20 Sep 2011 11:38:

Hi all,

I used to use HIFX and they were quite good but I now use RationalFX as I get more Euros for my £s. Their spread depends on how much you send over. I sent £6000 over on 12/09/11 and got 1.1550 to the £. Thats 6930 Euros. At the time the £ was at 1.1630 (inter bank mid price) so thats a spread of only .80 and no charges at either end. It took 3 days from online banking transfer to them to the money being in my account.

Jack

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20 Sep 2011 11:08:

Hi Jayne,

We have done the trip 8 times to Calahonda in Mijas. Both using toll roads and not using them. It takes a lot longer in France if you don't use toll roads. They can make a difference of 3+ hours a day. I use a sat nav and they are brilliant. Its about 2127km from Eurotunnel in Fretun to where we stay. We do it in 4 hops. The 1st one from home to the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkstone and then from Fretun to our 1st hotel (about 350km from Fretun) and 3 of 600km. 

We stay overnight in hotels that cost about 55 to 70 euros a night. (We book via Booking.com).

The eurotunnel costs between £53 and £77 depending on time of departure.

Tolls vary on time of year but on average are about 80 euros each way.

I have a diesel focus and average about 5.5Lt per 100km (according to the onboard computer).Cost about 150 euros.

With food and other bits and pieces the total cost is about £900 return.

Hope it all works out for you.

Jack

 

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10 September 2011:

Hi all,

I am trying to learn Spanish but am being held back by the lack of verbal practice. I am in Calahonda (Mijas) and I would like to know if there are any bars or other meeting places to meet people so as to practice Spanish conversation for a few hours, a few times a week? I don't mind travelling a bit but not too far.

It would be good if it was a two way thing. Spanish people trying to learn English and English speakers trying to learn Spanish at various levels.

I am at a basic (beginners) level and as is usual can read Spanish better than I can speak it. I would be grateful for any advice.

Thanks

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11 Jul 2011 12:29:

Hi all,

On the cost of living. I have kept an Excel spreadsheet going for the last couple of years.

We (2 of us) live in Calahonda, Which is in Mijas on the Costa del Sol. We live in a 2 bed apartment which we own. No mortgage.

Our com fees are 534 per 3 months (this has gone up a lot because of non-payers).

These are average costs over this time. We actually spend less than this as we don't always spend this much on eating out and Misc items. As can be seen from the list below the total cost of these things is 1149.62 pm. You can add on a few other things but the total still only comes to  about 1200 pm.

	Weekly		4 weekly
Car Servicing/Insurance	€ 17.50		€ 70
Diesel	€ 25		€ 100
Community fees	€ 45.00		€ 180.00
Electric	€ 18.50		€ 75
Water	€ 3.12		€ 12.50
Food	€ 75		€ 300
Eating out	€ 30		€ 120
House Insurance	€ 4		€ 16
Miscellaneous	€ 30		€ 120.00
Phone/internet	€ 7.50		€ 30
Skype	€ .75		€ 1.50
IBI/Basura Taxes	€ 15		€ 60
Helicopteros	€ 7.50		€ 30

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21 Mar 2011 18:09:

Yes we would. Seems a good idea. How would it work? I am struggling to learn Espanol and this would help. Would the student already speak some English? Do you have details?

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