• A quick check around the villa upon arrival to your holiday accommodation is useful before you unpack.

• Gas boilers that are not properly maintained, and exhaust their gases back into the house, will cause carbon monoxide poisoning: a well maintained gas boiler that is properly vented is vital. A gas certificate should also be issued for gas central heating installations.

• Flexible rubber gas tubes are used in all houses that have a gas hob or a gas central heating system: these rubber tubes have an expiry date printed on them, as they last about 5 years. It is very common for people to forget to renew these tubes, which do become fatigued and can leak gas. Check the date on the tube, which you will find imprinted along the tube that connects the gas bottle to the hob. Inform the appropriate person immediately if you find the date has expired.

• It is a common practice in Spain for the washing machine to be placed in the bathroom along with the electrical connection socket, but this is dangerous as the bathroom is a wet environment and the user is likely to be wet too. The socket should be in an adjacent room, or be located in its own utility room.

• Some older villas have very low balustrades, or large gaps between the spindles that a young child can slip through, or that the balustrade is placed on the edge of the plot boundary that happens to have a 10 metre drop the other side. A good agent will have inspected and ensured that such information is in the details.

• The tiles in bathrooms and around the pool do not tend to be nonslip, as such caution should be advised, particularly if children wish to run around the pool area.

• Always ensure that an adult is present at the poolside, or that two responsible persons are present, as even 'no diving' warming signs do not necessarily prevent children from diving in. The pool depths range from 1-2 metres, so it's quite easy to dive in the shallow end and bump your head on the bottom.

• The pine tree caterpillars known as 'Thaumetopoea Pityocampa' give an allergic reaction in the form of a rash and pain if their hairs touch you or your pet. Wherever you see a white fluffy ball in a pine tree, it is their habitat. They are small but nonetheless should be avoided. The only way to kill them is to cut away that branch of the tree into a metal container and burn them.

There are many older properties that would not pass building regulation of today's standard in Spain, so do be aware of anything that does not look right for your own piece of mind.

Most owners will choose a Spanish villa name to perhaps reflect the view from the villa, or a flower or their family name. Simple, memorable and innocent, but what do you conjure up when you hear the name villa Water Music:  the sound of a nice bubbling brook or water fall perhaps.

I discovered such a villa in Moraira, that I came across, is privately advertised as Water Music at £1300 pw, although the water music  happens to be the municipal open sewage treatment works immediately next to the villa, and caters for several hundred villas. Yes, you can hear the sound of water from the villa, but you can also smell it too.

Fine if this is explained in the villa description, but misleading and unfair when it's not advised of, as is the case here.

A pukka agent would ensure a full and proper description and that disclosure is made of anything untoward, particularly an open sewage treatment plant that is next door.

Private advertisers, as in this case, can understandably be more biased about their own property: after all, it is their investment, pride and joy. Perhaps the Spanish term 'villa Aguas Residuales' would be appropriate, meaning sewage works, but then in Spanish it would be misleading too if not mentioned in the details.

In 2010 Tesco converted their Finest Platinum MasterCard to their Finest World MasterCard. Tesco's marketing giveaway of 650 points on the change effectively nearly doubled the commission charge to retailers, so it's really the retailer who actually pays for the added benefits that the card issuer gives.
A case of give on the one hand and take from another. Tesco credit card FAQ page.

Cards that carry the higher commission are as follows but not limited to;
Mastercard or Visa World
Mastercard Signia
Mastercard or Visa Corporate, Commercial, Fleet or Business.

VillaSpain makes no charge for personal credit card use, for which we encourage its use due to the financial protection it gives under the Consumer Credit Card Act of 1974, but we do charge 2% for those credit cards that are premium benefit cards, as displayed on the booking form.
There is no charge for Electron or debit cards.

@VillaSpain
Villa SpainI just signed up with Twellow, the Twitter directory. Check me out: http://t.co/yjdGUc83 47 minutes ago via Twellow · powered by @socialditto

Booking a holiday with any  organisation where you see the ABTA, ATOL and AITO symbol is no guarantee that you're financially secure;

The Guardian's article End of Travel Protection expels that myth. In addition,  ABTA was forced to withdraw from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Consumer Code of Approval Scheme, as reported by Travel Weekly - ABTA Criticised for Code of Conduct Violation.

The full code of conduct OFT report can be viewed here. The holidaymaker's financial protection ceased back in 2006, but the holidaymaker still remains mostly unaware, according to last year's Which report which found that travellers were said to have an "unwarranted trust" in the level of protection they were offered from associations such as ABTA, AITO and ATOL. http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/1/1/1/38343

They went onto report that more than two thirds (67%) wrongly assumed that if a travel company went into administration, and was a member of one of the associations, their money would be safe.

Financial protection :

We all know that sending a cheque or making a bank transfer to an individual or business for your holiday, or for anything else prepaid, offers you no security whatsoever: but when it comes to seeing well known association symbols such as ABTA and ATOL appended to brochures or websites, that have historically suggested financial protection, ones defences can be down.

There is only one way to have 100% financial protection for your holiday villa, and that comes from using your credit card, provided the sum paid is not less than £100 (not a debit or charge card like Amex or Diners Club).

Protection and full refund comes from the 1974 Consumer Credit Act (section 75), as advised here at http://www.villaspain.co.uk/aboutus.php#financialsecurity and  by Which consumer magazine here  

Not only that but you get credited immediately from your card issuer, whilst they make their refund claim against the company. A claim can be brought within 6 years (5 in Scotland), although ideally should be claimed as soon as you are aware of the company going bust.

Other European countries' banks that issue credit cards also include the same protection for the public, which means protection for all Europeans too.

Some companies make a charge for credit use, so given the straightened times we are currently in, and the more frauds and cons there are about, it is wise to pay it.

Debit and Chargeback cards:

You should also be protected even if you used a Visa debit card or Chargeback card under the Chargeback scheme, which offers similar protection to section 75.

To make a claim with any card, customers must contact their card issuer, who then contacts the company's payment-processing bank to reclaim the money. This means that even if a company goes into liquidation it is possible to reclaim money, as the claim is made against a bank, not the company.

Sometimes card issuers misunderstand section 75 and Chargeback rules and refuse a claim. Anyone in this situation should argue their case. If all else fails contact the Financial Ombudsman.

