Hello... I need general pointers about the Torrevieja area

Hi,

Just a quick heads up to save you from a hefty fine,  you are not allowed to bathe in the salt lakes as they are part of the protected natural parks. You could bathe in the mar menor and bathe yourself in the mud but not too sure after covid 19 what the situation will be.

On the plus side the beaches are now open for sunbathing and swimming but there are restrictions. 

Good luck with your house hunt.

Hefty fines are NOT part of the retirement plan!
Thank you for taking the time to reply - I really appreciate it.
Nx

You're welcome and hope you get lots of helpful advice. 

I'm probably not going to make myself very popular but I wouldn't dip my toes in the Mar Menor let alone eat anything that came out of it.
Depending on your budget, Playa Flamenca and Cabo Roig are always popular but the closer you are to the sea the busier and noisier it will get in the summer and the Spanish don't even get going until 10 pm.  Beachside of the coast road (N332) is usually more expensive than further inland. Santa Pola is also very popular although much more Spanish than the larger ex-pat areas closer to Torrevieja.
Bear in mind flash flooding from the Gota Frías, barking dogs are a big issue especially those left to fend for themselves most of the time and you will need heating in the winter. Never use the abogado recommended by the estate agent and take everything they say with a pinch of salt.
Look through Jim's Guides which are in a tab at the top of the page, in the drop down menu or down the right hand side towards the bottom. If you are not moving over before the end of the transition period then you may well have to prove a higher income as a non-EU immigrant and if you are not in receipt of a UK state pension you will need to pay up front for the first year's private medical insurance and you will have to pay 100% for all prescriptions which are generally cheaper than in the UK. 
If you want help with the bureaucracy, I can personally recommend Uma at getlegalinspain.com and for insurances, Alfonso of Gran Alacant Insurances who advertise on this page down the right hand side.

Thank you so much for such a comprehensive response.  I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.
Nx

Look at La  Rosaleda area.  The North of Torrevieja.   Two minutes walk to the beach.

Hi Nicola. What an exciting prospect for you! All places have their upsides and downsides. Everyone will have horror stories and, hopefully, happy-ever-after ones. What’s important is to take the time to make your own judgment, and enjoy the process, as well as the end result. We started off with a holiday apartment in Villamartin. It was lovely, and really enjoyed it, but we came to realise that it wouldn’t be our choice for retirement. Like you, we decided that we wanted somewhere close to amenities. Also, for full time living, we were looking for somewhere that offered a good balance of permanent residents, alongside longer term visitors and holiday makers - it’s nice to have company in the winter months. The upshot is that we sold our apartment in Villamartin and bought a townhouse in Lago Jardín 1, Los Balcones. It’s on the edge of the salt lake, a five minute drive to the beach or Torrevieja, and has a good Mercadona supermarket, pharmacy, spa hotel and a few bars and restaurants on the doorstep, with a small commercial centre for ferretería, hair dresser, chinese bazar, another supermarket and more bars and restaurants a flat 10 minute stroll away. Also close to the renowned Torrevieja University Hospital. We took early retirement (in our late 50s), 18 months ago and took the plunge to move out permanently. I can honestly say, it’s the best decision we have ever made, and are thrilled with the area we have chosen to live, and everything about living here. If I can be of any further help, please feel free to private message me. Good luck with your new adventure. 

We moved to live in Spain last July and needed to be close to Torrevieja Hospital. We also initially liked the idea of being able to walk to the beach and love nearby Guardamar del Segura BUT it is too busy for us in the summer season so...

... we chose to live in Benijofar, some ten minutes drive inland. It’s still retained its Spanish character with a mixed population now including Brits and Dutch. It has all the amenities we looked for within walking distance - banks, doctors, dentists, solicitors, accountants, library, supermarkets, bars and restaurants as well as great yoga/Pilates classes and an outdoor municipal pool. Importantly, when the Gota Fria floods hit the Costa Blanca last September, we were virtually unscathed here although many local towns were badly hit.

We’re currently renting and in the process of buying. 😎💕💃🏻

Hello,

Isn’t it wonderful to have reached the point that you are ready to retire and want to live in a different country with better weather. You aren’t the first and you won’t be the last. The areas you are considering is perfect for any of us. My husband retired almost 20 years ago and on a crazy whim, we bought a great house in the Torreblanca / La Mata area. We can walk to the sea in about 12 minutes, there is a lovely precinct close by with a bank, restaurants, supermarket, dentist, optician, estate agent, florist and more. There are lots of lovely town houses in our area and La Mata too. Our beach us a long, sandy natural beach which runs the length of the coast. 

One suggestion.  If you plan to sell your home in the UK,  Would you consider investing in a pied a Terre? Something small and suitable for yourselves to return to when Spain becomes unbearably hot in July and August. You may even feel the need to return for Christmas and family gatherings. If, after a while you felt that you didn’t need it, you could sell it and move on. 

We don’t live in Spain and I couldn’t get rid of my home here , I need both.  I love both in different ways. Think hard and fast , this is a major change fir both if you. My husband!s cousin and wife moved permanently to Spain a few years ago as he has a chest problem. The climate doesn’t help completely as he suffers from hay fever and other things and gas had a few bad bouts with chest infections.  His wife misses home quite badly but he is very settled. Many Brits return home during the hot spell but they can’t as they don’t have anywhere to stay for 2 months. 

Check out La Mata. Great bus service, coastal walks, restaurants, very close to Torrevieja and close to the airport too. Perfect area. I love it