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When you decide to visit Alicante for holidays or move to Alicante to live there we would like to remind you that the county of Alicante has a great selection of fine restaurants to take dinner.
There are various restaurants with different styles and regional kitchens. On the map above you will find the restaurants in Alicante that are known for their fine kitchen.
Their fame is based on the well known dishes created with the finest products from the area.

There are lots of products with a denominacíon de origen: the packed grapes of Vinalopó, the medlars of Callosa, cherries from the mountains of Alicante, the ñoras or round peppers of Guardamar, honey from the Marina Alta, red gamba´s from Denia, echinoids of the coast of Alicante, dates from Elche, fresh goat & sheep cheese from La Nucia and oranges and lemons from the Vega Baja.
Also something not to forget is the nougat (turron) from Jijona, the chocolate from Villa Joyosa and the ice cream and soft drinks from Ibi.

In the restaurant, let yourself be carried away by the local kitchen and ask if you want a good wine from the region: there are white, and sweet red wines that correspond to the three officially recognized appellations of origin in the Valencia region: Alicante, Utiel - Requena and Valencia. Modern sweet muscatel from Marina Alta with its international reputation. To accompany your desserts, ask for a Fondillon. You will not regret it.

ByTheSea has various nice homes for rent and for sale in the county of Alicante for both the holiday maker as the ones planning to come and live in Spain. The houses are situated in both coastal region as the beautiful inland of the county of Alicante.

Mountainhiking in Alicante

The mountain hiking sport is one of the healthiest sports. Mountain Hiking in Alicante enables you to see the wonderful nature of the Alicante province from another side through mountain paths, b-roads and old cattle tracks. The only thing you need is a couple of solid shoes, easy clothes, a backpack or bag for some food and water.
Do not forget to take the sun cream because even on a cloudy day in Alicante, you can burn easely.
In Spain, the marked paths as the Pequeno Recorrido, short routes (PR), routes of 10 to 50 km long. Some have a length less than 10 km if there is a lot of height or a difficult piece inside. The walking tours will take an average of 1-2 days. The routes are indicated by means of poles with horizontal white and yellow stripes.

In Alicante, there are several mountain hiking routes (PR Pequeno Recorrido) in or near the towns: Agres, Banyeres de Mariola, Benasau, Benifato, Biar, Bigastro, Callosa de Segura, Castalla, Castell de Guadalest, Cocentaina, Confrides, Crevillent, Denia, Elda, Finestrat, Guardamar del Segura, Ibi, Xixona, L’Alfàs del Pi, Pego, Petrer, Polop, Quatretondeta and Sella.

The interior of the Costa Blanca is one of the most beautiful environments of the Mediterranean part of Spain. The landscapes, valleys and mountain areas,
with mountains up to 1500 meters, canyons, caves, archaeological sites, castles, old farms, fortreses, churches, palaces and public use buildings as: irrigation ditches, waterreserves and public laundry facilities that you can see or visit during a trip.

A mountain walk in the Costa Blanca region in Spain is a beautiful experience and we recommend everybody to try this.
ByTheSea has several holiday homes available for rent or for sale in this region. We are more then happy to inform you about the rental and sales possibilities.

Source: Wikipedia and Costablanca.org

Photo: Nuberu_na

Senderismo en Alicante

El senderismo es una de las actividades deportivas más sanas. Practicar senderismo en Alicante te permite un acercamiento al medio natural y conocer mejor nuestro patrimonio a través de senderos, caminos vecinales y cañadas reales. Sólo se necesitan un buen par de botas, ropa cómoda, mochila o bolso para llevar provisiones y agua. No hay que olvidar la crema protectora. El sol puede producir quemaduras, incluso si el día está nublado en Alicante.

En España, los senderos balizados como de Pequeño Recorrido (PR) son rutas de senderismo que tienen una distancia comprendida entre los 10 y los 50 km de distancia. En ocasiones puede tener menos de 10 km debido al desnivel, dificultad, etc. Se tarda una o dos jornadas en caminar sobre ellos. Están señalizados con marcas horizontales de pintura blanca y amarilla.

En Alicante existen varias rutas de senderismo (senderos de pequeño recorrido) en las localidades de Agres, Banyeres de Mariola, Benasau, Benifato, Biar, Bigastro, Callosa de Segura, Castalla, Castell de Guadalest, Cocentaina, Confrides, Crevillent, Denia, Elda, Finestrat, Guardamar del Segura, Ibi, Xixona, L’Alfàs del Pi, Pego, Petrer, Polop, Quatretondeta y Sella.

