CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Sunny holiday advice needed

(11 posts)
  • Started 4 years ago by Greenroofer
  • Latest reply from neddie
  • This topic is not resolved

No tags yet.


  1. Greenroofer
    Member

    So it is highly likely that in 2020 the Greenroofer family will head to sunnier climes for a week (or two) at the start of the school holidays.

    I hear that the Balearics or the Canaries are very good for road cycling, and am extremely tempted to steer the choice of destination in that direction. The question is where to go...

    Can you advise which island is best for a family where one person wants to ride bike and the others don't (or don't much unless for short distances, and under protest until placated with ice cream)

    Any other advice for a newbie to that kind of holiday?

    Posted 4 years ago #

  2. gembo
    Member

    Minorca is good for familycycling.

    Villa?
    Hotel?
    Car?
    Bus?
    Hire bike?

    Gozo which is island off Malta also good

    Posted 4 years ago #

  3. mercury1and2
    Member

    i would like to go on hols and cycle- my family are thinking about it - although they dont cycle. someone said lanazrote? sorry i cant spell. I would be hiring a bike so any ideas are welcome

    Posted 4 years ago #

  4. gembo
    Member

    There is good road cycling in Lanzarote - I do not know what the family cycling would be like,

    There is a tilting point of going on hols where everyone cycles (there are little back roads near Puerto Pollenca in Mallorca that would fit the bill). Or having a base that everyone likes from which a parent can cycle whilst the rest of the family swims or snorkels or jet skis etc. Andratx (sp?) in south west Mallorca looks nice for this where the whole Trasmontana range for the road cyclist and seaside capers for the others. THere is also a cycle route from andratx to Palma (goes through Magaluf. Maybe that bit not so nice

    Posted 4 years ago #

  5. Morningsider
    Member

    Mallorca is great for road cycling. I would second gembo's suggestion of Puerto Pollenca. Great beaches, nice resort, good bus access to Alcudia and other points of interest. Also, good cycle hire options and easy access to the mountains. Don't completely discount the south though. We were in Cala D'Or this summer, which is a lovely resort that just happens to have a great cycle hire place. I cycled up to Cura, the highest point in the south - although the heat was something else. Stopped in the cafe at the summit and literally left a puddle of sweat behind.

    Lanzarote also good, have stayed in Costa Teguise where there were a couple of decent cycle hire options. Fab road cycling - very hilly. Possibly less for the family to do though, nice beaches but fewer sights and trip options.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  6. gembo
    Member

    @Morningsider, we went down to the remote south east to the furthest tip where the lighthouse is. Nice roads (not for kids and getting there from puerto pollenca involved some pretty big roads though little traffic.)

    On the way back north we climbed in land and cycled past an enormous barrel that someone seemed to be living in. Again some incredibly quiet roads but with some parts around bigger towns that were too hairy for kids.

    This April we are going to Malaga which has a fair bit to offer for the tourist and plenty of 60-100km loops for the roadies

    Posted 4 years ago #

  7. dessert rat
    Member

    Have been to 3 of the Canary Islands and cycled in all of them. All great.

    The south east coast of Lanzarote provides excellent family friendly cycling. There's a 25km paved boardwalk thing along the coast from Costa Teguise to Puerto del Carmen which is fantastic, 1k in the middle annoyingly on a road. I had miniIainMcR on the back everyday with no issues.

    Road and MTB pedaling also great.

    Make sure your hire bikes in advance.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  8. Morningsider
    Member

    Actually, thinking about this - possibly my favourite day out on bike/family sun holiday was in Cambrils, Spain. Absolutely epic cycling in the mountains - empty roads, the scent of pine, sleepy medieval villages, sweeping vistas and secret corners. I can still picture those miles-long descents (and feel those miles-long climbs).

    Cambrils is a good resort - hugely long promenade with segregated cycle lane suitable for family cycling. Decent beaches, railway station for easy trips to Tarragona.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  9. CycleAlex
    Member

    @Morningsider Out of sheer boredom I was having a look at Cambrils on Google Maps and the segregated routes are remarkably good for a town of ~30k.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  10. Morningsider
    Member

    @CycleAlex - yes, forgot to mention the network of segregated cycle routes in Cambrils town centre. The network is probably longer than all the on-street segregated cycle lanes in Scotland.

    While I'm sure we could pick holes in some of the design details, it is a coherent network that Links key origins/destinations. All in a small Spanish holiday resort that is not particularly noted for cycling.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  11. neddie
    Member

    I can recommend the Hotel Dory in Riccione near Rimini in Italy.

    https://www.hoteldory.it/en/bike/riccione-bike-hotel-sezione.htm

    We stayed there by chance, looking for beaches, kid friendly stuff, but they also happened to do roadie-type bike tours (what luck!)

    They have led rides at various levels and they'll take you out to the hill fort villages around and including San Marino. Plenty of nicely-graded climbing routes, scenery and interesting alpine-like roads. You'll be led by some "seasoned" cyclists, older wizened guys in their 70s but as fit as fiddles.

    The hotel staff are really friendly, and they'll hire you some decent full carbon bikes. Rides are semi supported in that they give you a sandwich to carry and change the wheel out if you puncture. Hot tubs to soak in and convivial bar to relax in after the rides. Beach almost on the doorstep for the kids and family friendly cycling available in Riccione town and along the sea front.

    It's about 1 hour by train to get there from Bologna.

    Definitely recommended.

    Posted 4 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.


Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin