Sooner or later, we’ll be soaking up a Spanish holiday again

Galicia in July? The Balearics in October? Andalucia in November? With its long season and infinite variety, Spain is a winner. Nick Trend introduces eight pages of inspiration for that long-awaited getaway

Let’s be positive. Spain is our favourite holiday destination. The Spanish desperately want us back, and we desperately want to be able to go there. The good news is that, as and when restrictions ease, there are lots of options for restarting travel. If the mainland remains off-limits for a few months yet, it may be possible to open up, for example, the Canaries or the Balearic islands. And, however the future unfolds, because so much is at stake economically for airlines and travel companies, there will be more focus on making Spanish holidays happen than for any other destination in Europe.

One of the great advantages is the sheer length of the season. Hopefully we will be able to travel in summer. If not, the Balearics remain balmy through October and the sun beats down on Andalucia into November. And the

Canaries, of course, are a year-round destination.

In our eight-page special, we have covered all bases to help you plan your getaway. We open with a look at the Costa da Morte – one of Spain’s lesserknown coastlines – where a striking new parador has just opened. And we pick 10 great mainland beach destinations that are ideal for escaping the crowds.

Annie Bennett, our Spain expert, rounds up the latest news and expresses her own optimism about the summer ahead, while Nadia Cohen relishes a family holiday biking around the southern sierras. For those who prefer to relax by the pool, I have trawled through the websites and brochures of the top 20 villa agents and selected the best of their offerings, including my top picks for stays by the beach and in rural Spain.

And if that has whetted your holiday appetite, let Paul Richardson tempt your taste buds with his story about the slow food scene that is gathering speed in Menorca, where tradition holds strong but new flavours are being created by young chefs using the island’s own mouthwatering produce.

Let’s hope it won’t be too much longer before we follow in his footsteps.