Costa Blanca Life | The No.1 Costa Blanca Blog

Costa de la Luz property for sale

2011-07-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

Property for sale in Costa de la Luz is completely different to anything else seen in Spain and offers a sporting lifestyle.

Spanish property for sale in Costa de la Luz is for buyers who want a more relaxed way of life. Costa de la Luz property with its stunning golden beaches is ideal for water sport enthusiasts. Property in Costa de la Luz represents excellent value for those who want a more relaxed beach lifestyle Due to the slightly windier conditions the Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light) is a haven for water sport enthusiasts such as wind surfers, kite surfers and wave surfers. It is the most spectacular scene sitting on the soft sandy beach and trying to count the number of kites tossing around in the wind pulling the kite surfers along at tremendous speeds. Due to the landscape and terrain behind the sea, there are many sports and activities available on the Costa de la Luz. It is not unusual to see horse riders galloping along the beach or in the hills behind or the sound of quad bikers negotiating the rough terrain. Golf lovers will certainly not be disappointed as there are many top quality gold courses to choose from the most famous of which is the Novo Sancti Petri Golf Course. The Costa de la Luz (Coast of light) is the western part of the Andalucía coastline that faces out to the Atlantic. The sand is finer and a more golden colour than the neighbouring Costa del Sol. The typical beaches here are more expansive and probably backed by sand dunes and pine trees. This part of the coast has not seen the high-rise hotel development of other areas. The temperatures are slightly milder and the often strong Atlantic winds and waves are favoured by wind surfers and surfboarders alike. This coast is often divided into two sections. Costa de la Luz (Huelva Provincia) which stretches from the Portuguese border to the Donaña park and the River Guadalquivir.) Costa de la Luz (Cadiz Provincia) stretches form the River Guadalquivir to Tarifa at the mouth of the Mediterranean sea. To travel from one section to another requires a lengthy drive via the city of Sevilla.

So we have now decided to open a small office in Ayamonte and add Costa de la Luz property as our 4^th area of Spain we will now be selling in after Mallorca, Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol

Happy New Year to Everyone

2010-12-27T09:50:00.001-08:00

A very happy new year to everyone in Costa Blanca and lets hope 2011 is a positive year and things start to imporve for all of us.

Travel and property should be the most interesting to see what really starts to happen in the provincia of Alicante

Javea Property Market Review August 2010 –

2010-08-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

So you looking to take the plunge and buy a property for sale in Spain and have decided on Javea on the Costa Blanca which is part of the golden triangle and the best place to live in Costa Blanca.

So if you decide to buy Javea property for sale in Spain you should be aware that due to its location and the fact it hasn’t been over built like Costa Blanca South property prices have held up reasonably well especially when compared to the rest of Costa Blanca. Javea has a big International community with the majority made up of UK Citizens and Prices still represent great value compared to the rest of Spain if not Costa Blanca South.

Spanish property for sale in Javea, Costa Blanca North represents some of the best priced Property in Spain. Costa Blanca North property due to its climate and affordability offer a good alternative to buyers with a small budget Property in Costa Blanca North represents great value for money. Javea lies in the shadow of the dominating Montgo Mountain in the northern Costa Blanca and is one of the most popular resorts of the region. The town started attracting north Europeans more than 30 years ago and many of these visitors never left leaving a thriving ex-pat community to this day. But don't let that put you off. Javea is an attractive destination with plenty to offer visitors including some of Spain's finest golden beaches.

So buying Javea property for sale in Spain does have its advantages and in my view a great place to live if you want to live in Costa Blanca. Please make sure you use an agent you can trust and who will get you the best deal possible.

Moraira Property Market Review August 2010

2010-08-16T06:25:00.000-07:00

So you looking to take the plunge and buy a property for sale in Spain and have decided on Moraira on the Costa Blanca which is part of the golden triangle and the best place to live in Costa Blanca.

So if you decide to buy Moraira property for sale in Spain you should be aware that due to its location and the fact it hasn’t been over built like Costa Blanca South property prices have held up reasonably well especially when compared to the rest of Costa Blanca and you wont get the same levels of discount that you might get in some other areas of Spain.

Spanish property for sale in Moraira, Costa Blanca North represents some of the best priced Property in Spain. Costa Blanca North property due to its climate and affordability offer a good alternative to buyers with a small budget Property in Costa Blanca North represents great value for money. Moraira is a gem of a town just a short distance south of Javea on the coast of the central Costa Blanca and a 30 minute drive from Benidorm to the south. Formerly a quaint fishing village with stunning views across to El PeÃ±on de Ifach, the rock of Calpe, it now survives from tourism whilst retaining much of the charm which has long attracted visitors and foreign residents.

So if you do decide to buy Moraira property for sale in Spain it makes sense to use an agent you can trust so you can get the best possible deal available. Also be aware of other areas in Costa Blanca that are much cheaper but not as nice.

Online Spanish Lessons The Easy Way

2010-08-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

So you are ready to take that first step and you want to learn Spanish and have been told that online Spanish lessons are the way to go but you also know friends that speak perfect Spanish who learnt through traditional classes. What it s the best way to go?

First let look at Classes which I have experienced. These have a major drawback in that in reality you only learn at the pace of your slowest member and the more in the group the less you learn and cost is a major factor because one on one lessons do work. For all to these reasons and more I don't recommend this avenue of learning. The fact your friends speak perfect lessons doing it this way probably means they are very clever and spent a lot of money achieving the level they are now at. In reality there is an easier way.

If you have been told to get online lessons then you have been given some great advice. It's the best way for a number of reasons. The main reasons are that you can learn at your own pace and secondly they are much more cost effective. However the major reason to take online Spanish lessons is that they use the best and new learning techniques such as accelerated learning thus giving you every possible opportunity to learn the language.

So the easy way to find online Spanish lessons is to get online pick the course that's right for you taking into consideration all the different types of learning techniques the different courses have and take that first step to learning Spanish.

If your really want to know which LEARN SPANISH CLASSES are right for you then contact Fiona Gonzales at her blog where you can see her exclusive review of all the best learn Spanish products and courses currently available. FIONA IS HERE TO HELP YOU SO DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK.

Sun Talk Stops Broadcasting but Why?

2010-07-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

SunTalk began broadcasting in April 2009, and aired every week day for three hours per day and recently expanded to 2 shows a day.

Presented by John Gaunt, it was available online via the Sun website, and broadcast on FM to the British expatriate and holidaymaking community in parts of Spain, including Costa Blanca and the Canary islands.

In May, Gaunt said that the station, which gave "expats and holidaymakers a slice of Blighty," had "exceeded expectations" for its first year.

Visitors to the website last week however were met with the message: "SunTalk is no longer live ... Thank you for listening over the last 18 months. Please continue to enjoy our podcasts."

A News International spokesman said that the decision to close SunTalk had been made “as part of an ongoing review of the business, and a desire to concentrate on our core product.”

Last week, Gaunt lost a legal battle with the media regulator Ofcom over an on-air incident in November 2008, when he called a local councillor a Nazi on the radio station TalkSport and there you probably have the real reason as the whole show was based around John Gaunt and they didn’t want to take the other flack coming there way. This station closing down is a surprise considering they had just expanded to an all day radio show hence why you have to think the legal case against Gaunt and possible further cases bought about the closing down of Sun Talk.

GuideTo Torrevieja

2010-07-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

Time to do a Guide to Torrevieja, not my cup of team but loads of people love it and want to live there and we have to cater for all tastes so here goes

Torrevieja sits between Alicante in the north and Cartagena in the south. Torrevieja has been increasing in size since the 1800's and has now reached huge proportions. its expansion continues in every direction with hundreds of thousands of new properties springing up each year. There are very few nations not represented by residents here. The area has a huge community of English and German residents.

Torrevieja boasts a superb promenade with a lively craft market and funfair and a huge number of bars, restaurants and ice-cream parlours. It is also very popular with sand modellers who astound bypassers with their skill and artistry. There are dozens of fabulous beaches in the area - some of the best being in the Cabo Roig, La Zenia and Campoamor areas and Torrevieja itself has many beaches. If you are looking to locate here or simply to take a holiday or buy a holiday home, you will not be disappointed - many thousands have chosen to make this their home.

One of the best known landmarks in Torrevieja is the Park of the Nations (Parque de las Naciones), some views are shown in the pictures above - the islands and lakes form a replica of a map of Europe and each country is represented by its national flag. There is also a stage within the park where many local events are held. The park is a favourite haunt of the spanish people of Torrevieja especially on a sunday when the place is really buzzing, with the parents enjoying the sunshine and the children enjoying the play park. There is a variety of birdlife in the park including a couple of particularly striking peacocks. There is also a small reptile house where you can see some huge iguanas.

The residential areas comprise of several huge urbanisations, all of which appeared to have spread in every direction with very little attention being paid to organisation. New building work seems to be adding to the confusion. However, in general this is another good holiday resort that offers beaches, sunshine and sangria.

So that’s Torrevieja for you from Costa Blanca life hope you enjoy it when you visit.

Costa Blanca Property July 2010

2010-07-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Costa Blanca still has two major advantages over other parts of Southern Spain being you can still buy your dream Spanish property form €70,000 and most importantly if your living in the North of Costa Blanca driving from the UK is more manageable so with those two major factors how is Costa Blanca property shaping up?

