Hi Brian & Carrie. Many thanks for your informative vlogs on Alicante. We are from the UK and have had a holiday home in the Southern Costa Blanca for the last 7 years. We’ve just sold the house and bought an apartment in Alicante Centro (we move in later this month - again as a holiday home). It’s very central - close to Luceros. We love the “little big City” as it has everything and also very good transport systems for visiting other places. Hopefully you’ll be back to Alicante soon and we can catch up😊 Enjoy the rest of your adventure!! Graham & Lou

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Graham and Lou, We absolutely Loved Alicante and will be back someday. We will probably be thirsty when we arrive :) We will do our very best to enjoy every moment of our time traveling. We feel very lucky. Thank you CHEERS!!

@joethrelfall6370

Жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie i love Alicante! stayed at a hotel just up from la isleta. easy to walk or tram into centre of Alicante. beeñ many times to Alicante my sister is a languages teacher here in the uk so speaks fluent spannish.

Spain is the great unknown for North America, the Spanish know how to enjoy the small pleasures of life and our great Country with its spectacular landscapes, gastronomy and varied climate. All the best

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Luis, all the best to you as well. CHEERS!!

This is the video I’ve been looking for Thank you 😎👍🏽

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching!!! Cheers!!! 🍻

Thanks again for the medical and phone info. We are learning a lot from you both.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Jose! CHEERS!!

Hi guys….planning on moving to Spain in November so doing my homework and found you! Thanks so much.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Sharon! Thank you for watching and supporting our channel!! Good luck with your big move, congratulations!! Cheers 🍻

I have lived in España for twenty years, down the coast from Alicante. I love the water front area of the town the wavy pavement, the Ban-Yan trees and the narrow back streets full of restaurants and bars. Alicante and the Provence is wonderful. I ride a motorcycle in much of it.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

We really enjoyed the area as well. We didn't make it South of Alicante but plan to be back someday. Thanks for watching!! Cheers!!!🍻

Just came across you two and thank you so much for these videos. Super useful information as my spouse and I are looking to go abroad. Thank you 🙏

@BrianandCarrie

5 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for watching!! We are happy that you found our channel! Safe and happy travels! Cheers!!🍻

Really enjoyed this video. It was lovely to see such a nice, civilized lifestyle with the best of city and beach, great bars, markets,, architecture, etc. You did a great job both giving a sense of the city's personality and giving all the practical details. When you started off by saying your rent was over $900 I really thought your final figure would have been much higher. Alicante might not have been on my radar but now it is...

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the comments. We didn't really know much about Alicante but soon realized everything it had to offer. We had fun going up the coast to Altea, Calpe and Villajoyosa on the tram as well. I'm not sure if you had the chance to watch our videos on those places but we loved using the tram system. Thank you again for your support. Cheers 🍻

@seamusmullarkey5996

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie I will be definitely be checking out those other videos. I appreciate the thought and work you put into these. I'm originally from Ireland but have lived in New York for over 25 years. I've just started working on contracts that are completely remote from anywhere in the world. I lived in Barcelona for a couple of years nearly 30 years ago, which I think is now very expensive and crowded with tourists. So, I'm realizing how many other options are out there....

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! We wish we could have explored more of Spain but our 90 days had expired. We had to move on but we will be back soon. Good luck and safe travels!

Thanks for sharing the cost ! Would love to visit Spain

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

You should! We loved Spain so much! We do a cost of living video after each location. Thank you for watching our channel!! Cheers!!!🍻

$1789!!! What a deal for living the early retirement dream! Love you both! 😍 much

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

It really is, we are loving early retirement and exploring the world. Being affordable is what makes it all possible. Love you girl! Cheers 🍻

Love it!

We are targeting these places; england, greece, spain, italy, turkey, latin america and the south east asian countries. What your doing right now is giving us a lot of advantages ahead of time, so thank you too for sharing.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like a great trip!! We will be in South East Asia this time next year. Thanks again for watching!!

