COSTA BLANCA, COSTA BLANCA NEWS

Spain set to raise VAT on holiday homes to 21% under new housing planTourist rental tax could jump considerably as Spain struggles to tackle the housing crisis  The Spanish government is set to bring a new package of housing measures before the Council of Ministers in July, with one change likely to catch the attention.. 03/07/2026

Buying from Shein or Temu just got a little more expensive as the EU's new parcel tax kicks in tomorrowA €3 customs charge on small packages from outside the bloc came into force on Wednesday July 1, targeting the flood of cheap imports from China If you have ever ordered something in Spain or elsewhere, from Temu, Shein or AliExpress and marvelled.. 03/07/2026

Spanish Police warn of cruel AI scam targeting owners of missing petsFraudsters are creating realistic images and videos of missing animals before demanding money for their return The National Police have issued a warning about a particularly cruel scam doing the rounds across Spain that targets people searching for.. 03/07/2026

Spain heatwave warning: Early signs of heatstroke every dog owner should knowRecognising the early symptoms can help prevent life-threatening complications during periods of extreme heat in Spain With another heatwave forecast across much of Spain this weekend, veterinarians are reminding dog owners that heatstroke can develop.. 03/07/2026

June road deaths in Spain hit a 15-year high as accidents surge across the countryA sharp rise in serious accidents on conventional roads pushed the June death toll to levels not seen since 2010 June has been a brutal month for Spain by almost every measure. With over 1,000 heat-related deaths recorded, making it the deadliest month.. 03/07/2026

June 2026 was Spain's deadliest month for heat in recorded history, with more than 1,000 lives lostNew figures confirm 1,028 heat-related deaths last month, the worst June on record, as Aemet declares it the second hottest June since 1961 The figures published this week make uncomfortable reading, particularly for anyone who lived through last month.. 02/07/2026

Skip the summer taxi queues and let Airport Buses take the stress out of your Murcia transferAirport Buses offers four routes covering the Murcia coastline, Costa Blanca south and as far as Mojácar in Almería With the summer holidays in full swing and Murcia International Airport busier than ever, the last thing anyone wants.. 02/07/2026

Spain records its deadliest June for drownings since records beganWith 86 deaths in a single month and summer barely started, experts are urging families to take water safety far more seriously The image is a familiar one at this time of year across Spain: pools full of children, beaches packed by mid-morning, families.. 02/07/2026

Mallorca sunbed wars escalate following British tourist's viral itching powder prankAfter spotting rows of empty sunbeds reserved with towels from dawn, one holidaymaker decided to take matters into his own hands, dividing opinion online Sunbed wars have reached new levels in Mallorca after a British tourist resorted to itching.. 02/07/2026

Only have an English Will? It could mean a lengthy and costly process in SpainThy Will Be Done explains why a Spanish Will could save your family time and money Anyone who owns property or other assets in Spain but only has an English Will could be setting their loved ones up for a long and expensive process further down the.. 02/07/2026

July 3-12 Burger Mania, the burger championship, arrives in TorreviejaThe travelling food festival runs from 8pm every evening on Playa de los Náufragos One of Spain's most popular travelling food festivals is heading to Torrevieja this Friday, with Burger Mania setting up on Los Náufragos beach from July..

Cloudy skies and possible showers before temperatures rise again: Alicante weekend weather July 2-5After a slightly cooler and cloudier start, Alicante is expected to see plenty of sunshine as temperatures gradually climb towards the weekend After a hot June that saw two heatwaves push temperatures well above average, July kicked off with more.. 02/07/2026

Spain's Black Flag beaches for 2026: The full list from Murcia to the Canary IslandsThe full list of Spain's most environmentally troubled beaches and coastal areas in 2026 The Mar Menor in 2019   Environmental group Ecologistas en Acción has published its annual beach report and as in previous years, 48 Black.. 02/07/2026

British drug mule, 79, heads straight back to the Costa Blanca after years in jailRoger Clarke, convicted of smuggling £1 million of cocaine from the Caribbean, has posted on social media that he is back in Alicante province Roger Clarke is 79 years old, has served time in Portuguese and British prisons, and has just turned up.. 01/07/2026

Valencian coast hit with six Black Flags despite record Blue Flag haul in 2026Alicante, Valencia and Castellón all feature in Ecologistas en Acción's dreaded annual report The Valencian Community has received a very disappointing six Black Flags in this year's annual report from Ecologistas en Acció.. 01/07/2026

Nearly a million migrants have applied to legalise their status in SpainThe country's biggest regularisation drive in two decades closes with applications far outstripping early estimates Spain's extraordinary regularisation process for undocumented migrants came to a close on Tuesday June 30, after two and a half months..

Spain slashes bus fares by 22% on dozens of national routesThe new 34-corridor network to serve 30 million passengers across 1,682 towns in Spain On the very day petrol and diesel prices are going up, the government has announced the welcome news that bus travel across Spain is set to get cheaper, greener.. 01/07/2026

Why almost nobody working from home in Spain takes a sick day anymoreA new survey finds two thirds of remote workers in Spain carry on working even when they're ill "Where the state pays for time off, people rest; where it doesn't, they open their laptops." That's how Professor Andreas Ditsche, CEO.. 01/07/2026

Torrevieja's new bus fares revealed: €1.35 a ride and free travel for over-65sThe Ayuntamiento has given the green light to a fresh fare system that rewards regulars, pensioners and tourists alike If you're a regular bus user in Torrevieja, or you're hoping to become one once the new urban transport network rolls out, there.. 30/06/2026

British rider Samuel Levy, dies in first corner crash at amateur race in LleidaThe Alicante-based plumber and motorcycle enthusiast was killed during a multi-rider collision at the Alcarràs circuit on Sunday Samuel Levy, a 44 year old British man who had made his home in Alicante province, died on Sunday after a serious crash.. 30/06/2026