The answer is: forget the Costa del Sol, try the Costa Tropical.
If you are chasing the sun, Andalusia in southern Spain is the obvious choice. But the Costa del Sol has seen prices rise fast, and it’s hard to find anything for less than £200k. The alternative is to look east of Malaga at the coastline of Granada, called the Costa Tropical. Often called the Costa Granadina, this is the area further east of Nerja, yet before you get to Almeria, with Almuñécar its most well-known town.
This is what Carsten and Suzanne did when they rang the A Place in the Sun TV show (as ‘a joke’) and the researchers suggested trying this area, which was better suited to their £180k budget.
“We’d never heard of it, but wanted to be within reach of Malaga,” says Carsten, who hadn't realised their property search was finally going to get real. “They rang us back so fast, so we jumped at the chance to fly out.”
Danish-born Carsten and Suzanne, from Newcastle, have a great affinity for Spain and run Sobremesa, a tapas bar in Heaton. “We wanted somewhere for holidays until we get to the stage when Soren [their 11-year-old son] leaves home and we can spend three months there in spring and autumn,” says Suzanne.
Affordability aside, they loved the Costa Tropical for being more Spanish and escaping mass tourism. “There are not too many English people, it’s pretty with lots of whitewashed houses and flowers, and in Granada you always get free tapas when having a drink,” says Carsten.
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How much does property cost in Salobreña on the Costa Tropical?
It was not just the free tapas that swung it. When they flew out in 2024 to view properties, Laura Hamilton lined up homes for their £120k budget, and they were torn between two.
“We reduced our budget to allow for buying costs after realising how far our money could go there,” says Suzanne.
They were shown pretty two or three-bedroom townhouses in Salobreña, a popular coastal town with a famous Moorish castle above winding alleyways with views towards the Sierra Nevada. Suzanne rather liked a three-bedroom property with amazing views that needed a fair amount of work.
“Laura helpfully pointed out all the things that needed doing, so we realised it would be a money pit,” says Suzanne.
They ended up buying a two-bedroom apartment in immaculate condition, including furniture, for £106k. It needs nothing doing to it, has a lovely terrace overlooking a church and very low running costs, at not much more than £100 a month.
“The whole process was very painless, although sitting down with the notary and the vendors on completion day was an experience,” says Carsten. In the intensely formal process, he says they sat ‘nervously in silence with the Spanish vendors before the notary swept in, slapped down the contract and walked out again.’
They love their new home and feel glad they are not spending their ‘too few’ trips doing repair jobs. “In retrospect, the easy, modern apartment was the best choice for us,” says Suzanne.
One of their few British neighbours, Gareth, a previous A Place in the Sun house hunter, helps keep an eye on the property when they are not there.
What is it like owning a holiday home on the Costa Tropical?
So why is the Costa Tropical not more popular?
“It’s 1 hour 10–20 minutes from Malaga airport, which is too far for some people,” says Suzanne. She also says it is partly seasonal, as some restaurants close down in the winter.
In their own restaurant, they’ve started serving Tinto de Verano (red wine and lemonade) and sobrasada (a chorizo-like sausage) since spending longer periods in Spain. Sounds like a must for any trip to the Toon.
Could the Costa Tropical be the place for you?
If you're looking for an affordable alternative to the Costa del Sol, explore properties along the Costa Tropical and discover what your budget could buy.
