ALICANTE PROS AND CONS | Costa Blanca, Spain| Could we live here long term? 

Maybe the last mall you describe is Plaza Mar 2 and the huge store is Alcampo, it's like a carrefour, a nice way to move in Alicante is the bus line 23, the blue one, he takes you from Muxamel to Oscar Espla last stop where the bus station and the train station are close to each other just in opposite directions. Usually traveling in bus to Benidorm for example by bus is really fast, much more than the Tram, you have a bus every hour so is very flexible. If any of you have questions I'm a local so you can ask me anything.

I am also an American so I was intrigued at your video. After numerous vacations to the Alicante area, I fell in love with the region, the people, and the culture and bought a home and am now a full time resident. While the beach and downtown Alicante are amazing spots to hang out, I deliberately chose not to live very close to the coast for the reason you stated that it might be too big. Size is not the issue. Crowding during the height of the tourist season is. Parking is a nightmare. Alicante is a tourist destination and you will find lots of mixtures of language and culture, a real positive for some people that don't want to learn the language and immerse themselves, but a bit of a negative for those that want to truly feel at home here. I wanted a home in a more traditional area with some space around it and found it near the town of Tibi which is about a 20 minute easy drive to Alicante and the coast. It is up a bit in the mountains so a bit milder in the summer. My villa, which was immensely affordable, is nestled into an urbanization among the pines. My neighbors are mostly Spanish but there are also British, Dutch, and German expats. I am taking free Spanish classes in the nearby town of Castalla. The main attraction to me is the amazing people here. I hope you find your dream somewhere in the world. Spain is a wonderful possibility.

I enjoyed watching your Alicante Pros and Cons as I grew up in Alicante. In answer to one of your questions : summer time is different as many locals go live at their summer home in the Playa San Juan or other beaches. The cruises, as in any city that hosts them, bring in thousands upon thousands of tourists, but they tend to congregate in the old part of town, las ramblas and so forth. By your description, it seems like you guys were staying around the casco viejo (I could be wrong) but at night time, that is the trendy bar area. I've always said that I see more people out at night than I do during the day. EVERYONE is out, young ones, parents with their kids and their grandparents - it's truly a family centered culture. If you stayed in the same spot in the summer, you would notice the quiet difference. I loved your pro on the central market - it's one of my favs too. I no longer live in Alicante, but I do miss it for it's easy way of life and all the outdoor outings in the surrounding areas. The province of Alicante has lovely smaller quaint towns that might be closer to the size you are looking for - that are also on the water AND have a marina. Good luck on your search around Spain 🇪🇸

Alicante is a beautiful city. Friendly locals, easy to get around, great cafe's and spotlessly clean. Looking forward to returning when things return to normal. Highly recommend.

In my experience after living here for 6 years, I have never felt unsafe anywhere in Spain.

Another well done video - Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Alicante. The pros you describe certainly outweigh the cons, for us. Now we are looking forward to our spring 2022 trip to Alicante with even more excitement! Best of luck with wherever you are planning to go next.

Hi : You guys are great, thank you for being so nice and sharing all these experiences with us I am constantly watching different videos of travelling since that is our plan too in the near future. I really like that your videos are precise, go to the point, great tips, and not excessively long like others I have watched. Thank you and keep enjoying life!

Hi guys, thank you both for the wonderful video. I'm Canadian who's been living in Germany for over 22 years, but I'm kinda fed up with the northern German weather and maybe also with people, who tend to be pretty stiff and humorless, so I've been thinking of moving to Alicante in a couple of years. I checked home prices and rent, and found out that I can really afford to live there, much cheaper than Barcelona and Valencia. adiós

Just returned from my First trip to Spain and Alicante was where I spent most of my time as my daughter has lived there for four years. I miss it so much I love that town we had such a good time and everything you said is so true I can’t wait to get back there again just found you guys and subscribe so looking forward to all your travels ciao

Hi Brian and Carrie. I just returned from a short break to Alicante. It was our first time and it was great to recognize all the places you showed in the video. My family and I stayed at the San Juan beach and went a few times to the centre of Alicante. Public transport is easy and connection is very good and cheap indeed.

