Advice on winter rental please

Looking for information on a place in Andalucia or simply asking for advice on somewhere to visit? Post here and someone out there may know the answer.
Cloudtrek
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:10 am
Location: Highlands

Advice on winter rental please

Postby Cloudtrek » Sat Sep 14, 2019 1:55 pm

Hi all,

I'm wanting to escape the Scottish winter from January to March 2020. I'd like to rent or house-sit in a town where there is still plenty to do (like yoga, Spanish lessons, walking, eating out etc.)
Can anyone give me suggestions of where would be suitable? I'm flying out to Malaga in October and staying in the city for 4 nights and Frigiliana for a week. We will hire a car so we can explore surrounding areas too.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thank you.

elusive
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 3275
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:49 am
Location: East of Malaga

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby elusive » Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:22 pm

Remember inland areas such as competa and even frigiliana to some extent but not as much as further inland can be alot colder in the winter than on the coast. So imo for a winter let dont look to far inland. Make sure the rentals have ample heating as it does get cold once the sun goes down or during the day if its cloudy. think about public transport if you arent going to be hiring a car for the full stay. Frigiliana has several winter lets on sites such as edwards. we know the owner of one.it is quieter in the winter but has activities such as spanish lesson yoga type stuff. Although it is full of clicky expats who sit around doing nothing but drinking.so depends what you are looking for. There are groups such as the international club in nerja who get alot of extra members in the winter. They organise day trips and 2.3 nighters. Quizes etc if thats you thing. I would advise against torrox costa as its pretty dead in the winter. Also depends on how spanishy! You want to go.staying away from the more tourist resort type places etc but then its the touristy type places that have the winter lets for the most part. Have a drive around and get a feel for places. You will prob know straight away when you arrive somewhere that thats the place for you.

User avatar
Wicksey
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 5878
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:21 pm
Location: Axarquia coast

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby Wicksey » Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:58 pm

Yes, elusive's advice is quite right. It is often much colder in a Spanish house in winter (I often have to wear several layers in the house and need socks in bed!) as the houses and apartments generally are not insulated and temperatures even on the coast can drop pretty low at night.

If you want to join in with clubs and activities in English then probably somewhere where there is an larger expat population, such as within easy reach of Nerja, may suit you. We never go to British pubs or sit around drinking in bars, but I do go to certain activities that are held in places like that, so you don't have to be a bar-fly to join in. When you're in Frigiliana look out for the free magaziness that come out at the beginning of each month (Insight, Marketplace, Streetwise, Soltalk) that have listings of clubs and activities going on in the area. I think you may be able to view some of them online.

Torre del Mar is nice as well as it has plenty of places to eat but is less touristy than Nerja. It has a lovely paseo for walking. I think there's been a previous thread about Competa on here and the general consensus of opinion is to avoid it for a longer term stay. It will be colder up there and the road to it is a pain.

Cloudtrek
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:10 am
Location: Highlands

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby Cloudtrek » Sat Sep 14, 2019 5:40 pm

Thank you Elusive & Wicksey for your helpful replies. I definitely don't want to hang around British bars, it would be good to somewhere where there's a mix of people. Have you got any thoughts on Malaga City? I've stayed there before (briefly) and like it but not sure if it's maybe too big a place for me as I'll be on my own most of the time. In the meantime, I'll research Torre del Mar, thanks.

El Cid
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 16058
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:42 pm
Location: La Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby El Cid » Sat Sep 14, 2019 7:39 pm

Many people rent for the winter in Spain, but Brexit will change that. The rules for staying in the Shengen area as a non EU citizen are very different for EU citizens.

As an EU citizen you are limited to spending no more than 90 days in Spain, however leaving for just one day resets the clock. Of course no one does that so it isn’t an issue for the authorities unless you stay a lot longer. After Brexit the limit is still 90 days but it is restricted to 90 days in a 180 day period. That’s potentially a very big difference to those visitors who often stay for 5 or 6 months over the winter.

