Where to overwinter in spain

[Cervelo]

You mean this month of October? Which months did you do the winters

No, sorry I meant the last month of my fourth tour
I did Jan to Mar '17, Jan to April '18, Nov to April '20 but had to return home beginning of April due to Covid
And my final tour was Nov to April '22 but because of the bad weather that year I left Spain at the end of Feb
And I was lucky I did return home because IIRC that March was on of the wettest for a long time

Spain can be hit or miss when it comes to winter sun, most of the time it should be better than Ireland but you do get periods of time when it's not so pleasant, I had English friends who usually holiday in Kerala India spend a month in Malaga in Mar '18 but didn't enjoy it as it seemed to rain every second day for the month while I was cycling and basking in what you would expect an Irish summer to be
And like wise in Jan and Feb '22 I was complaining about the bad weather I was getting up in Lubrin while 30km down at the coast it was a completely different story

Great to get insights. Do you break up your 4 months? I don't think I could do Nov-March, that's why I like the idea of Christmas as a break.
The location you were in, one understands that places are a lot quieter in the winter, you can't go in the sea, does location affect things?

Only for the cycling I wouldn't have lasted more that a couple of weeks as Mrs C was at home in Ireland for the first three tours
Yes location is a very important consideration when thinking about these type trips and generally speaking the southern or south east coast is warmer then inland destinations

There were many reasons for me picking Lubrin but for the most part it was the hilly area for cycling and my hosts were English speaking and the husband was also a keen cyclist which also had the benefit of an introduction to other cyclists and English speaking people in the greater area

If anybody is thinking of trying an extended holiday or period of time in another country I would suggest baby steps first rather then jumping into a four month tour, that way you can access and adjust you opinions and criteria for what you want or expect to get out of your time there
But always remember that if it all goes sour and you're not enjoying yourself you're only a short flight away from home

 

[Leper]

@Cervelo raises some excellent points re an extended holiday abroad in the off season. You need to research what kind of accommodation you need and where. I reckon you don't need a north or west facing apartment not giving any sun to your balcony/terrace. Walking distance to a suitable beach is also important. You need a supermarket nearby. Local public transport can be an issue. A ground floor apartment probably will get a lot less sun than say an upstairs apartment. Mojacar Pueblo full of hills (as is Lubrin) but you would probably be more comfortable in level areas. Mojacar Playa can be that. Ask questions, query amount payable e.g. Is that the total cost? Is the electricity by "pay cash" meter? Is there an extra charge for wi-fi? etc. etc.

It's your money, be careful how you spend it.

 

[Redzer]

If anybody is thinking of trying an extended holiday or period of time in another country I would suggest baby steps first rather then jumping into a four month tour, that way you can access and adjust you opinions and criteria for what you want or expect to get out of your time there

I've a retirement dream of wintering in the sun from October-March each year. As part of my planning for that I'm hoping to take a 6 month leave of absence from work in October 2027 and relocating solo to Malaga. I'm quite active and would plan on doing lots of cycling, running, etc. as well as joining Walking and Bridge clubs but would also intend coming home for short breaks. I'm hoping that will help me realise if I'm up for that sort of lifestyle for that duration and location before I actually quit my job. Maybe I'll be bored after 2 months and be happier working or staying in Ireland. I doubt it but I want to give it a trial. I can always come home early if I want.

My baby step version first is to go there for a month from mid-March 2027 for a holiday and see how that works out. Maybe I'll be bored after 2 weeks or the weather won't be as good as I hope but that's what I'm actively planning at the moment.

 

[Cervelo]

My baby step version first is to go there for a month from mid-March 2027 for a holiday and see how that works out. Maybe I'll be bored after 2 weeks or the weather won't be as good as I hope but that's what I'm actively planning at the moment.

If I could be so bold as to suggest two things

Start thinking about the type of place you want to rent in Oct '27 and rent it in Mar '27 if possible
As @Leper has suggested you want what I think is referred to as a winter house type property, one that gets a lot of sunlight and stays warmer
Air B&B is great for finding properties to rent, so before you go March, line up a couple of properties and contact the owners with the idea of viewing them for long rental in Oct 27 in case the property you stay in isn't suitable and book the long stay as early as possible to avoid disappointment
And yes double check what you're paying for, what's included, what's not and what you've to bring with you

Think about bringing the car if not for the short stay definitely the longer one
From Rosslare it's two nights on the boat and a good days driving or two but it's well worth it for the freedom it will give you
It would be a shame to spend that much time in one area and not explore the surrounding areas as there is so much to see
It could also change where you end up renting or in later years, properties just outside busy areas are generally cheaper to rent
And it just makes getting around and doing simple things like shopping a bit easier to deal with especially when it comes to buying water
Or filling up empty 10Ltr bottles at the public fountains
Aviva used to do the first 3 months free and charged €90 for the next 3 months so it's not a huge expense insurance wise

 

[Bronte]

My baby step version first is to go there for a month from mid-March 2027 for a holiday and see how that works out. Maybe I'll be bored after 2 weeks or the weather won't be as good as I hope but that's what I'm actively planning at the moment.

I like your idea, just to say a couple of things, mid March is heading from tail end of Irish winter into nice Soring in Spain, and while in Spain you’ll benefit daily from increase in temperature and sunlight. That’s different from starting off in October. Also the prices change, you won’t get long stay winter prices from Easter.

As @Leper has suggested you want what I think is referred to as a winter house type property, one that gets a lot of sunlight and stays warmer

This is a very important consideration. It’s the opposite in Summer, where it’s too hot. Was there in May 2025 and it was roasting.

Will be very interested in how you get on. Mistakes too please, so we can learn from them !