Archive for October, 2009

Many potential UK-based buyers of Spanish property are holding off in making a purchase, firm in the belief that they are best waiting until sterling has recovered at least some of its lost ground against the euro. Of course, this makes sense. Why buy something now, when you can get it for 20% less in 6 or 12 months time? But one interesting statistic may make those UK based buyers sit up and take notice. As one of the leading Spanish property portals, we have noticed increasing volumes of enquiries during the last 6 months – strange when you think of the financial mess everyone is supposed to be in. I guess this means that the purchase of a Spanish property is still on the agenda for plenty of people, particularly as the prices have come down and started to look so attractive. Although around 70% of our enquiries eminate from UK based clients, 70% of the actual sales volume can be attributed to non-UK buyers. And in the vast majority of cases, these buyers are from the eurozone. Yes, that´s right, although we are spending most of our time on the phone, sending information to, and touring British clients, our time is actually spent more productively (according to the sales figures!) with the Belgians, the Dutch, the Spanish and the Irish. These are the buyers that are snapping up the bargains whilst all of us Brits sit and wait for the pound to rally. And trust me, these eurozone buyers know exactly what they are doing. With many British vendors here in Spain able to heavily discount their property prices due to the tumbling pound, the Europeans are targeting these vendors for the best deals. It´s a win-win situation. The buyers are purchasing with a strong currency, while the vendors repatriate the sales proceeds back to the UK, and get a whole load more pounds for their euros! Everybody´s happy. I have 2 concerns for the Brits who are looking to invest in Spanish property : firstly, that we will see fewer and fewer genuine, well located Spanish property bargains as the truly distressed stock gets snapped up and the economic recovery commences….and secondly, that once sterling does start to rise in value against the euro, the British vendors here in Spain will be far more inclined to hold firm on their prices, even to the point of raising the prices to compensate for the stronger sterling euro exchange rate . It´s all a bit of a conundrum. At the moment, you really want to be a Belgian buying a distressed property from a Brit here in Spain. But who is to say that this situation won´t do an about-turn in the next 12 months? Watch this space. Related Posts Sterling is Rising! Sterling on the Rise - Great News for British Buyers in Spain Exchange Rate - should it prevent me from buying in Spain?

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Sterling Exchange Rate Forces Spanish Property Buyers to Wait

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Police have dealt a significant blow to the illegal networks of marketing of pharmaceuticals, in this case viagra without any sanitary control. The officers have been involved in Calpe (north of… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Fake viagra gang arrested in Alicante

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The young woman, from Birmingham, met a man on a night out in the seaside resort and returned to his home in the countryside ten miles away, police said. “The victim was attacked in a country… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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British tourist raped repeatedly in Benidorm

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Andalucia Travel Guide has a very steady growth, even after the summer months. Visitors and page views are well up from last year and as in September we had 25.000 unique visitors reading 167.000 pages.

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Stats September

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A notary has shot dead by two robbers who entered his office in Torrevieja, situated on calle Ramón Gallut near to calle Marisa Parodi in the town of Torrevieja, Alicante. First reports suggest that… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Notary shot and killed in Torrevieja

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This most original Andalusian Style Cortijo is located in the most matured part of Guadalmina Baja just a few meters from the most beautiful beaches and the famous Guadalmina Golf Hotel. Built around a square courtyard with a central fountain, imposing antique doors open into the main house with an impressive entrance hall, double height ceiling and staircase to the master suite. An inner hallway leads through to a kitchen/breakfast room with fireplace, flagstone flooring and access to the front courtyard, laundry and service quarters, wine cellar , garage for 5 limousines, 2 guest suites, kitchen, snooker room, stone fireplaces and doors to the huge terraces, charming Moroccan sitting room, cinema room and library. The main staircase leads to the master wing + guest suite, with a vaulted ceiling, salon, fireplace, doors to terrace, two dressing rooms and a stunning bathroom with a free standing Victorian bath tub. The guest wing leads to 4 guest suites and in addition there is a guest corner across the courtyard with kitchen & 2 bedroom suites. The garden enjoys a delightful Bali summerhouse with a sports center, sauna, steam room, 19m x 9m swimming pool, 2 Jacuzzis and outside bar, all fully illuminated. Luxurious paradise encompassed in a world of its own within the surrounding walls. For more pictures and info please click on this link.

