Apple Marbella

Huge queues for the new Apple store, video above

Date of stay: 01/09/2011 for 7 nights

I stayed at Villa Nadia with 9 of my friends and we had a brilliant time.

Paul Morgan

Forget holidays at home and cut-price breaks to Turkey, if you’re looking for value for money the Spanish Costas are the most affordable destination in Europe.

British holidaymakers will get more for their cash on the Iberian Peninsula than any other hotspot, with prices in Spain dipping to a four-year low, according to a new survey.

Recession-hit Spain has slashed prices after the number of Britons visiting the country dropped by 15 to 20 per cent, due to the double whammy of financial woes at home and the buoyant euro.

Back in business: The Costas have dropped prices to tempt back tourists

Hotels, food and other everyday items are now more affordable in Spain than in any other holiday destination.

A three-course evening meal on the Costa del Sol costs on average £23.58 compared to £37.74 in Greece and £43.86 in the Turkish resort of Marmaris.

And when it comes to other items such as suncream, a bottle of beer, insect repellent and soft drinks, Spain’s Costas also come out on top, with prices often half those found in other holiday resorts.

According to the poll by Post Office Travel Money, Miami is the most expensive destination, with a meal and nine everyday items averaging a whopping £92.81.

The same items cost more than £80 in France and Italy and more than £70 in Brighton, Egypt and Cyprus. In Spain they came to just £42.15.

After years of high prices and low visitor numbers, Spain is now 36 per cent cheaper than it was in 2007.

Its affordability is making it a favourite holiday destination with Britons once more, with visitor numbers up 11 per cent year on year for 2011.

Prices in the top resorts
Country
Resort
Average price of goods
Spain
Costa del Sol
£42.15
Bulgaria
Sunny Beach
£44.79
Portugal
Algarve
£49.63
Greece
Corfu
£58.87
Dubai
Jumeirah
£59.37
Malta
Various
£68.97
Turkey
Marmaris
£69.51
Cyprus
Various
£70.74
Croatia
Kvarner
£73.55
UK
Brighton
£77.01
Egypt
El Gouna
£78.30
France
Brittany
£81.48
Italy
Sorrento
£88.21
USA
Miami
£92.81
‘As we can see from the Post Office figures, Spain is offering extremely good value and it’s not just restaurateurs dropping prices, but hoteliers as well,’ said Sean Tipton, spokesperson for ABTA The Travel Association.

‘The pound has rallied against the euro, but the exchange rate problem has been completely wiped out by the low prices being offered.

‘Spain should be congratulated for recognising the problem and doing all it can to change it and encourage holidaymakers back.’

Other countries are now following Spain’s lead and dropping their prices to boost tourism.

Turkey has dropped prices by 13 per cent, Egypt by 12 per cent and Greece and Miami by 10 and six per cent respectively.

Sarah Munro, Post Office head of Travel Money, said: ‘This year’s barometer shows that prices are pretty competitive in the top European holiday destinations even though sterling remains unpredictable.

‘While Spain in undoubtedly best value overall, the healthy price fall in Greece means that this traditional favourite can once again be considered a good bet for wallet-watching holidaymakers.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1376768/Cheap-summer-holidays-Spain-tops-poll-affordable-holiday-hotspots.html#ixzz1JyZGNZQl

We are pleased to announce our new office opening from next week (Monday 28th February).
The new address is:
Inspirations Mantenimiento SL
C/Califa, Local 1, Bloque C, Urb. Las Lolas, 29660 Nueva Andalucia
The phone number remains +34951319332
The new office is situated below the Pasta Caffe (close to the bull-ring) in Nueva Andalucia

We can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/6habrpo

New cafe opening this week next to the Mercadona on Los Naranjos de Marbella. Serving breakfast, lunches, drinks etc. Great addition to the complex.

update on the ARCH… There is no news yet from OHL the constructors, but just this morning there was action on the arch – see photo. There was a man with a very small paint brush applying something to the structure – not paint, but possibly some kind of cleaning product – not sure why he wasn’t using a roller or bigger brush though. This would lead us to think that the arch is staying and the missing ‘ell’ letters are being repaired….
More news as it comes in…

Listen to Jose Padillo – Que Bonito & Imagine a beach in Marbella

We recently met with Abigail Williams, the Director for Marbella for Massage Beach. This is what she told us:
Unlock the benefits to a more healthy, energetic and stress free lifestyle, by using one of natures oldest remedies to help you.
The body is the greatest gift any one person can receive and the greatest tool any person will use. Massage Beach will help you look and feel great, by offering you beauty and massage treatments, to make your daily routine or holiday experience truly complete.
When our clients experience our services we want them to experience more than just a treatment. We are not just another massage company, what we offer is a unique five senses experience, tailor made to our clients individual needs.
Individual therapies such as Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish Massage, Facial Treatments, Indian Head Massage, Manicures and Pedicures are all available at various locations along the coast. Or why not induldge in one of our pamper packages, which can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home, yacht or villa.
For further information or to make a booking please call 0034 695 801 179, or visit our website www.massagebeach.com.
Please mention Inspirations! Marbella for preferential rates.

