jackytoo

Julie, how about Benalmádena. A few on here live there and seem to like it and say there are plenty of spanish too. Lots of ex-pats clubs to cover every interest...and some ready made friends on here

Lushdaddy

That's the most sensible thing you've said. Well done. And I totally agree..

Dick Dasterdly

She could get herself a real bargain down there,...apparently prices have collapsed since the Dingles hit town.
Only thing is she may have difficulty getting into town, as it seems all the roads are blocked with ppl.trying to move out.

SaritaBarcelona

I'll vouch for that (Benalmadena) and also El Pinillo between Arroyo/Ben. and Torremolinos. Lots of people knock this area but we seem to be looking at it through different eyes as I think it's great! I know there are places that are more "real Spain" but it has a bit of everything.

jdr

They are all drunk Brits in Benalmadena an it`s nothing like Spain.

SaritaBarcelona

Must be rent-a-crowd, there were people speaking SPANISH on there!!! Shock horror! Oh, and a police presence to ensure that no Costa del Crime mafia activities take place. It looks great by the way, when do they do this zoco arabe? Is it a regular thing?

sueandterry

Yes, Albir is nice, I used to live up there. very pretty too. The beach is not too brilliant, I used to go to Calpe for lots of sand...

jdr

Every year as far as I know, HERE any excuse for a booze up.

MikeQuigley

This one won't meet your criterion of being 20 mins from the sea, but consider it anyway. We have been living in Seville since September 2009 and just love it. It's got a real character of its own, and boy is it lively! People are friendly and warm. We have got to know Spanish people by doing "intercambio" sessions (alternately speaking English and Spanish) and this has led to some memorable social occasions. I play jazz in a local jam session. My partner learns flute from a young Spanish fellow who also plays in a group doing Irish (yes!) music - and she has started arranging gigs for him. If you want to meet Brits, they are here, but not too many of them. Our local Irish bar is run by a Kiwi. The Maestranza concert hall and its orchestra are world class, and we saw an opera performance last week that could easily have been in London or New York. The beach resorts of Sanlucar de Barremeda, Chipiona and Punta Umbria are not far away. There is a lot of property for sale or rent lying idle and I'm told there are good deals available - we certainly got one on the flat that we rent. If you want to improve your Spanish the language school CLIC here is first-rate. All in all, this place has surpassed our expectations.
Why not come and stay in the city for a few days and look around ?

Dick Dasterdly

Yes,a nice,interesting place,but the hothouse/pressure cooker of Spain in mid-summer,.....guess thats why you are of to Galicia about then.....

EsuriJohn

Or you could come to Ayamonte 10mins to the beach 45 mins to Sevilla 10-15*C cooler in July and August and a whole other country and culture on your doorstep 5mins across the bridge with cheap good quality dining to boot.

agoreira

We have only visited Sevilla and have to say I loved it, one of my favourite places in southern Spain. However, not sure I would want to live there, as has been said, it gets blisteringly hot there in the summer months, you feel like a wet rag! And even worse, you'll end up with that awful sevillano accent!

HBG

[QUOTE=jdr;8478709]They are all drunk Brits in Benalmadena an it`s nothing like Spain.

Christ, they've done up the 24-hour Square since I was last there!

Jur

Is that Pete? (Phoenix bar, am I right?)

Jur

ssshhhhhhhhh!!