Removals to Alicante
Long before becoming a tourist hotspot Alicante was an important port in the Mediterranean. Over thousands of years the inhabitants of Alicante handled the goods of Phoenician, Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, Arab and Castilian traders. This illustrious history is etched into the landscape of the city in the form of castles, basilicas, monasteries and fortifications built to defend against Barbary pirates.
Combined with the hot Mediterranean climate, international airport, welcoming population of 400,000 people and Blue Flag beaches it’s easy to see why Alicante attracts so many visitors each year. It’s also easy to see why so many are tempted to return for good and buy a main or second residence in the city itself or the surrounding area.
Located on the south-eastern coast of Spain on the Costa Blanca, Alicante is the capital city of the Alicante Province, and the comarca of Alacantí, which means it is the administrative capital of the region. Although the majority of its population is Spanish, Alicante has long been a city of expatriates, and today you will find many foreigners from the United Kingdom, Argentina, Ecuador, Morocco, Romania, Algeria, and Colombia living in the region. The two official languages of Alicante are Spanish and Valencian, a form of Catalan, but due to its large expatriate community, many people speak fluent English. As English is taught in schools, many young people will also be fluent. Most road signs and official documents will appear in both Spanish and Valencian.
The Climate in Alicante
Alicante has a semi-arid climate, which is characterized by extremely hot and dry summers, and mild winters, with little rain falling all year round. In fact, expatriates moving to Alicante can expect to experience only 37 rainy days every year, however, when it does rain, it is often torrential and can sometimes lead to floods. In the summer months, the temperature can reach as high as 38.4°C (101.1°F), but average temperatures tend to stay between 21.2°C (70°F) and 30.8°C (87°F). In the winter, the temperature drops to between 6.3°C (43°F) and 17.0°C (63°F), with January usually the coldest month. However, due to the stabilizing influence of the sea, the temperature is often consistent on a day to day basis.
Property prices in Alicante
Property prices, on the slide since their peak in 2008-2009, are currently averaging around €221,000 (£190,000) for a three-bedroom property.
In Aspe, popular with expats and a 25-minute drive to Alicante, you can currently buy a three-bedroom house with a pool for about €170,000 (£146,000).
The buyer of property in the Valencian region pays a property transfer tax of 8% of the purchase value.
Comparing Alicante vs London
Alicante has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate and experiences almost twice as many hours of sunshine per annum than London. It also sees 43% less rainfall than the UK capital, almost all of which falls between the months of September and May, leaving the summer dry and hot. Average high temperatures in July and August are just over 30 °C – about seven degrees higher than London’s July-August average.
The cost of living in Alicante is significantly lower than in London. As well as cheaper property and rents, Alicantinos also enjoy lower prices for groceries, utilities, transportation and meals out.
Residents of Alicante also report, on average, greater feelings of safety than Londoners.
While less than extensive the city’s public transport infrastructure includes a tram that connects it with Benidorm, El Campello, Dénia, Altea and Calp.
Alicante’s chief attractions include the Gothic Basilica of Santa María, the Huerta de Alicante defence towers and a dozen museums. The Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ) has a fine collection of artefacts, some of which date back over 100,000 years.
Visas for Spain
In Spain, residence visas and permits are packaged with work permits, so there is no need to make two applications. EU/EEA nationals do not need a permit to enter Spain; if they wish to stay for longer than 90 days though, they must register as a citizen with the Hacienda (the Spanish revenue service) and Seguridad Social (Spanish social security), but this is merely a formality. Non-EU citizens may need a visa to enter the country (depending on their nationality), and will need a work permit to stay in Alicante for longer than 90 days. You may also be eligible to apply for a non-working residence permit, but these are often only issued to the partners of working expatriates.
