News and views from the Costa del Sol!

Living the digital nomad life

In the depths of winter the lure of a life in the warmth of southern Europe might be stronger than ever. Anyone who can work online has the freedom to roam and find a new lifestyle in a more welcoming climate.

Spain has long been a draw for those looking for a laid-back, good value lifestyle with short and mild winters and long sunny days near the beach. Imagine working in that sort of environment. Maybe an early morning start at the desk, a swim in the afternoon and a barbecue on the beach as the sun goes down. Tempted? Read on and see if the life of a Digital Nomad is for you.

The idea of digital nomadism has grown massively since COVID with more and more people freeing themselves from the traditional constraints of 9-to-5 work life and embracing their ability to escape traditional working arrangements and taking on ‘work from home’ positions.

Currently 3.2 million self-employed people live the autonomo (self-employed) life in Spain. Conveniently, there is a well-developed infrastructure for WIFI spots, finding them in airports, public squares, beaches, bars, and restaurants and most will allow you to use their free WIFI service. Pop into a cafe, grab a coffee and do another hour’s work in between shopping and lunch! Most who have adapted to this new way of working would class this as ‘A Millennials’ Dream.’
Long days mean Spain offers a superior work-life balance compared to many other countries. Culturally, this also means Spaniards are less stressed, get to spend lots of time as a family and place great importance on socialising. Adapting to the Spanish lifestyle is a must!

The flexible digital nomad lifestyle bends to make time for sport and leisure opportunities; golf, tennis, pádel, soccer, rugby, riding and a whole range of other sports are very well-represented on the coast.
Whether you are thinking about basing yourself in one place or travelling around the country, Spain offers great opportunities. Want to know more? Read our next blog ‘Digital Nomad Moving to Spain’

Buying off plan - 6 things you need to know

Get in early on a development and there are lots of advantages, from having the pick of the locations to some of the best prices available. Here’s our 8-step quick guide to off-plan. If you want to know more we’d be pleased to talk to you.

1. Developments are usually released and built in phases. The earliest phases tend to offer prices well below those of the later phases and the earlier you buy in, the lower the cost. By the time a development is finished the first villas and apartments can often have appreciated in value by up to 25%. That and the lettings potential for property on the Costa del Sol makes buying off plan attractive to investors and those looking for a holiday home that they might rent out for a few weeks a year.
   
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Films to take you there...

Sit back, relax and soak up some Spanish action

Spain is a regular favourite with filmmakers, attracted by the architecture, the rugged inland countryside and, of course, the stunning coast.
These are three of our favourites for a warm summer evening:

Vicky Christina Barcelona - Woody Allen
Filmed in, you guessed it, Barcelona, this funny, romantic comedy-drama stars Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson.
Love and tension follow when two young American women spend a summer in the city and meet an older Spanish artist who has his eye on both of them.
Buy or rent

The Way - Emilio Estevez
A father, played by Martin Sheen, receives terrible news that results in him going to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago. What results is a moving story of friendships, courage and hope.
Buy

Open Your Eyes - Alejandro Amenábar
Starring Penelope Cruz, this is one of the most critically acclaimed Spanish films of the last 20 years. It was remade as the less than brilliant Vanilla Sky. A film full of dark mysteries and forgotten memories. The setting on the mediterranean makes it worth a watch, the engaging story seals the deal.
Buy or rent

A taste of Andalucia

Chilly months need a hint of sunshine added. Rustle up a typically Spanish dish, pour a glass of sangria and get your feet in the (indoor) paddling pool.

This is one of our favourite quick and easy lunch or supper dishes.  Flamenco Eggs, courtesy of ohmygoodguide.com - nip over there for more 'taste of Spain' inspiration.

Flamenca Eggs or “Huevos a la Flamenca” is a simple tomato, ham (Spanish jamon serrano or iberico, even better!), chorizo and eggs dish. Huevos a la flamenca is traditionally cooked in a clay pot, which preserves the heat and somehow, gives this dish a special flavour and touch. It is said that the dish is called flamenca because of its colourful pallet that resembles a flamenco costume.

– Flamenco Eggs recipe
3 eggs
1 can of fried tomatoes or chopped tomatoes
100g fresh peas
50g diced ham (jamon serrano)
5 slices chorizo
1 clove of garlic
Salt
Pepper
Boil fresh peas for approximately 15 minutes. Then, put tomatoes into a cooking pot, add slices of ham, chorizo, boiled peas and break the eggs on top. Season with salt and pepper. Finally, preheat oven to 200ºC and bake for 12-15 minutes. That’s it!

The heat is off

In the heat of the summer the beach beckons but November is a fine time to explore some of the grand cities of Andalucia.  We started close to home with Malaga. The most accessible city in Andalucia, Malaga has more low-cost flights from the UK than any other city in the region.

November temperatues are perfect for sight-seeing and, ahem, shopping.  So get your flats on and let's walk...

The Picasso Museum - see the artist's work in the city where he was born

Iglesia de los Martires (Church of Santos Martires): a stunning Roccoco altar piece makes this a must-see.  

Mind your manners!

It pays to know how a few things work if you want to fit in with local culture. Here are our top tips on getting off on the right foot!

