The COSTA ESURI Blog

2007-07-09T11:20:00.000+00:00

I'm moving this blog over to a WordPress platform at CostaEsuri-Spain.

Please visit the new site and bookmark that page / sign up for the RSS feed as I will not be posting here any more.

The new blog will be updated very soon with pages for photographs. property for holiday lets etc.

Thank you for your patience in the meantime and, of course, your loyalty.

Mark

Monte Rei Golf

2007-07-02T20:25:00.000+00:00

For those with a desire to play the best courses Monte Rei is a very short trip across the border into Portugal.

2 Championship Courses - the first now open and the second still in design stage.

Jack Nicklaus designed, Monte Rei features 5 beautiful blue lakes and over 7,200 yards of glorious golf set amongst the dramatic hills of the Eastern Algarve.

Although certainly not cheap at (currently) euros 150 a round, for any serious golfer a round at this prestigious club must be a high priority when staying at Costa Esuri.

For full details visit the impressive website - Monte Rei - but note that a handicap certificate is required - maximum 24 for men and 32 for ladies and soft spikes must be worn. Mind you, I can't imagine a hacker wishing to pay that level of green fee!

Clubs are available for hire and a brilliant club house awaits after the golf.

jack nicklaus monte rei monte rei golf monte rei golf course

Lost in Belfast

2007-07-02T07:50:00.000+00:00

I don't know if any of you are from Belfast but regardless I thought I would see if I can help a friend of mine raise awareness of a site he has created to help people who have gone missing.

Obviously, the Madeleine McCann story has brought this into the public eye recently but it's sad to say this is not an isolated occurrence.

If you know anyone from Northern Ireland please refer them to Lost Without You
( http://www.lost-without-you.info/ )

Discounted flights to Spain & Portugal

2007-06-29T10:27:00.000+00:00

Monarch have slashed fares to Spain & Portugal by up to 75% for flights booked before 5th July.

If you've been sitting on the fence nows the time to jump to Monarch Airlines

discount airfares spain cheap flights portugal cheap flights to spain

Early Summer Huelva Province

2007-06-28T08:55:00.001+00:00

I had to drive to IKEA in Seville on Monday (I know how to spend my time in Spain!) and was absolutely taken by the motorway,

No, I've not taken leave of my senses. More used to grey skies, endless traffic and the concrete of the M25 in England I was amazed that virtually every kilometre of the central reservation between Ayamonte & Seville was covered with pink and white flowering bushes (I think they're called Kalmia). The fields of Sun Flowers are in full bloom and the Pelican's nesting on telegraph poles added to the interest. The hour's drive passed very quickly.

On the return journey, however, my peace was shattered by a loud rumbling from a puncture! Unpacking a fully laden boot to access the spare wheel was not fun but at least I managed to crawl to a service station just outside Seville rather than unloading everything at the side of the motorway!

Costa Esuri Golf Clubhouse

2007-06-28T08:41:00.000+00:00

The new clubhouse is now fully built, pained and ready to open but...

Still awaiting the necessary licence, which has been promised for weeks. I'm told they are hopeful it will open by end of June. We'll see!!

In the meantime, I have to say I'm impressed with the temporary clubhouse - food is pretty good and sitting on the terrace in the warm evening sunshine last night made me remember why I bought here!

When the new clubhouse does open the temporary one will be moved to course two to be replaced by a more extensive driving range.

At the moment a twilight deal (after 4pm) of euros 40 is available. Bearing in mind it doesn't get dark until long after 9pm and the course is still very quiet I think this is great value. Clubs are available at euros 20 so 2 or 3 rounds a cheap would be cheaper than paying to bring your own clubs from UK.

Costa Esuri Photos

2007-06-18T12:46:00.000+00:00

I'll be in Costa Esuri next week and should have some up to date photos to post by the end of next week. Sign up to the feed so as not to miss them or remember to stop by next week.

Costa Esuri Squidoo Lens

2007-06-18T12:41:00.000+00:00

Regular readers will know that I created a Squidoo Lens about Costa Esuri back in February.

Today if you search Google using "Costa Esuri" it ranks number 11 out of 73,500 sites using that search term.

I’d dearly love to see this site at number one on Google - and you could help.

Please go over to the Costa Esuri Lens - rate it 5 stars by clicking on the “Your Rating” stars at the top. Then go to the Guestbook at the bottom of the page and add a comment with a link back to your site or blog.

When you’ve done that I’ll add you to my lensroll if you have a Squidoo Lens or visit your blog and add it as a favourite increasing it’s visibility.

Thanks in advance.

