Costa Tropical Blog

Safe Tourist Information?
What I’m about to tell you may kill you or at least put you in hospital!

Newly opened in April 2006 the Motril Tourist Office occupies the first floor of a not unattractive, if not slightly unusual, looking building at the start of the Parque de los pueblos de America which is beside the big yellow church on the hill, or opposite the main Taxi rank.

Finding the new Motril Tourist Office is far more straightforward than the old one, which was tucked behind the town hall, but it is still not the easiest place to get to. For a start you have to walk there because as yet there is no dedicated parking a matter made worse by the current roadworks going on (but that is another story).

Ok walking is good and healthy but you have to cross a minefield of roads to get there. Yes there are pedestrian crossings, but as this is Spain don’t expect vehicles to stop and let you cross, even if there is a red light!

Once you have got to the right side of the road access to the tourist office is very good, they have even included a ramp to make it wheelchair/pushchair friendly, which is commendable. However there is a significant flaw in this ramp and raised area design!

In a previous life I used to be involved in civil & structural engineering and was involved in many projects for local authorities and the key word in that line of work was always SAFTEY. What has that got to do with this….? After all this is Spain and Health & Safety is a little different here!

True, but if you take a closer look at the design of this ramped access to the tourist office you will notice that it is a little too easy to go up and fall off the edge. There are no railings or bump stops at the top on the edge opposite the ramp, to stop the wheelchair or pushchair from rolling off, or along the end furthest away from the office. This leaves a stepped drop of about 30cm or about a foot in old money. Now I’m no expert but I’m sure your average pushchair or wheelchair is not designed to deal with such a drop. Even an able bodied adult would be in trouble if they stepped backwards over the edge. Back trouble anyone!

There is however a brightside to this, not having railings here means these stepped edges conveniently double as a seating area. Also in designing the access ramp in this way the local authority has provided excellent street furniture to skateboard on or bike over, by those who laugh in the face of safety.

The Motril Tourist Office is open Monday to Friday 10am - 2pm & 5pm – 7pm, Sat/Sun 10am – 2pm & 5pm – 8pm. It has maps, leaflets, a (multilingual) multimedia information desk, monthly what’s on flyers, a very helpful English speaking lady (Jacky) and a brand new website www.turismomotril.com. Or (tel. 958 825 481)

The Costa Tropical de Granada might not be the first place that comes to mind when considering a venue for a kite-boarding holiday, but during the winter months of November to March I urge you to reconsider.

Why? Well as we all know the key element of kiting is wind which, in my experience, is plentiful between November and March on the Costa Tropical. This is probably why I regularly see locals taking to the water at Almunecar, Salobrena and Motril. Don’t worry there is plenty of clear blue Mediterranean sea to go round and apart from the occasional dog walker the beaches are all but empty.

Combine this plentiful wind with sun and the cheaper rental accommodation available as it is the off season, there are even special rates for a one month stay or longer, then it is a no brainer! When the wind isn’t blowing you can always visit the sights, without the summer crowds, or simply sit on the beach in the sun.

If the usual tourist bit is not your scene then there’s the fact that the ski slopes of the Sierra Nevada are just 90 minutes away. So if you get bored of the beach and the sea you can go kite-boarding in the snow, perfect!

Walking & cycling in the Costa tropical is a world away from the roads, lanes, footpaths & cycle-paths in the UK. The terrain in these parts is quite varied and thus caters for a range of abilities from the flat esplanades on the sea front to the seriously challenging climbs in the Alpujarras.

The weather, too, is consistently sunnier, warmer and drier. Lovely though this warm weather might be, however in my experience, this has significant implications for forward planning on the part of the walker / cyclist.

Firstly, one needs to take refreshment seriously. Now whether that means stopping at local bars, carrying water bottles or camel-backs that’s up to you but it is nonetheless essential.

Secondly, whatever your ability, walking / cycling in this environment has implications for both clothing and sun protection. Even if you are going for a leisurely walk / cycle along the seafront please be aware that you will require some form of sun protection and wear comfortable, if not breathable, clothing.

However, if you are planning to make your way towards the peaks you need to be prepared for a possible sudden change in climate and / or temperature. I regularly take spare clothing and / or some weatherproof gear along with me on my trips up into the mountains.

Why go to the trouble of walking / cycling up steep hills when you are on a relaxing holiday? Well there’s the sense of satisfaction and personal achievement plus the magnificent views that you can stop and savor as you go.

As a cyclist and walker you are very aware of the natural world around you, the smells, sounds and sights that you can’t get in a car or bus. However in my opinion, by far the best way to explore your local environment within the Costa Tropical region is by bike.

For something a bit different, just 75 minutes from Motril on the Costa Tropical and North East of Granada is a unique experience of cave houses at Guadix. Indeed driving along the fabulous A92 motorway around Granada and down towards Guadix is an experience in itself with the snow capped Sierra Nevada mountains to your right as the valley opens up before you.

