Santina’s Journal

Real stories about buying, living and investing on the Costa del Sol. Our team is comprised of four families who grew up here, went to school here and raised their own kids here. We write about the things people actually ask us: what areas feel right, what the process really looks like, and what we wish someone had told us when we started.

Estepona Breaks Ground on Its New Velodrome, Football and Rugby Complex Estepona

Estepona Breaks Ground on Its New Velodrome, Football and Rugby Complex

Estepona broke ground on 15 July on a new velodrome, football and rugby complex beside the Monterroso stream and the Camino de…

Mar Sipos 4 min read
Hospiten Estepona Expands Its Eye Unit: Why It Matters Lifestyle

Hospiten Estepona Expands Its Eye Unit: Why It Matters

Hospiten Estepona has turned its ophthalmology department into a specialist eye centre. Why healthcare upgrades like this change the relocation maths.

Mar Sipos 4 min read
Where to Watch Spain Play Football on the Costa del Sol Lifestyle

Where to Watch Spain Play Football on the Costa del Sol

When Spain reached the 2026 World Cup final, the western Costa del Sol didn’t wait to be told what to do. Estepona,…

Diego Enrile 5 min read
Gibraltar Opens Its Border: What It Means for Buyers Here Market Update

Gibraltar Opens Its Border: What It Means for Buyers Here

The Gibraltar treaty removes the border fence just as the Rock tightens its residency rules. What that means for property in Sotogrande,…

Mickey Sturhoofd 5 min read
Kena by Akiro: Marbella’s New Nikkei Rooftop Lifestyle

Kena by Akiro: Marbella’s New Nikkei Rooftop

Diego spent an evening at Kena by Akiro, the new Nikkei rooftop above El Fuerte Marbella. Ceviche, hand rolls and a table…

Diego Enrile 5 min read
Spain’s New Housing Decree: What the July Measures Really Mean Investment

Spain’s New Housing Decree: What the July Measures Really Mean

Spain's new housing measures arrive by royal decree in July. What the package actually says, and what it means for owners, landlords…

Mar Sipos 10 min read
Armani Residences Marbella: Inside the New Golden Mile Development Investment

Armani Residences Marbella: Inside the New Golden Mile Development

The building permit is signed and Armani Residences Marbella is real. What we know about the Golden Mile's most talked about new…

Diego Enrile 8 min read
Sunset Terraces Between Guadalmansa and Estepona Lifestyle

Sunset Terraces Between Guadalmansa and Estepona

Between Guadalmansa and Estepona East the evenings do something special. A look at the sunset terraces that make this stretch of coast…

Mar Sipos 9 min read
The Saudi Royal Family Is Expanding Its Marbella Estate Investment

The Saudi Royal Family Is Expanding Its Marbella Estate

Finca Al Riyadh is expanding on Marbella's Golden Mile: 185 million euros in appraised land value, 30.7 million in compensation, and nearly…

Mickey Sturhoofd 8 min read
The Padel Circuit That Brought Alcaraz to Puente Romano Lifestyle

The Padel Circuit That Brought Alcaraz to Puente Romano

The night Carlos Alcaraz turned up at Puente Romano, and what the padel boom says about Marbella's place on the sporting map.

Diego Enrile 6 min read
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