Not only that, but seven of the Top 10 Climbers are traditional Spanish destinations, with Marbella and Estepona both scoring highly for the Costa del Sol, while Estepona and Benalmádena are respectively in 4^th and 10^th place in Rightmove Overseas’ Top 10 Trending Searches.

“People aren’t just looking at property in Europe, they are buying there as well,” says Charles Purdy, Smart Currency Exchange MD. “With the €/£ exchange rate hitting €1.23/£ – a rate last seen 24 months ago – there’s been record buying of Euros over the last month, with France and Spain continuing to be at the top of the list for lifestyle buyers.”

The 47th edition of the Volvo World Match Play Championship takes place in the spectacular setting of Finca Cortesin

Costa del Sol, Costa del Golf… and true to its name, the Coast is hosting the only match play event to be held in Europe this season – and one of the most prestigious of tournaments. Just outside Casares, roughly midway between Marbella and Sotogrande, Finca Cortesin has been the home of the Volvo World Match Play Championship since 2009. This year, for the first time in the tournament’s history, not only will half the field be US PGA Tour members, but it’s also the first time that three Spanish players have qualified for the Championship…

Repeating last year’s successful format, the players will be divided into eight groups of three for the round-robin stage on Thursday and Friday, to decide which 16 players progress to Saturday’s knock-out, with the semi-finals and final on Sunday. And to add to the anticipation, this year there’s a very special hole-in-one prize on the 10^th hole, where the players will have the chance to win a gleaming new Volvo V40.

South Africa's Branden Grace lifting the trophy at this year's Volvo Golf Champions. Photo by Carl Fourie / Sunshine Tour

The elite 24-man field – representing 12 different nations and featuring 15 of the world’s top 60 players – sees England leading the charge with six players qualifying for the 2012 Volvo World Match Play Championship, including defending Champion Ian Poulter and World No. 9 Justin Rose. Eleven players will be making their Volvo World Match Play Championship debut, including American star Brandt Snedeker, Australia’s John Senden and Sweden’s Peter Hanson who finished third at the recent US Masters. Paul Casey – winner of the 2006 Volvo China Open and 2011 Volvo Golf Champions – is the recipient of the sponsors’ invitation.

Having already won the 2012 Volvo China Open and Volvo Golf Champions, South Africa’s rising star Branden Grace will be battling to secure a Volvo Grand Slam to celebrate his 24^th birthday, while Spain’s three contenders – Sergio García, Álvaro Quirós and Rafael Cabrera-Bello – all have their eyes firmly set on becoming the first Spanish winner since the Championship moved from Wentworth to Spain in 2009, and since Seve Ballesteros triumphed in 1991.

England's Ian Poulter will be defending his title at Finca Cortesin

“I can’t wait to return to Spain to defend my title,” says Ian Poulter. “I love the cut and thrust of match play and it’s a refreshing change from the usual stroke play format we play week in and week out on the Tour. Since it’s a Ryder Cup year, I think it’ll be even more exciting this year, with every match from the group stages to the final a chance for aspiring team members to impress Captain Olazábal in what is our final chance to play match play before Medinah.”

The 47^th edition of the Volvo World Match Play Championship takes place in the spectacular setting of Finca Cortesin – whose challenging greens and fairways were designed by Cabell Robinson – from 17 to 20 May. To be sure not to miss it, you can get your advance tickets here.

Six hours of culture... and all for free!

Now in its 5^th year, the event has been organised by the provincial capital’s cultural department and is “a celebration of Málaga’s unique character – a city that’s innovative, dynamic, Mediterranean, cosmopolitan, modern, cultural, artistic, and creative.”

Kicking off at 8pm, and closing at 2am, this year’s Noche en Blanco theme – ‘A night full of smiles. A night to smile’ – sums it up nicely. Especially since, like I said before, everything is free. Yep, even entrance to the 16 museums taking part, including the prestigious Museo Picasso and Museo Carmen Thyssen; the 14 exhibition halls that have signed-up to the event; plus all the city’s most famous landmarks such as the Alcazaba; as well as art galleries, theatres and cinemas… is absolutely gratis!

Visit the Carmen Thyssen Museum and they'll give you a mask of the face of Ramon Casas Carbó's 'Julia'. Just put it on, and add your own smile!

The extensive, action-packed 6-hour programme falls into six categories: Art, Music, Street Art, Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Special Visits, so to say there’s something for everyone is an understatement of mammoth proportions. I only wish we had room to list every single option on offer, but sadly that’s not possible. So, where to begin? Well, let’s start with live music…

More than 50 live performances around the city.

Portuguese Fados in the garden of the Museo Picasso, rock at the CAC Málaga, pop-rock in the Recinto Eduardo Ocón, jazz bands playing on the streets of the Soho district, singer Mikel Erentxun in the Plaza de la Constitución, more than 100 members of the Provincial Youth Orchestra will be entertaining in the Plaza de la Merced, Málaga’s world-famous Café Central will be hosting a flamenco show, there’s Sephardic music at the Teatro Cervantes, or head for the Plaza del Obispo where a lone pianist will be tinkling the ivories. In all there are more than 50 live music performances to choose from.

