Gran Canaria´s hottest Real Estate News

Monarch Expands Canary Island Flights To Gran Canaria And Fuerteventura

2009-07-06T13:33:00.004+01:00

Monarch airlines are to start a new Canary Islands year-round service to Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura .

Flights to the Canary island destinations will run from Birmingham, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester airports. One flight a week will operate to Gran Canaria from Birmingham and up to two flights a week will operate from London Gatwick and Manchester from October 19.
One flight a week will operate to Fuerteventura from Birmingham, Gatwick and Luton and up to two flights a week from Manchester from October 21.

Flights have gone on sale via the airline’s website for travel until March 27, 2010, with fares including taxes starting at £52.99 one way. The introduction of services to Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura brings the total number of flights operated by Monarch to the Canary Islands to up to 64 a week, with almost 500,000 seats available this winter - a 32% increase on last year.

Monarch flights and holidays managing director Liz Savage said: "We are delighted to be expanding our network to the Canary Islands with the launch of scheduled flights to Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura in addition to our existing routes to Tenerife and Lanzarote.“We are seeing huge demand for our mid-haul destinations - in June we carried 59% more customers to Lanzarote and 16% more customers to Tenerife compared to June 2008 and the addition of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura means even more people can take advantage of our low fares and award-winning onboard service to these popular sunshine islands this winter.

Source Phil Davies

Maiden Voyage Of Cunards Queen Elizabeth to include the Canary Islands

2009-07-03T18:39:00.005+01:00

Like the regal Queen Elizabeth I, Cunard has begun construction on what promises to be the premier cruising vessel on the high seas. She is scheduled for her maiden voyage in October of 2010, joining the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria as the most famous ocean liners in the world.
Queen Elizabeth will feature the unique Cunard traditions, together with all the modern day luxuries Cunard’s guests have come to expect. In addition, some exciting new features will give the vessel her own sense of style and personality.
Named after the first Queen Elizabeth, one of Cunard’s greatest ships, the new Queen Elizabeth will reflect her predecessor in interior grandeur, décor and style. Art Deco features will pay homage to the original Queen Elizabeth and will allow the new ship to reflect an elegant era of travel. The extraordinary new vessel features 12 decks and carries more than 2,000 passengers.
In addition to the extensive Cunard onboard entertainment program, Queen Elizabeth will offer some unique strands such as country house parties at sea, evening piano sing-alongs and period dancing, from traditional ballroom to the jitterbug and the jive, all within the setting of this 21st-century ship. The ship will also reflect this great liner through artwork, memorabilia and its very own “Yacht Club.”

Queen Elizabeth will depart on her Maiden Voyage on 12 October 2010—a voyage which sold out in a record-breaking 29 minutes in April 2009. This 13-night celebration will leave from Cunard’s home port of Southampton and will call at Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Seville (Cadiz), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Tenerife (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, an overnight call), La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma) and Madeira (Funchal).
Her Maiden Season will run from October 2010 to January 2011 and include voyages to the Western and Central Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Fares start from just $1,195 per person for the five-night 26 November 2010 Gallic Debut voyage with ports of call at Amsterdam, Zeebrugge and Le Havre; while the 13-night Iberian Discovery voyage departing 1 December 2010 features fares from $2,395 per person, with ports of call at Vigo, Lisbon, Seville, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and Madeira.
For more information and to book a voyage aboard the new Queen Elizabeth, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD or visit www.cunard.com.

Entries have now closed for this year's Atlantic Rally for Cruisers

2009-07-01T13:02:00.002+01:00

Entries have now closed for this year's Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), the 24th edition of the annual transatlantic rally. The Rally organisers, World Cruising Club, have now opened a waiting list after accepting 225 entries for the 2010 rally.

There are 28 countries represented in this year's event that starts on 22nd November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 200 yachts from all over the world, will cross the Atlantic to Saint Lucia, one of the most beautiful in the Lesser Antilles. The 2,700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route takes typically takes between 14 and 21 days and the fleet reaches its destination and the finish line in Rodney Bay.

Whilst fundamentally a fun rally for cruising yachts, the ARC does have a more serious Racing Division, run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). Yachts in the Racing Divisions are not permitted to use their engines for propulsion (unlike the cruisers), although use of autopilots is allowed.

