Snow King

KING Felipe VI has spent the weekend skiing in Sierra Nevada.

The King travelled to Granada’s ski resort accompanied by his security team and a group of friends.

Felipe arrived on Saturday on a private visit, and was spotted wearing dark sunglasses having a drink on the terrace of the Lodge hotel.

personal income caused by inflation.

Exceltur expects consolidation of an upward trend throughout 2023, and a return to normality in international mobility, especially that of Asian travellers to Spain, plus the loyal Latin American market. A special focus has been put on Mexican trade, which rose by 80% last year.

Boosted ed by the still high energy and borrowing costs, inflation and increases in salary costs.”

Record Breakers

which is currently home to La Liga second division side, Cartagena FC. A second Spanish outlet, the Grand Hyatt Lanzarote, is scheduled to open in 2025.

The report pointed out that a big increase in domestic tourism activity boosted the sector as the foreign visitor market continued to recover.

As for profitability, Exceltur said: “Business results will continue to be impact-

ANDALUCIA received 30.8 million tourists in 2022 and expects 2023 to be a record-break- ing Figuresyear.point at an in- flux of 33 million tour- ists to southern Spain throughout this year. The optimistic data was revealed by the Junta’s Juan Marin, at Fitur 2023, Spain’s big International Tourism Fair.

He then spent Sunday skiing with some friends in the Sierra Nevada resort, which has now opened Loma de Dilar and other ski lifts reaching 47 skiable kilometres, before stopping for lunch at the Alcazaba restaurant in Borreguiles (pictured). His timing was good - last Wednesday a 15cm snowfall forced the closure of the resort but it had reopened in time for the King’s visit with conditions described as perfect.

All aboard!

A NEW train service will soon provide a direct connection from Malaga city to the province’s most famous walkwayEl Caminito del Rey.

A Civia train, the same one used for the Cercanias of C1 (Coast) and C2 (Guadalhorce), has been doing test runs without passengers, with the service to be launched in March.

IF you tried to imagine the perfect rural farmhouse, there’s a chance it would look like this family-run gem, with its old tower, and stone walls smothered in ivy and jasmine. It’s equally enchanting inside with flagstone floors, beamed ceilings and lovely rooms, several of which have fireplaces. The huge farm is in the Sierra de Gata in the western region of Extremadura (close to Portugal and within visiting distance of Salamanca, Plasencia and Caceres). It’s excellent walking, riding and birdwatching country, but you may want to just sit and gaze into space.

www.fincaelcabezo.com

Hotel Consolacion, Teruel

WHERE is Teruel? Fair question. Not many people live here, few people visit, and hardly anyone has heard of it. A wild province, it belongs to Aragon in Spain’s northeast (halfway between Valencia and Barcelona, then in a bit) and, despite its splendid mediaeval villages, gorges, waterfalls and river trails, Hotel Consolacion is probably the best known thing in it – aside from the truffles and truffle hunters. The hotel is modern with striking, minimalist design and the most in-demand accommodation is in standalone cubes (called Kubes) offering uninterrupted views of nature, sunken baths, and hanging woodburners. www.consolacion.com.es