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Where to live?

Posted: Sun Jun 7, 2020 7:49pm
10 replies709 views5 members subscribed
hoopcf5

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Joined: 25 May 2020

Hi Alex, Slightly off-topic post. I want to move to Spain but my wife is reluctant. My choice of area is dependant on no more than 1-hour drive to Alicante airport so that she can fly home to Cork, Ireland. Can you suggest an area to live where there are things to do all year round ie for a couple in their late 50's, regards

Anni20

Posted: Sun Jun 7, 2020 10:20pm

Anni20

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Posts: 442

284 helpful points

Joined: 26 Dec 2019

Posted: Sun Jun 7, 2020 10:20pm

Hi, 

when we set out to look for/buy a holiday home our criteria was exactly the same as your's, someplace within an hours drive of Alicante airport....we live in Donegal and fly from Belfast.  

We bought in Santiago de la Ribera....what was important to us was proximity to the beach, bars, restaurants and supermarkets. For us the ideal situation is no more than a 10 minute walk to the prom/social life, a walk of that length means we can walk there more than once a day so a walk out in the morning for breakfast and a stroll in the evening for tapas or dinner....I remember overhearing someone say they lived a 25 min walk from the prom, lovely when walking into town but a bit of a drag at home time (their words)....We have found over the last couple of years an increase in the number of English speakers in the town. As with other places the tourist restaurants and bars close between October to April but the ones that do remain open, the more traditional Spanish restaurants are delightful. There's a number of golf courses within 10/15km of Stg de la Ribera. There is limited pub entertainment in la Ribera, no tribute bands or karaoke nights like you would find in other seaside holiday resorts.  Just like other towns in Spain la Ribera has its fair share of carnivals and fiestas. There are groups who do yoga on the beach and the area is flat which is great for cycling. There is limited shopping within the town, the shopping centre Dos Mares is on the outskirts and the La Zenia shopping centre some 15 minutes drive north along the N332. Stg de la Ribera is in my opinion quieter than some of the neighbouring towns such as San Pedro del Pinitar and Los Alcazares, in LA there is a bigger English/Scottish/Irish community which in turn provides more opportunities for socialising, there's established groups who meet weekly for coffee, quizzing etc. 

Good luck with your search.....if you have any other questions you can pm me....

Anni....

hoopcf5

Posted: Mon Jun 8, 2020 10:21am

hoopcf5

Original Poster

Posts: 6

1 helpful points

Joined: 25 May 2020

Posted: Mon Jun 8, 2020 10:21am

Anni20 wrote on Sun Jun 7, 2020 10:20pm:

Hi, 

when we set out to look for/buy a holiday home our criteria was exactly the same as your's, someplace within an hours drive of Alicante airport....we live in Donegal and fly from Belfast.  

We bought in Santiago de la Ribera....what was important to us was proximity to the beach, bars, restaurants and supermarkets. For us the ideal situation is no more than a 10 minute walk to the prom/social life, a walk of that length means we can walk there more than once a day so a walk out in the morning for breakfast and a stroll in the evening for tapas or dinner....I remember overhearing someone say they lived a 25 min walk from the prom, lovely when walking into town but a bit of a drag at home time (their words)....We have found over the last couple of years an increase in the number of English speakers in the town. As with other places the tourist restaurants and bars close between October to April but the ones that do remain open, the more traditional Spanish restaurants are delightful. There's a number of golf courses within 10/15km of Stg de la Ribera. There is limited pub entertainment in la Ribera, no tribute bands or karaoke nights like you would find in other seaside holiday resorts.  Just like other towns in Spain la Ribera has its fair share of carnivals and fiestas. There are groups who do yoga on the beach and the area is flat which is great for cycling. There is limited shopping within the town, the shopping centre Dos Mares is on the outskirts and the La Zenia shopping centre some 15 minutes drive north along the N332. Stg de la Ribera is in my opinion quieter than some of the neighbouring towns such as San Pedro del Pinitar and Los Alcazares, in LA there is a bigger English/Scottish/Irish community which in turn provides more opportunities for socialising, there's established groups who meet weekly for coffee, quizzing etc. 

Good luck with your search.....if you have any other questions you can pm me....

Anni....

Hi Anni, thank you so much for the prompt reply. I tested the waters again last night by mentioning the Yoga on the beach that went down well because my wife was supposed to have been doing a Yoga in the park session on Saturday morning but did not go because it was raining and very cold. Obviously, you know how expensive the cost of living is in Ireland, how does that compare to Spain? Regards Clive

eduardo3332

Posted: Mon Jun 8, 2020 1:12pm

eduardo3332

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Posts: 1570

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Joined: 21 Jan 2016

Posted: Mon Jun 8, 2020 1:12pm

hoopcf5 wrote on Mon Jun 8, 2020 10:21am:

Hi Anni, thank you so much for the prompt reply. I tested the waters again last night by mentioning the Yoga on the beach that went down well because my wife was supposed to have been doing a Yoga in the park session on Saturday morning but did not go because it was raining and very cold. Obvious...

...ly, you know how expensive the cost of living is in Ireland, how does that compare to Spain? Regards Clive

Hi I also live in Santiago la Ribera and agree with everything Ann has said.