@peterkelly5672

Жыл бұрын

Don’t live in England or rest of UK there’s a reason why it’s now called rip off Britain cost of living crisis everything so expensive 😂😂

Alicante is great to wine & dine. It is not expensive and tastes great. And most likely you can find restaurants with a menu del dia. That is always a three course diner including wine and water for around 16€ pp

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Barry, there are a lot of options for sure. Spain is much less than where we are from in the US. We are from Bellingham, North Seattle and it can get expensive. In Montenegro and Albania, we were paying 5-10 euros for a meal with a beer or glass of wine, so we ate out a lot more. Thank you for watching our channel. Cheers!!🍻

Super important information for my wife and I who are planning on a similar lifestyle in the next 2 years with a budget of around $2500 a month. I will be 52 so just be living off passive income for a while. Thanks for sharing

@BrianandCarrie

11 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much for watching ☺

Thanks for all the great videos! We'll probably be traveling in your footsteps. Can you tell me what type of converter you're using for your electronic devices?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! Glad you're finding the info helpful. Here in Spain we're using a E/F converter. Best of luck in your travels.... It's a wonderful adventure! Cheers 🍻

Great video - thanks for all the wonderful wisdom and insight! Would you mind sharing a "linked"/info on the International Health Care plan you have found you trust and are happy with?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Michael, we use Cigna Global. They have several options to choose from. CHEERS!!

Hello there I love your vlog! Very informative. In which part of Alicante did you stay? We are visiting Alicante by November.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, Pilar. We stayed a block down from the central market. Thank you for watching and safe travels! Cheers!!!🍻

Hi Brian and Carrie....Alicante is amazing indeed. We visited years ago.Very informative video,like all others. Southern Spain is gorgeous ,the sea, the mountains, the atmosphere...you fill like you are on a permanent vacation. Greetings Lily and Al

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

Lily and Al, Alicante is still on top of our list of places to return to. So many places yet to explore before we even think about stopping for any more than a month but when we do we want to spend time in Southern Spain. One day we will get there. Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!!🍻

HI - just came across your channel and finding it quite helpful. Should note that prices have definitly gone up since this. I started playing with dates to get an idea of pricing and for a month Feb 2023 / Sept 2023 / April 2024 the prices are all round the US$1500 mark (AU$2250). Gotta love the Covid Tax on travel these days :(. Definitely giving me some good ideas though at taking a 7-8mth long trip to Europe in 2025 though, thank you.

@BrianandCarrie

6 ай бұрын

We would agree! The prices have gone up substantially in the last 2 years. Thank you for watching our channel. We are glad that you found us!! Cheers!!🍻

Great info. We needed a phone plan during our visit. Next time...I know. I need to also look into idealista for a long-term rental (6 months) as we look for a home to buy in Spain.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

We've been very pleased with Orange and would definitely recommend. In each location we've been so far there have been multiple stores where we could go to top up our data each month. Cheers 🍻

Comparing to US rooms, European rooms are small. Th ratio of space utility/rent is higher than in US. I would cut the rent by living a way from center and enjoy eating out more to maximize the Spain experiences. Thx for sharing.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Ed. Very true!! We usually do look for Airbnb to be outside of the main area of the city. You will see that in our Valencia and Sevilla videos we stayed in neighborhoods that were less expensive. In Alicante, we wanted to be near the beach.🙂 In Sevilla, we were able to eat out a bit more. Thanks so much for the advice!! Cheers!!!

i live there since semptber 2021 its so nice :-)

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

Alicante is such a great place to live! Love the vibe!

I think I stayed at the same apartments as you. Andres's place? Really friendly and helpful guy. I'm British though living in Amsterdam and I visit Alicante 2-3 per year. By the way, there are much cheaper Airbnb's to be had there. I stayed at a great place with a rear sun terrace near the train station for almost half what I would pay right in town. Anyway, always good to see your videos. Take care.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Craig! Yes! It was Andre's place, he was great! If we ever get back to Alicante we would probably stay in a different location. We loved how close it was to everything but a bit loud for us. Amsterdam is on our bucketlist! Someday.... Cheers 🍻

@craigadani4601

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie I thought so. Yes it could be a little noisy there but quite pleasant and compact little apartments he has there. I'll be heading back to Alicante next month. Any plans for you to return?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

We are in Sarande, Albania currently. We leave tomorrow for Santorini for a month before heading to Portugal. Probably won't be back in Spain until 2023. The Schengen rules interfere with some of our travel plans. 🤨

@craigadani4601

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie Wow! Albania? How cool. Well I haven't been there but I have been to Santorini which I'm sure you know is stunning. I'll be on the island of Lesbos for a few weeks in August. I can highly recommend it. Very calm and serene. Enjoy your travels guys. I'm sure you will.

