URGENT INFO REQUIRED PLEASE

[vicbee]

<font class="content">We are due to have a short research holiday in Granada from 26 Feb - 2 March. We are making enquiries about a rental property in Almunecar so will probably make that our base for the four days. we will be hiring a car to do our exploring. Can anyone give us some ideas as to the best places to go to chat to expats living in Granada - inland and coastal. Which villages should we head to first for a mainly spanish settlement (we've gathered it is very still old spain in Granada anyway) but with some expats who can provide us with some insight into the areas. We will be requiring primary schooling as well. Are we wise to base ourselves in Almunecar - seeing as though it is out of season (ie - are there restaurants/bars - even if just a few - open at this time of year?) How busy is this coastal town for shops etc? can anyone suggest any of the other coastal resorts for a base for the 4 days - bearing in mind proximity to the airport. all comments - good or bad welcome!!! thank you very much</font>

[Jill]

<font class="content">Hello Vicbee
Almunecar is fine as a base. I just love the place it has a great atmosphere. Most of the bars and restaurants are open. This is a busy town not just a tourist resourt. For inland villages you might like to try the Lecrin Valley or Los Guajares. Both are very pretty but very quiet.
regards, Jill</font>

[vicbee]

<font class="content">Thank you Jill for your comments, i will put those places on my itinerary!! I would appreciate more valuable information from as many people as possible!!!</font>

[Jill]

<font class="content">Vicbee,

I have sent you a PM.

Regards, Jill</font>

[Burgo]

<font class="content">Almunecar is just fine - and also has a good international school (though an awful lot of non Spanish kids go to the local schools and get on really really well). We looked at every coastal town within 1.5hrs drive of an airport before settling here and have had no regrets at all.

We love it here - in Summer it does get v. busy but having lived in UK seasonal towns I'm used to that. In winter it quietens down, and we get to chat to the locals. As the economy is also big on the tropical fruits there's always life in & around the town, instead of what happens in the purely "brit & chips" towns.

Rent first - and don't worry about renting for at least a year, as it will take that long easily for you work out what area you will be happy in, and also whether you can actually live here.</font>

[vicbee]

<font class="content">Hi Burgo

Thank you for your comments. Which towns would u say are more your 'brit n chips' towns - so i can avoid them!!! I know Granada is not as bad for that as some other areas of southern spain but im sure it has a few places. i would prefer a town with 99.9 % spanish!!! Whereabouts do u live - are u in Almunecar?</font>

[sally]

<font class="content">hi Vicbee
We are in the process of purchasing a house at Pantano Bremajales what i can gather there are a few expats living in Jayena,Agron and Alaham de Granada this area is counryside and the beaches are on a lake,a very tranquil and friendly area</font>

[Burgo]

<font class="content">Vicbee - I will pm you.</font>

[skater]

<font class="content">Hi,
Did you get to Los Guajares? We bought a place in Guajar Alto which is a fantastic place for peace and quite and 99.9% Spanish. If you want a bit more hustle try Velez de Benaudalla a nice little town still very Spanish. Anywhere near these places, especially in the Los Guajares, you get the best of all worlds - mountains,lush valleys and c35mins to the coast at Salobrena and c45mins to Granada when you want a bit more culture and shopping!
If you are still looking you might like to call Steve or Scott at Guajar Properties - 0034 958 629195 office, mob 0034 686659764. - www.guajar-properties.com. We bought our house from them. No pressure service, endless patience and completely trustworthy - they'll ferry you around the 3 villages as well. This is not an advert, merely advice from 2 very satisfied clients - if you do call them mention Carl!</font>

[vicbee]

<font class="content">Hi to all who posted replies to my original post. Just a quick update to say that we absolutely loved Granada. We thought Almunecar was fabulous. We tried out a variety of towns/villages. We found Los Guajares beautiful but too remote and definitetly nauseating driving along those roads. We did love the village and the locals made us so welcome but unfortunately it was not for us.

We tried Motril for the afternoon - but didnt really like it that much - a bit industrialised - it didnt have the vibe we were looking for - but we found it later that day in Salobrena. This was our favourite place - along with Almunecar and we hope to settle there to start with and see how it goes. we visited La Heradurra - gorgeous together with Marina del este - (we can dream!!!)

would love to hear from people who live in Almunecar/Salobrena and surrounding areas to let me know what day to day life is like in these areas and what you think to the schools etc.

thanks to all who posted replies.

vicbee</font>

[casafruitas]

<font class="content">Hi Vicbee,

Glad you liked the area (or some of it). And thanks for posting your update...nice to be updated

Have sent you a PM

CF</font>