The answer is very well in the market between €70,000 and €170,000 with a major factor being price driving this particular market in the South of Costa Blanca. However prices above this in the Costa Blanca North especially in the Golden Triangle of Benissa, Moraira and Javea are struggling to find buyers. However Townhouses and apartments up to €170,000 are still doing very well and that trend seems likely to continue for some time to come.

We also believe that the luxury property market in Costa Blanca like the rest of Spain will start to get a boost towards the end of the year, especially prime location properties. You can change the house but not the location.

Talking about location Costa Blanca has a major advantage over its major competitor Costa del Sol in that if you’re based in the south of England you can get to somewhere like Denia with 24 hours without having to stop over if you don’t want to. However if you want to drive to Costa del Sol your looking at least another 8 hours. Put that together with the price per square meter as the Spanish property market starts to recover and Costa Blanca property has a very bright future indeed.

The other benefit which hasn’t transformed itself into sales yet is the Euro/Sterling exchange rate which again means properties are now automatically 10% cheaper than they were to Brits back in January.

So onwards and upwards for the Costa Blanca property market.

Guide to Denia

2010-07-03T03:40:00.000-07:00

A town sometimes overlooked in Costa Blanca is Denia and in this weeks blog I thought it would be good to do a piece on Denia. Also home to some of the water sports of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Denia has a lot to offer.

Denia is situarted on the east coast of Spain, along the stretch known as the Costa Blanca. Denia is very much a family resort. A quiet little town that was once the centre of the region's raisin growing industry. Although tourism has taken over, raisins are still grown here and remain to be a local delicacy. The main avenue in Denia is the Marques de Campo where you can sit and watch the world go by. In the Plaza de Constitucion you will find a wonderful 17th century church. The area around Denia has been voted the third healthiest place to live by the World Health Organisation.

Denia is right on the coast and the 20 km of beaches are of very high quality with lots of brightly coloured restaurants and bars by the sea. Denia's beaches are very wide with great watersports such as windsurfing. Every year the beaches are awarded the European Blue Flag for their water quality and clean fine sand.

To the north of Denia there are the fine sand beaches of Les Marines. To the south of Denia the rocky area of Les Rotes with its spectacular coves of transparent waters which are ideal for those who enjoy diving or snorkeling.

The town of Denia is large with a real Spanish feel. It's a working town unlike Javea (for example) which is very much more a tourist town. The main street in Denia has shady plane trees, loads of cafes and designer shops. It's almost like being in a big city. Denia's facilities are excellent - a modern hospital, spas, two high quality golf courses in La Sella and Oliva Nova.

At night Denia buzzes with nightlife, not necessarily discos but more with the hundreds of bars, live entertainment and restaurants, many of which are right on the sea front. There is charm and atmosphere. If you are looking for a younger more happening place, packed with clubs you would be better off trying Benidorm.
Many parts of Denia are quite industrialised, this is not your typical fishing village turned tourist resort however it does appeal to some people because of this. Whereas many other towns empty for the winter with many restaurants and bars shuttered up, Denia hustles and bustles all year round with a good variety of amenities and facilities.

Another significant landmark in Denia is the old 16th century castle right in the middle of Denia on the hill which gives spectacular views.
Denia has a large and cosmopolitan port and a large marina. From here you can get to the Baleric islands such as Ibiza.

The name Denia came from the Romans, who named the coast Dianum and developed it as an important base on the way to North Africa. Around the 5th century the cathedrals, which were dedicated to Western Gods were removed. Around 713 the followers of Islam took power and re-named it Deniya. In the year 1036 it was recovered by the Spanish and was given the name Taifa de Deniya. When Jaime I seized the city in 1244, he named it Denia.

Denia experienced a major upswing in the middle of the 19th century for the manufacturing and processing of raisins. When dealing with raisins was no longer as profitable, Denia turned its focus to tourism, which has been its main industry since the early 1960’s.

Denia is close to the A7 motorway and is about midway between Alicante airport and Valencia airport - travel time approx. one hour 15 minutes to each.

Spanish Property Update

2010-06-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

Back in 2007, Spain was having Fiesta after Fiesta like it was 1999 on the back of a real estate bubble. After the fiesta came the hangover, which the Bank of Spain now says will keep the real estate sector in recession until mid-2011 at least.

Spain’s economic miracle of the last decade was largely just a mirage built on an unsustainable bubble in the real estate sector. When that bubble burst, as it did in 2008, it sent the Spanish economy into a tailspin. In the latest report released last week the Bank of Spain now says the real estate sector won’t start to recover until 2011, casting doubt on recent press reports suggesting a housing market recovery is already underway but that view should be kept to high end sales only

The number of homes sold in April, excluding social housing, rose by 16.8% compared to the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

following chart shows how residential property transactions have risen every month this year, having fallen every month last year.

On a monthly basis, however, home sales fell by 9%, from 33,632 in March, to 30,659 in April. Sales have fallen in April in 3 out of the last 4 years, so the fall is likely due to seasonal factors.Once again, sales growth was not uniform around the country. Sales exploded by almost 90% in the Balearics, but fell 13% in Malaga province, home to properties in Costa del Sol.

All of which is bad news for the Spanish economy, dependent as it was on the real estate sector for jobs and growth. “The housing market adjustment has sever macroeconomic implications in the context of the recession,” says the BoS report. As a result of the property crisis, the sector has shed 2 million jobs. The BoS says that, by the time this drama is over, the property crash will have reduced the Spanish economy by 5.4% compared to the end of 2007.

The BoS also has a stab at quantifying Spain’s glut of newly-built homes, which it estimates at between 750,000 and 1.2 million new homes for sale at the end of 2009 (developers say just 700,000). “The stock of property is high, which one can expect to condition the number of housing starts in the next few years,” says the Bank. That’s another way of saying don’t expect the residential construction sector to recover any time soon.

What happened during the boom In a nutshell, a wave of cheap credit sent property prices and housing starts through the roof. It was never going to last for ever, but the credit crunch made sure that it came to a particularly brutal end. When credit crunch struck, the house of cards collapsed.

investment will continue contracting until the middle of 2011,” In 2007 it peaked at 7.5% of GDP, way above the OECD average. Next year the BoS forecasts it will fall to 4%. At that point, residential investment as a percentage of GDP will have fallen below the minimum it reached in 1994, during the last recession.

So what do we make of all of that, in simple terms just make sure you buy in 2010

Travel & Beach Guide to Alicante

2010-06-23T04:21:00.000-07:00

Our Guest Blog today comes from Nova Car Hire as the writer knows a lot about Costa Blanca and I thought it would be good to share his views about some of the great places to be in Costa Blanca.

The wonderful sunshine location of Alicante lies on the Costa Blanca, on the east coast of Spain. With its position on the Mediterranean seaboard, the location has long been renowned as an excellent vacation destination for couples and families alike. So what are the best beaches that you can relax on or take a stroll on, or perhaps indulge in some watersports? Read on for more about our guide to the very best beaches in Alicante…

El Postiguet Beach

If you are staying in Alicante’s city centre, then you are just a short walking distance from El Postiguet! It is about one minute of a walk from the City Hall, located at the bottom of Benacantil Hill and close to the highly impressive Santa Barbara Castle. You can enjoy plenty of beach and watersports here!
There are lots of activities to be enjoyed here for children, including plenty of playgrounds. During peak season there are plenty of live concerts held here. One of the most impressive ones is the four-night Firework tournament! This takes place at the tail end of the Hogueras de San Juan Summer Festival.

Playa San Juan

Widely recognized as the most famed Alicante beach. The beach runs from El Campello all the way to Cabo de las Huertas coastline and is over 7km long. Walking down this wide beach (80 metres) with a delicious ice cream is a real pleasure. You can enjoy plenty of water sports and beach activities here.

It is easy to access San Juan beach – just hop on the Number 21 or 22 buses or take the tram from Postiguet to Campello. The beach has Blue Flag status. Playa Muchavista is located a couple of miles further on from San Juan.

Playa Carrer La Mar

This is the main beach at El Campello and has beaches of sand and pebbles. It is ideal for families with toddlers! There is a great play area for children and a promenade with bars and eateries.

Playa La Albufereta

This beach is close to Postiguet and just a few miles away. It features wonderful golden sands, in an aesthetic bay setting, with plenty of opportunities for water sports and beach activities.

Playa Urbanova

Urbanova is located close to Alicante Airport – and is a perfect place if you want to sample some last moments of Alicante before you head for home! The grey sands offer great walking opportunities, where you can enjoy wonderful views of Alicante Harbour and Santa Barbara Castle.

Playa Arenales del Sol

Widely regarded as one of the best beaches is Alicante, this beach features long stretches of golden sand dunes and affords plenty of facilities for tourists.

Beaches at Cala de la Palmera and Cala Cantalars

These two beaches are part of the rocky Cabo de las Huertas. Not recommended for children as there is no sand – and very little services. But if you want to experience a unique and rocky landscape close to the waters then maybe this is the place for you!

Playa Lisa Santa Pola

This beach (which runs for 11km long) is located at the fishing town of Santa Pola. The town is less than 30 minutes drive away from Alicante, a 20km drive along the N332. There are plenty of watersport opportunities for both adults and children.
Hope you enjoyed our guide to the best beaches in Alicante. If you wish to take in a driving tour of the region, grab an excellent value for money car rental by visiting our Car Hire Alicante Airport page.

