| I connected with Mel and Marie just recently, | | | | guarantee. And that is an important |
| from one webmaster to another, through working | | | | consideration.5. Please talk to us about Rio-Frio, |
| on our mutual websites. I found out that the | | | | the adventure holiday company that you founded. |
| couple had just recently moved to Spain from | | | | When did you start it?We founded Rio Frio |
| Britain and set up an adventure travel company | | | | Holidays in the summer of 2004, with the |
| that after one only year in business is already | | | | intention of offering activity holidays and holiday |
| doing pretty well.Many of you know already that | | | | accommodation specifically tailored to the |
| Spain is one of my favourite countries, so I | | | | requirements of our guests, whether they are |
| absolutely had to find out how these Northern | | | | individual travellers, families or groups.6. What does |
| Europeans made the transition into the hot south | | | | your company offer? How is it different from |
| of Andalucia and how there were adjusting | | | | other adventure holiday operations? What type of |
| personally, socially and with their new business in | | | | people vacation with your company?We offer |
| this brand new lifestyle. Here is what they had to | | | | holiday accommodation, activity holidays and |
| say:1. Please tell us a bit about your background. | | | | training camps for families, single travelers, |
| Where are you from, what is your work | | | | corporate groups and groups of sports people. Mel |
| background?Mel: I'm from Bedworth, | | | | is the main guide/coordinator for hiking, mountain |
| Warwickshire, England. Formerly a coal miner and | | | | biking, road cycling and running; other activities, |
| policeman.Marie: I'm from Maghera, County | | | | such as canoeing, rock climbing, abseiling and |
| Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and am a | | | | archery and provided by local Spanish |
| nurse.Prior to moving to Spain, we lived in | | | | companies.We have had visits from keen cyclists |
| Nuneaton, Warwickshire. We have 3 children; | | | | and runners, as well as families wanting a |
| Stuart (19), Niall (15) and Stephanie (14).2. How did | | | | multi-activity break and people who wanted to do |
| you come up with the idea of opening an | | | | nothing more than relax in the garden between |
| adventure holiday company in Spain?Marie: For all | | | | visits to Granada, Seville and other sightseeing |
| of his adult life, Mel has been a keen trail runner, | | | | highlights.7. What was it like opening a business in |
| cyclist and cross-country skier; the children and | | | | Spain? What processes did you have to go |
| myself are also lovers of the great outdoors. As | | | | through?Our first step was to hire a good |
| a family we had holidayed all over Europe, including | | | | accountant ("Gestoria") who took us through the |
| a number of cycling breaks in Spain. Having | | | | process of registering with the Spanish authorities |
| experienced the local climate, the stunning | | | | as self-employed and helped us with the |
| scenery and the apparently limitless tracks and | | | | bureaucracy of registering the business with the |
| incredibly quiet roads, moving to Spain to establish | | | | local tourist authorities. He also handles our regular |
| our own activity holiday business seemed the | | | | tax returns and ensures that we comply with all |
| perfect choice.3. How did you select your location? | | | | of the relevant tax and other legislation.8. Please |
| What type of property did you choose and why? | | | | tell us how the first year has gone for you with |
| Please talk to us about the real estate purchasing | | | | your new business. What has been your biggest |
| process in Spain.Andalucia is the most beautiful | | | | challenge of operating a business in a new |
| part of Spain. We wanted to avoid the mayhem | | | | country? What have been your greatest rewards |
| of the coast, but didn't want to be more than an | | | | of operating this business?The first year has been |
| hour away from Malaga airport, in order to reduce | | | | fantastic! We have had nothing but positive |
| the traveling time for guests. It was then just a | | | | feedback from all of our guests and their |
| question of drawing a line on a map and visiting | | | | comments, to their friends and in our online |
| available properties within that circle.We did a lot | | | | guestbook, have been our best form of |
| of browsing on the internet, then made | | | | advertising.The biggest challenge has been |
| appointments with estate agents to view the | | | | identifying where to spend our marketing budget. |
| properties that seemed right. We eventually | | | | We are constantly receiving calls from sales reps |
| chose this property because of the stunning | | | | trying to sell us advertising space and it is very |
| views, the excellent road access and because, | | | | difficult to tell which publications are likely to have |
| with only a little work, we were able to convert | | | | the greatest impact. We are still learning!The |
| an outbuilding into a self-contained guest | | | | greatest reward is the thanks of the guests and |
| apartment.The purchasing process was relatively | | | | knowing that we have helped someone to have a |
| simple for us. We granted power of attorney to a | | | | great holiday or helped to put them on track to |
| local solicitor, who then handled everything on our | | | | achieving their health or fitness goals.9. How good |
| behalf. All we had to do was transfer over the | | | | was your knowledge of Spanish when you moved |
| money whenever it was required. The only | | | | there? How has it improved since then?We barely |
| aspect of the process that we would caution | | | | spoke a word of Spanish between us - and even |
| people about is the tactics of some of the estate | | | | less Andaluz (the local dialect!) However, after |
| agents. Not all of the properties listed on websites | | | | many hours of hard work, we are all well on the |
| were actually for sale and some of those that | | | | way to learning the language now.10. Please tell us |
| were for sale were only available at a much | | | | about your interaction with the locals. How much |
| higher price than advertised or were not at all like | | | | contact do you have with local people? What |
| their descriptions!4. Did you have to do any | | | | about the cultural adjustment process, adjusting |
| renovations to the property you bought? If so, | | | | to Spanish culture, coming from England for |
| what was it like to deal with Spanish contractors | | | | yourselves and your children?The children went |
| and construction workers?We had to convert a | | | | straight into the local Spanish secondary school. |
| building with 2 very basic rooms and 2 shed type | | | | Unfortunately, the recent influx of British children |
| rooms into the guest accommodation. However, | | | | has left the school struggling to cope.Outside of |
| we were able to do a lot of the work ourselves | | | | school, things are much better. Our Spanish |
| and only employed builders for the more skilled | | | | neighbours and friends are terrific; there is a real |
| tasks. We have learned that there are good and | | | | sense of community in our village and, through |
| bad builders amongst the Spanish and the British | | | | Mel's membership of the local cycling club, we |
| builders working locally, but only a properly | | | | have developed a wide network of Spanish |
| registered firm does work with any sort of | | | | friends. |