Moving To Alicante, Spain?

We thought we would stop the nomad life after having a baby, BUT we still haven't found our happy place in the world. So, for now, we will continue to travel and explore until we find that perfect place for our family (at a slower rate -- but never giving up!). We went to Marbella in March (check out that video) and we LOVED IT! It's our happy place, yet, the rent and transportability are not in our favor right now. Besides, we want to have another baby soon, so it's easier for our parents to help us in Madrid than in Marbella where there is no airport. Now we went to Alicante, which is a short train ride from Madrid, but we were not 100% convinced. There is a big contrast between busy/loud and quiet/isolated -- I felt no in-between. Next, we will be exploring some of Gacilia. So stay tuned!

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[dani-moves]

We went to Marbella in March (check out that video) and we LOVED IT! It's our happy place, yet, the rent and transportability are not in our favor right now. Besides, we want to have another baby soon, so it's easier for our parents to help us in Madrid than in Marbella where there is no airport. Now we went to Alicante, which is a short train ride from Madrid, but we were not 100% convinced. There is a big contrast between busy/loud and quiet/isolated -- I felt no in-between. Next, we will be exploring some of Gacilia. So stay tuned!

[flight]

Why do people put so much emphasis on eating out! Don’t you ever cook at home? I wouldn’t waste money eating out when I can make meals for a quarter of the price of a meal.

[benmarshall]

My wife and I love Alicante. so much so we have bought a small flat there. Maybe explore the Carolina's, Benalua and San Blas, all inner city neighbourhoods that offer great schools, a lively atmosphere and more cultural diversity. Thanks for the video, and I hope you find somewhere you all love :-)

[brucefellowes]

Never noticed a problem trying to.find somewhere to eat between 4-8pm in Alicante city and I've been there 3 times. I haven't bought food in San Juan so maybe its different there. I would recommend Alicante as somewhere to go on holiday or to buy. I am likely to buy somewhere there. Normally stay overlooking Postiguet Beach. Not that noisy unless windows are open. There will always be a certain amount of noise in a city centre. Transport is excellent. Groceries are affordable. San Juan has a lot of newer apartments but maybe too expensive for your budget. Marbella won't be quiet or cheap. There are lots of tram stops in San Juan

[QueenBee-mkxm]

I visited again in Sepember, and to be honest, I preferred the city center much more in comparison to Playa San Juan. Playa San Juan does have many expats, but I found the area to be quite dull and boring and the restaurants that are directly on the beach rather than on the promenade were extremely touristy and unfriendly! I like the city center which is compact and has a pretty beach (though again quite touristy) and the fact that there is good public transportation and the train station from which you can go to Madrid, Valencia, etc.

[Hazel]

Loved this review format! Dying at Nick "the buildings are ugly as fuck" 😂<3

[jopp]

How long did you stay there? It's very hard to get a good feel for a place with a very short stay. The weather might be abnormal during the time you're there. Things might be different than usual because of a major event (as it was in your case with Las Hogueras starting) or it might be a quieter time of year (e.g., in August when many residents go on vacation somewhere else).

With regards to family atmosphere, you might want to revisit the neighborhoods you were looking at during different times of the day. It could very well be that there are families in those areas you checked out but they weren't out because it was too hot, it was the traditional time for families to gather at home, or whatever.

I haven't been to Alicante in 20 years, but there are definitely more family-friendly areas, especially in the ”urbanizaciones". You might need more time in the city to find out where those are.

I agree with not living right on La Plaza de Los Luceros. However, you could find a place on one of the side streets nearby and it wouldn't be excessively noisy, with the exception of las mascletàs (REALLY loud firework competitions during Las Hogueras).

One final suggestion that might help you decide to live in Alicante (or in Valencia where they have Las Fallas, or anywhere else they have noisy festivals): consider making that week the time you take your family on vacation somewhere else. If you're comfortable with it, you can even make some money if you rent out your place during that week.

Best of luck! Maybe I'll see you there when I head back there for a visit at the end of this year. 🙂

[Nico-kzbv]

My wife (from Chile) and I from Germany visited Alicante and in my opinion this is the most underrated city of Spain. High quality of live and relatively cheap.

[WaelKdouh]

I am seeing listing of Vilas on online apps in Spain that says location cocentaina. Any thoughts on that? Thanks for the advice.

[ksubsswithnovids]

i’m 16 (finished school last year) and from scotland and my parents are selling our house at the end of next year to move to alicante. i don’t want to go in the slightest but won’t be ready to move out at 18 at all. i’ve lived in the same house my whole life and wish i didn’t have to. anything to ease my worry?

[Stevejohnstu]

you can’t judge a city in one visit 😂😂😂

[gaspar-szilagyiszilard]

I really didn't get the part on poor transportation. We were there in January with a then 7 month old baby. Everything in the centre and around the castle is compact and easily walkable. with a stroller/pram. To San Juan beach you have an excellent tram network which drops you off in multiple locations on the journey there and then drops you off in the city centre on the way back. Some lines you can even take to Benidorm. The tram is cheap, clean, modern, easy to use. The airport is a short 15-20 min taxi ride from the centre. The train station is decent and well connected.

[MarkOhanesian]

My wife and I visited Spain with our kids on a quest for that perfect medium-sized beach town with strong culture, family friendly things like parks and schools, old-world Spanish charm, and didn't quite find what we were looking for, although we stayed around Malaga/Marbella. I have heard that Velez Malaga is very charming, have you been?

[QueenBee-mkxm]

The apartment buildings are old. It´s not that they want to preserve them, it´s just that it will take time for the older ones to be replaced by newer ones and many people are still living in those old ones. Playa San Juan has a nice beach, though it can get windy. It´s not particularly exciting, but it is quiet and peaceful. The trams are great and the area is well-kept and generally clean. Playa San Juan is basically quiet and residential. I think Alicante is not an exciting city, but it can be a good and peaceful base for living and convenient for traveling to other areas of Spain from.

[prico]

I wanted to move there. But this looks just like San Juan in puerto rico. Makes sense, because sand juan is an old spanish city. By why move, if i have san juan 30 minutes from home?

[johnarnold]

Bon fires? You need to expand on that. Bob fires can be fun unless they’re using cars as the kindling

[DiscoveryWonders]

The sand looks bad. Not so tiny and soft. I dunno. How is it? Worse or better than the sand in South Beach?

[BigDogRoy]

You need to check out Estepona. I thought it was the most kid friendly on the coast.

[DiscoveryWonders]

Have you checked other places like little towns near by Alicante or even village areas?

[poerava]

Is it true that there are no public toilets?