After two months in Moraira, Marina Alta, we set our sights further south, hoping to find a rental in or near Villajoyosa. We even had our eye on a charming old-town apartment in the heart of the city—but we missed out. And so, the search continued.
To find a rental through Facebook groups
Our first rental in Moraira came from a Facebook group, and thankfully, it turned out to be a genuine listing. So when another opportunity popped up on a different Facebook page, we were hopeful.
A guy reached out via Messenger, offering an apartment in Villajoyosa. He asked for my email to send more details and photos—not an unusual request, but in today’s world, a little caution goes a long way.
After some prompting, he sent over 10 photos and a detailed description. It all looked great. I asked for pricing, deposit details, and any additional fees. That’s when the red flag popped up—he wanted a 40% deposit upfront, nearly €600.
Colourful houses in Villa Joiosa
Something felt off. I asked for proof of a tourist license, reviews, or any official listing. Silence. No response. Suspicious, I did a reverse search for the apartment and found it listed on Airbnb—for over €100 per night—under a Dutch female owner. Classic scam.
Can you trust anyone these days? It’s hard to say.
Avoiding Rental Scams: The Banana Trick
When negotiating our Moraira rental, the owner had never rented it out before and had no tourist license. But they offered a video call to explain the situation and even lowered the deposit to ease our concerns. That gave us confidence, and thankfully, it all worked out.
A fellow renter once told me a brilliant trick: Ask the owner to take a picture standing inside the rental holding a banana. If they refuse or make excuses, run! It might sound silly, but it’s a simple way to confirm the listing is real.
No colour restrictions here…..
The Hidden World of Rental Agents
Many Facebook rental groups claim to be for homeowners and renters only, but the reality is quite different. The majority of “owners” are actually agents, cleverly disguising themselves until you decline the first property—at which point, they suddenly have plenty of options.
Meanwhile, well-known Spanish rental sites are notorious for not responding to inquiries. They live up to that reputation flawlessly. And when you do get a response, it’s often from an agent, not a direct owner. The site itself has no real control over customer service, so you’re left waiting, often indefinitely.
Key Takeaways
To find a rental in Spain is proving much harder than we hoped and we learned a few things:
Trust but verify – Always ask for proof like a tourist license, reviews, or an official listing. High deposits can be a red flag.
Use the “banana trick” – Ask the owner for a photo inside the rental holding a random object. A quick way to spot scammers!
Many “owners” are actually agents – Many Facebook listings come from agents, not direct homeowners. Be prepared for upselling.
Be flexible – The ideal house may not exist, so adjusting expectations can make the search easier.
Always different than the neighbours….
Rethinking the ‘Dream Rental’
Our vision of the ideal house in Villajoyosa is slipping away, and we’ve had to adjust our criteria. Now, we’re open to places that are less than perfect—as long as they’re available and legitimate!
With one month left to secure our next home, we remain hopeful. The ideal house might not exist exactly as we imagined, but we’ll find something that works.
After a couple of weeks in Moraira, we’re starting to see a pattern. Life on the coast is very much an expat scene, while inland Spain offers a more authentic Spanish experience. In this post, I want to share our impressions of a few inland towns we visited.
These towns have a few things in common. They are functional Spanish towns with real amenities—medical services, schools, town halls, council offices, and businesses that cater to local life rather than tourism. Just Spanish life as it is.
Market Towns in Inland Spain
We explored Benissa, Gata de Gorgos, Pedreguer, and Pego. One thing we noticed: they all have lively weekly markets. Benissa’s market is on Saturdays, Gata de Gorgos on Fridays, Pedreguer hosts a rastro every Sunday morning, and Pego’s market takes place on Thursdays.
Since we love markets, having one nearby is a must. In France, our weekly market ritual includes fresh fruit and veggie shopping, a café stop, and the occasional run-in with familiar faces. It’s a tradition we’re not willing to give up.
Little cafes everywhere
The Feel of Inland Spain
Walking through these Spanish towns, we were struck by how clean and well-kept they are. Small shops and bars are tucked away, buzzing with local life. You won’t get far with English or other foreign languages, but the locals are friendly, quick to greet you, and happy to chat or help—giving my very basic Spanish some much-needed practice!