Costa de la Luz Green Fees

2007-06-11T14:50:00.000+00:00

I've just added a link on the Costa Esuri Lens to a site providing current Costa de la Luz Green Fees and offering good discounts if booking via them.

For example current Costa Esuri Green Fees are 65 € but Golf Links are offering a discounted rate of 52 €

Just go to the lens and scroll down the page to:

"Costa de la Luz & Portuguese Algarve Golf Courses "

Monarch Airline Discounts

2007-05-24T16:59:00.000+00:00

Monarch are offering up to 50% discounts on flights BUT only if booked before Tuesday 29th May so not much time.

Flights include Gatwick or Luton to Faro - here's the Monarch Site

Costa de la Luz Beaches

2007-05-15T13:36:00.000+00:00

I've just loaded a new section on the Costa Esuri lens detailing the best beaches in the area.

Here's the map and for information on each beach take a look at the Costa Esuri Squidoo Lens

CLICK THE MAP FOR A ZOOMED IN VIEW

Madeleine McCann

2007-05-12T13:36:00.000+00:00

I received this email today and thought it should be posted here...

On behalf of Kate and Gerry McCann and all the family, please help us
find Madeleine.

Madeleine, age 3, was abducted from her bed in the family holiday
apartment, Praia De Luz,

Algarve

Portugal

on Thursday, 3rd May.

Police and all of

Portugal

are trying to find her. The Portuguese
people, holiday makers and ex pats have been a great support to the
family and continue their efforts.

You, too can help. Please circulate this plea to publicise Madeleine's
photo and ask for information, no matter how small to be passed on to
the authorities.

Whether you are in the

Portugal

, Europe or beyond, please forward to
all your family, friends,colleagues and business associates.
Someone out there will have some information that will lead to Maddy's
return.

The internet can be a powerful tool in finding Maddy, who is so loved
and missed by us all.

Let's use it positively.

Please pray for Madeleine and all the family at this devastating time.

We need your help. We know you won't let Maddy down.

God bless,

Pat Perkins
(Family Friend)

Easy Jet Discounts

2007-05-10T07:22:00.000+00:00

EASY JET are again promoting big discounts on flights - need to fly by end of July.

If you are thinking of a visit could be a good time to book.

Monarch Airlines Discounts

2007-03-09T13:52:00.000+00:00

Monarch has just announced its biggest ever sale for flights booked before 13th March - including travel over Easter.

If you are thinking of a Costa Esuri visit in the near future it could be a good time to book your flight:

Monarch Airlines

Mark

Spanish Algarve and Eastern Algarve Golf Courses

2007-03-06T20:35:00.000+00:00

I've just added a new section to the Costa Esuri lens at Squidoo with a listing of the golf courses within easy reach of Costa Esuri.

There's a short write up plus a link to the websites.

If you've recently played any of these courses I'd love to hear from you - leave your comment in the Guestbook at the COSTA ESURI SQUIDOO LENS

eastern algarve golf
spanish algarve golf
spanish golf
spanish golf courses
costa de la luz golf courses

Costa Esuri at Squidoo

2007-03-05T10:17:00.000+00:00

I've just built a "lens" at Squidoo and I'll be really grateful if you could take a look and add links to any Costa Esuri (or Costa de la Luz) related sites that will be useful to other readers.

I'm thinking of good restaurants, local attractions, suppliers etc.

For those of you not familiar with Squidoo it's a great way of creating a simple "website" based on a theme, like Costa Esuri. No knowledge of any programming is required, everything is pre-formatted - you simply add your content.

Take a look - you may even want to create your own lens.

squidoo

Sky Dishes at Costa Esuri

2007-03-05T10:08:00.000+00:00

The latest information on the saga of installing a Sky satellite dish at Esuri...

It seems that if Fadesa (or the management company) has not already installed a dish on the block then any owner can do so. A charge could then be made to any other owners for connecting to your dish and thus recoup part / all of the cost.

How you would police this I'm not sure unless you happened to know all of the other owners.

Alternatively each owner would be able to install their own dish - the last one may find a lack of space available though :)

The installation difficulties relate to the cabling to the individual apartments - for some very straightforward but if the trunking has been damaged when installed there could be problems. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing in advance.

I'd like to hear from anyone with success or horror stories & also any tips for the best place to buy TVs. Thanks in advance.

Costa Esuri Golf - Club Hire

2007-02-28T12:07:00.000+00:00

I've just heard that it is possible to hire a set of clubs at Euros 25. This is for a set of quality clubs (brand new at present) and may offer an attractive alternative to carrying (and paying excess baggage costs) your own clubs through international airports if you are only likely to play once or twice during a visit.