At the 3:00 mark, there is a Tim Horton's there at the train station??! Wow! A little piece of Canada a long way from here! Shocking. Your costs are always very affordable and certainly make me think that all of this is very manageable at $1789 for a month (even two years ago)! The breakdown is very useful as always. Cheers to both as always.

@BrianandCarrie

2 ай бұрын

Overall Spain is still relatively still affordable. Even the Tim Horton's! 😁We need to get back to Spain. We had an amazing time but only scratched the surface.

@robertmcfarlane4151

Ай бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie Saw Tim Horton's in Glasgow too!! Woah!!

We want to do the same !! You are an inspiration !! Thank you for sharing your experience ! I have a question , if you need medical control for your hypertension or Thyroid medication, how would you do with the medical Insurrance? Is it possible to have that ?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Gloria. We will be going to the pharmacy here in Portugal to ask some questions in the coming days. We don't have any daily medications however I do use an inhaler occasionally. I will see what I need to pick up a new one. It will differ from country to country I'm sure. Thank you for watching and for the kind words. Cheers!!!🍻

HAHAHA! Must be a lot of Canadians there, I saw a familiar TIM HORTON'S coffee shop lol! Ok, I could live there then!

Great information guys. 🙏👏😀. Great job managing your cost of travel to a less than $2000 per month. It is sad but in the states it cost us more than that for medical insurance per month 🥲 and that does not include copays and deductibles 🥲.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mohammed! High health care cost is the reason why we Americans can't retire and remain in the U.S. until we are 67. Sad but true... CHEERS!!

@mohammedsharif2651

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie Totally agree. I am enjoying your videos and can’t wait to see where you will travel and finally decide to stay. My wife and I visited Spain 🇪🇸 for a month (in Sept and Oct 2021) and loved it. Your videos took me back with good memories. Thank you and cheers. 😀👍👏👏

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

So happy that you enjoyed our videos. Thank you for the support. Cheers!!!🍻

@aftabkrishna7274

2 жыл бұрын

@@mohammedsharif2651 I agree. What state are you from ? Have you ever been in Spain or thinking about moving/going like we are? Thanks

@aftabkrishna7274

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie useful video. We are debating about moving to Alicante/ Granada/ Almeria/Malaga/Valencia. Any recommendations? Thanks.

We really appreciate and enjoy your videos, as we're on a plan for really retirement in 5yrs. Curious about your healthcare plan. Is that just for major medical? We're budgeting $1,000 for the two of us, but that's anticipating full coverage.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! The medical plan that we choose to go with is the Silver option through Cigna Global. After a lot of research, we found they offered great add-on options to make your coverage fit exactly what you were looking for, at a reasonable price. They do offer coverage that can be a more major medical style, but then if you would like coverage for preventative and office visits you can add that on. The price we mention in our video is $135 each, which is with a $750 deductible and doesn't include preventative. We may change that at a later point and add on some of the additional options, but right now this fits what we needed. CHEERS!!🍻

@b2g.travel

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie ah, ok. Thank you!

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

👍🍻

Airbnb is very expensive for live more than one month, you can find small flats for 600 euros month all year, this mean 7200 euros year, even you can buy one small flat, in Idealista you can find for 100.000 euros small apartments, you pay 25,000 euros and then 250 euros for month of mortgage in 20 or 25 years, while you are not using this flat you can rent in airbnb...;-)

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Micky for the input. There are a lot off investment opportunities here for anyone interested. Idealista is probably a good starting point. CHEERS!!

@BasicBeachCommunity1

2 жыл бұрын

who do you get the loan through??

@mickybcn7453

2 жыл бұрын

@@BasicBeachCommunity1 Banc Sabadell,La CAIXA,Santander,BBV...etc etc.

@brahmaistrash.indiaisatoil5292

2 жыл бұрын

@@mickybcn7453 its not easy to rent it on Arbnb unless you live in Spain and you clean the appartement yourself. If you hire a management company, you would have to pay them and for 100K , the Arbnb will not make you more than 7 or 10K a year. Those who make good money with Arbnb are the ones near the beach where the condos are more than 100K

@mickybcn7453

2 жыл бұрын

@@brahmaistrash.indiaisatoil5292 I do this job for one friend.

