Work which has been going on to connect the promenades at Marbella and Puerto Banus has resulted in a footbridge which Minister of Tourism, Luciano Alonso, has called ‘the longest in Spain of its characteristics’.

Standing at three metres in width and 70 metres in length, the wooden footbridge, which is known as the bridge of Rio Verde, cost a total of 850,000 euros to design and build and is just part of a program to develop the infrastructure of the area which has seen around 2.7 million euros being invested by the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Sport.

The bridge, which was opened by the Minister of Tourism and Mayoress Angeles Munoz, was only part of the recent work to be carried out in the city, which has also involved the remodelling of the terraces at the marina in the Costa del Sol’s tourist capital of Marbella.  With an area of around 7,000 square meters having been recovered as part of the redesign project, visitors and local residents now have an attractive new open space where they can enjoy weekend concerts at the auditorium and where children can make use of the new playground facilities.

Stair and ramp access to the terraces has also been improved and new street lighting installed, as well as pergolas having been strategically placed so that visitors can enjoy views out to sea and of the plaza.  More green areas have also been created with shaded areas to offer greater levels of comfort in the heat of summer.

Marbella’s mayor believes that these most recent improvements contribute greatly, not only to the city’s image, but also to the quality of life of its residents and the many thousands of visitors who come here every year.

If you are thinking about buying a home in Spain, either to live here permanently or in which to spend holidays at various times of the year, heating is probably one of the last things on your mind, especially if your experience of the Costa del Sol has been limited to the summer months.  Although the climate in winter is very temperate, however, and certainly considerably warmer than in Britain, even one summer spent in the heat of the sunshine will see you quickly becoming acclimatised, which means that the inevitable drop in temperatures in the winter will still be noticeable.  The days are often still warm and sunny, but it is in the evenings that it can feel quite cold.  There are though, a number of excellent and very cost-effective ways of heating your Spanish home.

As in the UK, many Spanish properties are fitted with central heating systems or under floor heating, although rather than being gas-fired they are fuelled by oil.  You will find a range of local oil suppliers in the area, so shop around to get the best deal and remember to check whether the company that you use charges extra for delivery.

Another option is using the air conditioning units which are installed in most properties as a form of heating.  In nearly all cases the units can be used for both heating and cooling, although it has to be said that this can be a more expensive option and, if you are trying to heat a larger area, not as efficient.

Of course, one of the best ways to keep yourself feeling cosy on a cold winter’s evening is with a real fire.  Although fireplaces are relatively rare in the UK these days, they are a feature which you will not only find frequently in older Spanish properties, but many new ones too.  Not only is this an extremely effective way of heating a property, but unlike some other methods of heating, it is a dry heat which will not cause damp.

Paraffin heaters, gas heaters which use bottled gas and halogen heaters are other options, and the units are all pretty cheap to buy.  You might also like to consider some of the alternative energy sources such as solar, geothermal or biomass systems which, although more costly to install in the first instance, can make for a good long-term investment.

Aside from the terrific climate, the relaxing environment and the cheap flights, favourable exchange rates have traditionally made holidays to Southern Spain’s Costa del Sol an extremely attractive proposition for holidaymakers and Costa del Sol property hunters.  Recent times, however, have seen the euro exchange rate drop, a fact which has inevitably impacted on the tourist industry throughout most of Europe as the costs of food, drinks and other holiday essentials have risen.  Determined not to be set back by the world’s money markets, however, Spanish businesses are responding by cutting their prices, making the area once again a truly competitive choice.

With holidaymakers suffering a drop in exchange rates which has seen the pound and the euro almost evenly matched at times, compared to the rate of around 1.5 euros to the pound a few years ago, some European countries have just crossed their fingers in the hope that things will improve or set their sights on attracting tourists from some of the higher income nations such as the Scandinavian countries.  As an area which has consistently been the number one destination for UK holidaymakers, however, the Costa del Sol is extremely keen to ensure that it looks after the Brits.

The cost of drinks and eating out will, in many cases, see reductions of up to around a massive 33% in 2010, making Costa del Sol holidays much more appealing than those to many other European destinations, where holidaymakers have not only been hit by poor exchange rates but price rises which have been intended to compensate for dwindling business.

Holiday accommodation in Southern Spain is also very competitively priced this year, with holidays in the Marbella area offering exceptionally good value.  With all those extra savings, visitors to the Costa del Sol can expect more fun than ever for their pounds sterling!

With so many British expatriates living on the Costa del Sol and so many of the locals involved in the tourist industry able to speak their language, in some ways it’s easy to see why so many fail to learn more than just a few words of the Spanish language.  According to recent reports, however, not getting to grips with the language and not understanding the laws and the regulations of the country is not only causing them problems, but can also leave them feeling socially isolated.  Help, however, is at hand.

