Marbella is looking for new appeal further than its long-established draw for global millionaires. Decades of success in the Costa del Sol city rest on year-round fine weather, strong privacy measures and upscale living options. City leaders now want to push further with ambitions to make the area Europe’s own Silicon Valley equivalent.

It seems that startups favour the Costa del Sol location over most others. Luxury property developments sit near growing coworking facilities and office spaces. Property agents report a clear move away from mainly retired wealthy arrivals. Talent from many countries and age groups is now investing more in the destination.

Business centre head reflects on talent attraction

“In place of drawing those nearing retirement, young talent is arriving instead,” says Christian Rasmussen, chief executive of the business centre The Pool. Few places worldwide have such high talent levels. This represents a goldmine opportunity.” He remarked in a recent interview for Bloomberg. “Marbella’s future will differ greatly from its present form,” he explained. “Efforts now focus on altering views of Marbella, moving it from a leisure destination to a key base for contemporary professionals,” he told Bloomberg.

Property developers are currently aiming to create a lasting European base for international founders and investors. The location combines all the sunshine you could want with accessible luxury features similar to those in the United Arab Emirates.

International property investors getting younger

Pandemic years brought noticeable buyer changes. Pure Living Properties’ The Marbella 2025 market report identifies younger purchasers are now keen on full-year living and working arrangements. British, Scandinavian, German and Dutch buyers remain prominent, yet demand is growing from the United States, Canada, Poland and Gulf nations.

Artur Loginov, chief executive at estate agency Drumelia, observed clear progress. “New residents, investors and hotels reached Marbella after the pandemic and raised area standards. Once simply an attractive town, the place now operates as a full city,” he said. “Recent years delivered new gyms, restaurants, hotels and global brand outlets matching New York or Monaco levels.”

Marbella council on board

Local government initiatives are supporting this new direction. Cooperation between Marbella Council and centres such as The Pool is going out of their way to promote foreign business investment. Visits to China and the US with the mayor are being used to promote Marbella as an entry point to Europe. Infrastructure gains include expanded international schools and modern amenities that suit professional families.

Most people already know that 12 August is the night to watch the Perseid meteor shower, but that’s only half the story. If the skies stay clear, anyone looking up from Spain could also catch a rare six planet alignment, with Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune appearing across the same stretch of sky. Astronomers say alignments involving this many planets don’t happen very often, making it one of the standout nights for skywatchers this summer.

You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy it. In fact, for most people the appeal is simply being outside on a warm August evening and seeing more planets than you would normally expect in a single night. If you’re lucky enough to be away from city lights, you could have a front row seat to one of the year’s most striking celestial displays.

Why this planetary alignment is attracting so much attention

The phrase ‘planetary alignment‘ often sounds more dramatic than the reality, and it’s easy to see why there’s confusion.

The planets are not actually lining up in space one behind another. What happens is that, from our point of view on Earth, several planets appear to gather along the same path across the sky. Astronomers call this path the ecliptic, which is also the route followed by the Sun and the Moon throughout the year.

Small alignments happen fairly regularly. Spotting two or three planets close together is nothing unusual. Seeing six planets appearing in the same part of the sky, however, is much less common.

That’s why 12 August has already been highlighted by astronomy platform Star Walk as one of the key dates of the year for anyone who enjoys watching the night sky.

Adding to the excitement, the alignment arrives on exactly the same night that the Perseid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak. It’s unusual to have two headline astronomical events sharing the same evening, which is why many amateur astronomers have already circled the date on their calendars.

Which planets will you actually be able to see?

This is where expectations need a little reality check.

Although six planets are taking part in the alignment, not all of them will be equally easy to spot.

If you’ve never looked for planets before, Jupiter will probably catch your eye first. It is one of the brightest objects in the night sky and is difficult to miss when conditions are good.

Saturn should also stand out, while Mars will be recognisable thanks to its familiar orange red colour.

The remaining planets are more challenging.

Mercury spends most of its time close to the Sun from our perspective, so it only appears for short periods around sunrise or sunset. Finding it usually requires good timing and an unobstructed horizon.

Then there are Uranus and Neptune. They are simply too faint for most people to see with the naked eye, so binoculars or a telescope will be needed if you want to add them to your list.

Even if you only manage to spot three planets, it’s still an impressive evening. Most of us go through daily life without noticing what’s happening above our heads, and events like this offer a reminder that the night sky is constantly changing.

Where should you go to get the best view in Spain?

The best viewing tip has nothing to do with buying expensive equipment. Your location matters much more than your telescope.

If you’re surrounded by street lights, apartment blocks and illuminated roads, you’ll lose much of the detail. A short drive into the countryside can make a remarkable difference.

Spain has no shortage of places with excellent dark skies. Rural inland areas, mountain viewpoints, national parks and quiet stretches of coastline often provide ideal conditions for stargazing.

Weather is just as important. A perfectly timed astronomical event can disappear behind cloud in seconds, so it’s worth checking the forecast before heading out.

