resorts truly year-round sun?

Yes — Tenerife south, Gran Canaria south and Fuerteventura sit at 28°N (similar to North Africa) and stay 21–28°C year-round. Tenerife north (Puerto de la Cruz) is greener with more rain Oct–Mar.

What's the difference between Tenerife south and north?

South Tenerife (Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas) — drier, beach-resort focused, English-speaking tourism economy. North Tenerife (Puerto de la Cruz) — greener, more Spanish, cooler with more rain. Most travelers want south.

Is Ibiza only for partying or also for couples?

Ibiza splits cleanly. Adults-only boutique resorts (Vibra Bossa Flow) sit away from the party strip and run quiet couples-focused programs — sunset at Café del Mar, traditional pueblos, hidden coves. The party scene concentrates in San Antonio Bay and Playa d'en Bossa.

Do I need a Schengen visa from US/CA/UK?

No — US, Canadian and UK passport holders enter Spain visa-free for up to 90 days under Schengen rules. From May 2025, ETIAS pre-authorization required ($7 USD, valid 3 years).

Can I combine two islands or coast + island in one trip?

Yes — Balearic Islands are 25–40 min internal flights apart (PMI–IBZ, PMI–MAH). Canary Islands similarly easy with internal Binter or Canaryfly flights. Mainland coast + Balearic combine via Iberia connections.

The cliffs and turquoise bays of the Serra de Tramuntana, Mallorca

Europe · Mediterranean & Atlantic

Where to stay in Spain

Q: Are airport transfers included?

Most beach AI resorts include round-trip transfers from local airport; spa and boutique resorts charge extra. We confirm transfer inclusion at booking and arrange a private car on request.

Q: Best time to visit Mallorca for fewer crowds?

May (early summer warmth, pre-school-break) or September (post-school-break, still warm). Avoid late July and August (peak European holiday).

The Balearics, the Canaries, the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca — hand-picked hotels with member rates for travellers from the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Italy.

Direct flights from London, Frankfurt, Vienna, Zurich & MilanYear-round sun in the CanariesFree cancellationFamily & adults-only

Upfront pricing

The price you see includes taxes and fees. No surprises at checkout, in EUR, GBP or CHF.

Free cancellation

Most member rates can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before arrival.

190+ countries

Member rates across more than 3 million properties worldwide.

Top destinations in Spain

Four regions our members from the UK, DACH, Benelux and Italy book most.

MallorcaBalearic Islands

IbizaBalearic Islands

Mount Teide and the Roques de García, Tenerife

TenerifeCanary Islands

MarbellaCosta del Sol

View hotel

Hotel Esplendido

★★★★

Port de Soller · Independent

BoutiqueBeach

9.4Exceptional (1,449 reviews)

Checking price…

View hotel

Meliá South Beach

★★★★

Magaluf · Meliá Hotels

Beach Resort

8.2Excellent (1,803 reviews)

Checking price…

View hotel

View all properties

Go beyond your typical stay in Spain

Filter by the thing that actually decides the holiday.

Adults only

Families on a shallow turquoise beach in the Balearics

Family friendly

Pool

Spa

Waterpark

Members save on hotels in Spain

Things to see & do in Spain

Six places worth planning a day around — each with a full visitor guide.

Sagrada FamíliaBarcelona

The AlhambraGranada, Andalusia

Teide National ParkTenerife

Dalt VilaIbiza Town

Interior arches of the Mezquita, Córdoba

Mezquita de CórdobaAndalusia

El Hemisfèric reflected in the pools of the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia

City of Arts & SciencesValencia

Pick a base

Best areas to stay in Spain

Mallorca

Best all-rounder · 2h05 from Frankfurt

The island that works for almost everyone. Palma for city-and-sea weekends, Port de Sóller and the Tramuntana for walkers and cyclists, the east-coast calas for families who want shallow water and short transfers.

Base in Palma or Alcúdia for families; Deià or Sóller for quiet
Direct flights from London, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, Milan and Luxembourg
Best months: May–June and September–October

See properties →

Ibiza

Adults-only & design hotels · 2h20 from Zurich

Two islands in one. The north — Santa Gertrudis, Portinatx, Benirràs — is farm-track quiet and books out with Swiss and German couples. The south is Ibiza Town, Dalt Vila and the sunset coast. Choose your side before you book.

Sant Josep and the north for calm; Playa d'en Bossa for nightlife
Formentera is a 30-minute ferry from Ibiza Town
Best value: late May, or the second half of September

See properties →

Menorca

Quiet beaches · 2h15 from Milan

The Balearic island that stayed low-rise. A UNESCO biosphere reserve with white-sand calas reached on foot, no high-rise strips, and the coastal Camí de Cavalls path circling the whole island.

Ciutadella for old-town dinners; Mahón for the port and gin
Hire a car — the best calas have no bus route
Quietest in June and September; many hotels close in winter

See properties →

Tenerife

Winter sun · 4h30 from London & Vienna

The dependable winter answer for northern Europe: 20–23°C in January in the south, a volcano at 3,715 m in the middle, and green laurel forest in the north. Costa Adeje is the upscale end, Puerto de la Cruz the traditional one.

