PALAZZO VIVALDI

HOTEL-STYLE RETIREMENT LIVING CLOSE TO BEACH AND ALL AMENITIES

Distance to airport: 30 minutes to Almeria Airport

Distance to local amenities: adjacent

Distance to beach: 10 minutes walk

Prices: from approx. 140,000 Euros

(1 bedroom)

Looking for a secure retirement apartment near the sea and all day-to-day amenities in Spain's sunny south?

Palazzo Vivaldi is a purpose-built retirement development situated in the town of Roquetas De Mar in Costa de Almeria, the most easterly province of Andalucia.

Roquetas is 30 minutes by road from Almeria Airport which is served by flights from Gatwick, Birmingham, Stansted and Manchester. Flights are approximately two and a half hours.

This area of southern Spain boasts one of the finest climates in the Mediterranean, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, low rainfall. It has mild winters, warm springs and autumns and hot summers.

THE TOWN

THE LOCATION

First, let us discuss the location of the development. It stands in a new area of Roquetas De Mar less than 10 minutes level walk from the sea and newly-built promenade. There are no high rise buildings between Palazzo Vivaldi and the sea, just two-storey villas.

Built on a broad avenue with central landscaped walkway, Palazzo Vivaldi is also less than 10 minutes level walk from a magnificent new shopping mall. Gran Plaza has everything you could wish for - a wide range of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, an extensive supermarket, a bowling alley and a cinema complex (English language films are shown every week). A bus service operates from outside the mall.

Much closer than Gran Plaza - just two minutes walk from Palazzo Vivaldi - is a superb new theatre which features drama, music and dance productions. Even closer are local amenities - two banks, cafes and various other shops and restaurants. New shops are opening regularly in the area.

THE DEVELOPMENT

Constructed by long-established Roquetas property developer Africasur - which has been building in and around Almeria for over 30 years - Palazzo Vivaldi offers four star luxury both in its communal areas and in the quality of the apartments.

COMMUNAL FACILITIES

Let's take a walk through Palazzo Vivaldi. The main entrance from the avenue is guarded by CCTV security day and night and opens into an impressive marble entrance hall reminiscent of an upmarket hotel. The entrance houses the reception desk which is manned 24 hours a day and supervises the building via TV monitors linked to the CCTV cameras.

Also near the reception is a notice board with news of all the social events planned by the residents - coffee mornings, parties, musical evenings, coach trips, cinema visits, etc. No-one need ever feel lonely at Palazzo Vivaldi.

There is a host of activities organised the residents themselves. You can join or not, your choice.

To the right of the main entrance are two lifts serving all floors and the basement parking area. This is also totally secure, well lighted and covered by CCTV cameras. Entrance is via a ramp and electronically controlled shutter door.

Off the reception area is the residents' entrance to the excellent restaurant which also has an entrance to the street.

Beyond this is the all-year swimming pool, a full size pool with easy steps in.The pool has a retractable glass roof, open on warm days and closed on winter days, when the pool is heated. The pool has its own changing rooms, showers and toilets. No need to return to your apartment in a wet bathing costume!

Also near the pool area are the sauna, the fitness room and the spacious residents lounge with its tables, chairs and settees, TV and small library. This room is used for meetings and social gatherings or for just sitting and chatting or reading.

THE APARTMENTS

The apartments at Palazzo Vivaldi are situated from the first floor upwards. Every apartment has double glazing, air conditioning and central heating and all have a balcony, some with sea views.

Bathrooms are of marble with bath with shower over, wc, bidet, large wash hand basin, mirror, lights etc.

Kitchens are fully fitted, with fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, oven, hob and hood extractor. All doors are of solid wood with deadlocks to the main door and floors are tiled.

Every apartment has telephone communication to reception and TV and telephone points. There is a communal satellite dish and apartments can have English-language Sky TV installed (extra charge for connection).

Utilities - electricity, water and telephone - are metred to each apartment with individual bills. There is a sealed rubbish collection room on each floor and this is emptied daily.

THE COSTS

The service charges at Palazzo Vivaldi are currently 112 Euros per month (approximately £77). Service charges are reviewed annually in consultation between the development's managers and the communidad (residents committee).

Utilities charges are metred to individual apartments. Costs in Spain are little more than half the UK.

There is a small community charge for rubbish collection etc.

WPML estimate that current annual costs (excluding food, satellite TV and personal spending) should be no more than £1000 - £1200 per annum.

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Medical facilities at Spanish National Health clinics are excellent and free to British people over retirement age.

There is an excellent clinic just 15 minutes from Palazzo Vivaldi.