What type of visa do plan on getting for your longer stay? I was going to move to Spain, but even with a Nom-Lucrative Visa they will charge me 25% tax on my income which is SS and a military disability pension. Both combined put me just over the required amount for a full time visa but not if they take a quarter of it every year.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, unfortunately taxes will be apart of any move we decide to make. Every country has different visa requirements. Something that will play into our final decision when the time comes. CHEERS!!

Hey Brian And Carrie - Since you guys are still researching where you would eventually plant your flag as far as homestead is concerned. Atleast, that is what I understood from one of your earlier videos. Would you prefer Spain or Portugal for homestead ? I have been doing some rsearch of my own. And just to bounce it off you. I have heard that Portugal is getting more expensive. And that Spain is better for healthcare. So what are your thoughts, If I may ask? which country would you prefer ?. I would request a little detailed answer if you could, please. And lastly, since you have been to Malaysia and Thailand. Would you consider either of those countaries for Homstead, being an American like me? Thanks in advance. By the way if I may say this. You guys look good and happy together and that is like a breath of fresh air in today's world. Keep on keepin on!

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words!! As much as we loved our time in Portugal it is becoming more expensive. With everything considered including health care as you mentioned we would say that Spain may be a better option. We prefer using public transportation and Spain leads in that category as well. With the cost of living comparable now, we may have to revisit Spain as an option. As for SE Asia, we would not consider Malaysia for any extended period of time, although Kuala Lumpur is a great city it is more expensive than the rest of the region with less to offer (food and beaches). We would consider Thailand for a longer stay but not to "plant our flag". The time zone and climate would be too much for us long term. We are 15 hrs ahead of family and friends and being from the PNW this humidity is wearing on us!!! Thank you again for the kind words and for watching our channel!! We very much appreciate the support. Good luck and safe travels. Cheers!!🍻

@sunmand6136

Жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie Thanks !

Can you pls. talk to us about access to cash or how you do it on a regular basis? thank you. According to Mick & Trudie they did not open an account in Turkey and transferring money from UK to their place now is a bit of a hassle.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

We just launched a video this morning and we talk about how we access our money. It is one of the most asked questions we get!

Can't even find an apartment for that in Florida or New York. Well you can, but in areas that are no good.

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

We are from Bellingham WA. about 100 miles north of Seattle where we were basically priced out of our hometown. Beautiful part of the county but expensive! We are in Thailand now and just left Vietnam where prices are incredibly less expensive than even Spain. Thank you for watching our channel and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻

Hi guys! Love your channel. When staying at an Airbnb for 30 days, does the price automatically drop 30-50 percent or do you negotiate the price down?

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

Hi, Joey. The price will automatically drop. It is always a significant savings but can be less depending on the time of year. If you go to a listing and play with the dates you can see what it will cost without booking. Great question! Thank you for watching! Cheers!!🍻

@Getting__Lost

Жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie Wow! You responded to me within ten minutes! How sweet! I figured it would be around 3 am in Spain, but you must be staying somewhere further west. Lol

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

Yes! We are in SE Asia! We are currently in Vietnam and heading back to Thailand in a couple of days. Out of all the places that we have been Alicante is still one of our favorite places!

@rusted5408

Жыл бұрын

I uae airbnb a lot. It depends. Some places give discounts for 30 days some to not.

@bridgetwoodward8031

Жыл бұрын

Hi! Wondering when the off season is in Alicante and the weather.

Hi! Did you guys find any English worship in alicante? Thank you!

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

We did not look for one but it is a large ex-pat community for British so, we are sure there is a place. You could probably find an ex-pat community on FB that could answer that question. Thank you for watching! Cheers!!!🍻

There are direct flights from Cluj to Alicante and guess where the lower real estate prices are :)

Can you give more information on your health insurance?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Jay! We discuss in more detail our insurance in a more recent video. It is "Travel Around The World Full Time Top 10 Questions". Hope it will give you the information you are looking for. Thanks for watching! Cheers!🍻

Netflix!

