Living in Estepona
-
- Tourist
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:46 am
- Location: Valencia
Living in Estepona
Hello,
having recently moved to Valencia, I realized that more than having moved to a Spanish city, I moved to a big city. Yes of course Valencians are wonderful, but distances and the sheer amount of people make the experience akin to living in just another European big city.
What I am really looking for is a town/village, by the sea, in Andalucia (I adore the spontaneity of Andalusians and of course the weather) with a community that exists not only in summer, and a decent number of expats, of all ages.
What I am NOT looking for at all:
- bling bling
- showing off
- stag parties
- mass tourism
- summer towns that become ghost towns in winter
I have started looking at Estepona. Marbella would seem to me very much money and bling bling oriented, Tarifa has the expats and the locals ignoring each other (at best), but Estepona seems to fit the bill.
Ideas? Suggestions?
Gracias de antemano!
having recently moved to Valencia, I realized that more than having moved to a Spanish city, I moved to a big city. Yes of course Valencians are wonderful, but distances and the sheer amount of people make the experience akin to living in just another European big city.
What I am really looking for is a town/village, by the sea, in Andalucia (I adore the spontaneity of Andalusians and of course the weather) with a community that exists not only in summer, and a decent number of expats, of all ages.
What I am NOT looking for at all:
- bling bling
- showing off
- stag parties
- mass tourism
- summer towns that become ghost towns in winter
I have started looking at Estepona. Marbella would seem to me very much money and bling bling oriented, Tarifa has the expats and the locals ignoring each other (at best), but Estepona seems to fit the bill.
Ideas? Suggestions?
Gracias de antemano!
Re: Living in Estepona
Have you considered looking east of Malaga? Less bling bling down this end!
-
- Tourist
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:46 am
- Location: Valencia
Re: Living in Estepona
Rincon de la Victoriahenrycynar wrote: ↑Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:36 amSure, why not? Do you suggest some places in particular?
Torre Del Mar
Both have great access to Malaga city
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2023 5:50 pm
- Location: Andalucia
Re: Living in Estepona
Almunecarhenrycynar wrote: ↑Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:36 amSure, why not? Do you suggest some places in particular?
Re: Living in Estepona
I agree with the above suggestions. Large towns that have everything you need, but much more Spanish. Having said that, there is still a thriving international expat community in these areas too.
-
- Tourist
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:46 am
- Location: Valencia
Re: Living in Estepona
Thanks for the suggestions. Can somebody give a bit more context? Rincon de la Victoria and Torre Del Mar seem to be exurbs of Malaga, so being exurbs they would have limited city centers and own activities while Almunecar seems to be more of a standalone place. What about Nerja and Motril?
Again, thanks for helping.
Again, thanks for helping.
Re: Living in Estepona
Torre del Mar is some distance away from Malaga city and is not a suburb, whereas Rincon is that much closer. Costakid knows it better so can give more information on Rincon.
Nerja is a small town, although it's quite pretty in the centre, we find it rather touristy. It has all the facilites, supermarkets, banks etc, but does not have the range of shops that Torre does. It is a nightmare to park there and particularly heaving in the summer. Although it is only 5 minutes along the motorway to us, we rarely go there. We tend to go to Torre del Mar and Velez Malaga more (although both are also very busy in August with parking problems, as are most coastal towns here, so we don't go out much then!).
If you think you'll be taking flights and need the airport fairly often, then do consider how far away you are from Malaga airport. We go away about 3 times a year, but it has been up to 6 trips a year, and personally I don't like a long drive to get to the airport. For us in Torrox, we do it in 40 minutes which is enough for me.
It's probably best to do a bit of a road trip to get the feel for the place. We usually know pretty quickly if we like an area or not when we visit.
Nerja is a small town, although it's quite pretty in the centre, we find it rather touristy. It has all the facilites, supermarkets, banks etc, but does not have the range of shops that Torre does. It is a nightmare to park there and particularly heaving in the summer. Although it is only 5 minutes along the motorway to us, we rarely go there. We tend to go to Torre del Mar and Velez Malaga more (although both are also very busy in August with parking problems, as are most coastal towns here, so we don't go out much then!).
If you think you'll be taking flights and need the airport fairly often, then do consider how far away you are from Malaga airport. We go away about 3 times a year, but it has been up to 6 trips a year, and personally I don't like a long drive to get to the airport. For us in Torrox, we do it in 40 minutes which is enough for me.
It's probably best to do a bit of a road trip to get the feel for the place. We usually know pretty quickly if we like an area or not when we visit.
Re: Living in Estepona
Rincon is a working town and is about 20 minutes on the bus from Malaga. Rincon has everything you need for daily life. It does get very busy in the summer months and parking is a problem as it is in all coastal towns and villages. There is plenty to do in the winter months and a lot of places to eat stay open all year. Some coastal towns semi close down in the winter. TDM is another thriving town but over an hour on the bus into Malaga. It really depends on what you want. I would suggest a weeks road trip and maybe rent for 6 months if you are not sure.
-
- Tourist
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:46 am
- Location: Valencia
Re: Living in Estepona
Thanks for the great answers! If I were to say what I want in the shortest sentence possible, that would be “village/town life unimpeded by bling bling or extreme tourism year-long”. Nobody mentions Motril though - is it an impossible place like Algeciras?
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2023 5:50 pm
- Location: Andalucia
Re: Living in Estepona
you could also checkout Salobrena
Re: Living in Estepona
Please consider NERJA. Henrycynar.
It ticks all your boxes.
We've lived in the area for 10 years. There is no way would we move from here to West of Malaga.
( a purely subjective opinion, of course)
It ticks all your boxes.
We've lived in the area for 10 years. There is no way would we move from here to West of Malaga.
( a purely subjective opinion, of course)
Re: Living in Estepona
Nerja is fantastic to visit but i personally would never consider living there. You cant park and it’s rammed with tourists all year long. We love it to visit and eat out but living is a no no.
-
- Tourist
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:46 am
- Location: Valencia
Re: Living in Estepona
Well...since I get to ask...which place has got a sailing school?
-
- Andalucia Guru
- Posts: 16089
- Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:42 pm
- Location: La Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada
Re: Living in Estepona
Come a bit further east to La Herradura and Marina del Este has plenty of facilites.
What sort of sailing are you thinking about?
Sid
What sort of sailing are you thinking about?
Sid
-
- Tourist
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:46 am
- Location: Valencia
Re: Living in Estepona
Boat sailing, not windsurfing etc.
Re: Living in Estepona
seem to recall that towns west of Malaga have domestic water restrictions (as east of Malaga has too) ... doesnt stop sailing but might be difficult in house
-
- Andalucia Guru
- Posts: 16089
- Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:42 pm
- Location: La Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada
Re: Living in Estepona
No restrictions east of Nerja. No rain either!
Sid
Sid
-
- Andalucia Guru
- Posts: 16089
- Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:42 pm
- Location: La Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada
Re: Living in Estepona
If you are looking to learn from experience then there are charter boats based at Marina del Este. If you are looking for official training courses, then Motril would be better.
Sid
-
- Tourist
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:46 am
- Location: Valencia
Re: Living in Estepona
Thanks! But nobody recommends Motril, is there a catch? Impossible place like Algeciras?
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests