Apple Marbella

Huge queues for the new Apple store, video above

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

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.

Buddha Beach – Ready for summer 2010

Buddha Beach, Marbella’s first boutique beach club, is looking forward to the first summer of the decade when it opens on Friday March 26! Located only a short walk from the jet set marina of Puerto Banus, Buddha Beach has become the favourite beach club for celebrities, residents and visitors who enjoy the relaxed, bespoke location. VIP regular guests last year included Calum Best, Chanelle Hayes, Jennifer Metcalfe, and well-known figures from the football world including international players David Bentley, Shay Given, Paul Robinson, Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddleston, Stephen Warnock Jesus Navas, Jermaine Pennant, Matt Taylor and Ian Harte, as well as international singing stars Alexander O Neal and Tito Jackson,
Buddha Beach was the venue for several video and fashion shoots, and will also feature in the upcoming BritPop movie Powder, starring Alfie Allen, scheduled for release in 2011.

Among the new features this year are covered dinning area as well as a remodelled boutique, complete with his and hers beachwear, including the Buddha Beach Fashion range, as well as other must haves for the beach. Buddha Beach will also be the venue for fashion shows throughout the summer.

Buddha Beach will also be the perfect place to watch the sporting summer’s action and excitement, with a separate World Cup Bar with widescreen TV, perfect for following your team in the World Cup, or your favourite driver in the Grand Prix. You might even spot a sporting hero or two at Buddha as well!

Taking its inspiration from Thailand and the exotic Far East, the main beach club area at Buddha Beach is set back from the shore with raised wooden decked sunbathing and seating areas with views out to the Mediterranean, as well as around the pool. Buddha Beach also features a discreet VIP area with its own large rock pool Jacuzzi, while the beach area itself has 100 beds, all with waiter service.

Drinking and dining are one of the main pleasures at Buddha beach. As well as the beachside bar, Buddha Beach’s main bar area is the perfect place to take a break from the strenuous task of sunbathing for a cool drink, or to enjoy a relaxing sundowner as the sun sets. A live DJ adds to the ambience, playing smooth tunes throughout the day.

Buddha Beach’s restaurant will be open for evening dinning throughout the summer offering an appetizing selection of dishes, from fresh seafood platters, Thai fusion cuisine and sushi to a light bite and all tastes in between. The restaurant will be running a pre season lunchtime menu offering excellent value at €15 per head, allowing guests to enjoy the first of the spring sunshine by the sea

There’s a lot going on at Buddha Beach this season. This year Buddha Beach will be staging regular events including Live Music every Sunday and Limelight events on Thursday’s . After last year’s unforgettable performance by international soul legend Alexander O’Neill there are also plans to bring other stars to Buddha Beach throughout July, August and September.

Buddha Beach is the perfect venue for private parties, launches and events. It now has a private area for up to 100 people with its own bar for Private Events, while still enjoying Buddha Beach’s unique atmosphere. Located in a quiet residential area, Buddha Beach benefits from designated parking as well as a valet service and there is also discreet security.

Join us this summer for the Boutique Beach Club experience of the decade at Buddha Beach!

Tel. 952 81 3882
www.buddhabeachbanus.com

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”,