Source Yachting Monthly 30th June 2009

International Business Opportunity, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

2009-06-26T12:16:00.005+01:00

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GoldAcre Estates is looking for partners to fuel our expansion program in the Canary Islands Our Partnership program is looking to offer exciting opportunities to selected individuals that want to run their own business in the Canary Islands with ongoing existing business available for franchise. Low Initial start up costs, Full Training and Ongoing Support provided. Take the initiative today and invest in your career and lifestyle for a future in the sun! For further details e-mail nicolast@goldacre-estates.com

Are you ready to POUNCE?!

2009-06-03T15:07:00.000+01:00

Having offices in GC and FUE often gives us interesting insights into the differences between the Canary Islands and the reaction of the property markets in each. As a more mature market GC has tended to ‘hold’ rather than reduce prices as it knows the true values will return and appreciate over the long term having experienced slump periods in the past. Developers realise there is less opportunity to acquire new land for development in the future and to sell out now would damage future earning potentials.

While many of the Fuerteventura developers would argue the same point and have echoed GC by not reducing prices at all, there have been one or two short term reductions on selected products giving investors and those individuals ready to buy a unique opportunity to pounce and secure a ‘never to be repeated deal’. The Fuerteventura office has seen an increase in sales as a result of this during the 1st and now 2nd quarter of 2009 in both the resale and new property sectors.

Gran Canaria has made few changes in contrast, however there has been a growth in recent activity where individual vendors have made exceptions to the rule due to their personal circumstances. In the area of Mogan and the exclusive beach and marina of Mogan valley itself there have been some snap buys as the occasional price has been reduced for a quick sale. High rental potential in the area means that any reductions bolster the capital return to buyers of holiday homes and investors alike.

This week a very special property in Playa de Mogan should do well, now priced below €200,000 with a position behind the Hotel Cordial with its lovely gardens and just 150m from the beach itself. For those actively searching for properties to buy now this 2 bedroom apartment offers some lucky purchaser a real deal. Likewise our property of the week in Maspalomas is just €87,000 for a position close to the golf course and famous sand dunes, plus it has its own communal swimming pool and would be an ideal holiday property at a fraction of the cost. The question is are you ready to pounce?!

Danish and Rumanian Routes to Gran Canaria

2009-05-12T08:19:00.001+01:00

18,000 new seats will be available from Cimber Sterling this August flying from Copenhagen and Billund in Denmark to Las Palmas Gran Canaria. The new route will serve the Danish interest in the island as well as offer an alternative departure point for the more established Southern Swedish market close by. The Tourism Minister Roberto Moreno along with the Tourism Department has been building relations with International Tourism sectors to boost the industry and widen access to the Islands from abroad. A further new route from Bucharest was also announced earlier this year broadening the islands client base. The Tourism Minister commented ‘the good news here is double, now that Cimber Sterling (company) not only have began to connect Gran Canaria from the Danish capital and another second Danish airport…but also they are beginning in August, when usually routes begin in October’.

Is Real Estate and the Economic climate starting to see a turn for the better…….

2009-04-29T13:10:00.005+01:00

Real Estate across the world is starting to see an upturn in the news being reported, Canary Islands and Spanish employment is being affected by Tourism numbers , United States consumer confidence is seeing a rise can this be the Obama effect….

US consumer confidence jumped the most in more than three years in April as the recent stock market rally dispelled gloom about the economy, but house prices in the largest US cities tumbled further in February. The 18.6 per cent drop in house prices followed a 19 per cent year-on-year decline in January. However, for the first time in 16 months the rate of decline eased from the prior month, offering some hope that the property market could be beginning to bottom out. Combined, the results add to the case that the US economy could be digging itself out of the worst recession since the Great Depression.
to the HIA.
Australian new home sales rose by 4.2% year on year in March following a significant upward revision to the February annual rate of increase to 7.8% from 3.9%, according to the HIA

29th April 2009

Telephone 0034 928535044
email info@goldacre-estates.com

Spainair Increases flights to the Canary Islands

2009-04-21T08:57:00.001+01:00

Between July and September Spainair is adding 10 direct routes from Mainland Spain to the Canary Islands. The summer schedule offers 67 domestic routes and over 47,000 flights in general with 27 routes open to the Canaries accounting for 7,000 flights. With it Star Alliance partners it also 20 International routes from Madrid and 19 from Barcelona making it the number one choice to Barcelona. Next summer, Spanair will operate 2 weekly flights from Madrid to Fuerteventura and 3 to South Tenerife. It will also increase from 2 to 4 its direct frequencies to Lanzarote, completing its service from Barcelona to the Canary Islands as it maintains its daily flights to Tenerife and Las Palmas. With this schedule, Spanair will be the only airline serving 5 direct destinations between Barcelona and the archipelago, and the only one flying as well to Fuerteventura and South Tenerife. The 50 weekly flights planned between the Catalan capital and the archipelago set Spanair as the best alternative in this market in flights and seats offered. From the 27th July and until 6th September Spanair will be offering 10 additional direct connections between the mainland and the Canary Islands: - From Seville to Las Palmas, South Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. - From Santiago de Compostela to Las Palmas, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. - From Vigo to Las Palmas and South Tenerife. - From Bilbao to Fuerteventura.

