FabSwingers.com > Forums > Spain > Moving to Spain
Moving to Spain
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"Thank you everyone who is responding privately but getting overwhelmed with responses in my mail box and non in forum and would prefer an open conversation " Difficult to do after Brexit. If you want to live here all year round you need a visa. Easy if you are very rich, not so easy for ordinary folk | |||
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"You would think that Malaga would be hotter as it is further south But thank you for your comment " I'm afraid it doesn't work like that. While Malaga is a bit further south it is also further west and closer to the Atlantic and also the wrong side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Which gives quite a lot of shelter to Almeria, Murcia and the south of Alicante province when Atlantic weather pushes in. Go further up the coast towards Valencia and that shelter wanes so Valencia city gets much more rain than Alicante even though they are quite close to each other. As a comparison Malaga averages 469mm rain per annum, Alicante 311mm and Murcia 290mm. | |||
"You would think that Malaga would be hotter as it is further south But thank you for your comment " When it gets hot here I dont think it matters too much where you are ITS HOT as you may well know | |||
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"You would think that Malaga would be hotter as it is further south But thank you for your comment When it gets hot here I dont think it matters too much where you are ITS HOT as you may well know " And that is exactly why we bugger off back to Germany in August.  | |||
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"That’s very surprising and the interesting about the Sahara and the weather and the rain fall. Thank you. Do you think there is a sweet spot between north and south?" Year round the best weather on the costa's tends to be between Almeria and the south end of Alicante province which includes the Murcia coastline. They don't call it Costa Calida (hot coast) for nothing. But that area can be very quiet in the winter. To be honest though I think you need to look at a lot more than just weather if you are planning to live here. That wonderful bustling resort in July/August can turn into ghost town in Jan/Feb, and many do. And as always one mans heaven is another mans hell hole. Do you need to work? If so you will need a good grasp of the language to get anything decent. Expat jobs for non Spanish speakers are few and far between and very low paid. Business idea maybe? Many have done well over here but also many have failed. Make sure the area where you settle has a good year round clientele for whatever you are planning. No point sitting in winter ghost town waiting for customers who are not there. If you are retired then none of that would apply, but there are other things to think about. That lovely finca with amazing mountain views is no good if you are and hour away from the nearest hospital with chest pains. As happened to someone we knew a few years ago. He died waiting for the ambulance. You say you are planning to come out in Jan/Feb which I think would be a good time. You will see the places out of season which is a much better start than in the summer. Get a car and have a really good look around. If your visit is only a short one then come back at a different time of year and if you do decide to settle somewhere RENT a place first and for at least 6 months (12 would be better) If you decide to move on it is much easier to leave a rental than to try to sell up. You may think that I'm stating the obvious but in the 20 years we've had our place here we've seen so many people come unstuck because they have ignored the basics. | |||
"We considering moving to Spain but can’t quite decide between Malaga area or Mercia Area and are going to travel in January to decide. We like the suburbs but want to be on the outskirts of a large city and yet still close to the sea, within 15mins. Would very much appreciate any input. " My vote would be to stay nearer to Malaga. It's handy for the airport. Looking at your pictures I'd say you will fit right in Marbella which is quite close by too. Even right on the coast you can get a really good place to stay for a small fraction of the price of the equivalent place in England. Myself, I prefer to be inland a bit where the pace of life is a bit slower. Which ever option you choose, all the for the move out to Spain. Paul | |||
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"Does anyone know about tax? Example: if I rent my uk home for £1500 what would I pay in uk and Spanish tax, what would I be left with approx?" If you're looking for property, what I did was trawl through Rightmove and build up a list of properties to view. When you come to look, a good Estate Agent will also show you similar properties in the same area. If you are a resident, you will pay all your income tax here in Spain. That includes tax on property you rent out in the UK. I live in Murcia and love it here. I'm about an hour from the coast and inland it's way more authentically Spanish. Best move ever to come here! Gbat | |||
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"We are close to Alicante on the Costa Blanca, great for this lifestyle and the least expensive of the Costas. Win, win xx" Unless you are a single mature male. | |||
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"Spain all the way, weather, weather weather. Yes of course Spain does get cold and it rain but doesn’t everywhere but it’s definitely not as wet and cold as the uk! It’s always at the very least 20 degrees warmer than the uk. I also realise that in the summer months it can get in the 40s but I’d rather deal with that than the pissing freezing miserable uk where everyone has no time to talk and be sociable because their to busy trying to get out of the rain and cold. " This was exactly my reasoning of moving to Spain. Iv always said rule of thumb it is 10c hotter all the year round than where I was from. | |||