Great overview, guys. Really informative. Thanks for putting this together.

Another great video guys, Alicante is one of the many many places on our travel list so we'll definitely come back and watch your recommendations again before we get there.

Thanks guys! This is a great video. I'm in the USA, looking forward to retirement in Spain. Alicante is the city that I've preselected and decided that in 2023 I'm going to spend some time here to get a better sense of things. I was in Alicante 3 weeks ago and loved it. Your pros and cons aligned with mine pretty well. Thanks again

Awwwhhh! That little B & C logo at the beginning of the video is adorable! Good job!

Great videos! Bocairent , Guadalest, Vilafamest all in Valencia and historic small towns with castles 🏰

Am based in corporate Tokyo but have been thinking to retire in a warm area somewhere in the world. You guys have motivated me to make the move to Alicante . Thanks soooo much.

Brian Your voice and tone and ease of talking, is so relaxing and calming and easy to listen to. It’s not sporadic or rushed and anxious Thank you

This is a great video to introduce me to Alicante. Totally gave me a different view to my idea of it

Great video. Loved Alicante when we went, twice. Also, like you, really loved Altea. We loved La Crispeta restaurant just off the Alicante old town hall square. Also D'TABLAS... fun tapas bar where they come round every few minutes with big platters of tapas on little blocks of wood and if you like the look of it, you take one. At the end, they count up your blocks and bill you. Enjoy!

My husband and I are planning to retire in Spain as well. He has family in Zaragoza but it gets really cold in winter. I was all sold on Malaga but you guys have made me rethink about maybe heading to Alicante. We plan to rent Airbnb in cities we are researching for at least two weeks and go from there. Thanks for all the great information you share.

I have lived in Gran Alicant, about 20 minutes south of the city, for a year now. Gran Alicant is peaceful and rather dull, but it is a 50-minute bus ride to town. I love exploring the city, and it really is very safe and affordable!

Have been visiting Alicante the last few days. Seeing your video beforehand was very helpful.

Thank you both, Brian and Carrie, for an excellent video. We are retired educators planning on visiting southern Spain in the fall to look for our next home. Although our search has been virtual so far, it seems that the southern coastal area of Spain fits our needs and wants better than other countries. This area looks beautiful. We love a walkable and accessible city, and Valencia, Alicante, Torrevieja, and the towns along the coast. Gracias! Dean & Cindy

You both do an excellent job presenting relevant topics and information in your videos. It’s nice to see you both equally engaged. My wife and I are looking forward to starting our slow travels in a couple years.

Hey, thanks y'all for the visa update. This is very important. Hubby & I were wondering about this. We're watching you & dreaming of our extended stay in Spain.

This seems to be a very charming place, I hope I can visit sometime in the future. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much! And please keep up the great job! Subscribed!!

Alicante is an amazing city the whole year! 😍

You guys are so laid back. Love it.

Just back from Alicante, loved it…great city ❤

Great video! So informative. We are looking to retire next year, and Alicante is on our list to scout. I can’t wait to visit! Who knows, we may wind up living there!

I only passed through years ago on my way to benidorm, watching your video has been great, alicante will be on my list , thank you x

Just left Alicante this morning after 5 days. We had a lot of fun. Great city and they had their Christmas lights already on.

Very informative, and now we're making plans to visit BOTH Valencia and Alicante soon. Thank you! 🙂

Hi Brian and Carrie. We first watched this video many months ago, and are now spending a week in Alicante. Overall great weather this past week. We live in Oregon, but are retired and just might make this area our new home someday - it checks all our boxes! Thanks for the great video.

Great presentation. Heading there next week looking forward to having one of those pints in the RED CORNER Sports bar. Cheers.

Your videos are great and very insightful! Hope you can do one on Malaga soon as we’re thinking to take a long trip there.

