We at Hondon Villas are no green fingered experts but you can’t help but notice that Spring (Primavera) in the Hondon Valley is quite wonderful in the gardens and countryside.
After the winter harvest of grapes, clementines, oranges and lemons, February & March sees the valley full of pink and purple almond blossom. Which with the late winter winds fall like snow flakes to make way for March/April when the grape vines are starting to bud with vibrant green leaves.
The pomegranate trees show the bright red flower to later turn to fruit. The thyme and rosemary herbs are in abundance with a small purple / blue flower and just smell delightful.
It’s our favourite time of year in the Hondon Valley as the temperature is more conducive to working or outdoor leisure activities. Yes the nights can still be a little chilly with the valley wind and the rain we get this time of year but it’s more favourable to the searing heat of July and August.
March 2020: Aerial photographs and videos are all the rage in Real Estate. These are usually taken with a drone (a remote controlled quad-copter) fitted with a camera. The drone is operated by a Drone Pilot within a few metres of the target property. They can show the property and its gardens or land in new exciting ways. Some are stunning when seen from the skies. Alas, there are also down sides and legal requirements when using drones for commercial purposes.
2021 Edit: As of December 31, 2020, the European UAS regulations now apply. All drone users have to register themselves and their drone before using + take training + a test. This rule affects all drones regardless of their use or size in Spain. You can find detailed information on these new rules here .
Hondon Villas rarely did/do drone videos. We have not offered drone videos on property since 2019. When we asked about the legalities of using our own drone, we were told by law enforcement to stop using drones or risk a fine until we could completely comply with the 2017 Spanish Law on RPAS devices (drones) and adhere to the Controlled Airspace rules for our area.
Also after the initial excitement, we were finding drones cumbersome to do, time consuming to edit, an added expense & a workflow headache on top of doing the usual DSLR video and photograph production for a typical Hondon property. In practise it would mean the sales agent going around to see the client, then a photographer/videographer and then a drone pilot… sometimes three visits if they could not all go together. And then of course if the client called other agents to list their house the visit count / inconvenience multiplied.
More recently though, the latest Spanish drone laws now come with massive fines for improper use. Fines that could ruin a business. Costly official training is needed to. This and the cost per flight commission finally poured water on any future strategy on using drones for real estate for each property we market.
In short we are not offering aerial productions in general right now. We may do in the future for properties that deserve to be shown off from the air but with due consideration to the cost and for the current laws. Other agents are still using them, some systematically and illegally. But maybe they should re-consider. Why? … first the history.
Spot the trend…
Hondón Villas were the first agents locally to employ a drone pilot 3.5 years ago as a test-bed for the future. Miguel was from Aspe and had qualified as a Drone Pilot with his license & training at an Alicante school approved by AESA. He had experience, full liability insurance and the best drone on the market at the time. He took care of the legal side and all clients gave us permission to film over their property.
We video tested a few select properties in the Hondon Valley but outside the nearby Alicante flight path to be safe. The clients loved them, we loved them and it all looked good. However as a new service, each raw video cost about €100 to commission. This price bumped up the cost of marketing a property. No drone videos can guarantee a house sale so we used them on our exclusive listings only to get more value from this price. But it needed some thought and assessment time before we stumped up more investment and pulled the trigger on this new tech’ full time.
Potential or Expensive Risk?
Even before that, we had an eye for the new technology but pro’ quality drones were then very expensive, bulky and the rules surrounding them confusing and strict. We blogged about it at the time. We sought advice from a lawyer who advised it would be unwise to use a drone for business as Spanish law was not fully formed then. So despite their excellent potential, ease of use and the stunning videos we saw, we decided then not to bother with drone video on the grounds of expense, the infancy in the technology, lack of support from manufacturers and the privacy / safety of people or buildings.
The Must-Have Bandwagon
But they became hard to ignore, as new drones improved, got cheaper and more accessible to small businesses and enthusiasts. Many estate agents were using them regardless of rules and some customers were asking for the service. By now they were then being used in top ranking films and TV documentaries. Drone cameras improved and could now shoot in high resolution 4K (broadcast quality) and in so doing, creating new markets and new uses. They were becoming affordable and Real Estate was a good match for this aerial view technology.
