As Britons prepare for their sunshine holidays over the Easter break, with millions more busy planning their summer getaway, a survey conducted by leading online travel agent On the Beach has revealed that whilst 67% of holidaymakers consider themselves confident swimmers, almost a third (31%) won´t swim in the sea!

• 23% of British holidaymakers are scared to swim in the sea (On the Beach)
• 45% of those avoiding the sea prefer the swimming pool instead (On the Beach) 
• 70% of Costa Blanca second home seekers desire a swimming pool (Kyero)

Indeed, the survey also revealed that almost half (45%) of those that stay well clear of the deep blue say they prefer to swim in their hotel pool, whilst almost a quarter (23%) say they are scared of swimming in the sea.

Of course, this spells great news for owners of properties in frontline locations with swimming pools in top European getaway destinations such as Spain.

Recent findings from leading online Spanish property portal Kyero.com has suggested, unsurprisingly, that a swimming pool is a huge priority for those looking for a property in Spain, with a whopping 70% looking for homes with pools in the Costa Blanca alone!

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey España, comments,

“It comes as no surprise that swimming pools are popular with second home buyers. A swimming pool is sand-free, contains no dangerous currents, you can go back to your property within seconds and with Taylor Wimpey España properties the pool can only be used by residents, so is far more private and exclusive than the beach.

“Demand for second homes with both communal pools and direct beach access remains especially high which is why we are very excited to be able to offer a range of high quality beach homes on some of the most spectacular shorelines in the country including the Costa Blanca.”

Indeed for homebuyers looking for a place in the sun, most will find that their money stretches further today in Spain due to the strengthening of the Pound against the Euro. Incredible property bargains are to be had such as 3 bedroom townhouses in established areas of the Costa Blanca available from just €145,000 – many thousands below the asking price for similar property in the UK.

Those who are thinking about making a Spanish property purchase this year, would do well to take a look at what Taylor Wimpey España has to offer.

Brisas de Alenda Golf is a beautiful residential development offering three-bedroom townhouses with generous private gardens, communal swimming pool, clubhouse, gym, bar and restaurant, all available from just €145,000 + VAT.

Designed to optimize the light and the space with the best finishes and facilities, the Brisas de Alenda townhouses enjoy a peaceful location adjacent to the Alenda Golf Course, while the wonderful beaches of the Costa Blanca are a mere 15 minute drive away.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visitwww.taylorwimpeyspain.com. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 0034 971 70 69 72.

A record number of tourists travelled to Spain last month – January 2014 – with 3.1 million foreigners making their way to the country, a rise of 12.3 per cent on the previous highest-ever figure of 2.9 million, seen in January 2008.

Interestingly, the sharpest rise in foreign holidaymakers were the French with a year-on-year increase of 19.5 per cent, according to the survey Tourist Movements across Borders released last week by the ministry of industry, energy and tourism (FRONTUR).

Whilst British nationals were once again the most prevalent visitors to Spain in January, accounting for 32.8 per cent of tourists from abroad, nearly 553,000 travellers and 9.2 per cent more than last January.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey España comments,

“Ranked the third most popular tourist destination in the world, Spain remains a resilient holiday destination, popular with foreign travellers whatever the market conditions. The record number of tourists welcomed in January 2014 continues the positive trend in arrivals witnessed in 2013 when a record 60.66 million arrived on Spanish shores.

“Indeed in line with growth in tourism so too we have seen growth in the second home market in Spain over the last 12 months. The introduction of new and expanded air routes such as EasyJet increasing the number of flights it operates from Germany to destinations such as Alicante this year, is a real sign of confidence, both from FTSE 100 companies and individuals alike, in the market.

“The Costa Blanca in particular is one Spanish destination that has performed very well on the property front, offering one of the most famous coastlines and climates. We only may be two months in but here at Taylor Wimpey España, we have experienced a great start to 2014 with a recorded growth of 300% throughout Feb compared to the same month last year  in the Costa Blanca already.”

Dissecting the FRONTUR survey data further, it reveals that package holidays accounted for 28.5 per cent of travellers in January, 11.9 per cent more than last year, whilst the remaining 71.5 per cent opted for a ´DIY´ trip, representing a rise of 12.5 per cent on January 2013.

So for those looking to ‘Do It Yourself’ and purchase your own slice of the Spanish sunshine, why not check out what Taylor Wimpey España has to offer?

Brisas de Alenda Golf is a beautiful residential development on the Costa Blanca offering 3 bedroom townhouses with generous private gardens, communal swimming pool and a club house as well as a gym, bar and restaurant all available from just €145,000 + VAT.