Whether that will be enforced in Spain remains to be seen but it could be a problem.

Sid

elusive
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 3275
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:49 am
Location: East of Malaga

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby elusive » Sat Sep 14, 2019 7:57 pm

Very true sid. It may effect the market alot. Mind you we have spoken to enough people who either dont care or dont know about the ruling. hopefully it will be inforced because other wise it will just be another case of some people having their cake and eating it. There were reports a while back of passport scanning practice taking place at alicante and seville but in the longterm who knows

Re malaga city. I maybe wrong but i cant see here been many winter lets there. The centre seems to be saturated with Airbnb properties and holiday lets. Personally i would find it abit lonely for a a few months. Its a big place. Torre would be a good spot if you want something more spanishy. Velez malaga just above it is a really nice town aswell where you wont here much english spoken yet only 20 mins along the motorway to nerja and you are nearer malaga. Lots of long walks along the prom there

The international clubs can be good if you want to meet new people. Alot of canadians winter in the area and we met and became friends with a lovely couple who we keep in contact with.its just the brits you have to watch :shh: :o

El Cid
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 16058
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:42 pm
Location: La Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby El Cid » Sat Sep 14, 2019 9:45 pm

The real problem with the new situation is that passports will be stamped on entry and exit, so it will be really obvious if you have exceeded your stay. Some countries are hotter on this than others. I understand that the Netherlands are particularly hot on this. If you try to leave, having exceeded 90 days, you passport gets stamped as illegal immigrant or something similar, making it very difficult to get back into the Schengen area again.

Sid

Cloudtrek
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:10 am
Location: Highlands

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby Cloudtrek » Sat Sep 14, 2019 10:40 pm

Thank you Elusive, I'll visit Torre del Mar and Velez-Malaga when I'm there in October.

User avatar
gerryh
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 8046
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:17 pm
Location: Cajiz, Malaga

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby gerryh » Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:52 am

El Cid wrote: After Brexit the limit is still 90 days but it is restricted to 90 days in a 180 day period. That’s potentially a very big difference to those visitors who often stay for 5 or 6 months over the winter.


Sid
If somebody stayed, in the last 6 months of the year, for Oct-Dec then in the first half of the following year stayed for Jan-Mar.
Then they would be here for 6 months over winter and still be within the rules? :think:
Cheers
Gerry
Gerry Harris

ashtondav
Resident
Posts: 1776
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:10 pm
Location: Northampton Frigiliana/Nerja

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby ashtondav » Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:37 am

I think it’s based on months not annual calendar. So in your example you would be over the limit because in a five month period (October to March) you spent more than 90 days in the country.

El Cid
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 16058
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:42 pm
Location: La Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby El Cid » Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:43 am

Correct, unlike the tax rules, it is just a simple 90 days in any 180 day period.

Sid

elusive
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 3275
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:49 am
Location: East of Malaga

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby elusive » Sun Sep 15, 2019 12:31 pm

3 months in 3 months out is the simple way of putting it. Gets more complicated if you are spliting months here and there but pretty straight forward

Capitan-Roberto
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:27 pm
Location: Ireland / Spain

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby Capitan-Roberto » Sun Sep 15, 2019 4:53 pm

Definitely bring your slippers - marble floors are cold in winter!

elusive
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 3275
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:49 am
Location: East of Malaga

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby elusive » Sun Sep 15, 2019 6:05 pm

Good point. Hot water bottle aswell!!

Manchesteral
Resident
Posts: 1967
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2014 11:48 pm

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby Manchesteral » Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:50 pm

Hi, I have spent the last three winters in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and have not been disappointed.

I am currently living in Torrox pueblo which. for me, has been a mistake and I will be moving back to Las Palmas before Xmas.