"Spain all the way, weather, weather weather. Yes of course Spain does get cold and it rain but doesn’t everywhere but it’s definitely not as wet and cold as the uk! It’s always at the very least 20 degrees warmer than the uk. I also realise that in the summer months it can get in the 40s but I’d rather deal with that than the pissing freezing miserable uk where everyone has no time to talk and be sociable because their to busy trying to get out of the rain and cold. " Not all of Spain is so hot the year round! It was winter coats, jumpers, hats and gloves in Madrid last week. But now we're in Tenerife, it's swimsuits all round. The Costa del Sol, including Inland bits to it, is quite a bit more expensive than the Costa Blanca/Cálida/Almería. The Almería/Mojácar area can be very reasonable but gets very very busy in the summer and absolutely boiling hot (like 40+ degrees C). | |||
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"I’m hoping to work on the new nomad visa that should be around 15% tax rate. " Really wish our work could allow us to do that too. | |||
"I’m hoping to work on the new nomad visa that should be around 15% tax rate. " Five-year residency permit. Initially on a one-year application, followed by two-year renewals up to a total of 5 years. The visa extends to the family of the main applicant. Allows you to work in Spain remotely. Moreover, it encourages you to work in Spain, specifically remotely with your laptop (or desktop). Allows you to legally override the 90/180-day rule that limits stay in Spain (and by extension in the Schengen Area/EU). Tax breaks for the foreign employer (if it has an establishment in Spain) Tax breaks for the employee (DNV applicant). This is the core advantage. It basically applies a privileged non-domiciled tax scheme to visa holders that allows them to pay a flat tax rate of only 24% on the first €600,000 of gross annual earnings over a five-year period. Requirements You need to prove you are hired by a foreign company. This is the core requirement. You need to prove you have formal academic qualifications i.e. a university degree, business school or professional qualification. You need to prove you have at least 3 years of work experience. Not to have resided in Spain in the previous 5 years. Not to obtain income from a permanent establishment in Spain. I hope this is helpful to you although no doubt you know all of the above | |||
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"Isn’t this only after you have become a resident though? As you need to have been living in Spain for 5 yrs first. I maybe wrong. " No - you must not have resided in Spain in the previous 5 years. | |||
"Isn’t this only after you have become a resident though? As you need to have been living in Spain for 5 yrs first. I maybe wrong. No - you must not have resided in Spain in the previous 5 years." Ah ok then this sounds good. | |||
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"Isn’t this only after you have become a resident though? As you need to have been living in Spain for 5 yrs first. I maybe wrong. No - you must not have resided in Spain in the previous 5 years. Ah ok then this sounds good. " As an EU passport holder the nomad visa might not be necessary as the 90 days in 180 rule doesn't apply (though the 180 days in total before paying tax in Spain does). As an EU citizen you could apply for the residencia in the normal way, and transfer all your tax liabilities to Spain. The first 180 days will be plenty for obtaining your NIE, buying or renting a property, getting on the pardon and starting the residencia application. One problem could be the driving licences if British. EU citizens can simply exchange them for Spanish licences, but the British holders have to take a very tough Spanish test. | |||
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"Regarding the driving licence. I thought Spain are going to relax the rules for 6 months for the new residents that got court in the time trap." The debate is still on going as it has been for the past two years. Some British immigrants have been fined a thousand Euros for driving without a valid licence. | |||
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"Just get the European driving licence anyways it depends how lucky u are, there are people that have live here for 10 years and luckily didn't have a problem " Maybe, but things changed in January 2021 when the UK licence was no longer recognised as an EU licence. It's fine if you (a) don't get stopped by the Guardia and (2) if you are stopped you don't mind paying a hefty fine for not having a valid licence and driving with invalid insurance. | |||
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"I did. A large transit and sailed from Portsmouth to santander. Way2go. Picked up in Kent and delivered it to Denia but think can also drop it back to Torrevijeca. " That’s sounds like a lot less stress than driving through the whole of Europe | |||
"Did anyone hire a one way van to move to Spain " If you use FB, there’s always adverts for transit companies in the relevant forums. Try Brexpats in Spain. Lots of useful info and not too much nonsense. Give me a shout when you get here! Cheers, Gbat | |||
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"Did anyone hire a one way van to move to Spain " We bought a 40' container, make sure if you consider this that it has an in date travel mot, we slowly packed everything into it and had it shipped to Malaga and delivered to our home and now use it as a store and secure garage for 2 classic cars, it worked well for us, hope to catch up while you're in Malaga ?? | |||
"Hi, we’re in the Villamartin area which is a 20 mins drive south of Torrevieja and it’s great, lovely beaches, restaurants, busy bars (not just Villamartin plaza) and then La Zenia boulevard. We have travelled all over Spain from this location but always prefer it here. Hope your move goes well and good luck x" Yes we would agree with that. 
