Vol 4 Edition 12 January 2005
Costa Blanca Netguide Newsletter
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com
This newsletter is only sent to subscribers
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CONTENTS:
01) Editorial
02) Suzanna's Article - Buying/selling cars in Spain
03) Spanish Resources
04) Sticker/Screensaver Information
05) 2005 Publishing dates
06) Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
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1) Editorial
Brrrrrrrr!!! It´s cold here I can tell you. Last week saw a
drop in temperatures that I hoped never to experience here.
Photos had to be taken and emailed to grandparents of our
son in the snow in his school playground! Many roads were
closed due to the adverse weather condtions. It took a
friend of ours four hours to cover about 10 kilometres. He
was travelling north on the motorway and once through the
tunnels at Calpe the traffic just stopped. As you emerge
from the tunnels the motorway has a long slow incline. Well
he tells us that the road was full with cars and lorries
stopped facing in every direction unable to make the
incline. This was actually at midnight and a very scary
scenario. Apparently many people abandoned their cars and
were milling about and even getting into the cabs of
lorries. To keep warm I assume.
We have seen a huge amount of cars smashed with many people
not realising the danger. Also many do not have the bad
weather driving experience. Salt appeared on the roads the
next day. Better late than never I suppose but so unusual
for this area. The last notable snowfall here was in 1982.
Villena has had the lowest temperatures on the Costa Blanca
according to the television registering -6 degrees.
This month I bring you information about the intricacies of
paperwork surrounding buying and selling a car in Spain.
Plus news about British Passports, downloadable application
forms and a price rise. If you are over 75 years old it is
time to start travelling. Read on to find out why!
International Women´s Day is celebrated on March 8th and a
huge tradeshow, exhibition and celebration is being
organised by the Women in Business Club read more about it
here.
Until next time,
Suzanna.
Suzanna - Editor, Costa Blanca Netguide.
editor@costablanca-netguide.com
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2) Suzanna's Article
Buying and selling cars in Spain isn´t as straight forward
as one might think. Certainly for private sales you need to
be on the ball. One to make sure that if you are buying, the
car comes with all the correct paperwork and two if you are
selling the car the paperwork is changed over sucessfully to
the new owner in order that you don´t carry on receiving
demands for the road tax and ITV (MOT). If you buy through a
dealership or any type of garage they will normally arrange
all the necessary transfer paperwork. You will be required
to sign a "compra-venta" which is a contract between the
buyer and seller. If you wish to cancel the insurance on a
car you are selling they need this proof too. When selling a
car you need to establish who is paying for the transfer of
the paperwork. Normally it would be the buyer. The cost of
this depends on the age of the car. To be perfectly honest
the easiest and smoothest way of going about this is to use
the services of a Gestoria or Asesoria.
Having recently bought and sold a car privately I would make
sure you have all the necessary bits of paper for the car,
registration document, ITV certificate, compra- venta signed
by both parties, a solicitud de transmisión also signed by
both parties, receipt for payment of vehicle tax for the
last year and head to the nearest Gestoria. You have a grace
period of I believe 30 days and the Gestoria will be in
possession of all the bits of paper the government requires
to transfer all the names over. The good news is that
vehicle tax is considerably lower than Northern European
countries. Our last years payment was just over 40 Euros for
the entire year. You receive a notification from Suma (the
tax office) of the amount and the period in which to pay it.
This can be done at your local bank or at the tax office
itself. If you don´t pay it within the allotted time you
will incur a fine. Mind you at just over 40 Euros you have
no excuse!!
If you wish to know more on this matter try this site
http://www.graysworld.co.uk/spanish-property/spain-cars.htm#H
This site also gives you information on importing right hand
drive and foreign registered cars. Two things you definately
need to know on this subject is that legally the car should
be imported after six months and the cost of the importation
will depend on the value of the car. Any Gestoria will be
able to take on this service for you.
You will find second hand cars more expensive than say in
the UK largely I think because they last longer due to the
lack of grit and salt on the roads. However new cars are
cheaper.
You used to be able to renew you British Passport in
Alicante, but now all renewals are carried out at the British
Consulate in Madrid. You must be in the country where the
application is being made and the British Consulate
recommends submitting the application whether by post or in
person, at least 4 weeks before you need it.
Last year our son received his first 10 year passport,
having been on mine beforehand. He was put on mine when he
was six months old but it happened to be the last week that
facility was available.
With my passport due for renewal it meant he needed one too.
He was also off to the UK with his grandparents without us
for the first time. Being August and the busy period it took
longer than the advised 4 weeks and we ended up in a panic
and booking a courier to pick up the passport from Madrid
and delivering it to us with just 24 hours to spare!
This year my husband´s passport is due for renewal so I
called the Consulate again. Mainly because his passport is
looking a bit dilapidated and last time we travelled it was
mentioned by an airport official that he may have trouble if
it got any worse. He is due to travel in March so I gave
them a call.
I have to say that every time I have spoken to the passport
section of the Consulate they have been extremely helpful
and I can only imagine the questions they get asked
sometimes. All new passports, if you have seen one, are now
with scanned pictures. That in fact is what was in question
with my husband´s. Where the photos used to be under a clear
adhesive cover, the corners can begin to lift. Well we
think his passport will be OK for this visit but I was told
that from the new financial year passports will be going up
15 pounds anyway so it will be worth renewing before then.
Also the application forms are now available on the internet
to download and print. Marvellous this technology!
