San Miquel De Salinas

I  would  think  a Car  is essential  as  Public transport  not  great. Some areas  of San Miguel  are  a  bit  Hilly.  Some   degree of  Spanish  would  help.

That is my  opinion  and I viewed  a  few properties  out  there . Don't  take  advise  just  Rent  before you purchase  then you will know if  it  suitable  for  yourselves 

  Best 👌  of  Luck 

Whilst a pleasant enough town without a car San Miguel would not be a place I'd recommend at all.

Public transport as a whole in Spain can at best be described as 'spotty' and believe me it's not going to be fun standing waiting for a bus in potentially 40c+ heat and then toting heavy bags of shopping.

I strongly suggest you ditch your no drive idea as a car will hugely expand your choices of location.

San Miguel is a lovely little town with a good selection of shops, bars, restaurants, a reasonable supermarket and a great Wednesday street market. It’s a proper little Spanish town, but you would have no trouble being understood with just English - though you always get treated a little better if you have a smattering of Spanish.
There are a lot of new apartments just being built right next to the town centre, which would be ideal if you don’t want to drive. There are 2 regular bus services that go to Torrevieja - the Torrevieja-San Miguel service, and the Torrevieja-Orihuela service.

If you look at properties online, be careful, as the San Miguel area covers urbanisations a good few miles away from the town centre, where it is very hilly and can be a long walk from amenities. I would definitely rent first, or at least stay in the area a couple of times over both July/August and February/March, to experience both extremes of the seasons. Perhaps have a look at Los Balcones - Lago Jardín 1, for a nice urbanisation with year round residents, flat walking distance to bars, restaurants and a good supermarket, as well as regular buses every 30 minutes into Torrevieja. 
Hope this helps. Good luck, and enjoy. 

Strongly advise you to rent in the area in an effort to try before you buy, 

While you are renting you can look at the area and other areas and make contact with estate agents.

You will find that the bus services among inland towns is virtually non-existent, unlike the coastal touristy towns.   I have lived in Almoradi for 18 years and, although we have a lovely bus station, there are very few buses.   I would be lost without my little car.

I would suggest Los Dolses, half way between villamartin and La Zeina, everything on your doorstep and walkabout to all amenities.

I think the area between Los Dolces and Villamartín is a good place too, that is where we are and everything within walking distance and on the flat, Boulevard also within walking distance.

Carol

Holà, Holà, Always better to get own opinion.Stay in servigroup hotel la Zenia...from there you can explore from Cartagena to Alicante ...

I made it 6 years ago and now stay  in playa flamenca.

Enjoy

I live near to San Miguel and although a lovely town close to all the amenities you need it is very hilly. At your age you have to think of the future, could you push your partner in a wheelchair up the Main Street? is there room on the pavement to get by in a mobility scooter? Some of the pavements are extremely high because of the torrential rain that sometimes happens. Always make sure you have a downstairs bedroom and as few steps to front door as possible. Good Luck in your search.