If you’re planning to use binoculars or a telescope, try to arrive before it gets fully dark. Give your eyes around 20 to 30 minutes to adjust naturally, and avoid looking at your phone too often, as bright screens quickly reduce your night vision.

Many local astronomy groups across Spain also organise public observing sessions whenever major celestial events take place. They’re a great option if you’re unsure where to look or simply want someone to point out the planets for you.

A reminder that some of the best summer experiences are completely free

There is something refreshing about an event like this. No tickets, no queues and no booking required.

All you really need is a clear sky and a little patience.

Planetary alignments have fascinated people for thousands of years. Ancient civilisations carefully followed the movements of the planets to create calendars and better understand the changing seasons. Today we know these alignments are simply the result of the planets following their own orbits around the Sun, but that doesn’t make them any less captivating.

For many families, 12 August could become one of those evenings that is remembered long after summer ends. Children might see Saturn for the first time. Someone else may finally understand why Jupiter shines so brightly compared with the surrounding stars. Others may simply enjoy sitting outside while the Perseids streak overhead.

Whether you’re a keen astronomer or someone who rarely looks up after dark, this is one of those occasions that rewards curiosity. Six planets, one of the year’s biggest meteor showers and, hopefully, clear summer skies make for a combination that doesn’t come along very often.

So if the forecast looks promising, it might be worth swapping an evening in front of the television for one under the stars. On 12 August, Spain’s night sky could put on one of its finest displays of the year.

If you’ve ever had a flight cancelled after booking through an online travel platform, you’ll probably know the frustration. The airline tells you to contact the booking site, the booking site points you back to the airline, and getting your money back can become a lengthy process.

That could soon change. The European Union has reached a provisional agreement on new passenger rights that would make it much easier for travellers to recover the full cost of cancelled flights booked through online travel agencies and comparison websites. If approved, the new rules would also introduce clear refund deadlines, standard claim forms and better information about who is responsible for handling your request.

The legislation still needs final approval before it becomes law, but it represents one of the biggest updates to passenger rights in recent years.

Cancelled flight? Here’s how EU refund rules could change

More people than ever now book flights through online travel agencies, comparison websites and booking platforms rather than directly with airlines. While these sites often offer competitive prices, they can also complicate matters when something goes wrong.

Under the proposed rules, passengers would be entitled to a full refund if their flight is cancelled, including any booking or intermediary fees paid when purchasing the ticket.

That is an important change for travellers who currently risk losing service charges even when the airline refunds the ticket itself.

The proposal also introduces strict deadlines.

In most cases, travellers should receive their refund within seven days. Where an intermediary has already paid the airline using its own funds, that period could be extended to 14 days.

The aim is to remove uncertainty and avoid the long delays that many passengers have experienced when trying to recover money from cancelled bookings.

Another change focuses on transparency.

Booking platforms and travel agencies would have to explain before you complete your purchase exactly how refunds will be handled if your flight is cancelled. Airlines would also be required to state whether they cooperate with intermediaries during the refund process, giving passengers a clearer picture of who will deal with their claim.

Small local travel agencies classified as microenterprises would benefit from a limited exemption, but only if customers are clearly informed about the different refund arrangements before booking.

Claiming compensation could become much simpler

The proposed reform goes beyond refunds.

The EU also wants to make compensation claims easier by introducing standardised claim forms that passengers can use across all member states.

Instead of trying to work out different procedures depending on the airline or country involved, travellers would have access to a common system. Claims could be submitted electronically or through other methods, including traditional post.

The proposal builds on the wider agreement reached on 15 June to strengthen air passenger rights across Europe.

That earlier agreement maintained existing compensation levels for long delays.

Passengers delayed by more than three hours would continue to be eligible for:

• €250 for flights of up to 1,500 kilometres
• €400 for flights within the EU or between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometres
• €600 for longer journeys

The reforms also seek to improve communication between airlines and passengers.

Airlines would be required to provide clear information about passenger rights whenever disruption occurs and respond to complaints within 30 days, either by paying compensation or explaining why the claim has been rejected.

For many travellers, simply receiving a clear answer within a fixed timeframe would be a significant improvement over the current system.

The rules are not in force yet but more protections are on the way

Although the agreement has been welcomed as a step towards simpler passenger rights, it has not yet become law.

Before the changes take effect, they must receive formal approval from both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, followed by the usual legal and linguistic review.

The reform also introduces additional protections for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility.

Where an airline requires someone to travel with a companion for safety reasons and cannot provide the necessary assistance itself, that accompanying person would be entitled to travel free of charge and sit next to the passenger requiring assistance.

Taken together, the proposed measures aim to tackle one of the biggest frustrations many travellers face after a cancellation. Instead of spending days trying to work out whether to contact the airline, the booking platform or the travel agency, passengers would have clearer rules, defined deadlines and a more straightforward claims process.

For anyone who regularly books flights through online platforms, the message is encouraging. The rules are not in force yet, but if they receive final approval, getting your money back after a cancelled flight could soon become far less stressful than it is today.