The first thing to remember when travelling is that nothing goes exactly according to plan. This realisation will probably dawn on you late at night, in a strange town, when you arrive at your hostel to find they closed the door two hours ago. By that time, of course, it will be too late.

I can remember when it happened to me. I was sitting with my friend Marika outside Valencia airport at 1 o’ clock in the morning; it was drizzling with rain, and the roads were ominously empty. Up until this point, we had seemed to do everything right – we had booked searched through plenty of hostels and booked in advance using HostelBookers.com, we had checked to see that it was central and open late at night, and we had made sure that there was a transfer bus between the airport and the town centre. Unfortunately, we hadn’t bargained for the plane arriving two hours late and missing the last transfer by a matter of minutes.

“So what are we going to do now?” asked Marika. She had downed most of the complementary bottle of wine shoved at us by a placatory air hostess on the flight, and she didn’t seem too worried by the situation.
“Well,” I said slowly, “I suppose we could get a taxi.”
Marika looked round. “There aren’t any,” she concluded positively. “But I think I’ve got a map somewhere in here…”
The search through her bag produced a broken umbrella, a duty free bottle of gin and a crumpled map of Valencia.
“Look,” she said, pointing at a network of streets that led from the airport to our hostel. “It’s easy. Should only take us twenty minutes to walk there.”

It took us two hours. Barely sheltered by the broken umbrella, clutching the soggy map and swigging from the duty free gin bottle, we wound our way along the alleyways of Valencia. At one point we were accosted by a group of fifteen-year-olds, who, for some inexplicable reason, were carrying a box of megaphones. They insisted on accompanying us for half an hour, announcing our progress by tannoy and proposing marriage to us in the intervals. That’s the sort of surreal thing that happens surprisingly often when you’re travelling in Europe.

We arrived at our hostel at 3am to find a party going full-swing in the lobby. There was birthday cake scattered around the floor, men wearing strange bird-like masks wielding maracas, and flamenco dancers weaving their way around the detritus.
“We definitely chose the right hostel, then,” said Marika, before the dancers pulled us in to their circle.
Yes, things rarely go to plan when you’re travelling – but most of them time, that’s a good thing.

Surfing and Hawaii have gone hand-in-hand for a long time, since the island’s royalty adopted it as their sport of choice. For the traveller with a mission to surf some of the world’s finest waves, it is the place to go: the water is warm, and although the size of the surf is seasonal, the swell is consistently impressive. Just after summer, the North shore has a huge swell that attracts some big-time, high-power surfers. However, during the summer the water calms down and although lovely for bathers, you can’t surf in it. When it gets flat in the north, head down south where tropical storms from the south Pacific get the swell going.You’ll probably find reliable waves on most of the beaches, but here are a few to keep in mind if you want to have a go yourself or simply watch the professionals show you how it’s done.

Sunset Beach, and Pipeline are recommended for experts only; but if you’re into your surf you should still make it over to these parts of Oahu’s North Shore, where pro-surfers take on waves that can get as high as 20 feet in the winter. The shore is so impressive that it hosts the World Surf Championships in December. Head down and expect to see an all-star line-up stirring up the crowds with their skills. If you want to get stuck in too try the smaller waves at Lahaina beach – they are consistent and well-suited to a beginner or an intermediate. Honolua Bay too has some excellent waves that are well-worth a look.

In the south, a safe bet is Waikiki Beach, because the surf is nice and easy and never too high. The waves are about three feet in the summer and two in the winter. Waikiki is historically significant, because of the legend Duke Kahanamoku - a guru to a generation of modern surfers, and the quintessential surd dude. He made this beach his own in the 1920s and was responsible for making the sport commercial. Most of the big guys surfing the monster breaks on the North Shore will have started out on Waikiki’s smaller waves on a long board.

If you are going to be hitting the surf every day, don’t bother spending loads on accommodation, because you’re hardly going to be there. You’ll need a base and a shower to clean you and your wetsuit. Try HostelBookers, who have lists of hostels around the globe.

Hawaii caters for all types of surfer – these are just a few of the many, decent and worthwhile spots you might want to have a look at. Note that some of these beaches are as sacred as a holy temple to some surfers, so watch where you put yourself in the water. Surf rage is prevalent and stealing waves is a pretty bad move in shores that have become quite tribal. So, get to know the locals, and learn the codes. Those that own boards can easily pack one with them and carry it through their travels – just make sure you get good travel insurance for any damages or loss. Check out AA Travel for some good backpacker’s deals.

Costa Blanca: On the east coast of the country, the Costa Blanca includes the popular destinations of Alicante and Benidorm. Different parts of the coastline have different attractions; the Costa Blanca caters for both those looking for a lively and exciting holiday as well as those looking for a quiet, relaxing break. Away from the beaches, there are vineyards and orchards to visit. With so much choice and diversity in one area, Spain’s Costa Blanca is well worth a visit.

Costa del Sol: South of the Costa Blanca is the Costa del Sol, the region with the longest coastline in the country and one which includes the resorts of Malaga and Marbella. The beaches are extensive, but one of the attractions of this region is the variation in landscape, with cliffs, coves, mountains and valleys near by. The Costa del Sol offers all the typical tourist attractions, but has managed to avoid destroying the traditional towns and villages. The local food is wonderful, and visitors get a fantastic chance to sample the culture of the area. If you’re particularly looking to head to Costa del Sol, take a look at TravelZoo for some cheap flights.

The Balearic Islands: Just off the east coast, these four islands offer a slightly different Spanish holiday. All the islands are blessed with beautiful expansive beaches dotted with coves and cliffs, while the largest of the four, Mallorca, has majestic mountains and beautiful scenery that are well worth a look. Ibiza has a deserved reputation as a party destination, but if that is not your thing don’t let it put you off, the beaches and scenery are magnificent, while there are also great family resorts.

The Canary Islands: Lying near the northern coast of Africa, the five largest Canaries are Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma. The typically expansive sandy beaches are there, as well as impressive reefs, bays and cliff scenery. A unique attraction to the Canaries is its volcanic scenery, with craters and lava fields to be seen in Lanzarote. A slightly more adventurous option, the Canary Islands add a bit of fire to what would already be a brilliant trip.

With such a great choice of destinations to suit every type of holidaymaker, Spain really is a great place to choose for whatever type of break you’re planning. For a great selection of Spain villas in all these areas and more, check out James Villas, or alternatively see what Thomas Cook have to offer. Go Travel can provide you with travel insurance.