Tambo

Hi

My wife and I (plus to Kids) will be moving to Spain shortly.

We are looking at either Playa Flemenca or Javea as a place to live while our kids are at school. We would like the to go to an internation achool and are looking at Mar Azul or Lady Elizabeth.

Another consideration is to close to all amenities, ie close to shops (walk), pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurant, beach, gym. A drive to schools is fine.

My mum and dad used to live in the Jumilla 3 Urbanisation so we know that area fits our requirements and wold make things easier for us as there would be some familiarity (with all their stories it feels like i have already been there).

We are moving to spain as Australia (we live in Perth) has become far far to expensive. In spain with our savings and income from that will allow us a comfortable lifestyle without the need for work.

Any info greatly appreciated.

stuboy

If you don't need to work then why limit yourselves to those two areas. If I had to choose then it would be Javea. Get over here, rent and have a good look around before deciding.

lynnxa

I'd go for Jávea too - since I live here

I don't know much about Playa Flamenca but from what I've heard it's very different to Jávea, though

what is you like about each place?

if you do choose Jávea though, Lady Elizabeth is the way to go if you're needing an International school

Tambo

So you can fully recommend Lady Elizabeth, I have heard mixed reports

lynnxa

I know teachers in both local International schools - I'd totally recommend Lady Elizabeth

it's actually bilingual now, so your children have every opportunity to really learn Spanish, too - where so very many kids in International schools barely scrape a pass at IGCSE in many schools

I don't know how old your children are, but the primary building is new, state of the art - & I know the secondary building pretty well, it also is a proper school, though older but still with all up to date equipment

also it has the infrastructure of a big company behind it

to be fair though, the other local one has a new board/owners, so things will improve there soon

agoreira

Purely as a visitor, 101% Jávea!!!! I'm surprised you are considering those two,tbh, for me they are chalk and cheese. I would consider Jávea, although like everywhere else it's considerably more built up than when we first started visiting the area, but would never consider PF.

Tambo

why any particular reason?

Does each area have the infrastructure i am looking for.

Does anyone else know the jumilla 3 urbanisation -

lynnxa

have you been to Jávea?

I don't drive - I live within walking distance of everything I need on a day to day basis - my girls can walk to school, but Lady Elizabeth runs a bus service from within a few mins walk of my house, so even if they went there, it would be easy

there are bars, beaches, clubs, gyms, vets, the library & medical centre - again all within walking distance of my house - & I can cycle to many other things should I want to

mikelincs

Yes to both, Playa Flamenca is really a 'new town' as it wasn't there 20 years ago, so everywhere is modern, there are very good state schools there, and there are a variety of shops. Many urbanisations there, however I do think you will find a lot are now just used as holiday places as many of the residents have sold up, when we were in Playa Flamenca they were still building, but unable to sell anything, so loads of empty places.

I would go for Javea myself, not lived there but did live in Albir.

Countryboy1

All I can add echoes the advice for you to come over and see for yourself before committing to a specific are. TBH, if you are bracketing Playa Flamenca & Javea as possibilities then you really need to do your research!

mikelincs

I agree, they are so disimilar..

Tambo

I have never been to either place, we are moving to spain for a lifestyle change. The reason for looking at these two places is Javea looks a lovely place and someone I think we could live happily, with good schools.

Playa Flemenca is just somewhere my parents lived so thought it would be easier to move there as I know it has what we require, but it certainly looks less inhabited.

Tambo

Lynxxa - I just noticed you say elizabeth school is very good but your girls go elsewhere - may I ask why?

lynnxa

you really need to visit both to make a choice for you

lynnxa

my girls are in the State system

they were 4 & 7 when we came here - we did put them in International for a year (not LES - at the time it was very 'British' & not what we wanted) - but as soon as we decided to stay we thought it would be better for them from a ¡n 'integration' (hate that word) point of view, to go to schools with the local kids & become immersed in the local community

it was the best decision we ever made imo - they are now 13 & 16

they are genuinely bilingual - & although this is heatedly debated on this forum I don't think anyone would disagree that it certainly isn't a disadvantage to speak more than one language fluently

because I teach we have managed (sneakily) to keep their written English up to an acceptable level too (better than their aussie cousins:O)

they also speak Valenciano - my older daughter does all her schoolwork in Valenciano, the younger in Castellano, although they are both at the same secondary school

there have been some hiccups at school this year results-wise - totally not their fault (or the school's) and they have a few resits in 4 weeks - but we are all confident that they will pass & continue through the school

the 16 year old will start bachillerato & the 13 year old will move up into 2º ESO in september