El interior de la Costa Blanca es uno de los entornos con mayor belleza y encanto del Mediterráneo español. Sus paisajes, valles y zonas de montaña (que pueden llegar hasta los 1.500 m.), barrancos, cuevas, yacimientos arqueológicos, castillos, fortalezas, iglesias, palacios y construcciones populares como las masías, riu-raus, neveros, acequias, aljibes o lavaderos pueden hacer de una excursión de un día una experiencia muy agradable.
ByTheSea tiene varias viviendas y apartamentos disponibles en Alicante y Murcia en alquiler para disfrutar sus vacaciones practicando senderismo en la Costa Blanca.

Fuentes: wikipedia y costablanca.org

Foto: nuberu_na

Golf in Alicante, Murcia and the Costa Blanca

There are a lot of possibilities to improve your swing in the county of Alicante or Murcia. Golf is a sport that you can easily practice at any age as your can choose the intensity that you wish. To enjoy playing golf in the region of the Costa Blanca is really easy as there are many golf courses to choose from, in most cases on just 15 minutes driving away. Playing golf helps to regulate overweight, increases the insulin regulation (advisable for diabetics), influenced favourably by reducing the rate of triglyceride´s. Practising the golf sport can help to normalize the high blood pressure, playing golf reduces smoking and helps to control the risk of hart problems.

Particularly in the case of the women, with the threat of osteoporosis or decalcification of the bones, the practice of golf can have a important meaning.

In ByTheSea we are very happy to offer our customers villas, bungalows, apartments and properties near the most important golf courses in our area.

Links:
Golf courses in Murcia
Golf Courses in Alicante
Other golf courses

Info: laverdad.es
Photo: kevindooley

Your own property in Spain

Which cost you have to take in account when you are an owner of a property in Spain?

Just like in every country also in Spain you will have to pay monthly cost like water, electricity and taxes. We of ByTheSea housing and services get a lot of questions from clients asking us to make a calculation of the monthly and yearly cost that they can expect as owner of a house in Spain.

ByTheSea can help you with setting up a direct debit with for instance the water company, provide you with a quote of one of the insurance company´s that we work with and our solicitor can assist you with the annual tax return. We arrange tax return for both residents as home owners that only use their house as a second home.

In you want to make an appointment you can always send us an e-mail on info@bythesea.es.

•    Payment of the community fees:
This payment is usually done each year or half year, the easiest way to pay this to set up a direct debit for this. The amount is somewhat between 300,-€ and 550,-€ per year. This amount varies per urbanization depending of, for example, the amount of gardens, street lights and swimming pools.
•    Electricity bill:
In Spain the electricity is paid for each 2 or 3 months, this depending on the region. The best way to pay the electric bill is to give the electricity company a direct debit.
•    Water bill:
The water company will send you an invoice each 2 or 3 months, this depending on the region. The water in the cost area of Spain is a little bit more expensive than in most countries, this due to the low rainfall. The easiest way is to set up a direct debit for the water company.
•    Home and content insurance:
Obligatory for each house in Spain a home insurance, the cost depend on the size, the area and the construction. An average price is for a duplex with 2 bedrooms near Alicante is 250,-€ per year. A content insurance, depending on your wishes, the size, etc. will be around 200,-€ per year

TAXES, LOCAL AND STATE:
•    I.B.I. (Impuestos sobre Bienes Inmuebles):
Counicil taxes, to pay each year in September/October. The amount depends on the county where the house is and the value of the house. For this payment the easiest is a direct debit.
An average price for a duplex 2 bedroom house near Alicante is around 250,-€ per year,
•    Renta non-residentes (Tax for non residents):
As a home owner of a second home in Spain you will have to pay wealth and income tax over this house to the Spanish tax office. The amount that you will have to pay depends on the value of the house. This tax is due to be paid each year before the 31th of December.
•    Fiscale representation:
As a home owner of a second home in Spain it is advisable to contract a Spanish solicitor as your fiscal representative in Spain. He will then calculate your yearly tax and arrange the payments on your behalf and will be available for any other difficulties that you might have on this subject. The cost of this service is 139,20€ per year.
•    Monthly property check of your Spanish property:
Advisable for every homeowner that is not using his house all around. This service secures you of someone checking your property monthly using a checklist reporting all damages, advisable repairs and further things out of order. Beside that, all window will opened for ventilation, all taps will opened to check their condition and to flush the drainage system, lights bulbs will be checked and the air conditioner will be switched on to see if it is still cooling.
When damage is noticed a report will be send with an solution or advise and when needed with a breakdown of the expected repair cost included in the report. When the damage is something that is covered by the home insurance in most cases the company taking out the property check can act on your behalf. When you ask the company to act on your behalf or to supervise repair works normally the working hours will be invoiced to you, the fee is mostly between 17,-€ and 25,-€ per hour. The cost for a monthly check are mostly calculated per year and the price will be around 250,-€ a year depeding on the size and the location of the property.
On the Costa Blanca a company that offeres this service is ByTheSea housing & services.

