I thought El Campello might be viewed by some as a mini but much quieter Benidorm. Lovely beach, nice prom and high rise front line.
For us, I don't know if our ideal place exists. We are retiring and moving to Spain later this year. Transport and a 5 week let to get us started already arranged. We're planning to rent for at least the first year and possibly forever.
We would like to be within fairly flat walking distance of the sea (not necessarily a sandy beach). If not walking distance only a few miles inland with a regular bus service to the sea, we both drive now but we we won't be able to do that for ever nor do we want to spend hours looking for coastal parking in the summer months. We would also like to be within walking distance of a few shops, bars restaurants in a fairly lively but not rowdy area that remains open all year plus of course the farmacia and bank. We would like contact with some Brits but not to live in a mainly expat area, we don't want to feel as if we're living in a warmer version of the UK. Public transport links to larger towns is also high on our agenda.
Do any places fitting this description exist between Denia and Los Alcazares?
Thoughts so far:
Denia - like the town, train to Alicante, probably very picturesque journey but slow.
Javea - like the port area, public transport doesn't seem good. Most of the accommodation is apartments which isn't our preferred option.
Moraira - closes down in winter according to some reports, expensive, hilly.
Calpe - we like but mainly apartment accommodation and poor public transport links
Altea - beautiful but hilly and mainly apartments. Access to train/tram?
L'Albir - like the town, hilly in places, not much accommodation available but has access to train/tram
Benidorm - beautiful beach but too much high rise for our taste,
Villajoyosia - I didn't take to this place and don't really know why, the chocolate could be a draw though.
El Campello - lovely beach, possibility for us but again mainly apartments. Does have the train/tram.
Guardamar del Segura - lovely beaches and quite like the town, a possibility.
Torrevieja - interesting for visits but woulldn't like to live in the town.
Orihuela Costa - good transport links, a lot of it walking distance to the coast but are there any bits not full of expats?
Torre de la Horadada - not much of a town, seemed to be mainly housing and didn't seem very lively even in summer. Transport links not good.
Mar Menor towns Lo Pagan, Santiago de la Ribera, Los Alcazares - possibility for us but apart from LA being on the N332 I don't know about the transport links nor how much there is going on there. They all seemed fairly quite in September last year.
Inland we had considered the Ciudad Quesada/Rojales/Benijofar area but some of that is hilly and we don't know if it is a completely expat area.
Any comments, corrections to assumptions, other ideas would be very welcome.
Jill