Now that winter is descending on Northern European countries, many people start planning their summer holiday for 2013. With some 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Spain’s Costa del Sol is one of the favourite holiday destinations in the world.
For those fortunate people who already own a holiday home at a Costa del Sol resort there are exciting events and festivals to enjoy throughout the year as well as finding family fun at the many theme and aqua parks the Malaga province has to offer.
Among the tourist attractions that lure hundreds of thousands of visitors through their gates every year are Tivoli World and Sea Life Centre in Benalmadena and Parque Acuatico in Mijas. Benalmadena is also home to the famous Selwo Marina, Spain’s only penguin aquarium and a fantastic home to hundreds of marine species.
The beauty about owning a holiday home in Spain’s Malaga province is that one can take the family again and again to enjoy the rides, the water slides, the exotic animals and stunning scenery the parks have to offer. There is something for every age and taste here - Spanish activity-based holidays are a far cry from the gloomy arcades, caravan parks, rain-soaked beaches and evenings in front of the TV back home during summer vacations.
Here families can truly spend some quality time together, perhaps on a horse-riding trek or going hiking, or during sailing lessons or on a fishing trip. The stress that everyone has to cope with at home in the office and at school will fall away and what is important for a family will resurface.
Some resorts are more family orientated than others. While Marbella and Cabopino are perhaps more suited for singles, couples without children and people who wish to retire, Benalmadena and Estepona, Fuengirola and Mijas are certainly towns that welcome families with open arms, catering for children of all ages.
However, residents of Marbella will point to Funny Beach, which lies along the coastal road N-340, just 10 minutes by car from Marbella city centre. For families with children over the age of seven this is a great place to come for a day and let off steam. There is a go-carting track, a trampoline area, the chance to join quad safaris and for those eternal couch potatoes there is even an electronic games area, where the latest games can be tested.
Holiday homes in the greater Marbella area are no longer as expensive as they once were, although still more expensive than Costa Blanca property for example. The Spanish economy is still undergoing huge changes and will remain in the doldrums for at least another 3 years according to analysts and banking experts. Cash strapped banks are shedding a huge number of brand new properties, which they had to repossess when developers defaulted on their loans.
This has made it possible to find luxury 2-bed apartments for EUR 150,000 and less in some of the sea view and golf developments in Marbella and surrounding districts. Starting prices in Elviria in the east of Marbella are considerably lower than at the Golden Mile, Marbella’s premier location, but Elviria is a good neighbourhood with plenty of established services and amenities and excellent value for money real estate.
Most banks offer their bank-owned property portfolio with generous finance deals as well as heavily discounted prices, going as far as offering 107% loan to value mortgages to those who qualify.
Cabopino is a great place to start a Spanish property hunt - the port and marina make is one of the best resorts along the Costa del Sol. One and 2-bed apartments bought as resales (existing properties) start at around EUR 160,000 for a property with 1 bathroom and around 60 to 75 sqm floor space.
In Cabopino golf developments apartments are a little more expensive, as amenities and facilities offered with the property are typically second to none. For EUR 179,000 it is possible to find a 2-bed, 2-bath apartment on the gound floor that offers 90 sqm of living space, a full furniture package and a large private garden plus 2 private garages.