Costs of living are dependent on your life style, but I would say considerably less expensive than Ireland. I will send you a breakdown of our annual costs of a 2bed apartment in a private message.

I have lived in  many parts of Spain over the years and have found Santiago one of the best

Ed

hoopcf5

Posted: Mon Jun 8, 2020 1:32pm

hoopcf5

Original Poster

Posts: 6

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Joined: 25 May 2020

Posted: Mon Jun 8, 2020 1:32pm

eduardo3332 wrote on Mon Jun 8, 2020 1:12pm:

Hi I also live in Santiago la Ribera and agree with everything Ann has said.

Costs of living are dependent on your life style, but I would say considerably less expensive than Ireland. I will send you a breakdown of our annual costs of a 2bed apartment in a private message.

I have lived in  many parts of Spain over the years and have found Santiago one of the best

Ed

Thank you Eduardo, that would be really helpful, regards Clive

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Anni20

Posted: Mon Jun 8, 2020 3:05pm

Anni20

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Posts: 442

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Joined: 26 Dec 2019

Posted: Mon Jun 8, 2020 3:05pm

Hi Clive,

In our relationship my man was the reluctant one.....and to quote him ...it was the best thing he’s ever done!! He says it's the only place he can truly relax in and that’s all down to it being the right place for us, and in la Ribera it's small enough to get to know people and feel like home, you go out for a coffee and recognise the people sitting beside you, you say hello to the people you pass on the street.
Once you have settled on your area and found a property you really like there really is nothing to compare to heading off to your 'second home'....it’s gotta be one of the most relaxing feelings, knowing where and what you are going to....opening your door, dropping whatever little luggage you brought and taking a stroll to one of your favourite bars/restaurants.....

Like Ed I will send you a pm with an overview of the running costs of our house.....but in general the cost of living is less than here with it’s benefits.....

hoopcf5

Posted: Mon Jun 8, 2020 6:50pm

hoopcf5

Original Poster

Posts: 6

1 helpful points

Joined: 25 May 2020

Posted: Mon Jun 8, 2020 6:50pm

Anni20 wrote on Mon Jun 8, 2020 3:05pm:

Hi Clive,

In our relationship my man was the reluctant one.....and to quote him ...it was the best thing he’s ever done!! He says it's the only place he can truly relax in and that’s all down to it being the right place for us, and in la Ribera it's small enough to get to know people and feel like home...

..., you go out for a coffee and recognise the people sitting beside you, you say hello to the people you pass on the street.
Once you have settled on your area and found a property you really like there really is nothing to compare to heading off to your 'second home'....it’s gotta be one of the most relaxing feelings, knowing where and what you are going to....opening your door, dropping whatever little luggage you brought and taking a stroll to one of your favourite bars/restaurants.....

Like Ed I will send you a pm with an overview of the running costs of our house.....but in general the cost of living is less than here with it’s benefits.....

Thanks, Anni, that's great. My wife is reluctant because her parents are getting older and she is close to her two sisters but I suffer badly with chest infections and the Irish climate being damp make the situation worse and I need to be somewhere warm. I plan to holiday there next year to help her get a feel for the place. Thanks again for your candour, regards Clive

Jacqui46

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 4:42pm

Posts: 47

9 helpful points

Joined: 17 Jan 2018

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 4:42pm

Totally agree with the previous replies. We bought a second home in Santiago de la Ribera almost 3 years ago. We love the people and the relaxed friendly atmosphere of the area.

Having spent the previous year holidaying in different areas of Spain that we had previously visited, we came across Ribera by accident and fell in love with it.We returned, spent a week there and bought a house. 

Our plan now is to spend as much time as possible there and look for a smaller one storey property in the area, long term for our "twilight" years.  

Currently weighing up the possibility of living there full time.

Good luck 

Anni20

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:09pm

Anni20

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Posts: 442

284 helpful points

Joined: 26 Dec 2019

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:09pm

hoopcf5 wrote on Mon Jun 8, 2020 6:50pm:

Thanks, Anni, that's great. My wife is reluctant because her parents are getting older and she is close to her two sisters but I suffer badly with chest infections and the Irish climate being damp make the situation worse and I need to be somewhere warm. I plan to holiday there next year to help ...

...her get a feel for the place. Thanks again for your candour, regards Clive

Clive.....finding the right place and property is a process just like coming to terms with a life anywhere other than close to family and what’s known as home.

The looking, comparing and decision making is all good fun so I’d say enjoy those elements of the process for now and fingers crossed everything else will fall into place.....

hoopcf5

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:17pm

hoopcf5

Original Poster

Posts: 6

1 helpful points

Joined: 25 May 2020

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:17pm

Anni20 wrote on Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:09pm:

Clive.....finding the right place and property is a process just like coming to terms with a life anywhere other than close to family and what’s known as home.

The looking, comparing and decision making is all good fun so I’d say enjoy those elements of the process for now and fingers crossed everything else will fall into place........

...

Thank you, Anni. I agree I moved from the UK some 14 years ago and now I want to be somewhere warm, so looking forward to it.

Regards

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