The Truth about living on the Costa del Sol
When people think about the Costa del Sol many assumptions jump to mind, whether it’s the glitz and glamour of Puerto Banus, the beach clubs and nightlife, stunning luxury villas or the high rises of Torremolinos and package holidays.
They are all there (although much more complex than their reputations), and so different that they could be worlds apart, but they are really close together along a beautiful stretch of coastline! The real truth about life on the Costa del Sol, is there are so many different ways to live and places to be that everyone can have their own perfect version.
I love the diversity here of people, cultures and places, and really believe that there’s something for everyone. However, where I think people go wrong is imagining that life under the Spanish sun will be idyllic and problem free. Whoever coined the phrase “living the dream” which is toted around all over the place here should have been set right – you can’t live a dream, you can only live your life but in a different environment. Basically it’s the same s***t, but with better weather and in fact it’s more difficult because you don’t know anyone and normally don’t speak the language and so you’re battling with a whole loads of other issues.
However for me, the lifestyle I can get for me and my family is unrivalled and all the difficulties are worth it for the benefits it gives me. It’s a wonderful place to raise kids, I love the culture and the food and sunshine definitely makes me happier. So I would say if you’ve always wanted to live on the Costa del Sol go for it, it’s a wonderful place to be and there are some great bargains to be had now on the property market. Just make sure you have realistic expectations, be prepared for the difficulties and enjoy everything the place has to offer and you’ll be very happy.
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