Alicante is the capital of the Alicante province, located to the south of the community of Valencia. It is immersed in history as an important port of the Mediterranean coastline. The city’s population as of 2009 is just under 350,000 and is the second largest city in Valencia. The early years of the 20th century were tough for the region, but since the latter half of the century the city has been transformed due to the growth of tourism. Tourist development has created plenty of employment in the city. The Port of Alicante has been redeveloped since the decline of the 1980’s – it is now one of the most important ports in Spain for cruise traffic.

The city is well served by motorways and Alicante Airport is one of the busiest airports in Spain, and there are further plans for its expansion. The city is well connected to Madrid and Barcelona through local Spanish airlines and with many cities in Western Europe through the major carriers.
Things to Do and See in Alicante

There is plenty to see and do in Alicante, and the following are some of the key attractions in the city:

The main church of the city is the Concatedral de San Nicolás de Bari, which originates from the 17th Century and is a wonderful display of Valencia architecture. Other religious sights include the Basilica of Santa Maria, which is built in Gothic style at the location of the old mosque.

The Baroque style Casa de La Asegurada, which was built in the latter 17th century is the oldest civil structure in the city, and is now home to the Museum of Contemporary Art of Alicante. The Archaeological Museum of Alicante is also well worth exploring.

Another sight worth seeing is the Huerta de Alicante Towers, which were built to defend Alicante from the Barbary Pirates from the 17th century onwards.
There are plenty of parks and family activities to be enjoyed in Alicante – El Palmeral Park is one of the most popular parks in Alicante. It has walking trails, playgrounds, lakes, picnic facilities and much more. Another parkyou should check out is El Ereta Park, which is located on Mount Benacantil. Find out more about Family Activities in Alicante.

Festivals in Alicante

Some of the most prominent festivals in Spain take place in Alicante, and these are:

Las Hogueras de San Juan - St John's Bonfires festival

The most popular festival in Alicante takes place around the Summer Solstice. The main part of the festival is the street procession, with the floats festooned with effigies, which are sacrificed by burning on the final night of the festival at midnight. This fun filled festival places a major emphasis on partying, eating, drinking and dancing.

Alicante Summer Festival (Festival de Verano de Alicante)

Runs for a month from the end of July to the end of August usually. This festival is a celebration of local and international music, brilliant dance and theatre. It offers a great day out for couples and families. The Alicante Summer Festival is not based on Religon, and as such there are no street parades. It usually takes place at the one location at the Port of Alicante.

Moors and Christian Festival

The Moors and Christian Festival takes place at different locations at different times throughout the summer in Alicante. It offers a unique mix of street entertainment, together with historic and religious celebration!

Find out more about Alicante Festivals.

Shopping In Alicante

The Rambla de Méndez Núñez is the traditional shopping area of Alicante. This is a vibrant street to browse through that will afford the visitor a terrific choice of shops as well as a proper glimpse into the city life of Alicante. There are plenty of arts and craft shops dotted around the city where you can pick up some local handicrafts. Jewellery and leather goods are the things to watch out for when grabbing a bargain!

Eating Out In Alicante

Alicante offers great choice when deciding where to eat out - Calle San Francisco is a great area to look for some good value restaurants. Tapas bars have their origin in Alicante and there are plenty of bars in the city that serve tapas. The area around Town Hall Square and the Plaza de Montaceta area has plenty of tapas bars and restaurants. Find out more about eating out in Alicante.
Find out more about Alicante Tourism.

If you are based in Alicante, the best way to explore the city and region is to hire a car. For the very best deals in car rental, visit our Car Hire Alicante Airport page.

Have you been to Alicante? What did you think of the city? If you have Alicante Tourist information please let us know – we welcome your comments!

So a Big thank you to Nova Car Hire for that very interesting blog and we hope to invite them to guest blog on this blog again in the future.

So What Will You Do When Costa Blanca Property Prices Rise?

2010-06-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

I have recently written a lot of article about why 2010 is the time to buy property for sale in Spain and Costa Blanca. It is also clear to see most people still think the market is going to fall further which is clearly not the case especially on properties in excess of €300,000 so I thought id turn the question round and ask you the potential future customers for Costa Blanca propertry what are you going to do if you miss the boat.

We have had quite a few clients who missed out on their first choice property in the last year and now find themselves having to pay 10,000 plus for a similar unit in the same development and as you can appreciate they cant bring themselves to do it.

So If you leave it to 2011 and you have to pay more for the same Costa Blanca property and working on the basis that the Euro exchange rate stays level what will you do? Will you walk away from Costa Blanca completely or will you bring yourself to pay the extra and just say “I made a bad call and just have to pay for it”

Obviously waiting for the next recession isn’t really an option and once prices start to rise in Costa Blanca they are unlikely to be coming down anytime soon.

I look forward to your replies.

Costa Blanca Brits Jailed for Mudering there Baby

2010-06-19T05:43:00.000-07:00

I really don’t know what to say about Daryl Waller, 23 and Carla Devlin, 21, who face up to 19 years in prison after a jury found them guilty following a three-day trial in Elche near Alicante.

The court heard that they did not get medical help for their daughter, Lucia, after an apparent accidental fall for fear that doctors would detect signs of neglect.
The child died in March 2008 and her parents tried to pass it off to authorities in the Costa Blanca as a cot death.

But forensic tests showed that the infant had suffered two fractures of the skull a week before her death and was malnourished.

The couple, who lived together in Torrevieja on Spain's southeastern Mediterranean coast, were arrested at the border to Gibraltar as they attempted to flee Spain.
A state prosecutor told the jury they were "fully conscious of the fatal consequences of their actions" when they failed to take their daughter to a medical centre to treat her skull fracture. The court heard that the injury is thought to have been the result of an accidental fall.

Prosecution lawyers also claimed that Lucia's parents were worried that by taking their daughter to hospital, doctors would spot bruises on her body caused by previous beatings.

Waller and Devlin each blamed the other for their daughter's death during the trial.
Waller, who moved to Spain with his family when he was 13, admitted to suffering from a personality disorder, for which he had been treated at a clinic in the UK but stopped talking his medication when he moved abroad.

The court heard his condition was aggravated by addictions to drink and drugs. His lawyer argued that if jury members decided to convict him of killing his daughter, they should find him guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter.

Devlin, who also moved to Spain with her family as a teenager, took to the stand, and between sobs, insisted that she had never hurt her daughter. "I always loved her," she said.

The prosecutor has called for a jail sentence of 19 years each to be imposed.

Costa Blanca & The World Cup

2010-06-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

So those real estate agents promoting property Costa del Sol and property Costa Blanca will just have to chill out for a month

AFTER MONTHS of build up and anticipation the 2010 FIFA World Cup starts today in South Africa. Football fans all over the world will be glued to their television sets for the next four weeks and many hearts will be broken as the 32 teams fight for the biggest prize in football.

This year’s tournament is the 19th FIFA World Cup and is the culmination of a qualification process that began in August 2007 which involved 204 of the 208 FIFA national teams. It is also the first time that the competition has been held on the African continent. Italy will be defending their title after they beat France in the 2006 World Cup, which was held in Germany.

ENGLAND

This is the first World Cup that does not include any teams that are qualifying for the first time and the games will be played at 10 venues around South Africa including stadiums in the cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria.

The England team is based in Rustenburg and will play their first match tomorrow (Saturday) against the USA whilst the Spanish team, which no doubt we will all be supporting should England have an early exit, is based in Potchefstroom, near Johannesburg and will play their first match against Switzerland next Tuesday, 16th June.

TEARS AND LAUGHTER

The final takes place on July 11th with the winning team bagging $30 million and in a first for the World Cup, there will also be payments made by FIFA to the domestic clubs of the players representing their national teams at the tournament. This will see a total of €26 million being paid to domestic clubs in UEFA; amounting to just over €1,000 per player per day. But before that final gets under way, there promises to be lots of highs and lows, controversial decisions, tears and laughter. And in bars all over the Costa Blanca preparations are under way for what will undoubtedly be a great festival of football. The flags and bunting have been hung, the beer has been stocked up and is chilling in the fridge and wide screen TV screens have been installed; all that is left to do is sit back and enjoy.

Ryan Air In Costa Blanca No Fuel Near Miss

2010-06-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

A Ryanair jet with 138 passengers and six crew aboard was just 30 minutes away from running out of fuel as it made an emergency landing in bad weather.

And last night a pilots' union called for an investigation into the airline's operations procedures.

The Boeing 737 from Stansted aborted two attempts to land at Alicante on the Costa Blanca and was diverted to Valencia, 20 minutes away.

The pilot put out a Mayday call to the control tower at Valencia to clear runways and landed safely.

Spanish aviation investigators later found the central fuel tank was empty and two other tanks held just 910 kilograms after the drama on May 14.

A Spanish pilots' association spokesman said: "Ryanair needs to improve its fuelling policy."

But the Irish Civil Aviation Authority said: "Ryanair have not broken any regulations."

Well Thats quiet horrific by anyone's standards as right now that is all Costa Blanca needs and it certainly wouldnt have helped the properties for sale in Spain & Costa Blanca.

