Key facts:

6 bedrooms | 6 bathrooms | Plot: 2.873 m2 | Built: 794 m2 | Terrace: 96 m2 | Asking Price: 3.045.000 €

Ref. HSS6-1358

With over 40 years experience in the area, Holmes Sotogrande has become known as the specialist agent for the greater Sotogrande area

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We were first introduced to Sotogrande in 1996 by a colleague of mine who had recently bought a flat in the port.  I had told him that we were considering buying a second home and we had researched and visited Florida, France and also various ‘hotspots’ on the English Riviera but none felt right for us.  We were looking for a ‘home from home’ that was easy to get to but we also wanted an area that was not over developed or too commercialised.  We were initially nervous about Andalusia as our previous experiences had been in some of the busier resorts on the Costa del Sol but when we arrived in Sotogrande we felt immediately at home.

We first visited in October that year staying in one of the beach apartments.  We had two daughters at the time aged 4 and 2 with a third ‘on the way’.  Holmes had arranged our rental and we were introduced to Ian Bateman who spent 2 full mornings showing us around the estate.  We felt that Ian quickly identified with what we were looking for. We wanted a comfortable family home in a quiet, safe neighbourhood close to the beach and the other amenities that Sotogrande had to offer.  Spain was emerging from a deep recession at the time and we were cautious not to over invest but we were immediately struck by the outstanding value that could be achieved in Sotogrande particularly when compared to other areas on the Costa, as is still the case now.  We were particularly attracted to the neighbourhoods in the A and B zone and eventually opted to buy a plot so that we could design our own house, having been introduced by Ian to Colin McLundie, a prominent and highly regarded Sotogrande architect.  While Sotogrande was preparing to host the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, construction on our first home in Sotogrande began. We found the whole buying and development process to be very straightforward. There were no negative surprises, no cost over runs and building standards were were very high in all of the properties we had seen.  We spent our first summer holiday in Sotogrande in 1998.

We were particularly struck by how quickly the children settled here and by how much they looked forward to their visits which were obviously centred around school holidays.  Our children were able to enjoy a carefree outdoor lifestyle and we took advantage of everything that Sotogrande had to offer at the time including the beach, watching polo, sailing and learning to play golf and tennis.  We also spent time at our home out of season and we have enjoyed memorable New Year celebrations with other friends who have bought properties in Sotogrande. Although a key attraction of the area is its wonderful summer climate we all still look forward to coming down in the winter and enjoying a cosy Italian supper at our favourite restaurant, Lombardo’s, which was in fact the first we ever visited in Sotogrande.

Of course we thought carefully before investing in Sotogrande but honestly we have never looked back.  We built a second, larger home in 2003 as the family were growing and we are considering moving again as we approach retirement and plan to spend even more time here.  There is absolutely no question that our investment has been worthwhile.  In financial terms we have found our running costs to be quite modest compared to friends that have properties elsewhere in the world and in terms of the general well being and the happiness of our family, coming to Sotogrande has been one of the best decisions of our lives.

Our advice to families thinking of buying a holiday home in Sotogrande is to take the time to find the area that really suits them best.  Whether this is the quieter areas in Alto with wonderful sea and countryside views or the beautiful waterside apartments in the marina – there really is something for all tastes.  The best advice though would be to find somewhere with enough space for visitors as you will be surprised how many friends and family will want to come and stay!

The recent pandemic has been challenging for people all over the world, not least in Spain. We have sorely missed not being able to come to Sotogrande during the lockdown but it has made us realise how lucky we are to be able to look forward to visiting later in the year we hope, once the crisis has passed.

In my next blog, I will explore the possibilities Sotogrande offers to families who want to embrace the “new normal” how it has worked for families who have already decided to change their lifestyle and make Sotogrande their home

In the meantime, while we continue to live behind the veil and wait patiently for the “new normal” to reveal itself #Stayhome and #Staysafe.