I've really enjoyed the time I spent in Alicante and as you say the transport links up the coast towards Denia are excellent on the train/tram - and not expensive. Even though Alicante is a large city the centre is very walkable and there are lots of good tapas bars. We too used el Mercado for food and sometimes ate and drank there. Our budget hotel was just around the back and there was a friendly coffee shop I visited every morning. There is a lot to do in the city and transport links are good - we travelled on to Granada and the cost was very reasonable by coach/bus. Hoping to return to ESP this autumn as I've been learning the language and want to see more areas - Denia seems like a must and we haven't been to Valencia yet. Great vids - keep up the great work. Buenas Suerte 🍀

Very useful information, thanks!

Hi Brian and Carrie. I stumbled upon your video when looking for things to do in Alicante. We have just come back from there (4 day break). Walking around we also stumbled across the Red Corner sports bar so we did stop for a drink. I quickly showed them your video and that brought some amusement from the bar staff. Anyway, we thought their beers were expensive. Near enough 10euros for 2 pints of lager. I know you're not there anymore but our favorite place was 100 Montaditos which was right next to the beach. Great for people watching and beers (400ml) at 1.5euro. They also sold super fresh finger sandwiches at 1 euro a piece. I think that 100 Mondaditos is a Spanish chain. OMG it was a good spot and became our regular on all 4 days. Anyway on the back of the Alicante video, I have seen quite a few of your posts. They are all quite entertaining. Hope you are both well and we wish you the very best.

Awesome! Love it!

Thanks for sharing your experience, we’re planning to visit Alicante in the spring, 2022 and it is very helpful. The area that you described where you stayed sounded ideal for us being near the beach and the marina, would appreciate it if you could post the link to there you stayed.

Hi Brian and Carrie! New subscriber here. Just found you two. You are providing great information - it’s GREAT! 👍💚

Love it!

Lovely couple 🙂 Good guide, thank you!

Playa San Juan/ Muchavista are one of the best beaches!!! Postiguet gets quick crazy in the summer. Always love coming back to Alicante annually. We're actually in Torrevieja.

I truly appreciate your video. My partner and I are strongly considering Spain. Also coming from the US.

Really loving your videos. Are you going to do a cost sheet for the month in Alicante? Thanks for the video.

Great video. My son just moved to Cartagena and we plan to visit Alicante for 4 days. We also plan to perhaps live in Spain as well. Especially if my son stays

Our first trip to Europe we went to Madrid, Malaga, Alicante and Barcelona. Alicante was my favorite. And now we live in Lisbon.

Those beaches look awesome 🤩

Thank you for sharing! We plan to move to Alicante un 4 months

Thank you so much guys

Congrats, another fun to watch video. You earned a subscriber. Mediterranean Spain is heavily populated, with different populations sizes. Alicante's area have several populations loved by ex-pats, not only Calp and Altea, but Xabia, Denia and Alfas del Pi or Benidorm - perhaps too big for you too - have a lot of foreign retirees living there.

Woow Redcorner 👍👍 I am from Santa Pola, many friends worked there, thank you

Thank you very informative 😁

I do love Alicante! Favorite city and beach Playa San Juan!!! Hoping to retire southern Costa Blanca around Torrevieja which is not too far from Alicante

Love El Corte Ingles. You guys are so blessed to be able to visit all these fabulous places in good health. Thanks for sharing these videos. Nov 8 is my bday. Is this a sign :)

I live just down the coast from Alicante. A fantastic place to live! I really like the Spanish people and lifestyle. Cons? I have had some problems with administration, which can be slow and difficult. The tram system is great, but can get really packed peak season. The Alicante / Benidorm tram in particular. Line 3 from El Campello to Alicante has much longer double trams. It is slower as it makes every stop, but you are more likely to get a seat than line 1.

Liking your videos and your attitude to the places you experience. I very happily moved to the Alicante area from London(U.K.) 18 years ago and can honestly say that I have not regretted a single day here. My one gripe however is with visitors/new residents who never stop complaining that, things may be done differently here compared to wherever they may be from. They need to remember that they chose to move to Spain for whatever reason and need to adapt to local customs and attitudes. The same applies, I would suggest, to anyone in a foreign country whether short or long term...

