Links tagged “costa brava”

For more than 30 years, the Water Sports Lloret Center in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava, has provided a wide range of water-related rides to help make a holiday in Lloret an unforgettable experience. The summer of 2011, will be business as usual for the Water Sport Center team, who are now checking equipment and getting ready for the oncoming season.

Water Sports Lloret Attractions

The main water sport attraction for tourists continues to be parasailing, which provides visitors with a hands-free, bird’s eye view of Lloret. Unlike some of the other water attractions, parasailing is a calm, relaxed activity that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. For just 45 euros, beach-goers are privileged to savor an unusual experience they are unlikely to forget.

For the more active, water skiing is hugely popular attraction, that has been enjoyed by many thousands of visitors to Lloret main beach over the last decades. While others choose a different activity because they think water skiing is too difficult, regular participant Christian Mueller, 59, says it is not as hard as many people think.

“I didn’t ever consider trying it”, says Christian who moved to Lloret in the early nineties. “I used to sit on the beach bars and watch the skiers, but never thought I would be able to do it. One day I was with a friend who bet me I wouldn’t be able to stand up on the skis. I took him up on the bet, won his money and have never looked back. Now I think I am the best client the Water Sports Lloret Center has!”

In recent years the “Fly Fish” which on first impressions, looks like a huge inflated kite, has been a soaraway success in the popular Costa Brava resort. To ride the Fly Fish, you don’t need any skills, but you must be able to hang on as though your life depends on it. Each time the kite hits a wave, it literally takes off into the air, and depending on the wind, it can stay up there for quite some time. As several people can ride the Fly Fish at the same time, it is fast becoming the first choice water ride for groups of young people.

The Ski Bus, which is also known as the Banana Boat, is another crazy ride enjoyed by groups who come to the Water Sports Lloret center. Up to 10 people can ride the bus at the same time, but be prepared for a dipping. The bus is jerked through the water by the speed boat driver who makes a big effort to steer the boat at outlandish angles with the intention of throwing the riders.

Water Sports Lloret Discounts

For those can’t decide which activity to choose, Water Sports Lloret party tickets are a wise option. With both the mini and maxi tickets  beach-goers can enjoy all the activities at a largely discounted price.

For more details on water sports in Lloret, go to the Water Sports Lloret center website.

The Costa Brava is particularly attractive for many Europeans from the more northern countries, because the summer heat is although extremely warm, is less intense than further south. The Scenery is spectacular, and in addition there are many fascinating and well-preserved medieval towns such as Pals and Peratallada.

Catalonia in comparison to other areas, is generally well run with decent roads and an expanding railway network.The A7 motorway is rarely more several minutes drive away, and connects to the French autopiste network.

Barcelona is easily accessible; golf courses are numerous and of the highest standard. In winter, there is skiing available in the nearby Pyrenees. Cheap flights are available into Girona airport and to Barcelona and Perpignan. Eating out is inexpensive and a real pleasure.
Generally, the cost of living on the Costa Brava is reasonable. Eating out will usually cost between 15 and 30 euros per person, and public transport in Spain is remarkably cheap compared to the rest of Europe. Due to the collapse of the Costa Bravaproperty market,  attractive property can be found very cheaply.

Many different nationalities settle on the Costa Brava and become permanant residents , but unlike further south nationalities are intermingled, with no “English” estates or “German” estates. The whole atmosphere tends to be more cosmopolitan.

Before buying anything, do visit the area in and out of season. Resorts that are a lively hub of action in the summer often die completely in the winter. Many Catalonian from Barcelona and other cities spend their summer holidays on the  Costa Brava; they don’t live here, and many don’t even visit at week-ends out of season. If you are buying just for summer rentals and/or your own summer holidays, that does not matter, but if you are thinking of permanent residence, it is a critical factor. Never assume that you may be able to rent your property in winter. It is quite unlikely.

If you are thinking of semi-permanent or even permanent residence, you may be concerned that you will find it hard to make friends here, and therefore be somewhat isolated. This is generally not so. Most residents are retired or semi-retired and it is fairly easy to meet new people, particularly of course if you play golf. Incomers tend to be of a similar age and background, even if from different countries. They too want to make new friends.

All in all though, the reasons to move to the Costa Brava are evident, as it is a terrific place to holiday or live as long as you have thought your decision through. The Costa Brava is not the Costa del Sol either in terms of weather or lifestyle, but it is culturally rich, welcoming, and offers a great life to those that respond to what it offers.

The original of this article “Reasons to Move to the Costa Brava” was published by Costa Brava Homes.