What about getting compensation for other costs or losses?

Can you claim for other losses you have incurred as a result of the failure of the company. Yes, under section 75 you must be put back in the same financial position you would have been in if the breach had not occurred. So should an airline go bust and you have to buy replacement flights that cost more than the original ones, you can also claim for the additional cost of those flights.

ATOL:

Now ATOL you can trust, but one must be aware that it applies to the flight element and not necessarily the rest of the holiday package, so you need to check that all aspects of the package are protected. Also, to be aware that it is not a fictitious company displaying the ATOL symbol fraudulently, so a quick check of the members' ATOL CAA registration number can be done on page  http://bit.ly/wGxf3c for you peace of mind.

Do note that some holidays, where the flight and accommodation are arranged or sold separately, and that is termed Dynamically Packaged, may not be ATOL protected.

Note too that booking a flight directly with any airline does not give you ATOL protection. You would think  that the £2.50 per passenger charge that is levied to the tour operator by the Air Travel Trust Fund, and administered by the CAA,  in the event a tour operator goes bust, could be included on your overall flight cost when booked direct, but no it isn't. Such a nominal sum allows you to finish your holiday and get a flight home, assuming you are abroad in the first place.

Some UK airlines do offer package holidays or flight-plus-accommodation or car hire combinations that include package holiday protection, but do require checking as to what protection you have.

What about Travel Insurance?

Some policies cover airline failure, usually by including Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI). However, many policies don't include SAFI and some insurance providers exclude particular airlines, so you need to check what the policy does cover you for.

All in all, many holidaymakers believe they are financially protected in the event of insolvency, when they are not.

What to do?

Use a credit card in all holiday, flight or holiday accommodation cases (min £100), which guarantees that all the money you paid is refunded. Should the travel agent or airline go bust whist you are away the credit card firm will refund you too and are obliged to cover any loss you incur, as the contract has not been fulfilled.

In addition, do take out travel insurance that includes SAFI, which then covers you for a host of other situations.

• Driver's license in plastic card and paper format
• Insurance document (original)
• GB sticker on bumper or a 200 Euro fine
• Vehicle registration (original) document (or rental documents), otherwise you risk car being impounded.
• Wearers of spectacles should carry a spare pair
• Fluorescent jacket (for each occupant of vehicle)
• Two warning triangles for Spain to allow for front and rear warnings.
• Spare light bulbs, even if you cannot fix them.
• Fire extinguisher (recommended)
• First-aid kit (recommended)
Speeding:
What is nice about Spain and France, apart from the usual enjoyments of being abroad, is that they pre-warn you of radar, so if you happen to be over the limit, by any chance, then at least you have been warned. The exceptions are when the police have a hand operated radar unit. One place notorious for this in Spain is on the Teruel to Zaragoza road around the turn off for Monreal del Campo (normally always under the bridge).

Winter 2011-12 Update

As we head towards winter, I expect to see the first signs of some moderate to heavy snowfalls as early as October or November in certain parts of the UK. In terms of the meteorological winter, I expect December, January, and February to experience below average temperatures, with the heaviest snowfalls occurring within the time frame of November to January across many parts of the UK.

The most important factor within our weather forecasting calculations is solar activity and other major natural factors that it influences. Radiant energy from the sun is the primary influence on both the earth's ocean and atmosphere.

Low solar activity and ocean behaviour alter atmospheric circulation and block jet stream patterns that create enhanced moisture in terms of snowfall. The UK and Ireland is hit by prolonged periods of extreme cold and snow from the Arctic regions, as cold easterlies or north-easterlies develop. Huge swirly low pressure systems also offer the potential for widespread disruption from heavy snowfall across many parts of the UK including the South, as they clash with the predominant cold air over the UK.

Coupled with other in depth factors such as recent volcanic activity and changes to the Gulf Stream/North Atlantic drift that we consider, this does not bode well for the severity of the UK and Northern European winter of 2011-12. Frequent and prolonged cold spells with heavy dumps of snow from blizzard like conditions is likely across many parts of the UK. The areas we expect to be worse hit throughout include the vast majority of Scotland and the Scottish Highlands, Northern England, and Northern Ireland. We have particular concerns as to the huge implications that this may pose to the infrastructure of the UK and Ireland transportation systems/economy.

James Madden (UK Long Range Forecaster - exactaweather.com)

Is the tenant responsible for this damage to two sun loungers, I ask?
On the face of it, yes, as it looks like they were used as a diving platform possibly by children into the pool.

The answer is no after further investigation. What has happened is that the plastic polymer resin has broken down because of sun damage, thus making the sun loungers inflexible and more brittle. The marbling effect, which looks a bit like ingrained dirt, gives an indication that the resin is breaking down.
In such cases we believe tenants should not be charged for something that they break that would have broken anyway.

Should an item break that is perfectly good and fit for purpose, then it is only fair and reasonable to the tenant to apply the ‘Betterment' legal rule. Which means if the life of say the sunlounger is 5 years when new, but is then broken after 2.5 years then the tenant is responsible for 50% of the cost of replacement and not 100%.

Key words not sure what get used, so need to use tool?
Villa damages, sun loungers, damages, fair and reasonable, betterment.

There is a large Moroccan community in Spain and every town has halal butchers, where  you could ask for advice on eating out locally at restaurants serving halal or kosher foods, as well as picking up supplies for your self-catering at one of our holiday villa rentals.
The best one in our region is in Teulada, on the ‘Avenida Santa Catalina 48', which is in the centre of town, by the town hall, near the Aquagest (water company) office. There is another in Calpe and Benissa.

There are plenty of established Indian restaurants in the area, mainly in the resorts of Moraira, Calpe, Javea and Altea, and they may be serving halal meat, so best to check.

There is a lovely family-run Lebanese restaurant in Calpe - SHADI, Tel 96 583 6464. Cabo La Nina (close to fountain by the dry river bed at the bottom of the town).

AL ZARAQ Carrreterra N332 - Calpe Tel: 96 573 1615 (on the national road, signposted, just north of Calpe). Upmarket Lebanese restaurant set within beautiful grounds overlooking Calpe. Very special, formal and abit pricey but well worth it if you are looking for something different. Tables outside in lovely gardens.

