Buying in the area of Santiago de la Ribera

Hi 

The area is lovely. We had an apartment 20 mins away for 15 years and always came here. For the last 3 years we have an apartment here. Very safe, lovely beaches and walks or bike rides. It is very quite in winter be we don’t mind that.

Hi Emma

We purchased an apartment last year in Santiago De La Ribera. We come out 5 or 6 times a year and we love it. Full of life in the summer months and a lot quieter in winter. However still lots to do. Walks or cycles along promenade, Lo Pagan within walking distance. If you fancy a bit of life Los Alcazares is a 10 minute drive. 

Lovely promenade and beach and a good selection of restaurants and bars.

We are in our 50s and have teenagers.

Ken

Just an update really, I walked from lo pagan into Santiago at 5pm yesterday. Obviously it’s a quiet time of day,walked past about six churrengitos, all closed. When I arrived in Santiago itself , it was like a ghost town, one cafe open, felt like some tumble weed would be coming down road any minute. I’m not disagreeing with all the post’s saying what a pretty little place it is, I actually live on outskirts of Santiago myself, but there really is very little there nowadays. Personally I feel the town needs some investment.

I think it’s great that you’ve posted an honest opinion of how you found it 👍

I appreciate your honesty. We have a place in San Pedro and often visit Santiago. To add to what you say I would say the same about many other places in coastal areas in Spain too. 

Winter's can be rather dismal but I can understand it. The numbers aren't there to support the usual summer business. Some imagination is required but if there are no people then that's the first hurdle to be crossed. Not sure how to overcome that inescapable fact though. 

Still, Santiago & others towns do have those amazing Carnivals in the New Year to look forward to and always make a great effort to entertain the populace with them. 

Personally I prefer to return to Ireland for winter end Nov.  as everything remains open but look forward to returning in March by which time Spring is well on it's way.  

As I said, I’m not trying to run Santiago down, I live here,and I’m not trying to put anyone off, just saying it’s very quiet this time of year 👍

If you love to swim do your research on the waters of the Mar Menor. It’s lost its blue flag status with no chance of it returning.  People do swim in it but it’s not very appealing. 

Regarding moving to Santiago, I took the opportunity to spend time in three locations along the east coast of Spain in early 2022, out of season, renting properties in each

Santiago is excellent and as other respondents have said; friendly, clean, quiet and Spanish rather than ex-pat. It is also the cheapest place to buy of the three I stayed in. However it is important to decide exactly what you are looking for in a Spanish property - a hot-season holiday place or an all-year residence

Personally I would not buy in Santiago for an all-year residence but would definitely consider it for a second home. My reasons are: the lack of facilities that are open in the Winter, the impracticality of using the Mar Menor in the Winter for bathing or even paddling, the limited public transport to Alicante airport (nearby airports are less frequent and expensive). As others have said, nearby towns such as Lo Pagan and Alcazares have more bustle

For me - and of course it is a personal choice - I found Villajoyosa and Denia more practical and equally stunning to buy in. Of the two Villajoyosa was my clear winner; quiet in Winter but plenty still open, local  train direct to Alicante running at least twice per hour, good value and largely Spanish with foreigners tending to visit at the weekends, magnificent beach 

Denia is excellent, a true all-year round location due to its bustling port but markedly more expensive 

I also liked the look of villayosa,basically I didn’t find anything Apartment wise I was that in to,but being on a train line is a major plus for it. Unfortunately it’s buses only down here in Murcia, unless you can get to balsicas.

Anyway enjo