How to get to Ontinyent - Page 2

Sarcastic comments were better than angry comments about generalisations made regarding an area that some posters have no knowledge of.

The OP was asking for information about getting to/from their chosen area. I would have assumed they had made an informed decision about choosing an inland rural property and it didn't really deserve the disparaging comments about buying inland.

Can't say I noticed any angry or disparaging remarks in other comments. Just honest opinions  based on personal experience that are different from yours. I didn't notice any advice from you about how to get to and from the area either.

Thank you Gordon. And yes, I do know Ontinyent. It is lovely. My remarks were about the considerations you need to have before buying a holiday home inland. They were NOT targeted at Ontinyent.(Or anywhere else specifically.) 

If you are going to live inland, unless are going to live in a town, you will really need your own transport, either a hire car or better still your own car/transport. Buses, are very limited IF they are even available. Both Valencia and Alicante airports are an easy drive and only about an hour away. 

However, you can catch a train from Valencia to Xativa, and other towns in the area. I believe getting from Alicante airport is more difficult but we've not tried as we wouldn't be without a car. 

Don't let the negativity of others put you off, some of us LOVE living inland. We live half way between Ontinyent & Xativa and Gandia and would not want to be on the coast. You are more likely to integrate into the community inland as it isn't overrun with foreigners, but there are enough English speakers around to make friends with if that is what you want.

There is also lots to do inland, and it is generally much cheaper than the tourist destinations. Ontinyent and Xativa are both quite large towns with lots of facilities. Most villages and towns have great public swimming pools, and there are places like Pou Clar and Anna to go wild swimming, and lots of beautiful unspoilt towns and gorgeous countryside to explore.

I would recommend that you come and stay in the area first, both in the heat of summer and in winter. It can be MUCH hotter inland in summer, plus depending on the altitude, much colder in winter. Also, think carefully about buying a house with lots of land as a holiday home. Not only can empty houses be a target for criminals, do you really want to spent all your holidays working on the house and land?  Plus at the moment, because of the exceptionally hot and dry weather, we are experiencing lots of fires which can get out of control very quickly.  A house in a town, with a garden, large patio and/or roof terrace would perhaps be a better option.

Don't jump into buying somewhere too quickly, take your time to choose wisely. Buying costs in Spain are high in Spain, and you cannot always sell properties. All the best 

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply to my request, it has been much appreciated, and all the different opinions are all invaluable. We are coming over in May to have a look at different areas and properties, and weighing all our options up, and bearing in mind everyone's advice.

Thank you again, kind regards, RosieMac

We've lived in Spain for 35 years, on Mallorca. We're selling here to move to the Costa Blanca.

(Property is a quarter the price of here.)

We're looking at the Ontinyent area.

Never having been there (yet), I'd assume speaking Spanish will be a must.

Very few of the inland areas of Spain speak anything else but da local lingo.

As for security, of course that should be a concern if the property is unoccupied.

However, a decent modern alarm system (eg Verisure) is about 40€ a month and will be connected to the local cop shop.

Just sayin'

Norm.

It is certainly a huge advantage to speak Spanish in this area, and you certainly cannot reply on local people speaking English. However, the locals are usually very understanding if you at least try to speak Spanish, and many people get by with very limited Spanish. It would be advisable to employ a translator for both official and medical appointments though. 

By the way, it isn't just the cost of housing that is cheaper, the cost of eating and drinking out is too, and are many other costs. You money will go much further here. 

all the best

Thanks Gail. We're looking forward to making the move.

"¡Hasta la vista, baby!"

Norm.