• Spain pulls in record tourist spending of €56,374 million (Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism)
• Spanish economy to grow 2.4% in 2015 (Funcas)
• Luxurious Costa Blanca properties from €142,000 (Taylor Wimpey España)

Tourism in Spain contributed 11.7% to the economy in 2013, according to the latest data from Market Research Reports, with total tourism output reaching €191.5 billion. And as 2014 draws to a close it looks certain that those figures will be pushed even higher thanks to a record-breaking year.

“It’s been a fantastic year for Spain,” comments Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director for leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, the Iberian arm of the UK’s Taylor Wimpey, which has just re-entered the FTSE 100.

“We’ve seen resorts across the country receive record numbers of visitors, with the lure of Spanish sunshine tempting many to come here for their holidays. One of the great things about Spain is its mass appeal – whether for singletons, couples, families or retirees, Spain has something to offer everyone.”

One of the country’s most popular areas is the Costa Blanca, where Taylor Wimpey España’s La Vila Paradis offers luxurious apartments with a communal pool and stunning beachfront location from as little as €229,500. Excellent restaurants, beautiful beaches and glorious sunshine abound in the area, helping to drive up visitor numbers over the course of the year.

Those looking for even better value for money will be wowed by La Recoleta, where two bedroom apartments just a few metres from the beach can be picked up for an astonishing €142,000. Sea views, private gardens and a communal pool perfect the development.

Nationally, tourism had an excellent year. Overnight stays at Spanish hotels were up 5.1% in October compared with the year before, reaching a total of 26.2 million according to the latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism reported record tourist spending of €56,374 million between January and October.

“There’s a feeling here that while 2014 has been good, 2015 is going to be great,” Pritchard continues. “Spain still has some way to go in sorting out its finances, but there is much more of a feeling of positivity about the economy than there was this time last year.”

Indeed, the latest projections from the Foundation of Savings Banks (Funcas) show the economy as growing by 2.4% in 2015, an increase on the previous estimate. The global reduction in the cost of oil is cited as one of the key reasons, as it lowers production costs and increases the money available to individual Spanish families.

Those overseas will be feeling the same effects and for many 2015 may well be the time to invest in that much-longed-for second home in the sunshine. Those looking outside of mainland Spain will find some wonderful property options on the sun-kissed island of Mallorca. One of the best is Taylor Wimpey España’s Cala Magrana III development, with two bedroom properties packed with designer fixtures and fittings available from €230,000. The site includes a lovely communal garden with swimming pool and is just 600 m from Cala Anguila beach, with golf courses and Porto Cristo marina also nearby.

As the New Year rolls in and the excesses of Christmas make way for planning and preparing for the new year ahead, many will be thinking wishfully of a week or two in the sunshine – and Spain will no doubt be top of many wish lists. With visitor numbers and spending already on an upward trend, it looks like the future of the tourism industry in Spain could be bright indeed.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

• Key-ready holiday properties with 5% cash discount for festive buyers (Taylor Wimpey España)
• UK residents spent 611.5 million nights overseas in 2013 (ONS)
• Spain is UK’s favourite destination, attracting 11.7 million visitors last year (ONS)

When you’re a kid, Christmas is packed with the promise of sleigh bells in the snow, feasting on chocolate and the wonderment of seeing that Santa has delivered the presents when you wake up on Christmas morning. As a teenager, it’s a time for no school and for asking your parents for over-priced goods that you wouldn’t normally get. When you become a parent, it’s about making it perfect for the little ones and starting the cycle again.

But what about those whose children are past the age of believing in Father Christmas or even so grown up that they have flown the nest? While the holiday period is still full of excitement, it can be tricky to find the perfect gift after so many previous Christmases (and birthdays!) of having done just that.

All is not lost though. This year, Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, has the ultimate Christmas gift in mind – a second home in Spain. He comments,

“Surprising your partner and family with a Christmas gift on this scale has to be the ultimate present! You’re giving them the gift of years of happy holidays and memories to come. I’m not sure there’s anything to top that. The towns along the coast here are twinkling with Christmas lights and all manner of festive events are planned to run from now through until the New Year.”

Spain is the UK’s favourite travel destination, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), with 11.7 million visits last year (an increase of 5.8% over the 2012 figure). In mainland Spain, on the Costa Blanca, Taylor Wimpey España’s La Vila Paradis – Villajoyosa resort is offering festive purchasers a discounted price of €225,000 for its well thought out two bedroom apartments. The gated development boasts swimming pools, communal gardens and stunning sea views over Paraiso beach.

