Neighborhhod for rentals for senior Couple in Alicante and Valencia for February??

Hi, Spedprof: Can you tell me exactly where you stayed in both Malaga and Alicante (by that I mean what apartment buildings and through which rental portal)? Thank you.

Stayed at Teatro Soho in Malaga through Genteel Homes. Haven't stayed in Alicante, looking here for advice on recommended areas similar to those from last year.

I would be interested in this, too. We are also a senior couple, and we also (in March 2025) spent a few weeks in an apartment in Triana and loved it. And we also are planning to go to Valencia and Alicante next year. So I'm interested in the answer to this question.

Haven't gotten any answers yet.... Still searching all over the internet, but was hoping some folks here would have some ideas.

I googled the question and got a lot of suggestions. We usually like to be just outside the main tourist area, but very close to a grocery or market. That means singling out some areas, looking for available apartments, then consulting a map to make sure there are groceries or markets nearby, using Google street view to check out the neighborhood. That's the way I will approach our trip to Valencia next year. It takes a lot of effort. When we were in Triana we were right next to the Mercado de Triana, and we shopped there a lot, especially for fresh fish.

Agreed that staying just outside main tourist areas is wonderful. We, too, stayed just up the block from the Mercado de Triana. Many AI bots have suggested quite a few areas in Alicante and Valencia and then they make it even more confusing by saying that while this area or that area is great, we should stay on a quiet street, as if we know which is quiet. Have to trust the reviewers for that info. We'll figure it out... I enjoy the searching, though I feel pressure to match last year's rentals, which I admit were even better than I anticipated. As with many other items, it's "Location, Location" Good Luck!

Airbnb doesn't give you the exact address of the apartment you are looking at. On the map on their website, the location can often be quite a bit off. But usually they have a picture taken from the window of the apartment. I use that view of the building across the street and Google Street view to find the exact location of the apartment, including what floor it's on. Then I use Google Street view to take a look at the surroundings. That tells me a lot about whether it will be peaceful or noisy at night. Then I continue using Google Street View to walk around the neighborhood. We buy a lot of groceries and we don't want to lug them too many blocks.

I also read every single review (within reason) of any apartment we're considering. Most of them are 5 stars, but occasionally one will give you a clue about something important.

We're not going back to Spain until next spring so we haven't planned anything yet.

Thanks, Marty, for a wonderful strategy. I also read every review and pay particular attention to the negatives to see how we would be impacted.
On a related topic, on a different website, it has been stated by a few posters that rentals in Alicante are limited to 10 days. Any confirmation of this??

Great question.

https://villabalea.se/en/new-regulations-for-rentals-in-spain/#:~:text=Rental%20Terms%20in%20Alicante%2C%20Spanish,contract%20(%20also%20see%20below).

Gemini says we are absolutely not allowed to stay in a place in Valencia which is registered as a "tourist rental" for more than 10 days. We would have to rent a property registered as a "seasonal rental." I don't know how we would determine such a thing. Airbnb lets you reserve an apartment in Valencia for 9 days or 14 days, which under those regulations is illegal. It has to be one or the other.

My guess is that many owners on AirBnB or VRBO either do not know of the new regulations or have not figured out how to sign up someone staying 11+ days and have not changed their listing. My concern is signing up for 11+ days and then having the authorities close down the place for failing to meet code prior to my arrival. One way that we may to address it is to move about and keep all stops under 11 days (add a city??) or use a legitimate rental agent that has addressed this issue with owners. .Wait and see for us right now, but I am glad I found it.

Some clarification is that a vacation rental is for up to 10 days and that is allowed, as always. However, to stay beyond 10 days (up to 11 months) is a different category and requires signing a contract. The contract asks the purpose of the stay and while one real estate broker said that tourists are not permitted, my current knowledge says that as long as we sign the contract, tourists are OK. Awaiting an email response from a government office to confirm that. BUT, the apartment must have be the ones that initiate the contract and so far, I have seen nothing on the few AirBnB or VRBO rentalsthat I have looked at that say anything when I put in 10+ days. They make no distinction between 10+ days or fewer than 10, even though the status is different in Valencia. Also, rentals must have the proper registration code. My takeaway is to be cautious. We may reconsider staying for fewer than 10+ days in one location and moving on or possibly bypassing Valencia.

A correction. I just reread the email from the real estate company which says that "Our properties can be rented for stays starting from 15 days; however, it is required to sign a contract stating that the property will not be used for tourism purposes." My sense is that applies only to their properties, not to all 10+ day rentals. My apologies!.

In Alicante, I would try for the Old Town, short walk to the beach, the central market is nearby, lots of restaurants.

Valencia I really can't say. The town is much more spread out, not as cohesive as is Malaga or Alicante

Here is some more information:

https://blog.resales-online.com/en/decree-law-9-2024-10-day-rental/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20new%20law,Urban%20Leasing%20Act%20(LAU).

I think the bottom line is that it will be very difficult if not impossible to rent an Airbnb in the Valencia region for more than 10 days.

I’ve been to Valencia numerous time and am returning for 2 weeks in January 2026.

Over the years I’ve stayed in many Airbnb’s, some for a month. We’ve never had issues with long stays and choose apartments, after reading numerous reviews, based on location and quietness.

Anywhere is the old town is walkable to most sites. We enjoy staying in the Calle Quart area near the botanical gardens. We prefer quieter areas close to supermarkets and bakeries. Many apartments are located in Russafa south of the old town, we enjoyed this area but prefer staying in the old town.

If you are intertied please message me, as there to many links to paste on this site.

I explained the new 10-day limit for Airbnbs in the Valencia province to my wife, and she said, "Let's go to Portugal." So I guess we're going to Portugal.

We may do the same and look to Portugal. This 75+ year old was turned off by descriptions of the beautiful but very rocky walks in southern Portugal that arthritic knees do not like. But the new regulations in Valencia raise my concerns. Time to keep researching!!