Why move to Lloret De Mar
Lloret del Mar literally has everything; its prosperous tourist trade makes it globally relevant. It’s beaches, bustle and proximity to Barcelona make it a perfect place to buy.
Lloret de Mar is the most popular destination on the Costa Brava and one of the most visited towns in Europe. A place built for travellers by travellers since the 18th century, when the town’s trade with the Americas meant that locals became affluent. Many commissioned spectacular houses in modernist and neoclassical styles. In the 1920s wealthy Barcelonians began to build summer houses there. Then in the ’50s foreign tourists begun to flood the area and urbanisation began. By 1975, there were more than 200 hotels in Lloret, more than 400 bars and over 50 nightclubs.
The Lloret de Mar beach is 1.5 kilometres long and complimented by a strip of bars and restaurants with every possible offering under the sun. There are quieter beaches nearby and a walkway connecting the inlets and coves. Peace seekers can also appreciate the Santa Clotilde gardens.
Home to the Costa Brava South Carnival, the Americanos Fair, the Cuina del Peix de l’Art Gastronomic Days, a Medieval Fair, the Tirada a l’Art (a celebration of fishing), the Santa Cristina and Sant Roma festivals and the birthplace of the Ball de Place (a dance in the town square), this is a perfect place for a party and that’s before you’ve had chance to sample the varied urban nightlife! It’s also popular with car enthusiasts, boasting the Lloret Formula Weekend and annual Rally Costa Brava. To top it all, there’s golf, water sports, late night shopping and Europe’s biggest water park, an aquatic zoo and the Universal Studios Port Aventura theme park all within easy reach.
Community
This is an area that attracts package tourists, with Club 18-30 using the town as it’s first ever destination. But it’s that same vibrancy that makes it a haven for young professionals.
Property
Properties don’t come particularly cheap in this stretch of the Costa Brava. Northern Catalonia’s market has held up better than most. But you’ll find a range of prices for both apartments and villas.
Amenities
Lloret has the second highest number of retail outlets on the Costa Brava, ranked only below Figueres, a non-coastal town. Most are concentrated in the town’s old quarter. Retail businesses in Lloret de Mar have been authorised to open every day of the year, including public holidays.
Transport
Barcelona airport is 75 km away, and Girona airport 30 km. There are coach services to Barcelona, Girona, and other European cities. The bus network connects the town. Both the city of Barcelona and its airport El Prat can also be reached by train from Blanes. You can reach Lloret del Mar on the GI-682 road, the C-32 motorway and the AP-7 motorway — although these roads may get congested in the summer.
Employment
The markedly seasonal nature of tourism is a key feature of the town’s infrastructure. Lloret de Mar has the highest number of hotel beds in Catalonia. Around half the retail outlets and hotels close over the winter months.
Health
There are close to 20 doctor and dentist services in Lloret de Mar and no less than 5 hospitals registered within 5 minutes drive of the town centre.
Schools
It’s easier to find an academy offering English as a second language than it is to find a British school in Lloret de Mar as many locals want to improve their kids’ English. Enroll in a local state school if you don’t want to make the 1-hour drive to the international schools based in Barcelona.
Cost of Living
You can live on any budget in Lloret de Mar. Housing goes from thousands to millions, there are exclusive bars and restaurants and lower budget all-inclusive venues. Domestic produce and products are good value whereas global brands are more expensive.