Where are the best areas for families to live in spain?

Question

my husband and i are wanting to move to spain in the near future with our 5 year old daughter. we were wondering if anyone could give us some ideas on where the best areas are. we dont want to be to near resorts and want a fairly quiet life, good schools, somewhere our daughter would enjoy, and wecoming people. a little village somewhere would be ideal any ideas?

Answer 1

I think the first thing for you to consider is your daughter. She is at an age now when she should start her schooling here. Leaving it for a year or so may leave her at a disadvantage with the language. Some kids don't settle here as they get older but others do. You have to be aware, it is strange for kids coming here with the different cultures. They have to try and make friends with other kids and they won't know the language. It may be different if she goes to a private school, but then you would need to be near a city for that.

Coming to Spain is a massive decision. I have just had friends who sold up in the UK without doing any research into living here. They eventually had to go back because their children couldn't hack school.

I'm not intending to sound pessimistic.  This is a great place to live and work. I live in a village and I love it, but the beaurocracy will drive you mad.

Living in a village is fantastic. The people are all so very friendly,  however, you must intend to integrate into Spanish society and learn the language. Many Brits I know have no intention to integrating and in my opinion they are missing out, but it's their choice.

Answer 2

My dad and his partner moved to Spain last October, a place called Horadada in Alicante, he loves it, it's quiet, it's away from all the tourists and he has made loads of new friends. His partner has a 10 year old daughter who goes to an excellent school nearby, she's doing very well and her Spanish is coming along brilliantly. They have a great social life and he's very happy there. I'm hoping to go over sometime in October and I can't wait.

Answer 3

I live in A small village, by the sea in Galicia, Northern Spain, its on the Atlantic coast, so not many tourists,Its Quiet, Rural and Unspoilt. I have 3 boys Aged 4,10 and 15,They are receiving what is in my opinion a great Education.The youngest was born here, but the other two were aged 3 and 8 when we moved here, they picked up the language very quickly and were integrated into their classes within a year, now they have the advantage over their classmates as they speak fluent English, Spanish.

The people are very Helpful and  friendly. But speaking Spanish is a Must.English is a Compulsory second Language at school, but only for the last 15 years or so, Most Spaniards over the age of 20 do not speak any English.

Answer 4

I would recommend Sitges, just South of Barcelona.

It is a resort but there are quiet areas away from the centre.

It has the advantage of excellent road and rail links to Barcelona, beaches, lots to do for a 5 year old and an excellent English speaking school (Escaan).

There is work in the province and especially if you can work in Spanish.

Answer 5

If you choose Barcelona you'll see that is a great option. It's the most modern city in Spain and (opposite to Madrid) you don't have severe traffic problems, crime or pollution.

Around Barcelona there are a lot of small villages near the sea or in the country where you can live a quiet life (30 minutes from Barcelona by train or car). Barcelona is the most "european" city in Spain.

Answer 6

Without a shadow of a doubt PUERTO DE MAZARRON in Murcia. I bought an apartment there last year for hols with my kids. Very Spanish, cheap, no lager louts, good schools, great beaches. Contact Maura Dunne of ADS Property locators for more info and up to date prices in the area.

E-mail me for her number or just google her.

Good luck

Answer 7

I'd recommend Seville, I have a lot of family still back there and visit when I can afford to.  It's big city after all but not suffocating big city like Madrid or Barcelona, think of it as a slightly bigger little village =).  Everything you need, at least that I can think of, you can find in Seville!

Answer 8

There are lots of really nice small villages on the Costa Blanca.We visited many of them on our 2 holidays to that coast and they were very welcoming & family friendly.

Answer 9

We live in Southern Spain, just facing Gibraltar.  I lived in a small village for 18 years - when my kids were growing up, and yes, the village life is great to teach kids family values, simpler living, and above all -respect. We were half an hour from Estepona, and 10 minutes from (British) Gibraltar, if we needed a fix of Marks&Sparks!!  Try any of the little villages in this area--it's called : Google'---Campo de Gibraltar' (Gibraltar counrtyside) here is a few..........all within reach of local schools, and if you want, and International (English speaking) school.

Guadiaro

San Martin

San Roque

Los Barrios

Tesorrillo

La Linea

Alcala de las Gazules

Medina Sidonia

There are lots of them , and not near the main resorts.

But within reach of main hospitals & schools.

Answer 10

Our experience is mostly of Almeria province but I am sure you will find any village away from the tourist resorts

welcoming, particularly to a family with children.

From what we have seen of those that have moved here with young children, they appear to adapt quite quickly and of course become bilingual surprisingly quickly. The only situations we have heard of difficulties/bullying in schools is where there has been a high proportion of English/non-Spanish in that particular school.

We are told that Spanish children are surprisingly unruly in school though - surprising because they appear the opposite outside of school.

Be prepared for some work yourself in teaching your daughter  English grammar/reading/writing etc if she is to be truly bilingual.

Your main consideration for "where in Spain" probably has to be climate - Spain is diverse and the choice is yours.