It seems like our English winter will never end and traditionally the months of January to March are when the tour operators launch their annual bid to get you to book your two weeks' holiday abroad. But recently the travel market is reporting serious changes on how tourists are choosing to holiday. "People are travelling more often but going away for a shorter period of time, what we're actually seeing in the insurance industry is an increase in the sales of annual travel policies," said Dawn McMullen, Travel Product Development Manager for Norwich Union.
 | | Holiday makers in Spain |
Her comments are music to the ears of low cost, no frills airlines like Fly Be. Mike Rutter the Chief Commercial Officer for the airline said they are aiming to capitalise upon the frequent flyer market. "We plan to be the first European airline to launch a frequent flyer loyalty scheme. Basically what we're doing is linking people with the major second home market places in Spain," he said. "There are 1m Brits who have second homes within an hour's drive of Alicante and there's one and a half million Brits with second homes within an hour's drive of Malaga airport," he added. One man who's bought a 'one way' ticket is Thomas Ginn. At 23 years old he is turning his back on life in the UK and leaving to start a business abroad. "I like Spain, everyone knows that the Costa Del Sol is the English place to go in Spain, you can get properties really cheap and it's lovely sunny weather," he said. His comments deliver the stark reality of what hundreds of thousands of people from Norfolk are finding, the only issue is what came first the chicken – second home owners creating a demand for flights, or the egg – the flights making it easier to get to a second home. Home sweet second home
 | | A typical Spanish property |
Until recently homes in the Costa Del Sol were reserved for millionaires, criminals and dreamers. High house prices in the UK have helped kick start a trend of ordinary working class people, borrowing a bit more against their UK home and buying a pad abroad. Christopher Hall is a Norfolk based Estate Agent who has recently diversified and now offers properties abroad. "We're getting enquiries from across the range of potential buyers," he said. "First time buyers where prices are so much cheaper in Spain, businessmen who are finding it difficult to invest in pension funds right through to a retired person looking for a cheaper but better standard of living," he added. Pitfalls Potential buyers are reminded of pitfalls in the system - as you are dealing with a different country, language and legal system. Jackie Pastrone is a Legal Assistant based in the resort town of Nerja and emphasises the importance of getting a lawyer.
 | | Colin Sayer talks to Richard Attoe, by Jon Peatey |
"The worst case scenario could be houses that have electricity but don't pay for it because the supply is illegal and you can get illegal water supplies. All that can happen if it’s not checked out properly," she said. Despite rumours of crime hotspots, Spain remains a relatively safe place to live. According to the seventh UN crime survey of crime trends for 1998 to 2000, there were only 24,000 burglaries in Spain compared to 836,000 in the UK and 371,000 in France. Blossoming market Closer to home, the local regional building society has tapped onto the blossoming market place of southern Spain. "We lend up to £10 million a year on the coast of southern Spain. We serve 10,000 customers out of our Gibraltar branch and we've outgrown two premises there and employ 11 or 12 staff there," said Mike Sketch from Norwich & Peterborough Building Society. One man who has bought property abroad is Deryk Riches. He and his partner still keep a home in Norfolk but spend most of their time at their converted finca in the hills above Malaga.
 | | Simon Adams of H2O, by Jon Peatey |
"For me it's exactly what I imagined we would have, but it's better than I thought we would have," he said. Sipping or Serving the Sangria? Travelling to Spain is getting easier, but what about living that holiday dream of running a beach bar? "I was in management and was very stressed out doing the ordinary nine to five so I thought 'why not?'" said Colin Sayer who took the plunge and moved to Spain from Norwich four years ago. "A lot of people will come down, in the first year they'll have a good summer season they'll earn a lot of money then go out and spend it. Then the winter comes then they're in problems," he said. "Most people when they come see it through holiday makers' eyes, then the reality kicks in that they've got to work for a living," he added. The Black Horse bar on the beachside at Playa Burriana is the classic tale of British pub meets Spanish sun. Around the corner a more contemporary effort from Simon Adams at the H2O bar. "It's bit of a dream and a bit of a nightmare - you can't come here and sit on a beach – you've got to work!" said Simon Adams. | 
