One annual event which boosts the local rental bookings in the Costa de la Luz is the Sunshine Tour held annually at Montenmedio close to Vejer de la Frontera. This annual equestrian event sees professional riders visiting from all over the world to compete in show jumping, dressage and carriage driving events.

We have seen a steady increase in the number of rental enquiries we receive for the Sunshine Tour over the years we have been a rental agent in Vejer de la Frontera and many of our clients are now on their 4th and 5th visit.

Repeat business is vital in the rental market and repeat custom comes directly from the service you provide to your clients. The key points are flexibility, local knowledge and providing a quality product at a competitive price.

This year again saw full occupancy for our rental clients and with a normal rental of 5/6 weeks in each property, it is a good income and steady trade for both the property owners and us as agents.

The Carnival this year in Cadiz also provided record bookings for our Cadiz properties and the rental income for a 3 night stay can equal the income for a whole month in winter. Although the numbers on the streets were down a little on previous years, partly due to the reconstruction of the main square (Plaza San Juan de Dios) which was closed to the public, the many thousands who attended the Carnival had a fabulous time and provisional bookings have already been made for next year.

Every town in the Costa de la Luz offers varied and attractive events which can bring people in to the area. In Sanlucar de Barrameda yet another equestrian event attracts rental clients in August for the annual horse races on the beach, where the horses under the control of professional international jockeys thunder up the flattened sand to win prizes well in to the hundreds of thousands of euros.

The many ferias throughout Andalucia also bring people not only from other countries in to the area but attract thousands of visitors from other parts of Spain. Every town and village has a Feria and they all attract tourists who need accommodation.

So remember when you decide to rent, don´t only look at the obvious, like the local beach as an attraction, also look at the events in your area which may attract additional visitors.

How do you choose the best holiday let?  It is a question I am often asked and the best advice I can give you is stick to a few basic rules and you cannot go far wrong.

Be honest with yourself about the type of holiday you want.  If you like evening entertainment then a property in a quiet location like Zahara de los Atunes may not be the best idea and if you are seeking a chill zone then the centre of Cadiz City is not for you.

Think about who you are travelling with.   If it is a  family holiday with grandparents  in tow then you need to consider accessibility to the house, bedroom, loo etc.  If you have small children then a villa with a pool might be more of a stress than a relaxation as you leap up and down making sure they don´t fall in.

Teenagers although they are relatively safe with a pool providing alcohol does not get in the way need something to do with themselves so you may want to be near a surf school where they can take some lessons and give you a break from the “I´m bored” whine that sometimes follows the 13 – 17 year old brigade around on holiday.

Two weeks in the middle of nowhere might be some people´s idea of heaven but especially if you are a townie the silence might drive you mad not to mention having to get the car out every time you want a pint of milk or an ice cream for the kids.
You need to rent a property which fits your family comfortably.  A sofa bed can be very useful  for the odd sleep over or weekend stay but if you are on holiday do you really want to put a bed up and down every day.  Plus if it is in the same room as the TV or where you intend to sit at nights you could be in for a few early nights if the person sleeping on it likes their kip.

Thanks to modern flight you can get to any country in the world but getting to the holiday let might need additional transport so you want to plan ahead.  There is no point in arriving at an airport after the last train or bus has gone and the taxis have gone home for the night.  If you are going to hire a car then check it out in advance as not all hire companies keep fleets of cars waiting at the airport.  Some only bring vehicles in when they have been booked in advance and although Spain is has a modern road and rail system there are areas such as Cadiz to Algeciras where there is no train line.  Although this will be remedied in the near future,  for now you need to be aware  and make alternative plans.
Factor in some extra cash for transport, a walk into the village is very enjoyable but the walk back with a few glasses of vino on board or carrying the two year old can dull the evenings enjoyment.  So you may need to get a taxi and they are dearer out with normal hours.  Then there is the day trip which in planning seems like a cheap day out but by the time you add it all up it can knock a hole in your pocket,  so a bit of spare cash will come in handy for the unforeseen extras.
Insurance, I know we all hate paying it because in general we never need to use it and it seems like money wasted but if your luggage goes missing or you have an unexpected health problem all of a sudden it comes in to its own.  Get something in place before you leave home for all it costs it is money well spent.

Now you would think it was self explanatory that when you are coming from a foreign country on holiday you will not be bringing your sheets and towels with you but in Spain some holiday let properties do not included linen and towels.  Always check before you book just in case.  It is also common for people to require that you clean the property before you leave so it is the same standard as when you arrived or pay for a clean.  This can be a fair bit of money so again make sure exactly what the deal is before you book.

Nothing is worse than arriving for your holiday to find the pool closed.   The resultant child tantrums don´t get the hols off to a good start so checking opening dates before you book  is really important.  Unfortunately, owners are not responsible if the pool has been closed due to unforeseen circumstances like a broken pump during the season but you can at least avoid booking out of season by checking the information in advance.

Lastly, and most importantly, most people like to go out for a meal or two while on holiday.  It gives mum a break from the kitchen and give you an opportunity to mix with the locals and see a bit of the holiday destination by night.  However, a bad meal can be a real mar on your holiday so make sure you take some sound advice.  Ask in advance where is good and have a cruise past to see if it is busy and what the place looks like before you book.   Don´t be afraid to ask to see the menu as this is quite acceptable in Spain and you might even want to have a drink in the bar and spend the time eyeing the set up to see if it looks like a place you will enjoy.

Well, that is the best advice I can give you.  Have a lovely holiday and hopefully we will see you again next year.