Furthermore, Spanair operates code-shared flights from several Spanish cities to amongst other destinations, London, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Vienna, Warsaw, Geneva, Zurich, Oslo, and Philadelphia.

Monarch Report Strong Numbers for Canary Islands

2009-03-26T12:52:00.000Z

Holiday and flight provider Monarch have reported promising visitor numbers for the Canary Islands this winter. Gran Canaria along with Tenerife and Lanzarote are all listed in the top five of their ‘Whats Hot for 2009’ List.

Liz Savage, the managing director of Monarch Flights and Holidays, commented: “Despite early indications that holidaymakers were looking to head east for their holidays this year, the picture to date is somewhat different. The Canary Islands which benefit from year-round sunshine and are only a four hour flight time from the UK, are the surprise destination leaders for both holiday and flight-only bookings this winter, already 13% ahead of holiday bookings vs 2008

Loans Available to Improve Quality of Tourism

2009-02-23T14:58:00.001Z

Spanish central government have made available 400 Million Euros in low interest loans to touristic businesses under the ‘Plan Renove de Infraestructuras Turisticas’. Local Canarian enterprises are being encouraged by the Gran Canarian Tourism Minister Roberto Moreno to apply for the loans which are set at a low 1.5% interest. The Minister is also encouraging local government to ‘make realistic initiatives that are helpful in directing those involved in the daunting task of renewing Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands as a touristic destination of the twent first century and to contribute to modernising the sector and substantially improving the quality of what we offer and sell to our customers’

Is property going to go down any further in Gran Canaria…..

2009-02-21T15:38:00.003Z

…Want a deal close to the beach and marina? real estate offers available today in the Canary Islands...
apartment with large terrace over looking swimming pool in exclusive valley of Mogan, walking distance to the beach and port of ‘little venice’ In an idyllic setting by the Marina close to Gran Canaria’s golf courses, high returns on capital through holiday letting. Reduced by €60,000 from 220,000 to 160,000 Euros!! …

For more information call 0034 928 535 044

email info@goldacreestatesgrancanaria.com

Gran Canaria, A Place In The Sun

2009-02-13T07:23:00.003Z

The popular TV house buyers program ‘A Place In The Sun’ was once again in the Canary Islands this January. Taking advantage of the winter sun the programmers visited both Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura to film suitable properties for their clients and once again Goldacre Estates were asked to supply properties and local information.

The collaboration with the TV program has now spanned several years and in the previous editions Goldacre consultants have presented properties themselves much to the amusement of their colleagues! This year it will be left to the professionals leaving Goldacres to concentrate on the properties! Look out for this years update on the Canaries and see if you can spot the Goldacre Property Portfolio!

EasyJet Offer Reduced Fares to Gran Canaria

2009-02-12T07:17:00.000Z

EasyJet have reduced fares on over 16 Million seats with up to 25% off flights between March 1st and June 30th 2009 including peak periods like Easter and the school half term. The discounts also extend to accommodation where travellers can get up to 75% off accommodation across Europe from now until October 2009. www.easyjet.com

Luxury Flights to Gran Canaria

2009-02-11T07:35:00.002Z

One of the many flight operators to Gran Canaria has announced a premium seat initiative for their clients. Cadogan Holidays as part of its 60th anniversary is offering a Diamond Class service in conjunction with BMI which gives premium service at check in, a Club Lounge, 32 inch seat pitch, 30kg luggage allowance and complimentary in-flight food and drink. The seats will be available on departures between June and October 2009 from Gatwick.

Flights depart from Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast and Edinburgh to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote , Cyprus, Crete and Turkey.For more information and bookings, log on to www.cadoganholidays.com

New Liquid Gas Terminals in Gran Canaria

2009-02-10T07:28:00.001Z

Gran Canaria is to benefit from one of 2 new Gas Terminals on the islands. It has been reported by Reuters that a contract worth approx 450 million Euros was won by the 50:50 consortium Acciona / Tecnicas Reunidos to build the terminals of which one will be sited in Arinaga GC taking some 44 months to build.