How about doing something completely different in the middle of the night? Like taking a guided tour of the historic English Cemetery, by the light of the moon.

Or how about doing something completely different in the middle of the night? Like joining a starlit guided tour of the Alcazaba maybe, or perhaps the historic English Cemetery by the light of the moon… Then there’s the MIMMA Interactive Museum of Music which extends an invitation to ‘Touch, please play’, wine tastings at the Museo del Vino, the heady mix of live music and spectacular cars at the Málaga Motor Museum, or even the chance to try out a traditional Jábega fishing boat at the Astilleros Nereo boatbuilding yard.

Málaga Motor Museum (Museo Automovilístico de Málaga), live music and a cavalcade of head-turning cars!

All this and I haven’t even got started yet on the huge lineup of events, shows, performances and exhibitions for all ages, within the categories of art, street art, visual arts and performing arts!

So why not take a look at the Noche en Blanco website where you can also download the full programme, pity it’s only in Spanish though.

'Piano de los Pobres' - Feel the music through the soles of your feet - at Tribuna de los Pobres, C/ Carretería.

Or better still, simply head for Málaga – Plaza de la Merced in the Old Town is a good place to start – and soak up the atmosphere. It’s a great way to get better acquainted with the capital of the Costa del Sol, and see it in a whole new light! There will be teams of volunteers on hand who can tell you what’s on where and how to get there. But since last year’s Noche en Blanco attracted more than 203,000 visitors, best to get there in plenty of time to grab a parking space.

And then, with 6 non stop hours of culture for free, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear!

England Squad Football Team Euro 2012

As recently reported in both The Times and on the BBC website – by journalists who were able to see paperwork on an agenda handed to new England boss Roy Hodgson, during his appointment as manager by the FA last week – it’s now been revealed that the entire England Squad and their entourage will be spending their first week together with Hodgson at the helm at VIVA’s long-time HOT favourite, La Cala Resort.

England coach Ray Lewington & England manager Roy Hodgson

This will bring exceptional exposure for the Costa del Sol, since wherever the England team goes, a whole circus of Press, TV and other media are sure to follow. It couldn’t be better and along with Michelle Obama’s visit to the Coast in 2010, plus a host of other good news stories, it will give us all a shot in the arm and a much-needed confidence boost.

The England Under-21 Squad during their 5-day training camp at La Cala Resort in 2011

It’s a stunning yet well deserved coup for La Cala Resort and their entire management team. Not only the largest golf resort in Europe – with its three renowned courses, David Leadbetter Golf Academy, Hotel, Spa and of course Football Training Academy – its choice by England is a reflection of the sheer presence, standard and range of its simply outstanding facilities. And it’s evidence that the Resort’s careful and exceptional development plan, particularly over the last 15 years, is now paying off in huge dividends.

La Cala Resort's careful and exceptional development plan is now paying off in huge dividends.

Indeed La Cala Resort is recognised as the perfect model and example to any future project in terms of offering true value and real delivery of promise for property owners, hotel guests, visiting golfers… and now of course the England squad in its entirety.

When the England players report for their 4-day La Cala Resort training camp on 21 May, it’ll be the first time Roy Hodgson actually gets to meet his team.

Well done La Cala Resort! You have a special place on the Costa del Sol map, and congratulations on being chosen by team England as the outstanding resort of choice for their European Nations Championship preparations.

Málaga airport's runway 2

According to a report in Spanish provincial daily newspaper Diario Sur, having received the necessary certification from the State Air Security Agency (AESA), confirming that it meets the requirements laid down by the International Civil Aviation Authorities on 30 April, the Málaga-Costa del Sol airport is now all set to open its 2nd runway “in a matter of weeks”.

Costing almost €400 million, work on runway 2 began in August 2007 on a plot of land almost 2 million square metres in size. Built between Terminal 3 and the Guadalhorce river, the 2,750 metre runway has a parallel taxiing area with four access strips, six exits, two connections with runway 1 and parking for 27 aircraft.

Once operational, which airport officials say will happen imminently, the second runway will increase the airport’s current capacity of 37 take-offs and landings per hour to 72 which will also increase exponentially the number of destinations served by the airport, while the number of passengers transported per hour will rise to 9,500.

The Málaga-Costa del Sol airport is only the fifth in Spain to have more than one runway. Madrid-Barajas currently has 4, Barcelona has 3, and Palma de Mallorca and Gran Canaria each have 2.

Reality Star contestant, Veronica

The competition is open both to individual singers and groups of singers and each will perform an international hit in the original language, a well-known song from their own home country and either an English or Spanish hit. There will be prizes for Best Singer, Best Performer, Best Junior Vocal and Best Young Artist, together with Audience Favourite and Sponsors’ Special Prize.

