Expats in Spain:

It’s what every northern European dreams of - a new life in the sun. Spain, particularly areas like Andalucia and the Costa Blanca, has become a real magnet for those looking to escape the misery of wet, cold, areas of europe and beyond.

It’s almost impossible to say exactly how many expats are living in Spain. The freedom of movement between european countries means the numbers are always changing and difficult to calculate.  A BBC report has estimated that the number of British homeowners on the Costa del Sol is around 350,000.

Most say that they relocated to Spain for the weather and were not happy with their lifestyle in the UK. Coupled with that, the Spanish outdoor life and a more relaxed working and living environment were also factors in their decision to make a new start in the sun.  This is particularly true for families, with the sea and sun making outdoor activities ideal for kids. Again , at no more than 3 hours away by plane, the Mediterranean coastline makes an ideal relocation choice for moving from the UK.

Spain has much to offer in addition to the warm welcoming nature of Spanish people and getting to know the different variety of nationalities that have settled here. Many Brits settle inland, in order to get a feel of the ‘real’ Spain and to experience some authentic Spanish culture. It always helps to learn some Spanish, and there are many Spanish classes available in all areas - listings are normally provided by local newspapers.

The main negative factors of life in Spain sometimes mentioned by expats is that there are now too many Brits, although there's plenty of Spain where there are no Brits. Others include poor customer service and mountains of bureaucracy when it comes to dealing with the tax authorities, banks and telephone companies. You need to be persistent, but patient. You need to adapt, and realise that the more relaxed ‘mañana’ attitude is the reason you came here in the first place!