Some ideal family homes away from home:

Town house Almenara

Penthouse Sotogrande Marina

Sea view villa

Modern villa gated complex

Family villa in Sotogrande Costa

Modern family villa La Reserva Club

Large family villa wih mountain and sea views

The post Sotogrande as a family destination for your home away from home post COVID-19. By Mr and Mrs H. appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

Whilst we all work to cope with life under lockdown, home schooling and keeping ourselves entertained, keeping active and trying to avoid getting our heads stuck in the kitchen fridge on our daily commute from the bedroom to the living room, we have all wondered how on earth is this going to end and how the future is going to pan out. The last five weeks have been very difficult times for many businesses in Sotogrande and for that matter, around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown response to bring the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus under control, has crashed stock markets, crushed sales and above all, fundamentally changed the way we communicate, socialise and consume. I see so many posts on social media asking what people will do first, once the lockdown is over, or where they will the go to eat or go on holiday. The thing is I am not quite sure how this will all end or if, in fact, if it will ever end. Will we or can we ever return to normal?

I see many friends, businesses and people in general in lockdown talking about the day the veil will be lifted and we can just get back into the routine we were accustomed to before COVID-19. My thoughts, however, have been very different. I have been thinking how can we ever get back to the way we were before and, actually, should we? Having thought about this, I feel that getting back to “normal” will only happen if we were to wake up one day and find the last three months has all been a bad dream, so the reality is, we can never get back to “normal” we can only start again in the “new normal”. So what will the new normal look like? I will try to answer this from the perspective of my life and our business and our home, Sotogrande.

As a family, my wife Kristina, very quickly saw the upside that we will most likely never have this opportunity again to spend so much time together without the bores of life getting in the way. Like many, the first week or two were stressful working out how to keep ourselves safe, protect the business and how to safeguard our lively hoods. After the panic had subsided and we were able to settle into our new routine, very much like going on holiday, except it does not end with a flight home and back to the grind on the Monday morning as if the last two weeks had been a blur. We have now well settled in for the long haul. As a family of 7, we have found a new way to be in our home together, we have found new routines and new levels of tolerance. We have also learned what we each need to do to be more tolerable and less selfish. Mostly we have also realised we need to spend more time doing more things together, particularly the activities that we take for granted, that we have on our doorstep and which we, by the privilege we have of living in such a wonderful place like Sotogrande, have so easily available to us. Once the veil is lifted, we have promised to remember to unwind and leave the bores of life at the front door and to remember to be present. We have promised to spend more time outside, more time playing sport, more time at the beach and more time together enjoying each others´company. We have realised that we are very fortunate to be able to have the quality of life we have here in Sotogrande, unlike so many other places in the world, for instance, the towns and cities where many of the families who visit Sotogrande for their holidays live. Our supermarkets have been well stocked, we have not had too many queues, our neighbours are friendly and respectful and our infrastructure is superb. We have the space to breath and space to play. We have great internet connections and we have great schools right here, even in the lockdown they have continued to provide excellent virtual learning.

So what will we look forward to most when we can safely leave the house together, where will we go, what will we do? Mostly we will make more effort to continue to cook and eat together at home, go to the beach, go for bike rides, go for walks, play more sport and maybe Mummy and Daddy will remember a date night and go out for a nice meal every now and again. We can enjoy these activities all the more now we know what we have truly missed the most and do less of what we found that we have not missed at all.

From the perspective of the owner of a long established real estate agency in Sotogrande, I have worried about how this will effect the real estate market, I worry about our team and their families needs at this time and when we do move into the new normal, we all will still need to earn a living. I hope that there will be a swift recovery and many of our applicants will pick up where they left off and plan their next visit to Sotogrande to continue to look for their new holiday home. When or will this happen? I am sure many will be thinking that it is unlikely that, if it does, it will be any time soon. The pessimist in me tends to agree, however, the optimistic me, during these difficult times, has shone through and reminded me that what is important is the need for those times when families can get together and be together and take a break from routine to allow them to reconnect. Those times will be ever so much more cherished, so a home away from home could well be the best way to achieve this as a family in the new normal of the future.

