Great news for for pet owners in Tenerife!! Steph Tufft is quite simply the answer to your prayers! She runs Waggy Tails Pet Care which provides pet grooming for all our fluffy friends, dog/cat-sitting, walking and training.

Steff is an ex-Veterinary Nurse and dog groomer and having previously run a very sucessful service back in the UK – she has references to prove it, She moved to Tenerife with her husband Tony and her world-famous duck Essy and started Waggy Tails as a grooming, walking, sitting and training service for owners on the island after finding other alternatives too expensive.

Possibly the best news is that her service is mobile or she can also collect and deliver if that suits you and your teasured friend and offers her pet grooming service to dogs, cats and rabbits. The service includes shampoo and conditioner, without, we assume, any reference to holidays, together with a clip or strip if required, and then nails and eyes are cleaned. She will also trim the claws of any smaller pets you may have.

Steff is specialised in dog training, and offers a complete service starting from puppy training through to treating any anxiety issues, making sure you have a happy stress-free dog. Prices start from just €15,00.

Waggy Tails will cater for whatever needs you and your pet may have and will always listen to your individual specifications should you have any.

For more information, visit her site by clicking here:

It seems as though the worst of the economic downturn is over the worst if overseas property buying is anything to go by. Data has proved that property markets have either bottomed out, or have nearly so and investors who have been waiting for the positive signs are now looking at purchasing.

Having said that, people are more likely to buy in established markets like the Canary Islands rather than newer emerging ones. Although it is still possible to get the best opportunities for property investment in the relatively new emerging markets like Cape Verde.

Either of these the markets can start making investors money, allowing the choice of whether to invest for the short or long term.

The Canary Islands have has managed to remain one of the most reliable property investment markets in the world. While Mainland Spain sales have dropped considerably, properties particularly in Tenerife, have managed to hold their own.

In Cape Verde, many developers are offering buyers incredible incentives on off-plan developments, which, togther with guaranteed rental packages offer investors a chance to make money both from their initial investment and again from rental income.

For more information about property in the Canary Islands, click here:

For more information about property in Cape Verde, click here:

Although having a private swimming pool of your own can be a dream come true, the safety factors can sometimes out-weigh the benefits, especially if you have small children. In addition to this, if you rent out your property, parents may not like the idea of extra stress on their holidays worrying that their child may not be safe.

With this in mind, Gordon and Lorraine d’Andilly created Peace of Mind Pool Safety. After purchasing their own dream home, through Horizon Property Group, they went to the United States and met up with companies selling swimming pool safety fences and were impressed with what they learned. They subsequently bought one for their own property and obtained sole rights for the distribution of this purpose designed removable fencing system throughout Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria.

Every pool fence installation is customized, right down to your choice of height and colour. It is manufactured and installed to the specifications of your pool area and also includes the option of a Patented removable, self-closing, self-latching, key-locking gate. The Australian manufacturer of Magna Latch promotes the latch as “The World’s Safest Gate Latch”.

Peace of Mind Pool Safety work together with pool installers, garden landscapers and property management companies to ensure that all holiday home owners are aware of pool safety issues and of the benefits of installing a pool safety fence system.

These benefits include increased rental income, particularly during off-peak periods when families with pre-school children tend to holiday. As the fencing system is fully removable, it can be taken down, rolled up & stored conveniently when there are no kids around!

The company mission is that “the installation of a pool safety fence should go hand-in-hand with the installation of a swimming pool or a spa”.

The protection of children around water should NEVER be overlooked.

For more information, click here:

So you want to learn Spanish? Forget slogging it out over textbooks, how about learning in the Canary Islands? If you want to get an unforgettable study abroad experience and learn from the Spanish then Study Spanish Abroad in Spain, are the ideal solution!

International Partners for Study Abroad offer you different Spanish immersion study abroad programmes. The School has been specialised in teaching of Spanish to foreign students since 1964. During which, thousands of students have attended the school and spread their good reputation all over the world. The teachers are native Spanish speakers, are highly specialised, have university degrees and are experienced and passionate about teaching their native language. You will learn Spanish as you learned your native language – through practice and continuous communication.

Study Abroad offer a wide range of options in Spanish courses in both Tenerife and Gran Canaria as well as Mainland Spain, with along with accommodation and activities. You can study Spanish language and culture from one week to as long as you like.

For more information click here:

Tenerife is all set to host its most spectacular Tenerife Ladies Open yet, to be staged at the superb Costa Adeje Golf from the 24 to the 27 September 2009. 120 professional players representing 25 different nationalities are due to attend the event, competing for the €300,000 Grand Prize.

After eight years, it is now considered one of the most prestigious events of the golfing calendar attracting top players from all over the world. Sponsored by Iberostar Anthelia, the official host hotel, and co-sponsored by Tenerife Tourism Corporation, Canary Government and the Spanish Tourist Board the events success has helped highlight the attractions of the island and increase visitors.

