Security and Safety on the Costa del Sol
Coming to Spain? Don’t forget your...brain!! - By Sonia Cousins
Your security and safety on the Costa del Sol is important. As silly as it sounds, you’d be surprised how many people once on holiday, switch off the common sense button! Without casting a dark cloud over any of your impending holidays, there are a couple of things it is worth remembering, not only on holiday to the Costa del Sol, but on holidays in general.
It is better being aware of any scams, being able to identify something is amiss and walk away, rather than think…what a nice man and realising he has swiftly relieved you of your wallet!
Security and Safety on the Costa del Sol – Scams
There are a couple of things worth taking note of (not wanting to alarm you as these incidents really are very few and far between), but there have been instances when holidaymakers in their cars have had what they have assumed to be an unmarked police car pull up along side them, show them (fake) ID through the window or point to a wheel as if to show a problem, and urged them to pull over. If in any doubt about anything, keep driving and if possible go to a police station nearby, this will not be a problem if indeed they are real policemen.
Alternatively, make out you are making a telephone call and making a note of their licence plate, it has been reported that this tactic is enough to scare them off.
When out and about in markets or towns, always watch your wallets and your bags. Spread whatever money you have on you into two or three different pockets and it’s often a good idea to keep photocopies of documents on you, with the originals in a safe place at your holiday residence.
In towns and villages, when you stop for that well earned beer, just be aware of leaving your all important mobile phone lying on the table (you have made a copy of all the numbers on there haven’t you??).
Another scam quite often involves women with or without children, who come over asking for directions, lay a map or paper on the table so you can point out wherever it is they want to go, then as they pick the map up, they scoop up whatever of yours was lying on the table as well.
Same goes with the so called gypsies offering those oh so pretty flowers….one will approach you and distract you, while her team-mates gather round and duly pilfer your pockets. They are very quick, and you will not notice a thing until it is too late.
Security and Safety on the Costa del Sol – Hotels
When staying in hotels that have a safe, it stands to reason to use them. If your hotel or apartment doesn’t have this facility, again it is wise to spread your stuff out in two or three different places, so in the very unfortunate circumstance of anyone breaking in, they might not necessarily get away with everything.
If you are unfortunate enough to be broken into or have valuables stolen, you will need to report it to a local police station, where they will issue you with a reference number. The police have a 24hour English speaking emergency contact number for reporting crimes or ‘denuncias’.
Telephone 902 102 112 and they will make a note of the offence and issue you with a number. This number will be necessary for you to claim on your insurance. Listed below are some emergency numbers should you need them.
If your passport goes astray, then it is necessary to get in touch with the British Consulate in Malaga. They can normally get an emergency one done in about 4 days. It will only cover you for the return leg of your journey. From here they will issue you with an emergency one to tide you over.
Take as much documentation as you can with you (this is where it’s handy if you have photocopies of your documents) and go to their offices in Malaga. It’s easy to find, just head towards the port area of Malaga and start to follow directions for the train station, and the consulate is not far from there. Telephone numbers of all the consulates are listed below.
Security and Safety on the Costa del Sol – Timeshare
Finally, I guess the biggest concern for holidaymakers in general is down here is Timeshare. There are a few very reputable, very well established ‘vacation ownership’ resorts on the Costa del Sol. Marriott’s being far and away the biggest brand, owning Marbella Beach Resort and Playa Andaluza just outside San Pedro .
The marketing people for this company work in branded kiosks and are NOT allowed to chase you down the street or pressurize you. The same cannot be said for other resorts. It has to be mentioned at this point that there are many good things about this way of holidaying and a lot of people have had very good experiences with the clubs they choose.
Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Marbella all have the sort of tout who will stop you in your tracks on the way to the beach and try to get you to go to their resorts and become members there and then. I’m sure a lot of you have had some kind of contact with these people at some stage. If you do choose to go, then realise it is your absolute right, if you so wish, to ask to leave after 30 minutes, or however long you were told it would be, and don’t feel you have to part with any money.
All these scenarios happen in any holiday resort, anywhere in the world and not just the Costa del Sol. A very, very good rule of thumb to go by is…if in doubt…DON’T!!
Security and Safety on the Costa del Sol – Emergency Telephone numbers
Important and very useful telephone numbers: Emergency Numbers:
- Emergency Operator: 112
- Nacional Police: 091
- Local Police: 092
- Guardia Civil: 062
- Ambulance: 061
- Fire Brigade: 080
- Sea Rescue: 900 202 202
- Police Crime Report (Denuncia Number): 902 102 112
- Marbella Costa del Sol Hospital: 952 862 748
- British Embassy – Madrid: 913 190 200 (opening hours 08.00am – 5.00pm)
- British Consulate – Malaga: 952 352 300. C/ Mauricio Moro Pareto 2-2, Malaga. (opening hours 07.00am -2.30pm)
- USA – Fuengirola: 952 474 891. Av. Juan Gomez 8. Ed. Lucia 1-C, Fuengirola.
- Holland – Torremolinos: 952 380 888. Av. Carlota Alessandri 33 1F, Torremolinos.
- Denmark – Malaga: 952 211 797. Calle Cordoba 6 404, Malaga.
- Norway – Malaga: 952 210 331. Blasco de Garay, 7, Malaga.
- Canada – Malaga: 952 223 346. C/Cervantes, Edif. Horizonte, Malaga.
- Germany – Malaga: 952 363 591. Mauricio Moro Pareto 2, Malaga.
- Sweden – Malaga: 952 604 383. Alameda de Colon 26-8, Malaga.
- Ireland – Fuengirola: 952 475 108. Av. Los Boliches, Fuengirola.
- France – Malaga: 952 226 590. Duquesa de Parcent 8, Malaga.
- Italy – Malaga: 952 306 150. Palestina 3, Malaga.
- Austria – Malaga: 952 600 267. Alameda de Colon 26, Malaga.
- Finland – Malaga: 952 212 435. C/Blasco de Garay 7, Malaga.
- Saudi Arabia – Malaga: . 952 310 358. Mauricio Moro Pareto 2-2, Malaga.
- Greece – Malaga: 952 311 847. Salitre 16, Malaga.
- Iceland – Fuengirola: 952 661 200. Paseo Maritimo 91, 29640, Fuengirola.
- Philippines – Malaga: 952 222 757. C/ Marques de Larios 4-2, Malaga.
- Hungary – Malaga: 952 308 393. Av. De Andalucia 26, 29007, Malaga