Growth meant more legal obligations & regulations
However, back in 2017 as drone sales grew, Spain had to introduce very strict “emergency” legislation on the use of drones as their government was politically fragmented and in the throws of cross-party unrest. It was easier for them to ignore the potential of drones and so make them hard to use with life-changing fines if misused.
This thwarted commercial markets and made Spain an outcast in European Drone use. It also meant many people ignored the rules and added to the danger of the skies. Since then the drone industry and their use in Real Estate is smoother and now established to high degree across the globe. Spain has embraced them too for public services like the police or traffic control.
We took training and obtained a RPAS drone licence via the Civil Aviation Authority (UK) in the belief that it would be valid in Europe / Spain but were subsequently told Spain would not recognise a UK drone license and to do so would need to be tested by EU law !!! Hardly a level EU playing field then? But rightly so, we do have drone rules, guidelines and laws on drone use to stop a dangerous free-for-all in the skies. However, a drone pilot in Spain (as of writing, we understand) needs AESA approved training and tests / flight permissions submitted in Spanish.
Training Certs Date: 2017
Law and guideline changes again… and again!
Good news cometh: In 2020 the Spanish drone laws became more relaxed and a “Drone Code” created. Commercial users still need a certified course, license, etc and these new laws were still a stricter than other EU members. So this fragmented approach across the Union resulted in a push by the EU to have a common framework of Europe-wide rules that each member country can use as the basis of their drone laws.
Up-to-date: A new EU / EASA set of regulatory framework for drone usage is meant to be introduced soon in 2021 (if Covid doesn’t delay them). If they are, then in theory any EU based Drone Pilot can fly his/her drone legally in any member state with the same (or very similar) qualifications. At the moment (2020) you might be an accredited drone pilot in Denmark but not in France as laws differ. The new EU-wide idea sounds great but we are not there yet! Also it is said that existing pilot may still need to retake a test. If a pilot is not registered yet then they WILL have to get qualified at their own cost. It is also unclear if a UK based pilot will need to retest in the EU after BREXIT. We await this new evolution and rollout.
Strict Rules on Commercial Use
Our research showed us that since 2017 the Spanish Laws are very clear about who can fly a drone for commercial purposes (business / for profit use) and that of a hobby pilot. As we understand it, the latest laws on drones 2020 for commercial use specify drone size /weight limits, official AESA approved training including flight maps, airspace zones, need insurance, registration plates, a medical certificate (i.e you are fit to fly a craft), operational manuals and standards on skyward height restrictions and line-of-sight distances from pilot to drone. They also state skies where drones are not allowed to fly or need Traffic Control permission, like Alicante flight paths, natural parks, airports, prisons, urbanisations, beaches, the privacy of people. The weather has to be taken into account as does any unusual 3rd party flights at the time known as NOTAMs … and indeed most of the this and the Op’s Manual has to be done in Spanish. The courses / tests are usually in Spanish too.
(As of writing 2020) It is required that all commercial pilots train for their license with at least a week of hours for study at an approved school, show competence in practical flight tests and pass a multi-choice questionnaire on their studies. Each drone has to have a fire-proof plate of their pilot reg’ number attached to the drone.
Safety and Privacy
As you can see the rules and laws are quite prohibitive / awkward but necessary for safety and privacy. They may seem to be overkill in such a quiet rural area as the Hondon Valley but we are in a fly zone. We also appreciate people’s right to a safe and private sky and that pilots should be covered by insurance and follow the rules. Alas, we have been warned the law is the law and ignorance is no defence!
But, after due consideration & research, we decided that the fines are not worth it doing this illegally or bypassing some of the fly zone requirements. Nor would it look good for our reputation as an AIPP Real Estate member.
There is no hard evidence as yet that drone footage helps to sell more houses anyway. They help filter the buyer’s choice either way. E.G. Seeing the local area could put people off or conversely attract them. This can lead to selective editing by the estate agent (i.e. miss out the scruffy dog kennels to the west side !!). Drones can used for the sake of it too. As a tool they can be used to show the good, bad and the ugly. Agents want to show the good of course.
So we are always considering the future on using drones or new tech at Hondon Villas and watching the industry closely. For sure though, as we write, very few local pilots /agents have the above accreditations, get permission to fly and disregard for the law. We could not fnd any local agents on the AESA Pilot’s register either as at the time of writing. Most likely they are all flying illegally.
