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Earlier this week (20^th October 2011) Costa del Sol was named by the Post Office as the best value-for-money destination for families in 2011, and it’s easy to see why. The survey looked at 10 common purchases across 12 popular destinations before ascertaining that despite a 15% price rise throughout Spain that Costa del Sol was still the cheapest European destination.

So aside from the price, what is it that makes Costa del Sol such a tourist hot-spot with Brits? Not to overuse a cliché but this area of Spain really does offer something for everyone; from sandy beaches and an active nightlife to historic castles and old cobbled towns, the Costa del Sol has it all. There are so many activities and sights to take in within Costa del Sol that it wouldn’t be practical to list them all, so here is a collection of activities you may like.  Read more »

Here in Southern Spain the school summer holidays are nearly upon us, starting near the end of June and will last for almost 3 months. Right now, children and parents alike are looking forward to taking a break from work or house chores and relaxing in the summer heat with a refreshing iced drink.

I can see you dreaming now… how wonderful it will be not to have to leave the house so early in the morning to take the children to school, and how snuggly the bed will be if you get the chance of a lie in. Yes. Perfect, peaceful bliss…for a while.

However, three months can turn out to be a veeeeery long time, with boredom setting in quite quickly when active and inquisitive children are cooped up in the house and have no activities planned to fill in the void.

I’ve taken the liberty of writing a little boredom-free guide, full of information and activities for the parents who are truly stuck for what to do with their children during the seemingly endless break, when the pool at the urbanization just isn’t cutting the mustard anymore… or even for parents who are bringing their children on holiday during the summer from other countries, and are unaware of activities outside of the hotel grounds.  Read more »

With September, and the start of a new school term just around the corner, what better time could there be for parents to research into private schooling in Marbella?

Two new schools from The British Schools Network are being opened in Spain during the next month, they are “The British School of Marbella” and “The British School of Navarra” The British Schools Network is one of the largest and most famous networks of British International schools in the world.

“What about the economic crisis?” I hear you say. Michael Elms, the Groups Development Manager, implies this is not an issue and was quoted as saying “Despite the current economic crisis, we believe that a quality proposition will eventually succeed in Spain; a market that has all too often been satisfied with schools that merely teach in English”.

“Is it worth sending my child to a private school?” is the question on every parent’s mind. However, unless you’re fabulously wealthy, this is a decision not to be taken lightly. Read more »

Considerations are many when planning a family holiday; are there adequate facilities to keep the children and yourselves entertained? Is the resort/hotel you are staying in close enough to the attractions? Will the children get bored while they are there? Is there enough places to go and visit close-by? After you have overcome these hurdles, your next decision should be what method of transport you will use on your travels that will cater for your family’s needs and suit your holiday best. Package holidays are still a popular choice for many families, due to the fact that specialist companies often have decades of experience in catering for families. On arrival at the airport you will find your transfers are all arranged and all you have to do is get on the coach and be taken to your hotel. If you are of a more independent mindset and have organised your trip off your own back, you may have opted for a taxi to get you to your accommodation for the night or will have already arranged car hire. Read more »