Moving to Spain

[dosprompt]

Hi
My wife and I are wanting to move to Spain for many reasons, I am 61 soon, she is 60 soon, I am an IT Service Manager living in Scotland, we are going to sell our house next year ( if the market picks up, if not then as soon as it does) we would like to rent first to enable us to find a place to buy, we would like to live in an area that has many Brit's and hope that area is around Torrevieja, Guardamar, La Mata sort of. does anyone have any thoughts on this area and what is our first step.. Oh we also have two very small Dachshunds..

Thanks

[SteveHall]

I know the area like the back of my palm. I have lived there for 7 years and been involved in a lot of what has gone on there - los costaleros, Torry Army, Newcomers Clubs, ThisIsSpain exhibitions, No Smoking Club, Neighbourhood Watch, taught Spanish to <800 people per week and had several hundred agents working with me etc etc

What do you want to know? Fire away ...please don't moan if you don't like the answers you get. Pasanada knows the area well too. I am sure she will help.

[SteveHall]

BTW, most people's thoughts on the area will be very negative ......especially those who have never been there but have heard the Bloke in the Bar.

[chris(madrid)]

Originally Posted by dosprompt

we would like to live in an area that has many Brit's and hope that area is around Torrevieja, Guardamar, La Mata sort of.

If what you seek is Brits - it's a good place to go. We have a Spanish friend with a Beachfront property - Used to be a lot of Germans but is becoming more British.

Has to be said I don't go often (actually I've been once) as I'm not a beach fan and cant see the point in wasting all that time travelling to go and do something I don't want to (does that make sense?).

My Wife goes with this friend fairly often though for all girl weekends. She's happy enough there - and for a Spaniard to be that happy amongst ex-pats it must be a plus point.

[SteveHall]

Torrevieja se llama "La Playa de Madrid"!!! Thousands of madrileños have, of course, their second home there. The population goes from 104,000 (on padrón) to over 500,000 in August. A neighbour - 82 year old from Getafe often has 14 children, nietos etc etc. He has the same size villa as me. I can only guess that some sleep on one of the two sun terraces! Fortunately for them we don't get the gota fría so early!!

[dosprompt]

Guys

Thanks for such a fast reply, I will need to know everything that we need (in time) Our plan is to Sell our house, Rent out there for "say" 6 months "Me, Wife, two dogs and 84yr old Mother" I will stay at work and fly out Fridays and back earlybird Mondays, I have done this before only flying up and down the UK each week-end so the only difference there would be the fly time. the reason we are looking to settle where there are Brits is simple I have read, heard and been told that the communities are good, helpful and friendly and from what I can see from the Forum reply's this seems to be the case, we will be looking to come over after Xmas for a long week-end and stay in a Hotel, this will help us look at the area, we will then maybe start visiting once per month until we move, this will also help us find the right rental accommodation for us, so pointing us in the Legal and Rental Direction would be very helpful.

Thanks for now
Barry

[jojo]

If you havent already, you must start now with getting your dogs their passports. It takes 6 months. Go to your vet and they'll give you all the information. It really only involvees a rabies jab, a micro chip, check up and the updating of the usual jabs. Once thats all done tjey'll get their own little doggie passports - with a place for their photos and everything!!!

Jo

[SteveHall]

Ok, lots I can comment on.

Firstly, I would suggest that you are near an airport (either Murcia or Alicante) depending on where your local UK airport flies to. (Remember that these two flights are often the most expensive of the week so try to book as early as possble.)

If you want a free hotel for the weekend, I can get you those near San Javier/Murcia airport - you just pay for meals. Otherwise you will find that Torrevieja is not over-blessed with good hotels. The best is La Laguna at Doña Pepa, Rojales, If you want intros to renters let me know in December and I can get dozens for you to see. With the crisis really kicking in you can steal long term rentals at the moment. The idea of renting is DEFINITELY a GREAT idea.

Legal - TOP man Pedro Mumuera at West-Med in Torrevieja. I have put dozens of people in his direction and not once had a complaint. Your dogs will need pet passports etc - have you started the process?

Sorry to be morbid but have you thought of funeral insurance? It's "popular" here as funerals are not cheap, repatriation is expensive and body storage is 700 euros per NIGHT in Torrevieja.

Football - huge expat following at FC Torrevieja with its world-famous Torry Army. Torrevieja Football Club - Torry Army - Home

Anything else? Just fire away.

[jojo]

have you considered renting your UK house out for now?? Thats what we did or we'd never have got here if waited for a buyer!!!

jo

[dosprompt]

Originally Posted by jojo

If you havent already, you must start now with getting your dogs their passports. It takes 6 months. Go to your vet and they'll give you all the information. It really only involvees a rabies jab, a micro chip, check up and the updating of the usual jabs. Once thats all done tjey'll get their own little doggie passports - with a place for their photos and everything!!!

Jo

Hi JoJo

Thanks, the girls (Dogs that is!!) have been chipped from the time my last company were sending me to Germany to look after an MOD base. they have had checkups and jabs, but your right they will need to get sorted as a priority