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Long term villa rental Guadalmina Baja, Marbella

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In September 2008, the remains of Federico García Lorca, one of Spain’s greatest poets and an early martyr to the Republican cause, became a pawn in the war for Spain’s memories. Shot at… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Abortion debate opens Spain’s wounds

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Stag and Hen parties in Puerto Banus in Marbella are more popular than ever, and revellers flock from all over Europe to celebrate their last nights of freedom in this glitzy resort. Celebrate or commemorate the end of your single life and let your hair down in Puerto Banus before you tie the knot. Known as Spain´s party town, this stunning Marina has been transformed into a luxury holiday resort which is now easily accessible and affordable with the introduction of more budget airlines flying to Malaga. It only takes two hours to fly from London to Malaga, and approximately 30 minutes from the airport to Puerto Banus. There are some amazing hotel package deals available in and around the Marina, and there is also a vast range of self catering accommodation to choose from.   The Marina is packed with fabulous bars, restaurants, nightclubs and designer shops to keep even the most discerning Stags and Hens entertained, along with some of the best salons and beauty treatment centres you will find in Spain. Late night Puerto Banus Such is the pull of Puerto Banus, many of the resort´s late night bars offer special rates and riotous packages for Stags and Hens, including free bubbly or fish bowl cocktails on arrival, strippers , a private VIP area, drinking games, and a dedicated waiter/waitress depending on your preferences.  The services of a photographer are also thrown in, although you may not want to put the prints in the family album!  Most of the more lively bars are open until the small hours of the morning, and all feature live music or discos to keep revellers on the dance floor. With over 320 days of sunshine a year, it is no surprise that Puerto Banus boasts many excellent beach bars and seafood restaurants overlooking the Mediterranean.  This resort maintains its elegance and charm, while offering a diverse range of cafe-bars, fast food joints, and fine dining restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. If you fancy trying something different for your Stag or Hen weekend, luxury car and boat hire is also available from the Marina, and sports enthusiasts will find plenty on facilities on the nearby beaches  including water skiing, parasailing, windsurfing and scuba diving. Two of Marbella´s best beaches are situated either side of Puerto Banus, and there´s no better place to relax before the evening fun begins. Puerto Banus and Marbella Golf If lounging around on the beach isn´t your cup of tea, Golf Valley, situated close by at Nueva Andalucia , is home to some of the coast´s best championship golf courses including Los Naranjos, La Quinta and Las Brisas. There is even a floodlit course called Dama de Noche, which is surrounded by stunning scenery, a backdrop of mountains, and provides enthusiasts with the best facilities on the Costa del Sol.  If you are planning a Stag Party in Puerto Banus, many of the local golf courses will give you discounted rates with advance booking. Puerto Banus is a slick resort with a tendency to over-indulge the adults. When José Banús first gave his name to this port, he could never have envisaged it would develop into the most famous Marina in Europe and host some of the best Stag and Hen Parties in the world . Whether you fancy a night of music and dancing, a trip aboard a luxury yacht, or even a full day´s pampering at one of Marbella´s most famous salons to celebrate your Hen or Stag Party in Puerto Banus,  you will definitely take home some unforgettable memories. Luxury villa rentals in Puerto Banus If you are planning to travel to Marbella or Puerto Banus for your Stag or Hen Parties, rent a luxury villa for you and your friends, as it may even work out cheaper than booking hotel accommodation. You can find some fantastic villas for rent on the Golden Mile between Marbella and Puerto Banus, which is right in the heart of all the action. Imagine sipping cocktails on the terrace of your luxury villa, overlooking the Mediterranean, or sunbathing beside a private pool with every possible luxury and comfort catered for. If you want to enjoy a Stag and Hen weekend in Puerto Banus, there is no better place to stay than a private villa on the Golden Mile. Luxury car hire in Puerto Banus If you are lucky enough to be spending  hen or stag party in Marbella or Puerto Banus, and you fancy a bit of luxurious motoring, there are some great places to hire that sleek Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley or Aston Martin. Spoil yourself and hire a few luxury cars for you and your mates to cruise around the port in. Luxury cars can even be delivered to hotels or private apartments and villas.  