There are many people who emigrate and live on the Costa Blanca, but the question is, why do people move to this part of the world?

We asked Gerd Mueller from Javea Estate Agents, who provided us with five of the many reasons people decide to up sticks and settle into a new Costa Blanca home.

1) Recreation sports

It is hard to think of any social or sporting activity that is not catered for whatever the nationality of residents. Every conceivable water sport, from the world-famous Admirals Cup sailing event to simple snorkelling via windsurfing, canoeing, you name it, you can do it here.

There are numerous golf, tennis, football, rugby, bowls, and badminton, even cricket clubs open to all nationalities. Even skiing and winter sports are only a few hours’ drive away. Amateur theatrical companies, some of whom boast well-known retired thespians keeping their hand in bridge, computer clubs, the list goes on and on. Nobody need ever be bored or lonely on the Costa Blanca.

2) Shopping

There are many supermarket chains operating in the region, and never too far away will be one or more that stock your favourite home brands. Consequently, for the gourmets amongst the residents, there is an extensive variety of culinary delights to be enjoyed without having to travel far. Apart from the many local Spanish and other restaurants featuring their national dishes, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Japanese, and others are never far away.

3) Acceptable working environment

Work prospects and setting up a business on the Costa Blanca is a complicated subject for foreign nationals. However, there are opportunities for casual work tending to the needs of holiday homeowners and similar that can provide either some cash or be built up into a regular Spanish registered business. Despite the advent of the credit crisis and growing unemployment in Spain in common with the rest of the EU, there is no apparent evidence yet of resentment by local Spanish employees of foreign workers except for illegal immigrants.

4) Excellent medical care

One problem that takes time to accept is that in a hospital, it is expected that general care of in-patients is either performed or paid for by relatives. However, by UK standards, private medical insurance is cheaper and, in the main, considerably less hassle to get the treatment required. For prospective residents with children, education is an important consideration. Reasonably priced private education to acceptable standards for British children is available in most areas on the Costa Blanca. Spanish state education is a different matter and is dependent on the age of the child.

5) Good education

Younger children can quickly pick up the language when they are in the school environment, and most reports we have are that the teachers are patient and helpful in getting a foreign child settled in. Prospective residents will have to make further enquiries to the suitability of state schools for older children wherever they are proposing to live. Coming to live on the Costa Blanca has a tremendous amount to offer expats, whatever their age, which have had enough of, or wants a change from the lifestyle and politics of their country of birth. Northern European countries, not excepting the North of France, can expect 7-8 months of cold, damp weather – not so in the Costa Blanca.