For the first 7 years of my expat life on the Costa del Sol, i became accustomed to the typical Spanish supermarkets, amongst them Mercadona, Supersol, Euromarket. Imagine the scene in each – a row of bread, a row of olives, a row of tuna…oh, and a row of jamon. Ok, maybe this is an exaggeration, but for years I would be crying out for a little variety and a selection of ready meals.

In fact it got so bad that whenever I left my Marbella property to venture to the UK, I used to stand transfixed in Tesco, just dumbfounded by the range of products and the choice of fresh and chilled food available….and don´t get me started on Marks and Spencer food – my God, if there was one reason to return to the UK, this was surely it!! I swear I had to be dragged out of the Edinburgh M&S food hall the last time I went to see my sister!
Continue reading »

We came across a superb Spanish property opportunity last week – a top quality development in a great location, and with genuine discounts of up to 40% off.

With so many Spanish property bargains being touted as the next great thing, it´s sometimes hard to fathom what actually makes a deal a genuine opportunity. We reckon a property needs three key things to qualify as a genuine bargain in Spain – LOCATION, QUALITY and PRICE.
Continue reading »

Christmas is coming and the peak present-buying season is coming up. We are carrying more cash around with us than normal and unfortunately this has also brought a spate of petty crime to my local shopping centres, airport and town centres on the Costa del Sol.

Over the past three weeks, three of my neighbours/acquaintances have had money or bags taken from them.

The first was a pensioner who had come over to see his daughter and her family. A pickpocket carried off one thousand euros in Malaga airport. This was so fast that he has no idea how it happened or even has a clue about who did this to him. Continue reading »

Anyone thinking of venturing across country through the mountainous area of the Sierra Nevada outside Granada needs to beware during the winter months.

As someone who splits his time equally between the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca, the direct route through Granada, although a tedious 4 ½ hours drive, usually offers superb views and a mild climate. However, as soon as winter begins, you really need to be careful and to plan your journey in advance.
Continue reading »

I spend a lot of time commuting between my two Spanish homes - a property on the Costa del Sol and a property on the Costa Blanca. Although it´s a gruelling 5 hour drive, the cheapest way to make the journey is by car.

However, it´s sometimes nice to catch the plane. After all, until recently Iberia, Spain´s national airline, operated a direct one-hour flight between Malaga and Alicante airports, ideal for what I needed. This arrangement allowed me to check-in late, relax on the plane, and catch up with phone calls and paperwork without having to concentrate on the road in front!
Continue reading »

The Costa del Sol is changing. Although these changes are due to mainly negative factors, I personally think that the area will ultimately benefit.

First of all, let me point out that there is still demand for property in Marbella, and for property in the Costa del Sol generally. The area is still hugely popular as a holiday destination, with passenger numbers through Malaga airport continuing to rise. But the place ´feels´ different.
Continue reading »

Ever wondered why those Spanish holiday hangovers are worse than the usual ones that you get at home? It´s probably due to the measures that are poured by the bartender.

Everywhere in Spain, from the popular coastal areas such as the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca to the more remote inland villages, if you ask for a gin and tonic, the likelihood is that the bartender will start to fill your glass until YOU tell them to stop!
Continue reading »

I have lived in my property in Marbella for 8 years. When I first arrived, the area was just enjoying its latest surge in popularity, and within 2-3 years, the Spanish property boom was in full swing.

During that time, and driven by the huge demand for property in Spain, the expatriate population of Marbella, and many more seaside resorts in Southern Spain, has increased dramatically. Entire families have relocated, and so the local schools have been full and the shops, the bars and the restaurants have all benefited hugely.
Continue reading »

What is it about British people when they travel to Spain? As soon as they step foot in a foreign country, you can spot them a mile away…and for all the wrong reasons.

First of all, I am British, but I live in a very cosmopolitan place, in a property on the Costa del Sol, surrounded by people of all ages and from all walks of life. The local international college teaches a broad international expatriate base of 22 different nationalities. Secondly, I like my football, I enjoy a beer….but I feel like I have nothing in common with these people.

Continue reading »

The last 30 days has seen a record number of appointments for clients from Your Key to Spain wishing to view properties in Marbella on the Costa del Sol.

We had already seen a huge increase in the number of enquiries from the website for property for sale in Marbella during the last 6 months, compared with the same period last year, and this interest is now translating itself into viewings.
Continue reading »