A new survey, the Holiday Money Report from Post Office Travel Money in the UK, has announced that Spain is the fourth best value destination for British tourists, according to this article in The Telegraph: Travellers get more for their money in Spain.

The only places that offer better value for money are Hungary, Thailand and Bulgaria.

And before my American readers discount this advice as only being good for lucky Brits with their strong pound, you may be surprised by how much the UK's currency has suffered in recent years. The pound, which bought nearly $2 a year ago, will now get just $1.57. Compared to the euro, the British currency is currently at just 1.14€ (it used to buy 1.50€, though it did fall to just 1.02€ a year ago). So if it works for the British, it will work for anyone.

So what exactly do these experts mean when they talk about 'value for money'? After all, Spain is hardly the fourth cheapest destination in the world. But it is the cheapest country in the Eurozone, and with prices falling in all the countries that have the euro as their currency, it is a while since Spain was such an attractive destination.

Another factor in Spain's favor is that while many 'budget' travel destinations may appear cheap because of the local economy being relatively weak, the tourist restaurants and hotels charge international prices. Spain on the other hand, which has a strong internal tourism market and a culture of regularly eating out, keeps its prices within reach of its own citizens, to the benefit of all of us. Hence why you can get free tapas with your beer in Granada, or an excellent three-course meal for 10€ at some of the best restaurants in Madrid.

Read more about Budget Travel in Spain

Spanish air traffic controllers have been hinting at the possibility of a strike this Easter, in what would bring chaos to one of Spain's most popular holiday periods, according to this article in The Telegraph: Easter Travel Chaos Warning by Spain's Air Traffic Controllers.

But there's no need to put off your trip to experience Semana Santa in Spain. Portugal has three airports that are all conveniently close to Spain (in Lisbon, Faro and Porto), while the south of France has airports in Biarritz and Perpignan. Read more about how to get from these destinations to London:

• Portugal to Spain
• France to Spain

But your best alternative airport (especially if you're traveling to Andalusia from the UK) would be Gibraltar. As a British enclave, the air traffic controllers won't be on strike with the Spanish, but you'll be able to walk across the border into Spain! Find out how to travel on from Gibraltar:

• Gibraltar to Malaga
• Gibraltar to Seville

Bear in mind that most flights to Gibraltar are from the UK.

Lastly, why not consider flying into Morocco and taking a trip to Spain from there? Read more: Spain to Morocco.

In short, it is easy to play it safe and fly to alternative destination without affecting your vacation too much. All of these destinations are tourist attractions in their own right, so you won't be disappointed, whichever you choose!

See also: Cheap Flights to Spain

Triple-Michelin star holder Ferran Adria is to close his award-winning restaurant, El Bulli, for two years.

The chef, famous for his 'molecular gastronomy' techniques (though he himself denounces the term), will not open El Bulli in 2012 and 2013. He has cited the high pressure of running the restaurant that is widely regarded as the best in the world.

But in reality, the likelihood of you ever getting a table at El Bulli was never really that high in the first place - 125 people apply for every seat at the restaurant.

See also:

• World's Greatest Restaurant Still in Spain
• Best Food in the World?

The rivalry between Spain's two largest cities is intense. When Madrid and Barcelona meet in soccer, the whole country comes to a standstill. In the political arena, there is a constant tug-of-war between the capital of the country and the Catalan region, with Barcelona making a dubious claim to be entitled to independence because of Catalonia's economic strength.

And then there's tourism. Barcelona has always been the more popular of the two cities, with Gaudi's architecture and the city's beach a lure to weekend breakers for decades.

But interest in Madrid, coming from a late start, has gone from strength to strength, with its excellent art museums, gastronomy and superb day trips. Today the two cities both feature highly on tourists' to-do lists in Spain.

But if you have to choose between the two, which should you go for? Check out this comparison: Madrid or Barcelona?

See also:

• 100 Things to Do in Madrid