Family holidays enjoyed in second homes or in rented homes give families the opportunity to be together, cook together, eat together and enjoy life together, leaving the bores of life behind. Holiday homes, unlike hotels, allow you the flexibility to spend more time away giving you the chance to really unwind from the daily grind and to reconnect in the comfort of your home away from home. Adults and children can meet new people and make friends for life, who like them are also enjoying their home away from home. Year after year you can pick up where you left off. It is no wonder holiday homes are so cherished and hold a special place in peoples memories.
Besides families looking forward to spending time together in their homes away from home, I also envisage that, since so many have been forced to work from home, the realisation that there is a real possibility that many will be able to make a more permanent a lifestyle choice and move out of the towns and cities to warmer climes where they can live and enjoy a quality of life in places, like Sotogrande, that can offer this throughout the year without the need to change careers. The great schools, high speed broadband and international connections make Sotogrande along with the great facilities and natural environment that surrounds it, a prime destination for a lifestyle move.

I hope the new normal will be founded in our new found family togetherness, our new found appreciation of the freedom we have to be able to spend time outside enjoying outdoor activities together with friends and family. I also hope that we will appreciate the work force we have all taken for granted, and remember that we are all just as vulnerable as each other and we are all just trying to get by and live our best lives. Wealth and privilege suddenly mean nothing. In the face of a common threat let our humility shine through to help us to remember to appreciate one another.

In my next blog, I will explore the possibilities Sotogrande offers to families who want to embrace the “new normal” how it has worked for families who have already made this lifestyle change and those families who have made the most of a family holiday home in Sotogrande as their children have grown up.

In the meantime, while we continue to live behind the veil and wait patiently for the “new normal” to reveal itself #Stayhome and #Staysafe.

Some ideal family homes away from home:

Town house Almenara

Penthouse Sotogrande Marina

Sea view villa

Modern villa gated complex

Family villa in Sotogrande Costa

Modern family villa La Reserva Club

Large family villa wih mountain and sea views

The post Our Family, Holmes Sotogrande, the Sotogrande property market and COVID-19. appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

On 8^th December, Sotogrande’s Christmas lights are switched on. This is an event that is not to be missed and every year it is attended by people of all ages. For Sotogrande residents the event marks the start of the Christmas period, and this year it takes place at 19:00hrs with the support of the La Marina and Jugarnia restaurants. Moreover, it is followed by Christmas carol singing and the all-important opening of Santa’s Grotto.

On 12^th December, L’Olive restaurant is hosting a Christmas Cooking show presented by chef Cristina Gutierrez. If you want to impress your guests this Christmas, Cristina has some useful tips for you.

Sotogrande has always been known for its markets, and its Christmas market at the Ribera del Marlin on 15^th December is definitely not to be missed. It is organised by Sotogrande International School and is open from 12:00hrs to 16:00hrs.

Golf plays an important role in Sotogrande life, and on 22^nd December there is an open golf tournament using the Stableford/Scratch format at La Reserva golf club.

Christmas dining
Sotogrande is known for its excellent restaurants, and where better to enjoy a Christmas lunch than at La Reserva club’s L’Olive restaurant. It is serving its famous Christmas brunch from 11hrs, and you can fully enjoy Christmas without having to do any cleaning up afterwards.

On New Year’s Eve, Polo One restaurant in Sotogrande Port is hosting a sumptuous four course meal, priced at 55€, to see out 2019 and welcome in 2020 with champagne and grapes. Whilst the Almenara Hotel is presenting a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner (tickets 185€) that is followed by a party with live music and an open bar.

A Sotogrande Christmas is a very special one – make sure you visit sometime and discover why so many people choose to live here.

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To start with, the famous long, warm summers do not suddenly evaporate and turn into harsh, cold winters. In fact, winter is one of the nicest times to be in southern Spain, as the temperatures are warm but mild, with lots of gentle sun and occasional soft breezes, interspersed with days with cloud cover and drizzle.

The latter make for comfy days by the fireplace, shopping for Christmas gifts or visiting cosy country restaurants or any of the fine dining establishments in the area. The Christmas period is a highly sociable one in these parts, with colleagues, friends and family organising get-togethers in restaurants and tapas bars.

Sport, shopping, socialising, dining and nature
The many Christmas fairs in the area also add a sense of community and herald in the season, along with brightly coloured street decorations, yet the winter experience here extends beyond the Festive Season to a period of the year that is also all about enjoying fine dining, spending quality time at home with friends and family, heading out into the countryside on day trips and enjoying some of the best year-round conditions for sports such as golf, tennis, paddle tennis and horse riding.

