Spain benefits as sun sets on long haul air travel

With the UK economy faltering and oil prices nudging the 150$USD a barrel mark (more than double January 2007) long haul travel is quite simply becoming prohibitive for a large sector of British citizens. Major airlines are hiking their fuel surcharges to up to £500 for a family of four flying over nine hours and the recently announced EU carbon emissions trading scheme will pass on a further financial burden to the consumer. It’s time to holiday closer to home.

Adam Gale, Managing Director of Costa del Sol based Duchy Estates, comments, “Ironically this is possibly the best news we’ve had to help kick-start the faltering Spanish property market. We know that the majority of Brits still favour a property on the Iberian Peninsula over and above any other destination. Rightmove Overseas has just released figures for the first six months of 2008 and, of the 10 million searches recorded, the largest slice went to Spain with the Costa del Sol topping the list.

The problem is that these searches are not converting into sales as people play a waiting game to see firstly how safe their incomes are in the UK and secondly how low house prices are going to dip in both the UK and Spain. But the cost of long haul travel will probably end up making the decision for them and those waiting on the sidelines will flock to start buying in Spain once more.”

Firmly in the short haul bracket (Málaga is around two and a half hours from London) Spain is served by pretty much every no-frills carrier you can think of from even the smallest of UK airports like Norwich and Newquay, and with such fierce competition fares are kept low. At the time of writing Ryanair had single fares between London and Málaga for a pocket monety£10 to include taxes, fees and charges. But getting to Spain isn’t all about the plane.

If you prefer to keep your feet closer to the ground it's surprisingly easy to travel from the UK to Spain by train. In fact, it's amazing that some people still think you need to fly. Take an afternoon Eurostar from London to Paris in just two hours 20 minutes, then the overnight trainhotel from Paris to Madrid and finish up with the onward AVE train connection to Málaga taking just two and a half hours. Fares are affordable, from £59 return for Eurostar, £51 each way for the trainhotel and £55 for a single on the AVE. Comfortable, convenient and certainly more scenic than acres of sky.

Or if you want to load up the car and soak up the sights consider the Channel Tunnel or ferries to France or perhaps Bilbao and Santander on the northern Spanish coastline and take to the open road. The time it takes will depend on how much of the scenery you wish to take in and how much you wish to put your right foot to the floor.

So, as the sun sets on affordable long haul travel, seek out the sunshine closer to home and save both money and the environment.

On the Market - Cortijo del Mar, Estepona
The one two and three bedroom apartments and three bedroom townhouses at Cortijo del Mar share the same vicinity as El Campanario and residents of the project have automatic membership to its exquisite Country House. This Indonesian-Mediterranean styled facility accessed by a decking bridge straddling an ornamental water feature houses a gymnasium with personal trainer on hand as well as classes such as yoga and Pilates; a Spa and wellness centre with steam baths, Jacuzzi and 20 metre indoor heated pool; a restaurant with gourmet cuisine and well-stocked wine cellar and a members’ lounge with games room offering billiards, backgammon, chess, playing cards and - if you must face the real world – wireless internet access.

Stepping outside of the Country House there is an outdoor pool flanked by sunbeds and parasols, a brace of tennis courts, the same of paddle tennis courts, each offering coaching, competitions and racquet hire and the ultimate accessory – a 9-hole golf course. The handiwork of Manuel Piñero, the man behind nearby La Quinta Golf, El Campanario’s course is accented by lakes, fountains, plenty of olive trees and is a very attractive place to perfect the swing. Coaching, club hire, a pro shop and a putting green are also on hand.

Turning attention back to the properties, the pueblo-style Cortijo del Mar spoils owners with luxurious materials, stylish designs and state-of-the-art technology. Orientated to the south and southwest, homes are light and airy with plenty of outdoor space in the shape of terraces or private gardens which access the communal swimming pool area. Master bathrooms are equipped with hydromassage baths and twin glass washbasins whilst the remainder have refreshing hydrojet shower cubicles. Kitchens benefit from marble worktops, Siemens appliances and stainless steel ovens and bedrooms have built-in wardrobes. Intelligent domotics complete the picture enabling residents to remotely control lighting, air-conditioning, electric blinds and appliances.

Prices start from 288,000 euros for a one bedroom apartment and up to 80% is available. Bespoke interior design packages are on offer from the developer to suit both budgets and tastes. The first phase at Cortijo del Mar is scheduled for completion in June 2009 with the final phase following by May 2010. Distance to Málaga International Airport 70km.

For more information, visit duchyestates.co.uk