By Glynna Prentice
For
affordable European living, it's hard to beat Spain these days. It's
always been one of my favorite countries—a place I return to over and
over, thanks to its enjoyable, laidback lifestyle; the great food; warm,
sunny weather; beautiful beaches; and rich culture. Whether I'm looking
to sit at a seaside cafe enjoying a meal and a drink, stroll a historic
city by night, or relish a world-class museum, Spain delivers.
And
these days, with the low euro and low cost of real estate, spending
time in Spain is cheaper than it's been in years. A couple can live
comfortably for as little as $2,400 a month, including rent of a small
apartment. (If you choose to buy your own place, there are cities, even
along the coast, where you can find digs for under $100,000.) If you
prefer to stay part-time, Spain's varied (but generally warm) climate
means that you can always find someplace that is sunny and warm, no
matter what time of year.
Most
expats prefer living on the coast—not only for the sea and the beaches,
but also for the year-round warm weather, the ready availability of
property to rent or buy, and good rail and air connections. (It also
helps that there are more English-speakers on the coast, too.)
A
number of Spain's coastal destinations—like the Costa del Sol, on the
southern Mediterranean coast—are well known, and most people recognize
their names. But for every well-known destination, there is a less
well-known—but equally beautiful—destination not that far away...and it
often offers lower prices and fewer tourists.
Here are a few places I particularly like.
Barcelona
is many people's favorite Spanish city, and with good reason. It's
Spain's second city, after Madrid, and offers all amenities, beautiful
architecture and style, and urban beaches. But it's expensive, at least
by Spanish standards. So an area I prefer instead is the Costa del
Garraf, a string of little towns just south of Barcelona. You're as
little as 20 minutes from Barcelona by commuter train...but you'll enjoy
less-crowded beaches and smaller towns with a cozy atmosphere. Sitges
is the best-known town on this coast.
Alicante, on the eastern Mediterranean coast (the Costa Blanca),
gets loads of European beach tourism. It's a lovely, mid-sized city
with very accessible urban beaches. But folks often tend to forget that Valencia,
at the north end of the Costa Blanca, also has urban beaches. As
Spain's third-largest city, Valencia has all the goodies of a major
metropolis—but in a smaller, more manageable package. And, though prices
are rising here, cost of living and real estate is still much less than
in Barcelona and Madrid. If you want a city lifestyle with beach on the
side, this is the place to come.
And finally, there's the Costa del Sol.
Guaranteed sunshine, easy train and air connections, and everything
from chic, upscale villages (Marbella and Puerto Banus) to big cities
(Malaga) to charming former fishing villages (Nerja). But for lower
prices, fewer tourists, and a more purely Spanish atmosphere, check out
the Costa de la Luz. Lined with unassuming little beach
towns, this stretch of coast—west of Gibraltar, on Spain's Atlantic
coast—is still off the radar for most North Americans. (The Europeans
have found it, though.) To get there, fly into Malaga and head west...or
take the train from Madrid to the ancient port city of Cadiz; you can
get there in about three hours.
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