Question
My husband & I are planning to move over to Spain next year hopefully from the UK. We will retire in Spain, living on savings and buying a property outright. The dilemma we have is ‘A place in the sun’ it shows so many wonderful parts of Spain, I am now confused ????.
Our dream is to live in a villa with pool and near a market town, we would like to be near a beach furthest time about 20 to 30 mins inland. I currently have Albox/Almeria in mind (I don’t think it helps I’ve seen a house I love there).
We don’t want to be in a busy tourist area, could anyone recommend any areas with good value on property, near a market town (or village not too far from one?) without loads of hustle of tourist but with local amenities.
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“You could also look at Algorfa, a tiny town five minutes north of Almoradi, it has everything but remains a Spanish community with different nationalities around (UK, French, Belgian, some Eastern Europeans, Dutch, Icelandic… and everyone joins in the community. It has a lovely square with cafes and restaurants, banking,Town Hall, doctors, chemists etc. 20 minutes finds you in Guardamar, 40 minutes to Alicante airport.”
“I live in Almoradi on the Costa Blanca South. 20 minutes from Alicante airport and 10-15 mins from a beach. It’s a Spanish town with a market every Saturday. If you don’t want to be in an ‘expat environment’ then stay away from urbanisations. Good luck.”
“Caleta has a market every Saturday and nearby Velez Malaga has a market on Thursdays. We love this area, which is very friendly and parrots living in the palm trees, great beach bars and big shopping centre called El-ingenio. Don’t buy too high up the mountains it gets cloudy up there!”
“Perhaps have a look at Mijas Pueblo near to Malaga.”
“Look at Murcia – maybe Águilas but lots more. It’s a very affordable region. Other town – Mula – rm15 road has speedy access between towns and coast.”
“Sax Alicante has everything you require 40mins from nearest beach and 30 minutes to airport.”
“El Pinar de Campoverde seems to tick all of your boxes.”
“Just try Campoverde; it has everything you require.”
“Orba is a pretty little market town. It has almost everything you could need. Around 15 minutes drive is Ondara with a large shopping centre. Denia is around 25 minutes away with Xabia, and Moraira around 30 to 35 minutes. It has an expat community who are very friendly and helpful. And the scenery is stunning.”
“Albox is a good choice for what you describe.”
Conclusion
For those looking to retire in Spain and seeking recommendations on peaceful areas with local amenities but away from tourist hotspots, there are numerous options provided by members of the community.
From the coastal vibes of Algorfa and Almoradi to the charming streets of Mijas Pueblo near Malaga, each location offers a unique blend of Spanish culture and modern conveniences. While places like Murcia and Alicante offer affordability and accessibility, it’s important to consider individual preferences for climate, landscape, and community vibe.
Visiting these areas to get a personal feel remains the best approach to making a final decision on where to retire in Spain.
Here’s a table summarizing the suggested areas for retirement in Spain, along with their corresponding provinces and autonomous communities:
| Comunidad Autónoma | Province | Suggested Area |
|---|---|---|
| Valencia | Alicante | Algorfa |
| Valencia | Alicante | Almoradi |
| Andalusia | Málaga | Caleta |
| Andalusia | Málaga | Velez Malaga |
| Andalusia | Málaga | Mijas Pueblo |
| Murcia | Murcia | Águilas |
| Murcia | Murcia | Mula |
| Valencia | Alicante | Sax |
| Valencia | Alicante | El Pinar de Campoverde |
| Valencia | Alicante | Campoverde |
| Valencia | Alicante | Orba |
| Andalusia | Almería | Albox |
This table provides a clear view of various potential retirement spots across different regions of Spain, highlighting their locations within specific provinces and autonomous communities.
