Natalie If you are thinking of living in Alicante, Spain, we wholeheartedly encourage the idea. But do not just believe us. Foreigners make up roughly 15% of the population, and the Mediterranean area sitting on the Costa Blanca is known for their large expat communities, especially Brits. Although its tourist reputation spreads everywhere, Alicante is also a great place to call home. Think gorgeous beaches, impressive landmarks like the castle, stylish and modern townhouses, an affordable cost-of-living, and of course, copious amounts of sunshine to understand why Alicante is a fantastic place to live and travel around.
However, moving to Spain is a significant lifestyle change, and any retirees thinking of calling Alicante home need to know the pros and cons before jumping on a plane. Furthermore, moving to any country worldwide involves specific challenges and hurdles to overcome for your endeavour to turn into a long-term retirement plan. So, let us weigh up how to decide if Alicante city is the place to live by starting with the pros first.
Living in Alicante: Pros and Cons
1: Minimal Culture Shock
When relocating, no one likes to stand out as the sore thumb, and even worse, make a cultural faux pas. The significant aspect of living abroad in Alicante city is that cosmopolitan and multi-cultural ambiences minimise culture shock. Thousands of expats have already chosen Alicante as their home, so there are many sources to get advice and make friends with other people of your nationality and the friendly Alicante locals. Expats mainly suffer from culture shock when moving to other places like Asia, but since Spain is a top spot European country, any stress from moving to Alicante soon disappears.
2: Spanish Weather and Outdoor Activities
To retire to Alicante city is to tap into a lavish outdoor lifestyle that doctors verify is good for your health. Of course, many tourists and expats love the golf courses, but there is more to Alicante, like the Santa Bárbara castle and other sightseeing attractions. The best places mean getting to know Mother Nature, whether through adventure sports or only hitting one of the walkable trekking trails. The Mediterranean climate also means this new Alicante lifestyle isn’t confined to a few months, but for roughly 300 days of the year, so you can travel as much as you want.
3: Gorgeous Coastline and Beaches
Most expats favour the coastline resorts, and when moving to Alicante, they enjoy 14 sandy beaches, bays, coves, and some of Spain’s most beautiful beaches within a short drive. As well as the usual water sports, swimming and sunbathing, some beach districts of Alicante revolve around the seafood dining scene at night, evoking a pleasant atmosphere found nowhere else in Spain.
4: Property Market of Alicante
When looking at places to live, some expats rent, but most buy property because Alicante’s market still provides value for money, despite operating in Euros. Moreover, having still not recovered from the 2008 housing crash, Alicante offers many neighbourhoods to live in, where townhouses and villas make a home from home. In addition, grant Alacant is a popular area because Alicante international airport sits a ten-minute drive away. Still, in the larger province, plenty of other places offer unique attributes for a life abroad. To buy property in Alicante, browse our portfolio of homes for sale in the larger Alicante province, and use the enquiry form to find out more about any home or arrange a viewing.
So, naturally, the above four are worthy reasons to choose Alicante for relocation. Add attractions like the Basilica of Santa Marie and the nightlife, ranging from peaceful sit-down dining to lively, all-night partying. The delicious foodie scene also stems far beyond the tapas tradition. But as with everything in life, challenges arise, so what are the cons of retiring to Alicante?
5: Language Barrier for Expats
Experts say the older we get, the more complex learning another language is. Expats living in Spain undoubtedly come across occasions when the language barrier halts conversations. Don’t let this stop you, though, because many expatriates in Alicante found ways around it, like using translators for an official process like visas or merely ringing a bi-lingual friend and asking them to translate over the phone. You can also start by learning one word a day. Of course, if you want to enter the workforce, you need to learn Spanish, but otherwise, retirees don’t find it to be a problem.
6: Cons of a Laidback Lifestyle
When looking at the best places to live, we all dream of a stress-free lifestyle. Unfortunately, retiring to Spain means getting used to the go-slow movement from the afternoon siestas to the Manana saying, of let’s do everything tomorrow. To get things out of the way, as quickly and smoothly as possible, learn patience and do as the Alicante locals do, especially for bureaucracy, is take it all in your stride.
7: Home Sickness
After the initial buzz of living in Spain wears off, some expats experience a longing for their home country. Whether this is simply the food, interaction with their nationality, or an urge to see the grandkids. Feeling nostalgic is a perfectly natural thing to go through and explains why many Brits choose Spain because home is a short flight away. If you find yourself with homesickness, don’t make any permanent decisions because many Alicante expatriates get over soon get over these fleeting emotions.
8: More Tips on Living in Spain
When you relocate to Spain, specific attributes make a move less stressful and settling in easier. As a team of professionals, we have lived in many countries worldwide, so our tips and advice help no matter where you live. Read more about the biggest mistakes people make when moving to Spain.
About Us: We are Spot Blue, an international property agent, and our services have helped many customers retiring abroad to find their dream home. Browse our portfolio of homes for sale in all areas of Spain. Each listing contains everything to know, including price, location, home features and contact details to find out more via email or phone. Alternatively, call us today to chat with an agent about moving and living in Alicante in Spain.