I was in alecante in July and it was HOT! I mean really hot. It was 114+F in the morning. And not a lot of AC available. BUT!! I’ll move back in a NY minute. It’s beautiful, the food is great, and the region is a little run down but extremely safe.

Good job. Thanks

Thanks for another great video . Me and my wife are getting ready to do a long trip through Spain early next year . Much like the both of you we are planning a different home base each month . So far we have Marbella for one month and Valencia for another month . In regards to Valencia , did you prefer Alicante over Valencia ? Thanks again for your insight .

We stayed recently for 3 nights in Alicante and really enjoyed and our favourite bar was the Red corner 😊

Quiet and cheap: Torreveja, La Zenia, Campoamor, Las Colinas, Guardamar, Cabo Roig... in the south of Alicante province. You must see this area.

Great video!!! I was born in Alicante but I live in Elche near there. Alicante is a fantastic city althouhg Elche is smoller than Alicante is, Elche has beautiful places too. I love both.

B&C, enjoyed this vlog the 2nd TIME. We have decided to move from NC to Spain. Up until this morning we were set to look in Valencia to rent. We think we will like Alicante more. We will retire in Spain and, like you guys, be on a budget. Looks absolutely spectacular and slightly more affordable that Valencia. Love to hear what you both think if you were choosing. Thanks and hope you end up moving their yourselves.

Great video. Going to Alicante this week to look for an apartments. Any tips for finding an apartment? What’s your best coffee spot and restaurant to hang out.

I have lived in Alicante for 8 years, I am from Madrid but brought up in New York, London and Germany, Many places in Alicante, try Javea, I lived there 3 years, now I live in Denmark on the farms, Danish is very hard for me, enjoy it there, nice weather and plenty of police of not too many, busy roads there and lots of people, now here is a very quiet place we enjoy it here, I lived in Albufereta, Edifico Rocafel, about 3 kms up the road from you, its all on the beach there

Fun video! I love big beaches and had plenty when I lived in Wales. This city would be great, as I didn't like all the party scene when I was in Barcelona. The art was great though. Maybe Valencia...Regards

Another city is Torrevieja just 30 miles from Alicante. Cheaper Properties and very beautiful city and very well situated on the sea.

Hello, As my husband, Tom, mentioned in a previous comment to you, it was because of your utub and comments about Alicante and other factors that changed our decision to move to Alicante instead of Valencia. We fly out of the USA on March 21st and after spending some time at our already booked Airbnb in Valencia, we will be heading to Valencia with 14 pieces of luggage for our permanent way of Life. I just watched the utube about your Airbnb near the Alicante Mercado. Looks like a great location. Could you share what Airbnb it was, though with 14 pieces of luggage, it may be too small but maybe in that same area we can find something larger. The price for the month was desirable, but I guess that depends on the time of year. Keep up the good work, we watch all your utubes and appreciate your personalities and honest opinions. We are in our early 70's and look forward to thus adventure. Safe Travels, Diane and Tom

Brian’s pub tip is the best - next RU-vid channel 😅

Nice idea guys and answered a lot of questions. I'm a huge fan of alicante. Are you guys looking at the nomad visa in Spain or working remotely for Spanish company?

I’m almost finished with my application to study abroad there for the 2022-2023 academic year. I want to get fluent in Spanish

thanks for this video about alicante.i'm italian and i've been to spain several times. Barcelona, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca. spain is wonderful. all clean, order, civility, happiness, fun, safety, organization, etc. I plan to move as soon as possible to Alicante or Valencia. my only problem is learn the english language well which is essential to find a job there. Spanish is much easier. english is ina very beautiful language but very difficult for me. I hope to learn well and then I move. Thank you

In Alicante at the moment and it is really nice and clean. Really like the beach, Postiguet. However, I am finding the city center kind of small and a little dull! The suburbs are very quiet, clean, and peaceful though, going out towards Playa San Juan. People here are very nice and friendly so that is a huge plus.

