Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Hi! My family & I are hoping to move out to somewhere between Aliante and Murcia later this year and schools are our priority. We've looked at both of the King's College schools and fees seem pretty steep as we have one 11yo and one 7yo. Are there any other English-speaking schools with good academic grades we should be considering please?

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

There are several international schools situated in and between Alicante and Murcia. The schools in Ciudad Quesada and San Miguel de Salinas get good recommendations from those I have spoken with.

Fees are steep, but less than one might pay in the UK for private education.

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Thank you for your help!! Is there a large ex-pat community around Torrevieja?

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

A awful lot larger than I could have imagined.

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Brilliant!! We're coming out on the 21st of Feb for a recce visit so we're hoping to meet some expats and get their advice/opinions!!

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Many years ago we stayed at Villamartin and had to meet the owners of the place we were renting in the "square". It's a group of shops, restaurants, bars etc and we were sat outside having a beer for about half an hour when my wife asked me if I had noticed anything strange. "Nope", says I, "I haven't heard anyone speaking Spanish since we have been here" And it was true!

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

The school we're thinking of is in Villamartin - perhaps we should head for the Square whilst we're there!! Although that might make us look like weirdo stalkers - perhaps not!!!!

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

We've always known that place as the "Plaza" as told us by the locals!:D

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Doubt we will ever see Cman in the Plaza !

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Hi Wendy
I Hope you are well and looking forward to your move.
I have been on Orihuela Costa for ten years so if I can help please don't hesitate to ask.
Re Colleges one of the best international colleges is New Castelar College in San Pedro, recently taken over by a very powerful group from the area and certainly offering the best education at reasonable prices compared to it's competition.
If I can be of further help please don't hesitate to contact me.
All the best

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Wow Simon - that's very kind of you!! I could probably spend all evening asking questions - silly little things really that pop up and keep me awake at night like how do we register with a dentist, how do I bring my car over and register it and other ridiculous questions!!!! We contacted El Limonar International School in Villamartin and they coincidentally have an open day on Tues 25th so we can have a look around there! We're really excited at the idea of moving out to Spain - need to contact a few estate agents and see if we can get some viewings booked in for whilst we are there too!! But the kids can't wait!!

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Nor me, never again! Yes, plaza was the name, I wasn't sure that's why I put "square". It was several years ago.

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

The Plaza is a place where it's predominantly brit tourists and expats. I can't imagine why Spanish folk would want to frequent the place!;)

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

I think that was the point I was making. ie, there were no Spanish there, not even running the bar/restaurants we tried. We first went there many years ago when the area between la Zenia and Villamartin was open land, last time we went there were thousands of properties being constructed on that land, it was like Lebanon, everything covered in sand, dust etc it was grim. I vowed I'd never be going back there. And I doubt CM would!

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Ask away Wendy! Have a friend who has one of the best Dental surgeries in Torrevieja. Many ways if you want to bring car over. El Limonar is ok, heard a few disgruntled parents, worth looking at all the options. If you need some intros to estate agents with trust then please let me know, a recommendation goes a long way out here and saves money also!
I hope this helps

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

:lol::lol:

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Orihuela Costa, the area you are discussing, consisted of a rocky coastal area where nothing grew and it was more or less abandoned by the Spanish owners from Orihuela until some Scandinavian entrepreneurs came along and realised that with a bit of tidying up (creating a few beaches with imported sand mainly) it would provide ideal homes for Northern Europeans who wanted to live in the sun.

A few golf courses were built, including the one at Villamartin, along with enough cheap and cheerful housing for 30,000 permanent expat residents, a number that is still increasing rapidly.

The expat infrastructure is nearly complete, they have members on the local council, their own town hall, health clinic and a new hospital, and everything an expat could possibly want.

There was nothing there apart from some stunted olive trees 40 years ago, and if you're interested in Spanish history, which I suspect you are, then you've come to the entirely wrong place.

But all is not lost, Orihuela and Elche city have sufficient history to keep you occupied and there are little towns and villages only a few miles away where you will never hear a British voice.

