new member

I am new to this site as I have decided I want to up sticks and move to Spain. I have been on line and looking for somewhere to settle... This seems like a place where I would feel safe..... I am a 50 something year old woman looking for a new challenge. I do not drive so is there any advise that your members could give where to stay. Unfortunately due to present pandemic I am unable to travel so plan to come in the future when travel is allowed again. Thank you in advance.

Never live anywhere that's too far to walk for a coffee, also public transport is not that great in this area.

If you want this area and don't drive then you'd be better off looking at somewhere in the Torrevieja area. In this direction, buses go out as far as San Luis so there, La Siesta, El Chaparral etc would be well served. You'd be reliant on taxis if you moved to Quesada area as we only have about 3 buses to places in a day and they don't seem to get together. Torrevieja has a very good local bus service so you could choose anywhere there. Guardamar has some buses but this area very poorly served. Taxis work out expensive.

Look at the limits of Torrevieja such as La Mata, Orihuela Costa, La Siesta and so on which are very well served by local buses and very cheap so you wouldn't be stuck in the centre of the city. Here you'd be stuck if you wanted to go anywhere, even to the beach if you don't drive. Even Villamartin has a better bus service than us albeit mainly in the summer.

Welcome to the forum. You'll find most are very helpful and welcoming.

Torrevieja would be good for a lady on her own who doesn't drive. It's got doctors and hospital close by where you could get a bus to easily, free too if you're on the pardon and apply for a free bus pass and a taxi wouldn't cost the earth. You're close to the beach and supermarkets and normally a very large Friday market. It's more of a concrete jungle than Quesada. You maybe wise to rent for a while, if you look you can get rent for 300 -350 a month you just have to be lucky. My friend has a really nice 2 bed flat in the town centre for 300 rented privately not through an agent. By renting you get a feel of the place and get to know if you like it or not.

Some very good advice so far nicreed. If I was you I would follow this advice, as the above posters tend to know more than most!

As a non driver I recommend La Mata, where I now live. Everything is in walking distance and there’s a fantastic bus service into Torrevieja.

Our beach is superb and there are lots of restaurants - once lockdown ends. There’s a church square, a bank and a couple of convenience stores. Also a health centre, dentist and optician. We have a street market on Wednesdays.

I order shopping online from Mercadona, but you could get the bus.

If I ever move from Quesada I would choose to live in La Mata as that, and Cabo Roig are my favourite coastal areas. For facilities, La Mata probably tips the scales in its favour.

Thank you everyone this advice has been most helpful.

We live in Benijofar which has everything you could want, Including walking distance to Supermarkets, doctors, restaurants and bars. There is a very limited bus service. So for me the only non driving issue, would be hospital appointments.