King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia officially opened the new Terminal 3 at Malaga Airport on Monday 15th March. The new terminal doubles the capacity of the airport from being able to handle 4,500 passengers to 9,000 passengers per hour. The new terminal has 180 check-in desks, 48 boarding gates, 11,000 m2 of shops, 3,700 parking spaces, and is capable of handling 14,000 suitcases per hour.The opening took place in the presence of 500 local and national dignitaries, including the President of the Junta de Andalucia , Juan Antonio Griñan. The first flight to use the new facilities left Malaga at 06.50 on Tuesday morning, bound for Barcelona . Unfortunately, most visitors from the UK won´t get to use the new terminal, as most of the low-cost carriers will continue to operate from Terminal 2. Related Posts The Ideal House in Spain… Malaga Cruises Booming Travelling by Train in Spain

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King of Spain Opens New Terminal at Malaga Airport

The recent torrential rain that we have seen here on the Costa del Sol at least provided some small shred of comfort for local residents. The region´s reservoirs have doubled in capacity in the last few weeks, with December´s rainfall alone guaranteeing water for the next 2 years here in Andalucia – yes, it rained THAT much! The volume of rainfall wasn´t uniform across the region however. For instance 362 litres of rain per square metre fell in Cadiz, guaranteeing the water supply there for the next 4 years, whilst Almeria only received 148 litres per square metre. The level of the well-known La Concepcion reservoir in Marbella rose from 40% capacity to 97.5% in just a 2 week period, to the extent that the reservoir´s sluice gates had to be opened in order to release the excess water into the sea, amounting to the Costa del Sol´s normal supply for a 6 week period. No shortage of water here for a while then! Related Posts The Rain in Spain New British Consul Appointed for Andalucia Spanish Culture - overheard conversation

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Andalucia´s Reservoirs are Full

Having lived in Spain for over five years now I am one of the first to acknowledge what is wrong with the country and the difficulties people can experience living here or buying a property here. I was asked the other day if I would ever consider returning to England to live. My response was that of course I would. It’s not that bad there. I was actually quite happy living and working there for many years and I don’t remember it as a horrible place to live. Nowhere is perfect and the UK has much going for it. However, for the time being I am quite settled in Spain and don’t have any real reason to leave yet. Who knows what the future may hold though. The main difference that I can see between the Spanish and the British is that the British are very quick to complain about the UK, whilst the Spanish are very proud of their country and tend not to find so many faults. The main problems our Spanish friends seem to be frustrated about are more to do with the current unemployment situation than anything else. They are generally very contented and satisfied people. There is a very good programme on the main Spanish TV channel TVE1, called “Españoles por el mundo”, where they visit Spaniards living in other parts of the world. If there is one thing that all these Spaniards living in other parts of the world have in common it is their love for their home country. They all dearly miss Spain and talk passionately about it. The food, their families, the lifestyle and so on. None of them ever say anything bad about Spain. In fact it’s the total opposite. They talk about their home as “mi tierra”, which means “my land” and speak as though they are marketing their town abroad. As a total contrast to this, the British expats in Spain seem to absolutely detest their home country and would rather die than return there. This seems a bit extreme to me but that’s how so many feel. The majority of British expats really do love Spain very much although most struggle to master the language and can probably count the number of their Spanish friends on one finger. Each to his own I suppose and everyone has a reason behind their choices and decisions in life. Therefore, the Spanish love their country and the expats here love it just as much if not more. So why do so many people still knock Spain and persistently put it down? It’s not just the UK press and TV channels that love to paint a very bleak picture of life in Spain and the property market here. It just seems that there are so many people that will no longer give Spain a chance. Here are some examples of what I’m referring to… Three weeks ago we released our shock report: “The Resurrection of the Spanish property Market – Proof that it’s finally here”. If I may say so myself there is some excellent data and analysis in that report. I spent weeks putting it together and it shows a very interesting trend, a very positive trend, a trend that goes against what everyone else is talking about. I knew it would be controversial but the data in the report speaks for itself. When I sent the original email out to our subscribers about this I wasn’t quite prepared for the bashing that I got. Without having even read the report many people were calling me all sorts of names and saying that this was the most ridiculous report ever! Those people, who I’m sure will be reading this article, just could not entertain the fact that there is some positive news on the horizon. They have spent so long bashing Spain and putting it down that when someone publishes anything remotely positive they are branded a heretic. And remember, these people hadn’t even read the report! And incidentally, the majority of these people that sent me those nasty emails….live in Spain. This stinks of hypocrisy to me. Let’s take another example. The recent “Spain: Paradise Lost” programme on ITV. My heart went out to the guy on this programme who was having to finish off the development where he had bought. For most of the others, many had taken a gamble, in terms of property investment or setting up a business, and the stories would be the same anywhere in the world. In fact, I was so annoyed at the way this programme was edited that I wrote a whole report on this alone. You can read that free report here. And here’s a much more recent example which is what truly drove me to write this article. Last Sunday, 18 October 2009, the Guardian newspaper published an article titled “Condemned Spanish apartments advertised to UK buyers” written by Graham Norwood. You can read this article here. This is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve read in ages. It seems that the UK press must be getting very desperate for something bad to write about Spain and especially the Costa del Sol. This article talks about the infamous Banana Beach development in Marbella. It’s infamous because it is totally illegal and even in the new PGOU plan for Marbella, it needs to come down. There are people living there, Spanish as well as expats, but the development is earmarked for destruction as the original licence of first occupation was later revoked following the Marbella corruption scandals. I do feel very sorry for those caught up in this mess, and similar messes elsewhere and I hope there is some positive news for these owners very soon. However, in the Guardian article, Graham Norwood refers to the fact that some websites are still advertising Banana Beach for sale and specifically mentions the agents, Interealty and a couple of related websites. Firstly, Interealty has been out of business for years! They screwed over hundreds of people but have been out of the scene for a few years now. One of the websites he mentions belonged to Interealty and has not been updated in about 5 years and the other has also not been updated for several years too. These websites are NOT selling property at Banana Beach…they just haven’t been updated. It’s as simple as that….and I know because I know who runs them! So all this scare-mongering by the newspapers goes on but maybe they need to check their facts a bit better. How can they publish such inaccurate articles? It beggars belief. I’m sure the Spain bashing will continue. ITV achieved some astonishing viewing figures for its Spain programme and I’m sure the newspapers enjoy publishing the negative side to Spain but wouldn’t they be better off actually doing something to help those who have been caught up in the corruption scandals who stand to lose thousands? Why doesn’t the UK press do something to try and get the EU to take a very serious stance over, for example, the fact that many Spanish banks are NOT honouring bank guarantees, for which the law in Spain should have protected these people? Surely it’s time for a change in direction for those who think just bringing Spain down is actually going to achieve something? Over to you….you know who you are! Do something positive, don’t just send me nasty emails! Story from Eye On Spain

