mah88

So I'm warming to Málaga rather than Cádiz. But Antequera is a bit too far for me. I'm looking for a place about 20 minutes or so from the city.

casa del sol

How about Coin, has all the shops and support services new roads and investment very Spanish, or Alaurin el grande.

Moses2013

But then why pick Andalucia in the first place, like many Brits do. Why not Tarragona for example, or the North of Spain if you really want culture.

lyric030250

Velez-Malaga is fairly Spanish without the ex-pat invasion.

mah88

Thanks maybe Alaurin. Do you know what Castañetas is like?

mah88

Because I actually like the native Andalusian culture despite the tourism industry doing their best to diminish it. But of course the weather is a factor for me too, so the North is a no-no.

johnnyone

El Puerto de Santa María? On the rail line between Cadiz and Jerez. When I visited (briefly some 15 years ago) seemed to be a very traditional Spanish town.

mah88

Haha unfortunately that's no longer the case. I went there in 2006 and it seemed nice, but even in just 5 years it had become very tacky and touristy in 2011.

Maur-Ross

Us Antequera not on the Malaga line? Or is the station miles away from town

Dxf

Hola

If you think Puerta Santa Maria is tacky and touristy then there's no hope - to my mind it is one of the least touristy areas.

Davexf

LuisaD

I understand exactly what you mean.... Nerja used to be lovely... now too many Fish and Chip bars... went to Frigiliana and stopped at a cafe where the waitress could not speak Spanish, not a good sign. So I would suggest to go inland. We went to a lovely place called Archidona, which had a lovely feel to it. Old convent selling cakes made by the nuns, nice bars and very relaxed atmosphere. Property also cheaper. Good luck with your search.

Rosemary

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. Myself and Fred James are the moderators for the Spanish forums whilst BEVS moderates Europe. Moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. This is so that members gain the information that they are looking for and find their experiences on the forums to be friendly and worthwhile.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

johnnyone

I have often wondered this but when does an area change from being a non expat area to an expat area?

LuisaD

I think that when you get Pubs and Fish and Chips and expats sticking together and not learning the language ...

johnnyone

To me that's a stereotypical perception of what constitutes an expat area.
What about places that don't have Pubs and fish and chip shops but do have plenty of expats?