Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 10:56pm
Hi Neil
We have an apartment near the bottom of Pau 8 on Cale Otello which is gated although you could get in if you really wanted to like most places to be fair, we love the area and especially the closeness to the Plaza we can walk there in 20 minutes although coming back takes a bit longer sometimes 😂, we use the Plaza quite alot when we are here as its so handy and the choice of restaurants and bars is great although we visit the other commercials La Fuente and Via Park which is nearby, there is a small shop there where you can get virtually all your shopping if so required I must agree with the rest a car is a must if you want to go anywhere even to and from the airport its going to cost around 140 euros return, we were renting but bit the bullet mid term this year and bought a car and to say they are expensive is an understatement but it will pay for itself in 2 years the amount we were spending on car hire plus the family, the winter months is alot quieter the summer months the place is packed and the Plaza is very busy as are most the commercial centres, once things get back to the new normal you will see the winter/summer shift, its been pleasant to have the use of the pool mainly to ourselves but am sure next year things will revert back.
There is a childrens area at the back of the Plaza if you go in via The Porobello restaurant and keep right that area there is for the children, shops are close by as in Mercadona over at Campomar, Lidle & Consum at Blue Hills and the La Zenia Boulevard is a 5 minute drive away the coast at La Zenia is 10 minutes although this gets packed through the summer as do all the beaches to be honest, we tend to drive down to La Mata and walk along the front you can walk for miles Cabo Roig is very nice also, the coast road N332 is a nightmare past Torre most days worse in the summer but you get used to it or go the back way once you have your bearings, you can use the motorway but you hit 2 tolls in no time this end, there are 5 golf courses with 20 minutes one on your doorstep Villamartin and there is a great crazy golf opened up at Greenlands near Quesada great for the kids.
Money wise i guess if we broke our place down its costing ball park 7k a year to run with no mortgage thats everything car, taxes, utilities, communal fees and solicitor fees but not running repairs and renewals, we have just spent 680 euros this time on electrician and Locksmith plus a new mattress for 500 euros, couple of months ago painting and decorating was 650 euros so its not all sun, sea and San Miguels......!! Take your time as there are alot of properties for sale although not that many on Pau 8 which gives you an indication of its popularity, I would agree this area tends to rely heavily on the Plaza where as Playa Flamenca and Cabo Roig have the strips so more to choose from but its horses for courses we like it here as we are far enough away to not have the hussle and bussle but close enough to walk and have a few beers.
We tend to do 2 weeks in the UK and 7-10 days here although this will be our last visit this term its home tomorrow sadly and no fixed return to speak of yet, flights are very cheap at the moment but I think next year they will return to close enough to what they used to be.
To sum up Pau 8 is a good balance of holiday and permanent residence but make sure its right for you, there are plenty rentals on here try before you buy as they say, if you need any further advice pm me I am quite happy to chat further if you want to go more in depth to costs, best of luck and happy house hunting.....
Regards
Andrew