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Palomares living

Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2022 5:27pm
25 replies1114 views10 members subscribed
Alistair young

Posts: 28

3 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 23 Jan 2020

Hi I'm looking at several areas in Spain I wonder if palomares is a retired area? I would be looking at finding a few alternative bars ect rather than tourist/ karaoke bars ect. When I was looking at property I found very few detached places with large gardens and mostly complexes is that correct. Thanks for any info.

Matthew

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 8:54am

Matthew

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Posts: 2236

3339 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 16 May 2018

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 8:54am

It depends on what you call  a “retirement” place. If you mean it has a large complement of retirees from the UK, Pakomares is suitable for retirees. So is Vera Playa, Mojacar Playa, Turre, Los Gallardos etc. 

I’ll give you a piece of obviousgood advice: Rent for several weeks in the winter/spring and you will definitely know if Palomares is for you. It could be the best money you ever spent.

MaggieB

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 10:32am

MaggieB

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Posts: 308

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Joined: 10 May 2020

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 10:32am

Excellent advice from Mstthew.

Alistair young

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 12:48pm

Alistair young

Original Poster

Posts: 28

3 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 23 Jan 2020

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 12:48pm

Matthew wrote on Sat Dec 17, 2022 8:54am:

It depends on what you call  a “retirement” place. If you mean it has a large complement of retirees from the UK, Pakomares is suitable for retirees. So is Vera Playa, Mojacar Playa, Turre, Los Gallardos etc. 

I’ll give you a piece of obviousgood advice: Rent for several weeks in the winter/spring and you will definitely know if Palomares is for you. It could be the best money you ever spent....

...

So I've got ten towns/areas to check out in southern Spain and your advice is rent out a house in each town to see for myself instead of getting advice from a forum. 

Bess

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:04pm

Bess

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Posts: 227

213 helpful points

Location: Huércal-Overa

Joined: 18 Mar 2018

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:04pm

Alistair young wrote on Sat Dec 17, 2022 12:48pm:

So I've got ten towns/areas to check out in southern Spain and your advice is rent out a house in each town to see for myself instead of getting advice from a forum. 

Good idea to ask a forum to narrow the choice.  However I suggest you tell us your ideal retirement place and we could report what might fit.  Buzzzy place/ country quietness?  Lots of compatriots/ mostly Spanish? public transport/ car driver? golf / mountain climbing? luxurious/economical? flats with swimming pool/rural finca? very remote possiblity of radiation sickness/more expensive area? nudity/ swim suits?  the list could go on...

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Matthew

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:13pm

Matthew

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Location: Mojacar

Joined: 16 May 2018

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:13pm

Alistair young wrote on Sat Dec 17, 2022 12:48pm:

So I've got ten towns/areas to check out in southern Spain and your advice is rent out a house in each town to see for myself instead of getting advice from a forum. 

It’s a free world Alisdair, You do not have to heed any advice from anywhere.

Alistair young

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 5:03pm

Alistair young

Original Poster

Posts: 28

3 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 23 Jan 2020

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 5:03pm

Matthew wrote on Sat Dec 17, 2022 8:54am:

It depends on what you call  a “retirement” place. If you mean it has a large complement of retirees from the UK, Pakomares is suitable for retirees. So is Vera Playa, Mojacar Playa, Turre, Los Gallardos etc. 

I’ll give you a piece of obviousgood advice: Rent for several weeks in the winter/spring and you will definitely know if Palomares is for you. It could be the best money you ever spent....

...

Well I'm not going to get it from you am I?

Matthew

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2022 8:38am

Matthew

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Posts: 2236

3339 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 16 May 2018

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2022 8:38am

Alastair, With respect, if you are moving permanently to Spain, I suggest you change your attitude and give some respect to posters who willingly give advice usually hard earned. Otherwise Spain will hammer you in mind and pocket.