Winter offers a perfect time to walk on peaceful beaches and take in the scenery and views; follow hiking and biking trails, walk the dog in nature or head into the countryside on horseback. It’s a time to find out what lays behind those hills and venture inland into the beautiful valleys, mountain ranges and country villages. Take in nearby Castellar, with its petting zoo, or Gaucín, Cortes de la Frontera and many other pretty mountain villages.

You will also enjoy Andalucía’s cities this time of year; lively and warm yet not as filled with tourists and summer heat they really lend themselves to exploring. Among the many to experience are Málaga, Ronda, Cádiz, Jerez de Frontera – home of sherry – and Seville, while in the winter months the snowy ski resorts of the Sierra Nevada, just three hours away, beckon.

Come in the winter and you will discover a whole new Sotogrande waiting for you.

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Indeed, you could say that there has been a British love affair with Sotogrande from the first, and how could it not be so, with such superb golf courses, horse riding, polo and yachting to be enjoyed in an area that still offers so much open countryside and unmarred views? In addition to this, what also appeals greatly to British homebuyers and visitors who choose Sotogrande is its space, genteel pace of life, first-class amenities, unspoiled beaches and natural areas, charming eateries and meeting points – and for those who live here year-round, one of the best international schools in Spain and a true sense of community.

The area therefore attracts lovers of golf, polo, sailing and equestrian pursuits, as well as those who enjoy spacious homes, country properties close to the beach and also a stylish, cosmopolitan living environment that is also close to the authentically Spanish Andalusian hinterland. Drive a short distance and you’re on the sandy beaches of Tarifa’s surfer’s paradise, in historic jewels such as Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera and Seville, in the midst of open nature or entering a charming country village. Marbella, too, is just a half-hour drive away, offering its own range of amenities and diversions whenever you want it.

Brexit and other challenges notwithstanding, Sotogrande seems set to remain a firm favourite with British visitors and homebuyers who yearn for quality, style and authentic experiences. Long may it last!

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Already an existing gated country club community with its own golf course, clubhouse facilities and small collection of elegant townhouses, La Reserva Club de Sotogrande is now the focal point of new development within Sotogrande. The process began with improvement works on the already beautiful course, the renovation of the clubhouse, which now also features an excellent restaurant, the upgrading of the racket club – which features top tennis and paddle tennis facilities – and the creation of a manmade sports lake and beach club complete with restaurant, lagoon with beach, adults-only pool deck and water sports.

Any boats required for the latter are electrically driven, in keeping with the philosophy of not disturbing nature and providing an ambience free of loud noise, and the lake is surrounded by pathways and panoramic spots that invite residents to enjoy the natural beauty and views across much of Sotogrande.

The Beach, as this area near the clubhouse is known, is the focal point of La Reserva Club de Sotogrande, attracting a discerning international clientele, but equally important is the real estate development that is forming the heart of a new community within the wider Sotogrande community. It is designed to appeal to the same kind of discerning homebuyer who may enjoy the amenities and diversions of Marbella, but prefers a more peaceful, select living environment. The villas of the Mirador and the superlative properties of The Seven – super-deluxe designed villas set within a private parkland landscape – cater to this market, as does an exciting new garden community of luxury but attractively priced apartments called Village Verde.

Set within abundant greenery, Village Verde offers excellent design, on-site amenities and beautiful apartments and penthouses enveloped in greenery. Please contact us if you would like to know more about La Reserva one of Sotogrande’s most exciting new property developments.

Photos courtesy of: La Reserva Club Sotogrande (www.lareservaclubsotogrande.com)

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Within the Costa del Golf there are several ‘hotspots’ where quantity and excellence come together, but few places even in this part of southern Spain can boast the proud pedigree of Sotogrande when it comes to all things golf. We have hosted many a major international tournament over the years, including the Volvo Masters and of course the legendary 1997 Ryder Cup, which helped to cement the already stellar reputation of the Valderrama Golf Club among a global audience.

Sotogrande embodies everything that is special about golf
With superlative courses such as San Roque, La Reserva de Sotogrande and of course the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande and Valderrama, this area can boast of representing the cream of the sport not just in southern Spain, but quite frankly on a European level. Spanish stars such as Sergio García, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Jon Rahm are seen here regularly, and they are joined by the good and great of the sport – as well as many an internationally famous face from other fields of endeavour.