Solar Power for Luxury property

2010-06-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

solar energy pool heating system supplied by Solar in Spain will ensure that you can start swimming long before your neighbours have even considered the prospect.

Solar in Spain supply and install unique terracotta pool heating panels. The panels blend in beautifully with their surroundings and look great. The panels are also available in black and can also be incorporated into carports and pergolas to provide shading as well as pool heating.

One big advantage of the Solar in Spain pool heating system is that it is fully automatic and requires no maintenance. In addition, a full 10-year guarantee provides complete peace of mind.

If you rent out your luxury Spanish property it is well worth considering the benefits of solar pool heating. An extended swimming season from the beginning of April until the end of October will increase both the letting season and the rental income of your property. You also avoid the excessive running costs of conventional pool heating systems.

There are grants available for solar energy hot water and electricity systems that are certificated by the Spanish Government and installed by accredited installers. Solar in Spain is one of the few accredited companies that have been working for many years with the government’s energy department to obtain generous grants for their clients. Solar in Spain will take care of all the grant paperwork on behalf of their clients. The closing date for 2010 applications is mid-August. It is important that anyone who wants to have a system installed this year registers with AVEN, the Valencia Energy Board before this date.

In addition to government grants, Solar in Spain has introduced a low-cost finance package in association with a national bank offering 100% finance for up to 5 years on all its products. You don’t have to pay anything until after the system is installed and by then you are already saving money!

A word of caution, on the 1st July the IVA rate of tax rises from 16% to 18%. If you are thinking of solar it makes financial sense to install before the end of June. This way you can take advantage of the old tax rate.

There are many new companies entering the solar energy market which is positive as it shows that the industry is moving into the mainstream. However there is no substitute for experience and with Solar in Spain you are dealing with one of the most experienced solar companies in the country.

Solar in Spain is now offering people the opportunity to be part of a very successful business in a unique industry by offering franchise opportunities throughout Spain. For more information please contact the office on 96 285 4488 or visit our website at www.solarinspain.com

Good News for Costa Blanca Property Owners?

2010-06-02T12:25:00.000-07:00

Various moves are being announced in Spain that give hope to many British owners whose property has been declared illegal and face demolition...

Owners of property declared illegal in the Valencian municipality of Catral, most of whom are British, may have a case to sue both the Valencian government and the town hall for damages, according to the European Association of Town Planning Consumers (AECU).

It is estimates that 1,272 homes have been illegally built on rustic land around the town of Catral, most of them sold to British couples relocating to the region to enjoy their retirement.

The town hall has plans to charge owners around €20,000 each to legalising their properties, whist developers and town planners involved in the scandal get off scot free.

But having consulted a legal expert in town planning at the University of Alicante, the AECU argue that the Valencian government and Catral's town hall are to blame for failing to enforce town planning laws, and may even have encouraged illegal over development in the area. As a result, owners may have a case to sue the authorities for damages, say AECU.

In Valencia the regional government is drawing up a plan to certify the quality and legality of holiday homes in the region. It will mean officials visiting every property and specialists at the Valencian Building Institute will issue a certificate for properties deemed to be of suitable quality and with legal title deeds.

Officials said that homes with the certificate will have added value as they have an official stamp of approval. Critics say it is a ploy to try to sell a glut of 20,000 newly built holiday homes on the Costa Blanca.

A webpage providing more information is planned and the IVE has approached other European building organisations for their backing, focusing on the UK, France, Germany and Holland. It is thought this will add more value to the Valencian stamp of approval, and inspire more confidence amongst buyers from other European countries.

Spanish property expert Mark Stucklin does not think it will have much affect when demolitions are still continuing. ‘The problem with the new seal is it will do nothing to make the bad press go away whilst the underlying abuses continue. So with the Generalitat and local developers continue blaming others for their own mistakes, it looks a bit like an empty gesture,' he said.

Indeed there is growing concern that fast track demolition is being accelerated in some parts of Spain. Owners of homes in Andalucía which are retrospectively judged to have fallen foul of regional planning rules face being given just four weeks notice as part of a crackdown on excessive development in one of Spain's most popular regions.

Thousands of homes that were bought or built in good faith across the area are at risk since the regional authority began reviewing local councils' planning approvals and concluded that in many cases, permission to build should never have been granted.

Well this is what happens when you create policies to keep your place spanish the Andalucia goverment policies recognise that Costa del Sol Property sales play an integral part of there econonmy and the international ownere of those properties can make a serious contribution to the Andalucian economy.

Costa Blanca Property V Costa del Sol Property

2010-05-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

A lot has been written about the different property markets but the reality is you can still buy something very nice in Costa Blanca for under €100,000 where you just can’t do that in Costa del Sol. This is very much the case in Marbella but you could make the same argument about Javea in Costa Blanca North where property prices have held up and you are almost getting to Costa del Sol prices in Javea and Moraria.

This is why I believe the future will be in Costa Blanca property for those UK Citizens who want a holiday home in Spain. The reality as were already seeing in Costa del Sol is you really need at least €170,000 to get anything really nice in Costa del Sol but around €90,000 gets you something really nice in Costa Blanca.

The real question we don’t know the answer to is what happens when the Costa del Sol buyer finally come to terms with the fact they cant afford a home in Costa del Sol and especially Marbella. What will they do, will they decide to go to Costa Blanca or try another country completely? Personally I don’t think they will try another country because once Spain is in your blood its there to stay but the first part should be interesting in 2011 as reality sets in about the real value of Spanish property.

Costa Blanca Property Rental Sector Very Positive

2010-05-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

REGIONAL - HOUSING trends have changed drastically over the past few years, with not only overseas investors but also young Spaniards having an impact. A study produced by the Valencian Observatory for Housing on behalf of the Department for Town Planning and Housing, has revealed that 32 percent of Spaniards leaving their family home will now opt to rent property as opposed to buying.

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COSTA BLANCA PROPERTY SECTOR

In fact, the trend for renting a first property in the Valencian Community is now almost five times greater than it was in 2007. The General Director for Housing and Urban Projects, Maria Jesus Rodriguez, explained that the latest study of the needs and demand on housing has allowed them to “observe this change in tendency”, explaining that in 2007, rentals represented just 9.2 percent of demand (4,970 properties) for the Valencian Community, a figure which has now soared to 32 percent (23,450 properties).

“We are facing a structural change in housing practice, with renting appearing as a more attractive option for many”, the Director suggested, adding that the trend is largely due to the crisis, and is predicted to continue for the next four years, until banks begin to recover and introduce more favourable lending terms, and people begin to feel secure in their employment once again.

IMPOSSIBLE

Meanwhile, slowdown in the housing market has forced house prices down, with many excellent deals available for people looking to purchase property. In the Valencian Community, prices have fallen by 6.2 percent during the past two months, a figure which represent the highest decline for mainland Spain, all superseded by the Balearic Islands, at 6.3 percent. As a nation, house prices fell by an average 4.7 percent during the first quarter of the year, which reflects a downward trend during the past four consecutive trimesters

New Promendade for Benidorm and Cheap Holiday

2010-05-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

A new look to Benidorm's famous promenade has just been completed and its stunning, report travel agency airflights.co.uk
Barcelona based Office of Architecture has designed a stunning and beautiful new seaside promenade which is now completed for the popular holiday resort of Benidorm on the Costa Blanca in Spain. Benidorm, a mecca for British holidaymakers for decades is fast becoming a new look resort catering for all holiday tastes including a more up market clientele. The architects say that it was a particular challenge to overcome the width restrictions for the new promenade encroaching on to the beach. The architects created a series of curving cantilevered decks that increase the space on the upper level as well as create shaded sections on the beach level. The flowing shapes of the upper deck are enhanced by brightly colored tiles that graduate in color from one end of the beach front to the other. This visually links the entire beach but creates a distinctive visual icon for Benidorm that can be seen from the air. The dynamic design and colors also aim to represent the character and culture of the city say the architects.
Benidorm is very popular for cheap holidays and a visit to the Costa Blanca should be a must for all say airflights as it really does have something for everyone. Start by choosing a cheap flight to Alicante and then after a short resort transfer you are in this uplifting and fast becoming cosmopolitan Mediterranean resort. Cheap holidays, apartments and hotels are everywhere including the now famous Sol Pelicanos resort featured in the hit TV series Benidorm. All hotel boards are available on a cheap holiday to Benidorm, Self Catering holidays, Half Board holidays, Full board and All inclusive holidays.
Find a cheap holiday to Benidorm or the Costa Blanca by visiting airflights.co.uk.
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Is Sam Allardyce Brainless

2010-05-19T23:46:00.000-07:00

Sam Allardyce has named his sumptuous new Costa Blanca villa "Casa St James," because he bought it with his £4 million pay off from being sacked as Newcastle boss.

Add to this revelation his comments last week, more than two years after getting the boot, that: "Fan pressure (at Newcastle) is hostile towards the players. They don't really support the team as they should, they're very critical and the players can't handle that," and what do we have?

We have a manager who appears to have an unhealthy obsession he needs to get over.

Big Sam was never popular at Newcastle, but even down to his last game, a dreary 0-0 draw at Stoke in the rain, he was cheered off by the fans who he accuses of being "hostile" and wrecking it all. There is a picture to prove it. He is cheerily waving to the away end delighted with the result.

