I should correct the assumption in the last blog post about the man who supposedly saved £50,000 by NOT buying a property on the island.
This saving was based on the assumption that you couldn't get any property on the island for less than £100,000.
Since that post was posted, I've seen this:
http://www.lanzaroteinvestments.com/puerto-del-carmen.asp
...stating that you can get a studio apartment in Puerto del Carmen for roughly £30,000.
Alright, the man in the last post would have to take his holiday in Puerto del Carmen rather than Playa Blanca, but still...an apartment for £30,000!
You couldn't go wrong, could you?
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Man visits Lanzarote 69 times, saves £50,000
I stumbled across this news item this morning. Is this man Lanzarote's most frequent visitor?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/08/14/businessman-eric-willson-takes-69-holidays-to-lanzarote-in-20-years-115875-22486516/
The point about him buying his own holiday home--rather than renting accommodation every time--caught my eye: he reckons he's spent £50,000 on his 69 trips. Any decent apartment would have cost at least double this.
So, someone who visits three times a year, every year saves himself £50,000 by not buying his own place.
There's not too many estate agents around who would explain this side of things.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/08/14/businessman-eric-willson-takes-69-holidays-to-lanzarote-in-20-years-115875-22486516/
The point about him buying his own holiday home--rather than renting accommodation every time--caught my eye: he reckons he's spent £50,000 on his 69 trips. Any decent apartment would have cost at least double this.
So, someone who visits three times a year, every year saves himself £50,000 by not buying his own place.
There's not too many estate agents around who would explain this side of things.
Friday, August 6, 2010
The overhead costs of bars in Lanzarote
The cost of having a drink in Lanzarote is always a debatable topic.
The difference between price and value is often lost during such debates. I've paid €4 for a bottle of Heineken in some bars and felt this to be better value for money than paying €2 for the same thing in another bar.
Live music is cited as being the reason why some places (mostly Irish bars) charge more for drinks. This is just an excuse in some cases, however, since the cost of live entertainment varies much more than the cost of drinks. For example, there's a bar in the Old Town of PDC (now closed, unfortunately) whose live music costs were in the region of €650 per night. Yet, they only charged the same as other live music bars whose nightly entertainment costs would be closer to €150; that is, 75% less than there own.
Live entertainment is only part of the equation anyway. Let's move onto staff costs. These, in general, will be fairly stable, with total staff costs fluctuating up and down in line with the size of the establishment (larger bar = more staff and more staff costs, but more income - in theory at least!)
Rent is the really big one. Bars that are in situ with a while should--if they have a reasonable landlord--be paying less than ones that opened in the late noughties. This is changing too though and the price of renting/buying should come down in line with the amount of locales now lying vacant. Such a drop is not guaranteed, however, especially given the traditional immobility of Spanish landlords.
Given that most of us don't know what the overheads are in any particular bar we walk into, then it's hard to say definitively whether we're getting value for money or not. Take the advice of a fool: if the staff are friendly, the toilets clean and the beer cold, then chances are you will get value for your money. If you feel like you're not getting value for money, then pay for the one drink you had and simply walk into the bar next door.
The difference between price and value is often lost during such debates. I've paid €4 for a bottle of Heineken in some bars and felt this to be better value for money than paying €2 for the same thing in another bar.
Live music is cited as being the reason why some places (mostly Irish bars) charge more for drinks. This is just an excuse in some cases, however, since the cost of live entertainment varies much more than the cost of drinks. For example, there's a bar in the Old Town of PDC (now closed, unfortunately) whose live music costs were in the region of €650 per night. Yet, they only charged the same as other live music bars whose nightly entertainment costs would be closer to €150; that is, 75% less than there own.
Live entertainment is only part of the equation anyway. Let's move onto staff costs. These, in general, will be fairly stable, with total staff costs fluctuating up and down in line with the size of the establishment (larger bar = more staff and more staff costs, but more income - in theory at least!)
Rent is the really big one. Bars that are in situ with a while should--if they have a reasonable landlord--be paying less than ones that opened in the late noughties. This is changing too though and the price of renting/buying should come down in line with the amount of locales now lying vacant. Such a drop is not guaranteed, however, especially given the traditional immobility of Spanish landlords.
Given that most of us don't know what the overheads are in any particular bar we walk into, then it's hard to say definitively whether we're getting value for money or not. Take the advice of a fool: if the staff are friendly, the toilets clean and the beer cold, then chances are you will get value for your money. If you feel like you're not getting value for money, then pay for the one drink you had and simply walk into the bar next door.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Eamonn
I'm not one for public displays of emotion, but I thought writing down a few words here would help get things straight in my head.