A few weeks ago, we met someone living in Moraira who was house-hunting in Pedreguer. More space, better value, and a different pace of life drew her inland. Funny enough, we later spotted her viewing a house right on the town’s main square!
An Unexpected Conversation
While wandering Pedreguer’s streets, a local man struck up a conversation, asking if I liked the town. When I said I was Dutch, he went off on how Dutch buyers were pushing up house prices, making it harder for locals to afford homes. I’m not sure why he singled out the Dutch—we’re far from the only ones—but I get it. It’s a common issue in sought-after regions.
Street of Pedrequer
All these towns are in the Marina Alta, within 25 km of the coast but not all coastal areas are equally charming. We took a 20-minute drive from Pego to the nearest beach. The sandy, wide coastline was beautiful, but surprisingly quiet. No chiringuitos, no tucked-away beach bars—just a strip of road lined with restaurants, bars, and summer attractions that probably come alive in peak season.
After taking it all in, we wrapped up the day with a meal at one of our favorite spots in Denia. Reflecting on our inland tour, we realized we really liked the towns we’d seen. We could see ourselves living near a place like this.
Marina Alta: A Strong Contender
The Marina Alta is definitely growing on us. It has that perfect blend of authenticity, coastal proximity, and everyday livability. While none of the towns we visited screamed WOW, Benissa stood out as a place with real potential. This region is starting to feel like home, and we’re excited to dig deeper and see if it’s where we truly belong.
Denia – not a bad place at all!Benissa – a Spanish working town with a lovely old centreWandering old town Pego
Key Takeaways:
Inland towns feel more authentic and Spanish than the coast.
Markets are an important feature for us.
Locals are welcoming, but you need to speak some Spanish.
Coastal areas vary—some are lively, others can feel deserted offseason.
Benissa stands out, but we’ll keep exploring!
What do you think? Do you prefer coastal or inland life? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
On another note, if you like my pictures, you can find more in my new Etsy shop.
Finding the ideal house in Spain is a combined effort with my sister. She wants a holiday home while we plan to live there all year -round. This means balancing different needs: a place that works for relaxed vacations and a spot that fits our everyday lifestyle. While we are physically in Spain exploring potential areas, she is busy scanning the listings from afar, sending us links to check them out.
One of those links led us to a house in Ontinyent, a city we hadn’t even considered. It’s in the Valencian province, about 55 km inland. Still, keeping an open mind, we decided to make the over 100 km drive to see if it could be the right fit.
First Impressions of Ontinyent
The drive took us 1.5 hours, which already felt like a stretch. We had a tentative viewing scheduled, though another buyer had seen it the day before and was considering an offer. Oddly enough, the agent wouldn’t let us view it until that offer was decided. A bit bizarre, as you’d think having backup interest would be a good thing.
As we were waiting, we decided to check out Ontinyent. With a population of 35k we expected a fair amount of amenities. and a lively city centre. But after parking and walking around, we struggled to find a bit of soul. It was a grid of streets, maybe a Roman influence but we could not find much buzz.
La Plaça Mayor – hardly a plaça!
A tourist office directed us to a central square, Plaça Mayor where we could find some action. We arrived, found a church, one cafe and a handful of parked cars. As our hometown in France has a fabulous square and is a quarter of the size of this town, we felt rather disappointed.
This has to be the best street in Ontinyent….!
From the square we wondered up into the old town hoping to find little tucked away bars and quirky cafes. None of those! We decided that Ontinyent was not the right fit for us!
The Ideal House in the Wrong Location?
We had not heard from the real estate lady and decided to drive up to the house as we had the coordinates. It was a 4km drive and the house sat in an ‘urbanizacion’ – one of those sprawling suburban developments with large plots and walled-off homes. Not exactly the community feel we’re looking for.
A peek through the fence.
From what we could see, the house itself had plenty of potential. There was a main house, a casita, a large outdoor area, a pool, a carport , some fruit trees and a small olive grove. Sounds idyllic – right?
However it was in the wrong location in every aspect. Here’s why!
The house was in an urbanizacion – large plots with high walls. A push if you like to get to know your neighbours.
Ontinyent was not unattractive but it did not offer much either – no spark
At over 50 km inland, a beach trip would require real effort.
The nearest beach options are Gandia and Oliva. Both high rise resort towns.
The drive to the beach felt tedious – slow and quite busy even in the winter. Imagine the summer!
