The southern part of Spain’s Costa Blanca is one of the UK’s favourite overseas destinations, equally popular with holiday homeowners and retirees. From sandy beaches and a balmy climate to affordable homes and expat communities, it ticks just about every box. Could it be the ideal place to kick off your property hunt in 2020?

Location and landscape
A string of connected beach resorts and residential communities stretching south from Torrevieja as far as Pilar de la Horadada, the southernmost town in Alicante province, Orihuela Costa is the focal point of the southern Costa Blanca and one of the most developed areas anywhere on Spain’s coastline.

It’s flatter and drier than the greener, more mountainous northern Costa Blanca. But that just makes strolling along the lively beachfront strips and winding coastal path that connects the resorts nice and easy. There is a great variety of beaches, many of them boasting Blue Flags, with some more exposed and others tucked beneath low craggy cliffs or in coves.

Notable buying spots
The most popular areas that offer easy access to the beach include Punta Prima, Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Dehesa de Campoamor and Mil Palmeras, while slightly quieter communities five minutes’ drive from the sea include La Florida, Villamartín, Los Altos and Los Dolses.

The area around Villamartín Plaza, with its bars, restaurants and live entertainment, is a particular favourite with British buyers who prefer to be away from the seafront. All of these areas are suitable for the holiday rental market.

The lifestyle
Besides the sunshine and affordable property, Orihuela Costa’s lasting appeal lies in its easy access to amenities, beaches and an expat population. You’d struggle to buy somewhere that’s not a short walk from a small supermarket and local drinking hole, while the choice of properties within walking distance of the beach and lively promenade, with a full range of bars and restaurants, is huge.

While Brits buy here more than any other foreign nation and English is widely spoken, you’re likely to encounter other homeowners from Ireland, Scandinavia, Belgium, France, Germany and Holland. Safe to say, the established expat communities, with English-run amenities and clubs, mean you should never feel lonely.

There is a good local bus service for moving up and down the 16-kilometre stretch of coastline, including a service to the landmark shopping mall La Zenia Boulevard, with its boutique stores. For golfers, Orihuela Costa has four quality courses all no more than 10-15 minutes apart, namely Las Colinas, Campoamor, Las Ramblas and Villamartín.

Property
Not many European destinations can match Orihuela Costa for its choice of affordable beach homes. Properties are usually within a gated holiday-style complex or part of a larger more residential community. Either way, communal pools and gardens are the norm, with more extensive facilities, such as gyms and tennis, available in newer developments.

With a budget of €70,000 to €100,000, you’ll have plenty of one- and two-bedroom resale apartments to choose from – the pricier ones being within walking distance to the beach. Spend closer to €150,000 and you could have a new apartment near the beach or one of the larger, more desirable resale apartments, or even a townhouse five minutes off the front.

With €150,000-€200,000, take your pick of large townhouses near the beach, luxury apartments or a short drive from the beach you might stretch to a small villa. Naturally, for somewhere luxury and in a prime front-line location, you’ll need a significantly larger budget.

Getting there
Moving up and down Orihuela Costa and wider Costa Blanca is easy thanks to the AP-7 motorway. It is well connected to airports at Murcia-Corvera to the south-west and Alicante to the north, with transfers to each taking around 40-45 minutes. Year-round flights from the UK are frequent, with Alicante being especially well served from most regional UK airports. Meanwhile, trips into the city of Torrevieja are easy thanks to the N332 national road.