Palomares living - Page 3

I do realize that but I just don't like know it alls that's all.

Thank you and I do understand that I should of given more info of what I want which is a settled community not transient I want a big garden not bare scrub (that's the only thing I'm interested in really) knowing it's not easy in an area that has 300 days of sunshine. I want to live somewhere I can go out in the evening without being on its doorstep. As a single person I don't need a lot of space and I'm not sociable not bothered about a swimming pool particularly but some people say it can get so hot that it's needed. Looking for something I can go to when it gets too cold and miserable in UK. October to may. I looked at renting but there's lots of dodgy sites out there. And finally visa is a big problem if I want to stay more than 90 days. To some it sounds contradictory but that's it off the top of my head. I want the sun d would like to grow plants if I can. 

OK, that narrows it down quite drastically.  Either of the Golf Resorts I mentioned - Valle Del Este or Desert Springs would likely offer you the garden you require, as both are incredibly well maintained with lots of trees / greenery and offer houses that have gardens - THAT BEING SAID, there may be restrictions on what you can / can’t do as the gardens at all the properties are maintained by the resorts and reticulation is embedded.  Desert Springs has the greater British population.

Valle Del Este has its own centro comercial with bars etc.  Hoyo 19 Triana is a lovely Spanish restaurant specializing in Seafood.  As a resident of Valle Del Este you get 6c a litre discount From the Shell garage at the E15 nº 700 exit, and discount on buffet breakfast and spa access at the Valle Del Este hotel if that’s your thing.

Outside of the resorts, gardens are … around, but you’ll not see huge swathes like you will in UK.  If you want to know what the countryside here is like, watch a few spaghetti westerns like High Plains Drifter or The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - because around here is where they were filmed (Sorbas / Tabernas)

It’s semi-arid desert, lots of low scrub.  You can get a decent sized villa and garden out in the campo, but you’ll work bloody hard to have a verdant green garden.  Rainfall is a novelty here.

The further north you go, the greener it becomes and the more forests you’ll find (no forests as such down here) but commensurately the colder it becomes in Winter.

We are currently enjoying 21° and sunny … mid-winter.

With regards long stays - forget it.  There is no “longer than 90 days for non-resident homeowners” planned, nor will there be.  The 90 day restriction is a Schengen restriction and the Spanish minister of tourism is on record as saying Spain cannot act unilaterally.  The only way you’ll get longer than 90 days is either by migrating via NLV or Britain rejoining the EU.

If you want a green garden as a priority, you will need a lot of water.  Some rural houses have access to 'agricultural water' which is drawn at regular intervals from a nearby  running  source - but you will only have 90 days to cultivate it, or have to pay someone to maintain it.

To cool down outside, put in an outside cold shower if swimming is not a priority... 

It could be worth looking at places let as holiday rentals, approach one you liked the look of, and ask about the opportunity of a 89 day winter let, maybe split in  two periods?  Maybe something the owner had not thought of, but would consider . That would be fully equipped, unlike long term rentals.  It depends if you enjoy setting up home and buying contents and making a garden from scratch, which can be fun or/and frustrating - or if you just want to settle down peacefully with everything provided and advice from the owners about local places.

Hi Alistair , Dario and Bess have given some fair advice . I’ve been going to the Almeria region for 40 years and lived their in the early 2000s for a few years . Now I try to visit three times a year and last winter managed 6 month let similar to what you seem to want October thru March . Managing to achieve that with my Irish passport . Social scene is great with nice friendly bars and restaurants, good local markets etc . But as regards gardens they seem very few and far between apart from lawn and shrubs . I don’t know of any of my friends who actually have a vegetable garden as the conditions and soil would make it really difficult in the Almeria region . I have friends in southern France who have bought a lovely property with land south of Bergerac and they say weather is better than uk but not as hot as mojacar where I visit and they drive into Spain for lunch 50 minute drive . Also Portugal might be an option if gardening is your thing . But if you want warm winter days ( mainly ) and you can manage without garden then no better place for winter sun and couple of hours from uk . Wish you luck , Dev 

Just reading back through this now; Alastair, what was the outcome? Did you find somewhere that fitted your needs?