Plus good news if you are 75 years or older........British
passports are now FREE! In recognition of their efforts
during World War II, the Home Office announced on 19 May
2004 that all British Citizens over the age of 75 would be
granted gratis passports. The scheme was implemented in the
Autumn. With effect from 18 October 2004, the British
Consulate in Madrid now accept applications under the new
scheme. All applicants born before 2 September 1929 are
eligible for gratis passports. Applicants over 75 years of
age who have been issued with and have paid for new
passports between 19 May - 18 October 2004 will be eligible
for a refund. They should contact the British Consulate
General for further details. If you wish to find out more go
to www.ukinspain.com where you will find out an enormous
amount of information plus be able to download the relevant
forms. To call the Passport Section direct 91 524 9736
between 12 - 3pm local time.
International Women’s Day is celebrated all over the world.
It is the one day that all women can call their own. This
year, the WIBC are hosting this amazing day on Tuesday,
March 8th – in the Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Denia
(close to Jesus Pobre).
The day will include an informative tradeshow of women in
business, an artists exhibition plus an interactive stage
full of talented performers, speakers, celebrities and
music.
Women interested in getting involved with International
Women’s Day – can visit the new website – www.WIBC-SPAIN.com
- or call 96 648-0248 – or 686 100 942
Women interested in getting involved with International
Women’s Day – can visit the new website – www.WIBC-SPAIN.com
- or call 96 648-0248 – or 686 100 942
Delegates coming in from a distance – can rent rooms at the
Marriott for a special International Women’s Day price –
contact: 96 579-0991
The Women in Business Club – is a FREE to join association
recognized in partnership with the Township of Javea.
Researched and Written by Suzanna
info.es@costablanca-netguide.com
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, if you know someone who may benefit
from any of the articles in this newsletter please feel free
to pass it on.
PLEASE NOTE: These articles are for personal use only and
may not be posted on any website, newsgroup or bulletin
board. If you wish to use any of our articles for commercial
purposes please contact us articles@costablanca-netguide.com
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3) Spanish Resources
BOOKS
i) AA Explorer Spain
This new edition for Spain in the Explorer Guide series
has been fully revised and updated. The series are as
always written and researched by top travel authors,
with clear maps and practical travel advice
specific to Spain.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/books/aaes.html
ii) Costa Blanca
This is a guide to the very best that the Costa Blanca
has to offer. Whatever you are looking for, either
travelling first class or on a limited budget, seeking the
best beaches or the funkiest bars this book offers dozens
of top 10 lists and detailed maps to provide visitors with
the local knowledge required.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/books/cb.html
iii) Frommer's Madrid
This first edition of Frommer's Madrid is the definitive
guide to the three premiere city of Spain. The book
journeys to the nation's capital for a taste of Madrid's
tapas bars, incredible nightlife, and the artistic
treasures of the Prado, also suggesting several day-trips.
It's all done with the trademark Frommer's attention to
style, accuracy, and detail. Every Frommer's Travel Guide
is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens
of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping,
and nightlife.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/books/fm.html
iv) Barcelona City Map
This map is an essential tool when visiting the Spanish
city of Barcelona. It is double sided and plastic-coated,
with a large view of the entire city on one side, whilst
the other is a street map focusing on the old section of
the city around La Rambla and the Barri Gòtic. The map
marks tourist attractions, information points such
as consulates and includes a plan of The Metro
underground.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/books/bcm.html
v) Portugal: Charming Inns and Itineraries
The essential guide to Portugal's most charming inns and
hotels from Karen Brown. This fabulous guide enables you
to discover the most charming and historic places to stay
and provides itineraries that will lead you to them by the
most scenic and interesting routes.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/books/pciai.html
vi) AA Essential Andalucia
The AA's best selling pocket guide series has been revamped,
it still offers up to date and easy to use information and
now the series also includes an atlas section and additional
maps. Sporting the new, distinctive AA World Travel Guide
series cover design; these new edition for Andalucia will
ensure the series remains as popular as ever.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/books/aaea.html
vii) Portugal 2005
A colourful and up to date guide of Portugal by Rick Steves.
This highly regarded author has over 30 years of personal
travel experience and provides information and inspiration for
holidays in Portugal.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/books/p2005.html
viii) Food Culture in Spain
This volume offers an overview of Spanish food and eating
habits, taking into account a long and complex history,
plus distinctive social, cultural, linguistic, geographic,
political, and economic characteristics. Learn about the
unique food culture in each region and how food practices
and dishes in the Iberian Peninsula have developed over
the centuries, including a timeline, a chronology,
and colourful illustrations.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/books/fcis.html
CD's
i) Spain - the Rough Guide to the Music of Spain
A compilation album featuring the classic music of
Spain performed by various artists. This album brings
you the authentic and diverse sounds of the Iberian
Peninsula.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/CDs/strgttmos.html
Videos
i) Get To Know Spain
Experience the contrasts of a country filled with castles
and whitewashed houses; where bull-fighting coexists with
the clicking castanets of Flamenco dancing and where the
food reflects the flavour of Spain.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/DVDs/gtks.html
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6) Sticker Information
We have available our Costa Blanca Netguide car or shop
window stickers that we will send out to you free of charge.
Just email stickers@costablanca-netguide.com
with your name
and postal address and how many you require (3 Max) and
we'll post them out to you anywhere in Europe at no cost.
Screensaver Information
Version 1 of the Costa Blanca Screensaver can be downloaded
at http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/screensaver.html.
The Free version has a few limitations but gives you a good
idea of what you can expect from the Full version which is
priced at 7 EUROS
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