Three Reasons to Jet to the Costa Del Sol in June

With the fantastic climate and Mediterranean lifestyle its

no wonder the Costa del sol continues to

break all records 

Three Reasons to Jet to the Costa Del Sol in June

There’s no such thing as a bad time to go to Spain, but – honestly – February and August are the two months that are the table up; albeit for different reasons.

The weather in February is too unpredictable in the Costa del Sol compared to the slightly colder but more stable February, or the drier and warmer March.

August sounds like a great time to visit, as there is plenty of sunshine, but there’s also a lot of heat and far too many people crowding the beaches, bars, and restaurants. The high seasons also brings higher prices for hotels and flights.

The pleasures of Spain should be enjoyed during the “shoulder” months of high season; which is May and October for the Costa del Sol; as June to September is considered to be the high season.

Most people will preach the perks of September, but given that the month comes after the peak of the summer, people who are a little more pessimistic will be drawn to May. The days are starting to get longer and warmer, the amenities are sparser, but there’s still plenty of custom to be found in resorts.

2017 brings with it three distinct reasons to grab your luggage and book the next flight to Malaga airport.

Reason #1; Avoding Election Fever

Whether you’re bored of all the discussion about what Brexit does and doesn’t mean, the upcoming general election, or an Irish person just tired of being so close to the political circus of the UK, a French person tired of all the election talk and what it all means, or a German who’s already sick of hearing about the September election, you’ll enjoy your time in Spain this May.

The country hasn’t been as politically calm or stable as it now in a long time, with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy getting reinstated and sorting out the economy and labour market. There’s no lampposts covered in posters telling you to vote, no endless political debates or other political discussions on TV, and almost no disagreement goes down at the bodega. Spain will spend May basking in serenity and the confidence that the future will be brighter.

Reason #2 To Grab Some Property

Spanish property was the biggest thing there was between 2002 and 2007. The prices were low, the quality was good, and the supply – and the credit to fund it – seemed limitless. These days off of buying a property off plan and flipping it before it had even been built are now long behind us.

The Spanish property of today still has plenty of the things that made it attractive before the boom hit; affordable, good quality properties in some of the most beautiful and accessible regions of the country. This time around though the prices are rising at an incremental pace, mortages are more sensible, and buyers are more mature. It’s the perfect recipe for sustained success.

Reason #3; The Deals

It’s much more expensive to fly to Spain between June and August compared to the rest of the year. The main reason is that these months are when European schoolchildren have their holidays. It leads to inflated costs of hotels, car hire, and other costs. The prices of package holidays tend to be their highest during the summer too.

If you can find the time to do it, then you can save a lot of money by visiting Spain in May. You won’t even ned to sacrifice much; you’ll pick up your tan, swim through the sea, and relax on the beach. You’ll also get all the food, fun, and views that come with the Costa del Sol; at a much lower price than just one month later.

May could very well be the best month to visit the Costa delSol, so enjoy it while you can!

Spain is the Place to Be This Spring and Here are Three Reasons Why

Spain is the Place to Be This Spring and Here are Three Reasons Why

Spain is a fantastic place to be all the year around

One could forgive expats living in Spain for their ever-present grins. It’s true that there isn’t a place on earth that is free from the ups, downs, and pressures of life. It’s also true that nowhere could be considered truly perfect. There’s a good chance, however, that if you’ve created a life for yourself in Spain then you’ve likely been happy, smiling, active, and feeling generally good most of the time.

The feeling of being in Spain is almost addictive. It’s impossible to not tell your friends about it, even though it will probably just inspire jealousy. The reality of Spain is that it delivers incredible quality of life. While there are some challenges that come with being an expat, it’s understandable that you would want to share why you feel the decision you made was right with the world.

With all that said, we believe Spain is the place to be this Spring, and here are three reasons why.

No Political Bluster

If you were to flick on the news or look at a news website, you’d likely find yourself staring at Donald Trump, Theresa May, Marine Le Pen, or Angela Merkel. 2017 really picked up where 2016 left off as far as headlines filled with vociferous political discourse. It seems almost every headline involves the Brexit, travel bans, posturing from the far-right or, for whatever reason, Angela Merkel and her hands.

Spaniards and the expats living in Spain understand what it’s like to be bogged down by political news. Last year the country was plagued with an election saga that lasted for much longer than most would consider healthy. This year, however, Spanish politics have quietened down. The country finally has a prime minister, the economy is doing well, and things appear to be going to just fine.

