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The general rule is not to buy until you have at least visited the area.  Better still to have rented for a year to give you a feel for the winter months.  Regarding the swimming pool you will pay for it through your  annual community charge. Always best to find out how much this would be.

Hi 

Let me start by saying that I don't really know El Galan, but I drive through the general area quite often.

Re the pool - the estate agent can probably answer that question.

You mention walking to big supermarkets - but I'd say there are only two that are walkable (Mercadona and Aldi), and you won't enjoy walking back with shopping on hot days, and the route is not flat.

To get to the beach at Cabo Roig, you will need to cross the canal by Aldi/Stray Sod, which is of course the lowest part of the general area. The other side of the canal is quite a steep hill with no footpath - making for a scary walk. When the road flattens out, there is still no footpath until you get close to Iceland(British Overseas Supermarket). Walking on from Iceland, you'll then have to cross the AP7 motorway using the road bridge - and again there is no footpath. Locals have been complaining about this for years, including two good friends of ours who are very fit and active but totally refuse to walk/cycle on that bridge. 

Walking on to the coast - the beach is at the bottom of a cliff which is very good for cutting out the wind. There is a sloping path and stairs to get up and down - it's possible there is also a lift, but I'm not sure about that.

If you have bikes, you could consider using the canal as an easier route to get to various places, it has a convenient "towpath".

Hope this helps!

Cheers 

Steve 

From El Galan (where I live), you can walk to the beach along the canal to Los Dolces. Hang a right and it's all (mostly) downhill to Zenia. No danger of a "scary walk". However, it's a fair old trek on foot. I've done it once and I'm a fit (ish) 63. It is no fun whatsoever going home, though. It's all up hill!! 

In my opinion, a car is essential.

TBH in hindsight, I would have bought somewhere more flat and will be selling up next year after 6 years here. If I stay in Spain, I'll be looking at Alicante or Javea area and just renting.

Hope this helps

Hi- I have a bungalow in El Galan, it is a lovely quiet area but within easy reach of bars, restaurants etc, anything from 5-15 mins walk depending where you are.  Mercadona would be your nearest supermarket- we bought a shopping trolley at first to carry food back at first, but I would say a car is needed for the area.  If you’re only out a few times a year it’s probably best to hire one.  If you intend to visit lots or eventually move permanently then you’d buy a car.  It would take 5 mins plus, depending which beach you to, to drive.  Good luck.

It may also help you to have a look at the following websites, along with the 'Tips and Guides' section at the top of this page.:

Citizens Advice Bureau Spain for bureaucratic stuff, and

N332 for anything to do with driving in Spain.   This site is run in conjunction with officers of the Guardia Civil for English speaking people.