What Is Living In The Costa Blanca Like?

The Costa Blanca is a familiar destination for family holidays to Spain and many enjoy the clear sea, wonderful climate, and spectacular scenery so much that they decide to search for property for sale with the idea of eventually relocating to Spain. These decisions shouldn’t be taken lightly so this will give you a light insight into what it’s like to live in Costa Blanca.

Wonderful Weather

Most days are sunny even during the winter and the dream of waking up to clear blue skies every morning and being able to be outdoors so much is something many people look forward to when they choose to buy a villa on the Costa Blanca. Usually there is a gentle breeze from the Mediterranean so don’t forget how strong the sun can be and make sure that you always use a high factor sun cream when you are outdoors, even if you’re not actually sunbathing!!!

Traditional Towns

The beaches and coves along the Costa Blanca are beautiful and provide a wonderful home for many species of marine life but, there is so much more to explore in this part of Spain. Come may equate the area with the popular UK sit-com Benidorm, however, there are many more traditional towns and villages to explore. Even Benidorm has an old town that is nothing like the high-rise, newer tourist area that is so famous. There are towns with cobbled streets, lively port areas and hill-top villages with panoramic views. Javea’s old town and port are very atmospheric and there are plenty of great tapas bars where you can enjoy watching the world go by. If you buy a townhouse in Javea, you will be able to experience living a very traditional Spanish lifestyle with a slower pace of life, but, be a stone’s throw away from the local beaches and mountains. There are so many beautiful towns both on the coast and inland, all with their own characters and influenced by the history of this part of Spain. Explore as many as possible before deciding where to look for a property for sale in the Costa Blanca so that you know already that you can feel at home!

Fantastic Food!

The freshness of Mediterranean flavors, from fresh seafood to seasonal fruit and vegetables, means that cooking becomes a pleasure, and eating out is often a reasonable and pleasant experience. Traditional paellas and tapas with friends at your nearest local restaurant, enjoyed with locally produced Jalon Valley wine, will soon replace the Sunday roast (although these can be found at English bars if you are suffering from withdrawal symptoms).

Fun Festivals

Spanish life revolves around a calendar of fiestas, and in the Costa Blanca, there are various festivals, and celebrations throughout the year. Check the local newspapers, and you will always find one to go to and enjoy watching the parades, incredible costumes, a variety of music, dancing, and, of course, food and wine. From the Three Kings on January 5, Carnival, Easter, local Moors and Christian celebrations, Fallas and Hogueres, there is always a party happening somewhere, whether you choose to buy an apartment in Calpe, purchase a villa in Moraira, or choose to move inland and find a traditional townhouse for sale in the Jalon Valley.

Activities and Adventures

The Costa Blanca climate lends itself to an outdoor lifestyle and there are, therefore, a multitude of activities that you will be able to enjoy when you buy a house here. If you love the water, you can enjoy a choice of water sports, whether you crave the speed of water and jet skiing or prefer a more sedate kayaking trip along the coast. If you want to explore deeper, both snorkelling and diving are readily available. For those who prefer to be on “terra firma” but, enjoy the countryside, there are plenty of walking, cycling, and horseback riding trails to choose from.

Living Local Life

The Mediterranean lifestyle is relaxed, and as a result, you will find that people on the Costa Blanca are very friendly. Most people you pass in the street will smile and pass the time of day with you. Once you buy a villa in the Costa Blanca and have been living in a town for a while, this greeting may become a chat, and you will soon become integrated into the day-to-day life of the town. There are so many ways to meet people and make new friends, neighbours will chat to you, and you’ll soon be enjoying a morning coffee or an evening aperitif together. Eating out is a long, leisurely affair so lingering over a meal with friends is normal, do not expect to have a quick meal. Service is generally slower to allow for this way of life so do be patient and understand that fast food is not the norm in Spain!

Cost Cutting

Although even in Spain prices have increased in recent years, generally the cost of living on the Costa Blanca is lower than in most other Northern European countries, the UK or USA. Groceries and Utilities are affordable, council taxes are inexpensive and eating out is generally affordable and good value.

Linguistics

English is widely spoken in the Costa Blanca, but, learning at least some Spanish will without doubt endear you to your new neighbours.

Anything Adverse?

There are very few adverse parts of living in the Costa Blanca, provided you ensure that you are prepared for the very hot summer months, If you are buying a house in Spain, make sure to budget to have air-conditioning and ceiling fans installed if they are not already present, this can be done quite reasonably. The slow pace of life can be frustrating if you are not used to it, You will need to adjust and have the patience to cope with slow-moving bureaucracy. If you are really used to a faster pace of life, then you may find that smaller towns will be too quiet for you and need to consider finding property for sale in larger, busier towns like Denia, Calpe, or Benidorm.

Conclusion

Living in the Costa Blanca can be a wonderful experience, The healthy lifestyle of being more relaxed and eating fresh food, combined with the warm climate, can be of great benefit. In addition, the climate inspires less sedentary outdoor living, and this is coupled with the beautiful scenery and clear blue seas. This part of Spain has something to offer everyone, and at Hamiltons of London, our experienced and friendly team is looking forward to helping you buy a property in this gorgeous part of the world!