Elche

The city of Elche is in a truly privileged location. 20 kilometres from Alicante and 50 kilometres from Murcia, it is in a strategic position forming, together with other nearby towns, the southern axis of the Mediterranean Arc, a district that boasts great dynamism in both demographic and economic terms.

Elche is in an area with good land, sea and air communications. El Altet International Airport is located within its boundaries and it is also close to the provincial capital’s sea port. Road communications are also good, linking it to the Mediterranean toll motorways and the motorway to Madrid, while the rail links will soon include a station for the AVE high speed train.

The Palm Grove (better known as Palmeral de Elche in Spanish, or as Palmerar d’Elx in Valencian) it’s an orchard of over 200,000 palm trees that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000.

The Mystery Play of Elx (better known as Misteri d’Elx, in Valencian) is a sacral-lyrical medieval drama, dated from the 15th century, which was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2002. It is played every year in mid August, in the context of the local holidays dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary. Also as a part of this celebration, on the 13th of August is the date of a celebration in Elche/Elx called Nit de l’Albà (Night of the Dawn) in which a city-wide night-long show of fireworks takes place.

Elche is a nice place for living. Part of the municipality is coastal but the main city is some 15 km (9.5 miles) from the Mediterranean Sea. According to the 2006 census, Elche has a population of approximately 220,000 inhabitants (called il·licitans in Valencian and ilicitanos in Spanish), ranking as the third most populated city in the Valencian Community and the second within the Alicante province. A small creek called Vinalopó flows through the city splitting it in two parts.

Best link: www.turismedelx.com

If there is something you want to know, but can’t find on our website, just send us an e-mail with your questions and we will give you an adequate answer as soon as possible.

e-mail: info@bythesea.es

Photo: Adriano Agulló

Summer festivals in Alicante

Enjoy this summer with the musical and cultural performances by the sea with:

Most Wanted Comics; Alborada, featuring the Municipal Symphonic Band; KOOL & THE GANG; Noa; The Ten Tenors; Sara Baras; María Isabel; Yllana: “Brokers”; Cristina Llorente; SolarSon: Cuban Dance and Percussion.

More info: www.alicanteturismo.com

Alicante Castle

A seagull on the top of one of the towers of Alicante castle, two years ago.

Photo: andrewcparnell

La Noria Murcia Outlet

La Noria Murcia Outlet Shopping is on the A7 exit 658 (the road to Andalusia) in La Ñora. It will offer the public brand names at discounts of between 30 and 70 percent. There will be 55 shops, including Levi’s, Nike, Dockers, Desigual, Miss Sixty, Mango and Women’s Secret. The centre will also have a gymnasium and 3 restaurants.

Opening times will be 10am to 10 pm Monday to Saturday. Website: www.lanoriaoutlet.es.

People moving to Spain may be helped by reading the following tips and advice extracted from Euroresidentes website.

Look for guarantees before buying a house in Spain. Spanish law require people who sell properties to “give honesty” to people who buy them. In other words, purchasers can (and should) always claim all the land registration guaranties and proof of payment of all outstanding debts before the operation is completed in front of a Spanish Notary. Never go through with any purchase unless you obtain the legal certificate, which proves such payments. Once again, you should be advised by a good Spanish lawyer. And research the areas you plan to buy in. Ask us, in ByTheSea we can help you buying property in Spain and we advise you so you know what you are dealing with.

Take into account all the expenses which arise from living in Spain These include the following:

* Monthly, termly or yearly community charge which changes depending on the quota fixed by your comunidad de propietarios which, in turn, depends on where the property is and how much care its upkeep and maintenance requires. Quotas are paid to your property’s Administrador de Fincas.
* Water, electricity and phone bills, payable every two months, usually through the bank account so open an account with one of the many Spanish banks offering services to foreign clients on your arrival or even before you move.
* Yearly property taxes and rates in Spain, payable to the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento).
* Any professional fees paid to the consultancy that sorts ourt your paper work (lawyer fees).
* School fees if you are going to send your child to an international school in Spain.
* Domestic expenses - cleaners in Spain charge an hourly rate of between 7 - 10 euros per hour and are relatively easy to find.

You’ll see that we can assist you on selling or buying a house, a mortgage, letting it, rent a house, on contracts, legal documents and more.

If there is something you want to know, but can’t find on our website, just send us an e-mail with your questions and we will give you an adequate answer as soon as possible.

e-mail: info@bythesea.es
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Photo: popsique