From a distance the town of Guadix looks like it is made up of hundreds of giant termite mounds with flat tops. In reality Guadix is sited on an ancient dried up lake where early settlers dug caves into this soft earth to make simple homes. Although it has become far more industrialized Guadix still retains its heritage of famed cave houses that are built on and into the surrounding soft sedimentary clay soils and rock.

From the motorway follow the signs for centro Guadix and you will then soon see the yellow signs directing you to the cuevas or caves. Today many cave buildings survive, even so, I was surprised to see that many of these cave dwellings were still very much in use, cave houses, bars, restaurants and even hotels!

If you are feeling adventurous you can live out those Bruce Wayne fantasies and rent a cave house. I suggest you either rent a 4 x 4 first, or park your car and walk, as you have to cross a dry river bed to get there. There is also a pretty hotel with outdoor pool and cave apartments that can accommodate between 1 and 8 people, one of which even has a Jacuzzi inside! For more information on this please see the link below.

www.cuevaspedroantonio.com

There are also several quaint bar-restaurant cuevas serving great tapas. Las Tinajas is well known for its meat dishes and has a popular restaurant that I would well recommend.

There is a good selection of shops in Guadix town centre and a Cathedral and if you enjoy the outdoor life numerous other places of interest to visit including Castillo de la Calahorra. So for a day trip, a weekend break, or longer, Guadix has much to offer those with an appetite for adventure.

We receive many enquiries regarding long term renting here on the Costa Tropical. They fall into two main categories:

1. those looking for a new life here on the coast and who wish to rent before purchasing and,

2. those looking for 1 - 6 month rental periods to avoid the winter climates in their home countries.

The climate here on the Costa Tropical in the winter months is usually very pleasant - although evenings can be chilly at times.

We recently had an enquiry asking for a long term rental at a monthly rent of no more than Euros 300. If you already live on the Costa Tropical there is perhaps a chance that, for this type of money, you may e-v-e-n-t-u-a-l-l-y find yourself a rental property at this price. However, they are few and far between and what you end up living in will probably be either a room without a view, rundown or badly equipped.

If we move up a notch to the Euros 450 - 600 bracket you will find yourself a very pleasant 2/3 bedroom town or village house with terrace, perhaps free to air satellite TV channels, decent bedding and linens and generally maintenance free and well managed.

When looking for a ´villa´ or similar with garden and swimming pool then pricing becomes dependent on length of stay (often better rates for a longer winter period but pricing will go upwards if wanting to rent over the popular June - September periods).

Many people will find that if they are trying to rent for the full temporary rental period (11 months) that owners are just not interested to rent long term between June - September as this is when they can rent weekly at much higher prices.

Monthly long term rental prices do not include charges for electricity, water or gas supplies you use so remember that you will be paying these amounts on top of the rental price.

Renting properties long term also often means that pets are included in the package.  Sadly, not many property owners are happy to have pets in their homes - those ´two quiet and well trained´dogs (usually turn out to be something resembling rotweillers) might be howling into the night keeping the neighbours awake while you are out having a few drinks! However, at rentcostatropical.com we do have several houses that are available for long term rentals and that welcome pets - but not at Euros 300 per month ok!

From the Costa Tropical de Granada, a 3 hour drive takes you to Algerciras where there are plenty of boats over to Tanger. Deciding it was high time I got to see something of North Africa, even if only briefly, an overnight trip was arranged with a group of friends.

So … 3 hours in the car, left the car at the port, missed the fast ferry (1 hour journey) and ended up on the 11.30 am slow ferry (3 hours - plus the extra hour waiting for the boat to leave the dock). I should add here that the price of a one way ticket was Euros 36 - not cheap when I can get a plane from Granada to Gatwick/London for Euros 25 or so these days! The food on the boat was horrendous - take sandwiches.

A very choppy crossing as we had to pick the one day when it was chucking it down with rain. Arrived in Tanger and got to a 3 star hotel in the centre of town. I can understand the 3 star rating from the pool/garden (not that I would be swimming in the rain in November) and the reception, bar and dining areas. However …. the hotel rooms themselves terribly in need of updating and bathrooms very grotty - to the point it was nicer to visit the loos next to the bar! Price of a twin room for 2 people including breakfast and lunch - Euros 72.

Due to the lashing rain, lunch was in the hotel - not bad. A late afternoon was then spent pounding the streets. We explored all the narrow streets in the centre of town without hassle or problems and on losing our way got a taxi back to the hotel with 7 of us squeezed in - this is obviously a natural occurence - taxi already has passengers but seeing the possibility of a new fare then stops and you just pile in! Back to the bar in our soggy clothes and shoes for some well-earned g&ts! Isham the barman offered to escort us out on the town when he clocked off from the bar. Out again into the rain and a pleasant evening spent in two local bars.

Up early (sunny and warm) to explore the souk and try our hand at bartering. We came away with a bundle of goodies and tired from the haggling. Back to the ferry. Euros 41 for the fast ferry back to Algerciras - a 2 hour wait for it this time (we had been misinformed at the Algeciras end on the departure time - the timetable didn´t take into account the one hour time difference) which left us with no time for our intended quick stopoff in Gibralter for fish and chips (well, N wanted them!).

