Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Difficult to be close to the ski slopes yet also close to the beach. You are going to have to compromise. The beach resorts are touristy by their very nature. As far as Internet speed..in most places its very slow so if you are dependent on High Speed then you may have to live in a town. Good luck and as you say best to come and have a look.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Granada is lovely BUT remember that in July, it will be so hot that you won't be able to imagine how cold it will be in winter. When viewing, keep in mind how easy/difficult it will be to heat a place.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Cadiar is about 40 mins to the coast and was a nice place when I was in area last. Also Orgiva, not everyone's choice but I like the mix and the vibe in the valley. Lanjaron is also worth a look in my opinion. I have friends there who know Sierra Nevada for walking, hiking and wild life.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

I'd also like to know about internet speeds outside of larger towns.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

I can't speak for the peninsula, but I always presumed it would be more or less the same throughout the country.

Virtually all villages here (even the tiniest) have multiple choices of fibre, usually 100 megas or more. In the campo, some areas have fibre, others not. But even when not, 10mega wimax is pretty easy to get. And reliable. And just as cheap as fibre. 10 megas seems to be more than adequate for Netflix and the like.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Netflix speeds...

Below are the internet download speed recommendations per stream for playing TV shows and movies through Netflix.

• 0.5 Megabits per second - Required broadband connection speed
• 1.5 Megabits per second - Recommended broadband connection speed
• 3.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for SD quality
• 5.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for HD quality
• 25 Megabits per second - Recommended for Ultra HD quality

You'll be fine getting 5 mb/s down and watching any streaming service.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Hi
Not yet.
Drove all over the shop and looked at lots of places around Granada. The recce was very worthwhile and changed a lot of my original thoughts. One visit is not enough to decide. I can’t easily have ski and beach without it taking an off putting length of time to get up the mountain plus the beaches were not particularly pretty or interesting so that changed where I was looking.
I also wanted to monitor the weather for the places I looked at as altitude greatly effects warmth especially in the winter. I added some places to my weather app and have seen up to a 5 degree difference in some places that make me appreciate it would be too cold for me higher up.
I’m doing another recce to check out what places are like in winter and try out the skiing on Sierra Nevada in 3 weeks time.
I wouldnt be surprised if I need to do a third recce.
Decided renting is the way to go for the first year or so as its impossible to know what the reality of living in a place full time is like.
Id recommend hiring a car, taking a checklist, looking at the places and facilities nearby, taking notes and then reassessing when youve had a bit of time to think about it. Durcal among other places fell off my list quite quickly.

Anyone any advice for renting in Spain?

and Happy New Year to all

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

You keep on using the word "recce"; are you there to make a film??? Anyway...

I'm also looking at the Granada area, why is Durcal off your list and which beaches didn't you like and why?

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

I live in Baza, Granada. Fibre internet only reaching the town centre now. Other considerations above and beyond hot summers and cold winters are language, you will have to have a good command of Spanish 'up here', and you will need to appreciate a more 'rustic' style of life. I love it, you may not.

Sierra Nevada approx 1.5 hours, beaches of Almeria the same. Cost of living is low, property prices very reasonable.....but its NO 'little England' as with most Spanish towns in Granada Province, its wholeheartedly Spanish really. Depends what you want.

Two types of expat settle here, the first, like me ,who really want to cut out the bullshit of some Expat areas and live amongst the Spanish and their culture and those who want to live 'on the coast' or in an enclave but simply cannot afford it, so come here as 'it will do' but later regret it and become miserable.

Murcia International, hire a car and look around!

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Military phrase! "Reconoiter '

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

The skiing in Sierra Nevada is brilliant! However, not cheap: adult ski pass 99 euros/day, child ski pass 65 euros/day :(

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Yes reconnoiter or if you’re from the West Country then having a ‘looksee’

If you move along from Motril the beaches are better but they’re not the yellow sandy beaches you think of when you imagine a beach. More grey and stoney. I realised I have little interest in frying myself on a beach and prefer the quieter places to busy beaches but that’s just my preference.
Durcal went off the list for two reasons, Id rather have faster access to the ski area and the facilities being near or in Granada are good so I’m swayed that way. Also the financial crash is evident here and Durcal is sadly quite down at heel at the moment.

Yikes that is pricey for a ski pass! It’s been snowing so we will be checking out the skiing on Monday or Tuesday when the weekenders go home and the sun comes out. Anyone used the ski bus from the centre of Granada?

Im using Idealista to look at where rental properties are available and probably going to view a couple of properties next week.

Does anyone have any advice on renting? Are there other sites like Idealista I should look at? I assume I need to find a solicitor to go through the rental contract. How should I go about finding one? Anything I should be wary of?