Hey Carrie & Brian, did you prefer Valencia or Alicante overall?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Sarah, we really enjoyed Valencia but preferred Alicante. Access to the beach, marina and the easy use of the tram system made it a better choice for use. Cheers 🍻

@sarahbladen3478

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie Thanks for that! I’m also wondering about whether there is a bohemian old town vibe there? Enjoy the rest of your incredible trip💫

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Not that we noticed. It has more of a beach vibe. Thank you for the support Sarah!

What global insurance company/plan do you use?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

We are using Signa Global.

When you say dollars do you men euros? :) Just wanting the know the currency :)

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, we have been better at clarifying dollars and euros in our more recent cost of living videos. Our end of the month total spend is always in dollars. Thank you for watching!!! Cheers 🍻

927$ is not terrible at all, if you have your utilities included in the price, since if you were to add electricity, water, heating, and "community fees" on top of those theoretical 600$, it wouldn´t be much cheaper than that. Not to mention renting a flat in Spain without a job can be a bit of a nightmare, and/or force you to pay up to 6 months in advance... What I don´t understand is how are you planning to spend "3 months to a year" in Spain, unless you have legal residence. It´s up to 90 days tops, and I don´t think you can leave the country and reenter the next day either... Best.

@SrTango007

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, good question. Plz clarify. Also, what is the name of the company you are using for medical & how does Orange SIM card work??cuz we have T.mobil which is a German company(Deutsche Telecom). Our plan indicates we have international usage so do we still need a different SIM card?? Thanks, we are jealous, wish we were there😊.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Valid points for sure. We didn't take utilities into consideration and we should have. thank you. As far as staying longer then 90 days you are also correct. We only get 90 days in the Schengen Area. We are just now starting this journey to find our landing spot. We have done a lot of research and know that when we do find that amazing place we will have to apply for a permanent residency visa depending on the country. CHEERS!!

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

We are not familiar with how T.mobil works here in Europe. The plan you are currently on may work just fine through out Europe. Being from the U.S. it would have cost us a lot more money to stay on our current plan (AT&T) then to just switch over to Orange. You get a new number and use a different sim card is all. Phone numbers don't really make a difference, we communicate with family and friends back home with Instagram or Whatsapp. Both are free. It's actually a better plan at a third the cost of what we were paying in the United States. Go figure... Cigna Global is the insurance company we use. CHEERS!!

@SrTango007

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie Forgot to add we are in USA so it is T-mobile here, but technically it is a European owned company, "Deutsche Telecom". We never knew that when we first got their coverage which is excellent.

Curious...which global insurance company are you using? Thanks in advance.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

We use Cigna Global. We give a few details about it in the video. Cheers!!!🍻

@justcallmerabbit4914

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie Yes, thank you, we just didn't catch the company name. Sounds great!

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

😀

what medical insurance do you use?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Peter, we use Cigna Global. Cheers!!! 🍻

I can’t find the link for the place you stayed. Thanks

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

Here you go, Alexandra! Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!!🍻 www.airbnb.com/rooms/24647955?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=b79c7c28-b64c-4534-ac1e-45c568a64be0

Hi there Sorry what is name of the health insurance pls Thanks

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

Hi! We use Cigna Global. Thanks for watching!

Where are you now? I live in DC planing on moving to Spain. Have you checked out Malaga Estepona to be specific.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Pete. We are in Lagos, Portugal right now and have not been to Malaga. We love this entire region of Southern Europe. Spend the 90 days and tour around as much as you can. Thanks for watching and safe travels! Cheers!!! 🍻

@petephma1657

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie hey guys love what you do! I was just looking at the Lagos video you guys did! Awesome! Will stay tune keep living the dream!

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Pete! You do the same!!

what was the name of the arbnb you stayed at?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Gail. We forgot to add the link!! Here you go... Cheers!!!🍻 www.airbnb.com/rooms/24647955?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=ccab1f19-c3ad-493e-9ff5-36591fff9a23

I wanted to purchase residence property at alicante... how much cost will expense

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Sanjay, we really aren't informed on what real estate prices are in Alicante, just what our monthly costs were. Wish we had more information for you 😪 Cheers 🍻

They don’t have unlimited data plans for cell phones?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

They do but you'll have to pay for it. We only got what we needed.