The “A Place in the Sun” exhibition confirms that 60% of purchasers prefer Spain and think prices are at rock bottom.

The hoped-for green shoots of the economy in the UK were showing their heads in Birmingham last weekend, when thousands of people turned out for the “A Place in the Sun” exhibition held at the NEC. International property shows in the UK had been in the doldrums over the past months and some of the organsisers had gone into bankruptcy owing to the overall downturn in property sales everywhere, but “A Place in the Sun”, backed by the TV_programme of the same name, made a strong come-back at the NEC. The exhibition was a smaller one than in previous editions but had been well publicised, and visitors came flooding through the doors.
This was especially good news for Spain, confirmed to be the favourite destination of potential property-buyers. No fewer than 60 per cent of visitors indicated an interest in Spain, with France coming in a poor second despite its familiarity and geographical proximity to British buyers. Unlike in previous years, there was no “French village” area at “A Place in the Sun”, and Spain’s main competitors were the USA and Australia and New Zealand, which were offering immigration packages.
Surveys of the public attending the show indicated that many buyers have been waiting for the right moment, and are now ready to make the move, as prices are unlikely to drop any further. Asked why they were looking at Spain, they mentioned, as one would expect, the climate, the friendly people, and enjoyable holidays in this area in the past. Buyers were also aware of the problems now facing investors who had opted in the past for destinations less well served by the airlines. While flights to many of these have been reduced or scrapped altogether during the credit crunch, Malaga airport continues to be served by numerous airlines with dozens of flights every day to the UK.
Seminars
A programme of seminars accompanied the exhibition, dealing with such subjects as how to get a visa to move to the USA, fractional ownership of property, and “Has the market hit rock bottom?” The consensus on the last question was that although it is impossible to tell how low prices will fall, or predict when the market will pick up again, until the worst is over and the market is showing signs of growth, in most areas there is unlikely to be a better time to buy than right now.
The most popular of the seminars however was on the subject of “Emigrating to Europe”, with six talks over the course of the show commanding audiences much larger than anticipated. It was standing room only for many who wanted to hear advice and ask questions about relocating to another European country.
The seminars were conducted by a property journalist, the speakers being an international lawyer and an expert from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Stephen Jones, whose wide experience derives partly from his current position as British Consul in Malaga. His advice was wide ranging, from questions of vehicle licensing to health insurance, tax liability and transfer of British pensions abroad. He strongly recommended that new residents in Spain should register with the local “padrón” and that they try to learn some Spanish before making the move, in order to facilitate life in Spain and enjoy all that it has to offer. He was also insistent that before buying, it is advisable to rent for a few months to make sure of the suitability of the chosen location. Enthusiastic to the point of proclaiming Benalmádena to be his favourite of the many places he has lived, he reiterated the advice to anyone else thinking of living here to “do your homework before you come”,

Have you considered joining us in Marbella for the Xmas & New Year period?

Treat yourself to an escapade with your partner, family or friends. With 325 days annual days of sun and an average temperature of 18ªC, Marbella is an ideal holiday destination with lots of activities during Christmas for the whole family.

During these days, the golden sun shines in the blue sky, the short sleeved workers of the town hall are installing the Christmas illumination and garlands in the shape of snow flakes, which are going to imbue with light and color the main streets of Marbella, San Pedro and Puerto Banús.

This year there will be more illuminated streets than other years and there will be arranged more than 1 million light bulbs, but with a reduced consume due to LED.

The Christmas decoration can be found as well in the trees in Plaza de los Naranjos, in the parish churches and the Entrance arches of Marbella and San Pedro and in form of nativity scenes en the Pirulí roundabout and in San Pedro de Alcántara.

The town hall of Marbella has prepared a large Christmas program from the 2nd of December until the 5th of January, with many activities for all ages. Formally its starts with the inauguration of the official nativity scene and the children´s park in the Plaza de la Iglesia and the illumination in Avenida Ramón y Cajal. The children present in the inauguration can enjoy a free ride on the carrousel.

The program includes children’s events, concerts, contest, and the long awaited visit of the three wise men and sweets for everybody.

Check out our website for great value private apartment and villa accommodation in MARBELLA, prices start at an incredible 300 euros/week in a 2 bed apartment that sleeps 6 comfortably over the Christmas and New Year period.

For your information our opening hours are:
24/12 10:00 – 14:00.
25/12 to 27/12 Closed (emergency mobile and email support available).
28/12 to 31/12 10:00 to 14:00.

Merry Xmas and have a fab 2010.

Simon…..