*AESA: The Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency is the national aviation authority for Spain. The agency is based in Madrid, where it currently occupies offices in the AZCA district, pending the refurbishment of a building on the Paseo de la Castellana.
A PLACE IN THE SUN 2019 ::: Hondón Villas have been consultants to A Place in the Sun again in 2019. We just finished helping them …. read on! This year we met Laura Hamilton (see picture) who was so lovely and gave us a few PR tips which should come in handy later.
It’s always a great pleasure to get involved with what is probably the most popular Property Show in the UK. How many years has this been going?
So we are pleased that APITS as we call it, have been to the Hondón Valley areas just about every year for 10 years. And we all think it’s our little secret place, well people do know it exists and still, thankfully, want to come to the area. Which of course, is good for the property market and our sellers.
We have assisted APITS and other TV Property programs quite a few times now, most years in fact, including “Escape to the Continent” and ” A New Life in the Sun”.
Having met many of the APITS presenters we have to say they are all very professional, charming and always happy to do a few publicity shots in-between shooting the program. As we stand watching the program being made, they make it look so easy and slick. They are great at putting the potential buyers at ease as I am sure the cameras can be a little intimidating… Interesting stuff.
Of course as Hondón’s premier real estate agent we are always happy to show you the area and help you find your dream Spanish villa or apartment in this traditional area of Spain.
Contacts: www.hondonvillas.net / sales @ hondonvillas.net / +34 965 075 357 We also have a large office in the Hondón de los Frailes central plaza… look for our green/navy logo! Hope to see you soon :-)
Hondon Villas: A short introduction to the glorious Hondon Valley inland to the Alicante Region, Costa Blanca South, Spain. Come enjoy the sunshine, peace, the scenic views and chill with friendly locals. Yep it’s slow here most of the year, it’s what people like here, but be under no illusion when the occasion presents itself, like the many local fiestas and music events, we know how to party!
The Hondón Valley is a peaceful, friendly, warm place surrounded by mountainous scenic beauty
The main two villages of Hondon de las Nieves and Hondon de los Frailes nest in the beautiful Hondon Valley. The relatively newly built Urbansation of La Montanosa is sandwiched between these two Hondón villages.
For decades they have grown an abundance of agricultural delights such as Grapes, Almonds and Olives (the main economy).
Hondon is surrounded by an expanse of stunning mountain views and traditional arid Spanish countryside. These excellent vistas are a delight in all seasons! Take a walk or drive through the country roads and you will just marvel at the changing light, shadows and picturesque skies.
The Hondon Valley is well known for its mild climate and pleasant summer breezes, which is very welcoming in those hot summer months when temperatures rarely fall below 30 degrees. The region enjoys sunshine in excess of 310 days per year, where the air is very clean and the pace of life slow. Hondon offers a very peaceful and stress free life.
Come take a look at the Valley of the Vines, drink the local wine under the bluest of skies and feel the warmth of the Spanish sun on your face … and you’re hooked! We were! We love it!
La Finca Montañosa has been lovingly restored and modernised by the owner and urb’ developer: Mi Casa Familie over the last decade. It retains its Spanish style with high ceilings, wooden decor’ and has various guest rooms, a large restaurant, bar, wine cellar and games room. There is also a enclosed courtyard for functions.
The external gardens and courtyard are as equally pleasant for “al fresco” dining and musical events or fiestas. There is even a large fenced swimming pool for the guests to enjoy. There is both on-site parking or overflow into the quiet streets. (Always be mindful though that people do live quite close to the finca.)
The main restaurant hall is very large, spacious but retains a warmth and welcoming feel. So dinner guests have plenty of room to be seated and the bar is excellently located for indoor or outdoor service. On the many sunny and warm Hondón evenings that gentle valley breeze on the finca’s terrace works well with a vaso de vino blanco, gin y tonica or caña!
It has to be said that various managers “mine hosts” have attempted to make this a premier venue over the years and sadly this has not always been the case, despite a strong willingness from locals to attend the venue. Nevertheless, it still stands and begs to be, a great social focal point for the Hondón Valley and surrounding areas.
As of writing (Oct’ 2016), the current management team seem to have set the bar higher and want to showcase both good food, a warm welcome and cultural entertainment. It’s early days, but they are testing the water with live music and dancing evenings, such as Flamenco, wine testing and romantic Spanish singers to compliment the Spanish and international menu. Being so large they can also cater for private functions, meetings and parties. Contact them for details.