Just back from Alicante with a two day trip to Valencia as well. Both are great cities. Quite different from each other, but each has its plus points. Valencia´s architecture is imrpressive and it is so well kept. They must spend many millions on keeping it so clean and keeping the older buildings in such good shape. One thing I did not like was the smoking. No matter where you go in Spain, you can just be wandering around in the city, stop at a cafe, beach etc, you will likely have someone sitting or walking in front of you, next to you, behind you, that is smoking a cigarette or often a cigar. This time, however, I had rudeness and real hostility from waiters at the places on the beach in San Juan Playa and discovered how you can be treated if you are on your own as a female in that area. I did not experience this sort of thing in Alicante city center or at the places along the promenade, but it was prevalent at places on the beach. At Casa Julio, the waiter was completely unprofessional and sleazy and was asking all kinds of questions about who I was staying with, whether I was alone, which hotel and personal questions. At restaurant Mediterraneo which is at the beach close to Costa Blanca tram stop, the waiters would not let me sit at a table I wanted to sit at because of the heat (there was a breeze where I wanted to sit) despite many tables being free, saying they were only for four people and tried to force me to sit at a table for two, so I left. Went on to Restaurante Aitana, which is just maybe 50 yards away, where the male waiter was extremely rude and aggressive. I had asked for a menu which went and reluctantly got for me, but then before even handing it to me, shouted at me loudly and in a hostile manner, ´Rapido Rapido, the kitchen is closing! ´I asked what time the kitchen was closing and he said, it is closed, so I said, well then I don´t want to order anything and I left. Those particular places at the beach in San Juan Playa seem to be catering primarily for tourists and are seem to be selecting their customers based on who they think will spend more and leave more tips. Clearly solo female travellers are not welcome because they think you won´t spend enough. It felt horrible and I won´t be going back there. Similar places at Postiguet beach were much friendlier, though at the ones on the promendade, cigarette smoke is an issue. The xiringuito directly on the beach not too far from Sangueta tram stop is very nice and had good food and service and seemed to have no problem serving a girl on her own.

@BrianandCarrie

10 ай бұрын

Yes, both these cities offer something totally different. We appreciated each of them but preferred Alicante as it checked more boxes for us. Sounds like you had some unfortunate experiences there, sorry to hear that. Hope the rest of your trip went well. Cheers 🍻