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Why do you want to move to Spain? What you have posted so far gives me the impression that you want to only mix with expats.

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

If I was asked that question in that way,I would tell you where to go.

People come to Spain for all sorts of reasons, and they are all valid to those concerned, wether it be for the sun or on the run from British justice.

who are we to question?

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Really? Interesting response. I knew it was a mistake to ask for more information before posting my opinions, not the done thing on the internet is it. I'll come out windmilling next time.:thumbsup:

I am genuinely interested why someone wants to move to Spain but seems to only want to know about the "Britishness" of the place. Spain is not Britain with sunshine and a lot of people come here thinking it is. They tend not to stay here very long and often go back as lot worse off than they were when they came over.

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

For a lot of people Spain is Britain with sun.

And if that it what they want, that's fine.

It suits them, no problem if they are self sufficient.

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

:goodpost: no other explanation needed ;)

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Agree, I have no problem with those that want to do it, indeed when they are all gathered together in some Brit stronghold it makes it easier to avoid. Each to their own, but I feel they are somehow missing a lot by ignoring the Spanish people, language, culture etc. No need the go the whole hog though and become :rofl: "plastic Spanish!"

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Agree. They pay their money and take their choice. Most of them tend to employ Spanish cleaners and Gardeners etc. they probably put more into the economy than a plastic Spaniards. They are also latched onto by other expats claiming to speak Spanish and sort things out for them.

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

A million people with a million reasons is probably not too far from the truth. How many times have we had such a discussion and discovered yet new reasons why people have moved their lives to Spain.

Then there is the new country itself, it is massive with different regions speaking different languages. You don't have to lie on the beach, you can go skiing or climb mountains.

I watched a news programme earlier where people spoke eagerly of what they would do if they won the pools. A couple smiling all over pronounced, 'We would go to Benidorm!'

And I met a couple from East London only last week who didn't care where they lived in Spain, as long as it was a long way from Stepney.

It takes all sorts.

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

There are a myriad of reasons we want to emigrate - in fairness Spain was chosen by process of elimination. As we are an IT company, we could essentially be based anywhere in the world but location, language, being still within the EU etc. all played their part in the final decision. The education we will be able to provide for our children is far better than the UK state schooling and half the price of the UK private schools. The main reason I wanted to know re: expats etc is because it's daunting enough moving anywhere new and being able to communicate with at least some friendly faces would definitely be an advantage! We fully intend to drastically improve the little Spanish we do know and the children will be given Spanish immersion lessons as part of their curriculum.

Of course we'd be lying if we said the weather wasn't a factor - it's hard not to daydream when it's rain/floods/storms outside. But we're not expecting "Little Britain" - in fact we are looking at areas where our neighbours would be permanently there, not holidaymakers. And if it doesn't work out - well, we can at least say we tried instead of always wondering "what if?".

Thank you those offering advice/information - we've just come back from a fact-finding holiday and have decided we are definitely going for it!! Exciting times lie ahead!

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Thank you - we've just spent the week looking at around 30 properties in different areas and have narrowed the list down a little! The kids have taken the entrance exam for El Limonar (and passed thankfully!) so we're looking around Los Balcones/Villamartin initially but as there are several bus routes, we could go a little further afield. I would be interested in the number of your dental friend though - and would anybody have any advice on bringing my car over ie tax/insurance information etc?

Just out of interest, what were the issues you've heard about El Limonar please?

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

Wendy, all sounds good for you. Can you send me a private message and I´ll pass you contact details for Dental friend.
Did you look at New Castelar College also? It is International and doesn´t tie into British curiculum like Limonar. Well done to kids anyhow.
If you bring car over and are resident you should have it change to Spanish plates however this is costly as need significant changes for the ITV (MOT equivalent). Keep it as is and if ever stopped you are on holiday.

Re: Thinking of moving - but we need help!!
 

We did look at Castelar online but decided we actually would rather the boys followed the British Curriculum in case - God forbid! - we do have to come home. Thanks for all your help/advice - it is very much appreciated!! I have sent you a PM also.