Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 3:43pm
Hi Moorefive,
I have lived in Nerja for 20 years so know the coast pretty well.
Firstly, don't dismiss Torre del Mar quite so quickly. It does have high rise apartment blocks but so does Torrox Costa in a similar ratio. Torrox Costa has been very popular with German visitors and buyers for many years although it has begun to attract a more varied group of nationalities in recent years.
Both towns do, however, have long promenades along the sea front offering a pleasant walk wIth a wide choice of meranderos, restaurants and cafes.
Torre del Mar has the longest and best beach being 3 kilometres long and there is a cycle track which runs parallel to the beach and a wooded shady walk alongside. There are lots of children's playgrounds on or alongside the promenade area and the Town Hall do a lot of work keeping the area clean and well maintained.
Coastal erosion has washed away a lot of the beach in Torrox over recent years and attempts to improve matters by building a rock sea wall seem to have made matters worse if anything. Traders on the seafront in Torrox have been complaining and getting up petitions about the problem for years. The problem is not just restricted to Torrox and seems to be affecting more and more Towns along the Costa. I think global warming is probably responsible so the problem will only get worse over time.
Torre del Mar is quite a big town and has more opportunities for retail therapy and a big choice of eateries to satisfy all tastes. The large shopping centre El Ingenio is also situated just off the motorway close to the town.
You have not mentioned Nerja which is a charming town about 5 kilometres to the East of Torrox Costa. Very popular with Brits, Irish, and increasingly Scandinavian visitors and buyers. I came on holiday 22 years ago and liked it so much my wife and I bought a house here.
There are no high rise apartment blocks at all and most building is restricted to two floors. Nerja is a typical small agricultural and fishing town which has bent to accommodate tourism rather than break under the strain imposed by runaway development. Over the past 20 years, the more Nerja has changed, the more it has stayed the same. It is very popular with couples and families and doesn't attract groups of youngsters looking for a wid time. Having said that, there are a very big choice of eateries, bars and cafes, probably more than Torrox or Torre del Mar.
As to your desire to avoid expats, I'm afraid you will not be able to achieve this aim along even the Eastern Costa del Sol. It isn't as much in your face as the fleshpots of Marbella, but there are lots of us around and came here to do just what you now want to do. You can get complete privacy if you move out into the campo or one of the small towns and villages where virtually all the residents are locals, but you will need to speak fluent Spanish as most of the residents will not speak English.
Hope this helps. Good luck