This all begs the quesion if you had 4m to spend on a Villa would you really choose Costa Blanca?

more comisarias on the Costa Blanca?

2010-04-18T06:02:00.000-07:00

COSTA BLANCA - GOVERNMENT officials headed to the Valencian Parliament in order to reinforce their requests for the creation of additional National Police stations across Alicante Province. Torrevieja Mayor, Pedro Hernandez Mateo presented the proposal devised by the Partido Popular, stating that the Government must fulfill its “manifesto promises” which included the creation of ‘Comisarias’ for the National Police in municipalities of San Vicent del Raspeig, Petrer, Villena, Villajoyosa, Javea, Santa Pola and Torrevieja.

Pedro Hernandez Mateo, along with the General Secretary of the PPCV, Antonio Clemente, questioned the work of the Socialist Central Government in areas such as the creation of desalination plants and additional police stations for all three Police bodies.

They argued that the Government of Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, does not treat municipalities with a PP Government as equals, as they are granted far more services and funding to improve standards of living for their inhabitants. Conversely, in cities such as Torrevieja that have been promised these facilities, the first stone has yet to be laid.

Mateo has been one of the most dominant figures in the campaign, lobbying the Regional Government to put pressure on the Central Government to insist that security measures be increased in cities with more than 30,000 inhabitants across the Valencian Community.

Costa Blanca going Green?

2010-04-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

A group of 20 investors and builders have announced their plans to build a macro-village for tourism in Alicante. The idea is to build a village inland, in the middle of beautiful scenery and in rustic style. The model will be unveiled in June.

Various architects have been working on the design for the past few months. The area of the village will cover some 200 hectares, and it will cost an estimated 2 million euros. Amongst those involved in the project are names such as Lladro, who make the popular porcelain figures, and shareholders of Terra Mitica, plus well known building companies from Polop, Benidorm and Alicante.

The village will be based on the concepts of renewable energy, sustainable farming and ecology. It will be set amongst olive and almond orchards and vineyards

Sick or What

2010-04-11T01:25:00.000-07:00

A neighbour who stabbed a British housewife to death after she refused to sleep with him has been jailed for 17 years.

Pedro Banqecer repeatedly knifed Angela Hall at her home in Torrevieja, on Spain's Costa Blanca, while her husband was working away.

He invited himself in for coffee then killed her when she rejected him. Banqecer claimed Mrs Hall, 43, attacked him and he was defending himself and probably the reason he only got 17 years

Its a sick world we live in and Spain still has major issues regarding domestic violence hence the no tolerance policy where your sent straight to Jail before they have even investigated the case.

Costa Blanca Overview for 2010

2010-02-21T09:55:00.000-08:00

So what is install for Costa Blanca in 2010 and will local businesses start to feel things getting any easier and what part will the Valenciana government play in trying to boost things for this particular area.

Well as we all know Costa Blanca is vast and different to say the least from the Shameless crowd in Torrevieja to the more up market posers in Javea right through to the campo people inland Costa Blanca has something for everyone.

However if we look at Tourism in 2010 and still like it or not Benidorm is very much the Jewel in the crown in financial numbers but the reality is there is probably not enough tourists to sustain the current level of business in this area and eventually there will have to be a correction of the market. Whilst Benidorm has managed to bring its prices down in comparison to its competitors the reality is that Spain is living on its history and only the Brits wishing to return to there same holiday destination year after year is keeping the Costas of Spain from feeling the full force of Spain no longer being a cheap tourist destination and for the same money you could probably have a holiday in the Caribbean. The origins of this really go back to Spain entry to the Euro when you could get €1.70 to the Pound in 2002 and the devaluation of the Euro when in reality 166 pesetas become 100. Along with the strength of the currency and the fact that Spain is turning into more of a business economy that a tourist economy its no wonder there will need to be a major adjustment for the packaged holiday destinations in Spain such as Salou & Benidorm. So I would expect to see more pain in Benidorm for those businesses already struggling.

As for international people already here running there own business its pretty much more of the same with those in Javea and Moraira probably having a better chance of pulling through than those in Torrevieja and Villamartin. The only bright spot is as the year moves on more and more people are going to get priced out of other Costas in Spain and will have to decide whether to give up on there dream or come to Costa Blanca and there are signs in the housing market that people have finally come to terms with what money can buy and as this continues hopefully this will bring more local residents into certain areas that have lost so much trade since 2007.

As for the Valenciana government they were very keen to knock peoples houses down in the Valencia Campo in doing there best to stop encouraging Brits to come and live in there Spanish communities but now they are crying like little babies in trying to get there share of the international resident property buying market as Spain very much turns into a home for higher net worth individuals who have had enough of there own Northern European governments.

So the future in 2010 as a whole isn’t great especially for Tourism but for the struggling Real Estate market there should definitely be an increase in the international property market as people look to take advantage of the last year of the recession

Costa Blanca Property Market

2010-02-13T06:22:00.000-08:00

My name is Nick Stuart of Spanish Hot Properties and Costa Blanca Life kindly asked for my thoughts of the Costa Blanca Property Market.

Well the truth is in reality you have two very difficult markets and maybe even three. Firstly you have Costa Blanca South which for me includes Benidorm, Alicante and everything south to Costa Calida. Here you can still buy a very decent property for a very decent price due to the huge oversupply of properties in this area and the huge drop off in tourism for the area. 70,000 Euros still buys you a very nice apartment and you can get a very good townhouse or small Villa for €200,000 and there are many great areas within Costa Blanca South and not all are like certain towns that gives Costa Blanca South its perceived reputation.

Then you have Costa Blanca North which has its golden triangle of Bennisa, Moraira and Javea. This is very much the Prime Location area of Costa Blanca and unfortunately here there just aren’t the same discounts you can achieve in the rest of Costa Blanca because you just don’t have the same oversupply. Some good deals are getting done but overall it’s the jewel in the crown of Costa Blanca. Then you have the surrounding areas of Costa Blanca North places such as Oliva and Denia where you can still get a very good deal and great discounts.

So for 2010 I would say take advantage of the market like a lot of our prospective clients who sol in 2007 and now feel it is the time to re enter the market because the reality is good properties are already beginning to show very slight increases.

The property market is all about opinions and this is my judgment cal time will tell if it was correct or not.

Costa Blanca Hotels Honour ABTA

2010-02-13T06:05:00.000-08:00

Spanish hoteliers have honoured Abta and its members at a ceremony in Benidorm.

Abta Chairman John McEwan collected the Benidorm and Costa Blanca Hotel Association’s Golden Decoration on behalf of the association.

The award recognises the role Abta and its members have played in the tourist development of Benidorm and Costa Blanca over the past 50 years.

McEwan said: “This award is a touching tribute to the close working relationship between Abta members and the resorts of the Costa Blanca.

“I was honoured to accept it as recognition of a successful past and an exciting future”

Huge IBI Increase in Costa Blanca

2010-02-13T05:59:00.000-08:00

ANGRY COSTA BLANCA residents fear they are being stung with massive and ‘totally unacceptable’ tax hikes on their properties.
An average villa on the Monte Pego will see its IBI tax soar from €136 to €539 after the ‘catastro’ – similar to the UK’s rateable value – was reviewed in Madrid.
Householders have already met to discuss what action can be taken but fear their only course is to appeal the increase in an expensive legal battle.
Before 2008, the catastro rate for Pego land was €19 per square metre. The town hall requested a review and a new value was set in the Spanish capital of €149 per square metre – an increase of almost 700 percent.
The cash-strapped local authority has declared the jump was too much but now the rate has been set, residents believe it can only be overturned by the courts.

APPEAL

.A straw poll at the meeting showed over 80 percent of people there had never seen or heard of this first letter.
Those who replied were to be sent another letter in December last year which needed to be responded to within two months appealing against the increase: no-one present received this letter.

INCREASE

No letter in 2008 means no letter in 2009 and therefore, no appeal can be made.
An examination of IBI bills revealed that the sizes of property included in the assessment had also been increased.

Lawyer Saves the Day in Costa Blanca

2010-01-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the intervention of a Torrevieja solicitor, seven homes in Las Filipinas urbanisation have been issued with habitation certificates.

The residents of Costa Dorada One have been trying to get their certificates for years. Their builder, Idearco, has been unhelpful and now appears to have disappeared off the face of the earth. The Town Hall said they couldn’t help and their estate agents weren’t interested in their plight. So, the residents had no alternative but to find help from elsewhere.

They turned to Christian Holhut, a solicitor from Torrevieja, and asked him to help them get their much needed certificates. Having never had experience of dealing with Orihuela Town Hall, he rather naively told residents they would have the all important document within six months. Fourteen months and a whole load of telephone calls, town hall visits and bureaucracy later, the seven houses have, at last, been issued with certificates.

Barry Gray, the urbanisation President told RTN: “We bought our villa in 2001 and since then we have had a constant battle to get this document. We have been blocked every which way by the Town Hall, the builder and the estate agents. No-one wanted to help us; that is why we had to employ the services of Christian and he has done us proud.”

False Promises

Barry contacted Christian in April 2008 and since then he estimates that he has visited either the Orihuela Costa Town Hall or the Orihuela Town Hall at least 70 times on behalf of the residents. He said: “They were obstructive, arranged appointments for me on days that they knew there would be no-one there and ignored my calls and e-mails. They also lied and gave false promises: it was tough!”

