LARAINE 2020

it good to know about the colder months as well as the summer. All information is helpful. Do you know the Almería region?

LARAINE 2020

Thats good to know. Did you do this?

Lynn R

We don't use ours very much in summer (it's mainly used for heating in the winter), so far this year have had it on only twice, this last Sunday definitely having been one of those occasions! I find it better not to have it set too cold, ours is at 28C, otherwise as you say you feel the heat more when you go outside, and especially when you go from an airconditioned room in your home to one which isn't airconditioned. I also switch it off at least an hour before going to bed otherwise the bedroom feels too warm if I go straight from the airconditioning into there (we don't have aircon in the bedroom but a ceiling fan, which we find comfortable) and don't sit outside straight before going to bed either for the same reason. After our first couple of years in Spain we got used to keeping all the doors and windows closed on very hot days, after about 11 am, and opening them up again when it goes dark. It seems odd at first as we were so used to having the windows open in summer in the UK, but it does work. And in winter here it's the opposite, of course, open all the windows once the sun is up to let the warmer air outside come in.

LARAINE 2020

I think, with the hot weather there, having a pool and air con gives the body a chance to cool down. Here in England when we hit highs of 30+ which we did last week and are again the end of this week, we have no relief from it. We are constantly hot. Hot weather is not here enough to justify air con and pools.
Have you lived there long? Which area do you live in?

LARAINE 2020

Yes doing things the other way round will take some getting used to. My windows here are open all the time. I will have to make a list of these little tips so I don’t forget them. Which area do you live in? Have you lived there long?

Lynn R

Vélez.-Málaga, in La Axarquia (about 35km East of Málaga). We have been here permanently since 2006 but first bought a house here in 2003 (sold that in 2017 and moved to a top floor apartment).

LARAINE 2020

It looks beautiful. You must love it there. Have you ever regretted moving out?

bobd22

I have visited the Almería region briefly but I don't know it really to offer any advise. We live nearer to Malaga in La Axarquia area. We have lived permenant for 2 years but off and on for 12 years. As has been mentioned its really a matter of adjusting your ways to suit the weather summer and winter and what suits you re using air conditioning fans etc.

LARAINE 2020

Thank you

Lynn R

No, never - although there have been times, in family emergencies, when I haven't been as close as I would have liked to have been and not been able to be around to help out as much as I thought I should have done. I don't have children or grandchildren so that has never been a problem, but a month after I moved my father had a stroke and was in hospital for the next six months until he died, and that was a very difficult time as I was backwards and forwards spending a few weeks in each place. When I was in England spending time with my father in the hospital every day I felt I should have been with my husband in Spain, and when I was back in Spain with my husband I hated leaving my Dad. My aunt, who died aged 95 this January, needed an increasing amount of support in her last years although she continued to live independently without carers, and a lot of that fell to my sister and brother which I felt bad about. It also means making sure you have funds available for those costly last minute flights and maybe accommodation for when things like that go wrong.

I suppose, though, that had I still been living in England and working full time (and long hours with a lot of travelling) during my Dad's illness, I wouldn't have been able to spend as much time with him as I did having given up my job when we moved.

Moses2013

Budget plays a big part and Iess villa for your money depends what one values more. I'm sure there are still many other parts of Spain where you can buy cheaper properties closer to coast. To be honest we have enough land back home and while it's nice to have, maintaining a large property and garden is a lot if work and not cheap. I don't see myself doing it when I'm retired. In Spain we didn't want more than a 2 bed and the plot is relatively small for us 600m2 but it's more than enough and still only 8km from the coast and many probably paid more for an apartment.

LARAINE 2020

I’m sorry for your loss. I understand it must be difficult during those times. Both my parents have passed. I have two daughters, one in Vietnam teaching and one about to go to Durham University. So nothing to keep me here. I am hoping to come over in October, renting first while we look for a villa. Do you have pets? We have two dogs to bring over and wondered if you knew anything about it

Lynn R

No, sorry, have never had pets. Could never have them in the UK as I was out at work so much, and we decided not to have them here either because they are a tie and an extra complication and expense if we go away, especially if it has to be at short notice.

I understand there are companies who specialise in pet transport, though, so if you Google pet transport Spain no doubt you will get some information.

LARAINE 2020

i will do thanks

bfg69bug

This is true, to an extent.

We are in Alhaurin el grande - 25 minutes from the coast,(golf courses and big supermarkets 10 minutes away etc...) the prices of "villas" dont drop under 150,000€, and if it does, it isnt legal or doesnt have the right paperwork for a mortgage. The most expensive one is about 2km from our house...at 3.6 million.. It only gets cheaper if you are 1hr + from the coast.