The ultimate showcase for singing talent on the Costa del Sol, not only will Reality Star provide an exciting entertainment experience for all the family, it will also act as a launch pad for new artists, with the chance to promote themselves to the wider world. For the winners there are prizes of €1,000 and €500, plus a professional recording session and video clip, together with participation at the Batumi International Arts Festival 2012.

Reality Star contestant, Salome Simone

The dynamic contest has been put together by a high-powered international panel of showbiz experts, with the line-up of founders and judges including Giga Kukhianidze, producer of the Eurovision song contest in Georgia; Roger Cook, Studio Avalon London; Sergey Kristovskiy from Russian band Uma2rmaH; Temo Rtskhiladze, pop singer, Georgia and Russia; Yolanda Galeras, Amigos de la Música, Spain; Anastasia Sidorova, TV Russia; and Oti García Diaz-Ambrona, Department for Tourism & Foreign Residents, Marbella Town Hall.

To be in with a chance of impressing the judges, applicants – who will be charged a nominal €15 administration fee – must submit their recordings, videos and photos by 20 May.

You can follow the event on Facebook and the Reality Star website will be posting news and a selection of the contestant’s music clips.

Image by © Matthias Kulka/zefa/Corbis

There’s nothing like starting off the month on a positive note, and here’s some very encouraging news from James Price – head of international residential development at Knight Frank – who believes that wealthy UK buyers are keen to escape to a better climate and to make a good long-term investment while they’re at it.

“The UK recession isn’t really a factor,” says Price. “People want to move at the higher end for tax reasons. It’s the result more of the pull of both climate and culture rather than any perceived ‘push’ from the UK.”

According to Knight Frank – who say they envisage buyers making their move in the coming months as recession continues to keep prices low in many Mediterranean countries – an increasing number of Britons are currently transferring money abroad in anticipation of buying a second home overseas.

"I get dizzy looking down from the kerb!"

When our Lisa’s not hard at work in the VIVA Customer Services Department she DJs and does all the tecchie, behind the scenes stuff for her Dad’s local radio station, too. So she’s sure not one to let the grass grow under her feet! But on Sunday, 13 May, Lisa won’t be doing any of those things ‘cos she’s got an important date to keep in the heart of East Sussex’s beautiful Ashdown Forest – immortalised by A.A. Milne’s children’s stories about Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh. It’s a challenge that she admits will take her out of her comfort zone, but then it’s all in the very best of causes…

A whole host of military-style assault challenges along the way

The Whole Hog Challenge at Hindleap Warren, is a 10km cross country run with a whole host of military-style assault challenges along the way including balance beams, scramble nets, zip wire, waterfall and various other climbing and water obstacles to negotiate. Already in training for four weeks to build-up her stamina and upper body strength, the distance isn’t keeping Lisa awake at night – oh yeah, I should’ve said she’s also a qualified personal trainer – and the prospect of getting covered in mud doesn’t faze her either.

“My biggest worry,” says Lisa, “is my intense fear of heights. There are all sorts of 100ft obstacles I’ll have to climb up and over, and I’m scared to death of heights. I get dizzy looking down from the kerb! But the aim of the Whole Hog Challenge is to raise money to help the Marie Curie Nurses continue to care for people with cancer and other terminal illnesses. My mum died of cancer five years ago, she was only 55, so I’m doing this in her memory.”

Lisa, who lives in Mijas Costa and first joined VIVA back in 2001, is running in the ‘Mad Hogs’ team, alongside her best friend Paul Nix – who she met at uni – together with his sister Hannah Ryan and Hannah’s partner Jim Atkinson.

If you’d like to help Lisa reach – or better still exceed – her fundraising target for this Marie Curie Cancer Care event, please visit her sponsorship page. Donations can be accepted up until 12 May 2012.

Nice one Lisa… we’ll all be thinking of you! Who knows, we might even buy you a beer when you get back!

According to a survey recently released by the Ministry of Industry, 9.2 million foreign tourists visited Spain in the first three months of the year. That’s an increase of 2.6% compared with the same period in 2011.

The data also suggests that despite the fact that 10% more buyers from the UK, Germany, Sweden and Norway purchased Spanish property in 2011 than in 2010, the total market is down by around 33% compared with its peak in 2007.

Still, it’s not hard to see why Scandinavians are increasingly drawn to owning real estate in Spain, and of course the Costa del Sol’s annual average of 320 sunshine days is only part of the reason. Norway’s Krone and Sweden’s Krona have both risen against the Euro in the last 5 years and their economies are healthier than most in Europe. Not only that, but Spanish property prices have dropped by between 30% and 40% in the past half-decade, in fact at VIVA we often see certain types of properties selling for as much as 50% below peak.

So who wouldn’t be tempted?