Alternatively, on the Balearic Island of Mallorca, the Cala Magrana III development has key-ready apartments from just €230,000, with a 5% cash discount for any buyer who legally completes before the end of the year. Porto Cristo marina, Cala Anguila beach and some of Mallorca’s best golf courses are all close to these contemporary apartments.

ONS figures show that visits abroad by UK residents increased by 3.5% in 2013 over the previous year, with 611.5 million nights spent overseas. Why not pick up the ultimate Christmas gift this year by buying a house in Spain and push this figure even higher in 2015?

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

• “Comfort, quality and the exquisite aesthetic” are the order of the day
• Outdoor furniture more important than indoor for sun-kissed locations
• Taylor Wimpey España takes care of the furnishings so that buyers can relax from the moment they arrive

Dressing a property to wow potential buyers is a skilled art. Mirrors need to be strategically placed in order to maximise light while avoiding glare. Pictures need to complement the colour scheme while remaining neutral in order to suit a wide range of tastes. The sofa needs to have just the right number of cushions to show how delightfully comfortable it will be the moment the viewer sits down.

While it’s true that those viewing a property are buying it based on its location and other fixed attributes such as the number of rooms and the layout, the way that it is dressed can have a massive impact.

When it comes to dressing show properties for new developments, particularly those overseas that will be bought as second homes, the design becomes even more important. As Spain’s leading homebuilder, Taylor Wimpey España is well aware of the importance of dressing a property for success. Sales and Marketing Director Marc Pritchard comments,

“For many of those interested in buying a second home in Spain, first impressions are everything. They need to walk through the door of the property and get ‘the feeling’ straight away; to know that the property is perfect for them.”

With construction beginning on the company’s new Miraval development this month, Taylor Wimpey España’s Costa del Sol designer, Ana García, will once more be hard at work. The first phase of the development consists of 27 two and three-bedroom apartments, along with a large communal swimming pool and prettily landscaped gardens. Prices start at €240,000.

As with all Taylor Wimpey España’s properties, Miraval has been designed with outdoor living very much in mind. For many purchasers, outdoor furniture is even more important than indoor furniture, as their intention is to spend as much time outdoors as possible. As plans for Miraval’s furniture begin to take shape, we pinned down the Taylor Wimpey España designer to find out her top tips for furnishing a second home overseas.

What are the three key points you keep in mind when furnishing a Taylor Wimpey España apartment?

Comfort, quality and the exquisite aesthetic. I ensure that there is an affinity between the interior and the exterior qualities of the individual apartments and the building as a whole, so that the furnishings complement the design of the development.

How important is the interior design of an apartment in attracting a buyer, compared with the build quality, communal areas and location?

The importance of the interior design is huge. The key to it is to make each apartment different, reflecting in each one the personal taste of each individual and granting them the comfort that they demand for their lifestyle.

Do holiday home owners and full-time residents differ in what they want when furnishing a new apartment?

Yes. The most common difference between them is that the long-stay resident usually demands more functional furniture, whereas holiday home owners may opt for something more stylish and exciting. This is because furniture in a home that is used all the time will undergo more stress than furniture in home that is used part-time, so it needs to be more durable while still looking fantastic.

Which is your favourite room to furnish in an apartment and why?

For me, each room is important as the others when we are furnishing and garnishing. However, I do make a point of taking special care of the areas where the purchasers are going to spend the most time, like the living room and the terrace.

Is there anything else we should know about the role that interior design plays in selling Taylor Wimpey España apartments?

Our experience of dealing with foreigners who are buying property in Spain has shown us that it takes some time for them to get to know an area, which can make it hard for them to find everything they might need to buy for their new home. We try to solve this problem by meeting as many of their needs in advance as possible. That way they can enjoy their holidays without having to worry about where they might be able to buy tablemats or pillow cases!

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

• Spanish life expectancy higher than in the UK (WHO)
• Spain tops list of retirement destinations for Brits (MGM Advantage)
• 5% cash discount on retirement properties on Mallorca (Taylor Wimpey España)

The Foreign Office estimates that some 800,000 Brits live in Spain for all or part of each year. The number of those residing permanently is uncertain but best estimates put the figure as being somewhere between 250,000 and 400,000 people.

Spain’s attractions as a retirement destination are clear for all to see, as Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, observes,

“The Spanish lifestyle is hugely appealing to those who have lived and worked all their lives in the UK. The warmth of the Spanish sun, the beautiful beaches and the laidback way of life are a world away from the prospect of retirement in the UK.

