If you’re visiting the Costa del Sol this summer don’t forget that little essential – travel insurance!
Every year British tourists make the mistake of forgetting to take out travel insurance and if you’re unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident whilst on holiday it’s one thing you can’t cope without.
For just a few pounds you can get coverage for your trip to the Costa del Sol. There are many insurers out there but we recommend FlexiCover for reliable insurance and great value cover.

Figures released recently by the UDYCO (Drugs and Organized Crime Unit of National Police of Spain) suggest that the Costa del Sol once dubbed the Costa del crime is cleaning up it’s act and organised crime has reduced.

Organised crime that resulted in arrests included the seizure of over €2million of fake euro notes. Jesús Cachiero the UDYCO chief stated that much of the clamp down centered around stopping foreign gangs that planned to use the Costa del Sol as a base for their criminal activities.

The news is welcome to holiday makers who can visit the Costa del Sol in the knowledge that the region is as safe as ever.

Residents in the Puerto Marina region of Benalmadena have joined forces in an attempt to tackle a 15year long battle with noisy bars and restaurants in the region. However bar and restaurant owners have are remaining resistant and have argued that the Puerto Marina was built with the intention of being a tourist destination and as such any recently risen the local council have stepped in to assure residents that they are closely monitoring the noise levels. residents living in the area should expect an noisy atmosphere, especially during the busy summer months when tourists flock to the Costa del Sol to enjoy the Spanish sunshine.

The main noise is generated from busy terraces where tourist congregate to enjoy food and drinks. As tensions have

Owners of the popular Costa del Sol beach bars and restaurants known as chiringuito’s are planning a protest in Madrid following warnings from the Government that they will face closure  in order to secure the long term future of the local beaches. The owners held a meeting in Fuengirola on Tuesday, and agreed to give the Junta de Andalucía a week to set up ta negotiation panel. The owners also discussed the possibility of a protest in Madrid to highlight their concern. Government officials have stated that should the chiringuito’s be removed from the beach suitable plots will be sought for relocation, but the Costa del Sol chiringuito owners are worried that a quick decision could mean they face having to relocate during the busy summer season.

The sea surrounding the Costa del Sol coast will benefit from a large cleansing operation that will see polluted foam removed from the water. The clean up is scheduled to take place over a three year period and will cost a total of €5.8million. The project will ensure the water on the Costa del Sol is as clear as possible and will be an added attraction for holiday makers looking to visit the region.

As a result of the poor exchange rate it’s inevitable that tourism in the Costa del Sol would be affected. However the drop is probably not as drastic as many would have expected with Easter numbers expected to be down by just 8% according to figures released by CEHAT – the Spanish association of tourism accommodation and hotels.
But like any market when the demand drops off so does the price so there’s never been a better time to find low cost villas and apartments in the Costa del Sol. At Costadelvillas we showcase a variety of top quality holiday homes available directly from the owner. Renting directly from the owner often gives you better value then renting through an agency who will take a commission on top of the standard rental price. So why not contact an owner today and book a cheap villa in Malaga, or a cheap apartment in Puerto Banus.

I was reading in one of the local papers how they’re tightening up on planning regulations in the Costa del Sol. Now nobody likes being subject to ’red tape’ or having things refused because we haven’t fulfilled the terms and conditions but who can deny that we need full planning applications to be accepted by a local body.
So often planning applications seem to get  through ‘on a wing and a prayer’ how ever it’s important for all of us that they are properly scrutinised.
Apparently over the past twelve months there has been a thirty percent fall in the number of sanctions issued by Marbella Town Hall. They are reporting that it has more to do with the global recession than anything else. It also said that they had detected an average of 17 infractions each week in the municapility.  ‘Rogue traders’ or ‘Cowboy’ builders in Spain they’re known as ‘Chapuzas’. Makes you think doesn’t it!

A new way to pay for your holiday apartment is being trailed in the Costa del Sol. Rather than renting out the apartment at a set price the rental agency are allowing holiday makers to make an offer to pay as much as they want for the apartment. The idea follows on from restaurant owner Sam Lippert who offered customers that chance to pay whatever amount they wished for their food. The initiative has been taken in an attempt to increase the number of Britons holidaying in the Costa del Sol. The number of British holiday makers visiting Spain has decreased as a result of the poor exchange rate, but with this special offer surely no one can claim they can’t afford to take a holiday on the Costa del Sol!

OK so the economy’s in a recession and normal people are losing their jobs left right and centre. You don’t really need another reminder about the depressing situation we’re currently experiencing. But it’s too late we’ve just done that, so now some good news, you can still afford the holiday of your dreams without paying over the odds.
Renting a holiday home directly from the owner gives you a great chance to cut out the additional costs that incur when booking through an agency. Villas and apartments are available at fantastic weekly rates and many owners are prepared to lower their costs for longer stays. If you’re looking for a great holiday destination with plenty of villas, apartments, penthouses, townhouses and farmhouses to chose from then why not head to the Costa del Sol – the luxurious holiday hotspot on the South coast of Spain. At costadelvillas.co.uk we have a wide range of holiday homes available offering great value all year round.

Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza visited Malaga this week to finalise plans for the new Thyssen museum which will be located in Malaga. The museum will display a range of art taken from it’s current home at the Thyssen museum in Madrid. The initial deal ensures that the museum will display collections until 2025.