♥♥Gone to pastures new. Thanks to all of you. You are a lovely crowd, but time does not ...
♥♥Gone to pastures new. Thanks to all of you. You are a lovely crowd, but time does not permit me to do the site justice any more♥♥
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There are those that like to go abroad to get away from it all, and there are those who are a little less ambitious and chose holiday resorts where their own mother tongue is spoken.
It is difficult to talk about Gibraltar without being pulled into the political situation which makes Gib part of British soil. This review is written more from a visitors point of view because it is what the visitor sees and enjoys in Gibraltar that makes interesting reading for a would be holiday maker, rather than an endless history lesson. This is how I see Gibraltar, and how I would hope a lot of future holiday makers will see it.
FLIGHTS TO GET THERE
Flights to Gibraltar can be found on LastMinute.com from £119 for a fortnight. This is much cheaper than when I was there, and I believe shopping around, that it would be worth taking into account all inclusive holidays with hotel prices in the price to make a comparison for the best deal. I looked at prices for June when the season is warm and the price I have given here is for that month.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
Here Gibraltar has a diversity of choice. From self catering holidays to hostel accommodation, Gibraltar is spoilt
for choice, although for the average family holiday, I would recommend the Caleta Hotel because it gives you the best of two worlds. This is a large hotel overlooking Catalan Bay which is more used by locals than the other beaches and gives you a real taste of Gibraltar, whilst being away from the hustle and bustle of town. It is a nice hotel and you can book rooms that look over the sea. If you do not state this when you book, you may be disappointed because the rock facing rooms are not as sumptious and certainly not as desirable, but are cheaper.
The hotel offers good food and there is a terraced restaurant overlooking the sea and I would recommend their evening meals because the ambiance of the hotel is so nice. At the end of a busy day, or just before hitting the town for a late night, the terrace restaurant offers calm in a storm, and little birds fly down to gather crumbs, and you can watch the fishermen finishing their days' work on the bay below.
The Rock Hotel is for those who want a little more exclusivity because it really is much more expensive, although comparing the two hotels, I would chose the Caleta every time because of its position. The Rock hotel offers casino and night club, although you do not have to be a resident of the hotel to enjoy these. By staying at the Caleta, you really can take part in the evening shows at the Rock Hotel without spending a fortune on expensive accommodation.
SO WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN GIBRALTAR ?
There are a wide range of activities in Gibraltar. For those simply wishing to relax, there are two good sandy beaches and endless little coves with nice rock sunbathing areas. Being British of course, there are all the normal trappings of a holiday like ice cream, and snacks from little cafes.
For the more adventurous, there is a cable car that takes you to the top of the rock, where you can delve into the illuminated caves, and often in St Michael's caves there are concerts which are spectacular because the accoustics of the caves lend themselves to spectacle.
Then there are the apes that live at the top of the Rock. It is said that if the apes ever leave, then Gibraltar will no longer be a part of Britain, although there are numerous mythes about the Barbary apes. The apes have lived at the top of the rock for many years, and are accustomed to tourists, although you are told to watch your children as on occasion, the apes have tried to takes babies back to their den !!! I actually saw one episode of this, although all in all, they mean no harm and would not harm a child.
The Main Street is thus called because this is exactly what it is, a main street filled with colourful shops with all kinds of tourist trade and duty free perfumes and electrical and electronic goods. Be warned, shops do barter, and even in shops where prices are marked, you can barter and how successful you are depends a little on the shop owners.
NIGHT LIFE
Gibraltar lights up at night and there are many clubs and caverns that you can visit in which to dance the night away. This is a society that lives a little like the Spanish do, in that often, a siesta is taken in the afternoon in order to charge up the batteries for the night.
Cabaret at the Rock Hotel is first rate, as is their restaurant, and the casino is well worth a visit for those who enjoy a little chance moment.
TRANSPORT ON THE ROCK
Little mini buses run around the rock, and it is a nice experience of actually being in Gib to catch one of these which winds its way along narrow roads and around the Rock to places that you may not otherwise have seen.
Taxis are cheap and most people use these.
A QUIETER HOLIDAY
In Gibraltar you have the choice to either have a holiday of going out, doing things, seeing things, or a calm holiday. I have had both in Gibraltar, and during a particularly difficult time in my life wanted a quieter holiday. Gibraltar catered for my needs just as well as it did when I wanted an action packed holiday.
The beaches are safe, and walking along the edge of the Med at night is beautiful. Listening to the sea and the sea birds, and just taking in the view from the rocks is a good time to write a diary and people do not really bother you too much.
In the town, you can visit the more historic places that do not attract too many people. Go through little back streets, and look in the Gibraltar Pottery, mooch around and find unexpected treasure in little places the tourist does not usually find.
A museum, a moorish castle, little parts of a speckled history are worthy of note, and believe it or not, there is also the changing of the guards which attracts crowds.
Watch the sun go down at Europa Point, and feel the warm air surround you.
Gibraltar offers a great deal more than fish and chips, and I would suggest to anyone travelling to Gibraltar to go to the places where the locals go, enjoy their little world at its best. In the Piazza in the centre of town once a week, there is a lottery and joining in with the ambiance and warmth of a Gibraltarian welcome, this is an experience in itself.
Daily expenses depend of course on personal tastes although I would say that you can have a reasonable time on around £20 a day.
Before you leave Gibraltar, take a Taxi to the top of the Rock at night. Yes, it costs money, but by goodness it is well worth it. Winding up little lanes than bend like elbows and seeing all the lights of the town below you is spectacular, and is how I remember Gibraltar, always warm in my heart from both quiet to very noisy holidays.
I've visited Gibraltar on a day trip when I was holidaying on the Costa Del Sol, and it absolutely threw it down, but we still managed to see the apes, the caves, and of course the shops. Jackie
Harryslarry 01.04.2004 14:52
mum and dad have been there.
KarenUK 31.03.2004 17:33
I'd like to see the caves & the apes, but would be avoiding the cable car big time!!
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Advantages: Lovely people, lots of things to do, relaxed and friendly place, use pounds and speak English Disadvantages: Not suitable for a group of young adults holiday
frankiefromings13 01.04.2009 (01.04.2009)
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Mar 30th, 2004
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