Have you been to Granada? Very beautiful city, with a lot of nature, you can ski ... The bad thing is very cold in winter and hot in summer, and the beach is half an hour away by car

You may want to have a week off sometimes in Spain - I've done volunteer English-speaking with VaughanTown and Estacion Inglesa - variety of locations, usually 4 star hotels, all meals (wine with all meals)

like your videos a lot! Thank you for sharing. where do you find rental online? I watched to many but forget which one you mention the rental website.

We're going to be opening an Airbnb in Oliva, part of the Costa Blanca.

RU-vid put this old video in my recommended list. You guys are so young and naïve back then. Think of all the beers ahead of you at that point in time.

Love your videos, will visit Alicante in May and June. Do you recall the name of the grocery store that is so large? Thanks!

Hi there, I have been watching alot of your videos and wondered now that your have been traveling for 2 years since this Alicante visit do you still think it is a bit to big as a long term stay ? Compaired to other towns and citys where you may get bored ? Also what area of Alicante would you recommend staying in that is not to noisy ? thanks keep up the good work !! Amanda

Not sure if you've been to the Canaries in winter. It's a good bit warmer than mainland Spain or Portugal in winter and are cooler in summer. Madeira (part of Portugal) offers similar climate advantages I believe. Low-cost airlines go to these locations.

Great videos, Valencia is on the list for next year. You mentioned taking a couple of beer in your packsack to enjoy on the beach. Is this legal? Keep on enjoying.

It's very much on my list! The closest I got was Valencia , which is great, but the beach isn't that central (though great)

Thank you for the info. Will you leave close to the 90 day mark or do you think that it's too risky? Plz advise.

Cadaques is lovely, but it is in the north so better for the warmer months.

Great video. I have been many times there and I am thinking in retiring either in Alicante or Benidorm or in between. Can you talk about expenses rent, food, utilities, etc. Give us a potential budget as for tear 2023 and what are the better areas to live. Thanks and good job

Wife & I are enjoying your travels. We plan to travel next year to Spain. We have been there before but this time we want to stay for an extended period in different cities. What kind of visa do you have that is allowing you to stay over the 90 day period that the Spaniard Consulate website clearly states that you must leave Spain & wait an additional 90 days in order to apply for another 90 day visa. Please advise and/or talk about this in your next video cuz we would luv to stay more than 90 days & see more cities. Thanks. We're following you & are enjoying.😎

I'd try any location north of Benidorm. Places like Calpe or Denia (Guadalest is a must-see village). Peñíscola in the province of Castellón has an absolutely lovely old town and nice beaches. Not a big city. The air near the city smells of orange tree flowers and olive trees. My parents have spent quite a few Summer holidays over there.

I was in the same place and drink wine in the red behind

I am from Alicante, I want to cry.

Thank you for a great video!! How difficult it was to find and rent a small apartment ( for one person one month). I will continue to watch your upcoming videos!!

Got hooked on your Alicante and Spain Videos. By the way you were mentioning on staying in Spain or one of those places in Europe for an Year. How would you do it on a Schengen Visa that allows only 90 day stay in a 180 day period. Are there any ways around it? I have heard of others that do a 90 day in EU out of 180 and remaining 90 in on EU countries. If there are ways around it let us know. Also you guy are Young and obviously quit the work force in US. How do you manage for the health care insurance and how much does that cost? Any tips on those front will be helpful. By the way try to explore Roda Golf Resorts in Roda. Its a small town quaint setting and who knows you may like it. You can book there thru Air BnB.

Red corner sports bar calle.Navas. My parents live in the second floor literally on top of red of red corner facing la plaza Nueva. Pinetel Bar next to red corner is awesome as well. All in all that area is incredibly friendly. I'll be there in November y

we have a fantastic bungalow in Gran Alacant ,,,, for nice people

If you don’t mind please, would you kindly put a link / info of the place you stayed at in Alicante. Much appreciated.

Have you been to Javea? It’s farther north. It’s a lot smaller than Alicante.

So what is your preference for affordable retirement living, visa process etc in general - Spain or Portugal?