Tipping

The Spanish are not like the Americans when it comes to tipping, however it is normal to leave the change to the nearest Euro in a bar or restaurant. Since a service charge is rarely added in a restaurant, most people will leave a Euro or two for the service if they are happy with it. The same goes for a taxi or other services, but you should be aware that some taxi drivers in tourist areas may expect a tip.

Why Estepona?

Estepona, with its beautiful old town and pretty port, is a real success story for the Costa del Sol. The town has really grown rapidly, but maintained its quintessential, traditional, Spanish roots; if you’re looking for a slice of real culture along the Costa del Sol, Estepona is where you need to go.

The old town is full of characterful cobbled lanes, tapas bars and pretty little hidden away shops. Bars are restaurants on this part of the Costa del Sol tend to be cheaper than its coastal counterparts, but still retaining excellent quality. Of course there are plenty of traditional meats and seafood, but international tastes are also well catered for.

Settling happily in Spain

When you are moving to Spain, you need to learn to navigate your new environment – especially as you try and keep in touch with your old life. When you are preparing to move, you'll have any number of practical factors to consider and steps to follow. With that in mind, here are our top tips for settling in to your new life.

Before you move
Thorough planning and preparation before you move will be really useful, and there will usually be numerous expats sites and associations in the area you will be moving to that you look into. Spain is so popular with British expats, so there are many communities for you to join; the U3A is a particularly well known international organisation – and gives you the opportunity to meet those who have already been in the same position as you.
It’s also a good idea to use this time to look at maps of your new region and where you are going to be living. Assess where the facilities you are going to need are – the nearest shopping centre, medical centre, local market, nearby beaches and more-than-useful bar. We would also recommend taking some Spanish lessons before you go – having at least a basic understanding of the language will go some way to helping you communicate with your new neighbours.

Bringing Spain to you

Bring a deckchair indoors, grab a nice cold drink, sit back and read!

As we can't make it to the beach right now, treat yourself to a little taste of Andalucia in the form of one of these books.  All are set in the part of Spain that is dearest to us and all make a great way to while away a guilt-free afternoon of enforced relaxation.  Links to Amazon Kindle store are included here.

The Return by Victoria Hislop, a captivating new novel of family, love, and betrayal set against a backdrop of civil war, flamenco, and fiery Spanish passion. The author of the beloved international bestseller The Island, Victoria Hislop now transports the reader to Granada, Spain, in a time of historic turmoil. The Return is a colorful and spellbinding saga of a family inspired by music and dance, only to be torn apart by fragile hearts and divided loyalties during the bitter war that brought the dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco to power.

Platero and I by Juan Ramón Jiménez. This lyric portrait of life—and the little donkey, Platero—in a remote Andalusian village is the masterpiece of Juan Ramón Jiménez, the Spanish poet awarded the 1956 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Costa del Churros by Isabella May. 

The rain in Spain doesn't mainly fall on the plain…  Brits abroad Belinda, Julia, Laura and Georgina need more than the sweetness of churros with chocolate dipping sauce to save them from their unsavoury states of affairs.

Happy reading while you dream of being back on the beach...

Travelling to Spain

The good news is that travel to Spain is possible right now for the purpose of buying or selling a property.

How it works:

• Go to this website, fill in the form and you’ll receive a QR code that is specific you you and your trip. Keep that on your mobile phone or print it to show at the airport health control.
• You’ll need a negative result to a PCR test carried out less than 72 hours before arrival. This applies also to travelers entering by road from France as of March 30. Children under the age of six are exempt.
• There is no quarantine on entry into Spanish territory at present.
  
  

Spain is back on the move!

After several long weeks of lockdown, we are delighted to see the easing of some restrictions. We can now make individual APPOINTMENTS with clients to view properties (making sure we follow the social distancing guidelines).

Please contact us today to arrange virtual viewings before an actual appointment. Many new properties now offer 500€ REFUNDABLE RESERVATION deposits to lock in a price and a property. Get the first pick of the best deals on the Costa del Sol.

It pays to invest

Need an income from your Spanish property?  Buy wisely and there are great returns on offer.  We network all the developers offering good investment opportunities for those looking for a rental property.  These are just two of the current available portfolio - contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more.

These apartments are in a 4* hotel and are promoted specifically for rental purposes.  They come with an initial guarantee of 5% return.

Naughty but oh so nice!

Missing a little taste of Spain while you wait for your next trip?  Rustle up some candied almonds - perfect with a movie on a dull Sunday!

Ingredients:
- 200 g almonds, toasted with skin

- 250 g sugar

- 250 g water

It's still your move

The latest is that the government has been forced to scrap plans for a law that would’ve ended the freedom of movement - a heavily criticised proposal by the home secretary, Priti Patel. The new law would’ve seen freedom of movement end at the stroke of midnight on 31st October in the event of a no-deal Breit. 

As it stands now, the free movement of EU citizens does not end automatically as a result of a no-deal Brexit.

More from The Guardian

What's not to like?

On a Monday evening in August, what’s not to like about a drink overlooking gently bobbing boats after a long lazy day doing not much?

Estepona port is a cut above many.

Enough to see and do without being rammed full of irritants.

Come and visit The Spanish Estate Agent at .... just up from the port.

Have a browse of our Estepona listings here.