The Orihuela Costa area, which includes Villamartin, La Zenia, Playa Flamenca, Cabo Roig, and our place in La Florida, ticks more boxes for us than anywhere else.
We have both travelled extensively around Spain over many years and it is the place we prefer.
When I first came here 20 years ago it was a bit (a lot really) of a building site. It was property boom time and the place was akin to a gold rush town. Bus loads of Brits (among others) buying houses like there was no tomorrow. Although it was a bit disjointed I (and many others) could see that it had potential.
In those days I think there were more cranes than palm trees.
Twenty years on and the place has grown up considerably.
All the infrastructure you need, hospital, busses, taxi's Etc. Are all now plentiful (it wasn't back then) and as mentioned above we have the new Zenia Boulevard shopping centre which has given the area a much needed "town centre".
While in the old days it was mostly Brits/Irish who flocked here, nowadays the community is very international.
As well as the Brits we have many Scandinavians, Germans, Dutch, Spanish (of course) and there seem to be more and more French here now. Among many others.
There are numerous beaches, including a small nudist one, a weekly street market, 3 golf courses and 2 marinas, with lots of others close by.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants in places like La Florida, Villamartin Plaza, and Cabo Roig strip, to mention just a few.
Torrevieja town is only 10-20 minutes away (depending on your starting point) and the Valencia/Murcia border, including the Mar Menor resorts, is just down the road.
So when you visit Torrevieja take the time to drive a few minutes south and explore Orihuela Costa.
If you want any more detailed help feel free to PM us.
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"Hi, we’re in the Villamartin area which is a 20 mins drive south of Torrevieja and it’s great, lovely beaches, restaurants, busy bars (not just Villamartin plaza) and then La Zenia boulevard. We have travelled all over Spain from this location but always prefer it here. Hope your move goes well and good luck x Yes we would agree with that.
The Orihuela Costa area, which includes Villamartin, La Zenia, Playa Flamenca, Cabo Roig, and our place in La Florida, ticks more boxes for us than anywhere else.
We have both travelled extensively around Spain over many years and it is the place we prefer.
When I first came here 20 years ago it was a bit (a lot really) of a building site. It was property boom time and the place was akin to a gold rush town. Bus loads of Brits (among others) buying houses like there was no tomorrow. Although it was a bit disjointed I (and many others) could see that it had potential.
In those days I think there were more cranes than palm trees.
Twenty years on and the place has grown up considerably.
All the infrastructure you need, hospital, busses, taxi's Etc. Are all now plentiful (it wasn't back then) and as mentioned above we have the new Zenia Boulevard shopping centre which has given the area a much needed "town centre".
While in the old days it was mostly Brits/Irish who flocked here, nowadays the community is very international.
As well as the Brits we have many Scandinavians, Germans, Dutch, Spanish (of course) and there seem to be more and more French here now. Among many others.