In Las palmas there is everything to fit your criteria, a good international mix of people and Las palmas in particular is NOT bloated with Brit expats.
Having said that theer is a British colonial club there with more than a hundred years of tradition. There are numerous activities available so you can be as busy or as lazy as you like ! Yoga on the beach, Tai chi, Language exchange classes, art museums, there is everything especially the nature aspect, trekking etc.
An added bonus is that everyday expenses are so much cheaper than mainland Spain and of course the weather (it's not always fabulous but it's rarely bad, you get the odd rain shower). I would not be tempted, under any circumstances to go south, playa del Ingles, Maspalomas etc as these areas ARE full of expat holidaymakers and virtually void of any form of culture.

I'm sure others here will have their own opinions and, as the saying goes "one mans meat" etc but for me it ticks all the boxes, good luck with you winter !!

elusive
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 3275
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:49 am
Location: East of Malaga

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby elusive » Tue Sep 17, 2019 2:23 pm

Sorry to hear torrox didnt work out. What are your feelings on the place?

Bro has just come back from las palmas on hols. Town looked really nice on the photos he took.

Manchesteral
Resident
Posts: 1967
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2014 11:48 pm

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby Manchesteral » Tue Sep 17, 2019 2:52 pm

Basically Torrox is one of God's waiting rooms, lot's of expat brits here who don't seem to have any ambition other than to sit in local bars and complain all day.
Mostly it's the cliquishness (if that's a verb), I'm a pretty easy going, generally friendly passive guy with a decent pension who has tried to befriend some of them but been rejected (I don't know why and I don't care), many of them know that I've been here some time but ignore me so that's a big negative for me.

I also realise that living in the pueblo comes with other problems, no decent supermarkets etc so one is forced to use the very uncooperative bus service (the posted timetable is merely a very loose guideline), there are myriad other complaints I could offer but for me Torrox is not a place to settle, sad really because culturally it's very beautiful place but I will be decamping soon !!

User avatar
Wicksey
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 5878
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:21 pm
Location: Axarquia coast

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby Wicksey » Tue Sep 17, 2019 7:04 pm

Perhaps it's because you didn't have a car to get out and join in with other pursuits in neighbouring towns? I live quite near to the pueblo but only go there to pick up my post. I never eat there and apart from walking through to the PO and perhaps picking up some veg on the way, I don't socialise there or mix with the other expats. I've joined clubs in other towns and met like-minded people that way so my friends live in other areas, not in my local town.

I would agree that I wouldn't like to be stuck mainly in the pueblo for my day to day entertainment. I certainly couldn't manage without my own transport to get me out and about. Presumably the OP will have a car, as this would really affect your location choice if you have to rely on public transport.

elusive
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 3275
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:49 am
Location: East of Malaga

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby elusive » Wed Sep 18, 2019 3:21 pm

Manchesteral wrote:Basically Torrox is one of God's waiting rooms, lot's of expat brits here who don't seem to have any ambition other than to sit in local bars and complain all day.
Mostly it's the cliquishness (if that's a verb), I'm a pretty easy going, generally friendly passive guy with a decent pension who has tried to befriend some of them but been rejected (I don't know why and I don't care), many of them know that I've been here some time but ignore me so that's a big negative
Yeah sounds very familiar. Friends encounted the same I guess you will prob get that in any town/village with a large brit expat community. is it just the brits who act that way? Only way to avoid is to go to a spanish area but that can be quite intimidating,if thats the right word if everything is new to you.Its like been at school with clicky ingroups who just blank you if you dont fit the profile and actually want to do something with your time here other than sitting around drinking and smoking never getting out of malaga prov let alone andalucia.

ashtondav
Resident
Posts: 1776
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:10 pm
Location: Northampton Frigiliana/Nerja

Re: Advice on winter rental please

Postby ashtondav » Wed Sep 18, 2019 3:59 pm

I thought Torrox was German ex pats and the Brits use Nerja or Frigiliana?


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 25 guests