Aussie lady looking at moving to Alicante

Hi, in normal times, we have a far better social life here (Torrevieja) than in UK.

Have made some really good friends......from many nationalities.

U3A Torrevieja is brilliant.

Good luck

Personally if you're looking to retire and be expats thats you can socialise with i would check elsewhere, Alicante is a beautiful city to visit but i wouldnt say it has an active social social group of expats. Theres suburbs in the surrounding area right on a beach front with people you can very easily connect with. There also even the Canaries and Baleric islands to consider. All have alot too offer jist depends on whats you like

I would echo the first reply, wherever you go, check out the U3A ( which stands for University of the Third Age). It's an ex pat organisation which organises all sorts of classes, social and sporting activities. It's a good way to make friends and contacts who can give you help and advice. We have a very good one in Oliva up here in northern Costa Blanca, although of course covid is curtailing activities at the moment.

Also give some thought about where you live. If you're in an anonymous apartment block in the centre of the city, you're unlikely to meet neighbours. Maybe some kind of an urbanisation with communal pool in the suburbs or a smaller town would be better.

I worked in a positively multi-ethnic office in Melbourne, where I had 20 hours of Spanish classes before a trip to South America, where I lived for 20 years. Recently I moved to a small block in a ''working class area'' in Alicante's northern suburbs, 20-30 minutes by frequent tram or bus to the centre and beaches, which I can see in the distance from my windows.

My neighbours are mostly retired Spanish couples, but there are English, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, German, Arabic and French speaking neighbours with family in other EU countries, who all like to try to chat, regardless of the language. Walking along the marina or beach promenade or sitting in restaurants I hear those languages, English and Italian all of the time, even in the absence of cruise ships.

Social distancing may limit socialising, but restaurant, shop and agency staff are generally helpful with Spanish phrases and keen to practice speaking English.