There are numerous beaches, including a small nudist one, a weekly street market, 3 golf courses and 2 marinas, with lots of others close by.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants in places like La Florida, Villamartin Plaza, and Cabo Roig strip, to mention just a few.
Torrevieja town is only 10-20 minutes away (depending on your starting point) and the Valencia/Murcia border, including the Mar Menor resorts, is just down the road.
So when you visit Torrevieja take the time to drive a few minutes south and explore Orihuela Costa.
If you want any more detailed help feel free to PM us.
"We agree with all of above. We bought here in 2017 and visit a few times a year and you have everything you need in the area | |||
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"For UK citizens things have become both difficult and expensive since Brexit. The IPREM, the base level of income for assistance etc. In Spain has risen recently and to be considered for a NLV ( non lucrative visa) an individual must prove an income or savings of 4 times the IPREM plus an extra IPREM for each dependent. So 28,800€ plus 7200 per dependent. The NLV does not allow you to work, even remotely. The Tax situation is also complicated and laden with pitfalls as many friends and colleagues find out the hard way. You need knowledgeable legal advice based on your own case as pensions and UK income can be taxed here, again, many found out the hard way. I have friends still waiting for Residencia since 2021 and one has been as far as the Spanish High Court on appeal for refusal despite living in Spain and applying before the deadline with court fees, notaries and apostil and translation of UK documents costing about 8k€. There is a kind of moratorium on Driving Licences at the moment due to the confusion but basically you can be prosecuted for driving without a valid licence. Some people who were fined have been refunded. Driving on UK plates and Insurance as many have tried will end up with your car dissapearing on a Grua and a heavy fine and import duties, storage fees etc., to pay to recover it, then you still need to apply for a change of registration etc. That alone is about 1000€. Bottom line is, get good qualified advice before considering moving. Also mañana does not mean tomorrow. It just means not today. Get through the shit and its definitely worth it." Enjoy what Brits voted on Brexit polling… lol    | |||
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"We will be coming as an EU citizen with a UK partner or on the new nomad visa that has just come into law on 23rd December. Brexit or no Brexit we are coming because of the weather and we want to integrate into Spanish life. I will buy a new car in Spain that is registered there and retake my driving test so I meet their criteria. Moving: Thinking that what little we want to take to Spain that we might not even bother to take anything as it could work out cheaper to start a fresh than pay moving costs, import duty and storage on it all. But then you just know there are lots of little things that you want to take and don’t want to leave behind and then they all add up…. " All the best with your move! Malaga is a nice place to live and lots of naturist beaches. Hopefully we can join you in a few years ourselves! Lovely pics btw | |||
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"Be aware that each AC (Autonomous Community), province and town takes delight in applying any rules (particularly national ones) in their own way. After living under a centralized dictatorship for 40 years it's a matter of principle to do their own thing. So advice valid in one province may not apply in another. You will need a good lawyer/gestor to take care of your paperwork. They know what documents you need and what order to get them in. Most important they have "enchufar" - they are "plugged in" to the locals. Spain is a country where who you know is very important (as so much in business is done on personal relationships). " great advice | |||
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"The VAT in mainland Spain is 21%. I don't see that anyone has told you that the equivelant tax rate in the Canaries is 7%. That makes for a significantly lower cost of living. Throw in the much warmer climate and very cheap flights to the mainland for residents and it might be worth investigating. Best of luck." We were aware of this but the islands just don’t do it for us, we prefer mainland even though the weather is much better on the islands. | |||
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"We are considering a similar move on an NLV, still to do the groundwork regarding locations though are drawn just now to Almeria/Baza area, close to the coast and the mountains. Is anyone in that neck of the woods?" We found that you the whole Spanish coast has a mountainous backdrop with a beach front. Murcia area is flatter though | |||
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I’ve lived in Murcia-Alicante and I know Málaga.
Everything depends on how much you want to spend, how long you want to be driving to get to the beach (and find parking which in summertime will be mission:impossible), how much you want to spend on a house/flat/villa…
If I have to be honest, given the choice, I’d never go back to live in Murcia. Both places Murcia and Málaga are hot AF, but the plus with Málaga is that if you want to runaway from The scorching heat you can always go to the mountains whereas if you live in Murcia you’re trapped.