Since I retired I spend 6 months in Spain and the rest of the year in Ireland. Some of the local Brits in Mojacar suggest not to leave your brains at the airport after arriving. You appear to want to leave your brain in the UK before departure. When I’m enjoying a pint in Kon-Tiki and when I see the plate being passed around for some unfortunate Brit couple who didn’t heed advice before arriving in Spain I wonder of how many have jumped the gun. Moving to Spain is not like going to a cricket match, you must do your own homework and take advice from experienced veterans. Otherwise, drive on regardless and still I’ll subscribe to your collection plate if it comes round.

Sveinb

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:16am

Sveinb

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258 helpful points

Location: Sorbas

Joined: 11 Nov 2020

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:16am

Alistair young wrote on Sat Dec 17, 2022 5:03pm:

Well I'm not going to get it from you am I?

You did, its called Use your brain. 

Personally I'd not move to palomares, Vera, Mojacar etc etc, far too many people, like a UK seaside town 8 months of the year at least. 

It is perfectly possible to rent some place, and visit others for a day or more, you'll soon see if you like it or not. 

As for forum advice, that's what it is, advice, and it's personal. You can't come back and have a go at Matthew or me etc because i/we said so and so place is fantastic or sh1t. It is your decision, your life, therefore you need to do your own homework in the end. 

DarioMartin

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:48am

DarioMartin

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Posts: 5342

6309 helpful points

Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:48am

I live in Vera-Playa, on the border of Palomares, virtually opposite where Dream Beach is held.  One week of the year it’s insanely noisy, and as SveinB says, around 8 months of the year it’s busy - June / July. / August is insanely busy.

Is Palomares good for retirement? Depends entirely in the retiree.  It’s a very small Agricultural town, lots of different nationalities there - but you’ll not find lawn bowls there.  Lot of Agricultural workers in and around Palomares as you’d expect given the massive amount of crop-growing land around and about.  It’s not on the beach, but reasonably close to.  A few bars in and around with Monika’s being an English “hub” (the times I’ve visited) and offering a full English Breakfast for 6,50€ - good value.

Vera-Playa is quieter in the winter months with a hell of a lot more holiday homes that are only used for around 4 or 5 months of the year.  A good amount of the hotels in and around the Playa close down in the off season.  If your looking for peace and tranquility, Vera Playa in the off season is the place to get it; also served a wide and varying variety of bars - like the French place at Consum that will charge extortionate prices for admittedly good food, or Antos at Las Buganvillas that has Karaoke every Friday night and serves a mean full Irish breakfast, or Charlestons where you can get an incredible Fish & Chips or a Sunday Roast.  Incredible restaurant.

Personally, I prefer Garrucha, just “up the road” from Vera Playa.  A massive assortment of cafes and restaurants all offering something different, plenty to see and do in the off season and a much MUCH more Spanish flavour than the the Playa or even Palomares … is it a retirement place? If you like apartment living and no parking anywhere … yes.

Mojácar along from Garrucha is split into the Playa and the Pueblo.  The Pueblo is incredibly pretty and sits up in the mountains, the Playa is of course overlooking the sea.  Mojácar is the local Brit concentration with a huge amount of Brit migrants and holiday makers being concentrated in that area, so you’ll get bars and restaurants that reflect that.

But retirement … do you like Golf? Then either Valle Del Este or Desert Springs are your places.  Both have cosmopolitan communities and are built around the golf course.  Desert Sorings appears to have the more expensive properties.

Vera itself is a lovely Pueblo and where I choose to have my business place.  Don’t even think of living in Vera if you can’t speak Spanish.  You’ll be very lonely.

Finally, avoid like the plague any estate agent that tries to sell you a place on the basis of the imminent arrival of the high speed line.  That’s been promised since 2005 and latest now is saying it will be completed by 2025.  I’m not holding my breath. 2035, maybe.

But you’ve not helped yourself; you’ve mentioned you are looking at 10 places without saying what those 10 places are and criticized Matthew for giving some EXTREMELY good advice.  Spain isn’t all Sun, sea and laid back lifestyle. Come here unprepared and you’re in for a shock.  Do yourself a favour and be a little more lenient towards those that freely offer their experience or you will be setting yourself up for a difficult and ultimately miserable time.

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