In a deal struck up between the British and Spanish authorities, Spanish civil servants are to be placed at the British consulates in Malaga and Alicante in a bid to help expats deal with the local bureaucracy.  They will be on hand to offer advice on property issues, registering with local authorities and finding their way around the country’s health services.  In many cases, British people living on the Costa del Sol have failed to make themselves part of the Spanish system by registering with the proper authorities, something which has caused them difficulties particularly when urgent situations have arisen.

While in some ways speaking the international language of the world can have huge benefits, in others it can prove to be highly demotivating when it comes to learning the local language when Brits move abroad.  Those who originate from countries where their native tongue is not understood elsewhere generally pick up the language of their host country very quickly…because they have to.  For the British, however, their mother tongue acts as a disincentive when, in many situations, they can already make themselves understood.  For both practical reasons and from the perspective of improving their quality of life abroad, however, learning the language, becoming part of the country’s system and understanding its rules and regulations can offer huge benefits to those who choose to make the Costa del Sol their home, and it seems that both the Spanish and the British authorities are keen to help.

There is no denying that the Spanish property market, like many others around the world, has been hit hard by the current recession, but if the figures just released are anything to go by, it looks as though things may be turning the corner.

Last Friday saw the Spanish government report the first increase in house sales in three years.  In the final quarter of 2009, property sales rose by 4.1% against the same period of last year, making it the first year-on-year rise since 2006.   With a total of 130,572 properties finding their way off the market between October and December, this represented a 21.4% increase on the period between July to September.

With the recession in Spain really starting to bite towards the latter end of 2008, the property market during the whole of the year 2009 was never likely to be anything other than fairly dismal.  Indeed, with just over 413,000 sales throughout the course of 2009, this represented an 18% decrease over the previous year and a drop of 46% on 2007.

Reports indicate that the national statistics seem to be suggesting, however, that Spanish property prices may well be bottoming out, making this an excellent time for investors to make their move.  Although recovery may still be slow to arrive, as is always the case, it is bound to happen, and it is those who get their timing just right who will undoubtedly make the greatest gains.

Of course with its great climate, ease of accessibility and the cheap cost of flights into Malaga Airport, the Costa del Sol has continued to be a firm favourite for holidaymakers despite uncertain economic times.  As the pressures begin to ease, it is also almost certain to continue to be one of the most popular choices for those in the UK who are looking to emigrate or invest in a holiday home or rental property.

Whether for a better way of life or to escape the lousy British weather, the interest of Brits in buying property on the Costa del Sol certainly doesn’t seem to be diminishing if figures for the early part of 2010 are anything to go by.  With Spain’s unemployment rate running at around 19%, however, those who want to make the leap but also have a way to go before they hit retirement age are finding themselves facing a deal of frustration.  In today’s technological age though, work in the traditional sense needn’t be a barrier!

Aside from the obvious opportunities for starting up a bar, restaurant or other type of ‘real’ business in Spain, or even an online business, another thing which might be well considering is ‘virtual’ work.  With nothing more than a laptop and an Internet connection, the possibilities are almost endless.

Many of those who are anxious to make the move but are put off by the lack of work opportunities in general and year-round opportunities in particular, will have specific skills which they used in their employment in their home country.  These might involve anything from computer design or writing skills to data input or general secretarial skills, all of which are greatly in demand by businesspeople across the globe.  In most cases, the location of the service provider, who acts as a freelancer, is immaterial as all the work is carried out using a computer and the finished ‘product’ is simply e-mailed to the client.

Because so many of the people who are interested in moving to Spain are keen to find a better and more relaxed way of life, virtual working can offer the ideal solution in that it allows the opportunity to work from home and to fit the working day around all the wonderful leisure pursuits that the Costa del Sol region has to offer.  In addition, because the projects that virtual workers take on are based in so many different countries around the world, they don’t have all their economic eggs in one basket!

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No matter where in the world we are thinking of buying a property, it is always a big decision and often a big investment.  Even when buying in our own country where we understand the laws and the language we take sensible precautions to ensure that things progress as they should, and buying abroad requires just as much care, if not more.

Of course, two of the prime considerations when you are looking to buy a property on Spain’s Costa del Sol are the type of property and the precise location which will suit your requirements of either a holiday home or a permanent residence.  Despite the fact that these are such important factors, however, it seems that some holidaymakers have got so swept away with the idea of buying that they have handed over their cash without actually seeing the property.  In some cases, they have been shown a ‘similar’ property, but found to their cost that what they have bought is actually quite different, and without the benefit of the knowledge which can only be provided by local estate agents, even the location has proved to be something other than was expected.