Action starts on Monday 21st September for two days of official training. On Tuesday 22nd, there will be a welcome cocktail event at Siam Park and on Wednesday 23rd, the PRO-AM tee-off for golf tour operators and press. This is followed by four days of competitive play, with the prize giving ceremony on Sunday 27 September. Further more, entrance is free!!!

For further information visit webtenerife.com.

A beautiful 2 bedroom Townhouse, on the quiet complex of in El Galeon, in Adeje, one of the most sought after locations in Tenerife, has just been released for sale at the extremely good price of €299,250

The lower ground floor comprises of a small entrance hall & passageway leading onto the spacious lounge area with large patio doors onto a large tiled patio.

The fully equipped kitchen has a separate utility room which leads through into a separate office area which could be used for multi-purpose office activities or converted into a small dining room or bedroom.

There is a small front garden and has a large lower terrace, ideal for al fresco dining, barbeques or just relaxing in the sun.

The upstairs, the second bedroom has built in wardrobes with views over the complex and is situated next to a family bathroom.

The master bedroom, has been converted from two rooms into one and results in a spacious area with fitted wardrobes and access to a private patio enjoying views out to sea. This bedroom has a large en-suite bathroom complete with walk in shower.

There is a basement area which has car parking space and storage cupboard & can be accessed by a stairway off the main hall as well as via automatic garage doors in the complex which is secure & has remote sensor to gain entry.

The property has been extensively refurbished to provide this top class accommodation.
For more information, click here:

Eat really well and lose weight at the same time has got to be at the top of everyone’s wish list.

The Hotel Botanico, in the north of Tenerife offers a programme to help you do just that by introducing good eating habits together with specialist advice from health and nutrition experts.

Upon arrival your personal programme will be designed and exercise, body treatments and specialist meals will be tailored to meet your requirements. The “Essence of Wellbeing” package includes:

• A Deluxe twin/double room or Ambassador Suite.
• Full-board including 3 special meals and mineral water every day -no alcohol is available
• Consultation with a medical expert and the Spa manager to discuss your personal dietary and exercise requirements.
• 1 Daily luxurious body treatment from a choice that includes reducing-firming massages, lymphatic drainages, anti-cellulite treatments
• A personalised exercise programme.
• Free access to the thermal circuit with heated indoor and outdoor pools with underwater massage, Japanese sauna, Turkish bath, laconium, ice temple, aromatherapy room, Jacuzzis and experience showers. Cardiovascular fitness. Aromatic tea served all day.
• Nightly room service of diuretic tea.

For more information click here:

A version of this article first appeared in Luxury Travel Magazine

If you leave the United Kingdom permanently, you will no longer be eligible to make contributions to your UK pension scheme. Any occupational or personal pension fund becomes ‘frozen’ and will grow at a slower rate than when they were working.

If you do nothing, when you reach retirement age (presently 50 but due to rise to 55 on 6 April 2010) you can take a lump sum of up to 25% of your fund, which is currently tax free. You will have three options for the remainder of your fund:

1. Draw your pension until a later date up to 75 years of age).

2. Commence draw downs (taxable).

3. Purchase an annuity which will provide a pension for the remainder of your life – also taxable. Unfortunately annuity rates have plummeted in recent years. When you die, your surviving spouse will receive either a reduced pension or nothing at all depending on the type of annuity.

The alternative is to transfer your UK pension fund to a QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes).

Windsor Pensions has been helping people transfer their U.K. personal & occupational pensions since the QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme) legislation was introduced in 2006. They have helped over 2,000 people take control of their pension schemes and enabled them to enjoy a wider range of investments.

Windsor Pensions will arrange the transfer of your ‘frozen’ UK pension fund to a QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes). Some QROPS have more ‘flexible’ rules and after the transfer it may be possible to withdraw all of your fund as cash lump sum to invest in property or use in any way that you please.

Click here for more information:

Windsor Pensions has offices in London, Florida, and Malaga.

London Office
Tel: 0203 371 9247
Fax: 0203 014 8447

USA
Florida Office
Tel: 1 866 375 3972
Fax: 1 866 400 3352

Spain
Malaga Office
Tel: 951 191 264
Fax: 951 235 778

Ideal for a holiday home or as a rental investment, a lovely apartment on a small friendly beach resort in Gran Canaria. Ideal for families and located just 200 metres to the Yumbo shopping centre and 400 metres to the Playa del Ingles beach, with a bus stop just steps away from the hotel.
The apartment has one bedroom, lounge with open plan kitchen and a bathroom.
The Balcony over looks the pool and garden areas of the complex.
A communal swimming pool and Jacuzzi near the pool bar. There is Internet access is in the Complex, and pool tables.

All for an extremely affordable

At last – good news for investors. As of 1st October 2009, the developers of Dunas Beach Resort, on the Island of Sal in Cape Verde, will implement between a 5% – 7% price increase on all remaining properties still available.

On selected reservations during September, The Resort Group PLC has agreed to offer a fixed exchange rate on the required deposit of