An honest look at our own town — who it suits, who it does not, and why we stayed.
What works
- Sixteen kilometres of blue-flag beaches, most within a short drive
- A flat, safe coastal path the children can cycle
- A large international community — you are never the only new family
- Everyday costs that are genuinely lower than the UK
- Alicante airport under an hour away
What does not suit everyone
- It is a resort coast, not a historic Spanish town — if you want cobbles and centuries, look north
- July and August are very busy; January is very quiet
- You will need a car
- It is easy to live here for years without speaking Spanish, which is a trap
Our verdict
For a family with young children who want sun, sea and an easy landing, it is hard to beat. For someone chasing an immersive, old-Spain experience, Orihuela Costa is not that — and pretending otherwise helps nobody.
We chose it deliberately, and six months in we would choose it again.