Designed to optimize the light and the space with the best finishes and facilities, the Brisas de Alenda townhouses enjoy a peaceful location adjacent to the Alenda Golf Course while the wonderful white sands of the Costa Blanca are a mere 15 minute drive away.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 0034 971 70 69 72.

Global jetsetters planning their journeys to Spain will see even more options open up in 2014 as the airline industry launches new routes and increases the frequency of flights to the world’s third most visited tourist destination.

• Air Europa plans thrice weekly direct service between Madrid and Abu Dhabi from late 2014
• In addition to thrice weekly non-stop flights from Miami to Madrid from August
• Emirates launches new A380 service from Dubai to Barcelona
• Air China to open second route to Spain in May 2014
• Norwegian plans new direct service to Malaga and Alicante from three German cities

The United Arab Emirates´ flag carrier Etihad Airways and Spanish airline Air Europa have signed a codeshare agreement which will see both carriers significantly enhance access to and from Spain, the UAE and destinations across the globe.

As part of its effort to increase travel to Spain, Air Europa plans to commence a thrice weekly direct service between Madrid and Abu Dhabi from late 2014.

This news is welcomed by Taylor Wimpey España who are happy to hear that their Middle Eastern clients will have a greater selection of routes available to Spain’s glorious Mediterranean destinations such as the Costa Blanca on the east coast this winter with Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of the leading Spanish builder commenting,

“Historically it hasn’t always been easy to fly direct from the Middle East to Spain which is unfortunate considering the popularity of the Spanish market but now with this new codeshare agreement and thrice weekly direct service to the capital, both holidaymakers and property owners alike can enjoy easier and more flexible access to our wonderful nation.”

In addition Emirates has just launched the first regular A380 service with daily flights from Dubai to Barcelona and Air China will open its second route to Spain in May 2014 with a four-times-weekly Beijing-Barcelona service via Vienna, further boosting air connections to the Far East.

Looking west across the Pond, Air Europa will commence a new thrice weekly non-stop flight on the popular Miami to Madrid route from August this year whilst closer to home Scandinavian budget airline Norwegian is planning a string of new routes between Hamburg, Cologne and Munich and Malaga and Alicante.

So with Spain even more accessible in 2014, why not make your stay more permanent and own your own place in the sun with Taylor Wimpey España?

Montesol is a fabulous residential complex situated in one of the best areas of the Costa Blanca, Calpe “Maryvilla”, an area characterised by its tranquillity and panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea.
These 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhouses offer gardens for those all-important barbeques, a large sun terrace, air conditioning and hydro-massage bath. With a price tag of just €252,000, this development is a perfect investment, destined to attract savvy buyers from all over the world.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com . If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 0034 971 70 69 72.

According to official statistics from the College of Technical Architects and Surveyors of Alicante, activity in the construction sector, which suffered a significant slump after reaching record highs during the boom years, has begun to show signs of recovery, returning to levels witnessed at the beginning of the crash in 2008.

• 362% increase in Alicante housing construction in 2013 (College of Technical Architects and Surveyors of Alicante)
• 11,501 home sales in Q3 2013 (Department of Infrastructure Development for Statistics)
•  32.4% of homes in Spain acquired by foreign residents (Q3 2013)

Indeed Alicante alone ended the year 2013 with 2,037 new dwellings, a staggering 362% increase in housing construction in the area compared to 2012.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España, operational in Alicante, comments,

In a forecast published jointly by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC, the weight of international capital is leading investors to turn to recovering markets such as Spain in 2014. The report states that the Iberian nation undergone an “extraordinary turnaround in sentiment” with 67% of respondents slightly or strongly agreeing that there are now “good buying opportunities” in Spain.

• 67% agree there are good buying opportunities in Spain (PWC  Emerging Trends in Real Estate report Europe 2014)
• The price of housing in Spain increased 0.8% in Q3 2013 (Eurostat)
• Taylor Wimpey España reports best year for sales since 2006 

Investor confidence has also been further boosted by data published by the EU’s statistical office, Eurostat which reveals that the price of housing in Spain recorded an increase of 0.8% in Q3 2013 compared to the previous three months, when it had fallen by eight tenths.

Spain announced earlier this week that it had retaken the number three spot in world tourism in 2013, overtaking China by welcoming a record 60.6 million international visitors. The sun drenched Mediterranean country now only stands behind France with 83 million international tourist arrivals and the United States with 67 million according to the World Tourism Organisation.

