I'm going to Australia in November as my best mate's getting married, although someone may also be able to help me out with some other ideas.
I'm looking to go away for a week with the wife at the end of June beginning of July and i fancy going somewhere hot, not really touristy (by this i mean not your costa del sol, ibiza, type holidays as i want a total relaxation hol) and not too expensive. Although i'm not over the hill (only 32) i just fancy somewhere relaxed where i can go out for dinner, drink lot's of (local) beer and wine without having to walk past a string of clubs or restaurants all selling the same food and bearing union jack flags!!
Avoid South Tenerife, Benidorm, Terrormolinos (Torremolinos) at all cost. Filthy places in which you'll pay the beer and the food more expensive just because they know you're likely to go there.
If you're young, you want the beers half the price, and you want to be invited to a tapa with every drink (literally) visit Salamanca town. It's architectonically interesting, they have the most gorgeous women as it's a town of Students -- plus many of them will speak some english at the least, and it has both top fiesta until 6am and quiet places to walk if you want to pass the hangover.
The zone of Caceres is likely to Salamanca in terms of fiesta, and cheap beer and food (plus quality) but their inhabitants are more like Wigan in england, not very cosmopolitan, they'll probably answer "que!!" if you address them in English.
Almeria is the good unknown option if you want the southern coast and you hate crowded beaches. There are lots of tiny beaches in which you can be literally alone and swim naked if you wish. It's also a known hyppie spot so you're likely to find loose women.
If you want green mountains, good food, Basque Country or Asturias is your place. Asturias have some industrial zones, it's the Spanish Sheffield alongside Bilbao, it's miner people zone, but it's countryside is gorgeous. Lagos de Covadonga in Asturias is a breathtaking resort in which you'l find nature, animals you don't see in England, and fresh air. Don't expect to get sun tanned though.
My city is the most beautiful town in Spain according to most Spaniards (not that I say it). But it's expensive. You have a lot of restaurants that appear in the Michelin guide, aute cuissine (or something) and the countryside is green and beautiful. But rainy.
If your missus like shopping, Barcelona and Madrid are good cultural options and since most of their inhabitants flee in those holidays it's a good chance to visit.
Spain has a lot of things to watch, but I'd suggest to avoid the most known places mentioned in the first line.
(you could always ignore the strip bars)
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