Susan operates a local boutique B&B in Alhaurin el Grande called Finca del Mundo. If anyone is interested in staying at her beautiful Bed and breakfast, you can contact the Finca via their website or via Facebook.
1. How long have you lived on the Costa del Sol?
Before, I had a house at the Costa Blanca South, and since 2014, I have been living on the Costa del Sol.
2. What made you want to open a business on the Costa del Sol?
Many Dutch and Belgians love the Costa del Sol, so it is a perfect place for tourism. You can find everything here at the Costa del Sol, nature, small villages, beaches etc.… The environment, nature and most of all, living amongst the locals inland.
3. What’s the best thing about the Costa del Sol as a place to live in your opinion?
In my village in, it’s the combination of living amongst the locals and getting to know their culture in combination with tourism. Life here is slower, with more appreciation for family, eating outside, and enjoying the free time. It's not that rushing economy compared to the Netherlands, for example.
Finca del Mundo
4. Give us a brief description of what you get up to on your usual working day.
First, we get up every day, 7 days a week, at 07.00 o’clock in the morning. At 08.00, we start to prepare breakfast at Boutique B&B Finca del Mundo for our guests. From 09.30, we will serve breakfast at our terrace in the sun; every guest has his own table and is being served.
Then we will give our guests all kinds of information about what to do in Andalusia. We will give them maps and brochures. After, usually around 11.30, we will clean up all the tables and clean the rooms, provide new towels, etc. If the guests stay to relax at the pool, we will also have lunch. We also provide an honesty bar, so we will refill the bar and all the snacks every morning.
From around 3 o’clock until 05.00, we will do the groceries and all purchases for the honesty bar and dinner because, in Finca del Mundo, we can accommodate 16 guests, so we need a lot of groceries. A few times a week we will serve dinner as well, so we start preparations around 6.30. Around 9.00pm, all the guests join together at a big table, and it’s always lovely to see how people get to know each other and have fun.
Around 01.00/01.30 am, we are ready with the dishes and cleaning up. We say goodnight to our guests and go to bed for a new day. Of course, we also have check-ins and outs from the early morning till late night, clean the rooms, and do all the washing. Our season is from 01 March until the end of December. We will use the time to paint and do maintenance at the Finca in January and February.
5. How has business been for you in the past two years?
We have had amazing years at the Finca since we started in May 2015. we can say we are mostly fully booked, and we have many returning guests, so I am very proud of that.
6. How do you enjoy spending your weekends and free time?
Unfortunately, we don’t have a free weekend during the season and little spare time... We always have guests, and in the season, we have to make the money to ‘survive’ the winter period. If we have spare time, I spend it mostly with friends to have a quick drink or dinner or relax at home with my dogs.
7. If you could be in charge of any other business here on the Costa del Sol for a day, which would it be and why?
I would combine Real Estate, Marketing, Consultancy, Reform, and Interior Design in Rural surroundings where entrepreneurs or clients can stay at the B&B and get informed about the possibilities and legal issues and how to start your business. Before, in the Netherlands, I was a Financial Planner and had my own office for entrepreneur consultancy, risk management, reorganisations, insurance, and mortgages. So, I think I can make a difference with my experience and service.
Finca del Mundo Pool Area
8. What’s your favourite food?
My favourite food is the typical Spanish tapas or Spinach with potatoes and typical Dutch: a “balgehakt”.
9. Describe your perfect home on the Costa del Sol and where it would be.
I prefer a house in the countryside, close to Alhaurin el Grande and enough space on the plot to have a lot of animals and do my business as well. I have got a few new ideas I want to work on.
10. If you were to appear on “Come Dine with Me”, what theme would you choose?
Sorry! I don’t know this program. I will choose a conversation on how to be a good entrepreneur and to deal with the coronavirus be creative and positive and provide some solutions.
11. Who would be your perfect dinner guest?
I would like to have dinner with my sons and friends in the Netherlands; I haven’t seen them for a long time. Or President Trump, I really would like to have a conversation with him about conspiracy theory ;-)