Money wise all depends on where you want to buy. If you are keen on going to the main touristic areas you’re gonna pay the price, as usual, but there are small villages not far from the same tourist areas that look “insignificant” but are brilliant to live in.
Also, be prepared to grow stacks of patience. Bureaucracy in Spain is appalling, awful and outrageous to say the least. And no, they don’t work with bribes, unfortunately.
I could go on and on, if you need a hand just ask. X | |||
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"If you have British property that you plan to mortgage on a buy to let basis to pay for your Spanish home it's probably best to have a British mortgage. That way your rent and mortgage are in the same currency and you won't need to worry about exchange rate changes. Obviously you don't mention that you are moving to Spain just say you are remortgaging to buy another property - which is true "We were told to do this, and I did and got a quote but I’m not convinced I can actually go right through the process without them knowing I’m moving to Spain. | |||
"For mortgages in Spain it is best to speak to a Spanish bank. Mortgages in Spain currently are offering up to 60% to foreigners (you maybe able to get more but that would be dependent on your financial situation but based on my current knowledge this is the norm). Sabadell are currently offering quite good rates but there are plenty of others. Banks here usually have mortgage advisors on site or you will be able to book an appointment to speak to someone. One thing to bear in mind that if you need a mortgage your buying fees will increase. We always suggest to buyers to visit a bank here first go through everything and try to get pre approved first as this speeds up the whole buying process. Best of luck " Thank you; how do you arrange a Spanish mortgage from England when you haven’t yet moved, is this possible? | |||
"If you have British property that you plan to mortgage on a buy to let basis to pay for your Spanish home it's probably best to have a British mortgage. That way your rent and mortgage are in the same currency and you won't need to worry about exchange rate changes. Obviously you don't mention that you are moving to Spain just say you are remortgaging to buy another property - which is true
We were told to do this, and I did and got a quote but I’m not convinced I can actually go right through the process without them knowing I’m moving to Spain."Obviously you don't give them a Spanish contact address! If you have a relative that you trust to take in post for you then you have no problem. There's not much that isn't sent via email these days. And the British banks don't care - most of them seem to have the attitude that the less they have to deal with pesky customers the better. I've still got my UK debit and credit cards - both of which have been renewed since I moved to Spain they just send them to the UK address that they have. I have my Spanish debit card which is used for everyday transactions. | |||
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"Typical single males trying to get laid in a forum that has nothing to do with getting laid." Just this ! | |||
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"Will be travelling around the coast, all the way down to Malaga in July xx" Took us 6hrs but it was a really interesting journey and not one pot hole in sight!! | |||
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"So we’ve decided that it’s definitely Alicante for us. We’d like to be in or around the city. We found it to be a lovely place. Now the sun is to get a rent to but mortgage on our uk property and let that pay for our new place in Spain. " Great choice | |||
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"Thank you, “think it also has a good club scene “? " It has , but it took a hit with COVID. Hopefully this summer will see significant tourist returns lacking over last 2 years | |||
"So we’ve decided that it’s definitely Alicante for us. We’d like to be in or around the city. We found it to be a lovely place. Now the sun is to get a rent to but mortgage on our uk property and let that pay for our new place in Spain. Great choice " The Alicante area is lovely and very accessible, lot's to do and to explore. Hope you find somewhere nice that you'll enjoy. | |||
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"Dont forget there are areas north of Alicante as well as to the south. " The mobility scooter area of Benidorm isn’t quite are thing. | |||
"Dont forget there are areas north of Alicante as well as to the south. The mobility scooter area of Benidorm isn’t quite are thing. " I wasnt intending for you to be that daft nor that far from Alicante. LOL | |||
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"EU and non-EU partners (not married) visa requirements. Has anyone got any experience of this? couples who have not registered or formalized their affective relationship in any way, but who are in a solid relationship and can prove it. The unregistered stable couple is the type of union (similar to marriage or civil partnership) in which there is no document, registration, or legal evidence that proves that a relationship actually exists (the union has not been officially registered), but there are other ways that can prove that the emotional bond is actually there." Unfortunately that won't hold. You need to be married or in a civil partnership both enjoy the privileges of one of the couple's EU passport. | |||