Canary Island Property prices–what is the best bargain in Gran Canaria?

2009-02-06T12:09:00.007Z

Playa de Mogan apartment in Gran Canaria Spain has just been reduced by €60,000 to €160,000 and is close to the 5 star Cordial Hotel, beach and Little Venice Harbour. This offers a strong rental potential in an exclusive setting, don’t miss this opportunity from Goldacre Estates in the Canary Islands for a luxury one bedroom fully furnished property with sun terraces and communal swimming pool.

Price 160,000 Euros

6th February 2009

For further information call 0034 928 535 044
Or email info@goldacreestatesgrancanaria.com

New Flights to Las Palmas

2009-01-06T10:04:00.001Z

Bristol has always been a popular airport for those flying to Gran Canaria and the collapse of XL Airways could have been a real blow to many who relied on this route to visit their properties. As in most cases of course other airlines have snapped up the route taking advantage of the strong UK demand for this popular destination. Flight only specialist Teleticket have added the route in response to strong demand from many UK holiday makers who rely on the all-year round high temperatures and sunny beaches to thaw their gloomy winters. Jason Wescott, Bristol International Airport's head of sales, told the Bristol Evening Post: "It has been frustrating to hear from travel agents that customers want to fly from Bristol International when booking their holidays but can't because of a lack of availability." The service will start for Easter 2009 a popular time to visit the Island.

Gran Canaria Top Destination in Spain

2009-01-06T09:58:00.001Z

Canary Islands are still one of the top destinations in Spain according to a poll of European tourists despite a general prediction that tourism flows will slow across the board. The Islands performance bucks the trend of other destinations that have been more susceptible especially as the winter season is now here.

Cold weather in Europe has been a major factor for visitors to target the Canaries where shorts and T shirts are the fashion all year.
The same poll highlights Gran Canarias largest Municipality San Bartolome de Tirajana in which the Parque Natural de Pilancones is a special eco-reserve, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. The importance of this park along with the varied terrain found in Gran Canaria has earned this island the designation of World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

Local businesses are well aware the Islands unique qualities give it a strong advantage over other more Northerly European destinations, however improvements are always being made such as the motorway extension into Mogan Valley as well as maintaining and cleaning beaches and public areas. The quality and friendliness of local businesses is often mentioned – all good reasons for 2009 to be a strong year.

Mogan´s Motorway link

2008-10-22T11:12:00.003+01:00

The extension of the GC-1 motorway linking the Southerly resort of Playa de Mogan is to become a reality. A new 111.7 Million Euro contract has been signed by Gran Canarias transport counsellor Juan Ramon Hernandez to provide the 6km extension which it is estimated will take a further 4 years to finish. Being the last exclusive touristic resort in the South, Playa de Mogan will benefit from the faster link to Puerto Rico and the airport and the West of the Island will become more accessible to those who like to explore. Property investors and owners in Mogan area will also benefit from higher capital appreciation as there is a limited number of properties available in the area.

The ARC

2008-10-22T10:38:00.002+01:00

This annual transatlantic rally starting each November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has now become the most popular way for yachts to cross the Atlantic. This is the largest transocean sailing event in the world, and every year the ARC brings together over 150 yachts from all over the world. This is the 23rd annual event and this year’s entry stands at 225 craft. The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in St.Lucia, and the 2700 nautical mile trade wind passage takes on average between 12 and 24 days.

Yachts are now converging on the Canary Islands from all over Europe, before finally arriving in Las Palmas, before the start. Numerous seminars and safety checks are carried out by the ARC committee and the Cabildo provide concerts and entertainment for the contestants and spectators. The start is a fabulous spectacle with hundreds of spectator craft, warships and of course the contestants. We will be providing more information about this event in later newsletters.

Virgen del Pino Festival in Teror

2008-09-12T14:07:00.001+01:00

September the 8th was another big day in the Fiesta calendar for Gran Canaria with the celebration of the Virgen del Pino, Patron Saint of Canary Islands. The festival marks the visitation of the Virgin Mary in 1481 on top of a pine tree to a group of shepards.