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Stop the Spain Bashing

My parents were here last week, enjoying a short holiday in Marbella , staying at the El Fuerte Miramar Spa hotel. They loved it….even more so after the deal I got them - €85 euros for a sea view room with breakfast – not bad, considering I´d been quoted €150 per night by the receptionist when I enquired 2 weeks before. I booked online at www.fuertehoteles.com although I suspect that the Miramar Spa is only open for another few weeks before it closes for the winter months. Its sister hotel, the El Fuerte, is also located on the beach and within walking distance of the Old Town and all of the shops, bars and restaurants in Marbella, and I understand that the El Fuerte is open year-round, although I am unsure about any special rates that might be available. These are 2 very well-located hotels. The Miramar Spa is a newer, more modern version of the traditional and rather quaint El Fuerte. My advice is if you can´t secure a good B&B deal online, don´t fret – there are plenty of local bars and cafes where you can pick up a coffee, croissants and juice for around €5 per person, so don´t worry about booking on a room-only basis. One thing I did notice though was the amount of Irish accents that I heard walking towards the hotel – mind you, I probably stumbled upon a tour party. Related Posts Tourists Flock to the Costa del Sol Despite Recession Great Offers at La Quinta Golf & Country Club Discounted Properties at Polaris World

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Great Deals at Marbella Hotel

With the European housing market stagnating, it seems that more and more home-owners are choosing to renovate their properties in Spain , instead of trying to find a new one. Acccording to Ted Jones, one of the most respected British builders on the Costa del Sol, he has seen a huge upsurge in the number of clients seeking his services for renovation projects on the Costa del Sol . Of course, many of the best-located properties in Marbella and the Costa del Sol in general were built over 10 years ago, and with many being used as 2nd homes or rental properties, some are now looking a little tired and shabby. So instead of taking a hit and trying to sell in a depressed housing market, many owners are simply investing in updating their properties – new kitchens, bathrooms and flooring seem to be the most popular updates. Although I actually bought a property in Marbella recently, I knew that it needed a lot of work to return the house to its former glory. Located on a stunning ´pueblo´ style development on the Golden Mile in Marbella , the house had not been touched by its former owner for 27 years, so it consequently needed a new kitchen, new bathrooms, new floors, new windows, re-wiring, and a substantial lick of paint. I have to say that Ted and his team were superb, completing the work on time (within 6 weeks!) and on budget….almost to the penny. They were also a pleasure to deal with, and have honoured their commitment to fixing those small snags that always crop up a few weeks after completion of the project. If anyone needs a good builder on the Costa del Sol, just get in touch with me and I will pass on the details to you. Related Posts Looking to build your dream villa in Spain? – now could be the perfect time! An Agent Buys a Property in Spain - Part 8 - Signed Up! Communal Living in Spain - A Few Things to Consider

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Builders on the Costa del Sol

Rumour has it that the world´s most expensive footballer, Real Madrid ´s Cristiano Ronaldo, was spotted in Puerto Banus last week. It seems that the £80 million star, accompanied by Paris Hilton, brought traffic and passers-by to a standstill as Louis Vuitton opened its doors to the couple……and promptly shut them on everybody else! Apparently, while fans outside chanted his name, the famous couple enjoyed a spending spree inside the world-famous store. Related Posts Fireworks in Puerto Banus Davis Cup in Puerto Banus is a Huge Success Davis Cup Tennis Comes to Puerto Banus

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Ronaldo Spotted in Puerto Banus!

