Dear Fraser,

I am writing to personally thank you for the welcome the students and teachers of CFGS (Higher Level Training Course) of GIAT (Guide, Tourist Information and Assistance) taught at the IES Jaroso in Cuevas del Almanzora received on the 30^th May.

Congratulations on the service you provide to your customers at the Desert Springs Resort and for the attention received, as much by you as by Carmen Alvarez de Cienfuegos, Niel and Joel Lode, who enjoyed accompanying and supporting us as much as possible, and we await the presentation of his book this summer about the interesting work being carried out as naturalist at Desert Springs Resort. This is the review that appears on our blog, which you can visit at:
http://www.iesjaroso.es

This visit was the last we had scheduled within the activities organized by the Cuevas del Almanzora CADE within the ‘Emprende Joven’ programme of which  summary appears as follows:
“Visit to Desert Springs Resort: This visit is the last activity that we have carried out under the ‘Emprende Joven’ programme promoted by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Science and Employment of the Government of Andalucia.”

The visit was carried out personally by one of its owners and managers, Fraser Prynne, and by other members of staff, such as Mrs. Carmen Alvarez de Cienfuegos (responsible for Lodge accommodation reservations) and Mr Joel Lode (naturalist and responsible for looking after the high biodiversity found at the resort). We were able to practice our golf skills with a few rules given by Neal, golf professional, we toured your golf course, swimming pool, areas for entertainment for adults and children, as well as the restaurants and bars. Finally, we watched a film by Joel Lode where we got to know ‘the 460 plant and animal species that live each day with golfers, staff and other visitors … in true harmony’: from the Greek Tortoise, an endangered species, fish which ‘eat insect eggs” and are imported from China and they keep the lakes free from mosquitoes, to the carob plants, palm trees and even pine trees.

From our visit we have seen “in situ” that nature; biodiversity and leisure can coexist, creating further wealth and prosperity to the native population of Cuevas del Almanzora. A tourism product yet to be discovered by many residents of Cuevas del Almanzora and Almeria which they can feel very proud of and still has a lot to offer as a “tourist resort” of Cuevas del Almanzora and almerian tourism, still unknown by many.

In short, we learned about “a quality product, environmentally friendly and in harmony with their surroundings.”

Will definitely be back to visit soon and recommend it to anyone who, though not to practice golf, wants to enjoy nature in combination with relaxation, tranquility and gastronomy. ”

Best Regards,
Mª Isabel Giráldez García
Teacher – Cooperative Coordinator ‘Bellalmanzora’
Head of I.E.S Tourism Depatment, Jaroso

Search For Dream Holiday Home Found At Desert Springs Resort!

“Desert Springs Golf Resort stands for Quality, Reliability, Professionalism, Excellent Service and Highly Skilled Staff.”

That’s the view of Hans & Elsje Van Den Bossche, proud homeowners of a new three-bedroom ‘Buenaventura’ Country Cottage at The Desert Springs Resort!

Elsje Van Den Bossche proudly tours her father around the purchase of her new three-bedroom ‘Buenaventura’ Country Cottage at Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort, located in the Almanzora region of Almeria, Andalucía, south east Spain.

 

After much searching for their paradise location and second home, Hans & Elsje Van Den Bossche whose home is in Belgium, have just completed on their brand new holiday home at Desert Springs Resort, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort, located in the Almanzora region of Almeria, Andalucía, south east Spain.

“At the end of 2011, we started looking for a second home in the South, as we were not getting any younger and were becoming a little frustrated with the weather in Belgium. Our paradise place had to be close to both sea and snow, and in a quiet, safe and non-industrialized area, though not remote, and of course with lots of sun. Not so easy ……” says Elsje.

“In May 2012 the estate agent from Alicante that we engaged, brought us to Desert Springs after hearing our wish list. It was love at first sight for the two of us, but we initially tempered our enthusiasm, because ‘surely there must be minuses and downsides to the place’.”

The couple praised the way in which the purchasing process was made so easy by Playas del Almanzora, part of The Almanzora Bay Group in Spain, its sales agent, which handles the developer's sales company in Spain.

Elsje remarked: “We met Paul, Julia and several other people from the Management in the resort and together with our agent, they did a marvelous job: showing us the resort and all the possibilities, driving us around to surrounding beaches and pretty villages, taking care of accommodation and transport whenever we were there, helping us out with the (fantastic) lawyer in Vera and with all the other administrative matters that we were totally unfamiliar with. Top class!