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"Monthly utility bills. Could anyone let us know what your monthly utility bills amount to. My figures are very tight and it’s hard to know what the cost of living could be. Yes I realise it’s going to be different for everyone and I’ve looked on google for the average cost of living but I’d like to hear from real people. One or two adults no kids. Gas elec, home food, water, WiFi, bmi, healthcare, car insurance, house insurance, " In Canary island you won’t need gas, but the cost of the life is higher than the rest of Spain. If you rent a house don’t have to pay IBI or home insurance. The cost of the rental depends of the area or kind of house. For example In Gran Canaria: -Las Palmas city from 500€ per month a flat. -South (you can find 50 mts bungalows from 900€ per month) Car insurance depends the zone, driver or car model (that’s meaning country areas is cheaper due less traffic troubles, a old and no accident driver will need pay less, and Mini is cheaper than a Ferrari) the average is from 110€-550€ per year more or less. | |||
"The other thing that you didn't ask about is the IBI (council tax). It should be listed on the details of property sales websites. Obviously it varies from municipality to municipality. Ours is about €250pa. Yes check the ibi price on any properties you like the look of, we bought our house and had a shock when we found out how much it was, admittedly it's a huge old house but we are paying 4/5 times what some other locals are paying. " | |||
"The other thing that you didn't ask about is the IBI (council tax). It should be listed on the details of property sales websites. Obviously it varies from municipality to municipality. Ours is about €250pa. Yes check the ibi price on any properties you like the look of, we bought our house and had a shock when we found out how much it was, admittedly it's a huge old house but we are paying 4/5 times what some other locals are paying. " Yes but even 4-5 times isn’t anywhere near uk council tax | |||
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"All I can say is I am glad I am not in Estapona. My villa is 156m2 on a 800 plot with pool and my Bill's are way way cheaper." Electric and water? I chat to neighbors and many are telling me in the summer they are paying a lot more than me if they have pool pumps running 6 hours a day etc. Also forgot to add gas is costing about 800 a year if I don’t turn heat too high. | |||
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"Can I ask what the job scene is like in the Alicante to Torrevieja area for a male who has extremely limited Spainish speaking skills but very willing to do anything. " There are a lot of Brits in the area, plus many other Europeans eg Swedish, Dutch, Belgians who all speak English. Not really sure of the working competition, but tradesmen & oddjobs who we have employed have all seemed pretty busy, and not able to begin a job at the drop of a hat. | |||
"Can I ask what the job scene is like in the Alicante to Torrevieja area for a male who has extremely limited Spainish speaking skills but very willing to do anything. " Casual bar work is another option. I think it used to be quite common for people to do lots of work “cash in hand” and never really intergrate properly into Spanish society. That’s getting much harder to do now, post Brexit, which obviously is a good thing. Gbat | |||
"Can I ask what the job scene is like in the Alicante to Torrevieja area for a male who has extremely limited Spainish speaking skills but very willing to do anything. Casual bar work is another option. I think it used to be quite common for people to do lots of work “cash in hand” and never really intergrate properly into Spanish society. That’s getting much harder to do now, post Brexit, which obviously is a good thing. Gbat " I want to integrate as much as possible, and force myself into scenarios where I have to speak Spanish. Such as bar work, I don’t want to become a British person expecting everyone to speak English. It’s just at the start it will be difficult and don’t know many employees who can tolerate that | |||
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"I’m not a Brexit or Euro fan or even thinking doom and gloom about the uk. For me it purely about the weather and living life in the Spanish style and culture. After much research, I find I need to sell my nest egg home, which I was hoping to keep and rent out. But now need to sell, buy a smaller place, rent that out for an income and buy something with the left over in Spain. Also considering selling up completely and buying one Spanish home to live in and one rental property for income but I think the uk rental income is hire and more consistent. Any views anyone?" If you have any property or financial income (eg from rental) in the UK you have to declare it to the tax office in Spain, and similarly if you sell your property once you have become a resident you will pay capital gains tax. Having said that it can be convenient to hang on to a UK property. | |||
