Location, Location, Location?

That's a bit like asking how long's a piece of string - but you are really spoilt for choice! We are also Spanish-speaking pensioners and after visiting quite a few places along the Mar Menor, we chose to buy in San Pedro del Pinatar (we previously lived for many years in the Canary Islands.). The population is mainly Spanish but there is a good sprinkle of Brits and other nationalities permanently resident here. In the summer months - June to September - the population triples with the summer visitors, who are mainly Spanish second-home owners and again, a good sprinkling of other nationalities - tourists and second homeowners. As soon as September arrives, the tourists go back to their homes and the town reverts to "normal". The beaches are quieter and the traffic much reduced but the town is still busy and restaurants and bars still open. We have a big market every Monday, which is not a tourist market but for the locals with fruit, veg, clothes, kitchenware, fabrics, shoes - even car tyres! The Mar Menor beaches are great and the sea-front has just had a total makeover and now boasts a cycle-lane all the way along it as well as spacious walkways for people to stroll along at their leisure. We have a large nature park with salt marshes, where water birds flourish and there are flamingoes there too! The beaches of the Mediterranean are adjoining this area on the other side, so you have a choice of beaches within 2km of each other. There are bars and chiringuitos along the beaches and these stay open until around October or until there are no customers! There are places open all year round though and the town has everything that you could ask for. Additionally, 5 minutes' drive away, we have the 2 shopping centres - Dos Mares and Pinatar Park, where again, there is a good choice of shops from bed shops to a massive Carrefour supermarket. Further on from there, there is an Iceland store selling British foods. The main town of San Pedro del Pinatar also has large supermarkets such as Lidl, Consum and a brand new huge Mercadona, opening on the 20th of this month, which is located down by the centro de salud. San Javier and Los Alcázares are also interesting places to consider as options for relocation. We found Los Alcázares a bit more "ex-pat" than San Pedro but everyone has their own ideas of what they want around them. Further along the Mar Menor, there are places such as Los Nietos, Las Urrutias and Mar de Cristal, all of which have their positives but we found them to be a little too far away from the facilities of the larger towns. Your best bet would be to come over and stay for a week or so and visit the area from top to bottom.

Hi 

I wont go into much details as you will can find lots of information on the San Javier web site 

Santiago La Ribera is mainly a Spanish comunity with all the facilities you may need, Medical Centre, Pharmacies, Library, Supermarkets, Shoe repairers, Barbers, Chinese shops, Takeaway's. Restaurants, bars. Plus the beaches of the Mar Menor all on a basically very flat area, good for walking and cycling..

Bus service to Murcia City, Alicante Airport and many other destinations.

Always best to have a good look around and see what suits you the best.

Hi Mags thank you very much for all that information.  I hope to visit the area in January.

Thank you so much.  The information gives me some clues where to start looking.

MAGS44 has written exactly what I would say about San Pedro del Pinatar. We bought in '19 having previously lived in Catalunya & we love it here. We're not residents but do spend a lot of time in San P. It's welcoming, helpful people  are a plus as well. 

I didn't know about the new Mercadona until I read Mag's post so I will look forward to that when I get back in two week's time. 

Best of luck in your search, I hope you find the perfect home.