San Juan, El Campello and Villajoyosa are all nice places which I think you might like. However, if you need easy access to Alicante airport you will probably want to be south of Alicante. Elche is a large busy city, which I would suggest is great to visit, but with a young child you might want to be somewhere quieter near the sea? My choice for you would be Santa Pola. It has a little harbour, clean beaches and not too many tourists

See here> http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&...,0.132351&z=13

Yes,I forgot about Santa Pola.

The only other town that I liked in the area apart from Elche.

I would imagine it was nice for children and is a very relaxed area.

I don't agree. I'm north of the airport and I can be there in 12 minutes. Starting from the Carrefour on the San Juan/El Campello border you will be in the airport in less time than it takes to get out of Elche city. Much better area too.

Villajoyosa = Looks ok if you want a day out to a chocolate factory, but, it's very badly connected (only fast road is a toll road), nowhere to park, crap infrastructure and full of gypsies and drug addicts.

Sent you a PM.

And even worse then that.............Belén Esteban in summer!

We live in Aspe and work in Monforte del Cid (that golf ¨resort¨ where all the retired expats live and do nothing but talk english and travel out to eat sausage rolls etc etc). We have been in this area for the past 5 and a half years and love it, Aspe is great (ignore the PAINTERs who were here for 5 minutes and rented in the wrong area for them and had a bad experience). There are lots of kids around and my son has been going to school here for the past 5 years (he´s now 7) and he has a great life. Granted you might want to look at being closer to town wherever you end up instead of being in the Campo as such.
Alenda Golf is about 12 minutes to the airport and its a nice development with a private international school on site, a small supermarket and lots of lovely people (older and young with families, english and spanish). Lots of rental options there (PM me if interested).
I think you really need to grab a flight out here for a few days and hire a car and have a look around for yourselves, peoples opinions differ so much and your personal taste will be different. I hope that you don´t completely dismiss an area like Monforte or Aspe though because of the views of a minority!
Thats my 10pence worth, for whats its worth! Hope you find somewhere nice and enjoy your experience in Spain xx

Alenda golf is nothing to do with Monforte apart from the land coming under the jurisdiction of the town hall. They're two completely different places several kilometres apart. And why pay extra and live on a golf course urbanization when you can live in a hub with good infrastructure. 12 minutes to the airport is dubious too. School is ok though. I've got a friend with kids there. Not cheap.

We live on Montecid and have done for the past 4 years and I object to your comments!

You clearly have an issue with something (not sure what).

The houses are NOT illegal, we have habitation certificates, 6 nights a week rubbish collection, connected water and electricity and pay our IBI bills and basuras and there is a great bar with regular events and football matches.

There is a great mix of English and Spanish neighbours and the sense of Community here is fantastic. Please do not knock what you don’t know. Yes there is an issue with the access road but we know all the facts about it, not rumours.

We also have friends on nearby Alenda Golf (English, Spanish and Norwegian) and I can assure you NONE of them travel to eat sausage rolls? What a strange comment.

And, Julie43, you are definitely 10 minutes to the airport!

Why is the access road to the urbanization just a muddy track? Why isn't there a proper road. How is the place for landline telephone connections and proper full speed ADSL. What shops are there? What can you walk to that has true entertainment value? Yes, maybe it is a matter of opinion but for me having infrastructure means more than one bar and an empty dustbin.

If you were aware of the full facts, not just gossip you would know. I am on the internet now (as are the majority of residents), wouldn't trust Telefonica as far as I could throw them!

Life is not just about entertainment and shops - that's so UK More about community, friends, lifestyle change, great views/countryside and being in the REAL Spain.

What is your problem with Montecid?

I only have a vague knowledge of the area. I’m half-an-hour away, but I agree that some comments are plain stupid. Someone compared this area to Turia campo, well, it’s always a matter of personal taste, but it’s ridiculous.

The place isn’t overrun with Eastern Europeans, it’s a tranquil Spanish town, traditional and peaceful.

What, via a satellite linkup?

Go tell a Spaniard "You don't know the REAL Spain because you don't live in an Expat community with no access road". By the way what is the REAL Spain?

Seems you want an arguement (again not sure why?) and just avoid my question about your comments?

No I am not via Satellite Link Up

Not sure what you're trying to say? We live with our Spanish neighbours, have many Spanish friends, I am (almost) fluent in Spanish and love our life here.

If you don't know what the "real" Spain is, suggest perhaps you live where there is an inordinate need for Emmerdale, John Smiths, Karaoke and Fish 'n' Chips

And I ask again, "What is your problem with Montecid"

Actually it seems that it is you who wants the argument. You popped out of the woodwork because you didn't agree with my opinions with regard to the access road or lack of it (see post #4).
So what is the link up? Don't tell me they've eventually brought some telephone cables in there.

You sound very integrated.

What do you know about me? You don't even know what nationality I am. Anyway since you brought it up what is the REAL Spain?

I don't have an issue because I don't live there. Fortunately I don't need to go to a car wash every time I leave home.

The camp de turia is not overrun with eastern europeans.

Valencia is a cosmopolitan city and many nationalities live there but you could not find a more spanish city.
And we love it-would never want to be anywhere else.