For tapas, there are a lot of seafood and vegetable tapas (tortilla, calamares, mejillones, olivas, anchoas, pulpo) - hope this does not count as halal, as they are delicious, and would think that, like kosher food, seafood is alright so long as the animal has scales (fish). Also, just tell the barman that you are allergic to pork! Happy eating.

Please let me know of your own thoughts and recommendations as we like to provide as much information as possible to our clients who enjoy renting villas from us and the joy of home from home comforts, with a bit of warmth and sun, I hope!

Lottie is just 10 weeks old and a very adorable chocolate brown Cockapoo. More Cocker Spaniel than poodle, it seems.

It has been a long time since having a dog, so updating myself on those books entitled how to bring up a dog has been absorbed.

Lottie just loves lying over your shoe to make sure she has a tag on you, as she is not keen yet on being left alone.

If you have a pet then why not take him/her with you to Spain.

Take a look at the Newsletter here for details about useful links and those villas that are pet friendly.

A simple move from existing premises nearby, though we were completely unprepared for a very long delay on the electrical connection from Iberdrolla (Spain's monopoly utility firm on electric supply).

The previous owner had allowed his electrical supply to be disconnected, which ultimately meant having to arrange for drawing up a plan of the existing premises by an independent engineer, then submit to the Town Hall for approval of change of use from an ex furniture shop and office to an office with storage: to then submit the Town Hall document and plan to Iberdrolla for approval and connection. Basically, it required 3 documents from three officials, each costing between 300 and 400 Euros, to simply get a connection from an existing meter on a previously existing shop. Has bureaucracy gone too far or is it that certain bodies are in need of some additional fees, or a bit of both, I ask? Attempts to circumvent change of use proved fruitless.

Throw in a few fiestas over the period, including Easter, and all the wonderful parades going on locally, and you find Iberdrolla is in no particular rush. Ten weeks after taking possession we now have an electricity supply. It could have been longer if it had not been the persistence from our great team in Spain, to chase Iberdrolla. All very odd as the water and telephone utility services were connected on the first day of moving, with no paperwork required.

Even the solicitor that handled the tenancy agreement could only smile at the services of Iberdrolla, so only makes me think about how lucky we are in the UK not to have to have that anymore.

Fortunately, the premises are double fronted, with huge plate glass windows giving plenty of natural light, and the supervisors were able to connect to our database for instructions on bookings from their own home computers, so no panic existed.

Benissa is on the N332 road, being the centre of our servicing area between Calpe and Denia, with just a very short drive into Moraira, so is an excellent location.

No move planned for at least 5 years, so settling in is now complete!

Why would a Spanish villa owner and villa agent  also become a member of Holiday Property Bond (HPB)?

Well, it all happened back in 1991 when an old friend recommended them to me. Attracted by interesting  old  buildings in the UK and abroad that were converted sympathetically into good quality accommodation with amenities was very much appealing, and as an advocate of self catering over hotels myself it made good sense. In fact, on many occasions I will drive and stay at their French establishments and then drive onto Spain.

Here was a professional company that knew what it was doing and was doing it very well. A wonderfully clever programme that allowed flexible use at any one of its property, regardless of location, size and time period.

HPB's attention to detail was an act I sought to achieve with VillaSpain when it started in 1994, and continue to do so.

I have only praise for HPB, though would like to explain some of the key pros and cons to people that may not be so familiar with them and the likes of similar organisations.

Pros

Flexibility;

a) You could decide the size of the accommodation on every trip yourself, be it studio, one bed 2 bed 3 bed etc, for which you only paid a user charge and not an annual maintenance fee.

b) Choose any date you want.

c) Choice of location.

Not a package type complex, but well planned accommodation surrounding  spacious grounds that are all well maintained.

On site amenities, including heated pools and tennis, and in some a  club house with billiard rooms and other games rooms.

Offers some excellent historic buildings that have been converted.

You choose whether to socialise with other HPB holders or just do your own thing.

Cons

When you invest in HPB you basically lose 25% of the value of your investment, so it is not a property investment but a holiday entitlement, though in perpetuity and can be on in your will.

User charges (non profit) are considered high by users, though the level of service at each development is high and the properties well maintained too.

Trying to juggle your allocated annual points, in order to try to avoid them being placed on a 70 day account or lost altogether if not used by a certain date. Ideal if you have  friends that you can share and swap with.

Now let's compare a bit with their non profit user charge on  villa pricing when compared to VillaSpains listed property;

HPB have 2 x 4 bedroom villas in Javea, Spain that have a no profit user charge set at £650 per week, fixed all year around.

If you compare this with VillaSpain 4 bedroom villas then you can find several stunning villas  at under £600 between 1^st October and end of May. Therefore the saving would be to make use of HPB between June and September, though you need to use 16,000 points with HPB (£1 a point cost) for a week's stay in peak period. Compare HPB Villa Margarita  http://www.hpb.co.uk/properties/  with VillaSpains Villa Nevette at page http://bit.ly/mRtQpV  . The latter having a higher spec.

Now when you compare with HPB's tenancy properties (ones that are rented but not directly owned by HPB) the differences work more in favour of VillaSpain . Take Casa Buho (HPB), which is a nice standard  3 bed with pool that will set you back £1350 pw in peak season and £615 to £1,000 pw for all other periods. Compare to Villavista with air/con at http://bit.ly/iShuDQ at just £900 pw peak or  Mirador al Sur at  http://bit.ly/jg53s3 for £1,395 with air/con, WIFI and spectacular views you will realise there are great savings and far better offerings by being independent.

Compare this with a front line spectacular villa called Villa Galesa in Javea http://bit.ly/jw1yIM at just £1,538 peak period, or the outstanding luxurious 400 square metre 4 bedroom Finca Badowa at http://bit.ly/krKBj6  under the Montgo at £795 to £1,690 peak then you would see that there are more interesting superior properties with more amenities than with HPB tenancies.  

Compare also HPB's new development  at El Pueblito de Alfaix in Almeria, whereby a 3 bed villa with pool will cost £699 per week throughout the year and over 18,000 points peak time, against higher specked villas  in the considerably more affluent Northern Costa Blanca that are nearly half that price between 1^st October and end of May. The only benefit here would be to book a HPB villa  in July and August. Alfaix is well inland and has no commercial centre, so a drive to the coast or Mojacar takes you over 17-20 mins ( 17 Kms).