The Sound Economy

There is one benefit of staying up to date on politics. That is knowing the difference between real and fake news. One key piece of fake news plaguing Spain is the idea that the Spanish economy is still struggling.

The fact of the matter is that 2016 was an incredible year in which the GDP of Spain grew over 3%. Spain has become the fastest growing economy in Spain. It’s expected the country will see similar growth this year, which has done wonders for unemployment and the real estate industry. The result is that expats can expect it will be easier for them to get a job and a house.

The Easter Festivities

With the weather warming up – reaching temperatures of 20 degrees already in southern Spain – the country comes to life thanks to the bright sunlight and lapping shores of the Mediterranean. The emergence of Spring brings with it millions of tourists who flock to the Costa del Sol for a taste of sunshine. There are only a few weeks left until all the restaurants, bars, beaches, and hotels become full.

Easter is perhaps the major attraction that marks the transition of Spain into warmer summer days. Easter is a major deal in Andalucía, from Seville and Cádiz, to Malaga and all the small towns in-between. The Easter festivities are a great way for expats to sample a taste of Spain.

Three Great Reasons Spain Should Welcome September

Three Great Reasons Spain Should Welcome September

If you’re British or Irish then you likely remember the feeling of dread that came with September; schools opened back up and it was the official end of all the fun and games of the sumer.

September in Southern Spain is one of the nicest months

Back in Blighty September means that the sky turns grey, the wind whips up, the thermometer goes down, and millions of people head back to school and work with the memories of summers spent under the sun washed away by the autumn rain that pours down.

As such you aren’t likely to feel much sympathy for those who live along the Costa del Sol who will be happy the summer is ending as it means the tourists are going home, including those taking part in Operación Retorno, and the roads return back to normal.

The tradition of Operación Retorno, when northern Spaniards head back home, doesn’t make a lot of sense when you think about it though. It’s true that they need to head home for school and work but it’s also true that September is one of the best times to see the Costa Del Sol.

Just like a beach with rockpools will only show its true beauty after the tide goes out, the Costa del Sol comes to life during September. The so-called “shoulder months” of the summer, which are May and September, are deeply enjoyed by many locals and it’s not hard to see why.

1.      The Temperature Goes Down

July and August are the hottest months in Spain and it’s not that unusual for temperatures to reach above 40 Celsius during this time. While the temperature doesn’t nosedive in September it still goes down to a more forgiving 30 Celsius which makes all the wonder of the area that much more pleasant.

2.      Queues Shrink

No matter what it is you’re trying to do; from ordering a drink, to shopping, to just validating your parking, everything is more accessible in September. September presents a perfectly balanced atmosphere. While it’s no fun to be with too many people it can be just as bad to have no people around at all. There is still the feeling of summer in the air but moving in and around the area becomes much easier.

3.      Spirits are Lifted

Summer might be a fun and happy time along the Costa del Sol, but you only really get to have fun and relax after you’ve created some space for yourself on the beach on the Costa del Sol or escaped into one of the smaller and quieter resorts of the south. Everyone is a lot more temperamental during the summer months because of a mixture of heat, crowds and confusion. It throws everyone’s moods out of whack. Things slow down after September arrives though and everyone is just that little bit brighter and happier because of it.

Three Reasons for British Expats to Stay Cheerful

Three Reasons for British Expats to Stay Cheerful

Expats will be ok, spain needs you and the EU

needs the UK

The Brexit has caused quite a big shift in the world. There is one group in particular that are no doubt feeling apprehensive about the vote to leave the EU and that is British expats living  and working in in Spain.

Most of the Brits who live in Spain are free to live and work there because of the provisions given to them by the EU. Citizens in the EU are able to live and work wherever they please in other EU states, including Spain, provided that they don’t cause any trouble for their host nation.

With the vote to leave the European Union it looks like things are going to have to change in the long term. The good news is that the EU is beginning to soften up how it will deal with the UK even though British politics continue to meltdown.

Many nations in Europe are beginning to speak out in support of the UK, chief amongst which was the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. He spoke of the need for calm. With all of this in mind, and remembering that it’s too early to tell for sure what will happen now, here are three reasons for British expats to stay cheerful.

1.      Two Years is a Long Time and Anything Can Happen

Article 50 of the EU Agreement was made in order to prevent the kind of panic that Europe is currently gripped by. The idea behind Article 50, something that has never actually been used yet, is that a member state has two years to fully extricate itself from the rules and regulations of the European Union.