@LaChicaconSuerte-1111

10 ай бұрын

Thank you. I preferred Alicante city center to San Juan Playa in terms of how I was treated. Overall, I preferred Valencia as a potential place to live as it is just a much bigger city with more to see and do and had a more cosmopolitan feel to it. I hope to visit Valencia again to get to know it and the people there a bit better. - The following is long, so please read at your leisure. My intention is to warn others about the unexpected and deeply insulting and disrespectful treatment that I received. - With regards to how I was treated in San Juan Playa, I unfortunately had deeply disappointing experience with the apartment that I booked on a very well known Booking site. I booked a two bedroom apartment that had a high score from a Spanish woman. Her daughter met me at the apartment to give me the keys and show me around. The daughter was polite, helpful, and well-mannered. She was studying science at university, so I mentioned to her that I am a scientist and that have a PhD in Molecular Biology. She thought I was much younger than I am (this happens often), so I mentioned my age and that I got my PhD in 2004. I also mentioned that I might be looking to rent a place longterm in the area. She mentioned this to her mother, the owner of the apartment, and her mother asked her to come over to the apartment to help me search for apartments. I thought that was helpful and said the girl could come over, but on the day, she informed me that she was busy and that instead, her mother would come over. Her mother came over and immediately offered to take me to some estate agents (realtors) in the area. I thought this was kind of her, so accepted. We walked to a couple in San Juan Playa and they both said they had nothing and that it was very difficult to find anything available to rent in the area. The owner then offered to drive to San Vicente, where the university is located, saying it might be worth looking for a place to rent there. I said I had to meet someone later and was not sure we had time. She said she thought there was enought time and so I agreed. She drove to San Vicente and we walked to around three estate agents in the area, which was interesting to see. It was clean and seemed to be a nice neighborhood, though it was not really where I wanted to live as I like to be by the sea. All of the estate agents said most of the apartments in the area are rented only to university students who each rent just one room. We headed back to San Juan Playa and got caught in traffic on the way. The owner was rushing to get back as I had to meet someone in San Juan Playa at 8pm. As we arrived in San Juan Playa, close to the beach, she suddenly turned to me while driving, and said in a stern tone, Áre you meeting your boyfriend? ´ I was surprised and said, no, I am meeting a friend. Amiga´. I had booked the apartment only for myself and had never mentioned any boyfriend. She turned to me and said (rather rudely and aggressively and in a domineering mannner), demanded to know, ´Si, si, amiga, chica o chico! Chica o chico!´ (ie, yes, yes, but are you meeing a girl or a boy, a girl or a boy!) I was absolutely shocked and taken aback. It was so utterly inappropriate, sexist, disrespectful, and thoroughly unprofessional.´ It then became very obvious that her intention from the start was (apart from wanting practice her English for free with a native speaker (very common in Spain), to try to find out if I was going to be meeting guys (and bring them to the apartment???). It was simply vile. Would she have dared demanded to know who whether I was meeting ´my boyfriend´and whether I was meeting a girl or boy if I had been a man? Would she have dared to do so if I had not been on my own and had others with me? Ofcourse not. I paid so money which was quite happy to take, but clearly not willing to extend the slightest bit of respect to me as a customer. Clearly, she was also deeply suspicious as to why I would want a spacious apartment with two bedrooms just for myself, which obviously I took because I wanted space and because I could afford it! Well, never again. Initially, I had been interested in booking her apartment for another trip of several months, but obviously now, she won´t be getting one more cent from me. Actually, after making the booking for this apartment, I had asked about what beds were in the second bedroom, which is set up as a child´s bedroom, as in one photo it showed one single bed and in another it showed two single beds, and I had a friend who lives an hour south of Alicante who has a one year old and who was thinking to visit me with her baby for a night. The owner of the apartment informed me it was a single bed with another single pull out bed underneath it No doubt, this simple question also led her to become suspicious about why I would want to book this apartment just for myself, though I have never encountered such attitudes and suspicions in all my years of travel in other countries. I was absolutely furious and beyond disgusted by her behaviour and treatment of me, but I thought it best not to get into an argument, given that I was still sitting in her car, and only a few days into my stay which was for 11 nights, and knew it would be difficult to find somewhere to move to or to get my money back. I have since written a review on the site and given her the lowest score possible, explainining how I was treated. I will also be making a formal complaint. I think it is no coincidence that all these incidents happened to me in San Juan Playa are related to my being a woman on my own and highlight the sexist attitudes and . In my case, I do think there may also have been an element of racism. Given this ´theme´ of sexism and disrespect towards me as a woman travelling on my own, that unexpectedly emerged during my vist to Alicante (of a total of nearly three weeks), I wanted to share my experience here for the awareness of other travellers to the area. @@BrianandCarrie

@susieadams1553

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for your postings I was wondering how things are for a woman on her own . I have been thinking of buying an apartment but as I am recently widowed it is rather daunting. You did the right thing to move on when the waiters attitude was off . Unfortunately Spain has many wonderful things but the male attitude can be very aggressive ( I experienced this in my younger single years on holidays ) . I hope they are educating their young men to be kind and courteous lol. Maybe you should do a blog for single female travellers 😊

@LaChicaconSuerte-1111

8 ай бұрын

You´re welcome and good luck with your apartment search! I am currently searching myself. I´m sorry to hear that you have been recently widowed. Please don´t be daunted and I am sure you will find the right spot for yourself. Have you seen much of Spain? Yes, attitudes in Spain are still quite backward, but ofcourse not everyone has such attitudes and younger people (teenagers, people in their 20s) are different and generally better-behaved (except for in Mallorca where even the young children can be very badly behaved and people of all ages can be extremely rude and disrespectful). I have found that the worst behaviour I experience tends to be from certain people in their 40s or 50s who still have quite outdated attitudes (racist, sexist, etc), but can also sometimes be from people in their 30s who simply have resentment for foreigners despite knowing that their livelihoods depend mainly on foreign tourists, renters, etc. Still, the behaviour in Alicante and Valencia was at least ten times better than in Mallorca, where the level of xenophobia is very high and there is a huge amount of disrespect in the society as well as almost no respect for following rules and laws such as rules of the road. Most of the people (80-90%) I came across in Alicante and Valencia did have at least some level of manners and respectful behaviour. In Mallorca it is at best 50%, so every other interaction you have with someone is likely to involve being treated rudely, with disrespect, being sworn at, having obscene gestures made at you etc. I think I could easily write a blog on Mallorca, which is a stunningly beautiful island, but not a very welcoming one! I lived there for six years, but eventually gave up on the place. @@susieadams1553