We must have visited dozens of houses, cottages, villas and apartments of The Almanzora Bay Group in the Resort but also near or at the beach in Villaricos and Playa Marques. It was all done in the most friendly, reliable, professional, confident and patient manner, so much so that it boosted our feeling: ‘This may well be the place we are looking for but never thought it existed’.”

Elsje continued; “In the end we bought “our” cottage in the summer of 2012, although at that time uncompleted, we agreed with Julia and the Desert Springs Management that they would finish and complete it for us by the end of March 2013. And surely, that is when the house was ready, exactly in time and precisely as we had agreed it all. The service and quality of work that we got from Paul, Julia and all the other team members was exemplary and is what you normally only hope for but never get.”

 

 

The view of a typical three-bedroom ‘Buenaventura’ Country Cottage at the development of ‘Desert Gold’ within the Desert Springs Resort with a solarium of 76 sq m. Only four remain for sale with prices currently reduced by 50% from €597,000 to €298,500.

 

Hans and Elsje were also attracted by the easy access from their home in Belgium to Alicante International airport, with less than a two hour drive by car directly via the E15, making Desert Springs Resort easily accessible using both chartered and scheduled 2 1⁄2 hour flights.

Post property handover, Hans & Elsje availed themselves of the support of The Almanzora Bay Groups ‘Home Buyer Services’ that provides a Property Set-Up Service, organising household insurance, contracting services such as water, electrics and communications and setting up a local bank account for payments, enabling instant use of the property on handover.

Elsje commented: “You may think that their service and help would slowly come to an end after they handed over the cottage to us, but Paul and Julia continue to give us their friendly and accurate support for any question or problem we still have.

This is how service should always be; what the people in Desert Springs do is top level and highly commendable!

Great job guys and thanks for everything.

These people are really part of the reason why we will feel like we are coming home whenever we return to Desert Springs.”

Kind regards,
Hans & Elsje

The Crocodile Club Restaurant prepared for the Communion Celebration

Hi Ellie, how are you?

Conchi, the children and I would like to congratulate you for the great service you gave us at the Communion Celebration on the 5^th of May 2013 in the Crocodile Club.

All of our guests congratulated us on our choice of restaurant, the great food and the great service. Also thank you to Michael who looked after the children, they had a great time with him.

IT WAS AN UNFORGETTABLE COMMUNION, WE WILL RETURN.

Thank you for everything,

Kind regards,

Paco and Conchi.

Tony & Pips Fernandez, the happy and proud owners of 138 Las Sierras III, a new Colonial Townhouse at the Desert Springs Resort

 

Dear Desert Springs Team,

More often than not, people write to complain about the service that they receive than to give praise.  But, when you receive an outstanding level of customer service that goes above and beyond the call of duty, it's only fair to let everyone know.  

This was definitely the case when we purchased our home at Desert Springs, Almeria.  From beginning to end, Elvira made us feel very welcome and comfortable, she never put pressure on us to make a decision.  We had some anxious feelings, this being the purchase of our first home abroad, but through Elvira's professionalism, great advice, contacts, and her terrific personality, she put us at ease and made this experience a great one.  We knew that she had our best interest at heart.  The whole process was handled smoothly and professionally.  The thing that impressed us most, was the "tenacious work ethic" of Elvira.

Once we completed the purchase, the level of service continued at the same level.  Julia has been tremendous in terms of helping us settle into our new home, taking care of our shipping delivery from Sweden and making sure that our home was spotless on our arrival.  Elvira and Julia have integrity and both fully committed to us.

This letter is to express our complete satisfaction and appreciation to Desert Springs Sales, Admin and Club House team.

We want to personally thank you Elvira, Julia & Paul for all your incredible hard work.

We have no apprehension in recommending your services to anyone.  We wish all of you a very successful career.  Of course without saying, we will definitely recommend Desert Springs to all our friends and family. 

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Tony & Mrs. Pips Fernandez

(Proud homeowners at the Desert Springs Resort, Almeria)

PGA Instructor Michael Welch (Far Right) with 11 full time students from the Lee Westwood Golf School during their return visit to the Desert Springs Resort for a 7-day intensive winter training camp.

During 31^st March – 6^th April, eleven students accompanied by Michael Welch, Lee Westwood Golf School PGA Instructor, escaped the snow in the UK and returned once more to enjoy the sun in Spain and complete a 7-day training programme at Desert Springs.

Henry Tetley aged 16 remarked of his experience at Desert Springs:

“This is my second visit to Desert Springs and I love coming out here.

In the spring the grass throughout the golf facilities is so lush that it makes you want to practice and play more and more.