Although it might just sound like common sense, potential buyers should always view the property that they are interested in before making a commitment to go ahead with the deal.  Naturally, where off plan properties are concerned, there may not be much to see in the first instance, but any good agent will take you to visit the site and will be able to provide you with detailed plans of the property so that you know just what you are getting.

Using a local estate agent who has first-hand knowledge of the area means that you will be able to get a clear idea of everything from the weather conditions that you can expect to which facilities are open in the winter.  The other huge advantages that local agents have is that they are much more au fait with planning regulations and any issues which might arise, as well as being able to offer assurances as to the reputation of the local building companies.

In common with many other Mediterranean countries, Easter is the main celebration of the year in Spain.  Whilst Christmas pales into insignificance compared to the four-month long frenzy of commercialism in the UK, it is during the Semana Santa, or Easter Week, that the devout Spanish citizens take to the churches and the streets to celebrate the miracle of life itself.  For those living in or visiting the Costa del Sol, not only is it a wonderful time of the year to learn about the religious traditions of the region, but also a great opportunity to join in with the local celebrations and bond with the local people.

In reality, the Easter celebrations in Spain begin before the period of Lent, around the time of Shrove Tuesday, and it is then that villages and towns throughout the country truly get into party mode.  Floats and parades fill the streets as everyone dresses up in fancy dress and celebrates through until dawn.  Bars and restaurants are full to bursting and everywhere there is street music and dancing.

Running from Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos) until Easter Monday (Lunes de Pascua), the Easter Week celebrations vary from place to place but are generally focussed on lively and colourful carnivals and processions, as well as music, dancing and, of course, eating.  Setting out from the churches of the towns, the processions see the local people carrying images of Christ on the cross and the Virgin Mary through the streets in what is a deeply significant and moving homage to their religious beliefs.  In many places, passion plays are also enacted, but whatever form the celebrations take, everyone from the oldest to the youngest takes part.

The city of Malaga is the place to head for on the Costa del Sol for those who want to experience some of the most spectacular Easter celebrations in the whole of Spain.  Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week, is an ideal time to visit, but be sure to get there early so that you can take in the whole day of celebration and merrymaking.

After years of dragging yourself into work five days a week, the prospect of retiring to the Costa del Sol is undeniably an exciting one.  Especially if you are considering moving to Spain immediately after retirement, however, there are a couple of particularly important things to bear in mind when choosing your location.

Of course, wherever you are thinking about buying property in Spain, especially in later life, there will always be additional factors that you need to consider.  Current and future levels of fitness will probably be some of your more immediate concerns, not only with regard to the style of the property, but also in terms of its proximity to local shops and services.  If you are leaving family behind in your home country however, and especially beloved grandchildren, what is equally important is the ease with which you will be able to travel backwards and forwards.  With all the excitement of emigrating, it can often be easy to underestimate the impact of not being able to pop round and visit family and friends when you feel like it, so consider carefully how close you want to be to the airport.  Thankfully, the Costa del Sol’s main airport at Malaga is very convenient and offers a good number of year-round flights at really excellent prices.

Another thing to consider carefully is what your chosen area offers by way of things to do.  Although the prospect of simply doing nothing for a while is undoubtedly a tempting one, and of course exploring the region will probably come fairly high on the list of early priorities, be sure to investigate the facilities and activities that will be available, not just at the height of summer, but in the winter months too.

March 15th is the date set for the grand opening of the new Terminal 3 at Malaga Airport(AGP) and no less than King Juan Carlos himself is to be the guest of honour.  Four years in the construction, the new 250,000 square metre terminal will allow the airport to double its current capacity to 9,000 passengers per hour, and will house 86 check-in desks and 20 boarding gates, as well as a variety of shops, bars and restaurants.  In addition, plans are already in place for a second runway to be built in 2011.

The Spanish Ministry for Development has reported that some 500 guests, including many top politicians and dignitaries, will be present at the unveiling, but in the meantime members of the public have been testing the facilities in advance of the public opening before Easter.  In all, the testing will involve some 3,000 volunteers who will be vital in ensuring that everything works as planned before the terminal goes live.  Just as though they were boarding a real flight, the volunteers are each having to go through the entire arrivals and departures process from finding their flight numbers on the display boards and checking in their luggage to passing through security and finding the correct airport parking area, in an effort to identify and fix any problems in advance.

Once the new terminal is officially opened, it is expected that airlines will include more and more new routes in and out of what has already proved to be an extremely popular airport.  In the last two years alone, a total of 39 new routes have been added, including direct flights to and from Toronto and Montreal which have led to an increase of 40% in the number of Canadian tourists in the area.  Aer Lingus is just one of the companies which intends increasing its number of places to the Costa del Sol.