This experience reminded us of an important discovery: a beautiful home means nothing if it’s in the wrong place.
So, we keep going, refining our vision, and narrowing down locations that feel right. The search continues—stay tuned
Last but not least—don’t forget to comment! It helps others find my blog, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Also, if you have any tips, send them my way!
On another note, if you like my pictures, you can find more in my new Etsy shop.
After visiting Calpe, we realised that we are drawn to a more authentic Spain. So, we decided to turn our focus inland.
Don’t get me wrong, we love Moraira – it is charming, coastal, and buzzing with life. After all, that’s exactly why it has attracted so many Dutch, English, Germans, and even some French expats. The house prices are well beyond our budget and we doubt if you could consider it authentic Spain.
Marina Alta – more authentic Spain??
The area inland of Moraira called Marina Alta has a lot to offer. It is very pretty with rolling hills that are perfect for hiking and cycling. Several villages caught our eye and Jalon, Parcent and Alcalalí were the first ones to check out.
Our plan was to visit Jalon first but it turned out that the weekly brocante market was in full swing. Parking was a nightmare and we kept driving to the next town – Alcalalí.
Along the way, we passed dozens of cyclists. If we lived here, we have to accept that they would be a constant presence. They seem to keep to their own set of traffic rules and overtaking them with the required 1.5m distance on these narrow roads is not an easy task.
Alcalalí – small but ticking many boxes
Alcalalí sits in the Pop Valley of the Marina Alta Region and it is about 20 km from the coast. We have learned that we rarely go to the beach when it is around 50 km away and 20 km is totally doable.
Alcalalí and its pastel coloured streets
It’s a small town of 1,500 people, with colourful houses and a lot of construction. It felt like a giant work-in-progress. Shops were sparse, most cafés were closed, and yet, it had a certain charm. We spotted a gorgeous garden cafe but sadly, it didn’t open until noon. You would think with all the cyclists around, more places would cater to them early! On our way to Parcent, we did pass two cycling cafes that were open and as expected packed with cyclists.
Could Parcent be authentic Spain?
On to historical Parcent – 25 km from Moraira, a small originally Moorish town of 1100 people with cute narrow streets. It’s famous for its Rates de Parcent, a must-do cycling pass with it viewpoint Mirador del Coll.
Locals greeted us with friendly buenos, and we found a charming community hall café with a sunny terrace. Again, not much was open until midday, but the town had a great feel.
Fun fact: A coffee in Parcent can cost as little as €1.20, while trendy cycling cafés charge up to €2.60.
Despite its small size, Parcent has all the essentials: shops, bakeries, doctors, and pharmacies. It’s even considered very Spanish—though a 2006 census showed that 35% of residents are Northern European. They must have integrated well!
Writer Gabriel Miró called Parcent “a paradise between the mountains.” We now get why!
Vibrant and colourful Parcent
Jalon
Back to Jalon, hoping for a parking spot and luckily, we found one at the inland edge of town. The market was fantastic, reminding us of some of our favourite markets in Esperaza, France or Eumundi in Australia. It was set along the river, surrounded by lively restaurants and cafés. Obviously it was packed, so we skipped exploring the old town and hope to save it for a quieter day.
Jalon is only a 20 minute drive to the coast, has a wine cooperative and many lively spots for a bite to eat.
We learned a few things
We like living in a wine region. Limoux is a wine paradise and we love it. The Marina Alta is a wine region.
We like the beach within reach – ideally not further than 20 km
We don’t want to be isolated and we want access to medical services and supermarkets.
This region is a cyclist paradise – great for exercise and people-watching as pro cyclists train here in winter!
The Marian Alta has no heavy industry nor pollution as you see when driving towards Valencia
Surrounded by beautiful hilly areas for walks and hiking
Visiting these towns have definitely given us an idea about a more authentic Spain, and we have only just begun.
Last but not least—don’t forget to comment! It helps others find my blog, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Also, if you have any tips, send them my way!
On another note, if you like my pictures, you can find more in my new Etsy shop.
Two weeks in, and we’ve been soaking up the Spanish sun while getting to know Moraira and its surroundings. With work claiming four days a week, I make every moment of my free time count—like our visit to Calpe.