Little by little, Christian collated all of the documentation that the Town Hall said that it needed and soon there was no more documentation that they could request. So they told Christian that they would issue the residents with the important certificate. Christian commented: “Things are not logical here. Even in October when the Town Hall confirmed that the documents would be issued, they still wouldn’t let us have them for two more weeks.”

The next urbanisation along is also Idearco built and has been on builder’s electricity supply for over five years. Iberdrola want €28,000 from the urbanisation before it will put in a mains supply; which should have been fitted by the builder when the urbanisation was built. Barry commented: “The problem is that the builders build properties, go bust and the owner is left having to pay the bill.” He concluded: “Everyone owes Christian a debt of gratitude. He has worked tirelessly to get these certificates for us.”

New Model Agency in Costa Blanca

2010-01-19T10:25:00.000-08:00

Alicante is rightly proud to have the most modern film production facilities in Europe.

Torrevieja is also connected with the studios and has high hopes of offering film producers the opportunity to shoot their production on the Costa Blanca. The financial crisis of 2009 was the major factor in the downturn of business for the Ciudad de la Luz, who in the previous three years, since they opened in 2005, had produced twenty-six films but the studios are hopeful that they shall be much busier in 2010.

2009 also saw one of the Costa Blana’s largest modelling agencies, PH Models, run by Pauline Harwood also closing their doors but the good news is that the agency was taken over by one of the region’s best known and respected event organisers, Sue Coley. Sue has been directing operations at Javea Organisers for many years, works with most of the best-known names in Costa Blanca showbiz circles and has renamed the modelling school and agency the Alicante Model Agency.

But it’s not just models that she has on her books as she is also developing a new division to cater for those interested in a little ‘extra’ work, for TV and film on the Costa Blanca. ITV’s Benidorm has acted as a catalyst for UK producers looking at opportunities in the region, in part due to our mild and sunny climate. AMA also offers courses for budding models and even though the agency is only in its third month of operation, a couple of major magazine titles and modelling agencies have already contacted her looking for fresh faces and acting talent. There are also a few interested ‘extras’ who had contacted Pauline but may never have heard back, so now Sue is offering the opportunity to become involved once again and find out more.

Alicante Model Agency is based up north in Javea but she has received so much interest from the Costa Blanca South that she is holding an open day on January 24th, 2010, at the Punta Prima Restaurant in Torrevieja for all those interested in modelling, entertainment or extra work. Sue stresses the importance to those seeking a position within the ‘glamour’ industry that they first and foremost need to have a good idea of realistic expectations, working conditions, training, travel, working hours and possible earnings, to avoid any unwelcome surprises later on!

The Creative Director from Costa Blanca TV shall also be on hand to explain the nitty-gritty about working as an extra for TV and film and a photographer from Photo Video Spain shall be taking some ‘casting’ shots for reference. He explained that “casting photos, especially for the fairer sex, is all about looking natural; very little make-up, as casting directors want to see what you really look like. Shooting a portfolio with different styles is something completely different and Sue shall be discussing the differences on the day’.

Everyone is invited; all shapes, sizes, ages, families, tall, short, models, actors, entertainers and extras. Entry is free and the session lasts from 1100 to 1400 hrs. The Alicante Model Agency still have a few places left for their modelling classes which start on February 6th, and so this is perfect opportunity to find out more. For additional information please visit their web-site at www.AMA-Spain.com

Couple Court in Benisa Finally Sentenced

2010-01-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

A Scottish couple who went on the run from police and were arrested in Spain after appearing on a "most wanted" list have been sentenced for fraud offences.

Anthony Kearney and Donna McCafferty were tracked down in the Costa Blanca town of Benissa in November 2008.

The pair had featured in a Crimestoppers appeal to catch on-the-run British suspects.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Kearney was jailed for two years and McCafferty was given 250 hours community service.

The couple, who have a six-year-old son, committed benefit fraud by claiming housing benefit when they had more than £330,000 in offshore accounts.

Kearney, 45, also claimed for almost £23,000 in income support and pocketed more than £10,000 from credit card frauds.

They went on the run after a money laundering investigation was launched against them in May 2004.

False identity

Sentencing the couple, Sheriff Sean Murphy QC said: "You have pled guilty to what is a significant fraud on the public purse."

At an earlier hearing, Kearney, who is currently serving a five-year sentence for attempting to extort £35,000 from a businessman, admitted defrauding more than £42,300 from the Department of Work and Pensions between December 1997 and March 2004.

He also admitted defrauding £10,350 from the Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank by using a false identity to take out credit cards.

The former antique dealer also pled guilty to using fake company names to transfer £126,400 into an offshore account in October 2003.
Crimestoppers most wanted
Kearney and McCafferty were arrested after a Crimestoppers appeal

McCafferty, 43, from Airdrie in Lanarkshire, admitted defrauding more than £13,000 in housing benefit between November 1999 and March 2004.

She was originally charged with a string of further frauds amounting to more than £74,000 but the Crown accepted her pleas of not guilty to these offences.

The pair were eventually tracked down living in a detached villa in Benissa, near Alicante, just 24 hours after a high profile appeal was made for their arrest.

Defence advocate Simon Gilbride, representing Kearney, told the court that his client took full responsibility for the offences and that his partner's involvement was simply signing forms that he asked her to.

Benidorm Worst Tourism Figures in 20 Years

2010-01-12T11:23:00.000-08:00

More depressing news for Costa Blanca with the news that Benidorm finally got what it deserved with the worst tourism figures in over twenty years

Most businesspeople are glad to say ‘goodbye’ to the year of ‘crisis’ that was 2009! Not least the hospitality industry in Benidorm and the Costa Blanca who have announced that visitor figures for Benidorm have dipped to just 74.5% occupancy; the worst the city has experienced in the last twenty years.

According to La Asociación Empresarial Hostelera de Benidorm y de la Costa Blanca (HOSBEC), Benidorm offers almost 70,000 nights of occupancy during the year through a network of 211 tourist establishments (hotels, apartments and camping) which accounts for around 60 percent of the tourist activity of the Valencian Community. Analysis of the two last decades shows that 1990 was Benidorm’s worst year with 71.1% whereas the psychological barrier of 75 percent has been surpassed with the maximum reached in 1999, when 92 of each one hundred beds on offer were occupied.

Observers would note that Benidorm now has more hotel beds on offer than twenty years ago but these figures still reflect a drop of three percent over 2008. In a year when finances were possibly the most important thing on most holidaymakers’ minds, it may come as no surprise to note that 2-star establishments received a healthy 86.3 percent, whereas those of 4 and 3 stars only reached 50.9 and 57.9, respectively. Visitor numbers consisted of 48.2 percent of Spaniards and 51.8 of foreigners. The British again make up the most important foreign market with 43 percent of the total of tourists lodged, followed by Dutch 4% and Belgians with 3.2, by this order. No mention of the German’s or beach towels!

According to APHA, (Provincial Association of Hotels, APHA) over the festive period, all regions showed an increase over 2008, which bids well for 2010. They said “The superb climate that the province has this month, in contrast to the low temperatures of the rest of the peninsula, has been another important element that it has influenced of remarkable form in the occupation of week ends and bridge days of December.”
The Tourism market remains one of the most important sources of income for the Valencian community, more so now than every with the demise of Property Sales and revenues raised through taxes on house sales and the construction industry. The Costa Blanca is also losing ground on other European ‘Hot Spots’ such as Turkey, which have seen a significant rise in tourism numbers due in part to inexpensive flights, cheaper occupancy rates and prices for food and drink.

Possibly the Turkish are willing to work harder at offering packages that holiday makers want, while the Costa Blanca has remained somewhat stagnant and comfortable without adapting to new areas of competition elsewhere. One way or another, if the Costa Blanca hospitality industry wishes to remain buoyant then maybe this act as a wake-up call and we can look forward to the prosperity that tourism provides for the region in 2010.

Lets face it Benidorm is a shithole and is well past its sell buy date and the people that used to go to Benidorm will go where its cheapest.

Spain to shut down illegal Costa Blanca radio stations

2010-01-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

In April 2010 Spain will start to close down the remainder of the Analogue Television frequencies, as their version of Freeview becomes the standard throughout the land. Along with the UK and the rest of the EU, it’s the start of a five-year plan to clean up the airwaves to make more use of wavebands for mobile and internet communication. The move to ‘Freeview’ in Spain will not concern most expats as many only watch UK Television although there are many Dual Language channels and movies in English broadcast on Freeview too!

Expats may be more concerned to hear that 2010 shall see more regulation of the radio waves. The EU plan is that in 2015 (at the latest) Radio station frequencies will be reallocated to free up and reorganise the airwaves. Details have yet to be announced as to how this will take place but it will also affect such institutions as the BBC and Independent radio around the United Kingdom. The UK has one of the most regulated Telecommunication bodies in all of Europe, in part because the BBC are funded through Tax-payers money. Since the 1960’s and the eventual closure of such icons as Radio Caroline and Radio London followed by the introduction of Radio One in 1967, UK Pirate stations have been few and far between.

Spain’s telecom policy has been more hands off. As Western Europe’s newest democracy, a very softly-softly approach to regulating the airwaves has been evident, in part because the automatons communities control licences rather than national government.

