A little bit of paradise within touching distance (Gibraltar (UK) in general)

Member Name: welling1

Product:	Gibraltar (UK) in general
Date:	28/05/09 (85 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything

Disadvantages: None

Gibraltar is in Spain but belongs to the UK and there have been many issues with all this in the past. I have made a few trips over to this great and fantastic country and have always found other things to try out and places to explore. The first thing I have to point out is the amazing view from the air when you are coming into land. The second thing is that you land on a high street - this is not a joke - they shut off the high street and you land. This is quite a sight when you get off the plane and you can watch other planes coming in, but for people not to keen on flying I would say think before you leap.

Gibraltar is not a very hard place to navigate really and you have a choice of getting buses or a taxi once you leave the airport or even hire a car if you are going to leave Gibraltar and explore parts of Spain. All modes of transport are reasonably priced. Gibraltar can be a shock to some to start off with because nearly all people on the island speak fantastic English; I have only found the elders to not be too great on their English.

Where to stay -

I can only comment on two hotels but I know for a fact that these are the best two on the island and both carry four stars in conjunction with the Gibraltar hotel grading scheme. They are:

Caleta Hotel - which is located on the east side of the rock and is situated no more than five minutes away from the airport. It is right next to the beach and has some amazing views overlooking the sea and on a very clear day you can see Morocco to the south and get some great pictures. There are some fantastic little restaurants located on the beach front and a great convenience store where you can get all the essentials. For those out there that are looking for a safe beach which is manned by lifeguards the beach next to the Caleta is and can give you piece of mind. The Caleta is more on the higher scale of the price range but with a great gym, swimming pool which I found a bit small, and being 30 seconds away from the beach its well worth splashing the cash as the rooms are spacious with all what is to be expected - TV, bath and shower, ceiling fan and also tea and coffee making facilities. I was lucky enough on my last visit to have a sea view balcony and I got thrown in bathrobe and slippers and air con but the best bit was being able to wake up and open the doors and take in the fresh air and look out at the amazing views.

The Rock Hotel - which has more of a central location than the Caleta and is closer to the centre and also the rock tours. It has 104 rooms all of which offer very much the same as above but what I remember most was the fantastic lounge area which I found very spacious and I got some great views of the rock. The swimming pool is a lot different than the Caleta's as it can be easily viewed by people who are making their way up the rock but you can get some great aerial shots off the hotel to show friends and family where you stayed. The restaurant is very nice but pricey and I never found the need to eat here as there is so much on offer in town no more than a five minute walk away. Now to comment on the famous Rock Casino and this is where you find all the blokes and then the women in the hair and beauty side where they offer all types of make up and massage deals. I would say this is more for people looking to be closer to everything and looking to indulge a slight bit more but for views, the quiet life and value for money Caleta is my number one.

To find out what other accommodation Gibraltar has to offer the best website to visit is www.gibraltar.gov.uk and they have a great link to look at all hotels, self catering units and also for youth hostels for the backpackers amongst us.

What to do -

Well the main attraction is the rock which is an amazing thing to see, but being a keen walker it is even better to walk up which I have done on two occasions and both times I have come back and have been knackered. It is a great walk up some very steep hills which are alongside the roadway so be cautious. There are no places to stop on the way up so take plenty of drink to keep hydrated but it's well worth going up with all the views and I would give yourself four hours. The alternative to this is the cable car which my mum nearly freaked out when she saw it but I suppose you would if you suffer from vertigo. The cable car gives you a great view over the marina and once at the top you get to see the monkeys which are very cheeky indeed. These are wild monkeys and some are very big in size so it is advised not to go up there eating food and keep your handbag close. Thinking back the cable car was very cheap but if you would like to splash out that bit more you can get a 4 x 4 jeep up there which also does other attractions as part of the tour.

As mentioned previously there are the beaches which are Camp Bay and Little Bay and then my favourite next to the Caleta which is Catalan Bay.

For the ladies, Gibraltar is a VAT free jurisdiction and everything is really cheap with a pack of 200 cigarettes costing only £9! There is some serious shopping to be had down on Main Street with lots of fantastic everyday British shops as well as some great little souvenir outlets. Just off Main Street is Casemates Square which is one of my most favourite spots in the world. There are a variety of pubs and clubs and a lovely seating area which in the summer is just magic. As with shops there are some fave British fast food restaurants, Burger King and Pizza Hut, all in the Square and access is very easy from any direction. This is also were I have had one of my best ever nights out when we went to a bar/club called Latinos and, unlike in England where I feel the bloke next to me wants to bottle me, I felt at ease and it involved being able to get up on the tables and having a good dance and I found the locals very nice. Casemates is great to go if you have a family or are a couple and there are lovely lights in the square at night and meals are all reasonably priced.

We visited a great market over the border in La Linea and was amazed at how many stalls there were and they were not selling junk either. Just remember to take your passport to border control and be prepared to get grilled when coming back into Gibraltar regarding any purchases.

For those of you with green fingers and people with a keen eye for photography there is a lovely selection of gardens for you to visit, these are the Alameda Gardens.

Gibraltar also has an amazing marina where you are able to see up close what many of us are not offered and that is the massive boats docked up there. From the marina you can do a dolphin tour, but as with most tours seeing the dolphins is not a definite but the boat ride is very nice anyway. In the marina there are amazing views all around Gibraltar and there is a selection of restaurants for you to choose from. My favourite has to be Bianca's which sells a variety to keep everyone happy and all at a reasonable price. For all the plane enthusiasts among us you can get some amazing views of the planes landing as the runway is maybe a quarter of a mile from the marina with only a metal fence to separate you from it.

For those sports buffs out there you can visit Gibraltar's national stadium and just walk in there as the gate always seems to be open. It is not exactly Wembley but it is worth a visit to say you have been there.

Almost forgot, there is Saint Michael's caves which are situated within the rock and you are able to go in there yourself or can do a tour. This is well recommend for anyone who is into natural rock formations and the like. The sheer size of it was what amazed me and to think of it being within the rock and all the rock on top of me did make me a little nervous.

Overall I think Gibraltar is an amazing country and with Africa and Spain next door you have a lot of travelling that can be done from this base. It is very friendly and due to many speaking English you can go there with ease knowing someone can help you. There is so much to do for such a small place and is perfect for everyone. You can get cheap flights and I would recommend Monarch as the airline to choose. Gibraltarian people are very proud of their country and will let you know it if you ever get in a conversation with a local about it. I would recommend you try all of the above and it will help you uncover a little hidden treasure and remember that you don't have to worry about changing any money up as the currency is the British pound. For anyone who loves England this is pretty much the same but with the sun.

Summary: Gibraltar is the one for me!