Yes, there is a club house, communal heated pool, tennis, Jacuzzi, sauna and crazy golf.

In summary you are considerably better off financially to use a VillaSpain villa outside of peak summer than by taking HPB own property. You also get a greater choice of individually styled properties with Villaspain that in many cases offer a much higher spec than HPB,  since air/con, SAT subscription TV and WIFI are more common.

Holidays are to enjoy and it's good to have the mix, so I will be keeping my HPB points.

We highlighted the benefits of booking with reputable agents in our blog, Agent or owner: Why book your villa with an agent like VillaSpain?

Book villas in Spain

Pick an agent like VillaSpain and you can be confident in:

• the accuracy of the villa description
• the safety, cleanliness and suitability of your villa and pool
• expert, local support throughout your stay
• alternative accommodation if something goes wrong
• the protection offered by credit card bookings.

Not if the following example is anything to go by.

We identified two similar villas: both located in idyllic Moraira, both with heated pools, furnished to a good standard with three bedrooms and several bathrooms (our so-called rivals had two, ours had three).

Booking with VillaSpain would save holidaymakers money each and every week of the year, making a substantial saving of £10,208 over one year's worth of bookings.

Who was the competition in this example? HomeAway Holiday-Rentals, the American-owned DIY portal, allows owners to advertise their own villas. They claim customers can save up to 40% on agents' prices.

Yet, our weekly price beat theirs, each and every week, saving customers well over £500 each week at peak times in July and August. When booking for two weeks or more with VillaSpain, the savings even increase with the waiving of the single week surcharge.

Villas used in this example were:

HomeAway Holiday-Rentals' villa: three bedrooms/ two bathrooms with heated pool

VillaSpain's villa: three bedrooms/ three bathrooms with heated pool

Discrepancies can occur for a number of reasons:

• Owners tend to love their villas, understandably. But sometimes love is blind. Without an honest, professional appraisal, it can be all too easy to overvalue a property.
• There could be a ‘suck-it-and-see' approach to renting, in order to see how high prices can be pushed.
• The owner may be unperturbed if the villa remains empty, as it can be made available for family and friends.

Whatever the reason, it makes sense to book villas in Spain where location, facilities and furnishings have been assessed impartially to determine the correct market value. Look at our transparent pricing policy.

Plan your Spanish holiday now and check out our stylish, luxury villa collection. They're honestly rated and fairly priced.

How do you book your Spanish holiday? Do you book villas in Spain first? Check our cheap flights later? Or wait for late availability deals and book on impulse?

Leave your comments here.

Booking a Villa in Spain: Sunday Times Exposes Perils of DIY Portals highlighted the danger of fraud when booking villas directly with owners through DIY booking portals.

When you choose a reputable agent, you can rest assured that the villa actually exists. But what other benefits are there to having an agent on hand?

Suitable, safe villa

Why would you compromise your family's safety? Reputable agents will carry out professional inspections to check overall suitability and safety. They want you to make the right choice. That's why they're keen to point out accessibility issues and give honest appraisals of a villa's child-friendly credentials. Check that your agent insists on up-to-date gas certificates and only represents owners who comply with local and national safety regulations.

Spotlessly clean villa

Agents engage professionals for all-important changeover cleaning. You won't find friends of the owner wafting a feather duster about at the start of your holiday. It's also good to know that skilled, local help is a telephone call away in the event of a maintenance issue.

Safe, clean pool

Judging from our customer feedback, your pool will be an important feature of your holiday. Don't take chances on its upkeep. Agents use professional pool cleaners, not well-meaning, but ultimately untrained friends.

Getting pool chemicals right is critical. Get it wrong and at best, your pool will not be clean, at worst, it will have serious ramifications for your health.

Reliable support, 7 days a week

Look for agents offering support throughout your stay. You might have queries about your villa, a maintenance issue could arise or you might even need to complain.

Often, it helps to have the support of an agent, rather than having to approach the owner directly.

Access to alternative accommodation

Agents can respond to a crisis. No one wants their holiday blighted by a failure in essential services. So if your villa is plunged into darkness or cut off from the water or gas supply, you can rely on your agent to find you a comparable, alternative villa.

Equally, if the owner of an adjacent property picks the week of your holiday to start major building works, it's a comfort to know that an agent is on hand to help resolve the issue, and ultimately find you a new home, if required.

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

Owners tend to love their properties, often with good reason. But love can be blind and some owners unwittingly over-egg their descriptions.

Agents are more inclined to give an unbiased opinion and may use grading for greater transparency - some even evaluate the soft furnishings and quality of the kitchen contents. Look at villa descriptions closely and check that they reflect the photos and virtual tours accurately.

In addition, credit card bookings are widely accepted by agents, giving crucial protection and peace of mind. And if you thought that all this expert local support costs a premium, you'd be surprised. Check out our forthcoming blog to see price comparisons between agents and direct bookings. Discover deals that deliver all these benefits without costing a penny more than going direct.

Book your Moraira villa, Calpe apartment or villa in Javea with VillaSpain today. If you're spoilt for choice, call us on 01273 623723 and we'll help you find the safe, clean villa with pool of your dreams. And we'll be on hand throughout your stay.

Unsuspecting holidaymakers booked villas only to discover that the accommodation simply did not exist. Scrolling down these websites to the small print will give precious little comfort, with companies such as Holiday Home Rentals stating that it is:

‘unable to give any confirmation or guarantees regarding any of the properties advertised on its website'.

Equally chilling is the statement by HomeAway Holiday-Rentals, which denies any responsibility for:

‘the quality, safety or legality of the properties advertised, the truth or accuracy of the listings'.

HomeAway Holiday-Rentals goes on to clarify that in the event of fraud, compensation is restricted to 50 per cent of the rental, up to a maximum of £700. It's a high price to pay for being misled.

Booking with ABTA-registered agents

The article goes on to suggest that it is safer to book with ABTA-registered agents. But is this true? If you read around, you'll discover that the days of cast-iron protection from ABTA are over.