Eamonn passed away on the 16th of July 2010. I met him for the first time 10 years ago, during the Summer of 2000 when I first moved to Lanzarote.
The first time I saw him he was striding outside the Craic towards the steps that lead down to Freddies. He had his arms out in front of him--as they always seemed to be. Thinking back now over the 10 years I've known him--through working with him, drinking with him and generally being in his company--he always seemed to have his arms out in front of him, never by his side. Neither did he ever stoll or amble, he always walked with purpose. Everything he did, he did with meaning. This probably reflected his attitude towards life - t'was never enough to just live life, you had to enjoy instead.
The pictures and the comments on the facebook page are nice - there's little doubt that Eamonn would have detested such niceness and would not have been shy about, ahem, voicing his grumpy displeasure at such sentimentality. The pictures of you though give the game away Eamonn and you couldn't fool those who really knew you - you weren't that grumpy and you weren't that crazy. Your big smiley head in those pictures shows the real Eamonn: happy and content, with a personality so large it filled the entire Old Town. (And from what I hear, it filled Ballyduff in Co. Waterford too.)
Your like will never again be seen. And for anyone who ever met you, Lanzarote changed forever on July 16th, 2010.
Bye bye big fella.
Eamonn passed away on the 16th of July 2010. I met him for the first time 10 years ago, during the Summer of 2000 when I first moved to Lanzarote.
The first time I saw him he was striding outside the Craic towards the steps that lead down to Freddies. He had his arms out in front of him--as they always seemed to be. Thinking back now over the 10 years I've known him--through working with him, drinking with him and generally being in his company--he always seemed to have his arms out in front of him, never by his side. Neither did he ever stoll or amble, he always walked with purpose. Everything he did, he did with meaning. This probably reflected his attitude towards life - t'was never enough to just live life, you had to enjoy instead.
The pictures and the comments on the facebook page are nice - there's little doubt that Eamonn would have detested such niceness and would not have been shy about, ahem, voicing his grumpy displeasure at such sentimentality. The pictures of you though give the game away Eamonn and you couldn't fool those who really knew you - you weren't that grumpy and you weren't that crazy. Your big smiley head in those pictures shows the real Eamonn: happy and content, with a personality so large it filled the entire Old Town. (And from what I hear, it filled Ballyduff in Co. Waterford too.)
Your like will never again be seen. And for anyone who ever met you, Lanzarote changed forever on July 16th, 2010.
Bye bye big fella.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Don't get caught with unlicensed on-line travel agents
The on-line hotel booking company 1800hotels.ie filed for bankruptcy a few days ago.
This has left many holiday makers high and dry: they've paid for their hotel through this company, but they arrive at their destination to be told that the booking has been cancelled. Left with little option, people have to pay a second time for their hotel room. Now, instead of paying €600 for your room for the week, you end up paying €1,200 (or more, if your hotel reception says that €600 was a discounted internet offer and the real price is actually higher).
Hopefully, all those in this situation with 1800hotels will get their money back through their credit card companies.
This unfortunate episode really highlights the danger of using unlicensed, unbonded on-line travel agents. Before anyone resolves to never again book holidays on the internet, remember that lots of established "real-world" travel companies have on-line outlets. These will be bonded (meaning that they have deposited 'fail-safe' cash with the appropriate Government licensing body, so that if they go bust while you're abroad then there's still money there to get you back and cover your expenses).
But, how can you tell which are the unbonded "virtual" travel agents that could cause you a load of heartache if they go bust. Well, all reputable travel companies should have the license/bonded symbol on their site (usually their 'Homepage' or on their 'About Us' page). See the end of the Budget Travel website for an example of what to look out for. The letters ITAA (Irish Travel Agents Association) or ABTA (The Travel Association) should also be on the page someplace. See the bottom of the First Choice website for another example.
If you're in any doubt, contact the website company directly and ask them if they're licensed and bonded. If you don't get a reply or you're still unsure, then don't book - is it really worth the hassle of worrying about paying for your room twice just to save a few quid?
This has left many holiday makers high and dry: they've paid for their hotel through this company, but they arrive at their destination to be told that the booking has been cancelled. Left with little option, people have to pay a second time for their hotel room. Now, instead of paying €600 for your room for the week, you end up paying €1,200 (or more, if your hotel reception says that €600 was a discounted internet offer and the real price is actually higher).