This is the ultimate way to explore the Costa del Sol in complete comfort and to enjoy the freedom and exhilaration of driving a luxurious car.  Even for drivers who don´t want to travel far, there is nothing quite like cruising round Puerto Banus in a Lamborghini. Some of the finest sports and prestige cars on the road can be hired in and around Marbella, and the beauty of this service is that drivers can enjoy these exotic cars without worrying about the hassle of insurance, depreciation and servicing. Vehicles can be rented out for a day or two up to two or three weeks for great prices. Puerto Banus on a budget Puerto Banus is famous for its fabulous nightlife, bars, clubs and restaurants, and it is also famous for being expensive. The good news is that with the introduction of budget airlines, flights to Malaga, and plenty of cheaper places to eat and drink, Puerto Banus is much more affordable than it used to be. In addition to a wide range of pizza and pasta restaurants, such as Picasso´s, and some great sports bars such as Linekers, there is plenty of choice for visitors who are travelling on a budget. O´Grady´s is another brilliant option for stags and hens in Puerto Banus, and special packages are available in addition to some great food and drinks at reasonable prices. TGI´s is another great place to eat if you are planning to stay local, or Pizza Express.  You will be spoilt for choice in Puerto Banus with a massive range of restaurants. Whatever your budget, your tastes or your requirements, you will find it here. Nueva Andalucia and San Pedro The Pasta Cafe in nearby Nueva Andalucia is another favourite of mine, along with Yanx in Centro Plaza and the Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant in La Campana. If you visit the restaurants and bars in Nueva Andalucia, and take your time to walk around, you will find some great food at great prices.  Puerto Banus is just down the road, so you can still spend your hard earned cash partying the night away in the Marina. If you are looking for some great beach bars close to Puerto Banus, but don´t want to pay such high prices, take a trip down to nearby San Pedro , where you will find some of the best fish restaurants in Andalucia, at a fraction of the price of Puerto Banus. Boat trip Puerto Banus Another great attraction in Puerto Banus Marina, which is cheap and cheerful and brilliant for Stag and Hen Parties, is a boat trip to Marbella. The price is just a few Euros, and you can view Banus and Marbella from the sea. Take a stroll round Marbella, and sail back when you feel like it. Fishing trips can also be booked from Puerto Banus, and prove particularly popular in the summer months. Quad biking Puerto Banus If you are looking for some adventure when you visit Puerto Banus for a Stag weekend, pre-book a quad biking trip from Puerto Banus or Marbella.  You will be taken to some of the most rugged and beautiful areas in the hills above Marbella to enjoy a day quad biking with your pals. Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the foothills and the Sierra Blanca Mountain range. Explore the secluded trails between the Istan lakes and Nagueles, where trips can be customised to suit the skill level of the group. Experienced guides will take you safely across the trails and routes, and deliver you back to Puerto Banus in one piece.

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Stag and Hen parties in Puerto Banus, Marbella

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The British Consulate in Tenerife and the Pension, Benefit and Healthcare Team are holding open events in Adeje and Arona in South Tenerife presenting advice on some of the issues that matter most to… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Tenerife announces Open Days for British Residents

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Officials from the Ministry of Defence and the General Secretariat for Marine Affairs have met with representatives of the two main frozen-food vessel and tuna fishing boat associations, the ANABAC… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Progress in the negotiations between the Ministry of Defence and shipowners

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