Check out what ABTA itself says in The Guardian's End of Travel Protection, The Times' Travellers ABTA Protection Under Threat and ABTA Puts One Wheel Back on a Wheel-less Car

Not only that, but ABTA had its code of conduct withdrawn by the Office of Fair Trading (read the full OFT report here). Or find out what travel industry bible Travel Weekly had to say about it in ABTA Criticised for Code of Conduct Violation

And there are certainly plenty of disenchanted holidaymakers out there. Hear what some of them have to say on the forums on:

Holiday Truths

Holiday Watchdog

Holiday Watchdog Forum

Suggesting that consumers should rely on ABTA-registered firms is confusing and flawed. Quite frankly, comments made by ABTA, and the above reports, are scary. The message is clear. In these uncertain times, any company can go into liquidation and any individual can go bankrupt. So, how do you protect your well-earned holiday?

The only answer is to pay by credit card, such as Visa or MasterCard (not a debit or charge card like Amex or Diners Club). In the event that something goes wrong, you should receive a 100 per cent refund, as advised by Which consumer magazine here

How to find hand-picked villas in Spain

Piece of mind is important when booking villas in Spain or anywhere. That's why VillaSpain does not apply a credit card surcharge when you use your personal credit card to book any of our villa Spain options. It's also why you can quiz us on each and every villa in our exclusive collection.

We offer hand-picked luxury rental villas in Spain. We inspect and rate them regularly and believe that our customers deserve expert advice they can trust.

Thinking of booking a break? Call us on 01273 623723 and put us to the test!

Let us have your views on booking villas in Spain. Leave your comments here.

Costa Blanca family fun: our top ten reasons to go

Costa Blanca weather - April/ May

The Costa Blanca has a mild year-round climate, described as one of the best in the world by the World Health Organisation, no less. You're practically guaranteed good weather with an average of 325 days of sunshine each year and temperatures around 20^oC/ 68^oF in late April and early May. Check this week's weather forecast.

Beaches

Looking for clean, well-tended beaches sloping gently into the sea for safe family swimming? Look no further. Spain boasts the highest number of blue flag beaches in the world, picking up 520 awards in 2010. Explore the Javea peninsular for long, sandy expanses and rocky coves. Perfect for family picnics or snorkeling, scuba diving and water-ski-ing attempts.

Spanish Easter celebrations

Immerse yourself in Spanish Easter celebrations. Solemn processions and mournful trumpets accompany images of Christ and Virgin Mary being carried through the streets - but it's not all sombre reflection. Each town has its own way to mark the Semana Santa (Holy Week). Pick up information from local tourist offices and find out about parades in Moraira, the Palm Sunday procession in Elche, the artisan craft fair (22-25 April) and even bull running in Javea.

Walking in Spain

Whilst family walks at home might be met with groans, get the kids to charge around the Spanish countryside and you might unearth their inner explorer. Navigate your way through well-marked paths in the fragrant Montgo mountainside. Try the circular route in and through the Sierra de Bernia.
Traverse Calpe Rock or explore wine country in the Jalon Valley.

Terra Mitica Benidorm

Terra Mitica Benidorm´s theme park serves up thrills, spills and shows in a fascinating journey through five ancient and legendary civilizations: Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iberia and The Islands. Fight side by side with Ulysses, face up to the Minotaur, and see a pirate vessel sinking. Situated on the outskirts of Benidorm, at Finestrat, it's well-signposted. www.terramiticapark.com

Terra Natura Benidorm

Terra Natura Benidorm. Close by to Terra Mitica, you'll find Terra Natura, a stunning wildlife park with 1,500 animals. Check out their night-time safaris. From late-May, take a dip in the water park, Aqua Natura, where you can plummet down water chutes or swim with sea lions. www.terranatura.com

Mundomar Benidorm

Mundomar. This animal park reopens on 27 February 2011. You'll find flamingos, turtles, sea lions, penguins, parrots, a bat cave and much more. Don't miss the spectacular dolphin shows. http://www.mundomar.es/?lang=en

Safari Aitana

Safari Aitana, near Sella. Safari Park Vergel may have closed its doors, but you can still see animals roaming freely at the Aitana Safari Park near Sella, about 33km inland from Benidorm. Drive through and get the family to spot elephants, lions and tigers. Little ones love the children's zoo and the special nursery where they raise newborn animals. Open all year, every day from 11am. http://www.safariaitana.com

Cuevas del Canelobre

Cuevas del Canelobre, near Alicante. Stun the family with nature's handiwork with a visit to the breathtaking Canelobre caves at Busot near Alicante. Check local information for details about concerts that take full advantage of the acoustics and dramatic lighting at this year-round attraction. www.cuevasdecanelobre.com

Lemon Express

Lemon Express. Take the train from Denia to Alicante. Sway and rattle through the countryside on the charming railway meandering down the coast, plunging through tunnels and over bridges. Kick back and tuck into a picnic en route before hitting the shops and sights of one of the coast's most sophisticated cities.

Keep in mind that under-3s often go free and attractions may offer cheaper entrance after 3pm. Check websites for the most up-to-date information on promotions and offers.

And remember, this area is chock-full of welcoming restaurants, cobbled towns, idyllic harbours, plentiful play areas and bustling marketplaces - just mooching about can provide endless entertainment for all the family.

Have you visited the Costa Blanca in Easter before? Where do you go for great family days out near Javea? Will you take a family holiday in Easter 2011? Let us know your top tips - email your photos and give us your top tips blog@villaspain.co.uk.

The insider guide to Las Fallas in 2011

When? 15-19 March, each year

Where? Valencia

Why? To honour St Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters

Really? Yes, but one feast day has turned into a crazy, five-day fiesta of fires.

How? It's Spain, remember.

The land that brought you bull-running in Pamplona and the world's largest food fight in Buñol (La Tomatina) brings you a pyromaniac's dream - Las Fallas in Valencia, a five-day fiesta of fires. If there's one thing Spain does exceptionally well, it's party.

Neighbourhood groups, known as casal falleros, create enormous, papier maché figurines. Creations are often satirical, always elaborate, can scale above three storeys and cost up to €600,000. Pick up a local Fallas map (from tourist offices and dotted throughout the city) for all the exhibit locations.

All but one of the creations are stuffed with fireworks and set alight at midnight on the 19 March in La Cremà (the burning). The pardoned figure is chosen by public vote and joins generations of previous fortunate favourites in the Fallas Museum.