Costa Esuri Golf - Club Hire
Costa Esuri Golf

Property Insurance - Costa Esuri

2007-02-23T08:51:00.000+00:00

There's a discussion going on at the Costa Esuri forum (address in sidebar) about property insurance and in particular what is required if letting out the property for holiday lets.

If any one has any professional knowledge or personal experience please either leave a comment here or head over to the forum and join the debate.

Thanks

P.S. I thought I'd add a photograph of the Marina at Isla Canela here as I didn't like the Golf Course Fees list showing up at the top of the blog page from a previous post!

Esuri Golf Green Fees

2007-02-16T20:25:00.000+00:00

Here are the current Green Fees - I'm told we should expect an increase for the summer season.

Costa Esuri Golf Photos

2007-02-16T18:00:00.000+00:00

I've just posted a few recent photos of the Costa Esuri Golf Course on Flickr which should now show up in the frame on the blog. Several were taken when the light wasn't very good so are a little dark. I haven't quite got my bearings on the course layout yet so haven't labelled them - next time!

Eating Out - near Costa Esuri

2007-02-16T17:48:00.000+00:00

I don't make negative comments about places but do like to give praise where deserved.

2 quick recommendations. I have 2 young boys so my choice of restaurants is probably not as I'd really like due to the fussy nature of their tastes!

In Ayamonte we went to the Pizzeria (I think that's what it's called) just by the town car park near the 90 degree bend in the road where the river joins the harbour. Great selection of pizzas and very friendly staff. Quiet when we got there at about 8pm but pretty full by about 9.30pm.

The second is in the Marina at Isla Canela. At least that what I think it is but the card says Punta del Morai - must learn my way around!! It's about 15 minutes drive via Ayamonte but well worth it.

The owners, Les & Cyndi, are from Australia but the restaurant is called Bella Napoli (can you see the theme re my sons tastes?). We stopped for lunch yesterday and I was really impressed. Very child friendly - the Spanish waiter was really cool and very helpful. Both Les and Cyndi went out of their way to talk to us and check everything was OK. The food was very good and also good choice for the kids. Hopefully they can keep this up in the busier summer months.

Costa Esuri Golf

2007-02-16T14:52:00.000+00:00

Although I didn't have time to play myself this time the reports on the course are very good. The greens are excellent and although the areas near the pathways are a bit patchy a bit of growth over the next few months will improve this no end. The wind comes into play on several holes, particular those towards the river, and some of the par 3s are a challenge at around 200 yards. Here's the scorecard (not mine!!) but don't forget these are metres not yards.

Electrician - Costa Esuri

2007-02-16T14:36:00.000+00:00

Just got back from a few days in Esuri and have some good and not so good news.

First the not so good. The weather is still not great and the impact of this is that my apartment is really quite cold at night. Looks like I need to think about some form of heating for next year.

The good news.

Carlos from Flamingo Services has just fitted all of my new lights and it really makes a difference to the feel of the place - particularly compared to the plain light bulbs I had before! I am really impressed with Carlos - he turned up when he said he would, was very respectful to my property, he did a great job and asked exactly what I wanted before he went ahead and did it. He left everything very clean and I'd recommend him to anyone.

He also installs SKY TV and I'm looking for this to be done in time for my next visit. It seems that Fadesa has thrown in the towel on this and it is a free for all in putting up dishes rather than the original plan for one communal dish on each building!

I have no vested interest in this but anyone interested in any general work; electrical; satellite installation etc can contact Carlos via Jackie at Flamingo Services email: flamingoservices@rfor.co.uk

My "wilderness" has also been converted to a full patio with an automatic irrigation system for the small border. The bougainvilleas had just been planted but had a few flowers on bloom. Hopefully, after a short period of growth much of the "tennis court" fencing will be covered!

I was amazed at how much progress had been made with the Hotel and Golf Clubhouse (and Villas alongside) in the last 6 weeks. The place is really starting to take shape and with so many more people obviously around now it's starting to feel a bit more like home.

Skype

2007-02-05T20:37:00.000+00:00

You've probably already heard of Skype but if not you really ought to take a look because your phone calls could cost you nothing! If you're calling Spain from the UK or have internet access in Spain calls back to the UK can be made via the internet for free.

I'll let Skype explain it to you - they're so much more accomplished than me!

If you use the Firefox web-browser, which in my opinion is so much better than Internet Explorer, you even get a Skype add-on that highlights the phone number on any website so with a click of a mouse you are connected via Skype. That type of call does cost (very, very low) because you will be calling a normal line rather than another Skype number.

Have fun