Any help appreciated.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

I would not bother with a solicitor for rental, would you do that in UK? You might need to get contract translated, but that is cheap and agent ought to do that for you. It is quite a journey to the slopes from Granada, you might want to consider staying at the resort. When we visited we found the hotel quite nice and reasonably priced, the slopes were ...........…. disappointing.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Probably not but then I’ve never rented a property. Sage advice.
The ski area is just a bonus item, what I’m after is some good weather and empty tarmac to ride my mobike about in.
The thing I find most disappointing about booking ski holidays is how you can spend muchos moola and have poor snow or a resort that’s so busy you’re queuing forever. The house I requested to view is 40 mins from the ski centre and I can easily stomach driving that.
In what way was the skiing disappointing?

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

If you are anything above beginner standard(?) you will be disappointed with the skiing. Difficult to fit skiis on an SP1
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...7dd233284a.jpg


but you will enjoy motorcycling in Spain.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...9e91e258c5.jpg

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Sounds like it might be a bit disappointing then. Heyho.
Nice bike, what area did you settle on?
Im looking at these lovely empty roads and thinking theyre just what I need plus itll be a great base for starting rides further afield.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

I settled further north in Costa Blanca, but have travelled all over Europe by motorcycle. The weather and roads in Spain are great for m/c. Once you get away from the coast & larger cities there is very little traffic.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...7aaec10833.jpg

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

I’ve been almost nowhere by bike! The UK and recently rode through the Himalayas (Nepal n Tibet) but so need some regular good tarmac and sunshine, Spain (back in away from the touristy bits) seems just the thing for me. One glance at the UK weather forecast and that’s me in a bit of a quiet strop until the sun half shows it’s head!
Not sure exactly where I’ll land up but it’s easy to rent around Granada and cheap n easy to fly to Malaga so that’s where I’ll start off.

Blimey 134bhp and now dearer than a brand spanking new bike. I knew they were good but obviously they’re way better than I realised. Is that all your touring gear atop your bike?!

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Not your average touring bike, but a lot of fun to ride. That was luggage for a weeks touring for "Tres Amigos"

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Recce number 2 completed.
Yep the skiing at Sierra Nevada is a simple affair and expensive for a lift pass (€52 a day) but I quite liked it. Would be good for a couple of days at a time.
Finding a property to rent was time consuming and unproductive. Four of the five properties I tried to arrange to see were gone before we got there which was frustrating as we had driven to the area beforehand to see if it was worth bothering with a viewing. The one we looked at had the owner still living there in the garage underneath! A day after our return to the UK two of the good ones were relisted- grrr.
I think you need a lot longer than a week to find a rental place so I have rented a property (unseen) that they only want to let until end of June. The pictures are of a tidy new build so fingers crossed.
The landlord seems a lovely guy with lots of humour and help on offer. Looking at the number of enquiries he’s had I think at £388 a month we have been lucky to get it. Although its next to the beach (Salobrena) in a busy area and a ‘gated community’ I have a good feeling about it.
Now I just need to figure out when the cheap flights are so I can make the most of it.
Any cheap flight tips to Malaga gratefully received.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Good result. Is that 388 per month March through June?

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Thanks. Yes 388 March-June. It’s a holiday let July n August when for me it’ll be too hot anyway and Id just end up glued to the square metre where the aircon makes a difference!
Wondered if you have any advice about bikes in Spain. I’m thinking of squeezing the budget now and getting a bike to leave out there cos the main reason for the move for is the riding- it’s part of testing the waters.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Loads of options , Ryanair out of Standsted or Luton to start. Use Skyscanner or similar it will show the best options

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Thanks Loafing along. I’ll be looking at going from Bristol as it’s only 20 mins from where I live. I know to avoid Saturdays and school holidays but was wondering if certain times or dates are better priced. I’ll try out sky scanner 👍

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

I took my bike to Spain. Be aware insurance for bikes is much more than in UK, however you do get free breakdown cover included. I never did rematriculate a bike onto Spanish plates for that reason. Very naughty I know :-( I have ridden around Andalucia and the roads there are ace. I am sure there will be a local bike club near Salobrena. You might want to check social media and the free press for details.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

We have done that route. Easyjet is your best bet , more civilised than Ryanair

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

missile thats a great idea, didn’t cross my mind to look at bike clubs but that’s probably because I’m only a sporadically sociable person :-D
Its mainly sorting the insurance etc that makes me think buy it here n cover it for there. That and buying any vehicle seems to be a weird back n forth game of
”How much have you got in your wallet?”
“Crikey, you want how much? oh no no no!”
It’s a game I’d rather play in a language I understand!

Loafing Along haha I did Ryanair for one trip to Spain, it felt borderline reportable to trading standards on what’s not included :lol:

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Are you still in Spain and how has it been. We are coming out in August to look at houses.

Re: Granada. Doing a reccie
 

Sadly we had just agreed a rental when the lockdown occurred. The landlord very kindly said not to worry and if we find ourselves out there after the pandemic is over to get in touch for beer and tapas, nice guy ay!