Get away for winter

We take the motohome to Spain for the winter. I think of all the towns in Andalusia ( because that's where you have to be for the sun) Estapona is the best place to be. It's a big town, lovely long sea front plus excellent public transport links to many other towns to visit.
We have met many long term renters in this area. What a lot of them did when they first started renting was not to commit to 2/3 months but while they were there looked around to see if there was anywhere better/cheaper.
Many of them did find better deals by being in the town and not through websites.

Thanks everyone for replies so far.
Loving it- that's v interesting. We are looking at mainland spain too because the dog has to come with us. Did you use an estate agent to find the rental, I've googled a few in the Alicante, Malaga, Almeria area but would be interested in others recommendations. Are you driving or transporting dog separately as some companies will bring dog to you overland? Also are your utilities included in the rental price or will you be billed separately? We would prefer to have utilities included.
Leaving the house empty is a worry hopefully a neighbour will check it. Insurance is something to consider for us no doubt increased premiums.

While I've got OH onboard need to get ball rolling.

Lovingit do please report back when you've been on your recce.

Interesting that this topic has come up - I was recently musing on the same thing as would really love some long-term sunshine.

Later this year when I'm 66 will be getting my government pension and planning to put it to good use!

My parents used to spent all of November and January, February and March in Tenerife. They first went for a month and sussed the places out. They got to know people who had apartments to let and negotiated good deals as they were there so long.
They reckoned they saved money on heating bill etc at home and it was very cheap to live there.
They had more friends over there than they did at home as they did this for over 15 years.

We are away in March to Lanzarote, DD2 is house sitting so no worries about home.
The series the OP mentioned is on BBC iPlayer so I’ll be interested in watching that later.
We spent part of November in Lanzarote and temps were around 24 degrees so not too hot, plenty of people around and all shops and restaurants still open. It does get dark quite early ( by 6 pm) but we felt very safe and car hire is very reasonable.
The summer months are far too hot for me to go out in, as I get very bad heat rash which quickly turns to blisters, so winter is the only time I can safely find holiday sun.
We rent a holiday villa from a Company ( with a Mans name) which includes all flights. So no worries about trying to link flights and then find Villas.

DH hates hotels so we have our kindles for books and iPads for contact with family and online games and Gransnet of course. Most villas have books and games for guests to use.

I am in the process of doing a winter rent in Spain,October to March at a very reasonable rent. I googled dog friendly beaches and found a wonderful apartment on the beach at La Mata which I am going to see and sign for in a few weeks.
I am so looking forward to it but a bit nervous too ,just me and my mad dog. I'm calling it my pensioner gap year. I'll celebrate my 70th there.
Leaving my house empty is a slight worry and of course I will still have bills to pay here but I want to try a warm winter near the sea.
Luckily I have someone I trust to take on my horse otherwise I wouldn't go but after this winter just the thought of no more mud is joyous.
There is of course the uncertainty of what will happen after December but hey ho I'll worry then.

Thanks kissngate. We'll probably look for that this evening.

We have done 1 month self catering apartments from February to March in the Canary Islands for the last 10 years. Lots of websites to choose from. You do need to book early possibly up to 9 months in advance and make sure you get flights at the same time or asap. Annual Holiday Insurance usually only covers 30 days.
I can be cheap or expensive depending on type of accommodation. We very rarely booked car hire as taxis are reasonable and we liked to walk. Lots of reasonable places to eat out do research on Trip Advisor.
I used to find it fun to do all the research. Sadly, after my husbands stroke not really viable now. I am missing my escape to sun very much this year.

We spent January in the Caribbean, have been home 2 weeks and already have been through two storms. It has been so depressing we decided to get away again are off to the Middle East at the weekend. Guaranteed sun, blue sky and wonderful food. I can’t see us choosing to spend another winter here as we get older.
I just wonder OP how much medical coverage would be if you went for 3 months. My travel insurance only covers me for up to 1 month each trip.

Sorry, ment to say make your own entertainment reading books or playing cards and board games ect, also.worth researching how far the local medical facilities and chemist wouldbe when the place is closed down for winter.

Southern Spain and the Canary islands are quite a polular destination for British people escaping the winter weather, and some tour operators cash in by offering 90nightout ofseason deals, and others bring a touring caravan or motorhome and use that to live in, often traveling in convoy with the help of one of the big organisations such as the Caravan and Motorhome club. You would need todo your research first, as quite a few of the tourist areas completely close down for winter, and apart from.the odd local, they are like ghost towns between the lastweek.in October until the beginning of March. Im.unsure what the situation would be now we are leaving the EEC, but things like pet passport rules, driving licences, and medical insurance could well change, its all very much unsure at the moment. I would suggest however trying a short break of a week or two in the area that you fancy spending a winter in to make sure its really a place that you really like, there would be nothing worse than finding out on your arrival that there is very little to see and do other than the entertainment and small village shop thats out to make a killing on unsuspecting tourists simply becausthey realisethey cannot g et goods locally from.anywhere else!

It was on BBC last month, Gloria Hunniford does the commentary however it was filmed two years ago with follow ups a year or so later.

I've not heard of that before. Which programme was it on? I'd be interested as I've got dodgy lungs and am so much better in a warm climate.

We went to a quiet, unpolluted part of India for three weeks over Christmas and New Year and I was very well. The temperature was over 30 the whole time and no rain at all.

I know of some people who go to India for the winter, renting a flat but I am not brave enough to do that. I want at least a 4 star hotel.