Everyone moved here while you were on a call — Costa del Sol — Tuesday 11, Novemember

Last Tuesday, I watched a German exec miss his kids' school tour because he tried to book it in October. The slot was gone in September. He didn't know that schools here now run shortlists earlier—applications that used to open in January are now opening in November. Meanwhile, his regular lunch table disappeared because the restaurant stopped taking walk-ins.

Two problems. Same root cause. The Costa's headcount shifted, and nobody sent you the memo.

Málaga Airport keeps setting records. August was the busiest ever, but the arc didn't sag in shoulder season—late summer now bleeds into October. Translation: more year-round arrivals, not just July spikes. The property census reflects it. Marbella's padrón — town-hall registration — rose again at year's end, mostly with foreign names. Steady lift creates steady demand for the same finite tables, pediatricians, and international school slots.

I've seen the effects compound over three months.

Restaurants that used to seat walk-ins now block Tuesdays for regulars. International schools that accepted applications until March now encourage parents to apply by November—some year groups carry waitlists. Coworking spaces in Málaga talk about demand signals. Meeting rooms in Marbella book out by noon on Thursdays.

The growth sounds like good news until your standing lunch and your child's school tour want the same 90-minute window. Then it's an operations problem.

Scene one: You've got a VP call at 13:30. Your regular lunch spot—the one with acoustics that let you hear yourself think—just told you they're fully booked through Thursday. They began taking reservations six weeks in advance. You didn't know that was a thing on the Costa. Now you're eating in your car.

Scene two: The school you want for your kids opens applications next Monday. You thought rolling admissions meant "anytime." It doesn't. A British family I know missed Swans' January intake last year because they applied in February. The year group filled. Their twins are still on the waitlist.

Scene three: Your fiber connection is fine at 7 am. By 11 a.m., it's unusable. You didn't realize everyone else working remotely would strain the same infrastructure at the same hours. You're switching to a mobile hotspot mid-pitch. Your client notices.

These aren't isolated frustrations. They're second-order effects of population gain hitting the fixed supply of calm though unreliable infrastructure you thought you could handle while living here.

I've spoken to four remote executives in the last month who asked, "Why can't I get a table anymore?" Same pattern. They're booking the week of instead of the week before. Venues prioritize predictable income and known names. Walk-ins lose.

I've seen three families scramble for school tours because they assumed "rolling admissions" meant no urgency. It doesn't. Most schools prefer applications between November and February—earlier than last year. Some year groups fill by December.

Hospitality is short on trained staff. The good rooms optimize for regulars, longer booking windows, and Tuesday-Thursday lunch consistency. Staffing shortages mean they can't afford chaos. If you're not in the system, you're out.

You win by locking the right slots now on quiet channels. This is operator work.

Block one recurring lunch this week. Pick a room you actually enjoy. Call them. Ask: "¿Puedo reservar los martes a la misma hora durante seis semanas?" — Can I reserve Tuesdays at the same time for six weeks? Most will say yes if you're polite and consistent. Tip like an adult. Become a name they recognize.

Block one pediatric or school slot this week. Even if it's exploratory. School tours bunch between November and March. Clinics run tighter schedules during winter arrivals. Schedule the tour for a Tuesday or Friday to avoid conflicts with your existing work commitments.

Pick your work base. One coworking space or serviced office. Not ten cafés. Test the fiber at 11 am on a Thursday—that's when you'll know if it holds under load. Book meeting rooms early. The HQ on Ricardo Soriano caters to clients who appreciate fine details, such as badges and carpets. The Living Room in Málaga works if you want an international crowd that respects calls.

Tag your three "door" people. One maître d'. One school admissions contact. One clinic admin. Send two lines of context when they help. Thank them properly. People move you faster than apps, and trained staff are gold when everyone's short.

Avoid Mondays at 09:00 for airport returns. The arrivals curve makes the coast feel busier. Book calls late morning those days or work the time zone buffer. Winter doesn't mean empty—it means predictable.

"¿Puedo reservar los martes a la misma hora durante seis semanas?"
Can I reserve Tuesdays at the same time for six weeks?

"¿Cuándo abre la matrícula para el próximo curso?"
When does enrollment open for the next school year?

"¿Atienden niños y aceptan mi seguro privado?"
Do you see children and accept my private insurance?

Reply lunch or schools with your town.

For lunch: I'll send three rooms that take Tuesday bookings, their direct numbers, and the exact phrase that gets you the regular slot.

For schools: I'll send admissions contacts for your shortlist schools and their current application windows.

You'll have it by Thursday.

Plain‑English guidance to land, settle, and thrive on Spain’s Costa del Sol—homes, schools, healthcare, visas, taxes, work, and daily life.💛

Quiet competence is a luxury. Book it like one.

See you on the paseo – A. & the slightly sober WayPoint Sur team.

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