Nobody can tell for sure if the UK will have to relinquish all of these agreements or how substitute agreements could be put into place. One thing for sure is that the people saying the UK will be tossed out and never welcomed back are completely wrong. This are definitely going to be a little more difficult for Brits looking to live and work in another EU country, but there is almost no chance at all that they will be completely cut off.

2.      The UK and Spain are Close Allies

When people get divorced they sometimes decide to stay friends for the sake of the kids. While the UK and Spain aren’t the ones being divorced they can still choose to stay together for the benefit of both countries. The “kids” in this case would be 100s of thousands of Brits and Spaniards living in the other country.

It’s best for both countries to come to an agreement that can ensure these people aren’t displaced or inconvenienced. Brits have been giving Spain their money, hearts, and souls for decades now and have been buying more property in Spain than any other European country. They were friends before the EU was even a thing and they can remain friends even now.

3.      The EU is Softening Up

The EU seemed quick to tell the UK that they were gone from the EU and had to live with the consequences on their own now. Now that the dust is settling the EU seems to be softening up their approach. The German chancellor Angela Merkel has said that countries shouldn’t feel the need to be nasty when negotiating with the UK and that the country should remain a close ally and economical partner with their European friends.

While more politicians are coming to grips with the result of the referendum – where 48.1% of people voted to remain in the EU, they are realising that the needs of these people shouldn’t be ignored, no matter what the UK government things and feels. All in all we could actually be witnessing the birth of a brand new, potentially even better, partnership for both sides, which means that buying property in the Costa del sol and Spain will continue to be in demand for many years.

Three Reasons Spain Is the Most Popular Emigration Choice for Brits

Three Reasons Spain Is the Most Popular Emigration Choice for Brits

With sunshine all year its no wonder why so many brits love Spain

Spain has always been the most popular places in Europe for Brits to emigrate to and it’s quite clear why.

There is a time where for one week a year Britain managed to have higher temperatures than Spain and the tabloids were always smug about it. They would delight in declaring that people were choosing a staycation and laughing at people who left the homeland for warmer weather. That week has now come and gone.

Temperatures in the UK are back down to their average of between 12-17ºC and things are shifting back to normal now with many Brits looking for some fun in the sun and freedom from the rain.

All of this has made the new report from MoveHub quite timely. The relocation specialists published a report showing that Spain has become the third most popular destination Brits looking for help on emigrating go to. It’s not the best overall, but it is the best in Europe. First and second place went to Australia and the US.

Those two places are definitely long-haul so it’s always best to consult specialists such as MoveHub before making any major decisions. If you’re choosing somewhere close to home, such as Spain, then it’s close enough for you to try to handle on your own. With the Cost of living so low in Spain always being the choice for Brits looking to move into the sun but still be close to their real home.

With that in mind here are three of the reasons that Spain is such a hot choice for Brits looking to move abroad.

1.      Sunshine All The Time

Spain is guaranteed to stay sunny practically all year round. Even in December the temperature can come in at around 25 degrees. No matter what time of year it is, from spring, to summer, from March to August, one thing Spain can guarantee you is the sunshine.

On the other hand the UK is one of the darker countries there is. It’s not hard to imagine someone wanting to move somewhere brighter. Spain brings this to a whole new level though by being sunny all year round. With all that sun and heat comes a relaxed attitude towards life.

2.      Not Many Cultural Differences

While Spain and Britain may be different, the way that we socialise isn’t.

Okay, yes, the traditional Spain; filled with flamenco dancing and bullfighting, is far from the country pub, Sunday roasts, and 9-5 lifestyle, but Spain and the UK have similar cultures overall.

A big part of this is, of course, that Brits have been moving to Spain for the better part of half a century. So of course Spain is becoming a little more British. Even if that wasn’t the case the two countries have some things in common. Both love bars, football, family, and having fun outdoors. The relationships between the countries and their cultures is only growing too.

3.      Many Chances to Enter the Property Market

No matter where you’re trying to buy a home in Spain you’ll find that the property market is well quipped to meet the needs of British buyers.

British buyers bought roughly 20% of the homes sold in Spain to a non-Spaniard last year. This is an impressive statistic on its own but it adds to the decades of investment in Spanish property from Brits. Brits have always been the biggest foreign investors in the Spanish market.

As a result developers in Spain know just what British buyers in Costa del Sol and Spain want in a home and have built homes ready for Brits. There is something for every Brit in the Spanish property market. With the pound slowly recovering it’s never been so affordable to buy Spanish property.