The finalé is an ear-splitting cacophony of noise with flames appearing to engulf the city. Don't be tempted to squeeze into the front rows behind the barriers as the heat and floating embers from the towering fires routinely drive crowds back. Resourceful bomberos (firemen) are on hand to douse out-of-control fireballs. This event is not for the faint-hearted!

Looking for something more sedate? Head to the Plaza de la Virgen on the 17 and 18 March. Entire communities, including their fallera mayor (festival queen) don exquisite, traditional costume and offer flowers to a huge wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. The processions are joyful and music spills through the streets.

Accommodation for Las Fallas 2011

Accommodation is tough to find in the city, but check the virtual tours of our luxury villas for a quiet bolthole within an hour or so of the city.

Parking in Valencia

Driving? Make the most of the Valencia park & ride system. You'll find car parks and great transportation into the city from: Llíria, La Pobla de Vallbona, L'Eliana, Massarrojos, Rocafort, Empalme, València Sud, Paiporta and Seminari.

Or try parking along the Turia dry riverbed, close to parks, gardens and Valencia's major architectural highlights. In the city, find blue zones and pay at the nearest machine. Watch out for red and yellow zones (or blue signs with a yellow line through them). Park here and your car will be ticketed, clamped or towed.

Helpful links...

for accommodation away from the noise click here

for a cheap flight to Alicante, Valencia and Murcia click here

for the Las Fallas 2011 itinerary, photos and information click here

for transport information for Valencia click here

Have you been to Valencia in March? Will you be going to Las Fallas in 2011? Tell us your story, email your photos and give us your top tips. blog@villaspain.co.uk

The town of Jalon (Xaló in local Valenciano) itself is very pretty, and perhaps go there on market day on Saturday where the streets are filled with local produce, and they hold a famous antiques' market that goes on and on. If that is not enough to entice you then the many co-operatives sell locally produced wines at local prices!
Whilst there you might want to drive further to the mountain restaurant 'Coll de Rates', which has stunnings views, and an extensive outside terrace, and you can enjoy typical local mountain food.

Having booked a return flight with Ryanair UK Ltd (Gatwick-Alicante), both myself and a partner were caught up in the cancellation of the return flight due to the closure of airspace. Although not desperate to get out of Spain, the earliest date for a flight with Ryanair was two weeks away, so we simply booked with Monarch airlines on the trusty laptop for a flight leaving in 6 days. Time was not wasted with a laptop to hand.

One month after my return to the UK, Ryanair kindly refunded the return flight, but sadly would not accept my claim for compensation of a cancelled flight under (EC) Regulation No 261/2004 *(see next paragraph), and responded  by stating that any such claim should be claimed from my insurer. After submitting documents and drawing their attention to the issue and the regulation it was rejected twice, on the basis that I had chosen to use another airline to fly back to the UK, even though it mitigated further losses. Ryanair  then stated that their decision was final and further correspondence would not be entered into. I therefore sought settlement through the small claims court, which was more driven because of their tone than anything else.

*Under (EC) Regulation No 261/2004  (article 9) you are entitled to compensation for additional accommodation costs, food and travel cost between hotel or other to the airport, but Ryanair would not accept the European regulation.

Whilst it may well be unfair to airlines that claims are brought against them for circumstances beyond their control, it is incumbent upon the airline to be insured for this, or as is the case, airlines are claiming from the government for unnecessary closure of airspace for their losses. The (EC) Regulation was put in place to protect travellers that have had their flight cancelled, irrespective of cause.

Making a claim for compensation on cancellation of a flight is straightforward in most cases, but this was due to the ‘ash crisis' back in April 2010 and with Ryanair........oh dear. Ryanair are not known in the forums for being very helpful in meeting the simplest of claims, but airspace closure??? This was going to be a challenge.

To cut a long story short they kindly settled out of court with £700 out of the £800 claim.

If you ever need to communicate and take action against Ryanair, under similar circumstances, then you may well find the following helpful after issuing proceedings against them

Address, as it is not easy to find;

Ryanair UK Ltd
Satellite 3
London-Stanstead-Airport
Essex CM24 1RW

Firstly, Ryanair say they will defend the case.

Then the secretary of Ryanair UK at Stanstead will send an application to the judge stating that Ryanair UK is a dormant UK company and that it did not enter into an agreement with the Claimant.

The file then goes to the District Judge for directions, which usually results in a mediator being appointed to hear your case, which you can agree to do.

In the meantime, the Secretary of Ryanair UK will write to you asking to settle the claim and to phone him on his personal number. He will include  a notice to discontinue the claim in the letter.

The deal is about 50 Euros per person accommodation per day plus allowance of travel and food. If your claim is not excessive and falls within these boundaries then you may want to consider accepting the offer. If not then let the secretary submit your claim to Ireland for further consideration.

The secretary then confirms the offer in writing to you.

You then send a letter of acceptance and withdrawal of the case.

Many have been successful suing Ryanair in Ireland, for which many Forums advise that it only costs about 15 Euros to do, so you could try that.

Ryanair Holdings PLC
Ryanair Corporate Headquarters,
Dublin Airport,
Dublin,
Co Dublin,
Ireland

To my understanding, if you took off or landed in the UK; then a UK court has jurisdiction, and the applicant can choose where to start the claim.

The moral of the story is do not be put off making a claim, particularly as there is an EC regulation that supports such a claim.

It is a pity that some companies are simply unreasonable and in this case downright difficult.

Hope the above is helpful to those who have or may have a similar experience in the future with an airline.

www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/travel/Holidays/article500875.ece 

If you missed our Newsletter about a villa price comparison of one of our villas against the same one with Europe’s largest rental operator then (click here ). You will then know, having a holiday in one of our villas is the best value by far, leaving you lots more money to enjoy your holiday with. One of my joys is eating out in a lovely restaurant and enjoying some of the great boutique bodega wines of the region, which are modern and unlike the oaky Rioja wines altogether....simply delicious and well priced. 

Tips;

If you fancy a night in and do not want to BBQ or cook then a great alternative to home cooking and eating out is to go to the local rotisserie shops, which are located in every town. They sell the most delicious juicy chicken, rabbit, lamb or beef that is all well prepared with fresh herbs, and can be accompanied with cooked side dishes too, so a takeaway feast can be just the perfect inexpensive solution when compared to buying the meats uncooked from the supermarket. 