New Laws regarding radio stations introduced for 2010.

With the start of the New Year comes with it the ‘State Radio Communications Agency’ who have been tasked to evaluate and close down up to 3,000 illegal radio stations throughout Spain. Almost all Radio in Spain is commercial, relying on advertising and sponsorship to pay its way. In some regions of Spain, especially the major cities and along the Coast, illegal ‘Pirate’ stations outnumber the legal frequencies by two, sometimes three to one. Thus, those that are legal have been complaining to the Government for years of their loss in revenue and wanting action to be taken.

Although the English language stations do compete for revenue from the Spanish stations, as expat business centres are unlikely to advertise with a Spanish media group, some of the local stations around the Costa Blanca have been operating without the correct business licences and may face closure sooner rather than later, mainly because they interfere with and impact the revenue potential of the Spanish Broadcasters as areas they where once heard have been taken over by English stations!

Central Government has said it is to draw up a map of Spanish radio, which will allow a cleaning up of the FM band followed by the quick and firm closure of those broadcasters who lack the correct permissions! This new State Radio Communications Agency is to be set up before June 1 and then given the task of controlling the radio spectrum. Its creation is part of the AERC, Spanish Association of Commercial Radio and includes such heavyweights as SER, Onda Cero, Cope and Punto Radio. They have already presented a list of broadcasters they consider to be outside the law including 482 on the Canaries, 387 in Andalucía, 338 in the Valencia region, 183 in Cataluña, 144 in Madrid and 143 in the Basque Country. In addition there are many so-called Municipal Radios that are breaking the law as they are run by companies and not by the local Town Hall!

In defence of the dozen or more English stations on the Costa Blanca most, if not all pay Spanish taxes, pay royalties, pay their staffing fees and have been inspected by local royalty agencies. The illegal operators complain that no new concessions for licences have been made available and that many of them have submitted applications for licences but have not heard back from the commission.
Only time will tell if these new regulations will mark the end of some of our most popular stations. One argument against this move is that in closing down 3,000 stations, upwards of 30,000 people could find themselves out of work, putting further strain on Spain’s pressurised social services system.

Moraira Guide

2010-01-03T04:57:00.000-08:00

Moraira is one of Costa Blanca's little treasures that once found is never forgotten. A small town in the La Marina about half way between Alicante 80 kms to its south and Valencia 108 kms to its north. Barcelona is 438 kms to the north. Moraira remains one of the most unspoilt resorts on the Costa Blanca, with 8km of beautiful coastline backed by mountains. There is a high proportion of expats living here from Northern Europe, and the area is very popular with retirees. Moraira is accompanied by two main beaches with Blue Flag status, separated by a promontory crowned with a medieval fortress. There are also plenty of sport and leisure facilities on offer. When it comes to holiday weather, Moraira claims an average 325 days of sunshine a year, and temperatures that stay constantly pleasantly warm, sea breezes ensuring that it is never sweltering in summer, and the surrounding mountains protecting the town from the chilly winter winds. Moraira lovely beaches offer plenty of fun in the sun, with a wealth of water sports available. Local leisure facilities include golf courses and other sports like tennis and squash. Several day excursions are on offer to places of interest, like the mountain-top fortress of Guadalest, Europe's largest palm forest, and the nearby ancient city of Murcia. Families enjoy the Moraira go-kart track, or an outing to the Aqualandia water theme park near the large resort of Benidor Moraira highly recommended eateries include Bajul, La Luna Restaurant, Rondo and Le Dauphin. Despite being relatively small, central Moraira is equipped with numerous good quality restaurants, several of them Michelin starred, offering great value for money. Being a fishing community with an active fishing fleet that brings home a catch each day it follows that fresh seafood forms the base of the local cuisine, and many restaurants offer this in delicious abundance. For a budget meal look out for the 'menu del dia (menu of the day) offered by many restaurants, usually consisting of different courses with wine and coffee for a set price. 'Workman's specials' also feature on some menus, offering good value. Most Spanish bars serve Tapas selections during the day, good for a satisfying local snack meal. Those with different tastes will find a variety of international cuisines among the local establishments, from English fish and chips to Greek delights, and Indian curry to pizza. The nightlife of Moraira would be considered sedate compared to some of the larger and flashier Spanish resorts, but the town buzzes happily after dark. Most of the restaurants offer live entertainment of some description, including flamenco dancing and karaoke, and there are one or two open-air dance venues. The main club for youngsters is the Costa Sur, just outside of town, which offers a range of entertaining evenings with foam parties, striptease and the like. Those who holiday in Moraira during the months of April, June, July and November will catch the lively local fiestas full of local color and tradition. Moraira is a fantastic place to visit for those who want to be away from the madening crowd of Benidorm and Costa Blanca South but for those who want it Benidorm is less than 30 minutes away.

Moraira Police & Emergency Numbers

•Police/Fire/Ambulance: 112
•National Police : 091
•Local Police : 092
•Guardia Civil : 062
•Fire Brigade : 080
•Ambulance : 061
•Coast Guard Emergency : 900 202 202
•British Embassy, Alicante : 965 216 022
•Policia Local : 965 740 946
•Guardia Civil : 965 744 044
•Ambulance/Red Cross : 965 409 950
•24hr Doctor : 965 740 176
•Moraira Health Centre : 966 490 204

Alicante Guide - Guide to Alicant

2010-01-02T08:13:00.000-08:00

Alicante City is famous for its miles of soft sandy beaches and breathtaking mountains, excellent weather, palm trees and attractions, it is a starting point to many destinations in the Costa Blanca. Don't miss a visit to this city of contrasts.

Alicante offers the life style that includes everything you need, but it is small enough to make it easy to get from one place to another. With a population of just 300,000 Alicante is a major travel destination for many European tourists. Over the years this has injected a cosmopolitan feel to the city, while retaining much of its traditional culture.

There are so many things to do in Alicante, many fantastic places to visit: museums, historical buildings, miles of beaches, nearby towns, night entertainment, etc. Not to mention the fantastic all year round weather We would love to share with you, our own experience in the city and give you first hand information to have the most enjoyable stay. Both the city and the beach are absolutely beautiful. The city itself has a very resort feel to it.

It has an amazing nightlife which starts in the downtown area around 10:30 and then moves to the water front around 3am. Alicante has a decent number of shopping areas, and you can easily spend all day long walking the city centre shops or you can visit the popular Street Markets where you will find just about everything, antiques, fresh fruit and vegetable produce of their particular region, virtual florist and plant garden centres, etc.

You can't really understand a city without getting to know its various "barrios." From Alicante's old quarter, El Barrio, to the delightful Explanada de España, the various districts maintain their own characteristic flares while simultaneously and effortlessly complementing each other. So take to the streets and discover Alicante's unique mix of neighborhoods!

Castillo de Santa Bárbara

Rising above the Old Quarter, or El Barrio, is the rocky Mount Benacantil upon which this sprawling fortified complex sits.A trip to the top of the rocky Mount Benacantil is all it takes to see just why it has been considered such a strategic advantage! Jutting out into the sea, you've got a birds eye view of miles of the sea. Now you can enjoy the sailboats and people trying out the area's water sports, but back in the day guardsmen kept an eye out for invading armies, pirate attacks and other threats of that nature. There's tons to see and experience in the Castillo de Santa Bárbara

Explanada de España

Located southwest of El Barrio, Alicante's emblematic Explanada de España runs right alongside the harbor. The beloved pedestrianized marble mosaic- 6.6 million little tiles compose it!- otherwise known as the Explanada is one of Alicante's most characteristic features. With towering palm trees, charming terrace cafés and incomparable views of the harbor and the Mediterranean sea beyond. A truly wonderful place

El Barrio

Built beneath the protection of the Castillo de Santa Bárbara, the winding streets of Alicante's historic El Barrio focus around the Ayuntamiento (City Hall) and the San Nicolás Cathedral. With Mount Benacantil comprising one side of El Barrio, this historic section is otherwise enclosed by the Rambla de Méndez Nuñez, the Explanada and the Avenida de Jovellanas. Saved from rapid deterioration just a few decades ago, El Barrio's reputation as the "bad part of town" was swept out with the tide and long forgotten. A major government initiative, designed to bring the alluring streets, brightly colored houses and cozy plazas back to their former glory, totally revamped Alicante's oldest neighborhood and polished it back into the gem that it is meant to be. Here you'll find the bulk of the city's cultural and touristic stops, its liveliest bars, its most stunning architecture and its most enjoyable terrace cafés. A very special place is El Barrio

Rambla de Méndez Núñez

The Rambla de Méndez Núñez comprises one of the edges of the old quarter, or El Barrio, and is near the Postiguet beach. The modern city branches out primarily north and west of this major Alicante street. Modern Alicante gets its start with the bustling Rambla de Méndez Núñez, constructed upon the site where part of Alicante's ancient city-encompassing wall once sat. The Rambla itself is a big commercial street with banks, restaurants and tons of big Spanish stores.

We Hope you find this Alicante guide useful and we hope to be posting more specific interesting content in the near future.

