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I am a great fan of Easyjet. With a property on the Costa del Sol and with friends and business interests in Liverpool, Bristol and London, I probably make 20 journeys a year with the famous no-frills airline.

In over 10 years of travelling with Easyjet, I have so far (touch wood!) never encountered a serious problem – no missing bags, no cancelled flights, and no grumpy staff!

One of the key aspects of Easyjet´s service has been its excellent timetable…..but since the publication of their latest Winter timetable, something has gone horribly wrong. 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.
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Following the retirement of Bruce McIntyre, the British Ambassador Denise Holt CMG has announced Stephen Jones as the new British Consul for Malaga.


Previously a manager with Thomas Cook Holidays, most recently Jones was the Consul for the Canary Islands, where he was responsible for modernising the services offered from the Consular offices in Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

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Iberia - Pricing itself out of the Domestic Market?
                                                      

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!
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Are the Brits really leaving Spain? – PART 2
                                                 

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.
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British Tourists in Spain
                                            

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.

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Granada - an enchanting city
                                                 

Granada is a very special city. Nestled beneath the stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Granada is a mix of many cultures, ages and people – a real melting pot of activity, but a fascinating place to visit.

Granada is located just 60 minutes drive north of Malaga, and is well-served by the international airport of Malaga and its very own Granada airport which lies just 15 minutes to the west of the city.

Perhaps best-known for its historic monuments, the most famous of which is the Alhambra Palace, Granada is Spain´s 3rd most popular university city, with students accounting for 25% of Granada´s population. This gives the city a real energy and a nightlife that will enthrall those party-lovers amongst you. Continue reading »



Travelling by Train in Spain
                                                      

Would you ever consider traveling to Spain by train?

Not in a million years?

I’ve done it twice with a baby in tow and you would be surprised how easy and comfortable it is.

The first time we traveled my little girl was four months old and British Airways refused to let her fly to Valencia, so we traveled out of necessity. But we enjoyed train travel so much that we traveled to Malaga in the same way, when we actually made the move to our new property in Spain.
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A Basic Guide to Spanish Sherry
                                  

Sherry or Jerez wine comes from the southern region of Cádiz in Spain. It has been made there for centuries! Many of us simply think of it as a Christmas tipple which comes in either sweet or dry varieties.

In fact the range of sherry available is pretty extensive and it comes in a wonderful spectrum of colours that can be the palest yellow to the darkest mahogany.

Here is a simple guide to the main types of Sherry:
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Spanish Youth Culture
                                            

When I first moved to the eastern Costa del Sol in Spain we rented an apartment in a small mountain village North of Malaga. The village fiesta began in the evening of the day of our arrival. We were tired but we dressed up, allowed the baby to stay up late and sat down at a local bar.


A large number of young lads came and sat on the wall opposite the bar and I began to feel a bit nervous, I’d lived in London and had trouble with yobs before. The boys went to the bar, bought a beer each and I was really surprised at how carefully and responsibly they drank. Our Hoodies at home would have downed their pint in five minutes and then gone back for more and more and more, progressively getting more belligerent and threatening.

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