General info

Hi Carol

We live in Illar and love it. You’re right, it is very small - it has a shop, bar and chemist and a fantastic community. We love it. There are quite a few people here from the UK and Ireland now although we live just outside the village itself in the campo. You can get a bus to Almeria in the morning and two come back in the afternoon. There’s a swimming pool that opens in the summer too.

Hope that helps

Anita

Hi Anita and many thanks for your reply.

We are visiting Illar next week to look at some unfinished apartments built a few years ago which I believe are just outside the village.

Do you know anything about them?

I must warn you that now you've made contact, I will be inundating you with questions before we get there! 😉

Hi

The flats are where most of the Brits and Irish live  - I did see inside one as we took a delivery for some mates the other week - look very nice actually! The pool there isn’t up and running yet, but from what I understand the management company will be set up for the flats once they’re all sold and then things like the pool will be sorted. They’re terrific value for money and you can walk to the town pool and bar in just a couple of minutes. The good thing about here is you’re 30 minutes from Almeria and 30 minutes up into the mountains. Alhama is 10 minutes away and we find that has most things you need. If you wanted to meet up for a coffee when you visit let me know, happy to impart as much info as possible! 

Anita

It would have been great to meet for coffee but doubt we will have time!  We are leaving home at 8am to go to Mojacar, viewing 3 properties in that area then on to Illar and back to Mojacar.... I said next week but it's actually this week.

I've private messaged two guys who were talking on the forum about moving to the apartments last summer - Nigel and Teacher but they haven't read the messages so I'm not sure if they are still on it.

A couple of things Anita, where is the nearest health centre and do you know of any interpreters who can sort out doctors and paperwork of all sorts (mainly change of address). 

Does Alhama have a big supermarket?

Thanks a lot

Carol

There’s a doctors surgery in Illar - open a couple of hours each day - just wander in and stick your name on the list and get seen same day! Then there’s a health centre in Alhama and the hospital in Almeria. We use gestoria Salvador in Almeria for anything paperwork related - they’ve been great and speak English. 

Each Wednesday there’s a market in Illar for your fruit and veg, and a bigger one in Alhama on a Friday. The supermarket in Alhama is not big by Uk standards, but we find it ok - every now again we go to Aldi or carrefour in Almeria to pick up stuff we can’t get in Alhama (castor sugar and self raising flour mainly!) - Lidl in Huercal de Almeria is good too and means you don’t have to go into Almeria itself. 

Anita 

Thanks for all the info..great to know.

I forgot to ask about vets..we have two spaniels :-)  also, are there plenty of places we could take them for a run off the lead?  

Thanks again for your help, the weather is looking good for our trip...

Carol

Oh yes, no problem with the dogs and there is a vets in Alhama I think. You can walk out of the village into the campo and down to the river

👍🏼

Hi both of you! :)

We are also looking at the apartments in illar and go down there next month to have a look.

Our only concern was the swimming pool and maintenance. Is it something that could take years before it is up and running? Also, maybe all the apartment owners clubbing together to maintain it and get the pool running? Would that be something that could be possible? We are very nervous as we don't know the area either and were purchasing a holiday home mainly for us and family to use!

Thank you for the info provided already :) would you happen to know how many apartments are left to be sold?

Thank you! Katie :)

Hi Katie

I think the committee is up and running as there is a notice stating the amount of fees per month for each place.  All very reasonable.

I would use the municipal pool which looks great (a few minutes walk)  I'm afraid the one on the complex looks a bit rubbish!

The surrounding area is absolutely beautiful.  The only reason we decided against an apartment was the spiral staircase leading to the roof terrace. We are not getting any younger.

I'm not sure how many are left... not many I think, we were shown two but there are different agents selling them.

Good luck