Hopefully, all those in this situation with 1800hotels will get their money back through their credit card companies.
This unfortunate episode really highlights the danger of using unlicensed, unbonded on-line travel agents. Before anyone resolves to never again book holidays on the internet, remember that lots of established "real-world" travel companies have on-line outlets. These will be bonded (meaning that they have deposited 'fail-safe' cash with the appropriate Government licensing body, so that if they go bust while you're abroad then there's still money there to get you back and cover your expenses).
But, how can you tell which are the unbonded "virtual" travel agents that could cause you a load of heartache if they go bust. Well, all reputable travel companies should have the license/bonded symbol on their site (usually their 'Homepage' or on their 'About Us' page). See the end of the Budget Travel website for an example of what to look out for. The letters ITAA (Irish Travel Agents Association) or ABTA (The Travel Association) should also be on the page someplace. See the bottom of the First Choice website for another example.
If you're in any doubt, contact the website company directly and ask them if they're licensed and bonded. If you don't get a reply or you're still unsure, then don't book - is it really worth the hassle of worrying about paying for your room twice just to save a few quid?
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
10 songs every cover musician should know
"You can play what you like on your own time. When you're on my time you play what my customers like."
This was the instruction my ex-boss gave to many musicians/entertainers if they indulged themselves by playing what they liked personally rather than what the punters liked.
With this in mind, I tried to think of 10 fail-safe songs that every stage jockey should know. There are loads more I'm sure...
1. Brown-eyed Girl (Van Morrisson)
2. Mrs. Robinson (Simon & Garfunkel)
3. Hey Jude (The Beatles)
4. Delilah (Tom Jones)
5. Nancy Spain (Christy Moore)
6. Suspicious Minds (Elvis)
7. Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan)
8. The Wild Rover (The Dubliners)
9. Lyin' Eyes (The Eagles)
10. Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones)
So, any suggestions for other favourite Lanzarote songs?
This was the instruction my ex-boss gave to many musicians/entertainers if they indulged themselves by playing what they liked personally rather than what the punters liked.
With this in mind, I tried to think of 10 fail-safe songs that every stage jockey should know. There are loads more I'm sure...
1. Brown-eyed Girl (Van Morrisson)
2. Mrs. Robinson (Simon & Garfunkel)
3. Hey Jude (The Beatles)
4. Delilah (Tom Jones)
5. Nancy Spain (Christy Moore)
6. Suspicious Minds (Elvis)
7. Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan)
8. The Wild Rover (The Dubliners)
9. Lyin' Eyes (The Eagles)
10. Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones)
So, any suggestions for other favourite Lanzarote songs?
Friday, June 18, 2010
Free Guidebook to Lanzarote
From travelio.net:
The 11th edition of Lanzarote Guidebook, the in-depth island information guide, is out now. And can be downloaded fast and for free from the Lanzarote Guidebook website.
FREE GUIDEBOOK FOR EVERY VISITOR
Now all tourists visiting Lanzarote can save money and make the most of their holidays by getting their hands on a comprehensive, 96 page Guidebook to the island – entirely free of charge. By downloading a copy of the latest edition of Lanzarote Guidebook at:
http://www.lanzaroteguidebook.com/download-guidebook.php
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE - THE INSIDE GUIDE
Lanzarote Guidebook is written and published by local residents. So readers can benefit from their in-depth local knowledge, rather than wasting precious holiday time and money visiting tourist traps and enduring low quality meals in dodgy restaurants.
ALWAYS UP TO DATE
It is published every quarter, so the information in Lanzarote Guidebook is always accurate and up to date. Unlike conventional guidebooks which can often be obsolete in parts by the time they reach the bookshelves.
READER DISCOUNTS
Lanzarote Guidebook readers can also enjoy discounts at local restaurants and on some of the islands best excursions. With 10% off the price of a trip on Lanzarote´s popular Yellow Submarine available – along with a 10% discount on all meals at La Cabaña, one of the islands leading restaurants.
WHY BUY A GUIDEBOOK?
Lanzarote Guidebook contains all of the information and high quality pictures that can be found in a conventional Guidebook – but at no cost. Enabling readers to explore all of Lanzarote´s resorts and attractions, browse maps and plan their holiday before they even arrive on the island.
DELIVERED TO THE DOOR
As well as being available as a fast and free download Lanzarote Guidebook can also be delivered direct to any address in the UK at a cost of £3.59, which covers postage and packing.
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