Spain - advice on schooling and location

[Bambambini]

Considering a move, possibly to the Costa Del Sol area. Husband needs easy access to a good regional or international airport.

Haven't been to the area but been looking online at Mijas coast area (easy to Malalga airport) and the English International College outside Marbella for the kids.

Any advice or thoughts appreciated. Are folk happy with the move, how is family life, schools and how have the kids coped with the move?

We've just come back - thought it was a very nice area though perhaps a bit busy for me. Took 35 mins from airport - Calahonda, even in rush hour and a heavy morning mist so not that busy! Some nice towns inland like Coin, Mijas (lovely but touristy) and Ojen if the coast isn't your thing.

We lived in Spain for 8 years and our son undertook his secondary education there but at a state school. Plenty of private school choice though in CDS. We loved Spain and our son was very happy and was fluent in Spanish quite quickly, however he has chosen to come back to UK for uni and graduates this year.

Thanks Fussy! Busy looking at areas. As I said, never been to the CDS so lots of satellite googling etc.

So far, like the look of the EIC for schooling. The area nearby looks quite residential and quiet with some tennis and country type clubs nearby. Also, just outside of Marbella. Looking online, it looks quite nice for a touristy town.

What did you think of Malaga as a city? Where did you live?

Malaga itself is a great place. Lots to see and quite vibrant although I would say too far from the schools on the coast to consider living there. Marbella is lovely although the buildings on the main road through are now very dated and not very attractive and quite a few shop units are sadly empty.The paseo (seafront) is lovely and you can walk/cycle to Puerto Banus. Marbella Old Town is especially nice more so at night. For the school you mentioned I wouldn't go further west than San Pedro or further east than say Fuengirola unless you want to spend your life driving!

I like Malaga but wouldn't want to live in the city. Great to be close to as loads of the facilities and a growing cultural centre. Personally, I'm not keen on Marbella and prefer Mijas, La Cala and Calahonda end for living but those might be too far from the school you like.

We used to live in Almeria province - totally undeveloped in comparison to CDS, especially as we lived inland. Our area had few facilities, few expats and no international schools. We think about going back and if we did I be torn between my old area for affordability and CDS for the extra facilities it offers - the Costa Tropical is in between the two and there is an independent school at Almunecar - just thought I'd throw that into the mix to confuse you

My advice would be to drive the coast east and west as far as you want to be from Malaga and start to get a feel for the areas which are all very different.