Moving to Albox

Matthew’s article this week concentrates on moving to Albox – in remotest Almería.

How about going deep, deep down in Albox?

Ups
Apart from the occasional snow flurry during the winter months, the town of Albox enjoys fairly gentle weather. January to March can be windy and wet, but on the whole Albox has a mild climate compared to other inland areas of Spain. And from April to December rain rarely stops play (or indeed work) with a blue sky the rule rather than the exception. Temperatures during the summer months can reach the mid 30s celsius.

Downs
Almería’s a dry province. So water’s a premium, with shortages hitting in summer months. As in other parts of Spain, some housing developments have now been classified as illegal builds which blights the landscape somewhat.

In and out
The nearest airport’s Almería, less than an hour’s drive. Murcia’s the next nearest airport – about 2 to 2.5 hours away. Although more distant Alicante is more accessible at around 2 hours drive because of its better road.  The coast’s approximately 45 mins away… including Mojacar Playa, a popular seaside resort, with Mojacar Pueblo a village nestled on a hillside overlooking the Playa. Within an hour or so’s drive, you’ll reach Cabo de Gata – a protected area. Work has now started on a motorway to connect Albox with the rest of Spain – due to complete in spring 2015.

Education
As with a number of Spanish schools, the I:E:S Martín García Ramos offers a multilingual education if you count mixing with other nationalities outside of the classroom. However, the the curriculum is solely Spanish. This state secondary has won a number of academic awards. It’s also got more Brits among its pupils than any other foreign nationality.

Shop until you drop…
There’s a market every Tuesday with everything from clothing to household goods and a terrific food section (just don’t trip over the bunnies in sacks).

Property types
There are a number of different property types in and and around Albox. The town has that Andalucian pueblo blanco look going on, as well as a newer, modern feel. You’ll find more traditional homes in the surrounding hamlets.

Market watch
Rustic cottages, €27.950+. Villas, €89.950-€465.000.

In Praise Of
“Albox’s a working industrial town rather than a tourist destination, and, as such, is functional rather than pretty; yet its surrounding areas are stunning. Whitewashed hamlets and villages nestled between fruit groves overlooked by dramatic mountain ranges mean that there’s always something beautiful to look at. For those seeking a truly Spanish lifestyle, Albox’s ideal. Yet there’s also a strong expat presence with a number of clubs and organizations.” Elle Draper (Spain Buddy)

“Albox’s a great place to relocate to as it has something for everyone. It’s a very cosmopolitan town with a wide range or age groups and nationalities here who all interact.  We’ve found that that property market’s increased at a steady pace over the last few months and properties that are priced realistically are selling well.” Karen Oliver (Sol y Mar)

• Are you an expat in Albox? What do you like/dislike about it? Let us know below.

Matthew Hirtes

Matthew Hirtes, our resident broadsheet journalist, moved to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria back in 2004. He’s travelled extensively through Spain, covering it for such publications as Telegraph Travel, Metro, and The Independent. The author of Going Local in Gran Canaria: How To Turn a Holiday Destination into a Home, Matthew truly is a resident expert.

Matthew writes for two sections of Spain Buddy: Moving to Spain and Spanish Football as well as providing Reviews