Why move to Jávea
The scents of lavender and lemon groves mingle with honey and bougainvillea. This is Mediterranean living at its best: family oriented, with beaches and sea food to die for.
Overview
Jávea (or Xàbia), is an idyllic location for the thousands of residents looking for something a bit different to the resorts further south. A wide bay positioned between two rocky headlands and sheltered by the dramatic Montgó Massif, Jávea is the Costa Blanca’s great unspoiled location.
In fact, you will find three locations for the price of one in Jávea. On the slopes of the mountain is an old town dating back to the 14th century – a warren of narrow streets, honeyed sandstone buildings, some still riddled with bullet holes from the civil war.
Head north to the charming port of Cabo de San Antonio. Overlooked by ruined 17th century windmills (for that Don Quixote feeling) is a marina that has drawn comparisons with Dartmouth in the UK. In the bay fishing boats bob alongside pleasure cruisers and you can sample the catch of the day including ‘erizos de mar’ (sea urchins) from the daily fish market.
Stroll for a couple of kilometres along the beach promenade and you’ll reach Arenal, Jávea’s most popular beach resort. This is where you’ll find the main apartment complexes, bars and restaurants aplenty. Whether you are people watching or meditating on the rocky headlands, Jávea’s coast is compelling.
Community
A medium sized town with 33,000 citizens, half of the people you will meet in Jávea now hail from Britain and northern Europe. English is widely spoken and even the newsstands are multilingual.
Property
You’ll find different types of property depending on where you choose to settle. Apartments are in abundance around the beach at Arenal, period town houses come at a premium in the old town and there are family sized villas to be found at the developments in the immediate vicinity.
Transport
Positioned between two airports, Jávea is roughly 100 km to Alicante in the south and Valencia to the north. You can catch regular bus and train services, or whizz down the express toll road, the AP-7 that runs down the Mediterranean coast.
Amenities
It might be a small town, but Jávea serves its residents well with numerous shops, including a weekly market, a flea market and bookshop. You’ll also find a cinema and numerous banks.
Schools
You won’t struggle to find a good school as there is a choice of public and international schools in and around town. You can choose to follow the UK curriculum or the Spanish system.
Health
Although there is no hospital in Jávea, you can access two public health care clinics in the old town and at the port, including an emergency room. If you don’t qualify for state care then there are also numerous private clinics.
Jobs
The majority of work in Jávea is centred around the tourism and the services industry. It’s a small town and much of the work is seasonal so it’s a good idea to explore opportunities in Benidorm and Alicante down the coast.
Cost of Living
Jávea is a beautiful town, so as you might find your daily pan rustico to be a little pricier than you’d find in busy Benidorm or the city of Alicante.