Hi, would be very interested to chat to anyone renting or owning a mobile home on one of the Benidorm campsites, thank you.

I live in Benidorm but I don't actually live on a camp site, I do however have friends that live on the campsites. If you don't get any response to your query let me know and I'll see if I can find out any answers you need.

Steve

Just as cheap to rent an apartment, maybe a small townhouse?

Ive got friends on Villasol, they seem to like it on there, it has its own community spirit which you probably wouldn’t get in an apartment block, not cheap to stay on there though and there are restrictions / site rules.

That depends on your idea of 'community spirit' the TV shows give the impression that everyone knows each other and all the intimate details of their lives on the caravan parks, I know thats probably an exaggeration. But if thats your idea its certainly not mine.

My idea is that people say hi, help if needed but keep themselves to themselves. And while I enjoy some British company, it also appears (and we have been to the site close to the Iceland store in Benidorm a couple of times) that they are full of just Brits living there.

We live in a, for wont of a better word 'a block'. There are 6 stairwells and each of these has 6 flats (2 per floor), we are on speaking terms with about half as the others are all second homes or empty most of the time.
Some are Brits like us, we always say hi to the Spanish couple downstairs, the Algerian below us runs a market stall in Albir and we have Dutch, German (an old lady who owns an old Beetle) who I helped when it wouldn't start. My German is pants and my Spanish aint much better, she don't speak English but we get along.
There are retired people, young couples, singles and families.

Also the cost of some of these 'vans' and the ground rent over 10 years would buy you a two bed apartment around here. Ive heard they are hot in the summer (we had a van in Selsey in the Uk and in summer it was hot) and this winter just gone it went down as low as 2c at night.

But its all horses for courses at the end of the day, not my Clara con Lemon but there you go.

To the OP. Would suggest staying in one or at least visiting one of the sites before you do anything rash. And I would do both summer and winter just to see.

You also need to check carefully the site rules regarding opening, a good few of them have a 10 month in 12 limit, so they close for two months every year.

I agree with you Barriej, we did consider buying a caravan a few years ago before Brexit but after weighing up the costs and the uncertainty of Brexit we decided against it, once all the restrictions are lifted and we are back to some kind of normality we shall rent an apartment for a month at a time, caravans don’t appeal to me and in the meantime I’m still learning Spanish 😁

I fully agree with barriej.....
There is not a lot of privacy on the camp sites, some call it community spirit but it also means loss of privacy. I live in an apartment block and speak to all my neighbours and if I want any more community spirit then I will go to the expat bars. During the summer period caravans can be so uncomfortable with the heat and cold in winter. As pointed out, the site fees and other costs can add up the similar amounts for living in a 2 bedroom apartment.

Steve

Thank you everyone for your replies, all very interesting. We are thinking of 9 months in Benidorm (autumn/winter/spring) and 3 months back in the UK, either renting or buying. We've booked a weeks stay on one of the campsites in November 22 to give us a flavour of life on the campsite and Benidorm so will probably have loads of questions after that.

Since you said on another thread that you have dual Irish/British nationality, there is no problem doing that.

Best thing to do. And you will see what the temperatures are like at night in November.
As to 9 months in Spain, you should be registering as a resident after 90 days (the rules, wot almost everyone takes no notice of) and you may (will) be considered tax resident after 183 days as well.

Do you have a UK driving licence?
That may give you some issues as well if you plan to spend 9 months here.

ray81. do let us know how you get on

I've been thinking about to rent a caravan when relocating to Spain, but it was always in my mind maybe there is a problem to have the privacy think you have it only when you're in the caravan but not when sitting outside. I've been told that it is quite cheap around £4.000 per year. Are here any people they're living in a caravan anywhere in Spain???

I'm also a little bit afraid it could be a little bit lonely in an apartment/flat and how about when I need help that's the reason of my thinking renting a caravan at first because of community.

TicTac, I think your £4000 per annum may be about right for basic rental costs but there are often additional costs involved so you may want to enquire about that.

Quote..."I'm also a little bit afraid it could be a little bit lonely in an apartment/flat and how about when I need help that's the reason of my thinking renting a caravan at first because of community"

What sort of help are you likely to need? I live in an apartment and if I want company I go to the local expat bars and meet up with friends. If you use several watering holes like most do then you usually meet up with someone you know. I wouldn't give up my privacy.

Steve

Here is a video taken recently by a Youtuber called Ana (she does some good videos)
This should give you some idea of what to expect.