Falling into Alicante: A Filipino Expat’s Unexpected Home in Spain

I didn’t move to Alicante with a grand plan.

There was no spreadsheet comparing cities, no long list of pros and cons, no carefully curated Pinterest board titled “My New Life in Spain.” Alicante was, quite literally, a chance choice—a weekend detour that quietly turned into home.

Madrid Was the Plan—At Least at First

When I first arrived in Madrid, everything made sense on paper. It was vibrant, central, full of history, museums, and opportunities. For a Filipino expat coming from Southeast Asia, Madrid felt familiar in the way big cities do—fast, alive, slightly overwhelming, and endlessly interesting.

The plan was simple: stay in Madrid while waiting for my visa application to be processed, then decide where to settle long-term. Madrid was the default choice. Everyone talked about it. Everyone recommended it. It felt safe.

But visa waiting periods have a way of stretching time—and patience. After weeks of paperwork, follow-ups, and the quiet anxiety that comes with immigration limbo, I felt the need for a break. Just a short one. Somewhere calmer. Somewhere coastal.

So I booked a weekend trip to Alicante.

The Weekend That Changed Everything

Alicante greeted me with sunlight that felt different—warmer, softer, almost intentional. The air smelled faintly of salt. The pace slowed down the moment I stepped out of the station.

I remember thinking: This feels like rest.

Unlike Madrid’s grand avenues and constant motion, Alicante felt human-sized. Walkable. Breathable. The kind of place where mornings begin with coffee by the sea and evenings stretch longer than planned.

That weekend was meant to be temporary. A pause. A reset.

Instead, it planted a question in my head that refused to leave:

Why am I rushing back?

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From Weekend Escape to Everyday Life

What started as “I’ll stay one more week” slowly turned into apartment viewings, neighborhood walks, and learning which bakeries sold the best pan.

Alicante didn’t demand anything from me. It didn’t overwhelm me with ambition or noise. It simply allowed me to exist—something I didn’t realize I was craving so deeply.

As a Filipino expat, that mattered more than I expected.

Back home, and even in Manila, life is vibrant but intense. There’s always movement, expectation, and noise. Alicante offered a different rhythm—one that felt sustainable.

Life by the Sea, Not on the Clock

Living in Alicante means your day is shaped less by schedules and more by sunlight.

Mornings start slower. Afternoons pause entirely—sí, siesta is real. Evenings belong to walks, conversations, and unhurried dinners. No one looks at you strangely for sitting alone with a coffee and your thoughts.

For someone working remotely and navigating life abroad, this balance is priceless.

You work. You live. You breathe.

Not necessarily in that order.

Cost of Living: A Quiet Blessing

One of Alicante’s biggest surprises is how livable it is financially—especially compared to Madrid or Barcelona.

Rent is reasonable. Groceries are fresh and affordable. Eating out doesn’t feel like a guilty pleasure. For a Filipino expat used to balancing value and comfort, Alicante hits a sweet spot.

You get:

• A coastal lifestyle
• Reliable public transport
• Excellent healthcare
• High-quality food

…without the price tag of a major European capital.

A City That Welcomes You Gently

Alicante doesn’t try to impress you. It doesn’t perform.

Locals are warm but not intrusive. English is spoken enough to help you settle, but Spanish is still very much alive, encouraging you to learn without making you feel inadequate for not being fluent yet.

As a Filipino, there’s also an unexpected sense of cultural comfort. Family-oriented values. Long meals. Respect for rest. A deep appreciation for food and community.

It feels familiar in subtle ways.

The Emotional Shift of Choosing “Accidentally”

There’s something freeing about ending up somewhere not because it was the best choice, but because it felt right.

Alicante wasn’t on my original map. It wasn’t part of the plan. But maybe that’s why it worked.

Sometimes, the places that change us most are the ones we stumble into while waiting for life to make up its mind.

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Looking Back: No Regrets, Just Gratitude

If you had asked me months ago where I’d end up in Spain, I would have confidently said Madrid.

Now, I wake up to sea air, palm-lined streets, and a quieter kind of happiness in Alicante—and I can’t imagine it any other way.

This city taught me that settling down doesn’t always come from careful planning. Sometimes, it comes from listening to your body when it finally exhales and says, “Stay.”

And so I did.

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If you’re a Filipino considering life in Spain and you’re torn between the obvious choices and the unexpected ones, take the weekend trip. You never know which city might quietly become home.