Moraira - Shopping and Services

Taxi Services - There are a dozen or so private taxis licensed to operate in the Teulada/Moraira area and there is a taxi rank on the Avenida de Madrid in Moraira Village with a telephone available in case there is no cab waiting on the rank.
A telephone call from any bar, restaurant, disco or the like, will speedily bring a cab to the door.

Car-Hire - Due to the general layout and terrain, a car is a necessity in most Moraira areas. Bearing in mind the distance from the airport and the cost of a taxi transfer, the most convenient arrangement could be to have a hire car for collection and return at the airport.
The easiest and cheapest way is to book online and pay with a credit card and you could try our Cheap Car-Hire Search Page.

If you are already in Moraira it may be easiest to hire a car locally and there are several firms in the area who are geared up for this service.
Autos Moraira are centrally located next to Moraira petrol station, Charlie RentaCar, who also have bicycles and a public phone and fax service, are at the Los Pinos Centre and Mr Car is just outside Moraira on the Calpe Road close to the junction with Camino del Campamento.

Air Travel - Moraira is served by two airports: Alicante (approx 45 minutes drive) and Valencia (75 minutes).
There are a large number of "No Frills" and Scheduled Services to all European destinations. The easy way is to book online with a credit card and you could try our Cheap Flight Finder for the Costa Blanca.
If you are already in Moraira then Silver Travel at the Barclaycentre provide a Cheap Flight search and will arrange your flight for a small fee.

Petrol - The petrol stations in Moraira and Teulada are open from 06:00 until 22:00 every day of the year. Outside these times fuel can be obtained on the N332 Alicante/Valencia Road at GATA and CALPE (APPROX. 25 Kms to either).
On the A-7 Motorway, there is a 24-hour service station at VILLAJOYOSA (approx. 45 Kms in the direction of ALICANTE) but the GATA service area (approx. 25 Kms in the direction of VALENCIA) closes at 23'00 and there is no fuel until the end of the motorway (approx. 80 Kms).

Police "Services" on the Roads - When driving please remember that Spain has just introduced new traffic laws which come into line with the rest of the European Community.
In particular remember that seatbelts and crash helmets now have to be worn and that the drinking and driving laws are as strict, and the penalties as severe as in other countries.
The car documents must be carried at all times and these are the "Ficha Tecnica", "Permiso de Circulación" and a valid insurance certificate.
Also, in the case of a hired car, there must be a valid contract for hire with alternative NAMED drivers and the driving licence of the person behind the wheel.
If the licence is a normal British one (without the holder's photo for identification) then a passport must be carried as well. At the time of writing there has been much said in the Spanish press about the large number of vehicles on the roads without proper documentation and the Guardia Civil are making regular spot checks.
If you are stopped without documents it is not simply a case of production at the nearest police station within 5 days. There is a mandatory deposit of 300 Euros against the production of the papers in Alicante within 7 days and, in the case of lack of funds, insurance or a driving licence, you could be walking.
The Guardia Civil have access from their vehicles to the national computer which holds records of all Spanish drivers and vehicles but of course this does not include any visitors.

Particular care should be taken when approaching road junctions and roundabouts in respect of the right of way. If there is the international red triangle sign a broad white line or the usual white triangle painted on the road then you must stop COMPLETELY - even if there is no other vehicle in sight.

There could be a Guardia Civil, ready to fine you on the spot, hidden behind a wall.

ACCIDENTS: If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident then the procedure is the same as anywhere. If anyone is injured or there is damage (other than to the vehicles involved) then the police MUST be called and the vehicles not moved until they arrive. This could be either the Guardia Civil or the Municipal Police. Even if there are no injuries and you suspect that the other driver has been drinking or does not have the correct documents then it is wise to call the police anyway.