If you are thinking of an overnight trip to Tanger or for a couple of days - I wouldn´t rate it. The fun part of my trip was the company I was in - thanks girls! Tanger itself is filthy, buildings desperately in need of a lick of paint and in the final analysis it is far too expensive for what is on offer. Car park fee was an additional Euros 34.

I´ll be exploring more of northern Spain in the future.

Scooting round various websites as I do most days, I am still astounded by the poor picture quality provided by property rental owners.  Only yesterday, and this is what got me writing this post, I saw rental details showing pictures of a recently built property - the kitchen photo was just a room with wires and tubes coming out of walls - not one kitchen fitting, cupboard …. nothing! - there were 3 or 4 more photos in the same vein.  Why, I ask myself, put these photos onto websites and why do websites allow these photos?!  What is the point?  As a potential property renter would you want to rent this property for your annual 2 week holiday?  I don´t think so somehow! 

Some picture tips
1.  If a website you are going to advertise your property on says photos should be no less than 300 x 250 then pay attention!  Smaller photos sizes uploaded will look distorted and blurred.
2.  If you have a digital camera but you know no more than point and click photography - ask someone with more photo experience for assistance.  It doesn´t hurt to ask and you will find you have better quality photos for your advertising.  How about paying someone with good quality camera gear and experience to take the photos?  A wide angle lens is very useful in smaller rooms.
3.  Think about what it is a potential renter wants to see about your property - a picture of a bedroom showing the end of a bed and a window really doesn´t offer too much to the viewer - especially if the bed is unmade and there are clothes dumped in a corner on the ground! (yes, there are plenty of photos knocking around websites like these!)
4.  Think about the lighting of the photo - far too many photos on websites where no one has thought to turn on the lights and all you see is a dark room with some images of furniture in the background.
5.  Although I have always been of the opinion that photos will be the deciding factor for potential rental clients and I therefore always put as many photos as possible onto websites - you will often be asked for more.  Perhaps you haven´t shown the outside of the property sufficiently and its surroundings?  Therefore, if you advertise your property with 4 photos always have additional photos to hand to send to your potential clients.
6.  Many websites stipulate a total of 4 or 5 photos within an advertising fee - you pay more for each additional photo.  This can be expensive but if you think 6 photos will show your property off to its best advantage (and you have 6 good quality photos), then pay the additional amount. 
7.  Before taking photos, prepare your property as if you were getting it rental ready and then take the photos - give yourself plenty of time.  I know of too many owners who wait until the last minute while they are staying at their property and just before they go out of the door to the airport suddenly remember they haven´t taken photos. 

In the final analysis, if you want to rent your property well then ensure you make the time and effort to show it off to its full potential. 

And finally, don´t nick other people´s photos - there are copyright laws……

Primero fué la-madre-negra-sin-rabo. Me parió en el macetón de la entrada. Tuvos dos: una-negra-con-rabo y otro negro-con-medio-rabo.

A ella, la-gata-negra-con-rabo, le dimos anticonceptivos en su momento. El llegó a tener un problema de parálises en las patas traseras. Se desarrollaron bien. Durmieron en las casa la mayoria de los dias.

La-gata-negra-con-rabo me parió en un sillón, a pesar de los anticonceptivos, una noche en la que yo estaba sólo. Estaba muy asustada, tubo dos crías, una muerta. Tiré el cadáver y trasladé a la-gata-negra-con-rabo y a su cría a un sitio más apropiado. La-gata-negra-con-rabo, me hizopiruetas en la ventana diciéndome que no entendia aquello.

La dejé aquella noche para que se acostumbrara con su nueva situatión.

La-madre-negra-sin-rabo, que habia parido antes, se habia traídp a sus crías para acompañar a la-negra-con-rabo, e hija de la madre-negra-sin-rabo.

De pronto me encontré con un montón de gatos.

El gato-negro-con-medio-rabo, la-gata-negra-sin-rabo, la-gata-negra-con-rabo, el-gatillo-negro-con-rabo de la-gata-con-rabo y otros tres: el-gatillo-blanco-con-rabo, la-gatilla-blanca-sin-rabo y el-gatillo-negro-con-medio-rabo de la-gata negra-sin-rabo.

Los gatillos-blancos eran como siameses y los negros de meno presencia: casi escuchimizados.

El menor, el de la-gata-negra-con-rabo; el-gatillo-negro-con-rabo, se parace más a un ratón que a un gato.

Los blancos, con-rabo y sin-rabo, son los más grandes.

Tengo pedidos: el-blanco-con-rabo y el-blanco-sin-rabo de la-gata-negra-sinrabo.

¿Alguno de vosotros quiere algún negro, ya sea con-rabo o medio-rabo?

José Mª Zapata

Las Alpujarras are a very special and beautiful region of Spain, where the interrelationship of geography, ecology and history of human settlement is unique. They make a wonderful and memorable area for walking, cycling, mountain trekking or horse riding.