[sonofelvis]

I know this is a bit of a puzzler but i'm looking for somewhere in europe to go on hols for 10-14 days in july/august with my wife and 2 boys aged 15 and 17and possible grandparents. I'm looking for a hotel with a nature reserve or wildlife nearby for photography as well as bird watching, whilst having resonable facilities ie swimming pools, gym etc. Any help or advice would be greatly appriciated.

regards

elvis

[njlarsen]

Define nearby: 15 minutes walking, 15 minutes in car, hour in car?

Take a look at for example Mallorca in the part of Birdforum about Spain -- read for example the second post in this thread. We ended up never going due to an Icelandic Volcano going off, but went to Crete in August last year and had a nice trip there.

Niels

[Barred Wobbler]

I'd second Mallorca, Puerto Pollensa is a good base for what you're wanting.

You'd have the bonus of Eleonora's falcons at that time of year too.

[Stephen C]

Don't forget Barcelona Elvis. The city and the region have everything for the family and is second to none for birds.

http://www.catalanbirdtours.com/bird...catalonia.html

With more breeding species than anywhere on the Iberian peninsular and a string of well-connected reserves and sites including Barcelona's wetlands on the Llobregat Delta, it's ideal for a summer holiday. Not too hot either.

Other regional attractions include the Ebro Delta, the Pyrenees, the Steppes, etc. and more details and photos can be seen by clicking the main photo for each location on this itinerary page here:

http://www.catalanbirdtours.com/Spai...%20summer.html

Have a great holiday.

[Ashley beolens]

Another one for Mallorca, stayed in Puerto Pollensa with the family once (wife and 4 year old at the time) they sat by the pool/beach, I walked to the nature reserve every couple of days :)

[Steve G]

Mallorca at Puero Pollensa or Alcudia as others have suggested.

A package deal to Lesvos is also worth a look > stay at Skala Kalloni, -some good hotels with pools whilst the bay is great for swimming. Good restaurants nearby.
The birding even in high summer is good & if you go in august you will catch returning waders such as Temminck's Stint, Broad-billed Sandpiper, etc as well as good raptors and Black Storks. The nearby saltworks lagoons at Kalloni have a great range of birds which changes on a daily basis. In summer there are very few other birders around.

[Richard G]

Menorca might be worth a look as well. Plenty to do for families & some decent birding sites around the island. As it's only 45 miles across you won't be far away from the family!!

Richard

[Keith Dickinson]

Another vote for the Balearics, I've been to both islands with my family and we all had a good time.
Mallorca

Puerto Pollensa - great beach, more than enough bars & restuarants, has the Bocquer Valley within walking distance of the whole resort, also it is possible to walk to the S'albuferetta. I managed to get out birding every day at some point in the day during our time here.

Alcudia - Beach is okay and chose the right area of the resort and you've the S'albufera on your doorstep. We only ever visited here for the day rather than stayed in the resort.

Public transport between these two resorts is pretty good (or was when I was last there)

Menorca

Son Bou - large beach, not sure on the bars etc as only ever visited for the day there's a large wetland just behind the dunes with various herons, warblers etc.

Santa Galdana - great beach, lots of bars etc on the edge of the beach, with the Algendar Gorge within easy walking of the resort. This is the resort I'd like to stay in, we visited it last year several times during our stay on the east of the island.
As Richard has said the island is small and very easy to drive around, there's one major road running east west from Mahon to Citudella, almost all the other main roads run join this so it is virtually impossible to get lost.

[sonofelvis]

Many thanks to you all for your info has helped me alot.

[Steve Babbs]

Tenerife or Fuerteventura are ideal for a stress free birding/family holiday. Lesbos is a truly wonderful place. Many places in Spain would fit the bill. I haven't been to Mallorca yet but, next time my family moan about our trips being all about birding/wildlife it's one I'll go for to earn some brownie points, and still see some birds.

[joannec]

What about Tarifa, Spain? You could watch the raptor migration, which is absolutely brilliant and starts in August, and the boys could windsurf. You'd have to find your own place to stay as I don't think package tour operators go there and you'd need a car to get to the watchpoint which is only about 5 km from the town.

[Kits]

Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France has some lovely reserves and is a nice family area too.

[Steve Babbs]

Originally Posted by joannec

What about Tarifa, Spain? You could watch the raptor migration, which is absolutely brilliant and starts in August, and the boys could windsurf. You'd have to find your own place to stay as I don't think package tour operators go there and you'd need a car to get to the watchpoint which is only about 5 km from the town.

Tarifa is nice but if the family want to go on the beach you can't rely on it, those wind surfing winds can be seriously strong.

[Barred Wobbler]

Originally Posted by Steve Babbs

Tarifa is nice but if the family want to go on the beach you can't rely on it, those wind surfing winds can be seriously strong.

I've been there each year for the last ten years or so for the migration, but I always stay well to the east of the strait for that very reason. The wind at Tarifa would drive sane men insane.

[June Atkinson]

I'd definitely recommend Mallorca, staying in the north-east area, eg. Puerto Pollensa. There are plenty of good hotels. If grandparents want something a little more up-market quiet and dignified, the Illa d'Or might suit them. This hotel also does apartments I think. Pollensa Park is a very large Hotel.

The Reserve isn't far away, but you are not allowed to take cars in (if you have a Blue Badge, you can go in to the Visitor Reception, but there's then still walking to do). We always hired a car, to go into the Tramuntana Mountains and the Cuber Dam where you stand a good chance of seeing Black Vultures. Driving the hair-raising coastal road to the NE tip, you can see Eleanora Falcons at the Lighthouse.
If you are going to hire a car, have a look at Insurance4carhire this protects you from being charged (or persuaded) to take out an exorbitant excess. An annual policy is very reasonable.

Originally Posted by sonofelvis

I know this is a bit of a puzzler but i'm looking for somewhere in europe to go on hols for 10-14 days in july/august with my wife and 2 boys aged 15 and 17and possible grandparents. I'm looking for a hotel with a nature reserve or wildlife nearby for photography as well as bird watching, whilst having resonable facilities ie swimming pools, gym etc. Any help or advice would be greatly appriciated.

regards

elvis

[Stephen Fletcher]

Extremadura is brilliant for birding, but i certainly wouldnt recommend it for a family. The area around Tarragona, just south of Barcelona is superb, brilliant beaches, lots for a family to do, and great birding too. You also have the advantage of cheap flights to Reus from UK, and Stephen C on the doorstep if you need a top class guide.