Presently, La Finca Montanosa, is opening for weekends (Friday and Saturday) only during the “winter” months. Even though Hondón is not particularly a tourist area, the population does swell significantly in the summer months (holiday homes, relatives visiting friends and family) and of course the longer summer days beg late dinners and drinks outside. So a cautious approach to opening hours at this time makes sense. Not least because La Finca is set way back from the main Hondon road CV-845 and so it is not easy to spot. They have erected a large sign at the entrance of the La Montanosa Urb and signs along the way. It’s a local “secret” really.
This really is a lovely place to visit and first timers always gasp at this hidden gem. So we should spread the word for them and encourage at least local patronage… so take a friend or two and book well in advance. We do suspect, however, that to survive long-term they need to attract customers from far and wide, those willing to make the journey for good food and music in pleasant surroundings.
We certainly hope and wish La Finca Montañosa success, as having an excellent, well run venue is both an asset to the locals and a tourist attraction for the Hondon Valley.
Address: Calle Ibi 1
La Montanosa Urb.
Hondón de las Nieves
03688 Alicante (see Google map)
Alenda Golf Town House For Sale : Guide Price €169,500
For Sale 3 bedroom, 2 Bathroom Town House Alenda Golf
Immaculately presented two storey 3 bedroom 2 bathroom town house situated in a small gated community overlooking the Alenda Golf Course with a communal pool, park and gardens. > More Villas in Alenda Golf Resort
Key Property Points
Town House •
Communal Pool •
Fitted Kitchen •
Utility Room •
3 Bedrooms •
2 Bathrooms •
Terrace •
Balcony •
Beautiful Views •
Off Street Parking •
This well maintained house overlooks the Alenda Golf Course so has excellent views on the course and stunning Alicante region.
The house comprises of on the ground floor,a fitted kitchen, and breakfast area, a separate utility room and a guest toilet.
The large lounge/diner has patio doors leading to a terraced area and front garden overlooking the Golf Course.
Upstairs the house has a spacious master bedroom with en-suite and fitted wardrobes,and patio doors leading to a large balcony with views of the golf course.
There are a further two double sized bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and views of the pool, park and well maintained gardens, and also a full family bathroom.
The property benefits from fantastic security, off street parking to the front of the property,and hot and cold air conditioning throughout.
Many of you will have seen the small catholic church on the west edge of our village (at Av de Castilla). This is the Ermita San Anton, Hondón de los Frailes and is without a bell but has an iron cross. It only measures 5.38 by 2.00 metres. It has two windows on each side and an altarpiece with the image of San Antonio. If you are passing have a look through the door “spy hole”… often there are candles lit, an altar and crucifix with nice decor and a few chairs for prayer or worship. GOOGLE MAP.
You can see these mini-churches all over Spain, most towns and villages have one or more. Usually they are ornate and pristine inside but tucked away off the beaten track or in very rural areas. Many are not so little though!
The Ermita has a long history being founded around the late 16th century in Ermita, Manila. Its name was taken from La Hermita, the Spanish word for “hermitage”, after the fact that a Mexican hermit resided in the area where he built a hermitage which housed an image of the Virgin Mary known as the Nuestra Señora de Guia (Our Lady of Guidance). He had his own place to practise his religion. It was Spanish soldiers that found this place, which ultimately spread the word and idea further afield.
Early on the Ermita Churches were very rustic and made of bamboo and wood. being made by hermits, farmers and the poor. As time passed the local community would want to ensure these places reflected their importance and local authorities and the church would fund much more elaborate buildings.
Click to enlarge…
There are also stories and legends that speak of 12 Franciscan priests led by Friar Martin de Valencia, who when settled in new territories (as part of the Spanish Conquest) and decided to build the first churches for the travellers who entrusted their soul to God.
Spain, Valencian Community, Hondón de los Frailes, village, GPS: 38.2714,-0.9319
Well, well, well... the local Hondón Townhall have ben a bit more forth coming with their plans for the summer fiestas in Hondon de las Nieves this year. Normally P.R. is limited, late or sketchy but they recently published the itinerary of events for July and August, not only locally but with the Información online news channel! We’ll also put it on our “Hondón What’s On” Facebook page. See the day-by-day list below.
