Can anyone recommend a nice part of alicante to live in with nearby schools for ages 7 and 11. We are moving out there this year and are wanting to find out where is nice to live there before we start looking around. If we can get some good advice from experience then all the better. Also we would like adresses of renting agencies in same areas too please, who did you use and would you reccommend them ? And finally, we would like to know if there is a local job centre type place there as i will be looking for work as a painter and decorator. Thanx in advance to anyone who can help with our relocation, Ricky.

I have to base what I am about to say on the evidence of your one post. If you are saying that intend bringing out two kids and hope to feed them whilst working as a painter and decorator then I have to say that you are being foolhardy/unrealistic. From your post it seems that you know nothing about the Alicante region or city. If I am wrong then of course I apologise. It would help if you could narrow down where exactly you mean and indicate your language ability.

I have to say also that your brief email sounds nieve. Sorry! I assume you have made a list of need to haves & nice to haves as part of your 'living abroad' criteria ??? Especially with having children those ages - they will need ot have certain amenities too. I would suggest you think long and hard before unsettling children, finding work here, cost of living,the right school (Spanish or International) and the whole 'Spanish Thing'.

Yes there's loads of stuff on here to get you going. Learn to use the search facility (in the menu bar).

I know people with children and they have done really well, but not easy getting continuous work + school fees are apparently high for Intern' School. Equally I know of families who have failed due to lack of workand the children not settling.

I would say you spend a good year+ researching / visiting places for YOUR criteria. Renting is a good bet, in case it doesn't work out.

Caution I'd say. Spain has a downturn tooin it's economy/ building industry.

Good Luck !!

HIya

I would have to agree with you grapeater. There are soo many things to think about and you need to see if for yourself as one persons idea of good is not the same as anothers.

Iam moving over to spain in 2 weeks with my husband and 2 young children. ( 6 and 8 months)
Finding work was never an issue for us as my husband will continue to work offshore and will commute each fortnight.Although i have read many stories on people having to return home due to lack of work or due to the poor salaries.

I have spent hours and hours and hours researching soo much information.


We started by making a list of the amenities which we as a family needed easy access too , list of schools , and of course the airports for my husband to commute too.

We have been over a few times now and have settled for Quesada - in that it fits our needs with amenties , and is close to both airports and also we like the school. (Rojales) - We investigated the International school versus Spanish School - pros and cons - visited the spanish school with my 6 year old - and we are all happy so far.

The area we have picked also has some friends within walking distance - again who have children, and my husbands Aunt and Uncle are in Lo Crispin - which is just 5 min away in the car - So we knew we had a support network if required when my husband was away.

We have been lucky in that we have been given my friends parents villa to rent on a month by month basis - which will not only get our feet on the ground - but will allow us to feel that we have indeed picked the right area - or not as the case may be. We would love to buy a villa of our own right now but are being very cautious as im watching a few which are continuing to come down in price.
We have also researched labour costs for villas which require work to be done to them - and it is so cheap that there wouldnt be any point in my husband giving up his time at home to work on the house !!

My son has been taking Spanish Lessons and im hoping that when we come out in 2 weeks that he will be able to continue this at the Language school - so that he has a bit of grounding before starting school.

I have a lot of renting / property agents in my favourite folders - however i guess you need to work out where you are looking to live first.

Thanks
Katya