A number of British expats have said they are fed-up with the ‘over development’ of the Costa del Sol – with one family even selling up after 13 years.
Multiple residents this week branded the region ‘Costa del Concrete’ due to the seemingly non-stop construction, particularly between Estepona and Marbella.
The comments flooded in on a post in an expat forum made by a prospective buyer from the US.
Heather Santos has been spending some weeks in Estepona but is not impressed by how ‘built up’ it is.
She said: ‘I’m just trying to figure out what the allure to this region is? Please tell me! It’s a lot more built up than I thought it would be and the sky cranes go on for miles.’
Santos said she was hoping for something ‘more like Belize’ or Costa Rica.
Brits and other expats commented on the post to say they agreed with her.
Lisa Joanna said: ‘They have totally ruined the coast! It no longer has much allure to be honest.
‘I’ve been here 23 years and all they keep doing is building and building, c**p beaches, no infrastructure, no logic and lots of greed. Traffic is horrendous.
‘Tarifa and the Costa de Luz is a much nicer area!’
Tracey Bristow added: ‘We just sold after 13 years as the allure had gone.’
Helen Conway said: ‘The coast line is one long road of developments. If you are looking for less development head inland 10mins and its quite a different story.’
Others agreed, insisting there are much calmer areas to be found in Cadiz or just a short drive inland.
Chloe Mosby said: ‘Come to Conil de la Frontera, we lived in Sotogrande for a year and went through the exact same motions… it’s beautiful here, just stunning, and yes busy in the summer but very spread out so you can live just outside the mayhem which is also mainly two months of the year.
‘It has gorgeous pine trees and bike paths for miles – we love this place.’
Nanette chimed in: ‘Yes, visit Tarifa and to Zahara de los Atunes and Vejer de la Frontera. Stunning beaches in Zahara, beautiful white village in Vejer and Tarifa is very special with its bohemian vibe and proximity to Morocco.’
Sandra Russell also recommended Morrocco, saying ‘it is like spain was before the speculators came.’
She added: ‘This is Costa del Concrete now. The Canaries is the same with desert. In Cadiz, Huelva, Caceres maybe, you can check out the Atlantic coast.’
Mark Betts said: ‘Chiclana in Cadiz has some of the best beaches in Spain and loads of history. All low rise hotels. It’s beautiful.’
Pauline Connor, agreed, adding: ‘Definitely try Cadiz province, we also really like Ayamonte which is on the river across from Portugal in Huelva province, beautiful beaches and more authentic.’
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