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"I have just came back from Malaga area I’m not a fan off the high rise buildings I’m now moving my search to Almeria area Camposol looks interesting and has a large English population which I guess has its pros and cons The villas look amazing value Any one else got any thoughts on the area " Did you go East of Malaga? It's a lot less developed than Torremolinos etc. Obviously if you go a few km inland anywhere you are looking at small villages. | |||
"Can I ask what the job scene is like in the Alicante to Torrevieja area for a male who has extremely limited Spainish speaking skills but very willing to do anything. Casual bar work is another option. I think it used to be quite common for people to do lots of work “cash in hand” and never really intergrate properly into Spanish society. That’s getting much harder to do now, post Brexit, which obviously is a good thing. Gbat I want to integrate as much as possible, and force myself into scenarios where I have to speak Spanish. Such as bar work, I don’t want to become a British person expecting everyone to speak English. It’s just at the start it will be difficult and don’t know many employees who can tolerate that " I don't know about Alicante but here there's a thriving sub-economy of English speakers working for other English speakers (as well as for locals). Doing building work, dog sitting, all kinds of stuff. If they are competent they are always busy. And while it's a lot less common for any Brits to be completely "off the grid" with regards to taxes than prior to Brexit, the Spanish are completely into the cash economy. If you want any work done to your house you'll be offered a discount for cash - unless it's something like solar panels, or a/c where the things being fitted represent the bulk of the cost (and you want a guarantee). But expect lower wages - €90 a day for labouring, €20-30 a day for dog sitting are the going rate around here. Remember that you are competing for work in a low wage economy that has high unemployment. If you have any skills they may be transferable. | |||
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"On our way back next month to look at more houses in the Alicante area, From Benidorm to La Marina. Around €120-150" Hope you find something that you like and make the move out here. It's a great place to live. | |||
"Have a look around the Quesada area. Lots of bargains there. Great for entertainment so lots of work for entertainers. 30 mins drive from Alicante. " Yes this is one of many areas we’re looking at. | |||
"We considering moving to Spain but can’t quite decide between Malaga area or Mercia Area and are going to travel in January to decide. We like the suburbs but want to be on the outskirts of a large city and yet still close to the sea, within 15mins. Would very much appreciate any input. " I can only speak about the areas I know. Due to family and work I must live near Alicante city. It would not have been my first choice, however once I adapted and found the ways of doing things, it became a fine place to live. I choose to be in the more Spanish areas as I am not here to live in little Ireland or England etc. If you can choose your own work times and holidays more or less it is a fantastic place. During the summer heat July and August I do like to go back more to Ireland. The place can feel very deserty....and a dose of green is required as an antidote. Alicante city has a decent night life with a few very good swinger clubs. Spoiled for choice with big and small. Also there are the beaches. Having said all that, if I had no personal commitments I would go to Granada, or north to Galicia, and keep Alicante as a holiday destination but that's just me. I wish you well. | |||
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"It seems many try to escape the heat in July August, a good time to come back or take a holiday to cooler climates " It does get hot during those months out here, but it's also a good indicator on how you will cope if you move over here full time. | |||
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"Most definitely and we believe that this will be our toughest challenge, 40 is hard work but so is miserable freezing UK in the winter!" Yes it is, and I'd rather be out in the sunshine and heat of Spain than the cold and wet of the UK. | |||
"Most definitely and we believe that this will be our toughest challenge, 40 is hard work but so is miserable freezing UK in the winter!" You don't often get 40 on the coast even in July/August. Mid 30's is about the average, still hot though. Go a few miles inland and it's a different ball game. A few years ago we were in Murcia city and the car recorded 43 (driving not parked)  | |||
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"If anyone would like to recommend us a good property rental agency in Alicante who can show us some properties. Recommendations for nudist beaches, clubs and meeting places." Have a look on Idealista for an idea of prices and areas you might fancy, then look for the estate agents in that area. I only know the ones in Gran Alacant. As for the nudist beaches there are plenty of them dotted about the Costa Blanca, so when you find that area I'm sure you will the nearest nudist beach as well. | |||