The Guardia Civil - Spain is like any other country and petty crime, unfortunately, is a fact of life.
Be as wary on holiday as you would be at home. Lock your villa, even when you are outside around the pool, do not leave luggage, handbags, cameras or other valuables in your unattended car and ensure that it is always locked. In crowded areas, particularly street markets, keep your bag closed and in front of you, not hung over your shoulder.
Please don't have your wallet on display i.e. visible in your back pocket - an open invitation to pickpockets!
If you are unlucky enough to be robbed you should go to the Guardia Civil and make a statement, as this would be required in order to claim against your holiday insurance.
Few police stations have an interpreter, so it is always best to find out first if you don't speak Spanish. If your passport is stolen you would have to obtain a temporary travel document from the British Consular Offices in Alicante. If you lose travellers cheques or credit cards, please remember to have them stopped or cancelled immediately.

Estate Agents and Estate Management - Acquiring a property in Spain used to be a precarious business for the unwary but in recent years legislation has been introduced to protect the buyer.
This applies particularly to the Escritura (Title Deed) as the Notary now has to ensure that a search has been made beforehand at the Land Registry.
This, however, does still not provide 100% security for the buyer as there could still be "encumbrances" that the search does not reveal.
There are some taxes and municipal rates, for example, which are charged against the property (as opposed to the owners) and these can go back for 5 years.
Additionally the building itself could be partly or wholly without the necessary building license or it could be at risk of compulsory purchase due to road widening or improvements.
The only sensible and logical way therefore is to employ a lawyer (abogado) or a licensed estate agent (A.P.I.) The API´s provide a particularly vital service as their training requires a minor law degree and a specialized course of study, with a national diploma, in property transaction and management. Their college has a very strict code of ethics and, although they may act for the buyer and seller at the same time, they have an obligation to refer either or both parties to a lawyer if the matter is beyond their jurisdiction.
The fact that they are also restricted to charging a maximum fee of 5% means that they are providing relatively economical service with absolute security.
This is not to say that the buyer should not deal initially with the seller (being the owner, developer or even an agent) but that, if this should be the case then either an API or an Abogado should be employed for the conveyance.

Renting and Service Agencies - Yet another aspect of Estate Management is the renting of villas and apartments and the provision of services. Quite recently the Local Tourist Authority introduced legislation requiring the registration and classification of all tourist properties (even those rented privately) and all of the agencies involved in the business.
The Tourist Information Office has literature extolling the benefits of the registration scheme, both from the point of view of the property owner and the visitor, and will usually find a suitable property by phoning round the agencies.
Although it is still early days, some of the benefits are already noticeable. It is one thing choosing ones holiday accommodation from a glossy brochure or a colour photo but can be quite another when it is viewed "in the flesh".
Although one can never be quite sure about quality and condition without actually viewing a property the regulations have established some fairly high minimum standards and, most important of all, set up an arbitration scheme for investigating and resolving complaints.
Consequently if you have a complaint about your holiday accommodation and it is not quickly resolved in a satisfactory manner then you should make a complaint to the Municipal Tourist Information Office.
The Tourist Information Office would also gladly provide a full list of the properly registered rental agencies.
It is also the opinion of the writer, for what that is worth, that a well-run and dedicated agency provides a valuable service to both owners and visitors.

Health & Beauty - Being relaxed and fit and feeling AND looking good are all part of the holiday therapy and, if you are already in paradise the only place to go is to Heaven at Los Pinos (Unisex hairdressing, manicure, pedicure, massage etc.)
Reflections Hair and Beauty Enhancement Studios offer a wide range of treatments including Universal Contour Wrap, Toning Tables, Nail Extensions, Hair Styling (Ladies and Gents) and Massage and Aroma Therapy for men - and you can relax at the adjoining Coffee Shop.

Shopping - Moraira Village provides all of the usual services demanded by a busy modern seaside resort. Food-shops, banks, legal, communications etc. are well represented and there a numerous boutiques, art galleries, gift and souvenir shops to tempt the visitor with an excellent range of quality produce.
For those who prefer the less-hectic way of life, away from the village centre, there are many more supermarkets, shops and restaurants located in the outlying shopping centres which include large trolley-to-car mini-hypermarkets.

Food Shops - The normal shopping hours are 9:00 to 13:00pm and 16:00 until 20:00pm and many shops and supermarkets are open on Sundays and Fiestas but in the morning only.