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Where should we explore if we want to consider living on the Costa Blanca?
Ok - first off, we are married couple M58 F51(kids all grown up and living their own lives) planning to retire and move out to Spain (c) Q4 2024/Q1 2025, so are starting to plan where we might like to be located.
Ideally, we would like to be somewhere that is typically Spannish, or at least isn't massively touristy. By that, I don't mean no tourists at all as I imagine thats all but impossible on a Spanish costa, but more somewhere that has retained its Spannish identity.
E.G Last June we were in Cambrils, Costa Dorada - what we liked about it was, it seemed very Spanish in that there was a distinct lack of Sports Bars, Karaoke Bars, Fast Food Restaurants (there was one obligatory McDonalds on the front, but that was it, as far as we could see). If you wanted that kind of thing, you could easily get to Salou via ferry or bus. The retaurants on the front were perhaps more geared towards tourists with the usual toutes trying to persuade you to eat in their restaurants. Still, the food on offer was very much geared towards Fish dishes and typical tapas type dishes. Further in, it was definately more geared to the locals with no hassle and menus in Spanish on blackboards in the bar areas etc. There were a handful of what you might call souvenir shops, but generally most shops were catering for the local population. We also liked the fact that it was fairly flat (for walking about) and not high rise. There were local Buses that ran up and down the coast, the Ferries from the marina,, plenty of taxis and a train station (for travelling further afield) - so maybe similar transport links are also a requirement?
The main drawbacks of Cambrils were, non-availability of flights (to Reus) in the winter months (Oct-March) meaning if you wanted to (say) go to the UK for Christmas, you'd have to fly to/from Barcelona and commute by train to Cambrils ((c) 2 hrs) and the winters were (as reported by people we had met) quite cold, with it being located further north.
Someone recommended looking at Costa Blanca (South or North) given its better year round climate and more frequent all year round flight availability from both Alicante and San Javier.
Now neither of us have been to the Costa Blanca recently - my last visit was in the 1980's, so obviously things will have changed a lot. We are planning to visit next year, probably in early October for 10-14 days to explore the area - possibly splitting our time between the South and the North.
Clearly, we are not going to be able to visit everywhere, which is where, hopefully this forum can help with suggestions of some places to visit. Our plan is either to commute to/from a convenient cental(ish) base to explore the North & South (rented or hotel), or spend 2/3 days in each area using B&Bs - hopefilly there will be breasonable availability in early October.
We are not bothered about being right on the sea front, though would like to be within easy reach. Its unlikely we would have a car (initially at least) so convenience to amenities, shops, bars and restaurants - via walking or public transport would be desirable though not a deal breaker for the right area.
We started by looking at coastal areas on the internet - its a long list: Moraria, Javea, Denia, Altea, Santa Pola, Guardamar del Degura, Pilar/Torre de la Horada, Santiago de la Ribera & Los Alcazares.
Please feel free to comment, ask for more info and add to / subtract from these - any assistance/suggestions at all would be very welcome
Thank you
Ian & Emma