South (Adeje, Los Cristianos) is sunniest and driest
Teide cable car — book the summit permit weeks ahead
Works all twelve months; February is peak for DACH travellers

See properties →

Gran Canaria

All-inclusive & families · 4h35 from Frankfurt

A continent in miniature: dunes at Maspalomas, pine forest and 1,900 m peaks inland, and a real city in Las Palmas with a genuinely good urban beach. The strongest island for large all-inclusive resorts and long winter stays.

Meloneras and Maspalomas for resorts; Las Palmas for city life
Puerto de Mogán for a quieter, low-rise base
Long-stay winter rates are common from November to March

See properties →

Lanzarote

Design & volcanic scenery · 4h20 from London

Kept deliberately low-rise and whitewashed thanks to César Manrique. Black-lava vineyards at La Geria, the Timanfaya fire mountains, and reliably windy beaches that made Famara a surf and kite base.

Playa Blanca for calm swimming; Famara for wind and surf
Puerto del Carmen is the busiest strip — Costa Teguise is calmer
Warm and dry all year; wind picks up July–August

See properties →

Costa del Sol

Golf, culture & long seasons · 2h55 from London

Málaga has quietly become one of Spain's best city breaks, and it is 40 minutes from Marbella. Golf from Estepona to Mijas, white villages like Ronda inland, and a season that stretches from March to November.

Málaga city for culture; Marbella and Estepona for resorts
Nerja and Frigiliana for a quieter, more Spanish base
Granada and the Alhambra are 1h30 inland by car

See properties →

Costa Blanca

Best value · 2h35 from London, 2h30 from Zurich

Alicante airport puts you 20 minutes from the coast and makes this the cheapest week in the sun in mainland Spain. Benidorm for the full-service resorts, Altea and Jávea for something considerably quieter.

Alicante city and Postiguet beach for a short break
Altea, Calpe and Jávea for calmer, low-rise stays
Mild enough for a March or November trip

See properties →

Barcelona

City-and-sea · 1h50 from Milan, 1h30 from Zurich

Spain's easiest city break — Gaudí, tapas and a Mediterranean beach a metro ride from the centre. Two or three nights of architecture and long lunches, with the airport 20 minutes out and trains from France and Italy.

Eixample for first-time visitors; Gràcia for neighbourhood dinners
Barceloneta for the beach; El Born and the Gòtic for old-town wandering
Reachable by train from France and Italy without flying

See properties →

Costa Brava

Coves & pine coast · about 1h north of Barcelona

The pine-backed coves north of Barcelona — the classic Catalan coast for a quieter, scenery-first week. Whitewashed fishing villages, clear water and coastal footpaths, an easy add-on to a city stay.

Calella de Palafrugell, Begur and Cadaqués for the prettiest calas
Base near Palafrugell or Begur for the coast
About 1–1.5 hours by car north of Barcelona

See properties →

Travellers love

Most booked in Spain

Up to 42% Tramuntana Cliff ResortPort de Sóller, MallorcaFrom €189/night

Up to 36% Dalt Vila GrandIbiza Town, IbizaFrom €244/night

Up to 51% Teide View PalaceCosta Adeje, TenerifeFrom €156/night

Up to 44% Marbella Playa GardensMarbella, Costa del SolFrom €172/night

Up to 47% Maspalomas Dunes RetreatMaspalomas, Gran CanariaFrom €138/night

Seafront towers at Port Olímpic, Barcelona

Up to 39% Barceloneta Sky HotelPort Olímpic, BarcelonaFrom €205/night

Up to 33% Ronda Casa BlancaRonda, AndalusiaFrom €121/night

Good to know

AGP · ALC · TFS · LPA · PMI · IBZ · BCN — the airports you will actually fly into.

Flight times

Palma is roughly 2h05 from Frankfurt, 2h00 from Zurich and Munich, 2h10 from Vienna, 1h45 from Milan and 2h20 from London. The Canaries are longer: 4h20–4h50 from London, Frankfurt, Vienna and Milan, and about 4h30 from Zurich.

Short transfers

Málaga is 40 minutes from Marbella and 25 from the city centre. Alicante reaches Benidorm in 45 minutes and the city in 20. Tenerife South to Costa Adeje is 15–20 minutes; Gran Canaria to Maspalomas is about 30.

Time zones

Mainland Spain and the Balearics are on CET — the same clock as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, and one hour ahead of the UK. The Canary Islands are on WET: the same time as the UK, one hour behind central Europe.

Entry

German, Austrian, Italian and Luxembourgish nationals travel on a national ID card. Swiss and Liechtenstein nationals do the same under the Schengen agreement. UK visitors need a passport valid for at least three months beyond departure and issued within the last ten years, and the 90-days-in-180 Schengen limit applies.

