Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

Hello all.

Having been looking at areas in Alicante i have noticed that i seem to be getting better value for money looking at accommodation in Torrevieja.

Does anyone have experiences from living in Torrevieja?

When i do make the move later in the year i will only be there for 2 weeks at a time, (2&2) so having a car is not really necessary. I would be looking for a place that has shops and everything else within walking distance. Would this town fit the bill?

Does Torrevieja have many mixed nationals?
What is the nightlife like?

Cheers. :thumbup:

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

Torre would possibly fit your requirements better than Alicante. Take the time to visit and make up your own mind.

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

Hi again Billy,

I recently went up and down the east coast in order to finalise my decision on where to go.

Personally, Alicante was not for me.

I think somewhere of similar distance from the airport as Torrevieja might be ideal for you as you're going to be in and out so often.

Had I not chosen elsewhere for other reasons, I might have gone south of Alicante and if I had I would have chosen Santa Pola. It's quite smart and has plenty of bustle even in the off seasons.

Torrevieja is the livelier and seemed to have a wider and more numerous mix of nationals, but I found that much of the coast below Peniscola is like that.

Nightlife in Torrevieja is probably on a par with, if not better than, the busiest of places outside of Benidorm.

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

I was looking at the same area, but, a friendly senior policeman advised me against it. There is a crime rate of 49 per thousand in the San Luis area alone. Torre is probably even worse for crime than Marseilles, so I am searching elsewhere.
Excert from local paper_
"Despite the extra deployment of officers from the Guardia Civil and neighbours creating their own neighbourhood watch schemes, vigillante groups..... and even though the crime rate has dropped by 40%, Torrevieja remains one of the highest places in all of Spain for crime.
The mayor of Torrevieja has been pleading with central government for more officers, when residents march in their thousands demanding more protection, set up their own neighbourhood watch schemes, have a policeman from Kent trying to sort it all out, and thousands have their property up for sale, because they can`t get out quick enough. "

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

I'm reeling from the last two revelations about Torrevieja.

It's nightlife is second only to Benidorm? The crime rate is the highest for all of Spain?

I can only think that neither poster has ever lived in the city.

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

So how about posting your perspectives instead of ripping apart the contributions of others. What is it with this forum!

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

I think the forum is fed up with new members asking questions that have been answered a thousand times before and it would have been polite to use the search function before posting.

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

It clearly states that the search function is not working properly so you are not being very charitable to new members.

Rosemary

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

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: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

A thousand apologies, Rosemary, I had no idea the search function wasn't working.

The only night life I can think of in Torrevieja is that provided for the young Spanish people in Bar Street where they congregate at weekends to smoke their drugs with their friends. There are two large Spanish discos catering for the same youngsters but very seldom used by British people.

The other poster mentioned the San Luis urbanisation, part of the area known as El Chaparal and La Siesta. Far from being crime ridden it's probably the safest area in the whole of Spain. For the following reason.

Around 20 years ago when British expats started neighbourhood watch, this is the area where they started it. It now has its own police station and any criminal activity is passed to the police authorities in a nano second.

CCTV cameras abound at the only two entrances to the large urbanisation and criminals stay well clear. The latest crime statistics are used as an example for the rest of Spain.

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

And it would have been polite for you to have told he Op that. Instead you wait until others post something you can snipe at. If I'd seen a post from you saying that this had been discussed elsewhere recently I probably wouldn't have posted anything myself.

Now that you have posted, I see some specific information that I am sure is useful input.

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

If I keep apologising I'll sound like a parrot.

In answer to the OP, over 140 different nationalities are registered at Torrevieja town hall, I believe it's the second most multi cultural city in the whole world.

Not quite in Torrevieja but within an hour's walking distance, going south, there used to be two bars in the same street. One was called the Rangers bar, the other the Celtic bar. I believe they are both closed now.

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

Agree with you HBG.
Not sure about Torry itself, but most of Greater Torry is fine.
I'm very familiar with the Rojales - Benijofar area. Nice and residential with a good selection of restaurants. Crime rate? Doesn't seem to be an issue.

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

Thanks for the replies.

Seems such a shame that there is a high crime rate in Torre. That was my next question. I will make a visit soon and get a feel for the place.

It is possible that the crime rates are having a reflection on the prices for rentals, as it seems to be one of the only coastal towns where i like the places on offer for the money.

I read somewhere else that Santa Pola is very quiet. Is this true? I can't live with that. I got ladies to meet. :thumbup:

My head is bursting with choices. :eek: :thumbup:

Re: Torrevieja - Thoughts?
 

I don't want to put you off, Billy, (your last name's not Scobie is it?) but at your age Benidorm would be the place to head for. I know it well and you don't have to live among the extreme noise, and a nice flat along quiet Poniente would cost you no more than 350 Euros a month and a short walk will provide all the entertainment anyone could possibly want,

When you get to Torrevieja age (pension age), come back down this way, that's what a lot of us have done when we need blue pills to stay alive.