This year, Sotogrande again hosts a major international tournament, the 2019 Valderrama Masters, which will draw an impressive field of the game’s best players between the 26^th and 30^th of June. Local and international fans will flock to see the action, and of course the hospitality offered at this prestigious golf club and within the exclusive Sotogrande is second to none. Book your tickets now and make sure you enjoy Sotogrande at its best.

The post The cream of Andalusian Golf? In Sotogrande! appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

Located approximately ninety minutes’ drive from New York’s cosmopolitan centre, the scenery of The Hamptons is not only picturesque and peaceful, but replete with first class facilities. House owners with a taste for the good life have access to fine dining, designer boutiques and trendy bars alongside the beautiful beaches of the region.

Investors searching for a Spanish Hamptons on the Costa del Sol should investigate Sotogrande as their first port of call. The area is now considered one of the most prestigious residential addresses in Europe, understandably so, and second for many of the same reasons that The Hamptons are so popular in the US.

Sotogrande was founded in the early 1960s by developers who had real aspirations for it to become one of the finest, most stylish resorts in the world. Today the development has achieved their high expectations and attracts new residents due to it’s scenery, facilities, famous yachting marina and international sporting events.

Sotogrande’s prime situation, only a half hour drive to the cosmopolitan centres of Marbella and Puerto Banús, is framed by cork forests, sandy beaches and the striking green fairways of world class golf courses. As Sotogrande has grown over the years it has consistently adhered to strict building controls that ensure low building densities and a respect for the natural beauty of it’s privileged surroundings.

With a high-end infrastructure similar to that of The Hamptons, residents of Sotogrande also have access to five-star restaurants, designer shopping and first-class services. However, Sotogrande has two distinct advantages over its American cousin: you don’t have to navigate traffic jams and crowded roads to reach it, and the climate here is wonderful throughout most of the year.

 Holmes Property Sales is Sotogrande’s most respected real estate agent due to the company’s professionalism and long time establishment at the heart of this Spanish resort. If you are considering buying a new or second home in Sotogrande this year, contact Holmes Property today to discuss an exclusive portfolio that includes luxury golf villas and waterside penthouse apartments.

The post Sotogrande: The Spanish Hamptons with extra sunshine appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

The Real Club Maritimo Sotogrande (Royal Sotogrande Yacht Club)  was born in the 1980s from a high local demand for sailing and training facilities. Its establishment has helped to make Sotogrande the superbly well-equipped maritime destination it is today.

Regattas
The Sotogrande Yacht Club organises and hosts at least 20 prestigious regattas per year, including local, regional, national and even global catamaran, Hobie Cat and cruise races. Two of its prestigious annual activities are the spectacular RC44 World Championship Tour, dubbed the ‘Formula-1 of sailing’, and the J80 World Championships, which captivate the worldwide sailing community and draw great attention to Sotogrande.

For a more localised event, don’t miss the Interclubs del Estrecho sailing competition organised each November by the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club and the Algeciras Port Authority.

Needless to say, the number of beautiful boats that gather in this prestigious location is truly impressive, as is watching the teams compete across the blue waters of the Campo de Gibraltar.

Charters
The Costa del Sol is all the more impressive when you see it from the sea. Sotogrande offers a wide variety of charters of all sizes and types, from sailing yachts to power boats and catamarans. You can hire a boat for half a day, a full day or weeks on end, skippered or un-skippered with pick up anywhere from Gibraltar to Marbella – the choice really is yours!

The itinerary options are also numerous: a day out in the Straits of Gibraltar, with dolphins swimming alongside you; a trip across to Morocco or Ceuta for some fantastic cuisine and change of culture; a cruise along the coast to glitzy Puerto Banús or Marbella; or simply a peaceful sail to a lovely spot nearby, anchoring off a bay for a swim and a picnic aboard as you soak up the sunshine.

Yachting Sotogrande provides a full list of charter options and prices for you to choose from.

About Holmes
Holmes Property Sales is Sotogrande’s longest-established property agency; located at the heart of the estate, the company provides a professional, friendly and knowledgeable service to those looking for quality Sotogrande real estate.

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