NERJA
 

We have been to nerja 3 times in the past, the last time being 8 years ago.
And we are thinking of having 6 months there later on this year"renting".
I keep hearing of very high cost of living there is it any difference between there and other place`s in spain. IE, what is the price of a beer in a tapas bar. "we dont want it to be like barcalona"
Also I hear that crime is a big problem is that the case.
We will be renting a villa as we have 2 dogs and need a garden so its more than likely on the edge of town , any info will be greatly appreciated.
keith

Re: NERJA
 

Hi

We are on the coast about a hour from Nerja and go occasionally for a day for lunch etc, it is more expensive than Adra, as Adra although on the coast doesn't have a lot of Brits around, but I have never found Nerja to be in line with the likes of Barcelona or Madrid, I have read on forums about the crime, but that is probably because of there being a lot of Brits, they are a easy target, but I think that happens in other holiday resort areas also, I am sure someone else will come along to tell you a lot more than I can, I hope all goes well for you :)

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Thanks for the reply, we also looked at la-rabata but wondered if it was a little small for a 6 month stay.
Adra is somewhere we missed do you live there .
keith

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La Rabita is a small place, where any Brits know everyones business, so not my cup of tea and as you say probably too small for a six month stay, Adra has 25k people and is mostly Spanish with Brits on the out skirts, we have a house on the coast road a few miles outside the main town, we spend a lot of time there, but we are not residents of Spain. We have been going to Goa twice a year, but as my hubby was really ill this last visit, we may stick to spending more time in Spain in winter as welll now.

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I don't think Nerja is ever going to be like Barcelona! We have friends near there, so have been visiting on and off for well over 20 years, and it's certainly changed, what place hasn't? But it's never struck me as an expensive place, certainly not in the same league as Barcelona anyway. Crime? Never been on the wrong end of any, but it's there, like every other place, often holiday makers are an easy target. For a six month stay in that area, Nerja is as good a choice as any. We also have friends that live outside Almuñecar, and they love it there, but it´s never really done it for me, although a lot more Spanish. I don´t really like any of the coast further east, and if it was my wife choosing, it would be Nerja very time!:frown: Really depends what you want, a lot more life for youngsters in Nerja. You might answer some of your questions here,
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowFor...Andalusia.html
http://www.nerjanow.com/NerjaForum/phpBB3/index.php

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oh aguiwierdo. You won't ever think anything good of anything. Horrible man..:rofl: By the way, still, our bins get emptied at least twice a week..

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I live in Frigiliana, 3 km from Nerja. The cost of living has definately risen over the past few years but I do not believe it is any more expensive than any other coastal towns.

If you use the spanish supermarkets (in Nerja there's Mercadona, MAS and Supersol ) you will be better off than trying to buy all the brands you are used to. Plus Lidl has recently opened with good weekly offers. As for the cost of a beer I pay €1.30 for a Beer and Tapa and a little more for a glass of wine. In fact there are so many Tapas bars that for the cost of a few drinks you can get a reasonable meal from the free food. :) Some bars still do a beer for €1, but the sizes seem to have shrunk!! In the town centre (Balcon de Europa area) you will pay more, and probably not be offered a Tapa, but then that is the same in all 'people watching' places. The passing view is worth the extra. There are some great Menu del Dia in most establishments now for both lunch and evenings (from about €7). The quality is much improved than the menus offered a few years ago. Many of the quality restaurants now also offer menu del dia for a few euros more, we're spoilt for choice.

I do not think there is a "big problem" with crime. There are a couple of women who prey on tourists by offereing them a carnation and then stealing from their purses. And I have heard of a couple of people having bags snatched. But nothing on a great scale. Usual precautions should be made as anywhere. If I visit the market I am always very careful as that is probably a regular place for pick-pockets etc.

A great place to visit or to live in my opinion, not too small and certainly not too big. Loads of bars and restaurants, great nightlife especially for the younger people, lovely walks, a weekly market (but sadly now moved to the outskirts of town) and a regular bus service into Malaga. :thumbup:

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Thanks for the reply it looks as though we have the same taste, as we have been to goa 11 times, always in the north, we havent been for 5 years but i know that its changed quite a lot:thumbup:

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Thanks for the reply that as helped put my mind at ease Nerja it is.

