Hi I will try to help lol I only know the areas you are talking about as my parents live in La Marina and have done for 12 years!

You will always hear horror stories wherever you go and my advice would be - if you cant see the gate lock it - however in February I would have thought you would have the door shut anyway as it can be quite cold lol

If you want somewhere to walk around then Guadamar is very nice as is Torrevieja (not sure how you spell it!). La Marina is now a bit like a housing estate so you would only walk if you wanted to go to the shops or bars! Calpe is lovely but hilly, Altea is nice but I dont know much about it.

I hope someone who knows more about it also replies!

Redcrop
x

Thanks Redcrop for your prompt reply. Much appreciated!
I live in a fairly quiet countryside area but crime still goes on here almost everyday with break-ins etc we just don't hear about it unless there's some sort of violence involved so..... I suppose if we take the same precautions as we do here we should be ok? Definitely concentrating now on the South Costa Blanca for places to stay but would love to hear from anyone who knows the area well and could recommend suitable locations. Ideally cheap eateries and shops within walking distance, local walks, (although we'll have a hire car for touring about through the day) and somewhere with a nice view if possible. Maybe I'm asking too much but I live in hope!

Hi Mairi,
My wife and I go to Moraira a couple of times a year, and I think you would like the place. Out of the summer season it is fairly quiet, but most of the restaurants and bars are open, and the prices are pretty good, with lots of places offering the Menu del Dia etc. There are loads of walking possibilities in the area as well, Calpe, a few kilometers away has a lovely big promenade, and is about about a couple of kilometers in length.
As for accommodation there are lots of places for hire if you know where to look on the internet, if you drop me a PM I will give you the sites of places we have stayed.

South of Alicante you have Santa Pola and further on, Guardamar del Segura.

I mention these two places in particular because they are predominantly 'Spanish' towns.

Over here February is usually the coldest month of the year, but all the bars and restaurants should be open, and at least you will not have to book a table to eat out!

I live in Torrelamata which is a few kilometers south of Guardamar, so depending on what type of restaurants you prefer, I can advise and give driving directions (P.M. me, as these tend to be boring for casual readers of the forum).

Despite what you may have read, crime is no more of a problem here than anywhere else, but take sensible precautions.

hi redcrop wich part of La Marina do your parents live my parents moved out there in 1994, my mum has only just gone back, she laughed her head off when i showed her some of the posts about all the so called robberies and breakins, they have heard nothing about it where they are

It is an unfortunate fact that when people think of 'crime', they tend to think of murders, rapes and break-in's"¦"¦the serious stuff"¦"¦

To understand crime figures in Spain, you first have to understand the reporting procedure.
When any crime occurs it is reported by way of a 'denuncia'. Basically, the aggrieved party goes along to the police (or Guardia Civil) office and fills in a form.

However, the same denuncia would be issued for even the most trivial reasons, as well as the more serious. If your neighbours dog craps on your path or the guy up the road comes home singing at 3am, waking you up you can issue a denuncia.

The vast majority of people over here can go their entire life without ever feeling the need to take out denuncias.

There is however, a tiny minority who feel that the police should sort out every problem that life throws them"¦"¦"¦"¦ Serial denuncia issuers"¦"¦ .Usually, but not exclusively, bored, officious Brits and Germans that are enjoying their first taste of 'power' by being Presidents of their communities.
Literally, they turn up at a Guardia Civil office with lists of people that they want to denounce. It is as if they have learned basic Spanish for the sole purpose of issuing denuncias.

Crime figures are calculated by dividing the number of reported 'crimes' amongst the resident population"¦"¦but there lies another problem.

The resident population can only be assessed by the number of people registered on the 'padron'. And although there is a moral obligation to register, as this allows central Government to issue public funds accordingly, many people do not bother (until they absolutely need to) due to bureaucracy.
It is also true that the 'population' will increase dramatically, at certain times of the year, due to holiday makers.

So"¦"¦Imagine what would happen to your own crime figures if every single infraction (serious and trivial) in your particular town, city, county or country was attributed to a third (a quarter,....or a fifth) of the residents.

I have also read that 1 in 12 of all crimes in Spain is reported to the Guardia Civil office in Torrevieja. This, of course, is complete nonsense.
It is reasonable to assume that over the whole of Spain, (like any other Country), they would have thousands, if not tens of thousands of crimes reported daily. That would mean that hundreds, if not thousands of crimes would have to be reported in Torrevieja.
It does not happen"¦"¦The queue at the Guardia Civil building would be a mile long!!......It isn't, and never has been!

Be vigilant, as you would be anywhere else"¦ but don't get paranoid!

Hi borismab

Im not sure what part of La Marina they live but they live across the road to the Hillside swimming pool - if it is still called that lol

It is actually one of the first parts of La Marina that was built I think - as they have owned it for 20 years!

Redcrop x

hi i think i know where you mean my parents live off parque del mino, although they have lived there since 1994 they have owned the place alot longer somewhere around the 20yr mark, as you say its one of the first parts to be built,

Have you looked at Albir. We stayed there a couple of years ago in Aug. We loved it, it was small enough to walk around, nice places to sit and have a drink. Lot of reasonable priced places to eat. Altea is a 20 min walk along the promanade. I don`t know if your hiring a car, if not the train service between Alicante and Denia is fantastic, at weekend the sell a tourist ticket for unlimited train travel between Alicante and Denia. If we go in winter we always buy one of theses, they used to cost under £5 when we bought them not sure of price now.

If your trying to keep the cost down theres lots of good priced bars and restaruants in near by Benidorm, head for the old town and Tapas alley. All the Chinese restaruants do meal of the day.

I hope you find what your looking for the Costa Blanca is fabulous.

Why not go to Benidorm - forget the image we're both 60 and love it in the winter. the weather if lovely, everything is open and if you stay in a beachfront apartment there are great walks from the Levante beach along the promenade to the old town which has little streets of shops and great restuarants. We always stay at Levante beach which also has loads of restuarants and bars and fantastic sunsets.

We went to Denia by train for the day one January and it was freezing glad to get back to Benidorm where it was much warmer. Try BenidormDirect for beachfront apartments but be picky as some are not so good. We've been to Vera Cruz several times they are a bit basic and old fashioned but have 2 bedrooms and in a great position.

Katy

Thank you all so much for your advice, suggestions and recommendations. After much deliberation, we have settled for the Guardamar area as I think it meets our needs this time around. We'll take time to explore further afield in our little car when we arrive as the thought of the Moraira/Javea/Calpe areas still appeal to me. This might be on the cards for next year if we can fit in dates and times. Fingers crossed now that the weather will be kind to us last week Feb/beg March!
Thanks again.

Mairi

hi Mairi07 theres a good chinese restaurant in Guardamar round by lidls