vh3

Hi,

We are about to visit the Costa Del Sol with a plan to retire in the next two years. Basing ourselves in Nerja, Marbella, Malaga and La Cala de Mijas for our visit we will be able to tour around. Which, if any of these areas would you recommend. What is important to us - walks, community, groups to join, making friends, eating out and enjoying the weather. Safety of course is important as I have read about homes being burgled etc so this is a worry. Any pointers you can give would be appreciated.

Loafing Along

Drive a bit further along the coast from La Cala and have a look around Calahonda, offers a lot in terms of your specified requirements. Malaga capital itself is now a great city full of cultural activities, great restaurants and good infrastructure. Marbella a smaller version, essentially delightful to spend time but not really a town to live. Slightly further along is San Pedro, done a lot to brighten itself up and has become very popular, still slightly small town feel but close to everything.
Biudget will play a critical part properties generally more expensive in Malaga and Marbella. Important will be how much you are prepared to use your car, many good properties built on developments out of town but if you do not want to drive every time you need a newspaper or milk stick to the urban areas.

vh3

Thank you for this. I have heard Calahonda is very beautiful and we intend spending there in March. Do you have any information on how safe the area is - as there seems to be a lot of scaremongering going on right now.

Loafing Along

Calahonda is OK problem is the large number of "holiday homes" not just there but all along the coast which are often empty for long periods and become attractive targets. Gated communities are generally fine.

Moses2013

I suppose the scaremongering is also related to shootings in recent years. For example a well known gangster was shot in Miraflores 2 years ago very close to Calahonda. Of course this can happen anywhere but the Costa Del Sol does attract drug mules for many reasons.

Loafing Along

An irish one shot at a pub in Elviria but then the region is known as "La Costa del Crime" .. Two guys then got away in an Audi which they abandoned and set fire to further down the road to Marbella .Such is life in many high density urban environments today .

Moses2013

The one case was in relation to the Kinahan Hutch feud and then there was another shooting in Calahonda where a Columbian got shot.

scot47

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E..._gangland_feud

Alarming stuff. maybe it is better to saty at home !

Loafing Along

The Irish are such lovely people - really friendly

Moses2013

And a so called British Lawyer:-) https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crim...pain-1.2936280

The reality of the situation is that this is the superhighway for drug trafficking,” he says.
This chimes with the analysis of one police officer, who says: “The opportunities here [for criminals] are enormous, as are the opportunities for them to associate with people in the same business.”
This officer points to the nearby port of Algeciras, which sits between the Mediterranean and Atlantic, as a magnet for drug trafficking.
Just a few nautical miles away is Morocco, one of the world’s biggest cannabis producers. Right next door is the tax haven of Gibraltar.
“If you then throw in the good weather, the property investment possibilities, it’s a perfect storm,” says the officer.
Although he says the Irish underworld is a concern for the Spanish authorities, he points out that many other nationalities use the coast as a base for criminal operations.

vh3

Thank you all for your replies. I am aware that crime and gangs can happen anywhere, even in the safest areas. I know that we could go into this with rosy glasses and think the world is perfect but at the same time I dont want to be scared of my own shadow. What we are looking for is a nice area where we can make friends, go out at night and be safe. Maybe we should look further north and out of the Costa Del Sol area.

Fred James

Try looking east. You said you would be looking as far as Nerja, in which case drive a little further along the Granada coast as far as Motril. La Herradura, Almuñécar and Salobreña could offer what you are looking for without all the downsides of the CDS.

Loafing Along

Many people live happily on the CDS without a day's problem . While you cannot ignore the fact that the region does attract some criminal types it is the same as many large towns or cities in the UK , France, Germany , Belgium etc etc - certain areas you simply do not visit.

vh3

I agree you can find trouble anywhere these days and no where is perfect.

lurchio

Hey, one man's meat is anothers poison, eh? Research as much as you can and then plan visits to the areas that most appeal. I live inland in Granada and love it, others may not. Visit the areas, when one 'talks to you' rent first, settle down and if its your idea of your life after a few months, buy if you like as you have no pressure.If you find its not the answer, move on. Far easier to give a months notice than have to wait to sell, pay taxes, fees etc. Good luck to you. It's a great country to be happy with your lot!