Hello all i have been looking around for a while and Albunol seems to suit my requirements, obviously without prior knowledge of the area and community any advice would be welcome. The more i know the easier it would be to integrate, and become part of the community. All help appreciated.
regards,
Colin

Hi and welcome, the first question would always be if you require a Visa (if British) or are you already living in Spain? No idea about that area and only know that it's one of the greenhouse towns. Maybe you can highlight what requirements you have, that could help?

I only know the coastal area of that area. It's a nice area quieter and less green than west of Motril. Adra or Motril would be nearest large cities. Both have all one needs. I have no knowledge of Albunol itself but seem to remember some years ago that area had quite a few illegal properties and issues so be careful. As for plastic greenhouses it is west of the main plastic area of Almeria. I don't doubt there will be some as they have started being more noticeable in our area which is part of Costa Del Sol. The main area of plastic sort of starts after Adra continuing to Almeria. The level of plastic in Almeria and surrounds would deter me. I would suggest a decent stay there would be the best idea but the nearby coastal area is in my view very nice but for some people quite barren

On street view and satellite (recent images) they seem to have a lot of plastic up there too. Remember watching a programme about the greenhouses and unfortunately a lot of migrant workers are treated badly. According to stats 25% of the population are from Africa. https://www.fruitnet.com/eurofruit/r...248693.article

As I said I don't know the town personally I know the coastal area Castell De Ferro , La Mamola etc which are places and area I really like. From the photo it does look to have quite a lot of plastic. However at ground level it may not actually be as intrusive to the eye. Where we live plastic has increased you notice it looking down towards the coast from the hills at ground level it doesn't seem as bad. The area east of Adra into Almeria to me is truly blighted by the intensive farming and plastic. I once visited Roquetas De Mar. Very pleasant sea front and Town but to get to it you drive through the plastic areas. I was shocked to find there are like towns of plastic where the immigrant workers both work and live. As you say from TV and reading these workers are treated terribly. So nice town but surrounded by plastic and poor souls working there that must have a miserable existence. Only way in my view OP will get true answers to question is to visit Albunol and spend some time in the town to form their own opinion.

It was many years ago since I was down that far and always remember the plastic fields around Roquetas de Mar and Almerimar, so it might have changed over the years. You are right and the OP is better off to spend some time there and see himself. For us it just wouldn't make sense to go that far anymore, just like people who live down there probably wouldn't come up to where we are (unless it's for family or business reasons).
We don't have many plastic greenhouses in Girona province and probably couldn't compete with the prices down there, what we do see are apple trees which dominate the landscape and they are often covered with a netting system.

We live in the south slightly inland in the hills of Axarquia. It's a nice area close enough to coast but lovely countryside. In February we spent a month in the North West just outside Fisterra. What a stunning area that is beautiful sea and beaches lovely little coastal towns and trees right down to the sea. I was very impressed wife found it a little remote but for me perfect. We expected wet weather but in the whole month we only had a couple of rainy nights. Fisterra itself was lovely beautiful walk into it on the coastal path from our apartment. It's an area I could live without doubt. I wished I had explored the north more before we bought. We like where we are don't get me wrong but Spain is such a large varied country one needs to ensure they visit and stay for a while before buying.

Well at least you still have some green around you, but you are right and many people forget how large Spain actually is. You might have been lucky with Fisterra that time as even in Ireland we had the driest February in 30 years. They do get plenty of rain and I have a colleague from Pontevedra area and I always say it is like a NZ alternative + they still have more sun than Auckland and sometimes the temps can jump up in winter to 21/22 and next day it's like the UK. For us as non residents Girona province was the easiest sun place to get to/cheap at the time and we have enough remoteness in Ireland, but seeing the current conditions across Spain and the globe, Fisterra looks like paradise. At the end of the day a lot of holiday places are similar and I'm not really that obsessed with the sun these days. Be it the 2500 sunshine hours or 3000 hours in the East/South, when you've seen one beach promenade you've seen them all really.

Only just seen this post so rather late to reply. I live in Albuñol for the last 22 years. We are durrounded be very green hillsides, due to recents rains. People have co.mented re RdeM and Almeria both off which are an hour away on the A7. You just cannot compare. Nobody who replied comment on Albuñol.
I hope you are now sorted re an area, shame I didnt see your post origiinally

I doubt he will see the post as he hasn't posted anywhere since that day in 2023