“The low cost of living in Spain is also a draw. Quite simply, retirees can get more for their money here in Spain as their pensions stretch further. From food to property, pensioners can take advantage of lower prices in order to indulge in a level of luxury that retirement in the UK would preclude.”

Spain’s proximity to the UK also makes it a popular destination for those looking to enjoy their retirement in the sunshine. Short flight times and cheap fares make it easy for family members to visit, meaning that retirees don’t need to feel isolated from their loved ones just because they have moved overseas.

Those retiring to Spain can even enjoy increased life expectancy, with World Health Organization data showing life expectancy in Spain as 82 years, as opposed to 81 in the United Kingdom.

The global economic downturn briefly impacted on Spain’s popularity as a retirement destination for Brits, but the latest MGM Advantage survey has shown that the Iberian country has regained the top spot, with 13% of the 2,000 Britons who were polled voting for sunny Spain as their retirement destination of choice.

It’s not just mainland Spain that is proving such an attractive destination for pensioners, but also the Spanish islands. Mallorca, where retirees can pick up stunning key-ready properties at Taylor Wimpey España’s Cala Magrana III development from just €230,000, is. With communal pool and lush gardens, the site offers buyers contemporary accommodation with easy access to both the beach and Mallorca’s excellent golfing facilities.

As a special offer, Taylor Wimpey España will apply a 5% cash discount to any buyer who completes their purchase at Cala Magrana III before 31 December 2014, giving those who dream of picking up the ultimate overseas retirement property this side of Christmas an added incentive.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

• Dutch travellers took 2.79 holidays per person during 2013 (NBTC-NIPO)
• Dutch property buyers show largest increase of any nationality (Taylor Wimpey España)
• Mallorca clocks up more than double the sunshine hours of the Netherlands (Weather Online)

A perennially popular choice with Dutch tourists, Spain has been in the top five countries that the Dutch choose to spend their holidays in for years. In 2013, it was the fourth most popular destination, according a report from NBTC-NIPO Research. The report states that Dutch travellers undertook an average of 2.79 holidays per person during 2013, spending a total of €15.5 billion.

While the majority of Dutch travellers chose hotels or motels as their holiday accommodation, the NBTC-NIPO figures reveal that a significant proportion (21%) stayed in a holiday cottage or private home instead. The data correlates with the findings of market leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, as the company’s Sales and Marketing Director Marc Pritchard observes,

“Our cumulative October 2014 data shows that the largest increase in purchases of our holiday homes across Spain is from Dutch buyers. Experience has shown us that buyers from the Netherlands are looking for high quality accommodation with luxury touches. Balconies, gardens and roof terraces are all popular with Dutch buyers, as are facilities such as communal pools and landscaped gardens, which all Taylor Wimpey España developments feature.”

The Taylor Wimpey España data also shows a significant increase in sales of properties located on the sun-drenched Balearic island of Mallorca, where the new Cala Anguila II development is already proving extremely popular. Prices for the two bedroom apartments begin at €242,000 and all benefit from the development’s direct beach access. Meanwhile the company’s Cala Magrana III development has key-ready properties available at a special price of €230,000, for buyers who want to complete their purchase in time for Christmas.

Flights from Holland to Spain can be purchased at bargain prices thanks to budget airlines, making visits to the Iberian nation excellent value for Dutch owners of holiday homes. The short flight time is no doubt another plus for those looking to own a second home in the sun.

Mallorca is a particularly attractive location for the health-conscious Dutch, thanks to its extensive coastline and the wide range of water sports available. Those looking for active holidays can enjoy everything from stand up paddling to kite surfing. Those wishing for slightly less intensive activity can enjoy Mallorca’s fantastic golf courses, taking in a round or two under the delightfully warm winter sun.

Of course Mallorca is also the perfect location for holidaymakers who want to do little other than sunbathe, enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace and let the sea breeze refresh their spirits. According to Weather Online, Mallorca during the winter months enjoys more than double the number of average daily sunshine hours that the Netherlands does, making it an extremely tempting destination for buyers looking to swap their scarves for suntans and enjoy some winter sun.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

• 1.7 million over 60s in UK live in poor quality housing (IPPR North)
• Dream Spanish retirement properties from €262,000 (Taylor Wimpey España)
• Spanish Government actively courting over 55s

With 95% of the UK’s housing stock not fully accessible for older people, according to IPPR North, it’s perhaps unsurprising that increasing numbers of individuals are setting their sights on overseas properties in which to spend their golden years.