Whilst it’s snowing in the UK, the weather here has been superb and this intensive training will surely improve my golf.

The on-site accommodation is perfect and there are plenty of non-golfing activities available at the Resort to keep us all occupied.”

 

A Lee Westwood Golf School student tees off on Hole 14 “Tiburon” on the Indiana course at Desert Springs. 

 

The group were accommodated in some of the privately owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs and the resort’s executive chef was on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining in the award-winning El Torrente Restaurant. During their time at the resort the players have utilised the excellent practice facilities at the Golf Academy and played the Indiana golf course.

Georgia Coughlin aged 17 remarked of her experience at Desert Springs:

“I had come on a previous visit with the Lee Westwood Golf School back in January of this year, and I´ve definitely found it worth while returning again!

The weather has been superb and the amount of flowers and colours throughout the course are amazing.”

 

A Lee Westwood Golf School student putting for birdie on Hole 15 “Abyss” on the Indiana course at Desert Springs. 

 

Michael Welch, Lee Westwood Golf School PGA Instructor commented: 

“I can only take positives out of our return visit to Desert Springs.

All of the staff ensure that you are made to feel welcome and the service provided is perfect.

We have loved the meals at El Torrente Restaurant and therefore we use it more and more frequently.

The golf course is in superb condition and I find it a true test for any player. Course Management plays an important role, as every hole could be played in several different ways.

The Practice Facilities are ideal; especially the chipping green and its variable mowing heights that allow us to practice a wide variety of shots.

Desert Springs is a great venue for golf.

I´m extremely pleased that the Lee Westwood Golf School had selected them for our Winter Training Camps and I look forward to organising many more trips in the future.

They make everything so easy for us!

 

 

Between Saturday 9th – Saturday 16th February 2013, 12 players representing the Under 18 & Under 21 Irish Ladies International squads accompanied by three officials visited the resort for a week long intensive training programme to develop their individual golfing skills in warm weather while experiencing a golf course which offers a challenge to players at all levels.

The students and officials were accommodated in some of the privately owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs and the resort’s executive chef was on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining in the award-winning El Torrente Restaurant.

 

David Kearney, ILGU Coach (Centre) with the members of the U18 & U21
Irish Ladies International Squad at Desert Springs 

David Kearney, ILGU Coach commented:

“I was very excited about using Desert Springs as the base for our Winter Training Camp, since I had heard many great things about the Resort and its popularity amongst Squads and other Teams.

During our stay we have never been intruded upon; actually there has been a lot of respect for our group and we have been enabled to practice with great freedom.

In accordance with a pre-designed and agreed itinerary, everything was perfectly organised and the staff met our needs without error.

The layout of the Resort is brilliant as all facilities are on hand and within easy access. I´m already looking at the next Academic Year to pre-book our next training visit to Desert Springs!”

 

Squad member Danielle McVeigh who is now to turn Professional remarked:

“Desert Springs is an excellent Resort to come and practice your golf, the conditions of the practice facilities and the golf course are fantastic.

In fact, it is the best Resort I´ve come to play, surely a very enjoyable experience.

The service on the Resort is simply top level and the apartments are exactly what we needed for rest and relaxation and the beautiful weather makes you want to stay. I can´t believe I´m going back to the cold of Ireland!”

Middlesex County Cricket Club Training Camp at Desert Springs  

 

Middlesex County Cricket Club 'Catch Practice!' 

Further to a 4-day warm weather fitness and cricket training camp held at Desert Springs between Tuesday 26th February – Friday 1st March, 2013 Middlesex County Cricket Club, Head Coach Richard Scott commented:

"We chose Desert Springs to give a large proportion of our squad (16) the chance to physically train in a different environment and also to work outside for the first time this year on fielding skills.

The players were accommodated within the luxury Colonial Apartments at the resort, sharing twin rooms, which were clean and up to date with each apartment housing a total of four.

We had exclusive use of the gym and the full size international football pitch on a daily basis and utilised the 'trim trail' cross country tracks laid out around the golf course and mountain bikes, which were made available, for the whole squad, to provide variation.

Tee times were booked on the excellent Indiana golf course for the afternoon as part of our package.

Desert Springs provided menus, which were agreed in advance and the standard of the food was excellent.

Nourishment packs, which included water, snack bars, fruit etc. were also provided.

The service within Desert Springs is first class and everyone in all departments ensured our stay went to plan and was enjoyable."

  

Richard Scott

Middlesex County Cricket Club

Head Coach