I purchased some fresh squid from Mercadona’s (big supermarket chain) fish counter but found when grilling it that it would not singe and brown and released just clouded water content, so clearly impregnated with too much water. Having then on another day repeated the exercise but buying the squid from the local lovely fish market in Morraira it would singe and tasted wholly wonderful, just like they do at Pisces, my favourite fish restaurant.  Going to the local fish market in any town is the best and most interesting option too.When you choose the fish just say Limpia, which means to clean and they clean it for you ready to cook. 2-3 mins on the BBQ or griddle and some oleoil (mayo and garlic) and one is well with the world, along with a nice rose wine  

Want to woo your loved one? Book now to secure a hip hideaway for Valentine's Day. We've got so many villas guaranteed to melt hearts, you won't want to restrict romance to February.

Cosy up for a long weekend, a leisurely week or longer still. Check out our villas in Javea, Moraira villas and apartments in Calpe. Whether you prefer flamboyant fiestas or non-stop siestas, we've researched ways to create the ultimate break.

Top tips for romantic trips to Spain

1. Find the perfect location
For most of us, a trip for two involves seclusion, a drop of nature and utter relaxation. Pick the Jávea peninsula. No distance from Alicante or Valencia airport, it's blessed with authentic Spanish villages, glorious beaches, stunning scenery and easy access to cosmopolitan cities.

2. Meander through food markets
Before you batten down the hatches, saunter down to Jávea's indoor market in the old town and stock up on gourmet treats. Fill your basket whilst wandering around this impressive gothic building next to the Church of San Bartolomé. Head to the port for the freshest fish imaginable.

3. Lazy lunch
Enjoy a leisurely lunch. Duck into a pavement café at any of the pretty coastal towns. Eat, drink, people-watch and soak up the relaxed vibe. Tuck into spectacular seafood at restaurants throughout the area. Check out our restaurant recommendations.

4. Chill out by the pool
Head back to your villa, shut the doors on the outside world and enjoy peace and tranquility. Loll by the pool, drink in the views and drift away. Check our at a glance villa list for hand picked hideaway havens.

5. Valencia city break
We'll always have... Valencia. When you've had enough of your John and Yoko-style love-in, hightail it to Valencia. Packed with sackloads of style, it's the city with broad appeal.

Tuck into paella (after all, Valencia is its birthplace) and knock back Agua de Valencia (a close cousin of buck's fizz, using those ubiquitous Valencian oranges and local cava).

In March, join Las Fallas, a five-day festival of flames and fire. Marvel at the giant papier-maché figures (ninots). One ninot is saved from the flames by popular vote each year – visit the Museum of Las Fallas to see these spell-binding creations. Pyromania not your thing? Visit the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias for the breathtakingly futuristic architecture and overwhelming choice of cultural enrichment - opera, cinema, museums and Europe's largest aquarium, it's all here.

6. Scenery and sunsets
Wedged between the Montgó nature reserve and the deep blue sea, this area has knockout scenery and sunsets. Take countryside strolls, amble arm-in-arm on sandy beaches or picnic in rocky coves.

Go on. Book a trip soon. Win their heart. But be prepared to leave yours in Spain.

What are your top tips for romantic breaks on the Costa Blanca? Where are your best places in Valencia? Email stories and pictures of your favourite way to spend a Spanish holiday to blog@villaspain.co.uk

Read more

One such delight is Cala Ambola, a small gravel cove approx 300 meters, located south of Cabo de la Nao, along the coast of Javea, within the province of Alicante. A pleasant unspoilt bay with beautiful crystal clear water and from this charming beach you can see beautiful landscapes such as the small islet of the Discoverer. Cala Ambola is one of the best nudist beaches in the province of Alicante, perfect for those seeking a little peace of mind while enjoying the nature. It is also very good for diving, as it houses some beautiful seabed.

For holidaymakers who don't want to see “that much” scenery, try Cala Granadella a lovely cove with pebbles and rocks with gentle waves which make swimming a pleasure and a Blue Flag status guaranteeing its water quality and services. This cove is ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling.

There are many more beautiful coves of all sizes to be explored, some off the beaten track that make you feel like its your own personal beach.

There are 2 sandy beaches, the larger one in Moraira itself and El Portet, a small bay, which are both blue flag awarded. You know the photos you see of restaurants right by the shoreline, or on a cliff looking across the sea and you know they are going to be expensive because of the location. Well here you can do that and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. There are lots of bars and restaurants in Moraira dotted along the coast. La Bona Taula, is just 1.5km along the Calpe road from Moraira offers fantastic food and amazing views over the bay. Another favourite is Le Dauphin in El Portet. Delicious food with spectacular sea views. You have to book if you want to sit outside as those tables are very popular as you can imagine. If you love seafood then the restaurant Piscis is the one to try. Stunning glass panels go around the inside of this excellent fish restaurant. Perfectly cooked fish and a free glass of cava for all guests. Our favourite dish sepia a la plancha and shared between 2 (cost 14 € for 2). Monkfish (rape) in green pepper sauce at around 21€. Also try the cocktail bar called Upperclub at the yacht club in Moraira, fantastic views, nice music and great cocktails. There are a variety of restaurants that are good quality and affordable.

This area and the surrounding areas are steeped in history so plenty to see there too. We visited Guadalest , which was amazing. It’s a castle on a mountain and it really was like time stood still.

Costa Blanca Golf Courses, Theme Parks, Water Sports, Cycling, Hiking, Rock Climbing …. The list goes on and on. I always stay in a Moraira villa and always book with Villaspain. They rent apartments too but I would go for a villa as you have your own space and privacy, which you appreciate after being out all day. Their page on things to do helped me plan our trip and also their customer forums had  a lot of personal reviews on Costa Blanca. 

Posted by Jack Grogan

Thank you Villaspain

Posted by Kath Burton

Downstairs there is an outdoor pool, great for doing lengths, but adjoining it is a wonderful covered heated pool/Jacuzzi with almost a dozen water jets. We had such fun swimming around it turning on the jets to massage various parts of our anatomy. Calpe beach is fabulous sandy and slopes gently into the sea.