With summer great days arrive to enjoy in Hondón de las Nieves The Fiestas of Hondón de las Nieves, have been declared by the Regional Tourist Office and begin very soon. They have a program of events full of activities for all audiences across the community. See the day-by-day list below.
Thursday, August 1st. From this day a series of acts of tradition and popular roots will follow. Unique, unrepeatable, and highly anticipated moments, because Hondón de las Nieves, unlike the rest of the towns or cities, celebrates its festivities every two years, the odd years to honour the patron lady, the Virgin of the Snows who is peculiarly the Patron of two villages and a hallmark of both peoples of Aspe and Hondón de las Nieves.
The Correfocs – Crazy Fireworks!
These festivals take place over two weeks. With events and activities for all ages, where both neighbours and visitors will have a place to enjoy the celebrations.
Last Saturday, July 20, the presentation of the major and minor Fondoneres took place. But, next Thursday 1 August, from 6:30 p.m. The evaluation of the decorated Hondón streets will be carried out and the party will officially begin with the proclame a winner. This year the announcement will be carried out by Pepe Sirvent Sirvent.
The following days the streets of the town will be full of colour as the residents paint and hang trimmings and lights in their own street. Our people will also be the offering of flowers to Our Patron (August 3) and there will be a procession of August 5 in honour of the Virgin of the Snows.
As a novelty this year the “cannon shot” will be held, next Saturday, August 3, which includes a parade that will tour the town and then the “cannon shot” of confetti will take place, with music and tapas that will last until 7:00 p.m., becoming an afternoon for everyone.
Children Welcome! The children can also be part of the party with activities such as the giant slide (Tuesday, August 6), the playground (Thursday 8) mechanical bull, cars, football, inflatables all in New Street. The activities are completed with the family workshop (Saturday 10th).
TAPAS: In addition, as of August 9, everyone can enjoy the tapas route in different restaurants in the town. Tapa and drink for only 2.50 euros.
But, one of the acts that nobody can miss is the great retreat with brass bands with music and costumes that dress the municipality with colour. The retreat is the act of greatest claim for young people, who participate parading through the streets in costumes.
Fiestas Correfocs Hondon de las Nieves
Fireworks late on Saturday 10th August! And one of the most anticipated is the correfocs, a fireworks show in which young and not so young people walk the streets with a peculiar music ending in the Plaza de la Villa where the act ends with a spectacular exhibition
Event Diary:
Thursday, August 1 6:30 p.m. Evaluation of decked streets. 9:30 p.m. Proclamation
Friday 2nd of August. 10:30 AM Giants and Big Heads. 9:30 p.m. Soup of Cabasset
Saturday, August 3. 11:30 am Parade 7:00 p.m. Wreath. 9:00 p.m. Regional dances. 00:30 hours Great retreat
Sunday, August 4. 6:30 p.m. Tour of the town’s decorated streets. 00:00 hours Serenade.
Monday, August 5. 11:00 hours Parade 12:00 hours Mass greater. 9:00 p.m. Procession. 00:00 hours Verbena.
Wednesday, August 7. From 9:30 hours free sports activities.
Thursday, August 8. 6:00 p.m. Playground. 10:00 p.m. Night March
Friday, August 9. 12 to 15 hours. Cap route. 7:00 p.m. Trade Fair.
Saturday, August 10. 10:00 hours Family Workshop 12 to 15 hours. Tapa Route. 7:00 p.m. Trade Fair. 00:00 hours Correfocs
Sunday, August 11. 9:00 a.m. Cycle Touring 12:00 hours The soda. Giant Paella 12 to 15 hours. Tapa Route. 9:00 p.m. Concert.
ENJOY THE FIESTAS !!
Hola! thank you for your visit.
If you are looking to buy or sell property in the Hondón Valley area, please consider Hondón Villas, a local family business for 15 years. We are passionate about property and can advise & hold your hand throughout the process. Our office is in the main Frailes plaza, open Mon-Fri 10.00-17-00 and by appointment at evenings and weekends, WEBSITE : WWW.HONDONVILLAS.NET
AUTHOR: The original article was published ©2016, brought to you by Hondon Villas, the local premier and award winning Estate Agent in the Hondon Valley. Hondon Villas can help you 
