Cadiz City is a maze of old alleyways, modern arcades and walkways. Here, shoppers will find a plethora of shops selling the usual souvenirs, handicrafts, high fashion, streetwear, luxury items and bargains.

Best buys in Cadiz include one-of-a-kind handicrafts and local products that are great reminders of trips to ancient Cadiz. A fan is part of a traditional Spanish lady’s must-have accessories. Cadiz makes some of the finest fans in the world. Flamenco products such as costumes, accessories, guitars and flamenco dolls are popular purchases. Flamenco craft is an important industry in Cadiz. It captures the flavour and spirit of Cadiz.

Most visitors remark on the exceptional quality of Cadiz wine and sherry and the yummy Iberian ham and cheeses. These local food and wine products are great to take home. Other good buys made in Cadiz are pottery, palm and wicker products, blankets, ponchos, textiles, woodworks and ceramics.

Cadiz has numerous shops that sell all these products and more. A good starting point to look for great finds is at the Plaza San Juan de Dios. The streets that connect to this plaza are brimming with shops. The main shopping streets are Calle Ancha and Calle Columela. These traditional shopping areas include clothing stores, bookstores, furniture shops, cafes and other outlets.

Belle Epoque in Antonio Lopez is the best place to go for Andalusian artisan’s crafts such as ceramics, wicker and antique furniture. Tucked away in a corner of Plaza Candelaria, Hecho, sells food products like honey, wine, cheese, olive oils and processed meats especially chorizos (sausages). For a more modern shopping experience, cheque out El Corte Ingles, Spain’s most popular shopping centre. The Cadiz branch is located in the New Town at Avenida Cortes de Cadiz 1 near the port. El Corte Ingles carries electronics, books, musical items, clothes and a complete supermarket.

Around Cadiz, there are a number of markets. The Central Market near Plaza de las Flores is a covered market that sells fresh produce, fresh meat and the freshest catch from the sea. Non-food items are also available here. Every Sunday morning, a flea market is set up near the Central Market. For your flower needs or simply to take your fill of flowers galore, head off to Plaza de las Flores.

When shopping, take into consideration siesta time. Small shops may be closed from 2:30 pm to around 5:30 pm. However, some big stores remain open during siesta time.

The City of Cadiz has a good range of accommodation choices, from fully-equipped luxury hotels to modest one-star hotels and cheap hostals and pensions. Do you opt to stay in a discount hotel just for an overnight stop in Cadiz? Do you prefer to spend your holiday cocooned in the lap of luxury? Cadiz has accommodations to suit your every taste and budget. But book well in advance if you are planning to visit Cadiz at carnival time as thousands of visitors flock to Cadiz from all over Spain.

One of the best accommodations in Cadiz is the 4-star Hotel Atlantico in Avenida Duque de Najera next to the famed Genoves Park. It offers magnificent views of the Bay of Cadiz. Hotel Atlantico is a few minutes away from La Caleta Beach and the main Carnival events. The hotel is equipped with modern facilities.

The 4-star Hotel Puertatierra in the centre of the city is just a stone’s throw away from the main attractions of Cadiz including beaches, shops and historical sites. It is one of the most impressive hotels in Cadiz what with its beautiful Neoclassic design and first-class amenities.

The 3-star Hotel Francia Y Paris in Plaza de San Francisco 6 is an unassuming and comfortable hotel in the centre of the Old Town. Connecting double rooms on each floor are good for families. Facilities include a restaurant and a bar.

If you are looking for something cheaper, there are plenty of mid-range hotels in and around the city. Within walking distance of the Paseo Maritimo and Victoria Beach is the Hotel Regio. Its affordable price and comfort more than make up for the small rooms. The hotel serves breakfast only. Parador de Cadiz in Avenida Duque de Najera 9 is a favourite among tourists. The hotel is actually a resort hotel because of its close proximity to the beach. The hotel rooms are spacious and feature balconies that allow for ocean viewing. All the rooms have bathrooms.

Hostals and pensions provide basic facilities but are generally clean and cozy. Hostal Bahia Hostales in Calle Plocia near Plaza San Juan de Dios offer cheap but value-for-money accommodations. The rooms are small but have their own TVs, en-suite facilities and individual phones. Casa Caracol is a friendly and comfortable backpacker’s haven in the heart of the Old Town. The hostal consists of three floors and a rooftop garden. The kitchen, reception and common area is in the ground floor.

Over the years, apartments have mushroomed in Cadiz. Sharing an apartment with fellow travellers may prove to be more economical than staying in hotels or hostals. The apartment blocks are located along the Paseo Maritimo and Calle Pablo Ruiz Picasso. It is easy to look for an apartment during the fall and winter but quite hard during spring and summer when Cadiz enjoys an overflow of tourists and locals alike.

Planning for a trip to Cadiz, Spain? Your choice of international air travel, sad to say, is bleak: empty your wallet or wreck havoc to your body. If you choose to fly business class, you will be rewarded with a comfortable chair that may turn into a bed and other first-class amenities but this comes with a hefty price tag. Forsake your body and fly cheap but you will be uncomfortable.
There is an affordable middle ground. Savvy travellers can recline in comfort for less cost than standard business class fares. Here are some tips for finding reasonable fares.

First, choose a new airline. The huge price difference between coach and unrestricted business class has spawned an entirely new kind of airline – the all business class carrier with rational prices. Maxjet, a new airline offers fliers most of the perks that other airlines extend to business class customers. The only difference is the price.

Pick an established carrier offering a satisfactory price. When your travels extend beyond London, you can find a reasonable deal on business class travel on most old-line carriers. These carriers are now willing to slash up to two-thirds of the cost of a business class seat provided you must comply with their rules and restrictions.

Select a new class. The gap between full-fare business class and discounted coach has led some international carriers to come up with a new category – the economy plus or premium economy which is wedged between coach and business class cabins. British Airways’ World Travellers Plus is a fine example of an economy class category.

Search for a special sale. The concept of fare wars in business class is most beneficial to passengers. International airlines are now giving discounted rates on their premium classes of service. In recent years, British Airways has mounted sales that cut business fares. Other airlines offer Web specials on business class.

Another way to uncover a good deal on business class is to look around for a package deal. Land-air packages that bundle hotel accommodations and airfare cost a tiny portion of the business class seat. A package deal usually includes accommodations, round-trip transportation between hotel and airport, daily breakfast plus airfare.

All these options can be had on the Internet but rules and restrictions can be confusing. A knowledgeable travel agent can be a great help.