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RELOCATION TO COSTA BLANCA

LOCATION:  In the East/South East coastal part of Spain. The Costa Blanca divides into two areas. The Costa Blanca North which is the area North of Alicante, going up towards Valencia, including important ex-pat destinations such as Campello, Benidorm, Altea, Calpe, Moraira, Javea and Denia. Then there is the Costa Blanca South which is the area south of Alicante going up to the Murcia border, and which includes important destinations such as Torrevieja, La Zenia, Guardamar and Santa Pola.

CLIMATE: Internationally recognised as one of the healthiest climates in the World to live in by the World Health Organisation in 1986. Sunny warm summers and mild sunny winters characterise the Costa Blanca. There is an average 8.2 hours sun per day, just under 60 days rain a year, average daytime temperatures in July and August and 31 and 32 degees C, and in the winter around 17.

AIRPORTS: Alicante with its 9 million passengers per year and spider’s web like list of destinations makes it one of the most important airports in Europe both for the sheer number of destinations, combined with the prevalence of “no-frills” airlines. Also not far away is Valencia  airport which is gaining in air traffic numbers and destinations now that Easyjet and RyanAir are flying in.

LANGUAGE: on the Coast there is a mix of Castillian and Valenciano Spanish, whereas as you start to move inland Valenciano is more prevalent. Valenciano is similar to Catalan.

SCHOOLING: the locals State schools are fine from an education standpoint, but you are sometimes hard pushed to find a State School that is not fully focussed on Valenciano as the first language. Fortunately there are plenty of International Schools where you may study a Spanish and /or English curriculum.

HOSPITALS: Hospitals may be found in Torrevieja, Alicante, San Juan, Elche,  Benidorm, Villajoyosa, Orihuela, Denia and Orba.

ROADS AND RAIL: Normal “A” roads up the coast are busy and congested in the summer months, but the Motorway running up the coast is normally fine, although it is a Toll Motorway. The roads inland are often quick by English standards and relatively free of traffic.

The fast train runs from Alicante through to Valencia and Madrid, and there is a good network of local trains running up and down the Costa Blanca North.

PROPERTY PRICES:  As is normal prices fluctuate enormously between the coast and inland. The Costa Blanca has some of the most expensive property on the Spanish East Coast, and a well located villa in Moraira will start from 600,000 euros, whereas frontline beach will be more than twice that. Apartments may be bought from around 160,000 euros, on the Costa Blanca North and from 120,000 on the Costa Blanca South. Inland you may buy a small country estate with a couple of acres of land and a medium sized house from 200,000 euros, although the better areas start at 300,000. There are still plenty of ruins here in the more remote places which go from 70,000 euros and also plenty of unexplored areas up to 45 minutes inland, where the pace of life is slower and more typical. From a price perspective the Costa Blanca is an excellent choice as prices are not as high as elsewhere and yet the quality of life is arguably superior. There is property for every budget here, so it’s a good place to start.

THE COAST: hard to beat some of the beaches on the Costa Blanca, such as the ones in Guardamar, Benidorm, Denia, Calpe and Villajoyosa. Famous ports abound such as those at Calpe, Javea, Denia, Alicante and Santa Pola. Many hidden coves, amongst the cliffy Costa Blanca North, and many pebble beaches as well, but the Costa Blanca South has miles of soft sandy beaches and extensive tourist and permanent infrastructure for all year round living. There are approximately 72 Blue Flag Beaches along the whole of the Costa Blanca.

INLAND: For some people the hustle and bustle of the coast is too much to bear when considering all year round living. So the search for a more traditional Spanish lifestyle takes place further inland. Popular destinations abound, from Orihuela and Albatera, the Hondons in the Costa Blanca South, to Busot, La Nucia, Jalon, Teulada, Callosa and many others in the Costa Blanca North. The inland areas are typically very Valenciano, quite parochial at times, and are normally hilly, with a more severe climate than down at the coast. That is cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer, with greater daytime variations and fluctuations. Today’s good investment opportunities are often found inland where prices are rising.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE COSTA BLANCA

www.infocostablanca.com 

www.info-costablanca.com

www.costablanca.org

www.costablancalive.info

Click images for larger version

The Costa Blanca Area

Beautiful Beaches in N. Costa Blanca

One of many Blue Flag Beaches

Stunning Views of Hills and Mountains

A Wealth of Golf Courses

Traditional Fiesta on the Costa Blanca

Dusk in the City of Alicante

WHY RELOCATE TO COSTA BLANCA  ??

by MARIA FRUTOS; STACKS REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE COSTA BLANCA

If you are looking for outstanding natural beauty, a less stressful pace of life, but plenty of first class infrastructure, good roads and communications, a good mix of integrated, multi-national ex-pats and locals, combined with a superb climate, lower prices and good rental prospects, then the Costa Blanca is definitely worth checking out more closely.

Unlike parts of the Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca has not suffocated under its own success and as roads are freer of traffic you are able to move around more easily. Communications with the rest of Europe are excellent.

The Costa Blanca has a house for everyone, within everyone’s budget, and the coastal scenery is probably the best in mainland Spain.

The climate is gentle and the winters are mild making it a very healthy place to live.

Inland there are spectacular towns such as Xativa, or Alcoy, every bit the match of Rhonda or Gaucin, but at much lower prices. The verdant mountain scenery slightly inland from Altea or Benidorm is also spectacular and there is no wonder that thousands of ex-pats from all over Europe are now living amongst it.

As for the beaches they are also superb. Benidorm is famous for its huge sandy beaches, but so are Gandía and Denia. On the Costa Blanca South Guardarmar has a similar reputation, particularly amongst the locals. Interspersed between the big beaches are hidden coves and spectacular cliffs which offer impressive viewpoints, and excellent spots for snorkelling or fishing.

If you are wanting to set up a business selling mainly to ex-pats then the Costa Blanca has some of the highest concentrations of ex-pats in Spain providing a ready market for your product or services. It is often very easy to live just outside these areas in a beautiful house, amongst stunning scenery, and yet be only 20 minutes from your work or your customers.

Now that’s quality of life………….

If you want to explore whether the Costa Blanca is right for you or not, then click here to be put in touch with the Stacks Regional Director for the Costa Blanca.

Photo Gallery   Click photos to enlarge

The rock at the popular coastal town of Calpe

A typical sunset viewed from the Mediterranean coast.

Traditional giant paella being cooked in a local village.

The long promenade and beautiful beach of Javea

The lake on Las Ramblas Golf Course, S.Costa Blanca

Inland golf course on the Costa Blanca

The impressive promenade in the town of Torrevieja

Typical detached villa style on the Costa Blanca