Javea Guide

2010-01-01T06:26:00.000-08:00

Without doubt Javea or Xabia, as it is spelt in Valenciano is very much the jewel in the Costa Blanca Crown and is situated between two points, the La Nao Cape and the San Antonio Cape. In all its extension and in each one of its three environments: the villa, the port and the sandy area, the population maintains a balance between the important traces of the civilisations that chose the area for a settlement, and the modernity of a contemporary tourist destination. In the old town are narrow streets of whitewashed houses with windows, stone doorways and balconies. The littoral is made up of, beaches, coves and select housing estates, joined together by a string of viewing-points. From the AP7 is advisable to take the exit marked Benissa, or the N332, which crosses Gata de Gorgos following the signpost, after 6 kilometres, it leads to Javea. There are many good restaurants in Javea, as well as lots of things to do. The chances are that there will be a fiesta in one of the local villages, The fiesta of San Juan (the patron saint of Javea) is the most important date on the local calendar, when the whole town joins in the festivities. The local chefs cook a giant paella in the street which is free to all who want to experience authentic Valencian cuisine. The town's people dress in national costume and dance late in to the night to live music from local bands. There is always a spectacular firework display which is followed by the burning of a giant papiermache statue errected in the square. Javea is a corner of Spain known for it's hospitality, many fiestas and vibrant markets. For those less inclined, unspoilt beaches and rocky coves are easily reached. Javea's unique location is sheltered by the magnificent Montgo (elephant) mountain and the town itself is divided into three distinct districts: The historic medieval town, with white washed houses, narrow cobbled streets and Gothic fortified church of San Bartolome; the fishing port and marina, restaurants and plazas; and El Arenal, the bustling heart of the sandy palm bordered bay, with a long promenade, lively bars and shops, offering a wide variety of family entertainment. The Arenal beach is worthy of a special mention, as the shallow waters and natural bay make it one of the safest places to swim for families with young children. In the evenings films are shown on a big screen set-up on the sand, and it is a great place to relax with a good bottle of wine after a busy day in the sun. Like so much of the entertainment in Javea, it is all free, so don't miss out! Other beach activities include organised beach volley ball, where you can either watch or take part. Javea has a beach volley ball league and it is taken very seriously. You may also want to try your hand at sea kayaking or surfing. A little further around the headland are quieter areas such as Granadella beach, where the clear waters and rocky coves make an ideal environment for water sport activities such as snorkelling and scuba diving. On the other hand you could just relax with a drink at a beach bar or 'chiringuito.' Javea Port is known for the many varied restaurants, bars and pretty beach. The nearby marina has also retained much of the original charm of a traditional fishing village and has a market which opens to sell the fresh produce from the fishing fleet when they arrive back in port usually twice a day. Javea also has a popular tennis club and sports and leisure centre where there are summer classes in everything from Pilates to Washinkai Karate. The Montgo National Park has many fascinating walks and trails and is known for the rare species of plants. You can find out about organised walks in the National Park from Javea's tourist information office.It is also worth taking time to explore the beautiful Javea Valles, with it's many orange and almond groves, or climb the footpath to the summit of the Montgo Mountain and enjoy a magnificent 360 degree view of the coast and distant Balearics.

We hope you found this little guide to Javea interesting and Javea is a truly great place to visit or live.

Costa Blanca Area Guide

2009-12-31T04:04:00.000-08:00

Costa Blanca is one of the most visited places in the whole of Spain and the obvious question is why? Costa Blanca has the best all year round temperatures. The climate is recognised as one of the best in the world by the World Health Organisation. Many people with arthritis come to the Costa Blanca and within days feel much better. In the winter months the Costa Blanca is lucky enough to have as many sunny days as in the summertime. Once upon a time the places along the coast were mostly just tiny fishing villages. Then the fantastic climate and beaches attracted tourists and the area boomed. Some towns have restricted their development and retained their original charms while others have over-developed and lost what charm they originally had. The Costa Blanca has over 101 kms of sandy beaches and rocky coves and many of the beaches have the coveted European Blue Flag signifying cleanliness and safe bathing. Of course the charms of the area have meant that many foreigners now live here. There has been a property explosion with many people regarding the Costa Blanca as the California of Europe however these people are completely mad and need to be taken to the nearest mental institution as quickly as possible because there is only one California or Europe and that is Costa del Sol. Not just people retiring, nowadays many young families move to the Costa Blanca searching for a better lifestyle. Every nationality can be found here but especially English and Germans. The Costa Blanca is a beautiful region with mountains stretching along most of the coast. The A7 motorway (with some toll sections) stretches from north to south along the coast. The N-332 also runs parallel yet is free from charges although much slower as it passes through the middle of many towns. There are huge amounts of flights into Alicante airport, especially from Northern Europe. Valencia airport to the north is also well serviced. Further to the south of the Costa Blanca is Murcia airport. With the advent of many low-cost airlines many people live in Spain and commute to work in England. Flying time is only about 2 hours which often doesn't get you far when driving on congested roads in England. The northern Costa Blanca is typically mountainous with cliffs and coves, a mixture of pebble beaches and fine sandy beaches. North of Altea it is surprisingly very green and lush. The southern Costa Blanca is mostly flat with fine sandy beaches, palm trees and salt lakes. The south is much drier and more typical of what a person who had never visited Spain would expect to see. In reality Costa Blanca South and Costa Blanca North are completely two different places with two different lifestyles under the Costa Blanca Umbrella so to speak but there is no doubt Costa Blanca as a whole has something for everyone.

Moraria - Useful Contact Numbers

2009-12-30T12:10:00.000-08:00

Moraira has so much for everyone but it always pays to be in the know and with so many visitors head out to Costa Blanca every year with out any clue of what to do should they find them selves in an emergency. Most don’t even know the emergency services telephone number.

Below we have compiled an easy reference guide to help anyone visiting the area or already living here.

Emergency Situations
The general emergency telephone number for Spain is 112. This is the equivalent of 999 in the UK and is only to be used if you require urgent police attention, ambulance, fire brigade etc. Don’t expect them to speak English so have a phrasebook handy.

If you want to report assault, robbery or an accident to the police call 902 102 112

Emergency Vet 600 266 686 / 608 861 473

Coast Guard Emergency 900 202 202

British Embassy, Alicante. Emergency tel +34 96 521 61 90 or 96 521 60 22

Non Emergencies

Policia Local for the area are on 965 740 946
Guardia Civil are on 965 744 044
Ambulance/Red Cross 965 409 950
24hr Doctor/ Teulada Health Centre 965 740 176
24hr Private Doctor , Clinica Asistel 966495204
Moraira Health Centre 966490204
British Embassy located in Alicante 0034 96 521 60 22

24hr Chemist, there is always a chemist on call should you need one. The local chemists rotate the responsibility and the calendar of dates are published in local press and on the www.teulada-moraira.org web site under Farmacias de guardia.
Farmacia Moraira, C. Inglesia, 2, Moraira. 965744021

Denia Hospital 965579700

Useful numbers

Town hall 965740158
English Dentist, Pemberry 965748576
Clinica Dental Moraira 965744334
Taxi 966491220/660134176
Tourist Info 965745168
Moraira Yacht club 965744319
Aguagest Moraira 966491450
Repsol Butane Gas 965730572
Iberdrola 965730281
SUMA 965740404
Alicante Airport 966919000
Valencia Airport 961598500
Bus (Alsa) 902422242
Bus (Ifach) 965835591

Hope you never need to use the emergency contact numbers but it’s better to have them handy just in case.

If you think We’ve missed an important number off please send me an email and I’ll find it out and add it to the list.

More Crooks in Costa Blanca

2009-12-30T07:00:00.002-08:00

SCOTLAND'S most wanted fugitives have finally faced justice after being snared while on the run in Spain.

Anthony Kearney and Donna McCafferty were arrested on the Costa Blanca last November after appearing on a list of wanted Brits.

Armed Spanish cops led the pair away in handcuffs after four years on the run.

Last week, they admitted a string of fraud and money laundering charges at Glasgow Sheriff Court. The pair claimed housing benefit when they had more than £330,000 in offshore accounts.

Kearney, 45, also claimed almost £23,000 in income support and pocketed more than £10,000 from credit card frauds. They went on the run after an investigation was launched in May 2004.

Kearney admitted defrauding £42,392 from the Department of Work and Pensions between December 1997 and March 2004.

He admitted defrauding Kearney had accounts with £336,000 in them £10,350 from the Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank by using a false identity to take out credit cards.

The dad-of-one also pled guilty to using fake company names to transfer £126,400 into an offshore account.

McCafferty, 43, of Airdrie, admitted defrauding £13,003 of housing benefit between November 1999 and March 2004. She had been charged with further frauds of £74,197 but struck a deal to have a not guilty plea accepted.

Prosecutor Alistair Logan told the court that Kearney submitted an application to the DWP stating that he had only £200 in capital.

Mr Logan said: "It was later discovered that he had three accounts in the Isle of Man which, during the period he was claiming benefits, had between £1000 and £336,742.12 in them."

He added McCafferty was a joint holder of the accounts.

Sheriff Sean Murphy QC deferred sentence until next month and McCafferty was bailed.

Kearney is already serving a five-year prison sentence for attempting to extort £35,000.

Welcome to Costa Blanca Life

2009-12-30T06:52:00.000-08:00

December 30 and the launch of the Costa Blanca life blog which we hope all our viewers and readers will find useful.

The blog itself will be about everything from Hotels to restaurants and Property to lifestyle.

If you have any suggestions for the blog please let us know

Bye for now