Moving to Alicante area

[WinnerWinnerChickenDinner0]

Hi

DH has applied for a job in Alicante!

I’m very excited about the idea of living in Spain, but am not too keen about the idea of living in the package holiday larger lout type of Spain.
I’ve spent time in Extramadura and loved it.

We have a 5 year old so will need to be able to commute to an English speaking school. Don’t mind 30 mins or so (that’s what we travel at the moment)

We like the quiet rural life but with access to civilisation

Any advice and suggestions on areas to look at would be greatly appreciated

Elche.

Oh sorry you like the quiet life. Elche is a big town.

Following yhread though. I sometimes think of moving to Spain as a (young retiree). Id probably go to that area. I speak Spanish but I would not go if the plan required me to find a job. I could try and make money, reading the tarot on the pier perhaps 🃏

Get your child on duo lingo learning Spanish ASAP.
5 is young enough to go to a Spanish school.

How's yr Spanish?

The Hondon Valley area is beautiful. We really like Aspe which is a largish town about 25km from Alicante, and there are lots of lovely properties in the countryside outside the town. We were very tempted by a house outside Aspe a few months ago, but felt that the upkeep would have been too much for us (it had land, lovely pool etc) as it would just be a holiday home, at least for the next few years.
Alicante is a lovely city with great transport links. Hope your husband gets the job and you all have a wonderful life in Spain.

Is there any reason why you want an International school, in particular? At 5 your DC will quickly become fluent in Spanish if they attend a state school.

We went when DS was 10 and he still became fluent in the language quickly. He returned to the UK for university and is now a Spanish teacher.

There is Kings College, the British School of Alicante, it's where DS took some GCSE exams as a private entrant and I think there are several others in the locality including El Limonar Villamartin which also takes primary pupils.

Thanks for all your replies. Gives me lots to look at.

We don’t really speak very much Spanish, very very minimal so will have a lot to learn. The plan at the moment is to do English schooling for a couple of years until we at least master the basics

Should find out in the next couple of days if it is yay or nay.

Fingers crossed 😁

I'd put DD in Spanish school. She'll pick it up quickly and be able to communicate more with her friends and peers, so she'll feel more settled.

What an adventure, my fingers are crossed! I lived in Southern Spain for a while, it was amazing.

We couldn't speak much Spanish when we went, live away from the coast and you are forced to learn as fewer people speak English.
Personally, I think once you've put you DD in an International school she is unlikely to want to move. If she starts in state school she will pick up the language far quicker and you can consider international at secondary level if you want her to have a UK style education.
It's a great life, hope it's a yay!

The move is off 😭

Well for now. He can reapply next year so we will see what happens.
I’m a bit gutted. Was getting very excited, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be

Thanks for all the advice, fingers crossed that we will need it next time