@susieadams1553

8 ай бұрын

Hello there thanks for the lovely reply I am sad to hear about Mallorca as I had several lovely holidays there in the past with my dear late husband . Glad to hear that Alicante is better . I am currently looking around Rojales and also Mojacar which has the charm of old Spain but I will look into Alicante city now . Sending my very Best wishes to you x

You quickly mentioned a European version of Aibnb that was cheaper; could you provide the name or the link? Thank you!

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

HI, here is the link to Idealista. We are finding it's not always cheaper and the rentals are more long-term. So far, we've only used Airbnb. Hopefully, this helps!! Cheers!!!🍻 www.idealista.com/

Seems to me to be getting very expensive over here

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi B J. We found it to be affordable compared to what we are used to in the US where we are from. However, after being in Montenegro and Albania with the cost of living so low, we can see how Spain seems to be expensive. I guess with the amazing culture, food, weather, and overall vibe comes the higher cost. We loved Spain and plan to be back, hopefully, the cost stays somewhat affordable. Thank you for watching our video! Cheers!!!🍻

What company do you use for health insurance?

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

Hi! We use Cigna Global

@RedWhiskMedia

Жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie Thanks!

@95cart95

Жыл бұрын

Do you do a monthly quote for insurance for each time you move? Or did you do only one for 12 months?

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

Sorry for the late reply. Some of these add on responses are hard to find. We do a 12 month one time payment.

Where is your 'next stop'?

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, John! We are currently in Romania. We've been to Montenegro, Albania, Greece and Portugal since we were in Alicante and Alicante is still one of our favorite places! Thank you for watching. Cheers 🍻

How much is laundry or am I just a very practical person

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Sam, We pick Airbnb's that have a washing machine. Most places in Europe wont have a dryer but we have had no problem air drying our laundry. We have seen laundromats but have had no reason to use one. Hope this helps. CHEERS!!

@dcc613

2 жыл бұрын

@sam pickering, don't know if you've gotten your answer. The cost for coin laundry in Villena, which is about 45 mins north of Alicante, is 4 Euro for 13 kg and 6 Euro for 16 kg and the detergent is included as it auto dispensed in the washing machine. The cost of drying the clothes is .50 E for 5 mins, 1E for 10 mins, 1.5 E for 15 mins, and 2 E for 20 mins (with 1E min to start). I just came back from Villena after staying a month there and visited Alicante on a weekend. It is such a beautiful city with wonderful beaches.

@dcc613

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie by the way, your video is really wonderful. Thanks for providing the info.

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the information Damon! Cheers 🍻

@BrianandCarrie

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊

What is your global insurance company?

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

We use Cigna Global.

@KellyMcInroy-Edwards

2 ай бұрын

@brianandCarrie - does Cigna Global provide coverage in the US as well?

What is the crime rate, via police

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

Safety is not an issue in Spain.

Your monthly cost is so low. Well done for living a good life on a budget

@BrianandCarrie

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! Cheers!

Sorry to ask, I know you guys are always moving around, are on a pension?

@BrianandCarrie

8 ай бұрын

We are currently living off savings and any money that we can generate threw KZread. We won't qualify for our pension or 401k for another 5 years.

Hello, I'm thinking of renting to the south of Spain soon. I have a pension of about 2100 euro per month. I can buy a property and a car so no rent to pay every month. I reckon 160 euro would cover utilities every week, that's electric, water, health insurance, petrol, house and car insurance and the Suma for the property, also internet and phones etc. Would 2100 keep us above water ?? Many thanks in advance

@BrianandCarrie

Жыл бұрын

With out rent, we would say that you could get by just fine! Thank you for watching and safe travels. Cheers!!!🍻

@jasper3127

10 ай бұрын

@@BrianandCarrie I .

I can never find airbnbs under 1500$ 🥲

@BrianandCarrie

11 ай бұрын

You need to go to the filter tab and filter out everything that is over the price that you are willing to pay. You will find hundreds of options pop up depending on the time of year.