Articles about Spain

Ibiza beyond the clubs: quiet calas and long lunchesBalearics

Mallorca or Menorca? Choosing your Balearic baseIslands

Canary Islands in winter: where the sun actually isWinter sun

Eating late, eating well: a tapas primerFood & drink

Andalusia by car: white villages in five daysRoad trips

A two-masted sailing yacht on calm water off the Mallorcan coast

When to go: Spain's coasts and islands, month by monthPlanning

Common questions

FAQ about Spain

Which Spanish island is best for a first trip?

Mallorca. It has the widest range of hotels, the shortest flights from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, and enough variety — city, mountains, family beaches — that you do not need to get it exactly right first time.

Which resorts work best for families?

Alcúdia in Mallorca, Costa Adeje in Tenerife and Maspalomas in Gran Canaria. All three combine shallow, gently shelving beaches with short airport transfers, and most large properties there run kids' clubs in German, English and Italian.

What is the difference between the north and the south?

The north — Basque Country, Asturias, Galicia — is green, cooler and at its best in July and August, with the strongest food scene in the country. The south and the coasts are hotter, drier and have a much longer beach season.

Do I need a visa, or is an ID card enough?

German, Austrian, Italian and Luxembourgish nationals can enter on a valid national ID card. Swiss and Liechtenstein nationals can too. UK travellers need a passport and are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period. Always check your own government's advice before booking.

Best time to visit Mallorca for fewer crowds?

Late May to mid-June, or the second half of September. The sea is warm, the Tramuntana is walkable, and rates drop sharply once the German and British school holidays end.

Is Ibiza only for partying?

No. The north and centre of the island — Santa Gertrudis, Portinatx, Sant Joan — are farmland and quiet coves, and September is dominated by couples rather than clubs. Book away from Playa d'en Bossa and San Antonio if that is what you want.

Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca — which to pick?

Costa del Sol if you want Málaga's museums, golf and Andalusian day trips. Costa Blanca if value matters most: Alicante flights are usually cheaper from London, Zurich and Milan, and the transfer to your hotel is shorter.

Are the Canary Islands really warm all year?

Yes, within reason. Expect 20–23°C in the south of Tenerife and Gran Canaria in January, with sea temperatures around 19–20°C. The north of each island is greener and noticeably cloudier, so book the south for winter sun.

How long are flights from Zurich, Vienna, Milan and London?

Around two hours to the Balearics and mainland coasts from all four. Add roughly two and a half hours for the Canaries. Luxembourg and Liechtenstein travellers usually connect via Zurich, Frankfurt or Munich.

Are airport transfers included?

Not by default. Transfers are shown as an optional add-on at checkout for most resort properties, and many large hotels in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Mallorca include a shuttle in their all-inclusive packages.

Can I combine two islands, or coast and island, in one trip?

Yes. Ibiza to Formentera is a 30-minute ferry, Mallorca to Menorca runs daily in season, and Tenerife to La Gomera takes 50 minutes. On the mainland, Barcelona to the Costa Brava is 90 minutes by car.

Which currency will I be charged in?

Rates display in EUR by default and you can switch to GBP or CHF in the header. You are charged in your chosen currency at booking, with the exchange rate fixed at that moment — no dynamic conversion at the hotel desk.

Nearby destinations

Barcelona Costa Brava Menorca Lanzarote Fuerteventura Valencia Seville Madrid Granada Algarve, Portugal Madeira

About Spain

Spain is the most booked destination on TheTravelClub for travellers from the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Italy — and it is not close. Within three hours of almost every major airport in those markets sit the Balearics, the Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca and the Costa Brava; four and a half hours away, the Canary Islands hold a climate that barely changes between January and December.

That range is the reason the word "Spain" is close to useless as a booking decision. A week in Maspalomas and a week in Sant Joan de Labritja are not the same holiday, and a family in Alcúdia and a couple in Deià are not on the same island in any sense that matters. What this page tries to do is narrow the question down to one you can actually answer: which coast, which island, and which base within it.

The practical picture is simple. The mainland Mediterranean coasts run hot and busy from late June to early September, then head into a long, mild, much cheaper shoulder season through October. The Balearics barely have a low season at all — the north of Tenerife sits around 20°C in January, which is why it absorbs so much of the UK's winter-sun demand.

Transfers are short almost everywhere: Tenerife South to Costa Adeje is under twenty minutes, Alicante to Benidorm is three quarters of an hour, and Málaga reaches Marbella in forty. That matters more than it sounds when you are travelling with children after an early flight from Vienna or Manchester.

Member rates on this page reflect what our members from these seven markets have paid across the last twelve months, shown in EUR and billable in GBP or CHF. They are indicative rather than quoted: live availability and the final price are confirmed at checkout, and most rates remain free to cancel up to 24 hours before arrival.

If you are still choosing, the honest shortlist is this. Mallorca if you want everything within an hour's drive. Tenerife or Gran Canaria if you are travelling between November and March. Costa Blanca if the budget is the binding constraint. Menorca or the northern Costa Brava if what you actually want is a quiet cove and a long lunch.

Where to stay in Spain

Direct flights from London, Frankfurt, Vienna, Zurich & MilanYear-round sun in the CanariesFree cancellationFamily & adults-only

About Spain