If you walk along the beach to old Calpe you pass the fishing port and in front of it are half a dozen or so fish restaurants where all the fresh catch of the day is laid out on trays, so once you have picked a restaurant you can select a fish. The old town of Calpe is an artists paradise, and many buildings have wonderful frescos painted on their outside walls depicting the battles between the Christians and the Moors amongst other things. In earlier times Calpe was the haunt of Ernest Hemmingway and today still boasts some great restaurants and has a certain glamour about it. For that very special occasion, I suggest you go up the coast to Benidorm Palace, possibly the best cabaret restaurant in Europe. You can get tickets and a coach to take you there from the neighboring hotel, and although it is mass catering, the food and wine, which is all included in the ticket price is good value. We will certainly be returning and may try a Calpe villa holiday next time.

Posted by Diana Jarvis, London

It's easy to claim your discount, just enter ALLSEATS into the discount code box when you make a booking and watch the price drop in the running total. Don't miss out - book by midnight Thursday!

Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding day of Friday 29 April is set to spark a holiday booking spree as the date adds a fourth UK public holiday in the space of two weeks during 2011.

Next year's Easter holidays (Good Friday 22 April and Easter Monday 25 April) and the Early May Bank Holiday (Monday 2 May) were already expected to create a surge in bookings as employees make the most of the extra days available in quick succession.

With the addition of a public holiday on Friday 29 April for the royal wedding, it means that a typical employee finishing work on Thursday 21 April can take just three days holiday allowance and not return until Tuesday 3 May. Alternatively, a break beginning on Saturday 16 April will use up just seven days holiday to last until Tuesday 3 May.
Check out our availability page showing a calendar view of which villas are available over the two month period in 2011.

If you are looking for a present for someone special, VillaSpain Holiday Gift Vouchers provide the answer. Buy a voucher here to mark that special occasion, from anniversaries to weddings, retirements, Christmas or birthdays.

Remember, book a short break with us in 2011 and get a £50 voucher towards your Summer 2011 holiday. Go on, get away more.

What are your top tips for gifts, and what would you like to receive? Is your room 101 crammed with unwanted gifts, and do you like the idea of providing your loved ones the ease of buying you the perfect useful present?
Email your views to blog@villaspain.co.uk

Be canny about Christmas gifts for your loved one. Book them a short break on the Costa Blanca – and they might take you too. With VillaSpain, you can rent a villa in Javea, a bolthole in Moraira or an apartment in Calpe for just three days between 1 October and the end of June. Combine it with a city break to max the fun.

Check out our villas in Javea, Moraira villas and apartments in Calpe.

Here are our top tips for an Alicante short break:

What to do in Alicante

Sample the delights of this vibrant town before heading up the coast. With lush parks, golden beaches and pulse-racing retail therapy, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

Don’t miss the stunning contemporary art gallery – the Museo de Arte De Siglo XX La Asegurada – for your fix of Picasso, Dali, Bacon and Miro. Hit the mountain-top for a glorious view of the city from the formidable Castillo de Santa Barbara.

Shop ‘til you drop for butter-soft leather bags, ceramics and wicker baskets. Kick back with cocktails and traditional tapas at city hotspot, the über-cool but relaxed Senzone Rooftop Terrace.

What to do in Denia

Had your fill of the fast life? Head up the coast to Denia. Drive by all means, but take the train if you want to up your eco-friendly credentials (and save money!). You’ll be rewarded by breathtaking scenery and a stress-free, leisurely journey.

Settle into your villa, plunge into the pool and relax. Indulge in watersports – the rocky coves to the south are ideal for scuba-diving – or head up the coast and take your pick from the best beaches on the Costa Blanca. Amble through the rainbow-coloured houses of the Old Quarter and tuck into paella by the port.

You’ll be surprised how much (or how little!) you can pack into a short break.

Remember. Book a short break with us in 2011 and get a £50 voucher towards your Summer 2011 holiday. Go on, get away more.

What are your top tips for short breaks on the Costa Blanca? Where do you go for sightseeing in Alicante? Which is your favourite beach near Denia?
Email stories and pictures of your favourite way to spend a Spanish long weekend to blog@villaspain.co.uk

Ditch the commercial frenzy in Britain. Celebrate Christmas in Spain - Spanish style. With deeply religious foundations, there are breathtaking church services, elaborate nativity scenes and a genuine family feel. And some fabulous Christmas holiday deals.

But don't imagine a country bound by staid, austere tradition. You'll find it hard to match the number and range of spectacular fiestas spilling onto the streets of Javea, Denia, Moraira and Calpe this season.

Spanish Christmas traditions

Get in the mood with a visit to the Nativity Scene Museum (Museo de Belenes) in Alicante. This quirky little treasure trove on Calle San Augustin houses hundreds of nativity scenes and figures from around the world.

Christmas Eve/ Nochebuena - 24 December

For everyone
Follow the sound of the church bells at midnight summoning you to the local church for the Misa de Gallo, the Mass of the Rooster. Join in the raucous revelry on the route home as churchgoers sing and make music in the street.

Christmas Day/ Día de Navidad - 25 December

For families
Relax at your luxury villa, sipping cava beside the pool whilst lunch cooks. Rent villas in Javea, Moraira or Calpe for a great escape. Visit Benidorm if access to non-stop entertainment is more your style.

Holy Innocents/ Día de los Santos Inocentes- 28 December

For jokers
Watch out for pranks on this day! Youngsters light bonfires and order villagers to carry out civic duties such as sweeping the streets. Anyone refusing to comply must pay a fine, handily funding the celebration.

New Year's Eve/ Nochevieja - 31 December

For youngsters
The party tends to start at midnight and go on until sunrise. Street parties abound. Tradition has it that wearing new, red underwear brings good luck, as does eating twelve grapes as each chime for midnight strikes.

The calvalcade/ La Cabalgata - 5 January

Three Kings day or Epiphany/ Los Reyes Magos - 6 January

For children
Processions snake through on the evening before the Epiphany and three wise men in sumptuous costumes throw sweets to wide-eyed children and crowds lining the streets. Children wake the next morning to discover their shoes crammed with presents.

Christmas holiday deals

The good news? Christmas getaways are incredibly good value. Find cheap flights and book your villa now. Let the celebrations begin!

Have you enjoyed celebrating Christmas in Spain on the Costa Blanca or discovered any other Spain Christmas traditions? Email stories and pictures of your favourite Spain Christmas to blog@villaspain.co.uk