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Thanks for the reply very helpful

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Have a great time, if we can help at all please ask :)

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I thought that was quite a helpful reply - it doesn't say anything bad. Are you being ironic? I don't always get e-emotions right?

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There is a lot of crime in the super markets so watch out for this. Outside the car parks of Lidls someone distracts you and takes you bag if you leave it in the car on the seat it is over in seconds. Also inside the supermarkets be aware of someone asking you to help them put something back because they cant quite reach, they are operating in a pair and whilst you are helping out the second is helping himself you your wallet or your purse. I have been approached twice by two men on different times and they looked Eastern European and asked me to help them. It is easy to do without realizing that a simple gesture will leave you without you purse or wallet (this was in Aldi´s) but being aware of the situation I called the manager and they run off but a woman in front of me at the till had already been done and when she got to the till to pay her purse was gone! 7 people done in one day inside the Aldi store in Torrox Costa and a futher 5 a few weeks after. There are lots of thefts outside of Lidls as well as inside:fingerscrossed: Mercadona in Nerja. In Torrox Costa we have a crime wave so much so that we are meeting with the Mayor on Wednesday morning to discuss the situation, but be careful in and outside the super markets. My advise is dont carry all your cards with you and not in your purse or wallet together with your cash. If you are going to be here some time take a copies of all of your documents and go to the town hall who will stamp them ie passport, driving license at least they will be safe.:fingerscrossed:

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good reply, it seems that most of the crime is spare of the moment stuff. I can cope with that its just being wide awake in the situation.
I was more worried abour burglaries and the dogs being hurt, even though they are big and bark a lot if someone was around, or being mugged.

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Useful to know as I shop in Nerja almost everyday, I shall certainly be on my guard in future

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I like Nerja but it is just the same as most other resorts on the western coast, crowded and touristy. We once looked at property there about 10 years ago and villas were a similar price to marbella.

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We have some friends who live on the outskirts of Nerja in the Campo.

They have been burgled once recently and again one attempted burglary. Some of their neighbours have been burgled three times.

There seems to be a spate of it at the moment. Having some big dogs roaming around is the best deterrent.

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I agree Surreygirl there are always the 'distraction burglaries' in supermarkets and car parks etc. The same everywhere. Your descriptions are spot on. I always thought that once you are aware of the different scams, you would not fall for it. But no, a friend recently lost her bag from the seat of her car when a couple asked her for directions. She didn't realise till she got home. When I am in the car I make sure I keep all the other doors locked so no-one can get in to snatch anything if I am stationery. And I have my handbag hooked over the gear stick so if I am caught out the bag is not easily snatched. I have lived and worked here for 10 years now and do feel safe. :fingerscrossed: Possibly I would not feel so safe living in a quiet spot in the campo I expect I would be listening for noises all the time and be quite nervous. Country houses anywhere are possibly good targets. I must admit I had not heard of the excess of crime in Torrox Costa.

Everyone must also be aware in the hot summer months when you may be sunning on the terrace that someone could be climbing through your open windows. This probably happems more here because we do have good weather and open our windows. That is why most properties have rejas.

A friend was telling me just last week of her aunt who lost her bag, within 5 minutes of two other people losing theirs, at a supermarket in Banbury, so not only here!

I do feel safe walking through Nerja at any time of day or night, I have never felt nervous when groups of people are coming my way and I happily share the pavement with them. Before I moved here I was much more wary in my small southern town in UK and would probably cross to the other side of road, or more likely not walk through the town on my own at night. I haven't heard of any muggings here it is more the opportunist kind of crime (be wary around cashpoints for instance), or the clever scams.

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Yes, it can't get away with calling itself a quaint fishing village anymore! ;) We have Spanish friends in Frigiliana, so that's our reason for spending time in that area, plus the wife likes it. :) And some good friends and ex neighbours live in that area, so a chance to catch up with them. When I drag her around the more remote interior parts of Spain, that's the trade off, it's give and take.

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Alas not there is a huge spate of robberies in the houses in the village of Torrox as well as houses in the countryside with some of the would be robbers calling at the door asking for a drink of water or pretending to ask for directions first to case the joint the meeting is about both whilst dogs may put some would be robbers off it has not deterred others some have robberies have actually taken place whilst the owners have been home. I dont want to make you nervous but be careful done leave a back door unlocked when you are in the front or the front door open when you are in the garden.