I was out shopping this morning in El Trastero de Macarena, the fabulously shabby shed of a furniture store in San Pedro on the Costa del Sol (meant in a nice way!), when in walked former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar and his wife. For those who need reminding, Aznar was the Prime Minister of Spain at the time of the Iraq war, and was welcomed into the fold by Messrs, Bush and Blair when the French and Germans weren´t quite so agreeable to the idea of a war in the Middle East. It is commonly accepted that Aznar would probably still be leader of the country today, had it not been for the atrocity of the Madrid bombings, which ultimately turned the electorate against him on the even of the General Election. Anyway, back to today. Aznar spent half an hour wandering through the store, with 3 plain-clothed (and eagle-eyed) bodyguards on stand-by on the pavement outside – not at all menacing until you started guessing what they were probably storing in their man bags. Jose Maria Aznar in El Trastero de Macarena – it probably doesn´t get any more surreal than that! Related Posts Christmas Shopping in Spain Watch that handbag! England - the place gets worse!

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Shopping with Spanish Dignitaries

I know that most of Europe is enjoying decent weather at the moment, but I can certainly assure people that Southern Spain is no different. In fact, here on the Costa del Sol , it´s been feeling like the middle of August with average daytime temperatures hitting 30 degrees. Yesterday, when I got into my car in a local car park outside my Marbella property the temperature gauge read 46 degrees – unpleasantly warm. There were plenty of nearby car owners standing outside their vehicles with the engines running and the air con going full blast in an attempt to cool their cars down. It was so warm that even the steering wheel was too hot to touch! Let´s hope we get a little respite soon, although I think with July upon us, there is little chance of that! Related Posts No related posts

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Heatwave in Spain

I stayed last week at the La Zenia Hotel , one of the Servi Group chain of hotels in Spain . I have to tell you about the deal I managed to get. Via the internet, I ended up paying just 62 euros per night for full board accommodation……that´s right, approx 53 quid with all meals and taxes included – I´m not even sure how they managed to do everything for that price, especially considering the view that I had from my balcony (shown in this article). The accommodation was clean and tidy, with satellite TV and fully fitted bathroom, plus a lovely balcony. Meals were good, with plenty of choice from the hot and cold buffet. There was even an ice-cream machine in the restaurant! Needless to say, I stuffed myself with all the nice (and wrong!) things in life – easy to do as my other half had decided to stay at home in our property on the Costa del So l. For anyone looking for a bargain holiday on the Costa Blanca , the La Zenia Hotel is certainly worth a look. Related Posts A Trip to a Holiday Hotel on The Costa Blanca Costa Blanca Bargains – A Better Investment than Cash?? Why do all Irish people swear?

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Cheap Hotel on the Costa Blanca

There have been a lot of online articles and comments following the broadcast of the much-awaited 2nd part of Paradise Lost last Wednesday, the ITV documentary detailing the traumas of everyday Brits who have had a nightmare in Spain. I have to admit that I was a bit confused at the end of the programme. Most of the airtime was devoted to a group of very content expat Brits in the La Marina region of the Costa Blanca – not everyone´s cup of tea, but a lot of people´s idea of paradise. Then there was the Queen of Marbella Real Estate, Kristina Szekely, getting herself all excited about what people get up to in jacuzzis, whilst showing us around several OTT luxury villas in Marbella . And finally, the tale of a Huddersfield hairdresser who was determined to make a success of his newly opened salon in Marbella by charging people top dollar. All very aspirational….and frankly no harm at all to the Spanish real estate market , especially in the Marbella and Puerto Banus areas. The only negative during the oddly titled programme was the horrific tale of a group of Brits who were in danger of having their properties in Almeria bulldozed. Whilst this is indeed the most extreme example of ´when things go wrong´ I was told by a lawyer on the Costa del Sol yesterday that the dispute had now been resolved and that the Junta de Andalucia had been forced to back down from their threats – funnily enough NOT something that was reported in the programme. The whole thing left me a little cold – just another example of a badly researched piece of scare-mongering nonsense. Related Posts Polaris world - A Golfing Paradise Horse Riding in Spain Paradise Lost – ITV Gives the Spanish Property Market Another Kicking

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Paradise Lost – Part 2