The waters at the base of the tree were said to have magical powers and in the 16th Century the image of the Virgin was taken to Las Palmas as it had been without rain. Today the festival combines a mixture of popular sentiment, faith, pilgrims and visitors who come to the ancient village of Teror in the Northern part of Gran Canaria. This year was also the 300th anniversary of the tower that holds the bell used to announce that the Virgin has left the Basilica. Sunday the 7th started with singing and dancing, plus a procession of gifts from each municipality on the island as well as those from surrounding islands. Almost everyone on the island visits the village at some point in September to pay their respects. The festival continues until October so if you are planning to visit soon, there is still time to visit Teror.

Premium Class Flights to Gran Canaria on offer from Cadogan

2008-08-02T07:04:00.002+01:00

Cadogan Holidays are offering special ‘Cadogan Class’ seats on their BMI flights from the UK to Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote. The up-rated seats offer an improved seat pitch of 32 inches, a 30kg baggage allowance, upgraded in-flight meals including free wine and bar service, as well as access to the executive airport lounge and check in service.

In all six separate flights will offer the seats bookable through agents on routes in December and January.

Loggerhead Turtles flown back to Gran Canaria

2008-08-01T09:28:00.002+01:00

Two Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) washed up on beaches in Devon and Cornwall were flown back to Gran Canaria after being nursed back to health by the Blue Reef Aquaruim in Newquay.

In all 23 Loggerheads have been stranded off English and Irish coasts this year with ‘Dink’ and ‘James’ being lucky enough to be returned to the warmer waters off Las Palmas. Mr Slater from the aquarium said "It was absolutely beautiful. Let's hope no more turtles get stranded, but if they do we know we can look after them." Both turtles have been microchipped, so if they are ever spotted again, they can be identified by a tag in their flippers. After arriving in Gran Canaria, Dink and James were checked over and given the all-clear at the Wildlife Recovery Centre of Tafira. Some 150 injured turtles from around the Canary Islands are taken here each year. "Through diagnosis, treatment, operations, protein-rich food, fluid and antibiotics, we help save 80% of the turtles that we receive," said Pascal Calabuig the centre’s director. It was Mr Calabuig's excellent reputation and his centre's track record that helped Blue Reef decide to choose Gran Canaria as the release site. "We could also get cheap flights and the Canary Islands are the nearest land point to the loggerheads' migration route around the Atlantic," explained Mr Slater.

‘Free Software Desktop’ meeting to be held in Gran Canaria

2008-07-30T07:26:00.003+01:00

The GNOME Foundation and KDE e.V. today announced that they will hold their yearly conferences, GUADEC and Akademy in 2009 in Gran Canaria. The conferences will be separate events, but co-located and hosted by the same organizers, the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and its Secretary of Tourism, Technological Innovation and Foreign Trade in the famous Alfredo Kraus Auditórium.

"The GNOME community is very excited about the co-hosted GUADEC and Akademy" says Behdad Esfahbod, president at the GNOME foundation, "GUADEC has traditionally been a very important chance for our community to meet in person, build great working relationships and make new friends. We're looking forward to having the opportunity to extend those relationships to our KDE colleagues at Akademy/GUADEC."
KDE e.V.'s vice-president Adriaan de Groot adds "KDE e.V. is looking forward to a co-located conference, where the GNOME and KDE communities can mingle and cooperate as never before in one location. Gran Canaria is uniquely located at the junction of Europe and Africa, close to the Americas and is a fitting place for a historic 'meet-your-neighbours' conference."
GUADEC and Akademy 2009 will be held on Gran Canaria, an island of the Canary Islands archipelago. The tentative schedule plans the event from Friday, July, 3rd until Saturday, July 11th 2009 in the Alfredo Kraus auditorium and the adjacent Congress Palace in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
This co-located event will turn Gran Canaria into the capital of Freedesktop.org development for a whole week next summer.

Congress on CO2 emissions in Gran Canaria

2008-07-28T15:50:00.003+01:00

All across the world scientific experts are working hard at ways to limit CO2 emissions, and Spain is doing its part. This year, the 12 th annual Congress of Spanish Geologists is meeting in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to look at ways to make a difference.

The congress runs from July 14 to 18 and will be based at the Alfredo Krauss auditorium, where 500 delegates will pool their knowledge and ideas. Representatives and speakers will not only be from Spain, Holland, Italy and several other European countries will be taking an active interest.As well as using the auditorium, some of the experts will be going out around the Canary Islands. Visits have been arranged to Roque Nublo and the Maspalomas sand dunes in Gran Canaria and even further afield to Tenerife, Fuerteventura and El Hierro.