A trip to Calpe
Calpe is famous for Peñon de Ifach, a towering 337-meter limestone rock that juts out dramatically into the sea. I love natural formations like this—El Montgó is another favorite, so is Pic de Bugarach in France and after years in Australia, I have to include Ayers Rock.
Fun fact: the view of Peñon de Ifach from Moraira is actually better than the one from Calpe itself!
Calpe’s main beach with Peñon de Ifach
Calpe is home to around 30,000 residents, half of whom are expats, mostly Brits and Germans. Someone told me “If you shop for a property, the agent will tell you how many English speaking professionals there are”.
First impressions
The town boasts wide beaches, a charming old town, and plenty of beachfront cafés. But it’s also high-rise central, giving off a Benidorm or Australian Gold Coast vibe. The area is a true cycling paradise, attracting both amateurs and pro teams—great for cycling fans, not so great when you’re stuck behind a peloton on a winding road.
Coffee in Calpe? About 2 euros. But the real win? A massive slice of birthday cheesecake for an absolute bargain, enjoyed right on the beach. Now that is the kind of research I’m happy to do!
We wandered through a surprisingly quiet town, with many eateries and bars still closed for the season. I’d love to come back later in the day or closer to peak season to see it in full swing.
What I Think of Calpe
You don’t get the feeling you are in Spain. You could be anywhere.
You hear mostly North European languages.
It feels restricted because of the high rise. It must be horrible to build a house on a nearby hill to see the next tower develop and block your sea view.
Spanish Flag Stairs Calpe
Defining what we want
While Calpe or any place that looks like this, has its perks, it doesn’t quite feel like Spain to me. The old town has charm, but the touristy areas could be anywhere in the world. I get why people love it—the beaches, the weather, the lifestyle—but I’m craving more authenticity. I want to hear Spanish, smell sizzling tapas, and feel like I’m in Spain, not just visiting a sunny outpost of Northern Europe.
When we bought our house in France, we had a checklist list with clear criteria. Now, it’s time to create one for Spain: size, culture, local life, and proximity to the coast
Calpe has helped refine our search—we want a place that feels Spanish. Maybe it’s time to head inland and see what hidden gems we can find and where Spain still feels like Spain.
Share your thoughts
Last but not least—don’t forget to comment! It helps others find my blog, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Also, if you have any tips, send them my way!
On another note, if you like my pictures, you can find more in my new Etsy shop.
January 2025 kicked off a new chapter for us! We temporarily packed up our life in Limoux, France, rented out our home, and hit the road in search of our dream lifestyle in Spain. Some might find this level of uncertainty nerve-wracking—but for us, it’s all part of the fun.
So, why Spain? To simply sum it up: great weather, a lower cost of living, and the perfect spot for our future retirement.
Finding Our Way
In 2024, we spent six weeks road-tripping through Spain also with a dream lifestyle in mind—starting in Valencia, the area North of Valencia and then Mallorca. Funny enough, instead of finding our what we wanted, that trip helped us figure out what we didn’t want in a future home. This turned out to be just as valuable as knowing what we do want.
We found our current rental through social media, despite some initial sketchy warnings about it being a scam. Turns out, the owners are just getting started—brand new in the rental game and just lovely genuine people!
Now, we’re in Moraira, a picturesque town on the Costa Blanca. Our villa sits in a typical Spanish hillside community—an ubanizaciòn. We tend to call it an ‘Urb’. Not exactly our dream setup, but super comfortable. It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sunny outdoor space, and a pool—yes, please but a bit later in Spring! Coming from chilly Limoux, sunny outdoor living feels like a luxury.
Lessons Learned and Tips for Others
So far, our adventure has taught us a few things:
Do Your Research – Take time to visit places before committing.
Embrace Uncertainty – Sometimes, you won’t have everything figured out, and that’s okay!
Investigate Rentals – Online listings can be hit or miss—vet them well before making a decision
Know What You Don’t Want – It’s just as important as knowing what you do want.
Enjoy the Perks – Yes, practicalities matter, but so does soaking up the sunshine.
What’s Next?
Our journey is far from over. Over the next few months, we’ll keep exploring, meeting new people, and refining our vision. Moving abroad is a big leap, especially in your 50s and beyond, but it’s also an amazing opportunity to create the life you really want.
For now, we’re soaking up the Mediterranean vibes, dreaming big, and seeing where the adventure takes us next. Stay tuned!
