Hoping to move

Hi. There are LOTS of Irish and British residents in these areas. In fact Mojacar (especially the Playa) and Vera Playa can verge towards ' little Britain' whilst Garrucha and Vera Pueblo are more Spanish. There's a private school in Vera which some people use, but others just send their kids to the local Spanish schools. Best of luck with the move.

Hi, thanks for the info, can you tell me if these areas are much quieter off season? Do a lot of shops/restaurants etc close?

make sure that the children have good lessons in Spanish because they do not use english in the schools here.  There is a good senior school on the Mojacar Playa a junior and a infants school in the pueblo and the children are picked up and transported if yoou live away from them.  In Garrucha they have a junior and an infants school.  The older pupils go to school in the nearby town of Hercal Overa.  Are you hoping to start a business when you come here?   Please make lots of enquiries into the new rules and regs for moving to Spain now even with Irish passports earning a living may be very difficult going forward.  It will certainly be a new life for your family to enjoy and the children's futures. 

Thanks so much, yes I’m hoping the kids Spanish will be good, we’ve already started. Are there many things for them to do? Sports etc? Is it much quieter off season?

yes it's always quieter off season and of course throughout the lockdowns it has been bad.  But there are lots of different sports venues football, paddle tennis, skate park, play parks the beaches which are great. fishing and water sports.  i expect that the schools also have after school stuff going on as well.  get the kids on Duolingo for some easy spanish lessons.  and not bad for yourselves as well.  some nice walking areas as well

Vera playa is good for both English and spanish they have a 2 superb upper schools in Vera Town.   The best is El Palmeral (state schools). My neighbours both work there.  He is head of English it has a good reputation.  Your children will get lots of help and encouragement with their Spanish.  There is a school bus from the playa area to vera pueblo.  Good luck. 

Hi, the beach areas are certainly quieter (and nicer in my opinion!) off season but there are still lots of people about and most places stay open. As far as sports or activities your children might get involved in, those things continue all year round (maybe not sea swimming in winter, although there are plenty of kite surfers who don their wetsuits and get in the water all year round). My children were grown and left home long before I moved to Mojacar but if I had my time again and also the opportunity I would have brought them here to grow up. I'm sure some people will disagree, but I think the Spanish culture has managed to retain many 'old-fashioned' values which I think have been a little lost in the UK, such as respect for elders and authority and the importance of the family. And also just the opportunity to grow up  enjoying such a healthy outdoor lifestyle, and being bilingual too. I wish you and your family every success in your adventure.

Juliet.  I agree that in the main the older children respect their elders but am afraid the majority of  younger parents let their children run wild around the restaurants with no discipline whatsoever.   This is the spanish families i am talking about.  And Liz, it is much quieter in the winter  but in the main the bars and shops remain open. Of course Covid has played havoc with all the hospitality areas, but slowly its getting back to normal.