Spain is an extremely popular choice of both holiday and retirement destination for UK citizens. The reliably warm weather and low cost of living are perfectly suited to pensioners looking to make their budgets stretch further while escaping the English rain, whether for a week or a lifetime. As the IPPR North report projects that households of over-65s are set to grow dramatically over the next decade, while the number of over 85s is set to increase even more (by 33%) it looks like Spain’s charms will be appreciated by a growing number of older people over the years ahead.

Spain’s modern, accessible transport infrastructure and the easy access that its numerous airports provide to the UK make it an even more attractive destination for older people. It’s a fact that is certainly appreciated by the Spanish Government’s Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, which in collaboration with SEGITTUR has announced the delivery of the 2014/2015 Europe Senior Tourism Program. The initiative sets out to court travellers aged 55 and above from with the EU, tempting them to choose Spain for their holidays and benefit from the low price tag that the country is able to offer.

The increase in silver travel will include many of those considering settling on Spain as a retirement destination. Leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España is one company that’s ahead of the game when it comes to offering high end properties as holiday homes that can in time become full-time accommodation. Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director, explains,

“Many of our buyers are looking for holiday homes right now but with a view to one day living in them permanently, once they retire. They are seeking high quality homes on developments that provide them with luxuries they don’t have in the UK, like swimming pools and balconies on which to enjoy the sun. We bear all of this in mind when we begin a new development, so that our apartments and townhouses appeal to buyers of all ages.

“All of our developments are compliant with the latest European building regulations, meaning they include wheelchair-friendly access and lifts. Our Costa Beach development in Mallorca’s Port Vell, for example, has two properties in the second phase that have been built with wheelchair users in mind, with wider doors and adapted bathrooms.”

Prices at Costa Beach begin from as little as €262,000.

The IPPR North report goes on to state that there are already 1.7 million people in the UK over the age of 60 who are living in houses that do not meet the UK Government’s Decent Homes Standard. Add to this the dismal UK winter weather and is it any wonder that so many retirees are turning to Spain to live the dream during their golden years?

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.

• Only 16% of shoppers prepared to pay full price (Statistics Brain)
• Costa Blanca apartment discount drops price to just €249k (Taylor Wimpey España)
• 25% of all personal spending takes place during Christmas season (Statistics Brain)

The end of this month will see Americans hit the stores in a shopping frenzy as Black Friday – the day when the Christmas shopping season officially begins – sees stores across the country offer impressive discounts in order to kick start the traditional holiday spend-a-thon.

According to Statistic Brain, a staggering 25% of all personal spending in the US takes place during the Christmas shopping period, with Black Friday 2013 seeing total spending of $57.4 billion. However, that doesn’t mean that shoppers are prepared to spend money without careful thought – the same research showed that just 16% of shoppers were prepared to pay full price for their purchases.

Indeed the popularity of Black Friday has meant that it is now being embraced by more and more UK shops most notably, supermarket chain Asda, who offered discounts across its stores on 29 November 2013. The result was astonishing, with the retailer reporting a month’s worth of televisions sold in just 45 minutes! Across the week, sales were up 400% on the year before.

With shoppers becoming evermore savvy in their hunt for discounts and bargains, the range of products on offer has increased hugely. Even holiday homes can now be purchased at discounted rates by those who shop around.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, comments,

“Often those buying homes overseas can benefit from one-time offers and discounts if they buy in the right location at the right time. Our La Vila Paradis development, for example, has an offer currently on one of the remaining three apartments, which will see the price reduced from €265,000 to €249,000 if legal completion takes place before the end of the year.”

La Vila Paradis is a contemporary beachfront development in the Costa Blanca, with direct access to Villajoyosa beach, just 20 minutes from Alicante. Two and three bedroom apartments feature high spec interiors, with well thought-out layouts that ensure beautiful views over the Paraíso Beach and sea. The gated development includes swimming pools, prettily designed communal gardens and private parking. Three bedroom townhouses are also available, starting at €359,000.

With the unusually warm autumn weather in the UK about to give way to winter, many are looking to fight off the cold by holidaying overseas. For those who love Spain and visit frequently, a second home makes excellent financial sense, particularly when it can be bought at a discounted rate. Thanks to Taylor Wimpey España’s La Vila Paradis promotion, a second home overseas might not have to wait to be added to Santa’s list this year, as smart shoppers look to bag their bargain well before the year ends.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.