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I think I'll stick to northern Spain in future - avoid all this crime. You can leave your front door open there (my friends in a village near Comillas do it all the time) and no bars needed on the windows. Used to be the same in a Derbyshire town I know until recently, but alas, the times change...

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Thanks for the comments

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We must be very lucky in our village, I have never heard of a burglary, thank god,and we still can leave doors open and go out, but maybe its time to start to change things with all this unemployment, our area only has a 8% unemployment rate maybe thats the reason, I know some areas are as high as 30% at the moment,there is a long thread about Nerja and Torrox robberies on another forum,but I didn't want to mention it as I wouldn't like to frighten anyone, but as its now mentioned I think its better for you to be aware,be vigilant and have a great time :)

Re: NERJA
 

Adra04778 you have a PM

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We visit Nerja 3 or 4 times a year as we have an house in a village about 25/30 mins away. We also stayed there for a couple of weeks about 6 yrs ago in an urbinisation, had no problems and find it quite nice. Never feel unsafe there but am aware of pickpockets bag snatches etc so just try and keep my whits about me, as you do in most busy places. One thing that does annoy me probably most places on the coast but definately Nerja is the buskers and people with cards etc that pester you every time you sit anywhere for a drink or bite to eat, I do find that a little wearing when I visit but again with an house in a small village not used to it.

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When you get time PM me the forum please'
thanks keith

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And also please PM me the link

Thanks

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Hi
I don't know how to do a link, it was on the andalucia forum, somebody from Torrox costa started it as I recall.

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Its the Andalucia.com forum;)

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Been on the site but cant find the thread

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I remember reading that thread last summer. It alerted me to the type of distraction crime being perpetrated at that time, so worthwhile for that reason. :thumbup: The real message is be vigilant anywhere where you are in a busy place.

However it should not put anyone off the area, some subsequent posters say it is the same in other places mentioning Calahonda, El Ingenio centre, Almuñeca, Barcelona and even Farnham.

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Thanks i have read it all

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I have shopped in Aldi shops in Spain loads of times, also shops in dubious areas of London and never been robbed, is it cos I look too rough to rob, too skint, or maybe i am just too careful ?
You just need to have your wits about you all the time, especially in this worldwide economic climate as it is now.

Re: NERJA
 

JDR I agree with your comments and I too have used these shops including aldi in Torrox Costa and at 6ft 1 with cropped hair and tattoos (being ex forces fairly standard look) don't tend to get approached by many people I don't know, much to the annoyance of my wife. The things is though we should not have to live in fear, the shops and police should do more to stop this unacceptable situation, they must be aware of the poblem and it is not acceptable if they do nothing about it. The only thing we have had is one one visit we had called in at the Dia shop and while emptying the trolley and in the boot looked round and trolley (which had been empty ) gone no doubt for the euro in the slot, no one in sight.

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Well the target are mostly woman who are alone and who have a hand bag situated on the left side. They are very clever because obviously they pick their target and operate in gangs and communicate to one another the potential victim. The victim walks in to the shop and are meet - down one of the isle by a man asking for help to put a tin of something back up to the high shelve because he has his "handicapped" with a palet of peas or some other product, he pretends he cant reach and as you reach up to help, the accomplice - in seconds - and who has "usually" I have noticed a loaf of bread under his arm so as to look like a shopper - helps himself to your purse. Another scam are the ones with something to sign and as you are occupied signing the accomplice dips into your bag, again, in seconds your purse is stolen. In the car park, again, usually single females are targeted a person calls out to you and you turn to look - a completely spontaneous action - your bag is removed from the car in seconds. Men have been targeted when they have a wallet in their pocket and the above applies. obviously they are waiting somewhere keeping a watch out for a male with their wallets in an unsecure area of the body!

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Yes you are right I think most blokes are guilty of stuffing the wallet in the back pocket, I do try and keep mine in a zipped pocket but these theiving gits are very clever at the art of picking pockets. I wonder how many Spanish they prey on? or do they tend to just prey on ex pats/visitors?

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Sorry about that. I needed to make a phone call. About some rough looking cockney bloke who looked too skint to rob. Lurking about the Aldi car park.;)

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Too right got to watch them cockney geezers