• Spain overtakes China to coveted third global position (WTO)
• Iberian nation welcomed record 60.6 million international visitors in 2013
• 2013 the best year in terms of sales since 2006 reports Taylor Wimpey España

Indeed, foreign tourist arrivals surged by 5.6% in the year according to the Spanish national statistics group FRONTUR, adding almost 11% to the country’s total GDP and remaining a key driver of economic recovery.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España comments,

“There are numerous reasons why Spain still ranks top of the list for holidaymakers. For Brits the easy to reach reliable good weather plays a big part, swapping grey clouds for blue skies and the strength of the pound against the euro means that visitors can get more for their money which has no doubt aided the increase in people snapping up attractive deals on hotel accommodation and rental properties.

“We at Taylor Wimpey España have seen this increase of tourists translate directly into the holiday real estate market. 2013 has been the best year in terms of sales since 2006 with both frontline and inland projects performing very well. We currently do not have any stock properties on the Costa del Sol and only 18 in total on Mallorca and the Costa Blanca.

“Whilst this is of course impressive, I do not however think that we have seen a complete turnaround in the market. The fact that Spain has decided to exit its EU bailout is a sign of real progress and a step in the right direction. Indeed if our 2013 sales volumes are anything to go by, 2014 is looking like a very promising year for the Spanish second homes market.”

For those looking to grab a slice of Spanish life, the expert team at Taylor Wimpey España are more than willing to lend a hand offering up an array of high quality properties in popular locations across Spain.

One of the most famous coastlines in Spain, the Costa Blanca attracts millions of visitors each year and is traditionally a favourite destination for foreign buyers drawn to the clear blue waters, miles of golden sandy beaches, quaint villages, sophisticated cafes and restaurants and an abundance of historical, cultural and leisure activities.

Why not take a look at what Taylor Wimpey España has to offer in this beautiful region?

The brand new La Vila Paradís apartments enjoy a stunning location in Villajoyosa, on the beachfront with direct access to Paraíso beach. The complex has a pool, private parking and communal gardens. The penthouses include basement parking and storage.

These apartments have 2 or 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and boast wonderful views over the Paraíso Beach, the sea, the pool and private gardens of the development.

For more information about this exciting new frontline development priced from €259,500 + VAT please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com  for more information. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call +34 971 70 69 72.

The latest data from Spain’s leading house builder, Taylor Wimpey España, suggests that 2013 saw the end of the pain in the Spanish property market with a substantial increase in enquiries by foreign buyers last year compared to 2012.

In addition to an increase in traditional British buyer interest, enquiry levels rose markedly during 2013 with a staggering increase from Middle Eastern buyers topping the list, with Belgians following in second place, and Italian, Swiss and Russian purchasers all showing an increased amount of activity, boosting overall property sales throughout last year illustrating just how broad the appeal of owning a home in Spain is.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey de España comments:

“Obviously in this current climate we are delighted with the 2013 enquiry rate. Buyers are aware that prices have realigned from 2009 and this is having an impact on purchasing confidence.

“Secondly, buyers from non-EU countries have become more prominent on the Spanish property market throughout the last 12 months, looking to take full advantage of the new golden visa law set to come into play later this year, enabling Spanish residency for purchases of property over €500,000.

“Here at Taylor Wimpey España we have already seen a huge influx of Russian and Middle Eastern buyers and we predict an even bigger increase throughout 2014 with the potential of newly affluent Asian buyers following suit as their wealth swells and the Chinese government steps up a three-year campaign to cool home prices. We also expect buyers from those EU countries which have not been so badly hit by the global downturn such as Germany, Norway, Sweden and Denmark to continue to push Spanish property sales up this year.”

Meeting demand from both EU and non-EU buyers, Taylor Wimpey de España is continuing to release high quality new developments to the market. The Costa Blanca market is proving particularly buoyant at present and is the perfect place in the sun for your dream Spanish getaway.

Indeed, according to data provided by the Spanish Institution of the Government Infrastructure (EIGE), the region continues to lead in home sales to foreigners grabbing 32% of the total sales volume across Spain making the newly released Taylor Wimpey España apartments in the region in high demand.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bathers and take a look before the world descends on Spain!

The Calpesolresidential complex is situated in the small tourist town of Calpe, in a desirable, peaceful spot only 5 minutes from the beach. It consists of properties boasting 3 bedrooms, cloakroom, 2 bathrooms, terrace, private garden and also benefit from outdoor parking, all for just €168,000.

Located one hour from Valencia and 35 minutes from Alicante, these beautiful homes, located in a scenic beach side valley surrounded by mountain landscape, offering various activities such as water sports and golf, are mot to be missed!

For more information contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com for more information. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call +34 971 70 69 72.

It´s that time of year again: the return to normal life after a long Christmas break filled with festive madness. The days may be short, grey and cold but there´s no better time of year to plan your escape to sunnier climes.