simply-shuttles

  Not all parts of the Costa del Sol are those that the average person who has never visited southern Spain will be able to instantly recall: think the likes of Marbella, Fuengirola, Torremolinos, and so on.  Indeed, many of us are so used to the notion of the Costa del Sol being a highly familiar focal point for tourism, that we might easily overlook some parts of the region that offer an abundance of charms and stimulations.  Puerto de la Duquesa, or simply ‘Duquesa’ as it is referred to locally, is an excellent example of this. A relatively modern ‘suburb’ of the Manilva municipality, it is not exactly one of the first names on most people’s lips when they are considering a visit to southern Spain, in quite the same way as Marbella, Estepona, and Sotogrande are.  But should Duquesa be better known, or is it best left as one of the Costa del Sol’s best-kept secrets?  We reckon it’s probably too late for much chance of the latter, as this thriving loc...

  A new campaign from Royal Gibraltar Police, ‘Operation Stratos’, has warned that UK gangs have been flying to the British Overseas Territory to attempt to scam Main Street shopkeepers out of goods worth thousands of pounds.  As reported by the Gibraltar Chronicle , it is estimated that over £100,000 worth of items has been stolen from local shops over the past two years, using a particular type of card fraud.  The scam involves fraudsters from the UK visiting Gibraltar, and pretending to be employees of fake businesses who are purchasing large amounts of luxury goods including jewellery, perfumes, suitcases, and electronic equipment.  These are expensive purchases and while it may often look like thousands are being spent in a single transaction, the bank cards used are fraudulent – either stolen or bought on the dark web. Retailers that are victims of the ruse never receive the funds, but the fraudsters are still able to head back to the UK with the produc...

  So many of us are so accustomed to the notion of the Costa del Sol as the archetypal region for tourists to soak up the sun, that we might almost forget there is another side to this acclaimed region: the one that evokes a more ‘olde-worlde’, unspoilt, and traditional Spain.  Yes, if that ’s the Spain you wish to experience during your time in this part of Andalucia, you will have the opportunity to experience plenty of it in San Pedro de Alcántara.  San Pedro is located on the main Costa del Sol coastal road, some 60 kilometres – or an approximately 50-minute drive away – from Málaga Airport. This surprisingly untouched pueblo can be found just 10 kilometres west from glamorous Marbella, and you will also be just a few minutes away by car from the jaw-dropping Sierra de Ronda mountain range when you visit here.  However, it is by no means just a convenient location and a more ‘old-timey’ feel that make San Pedro de Alcántara a must-experience part of the C...