Has Spain had its day
Aug 14th 2010, 2:05 pm
#31
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Re: Has Spain had its day
I seem to remember it was very hard to get, time limits before you could claim etc and then only if you had dependants.
That is why you see self employed people working in splints etc.
It`s the same with most handouts, they write them on red tape and by the time you qualify you are back at work.
That is why you see self employed people working in splints etc.
It`s the same with most handouts, they write them on red tape and by the time you qualify you are back at work.
Aug 14th 2010, 2:10 pm
#32
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Re: Has Spain had its day
As for the thread question - I don't have the flight numbers to Spain, but I'd bet they are a lot higher than 10 or even 5 years ago. The numbers of people retiring there may ease off a little, but even then I can't see greater than a 10% reduction. The numbers of holidaymakers visiting places like Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid are far higher than before (I suspect this tends to be more weekend visitors). It's the Med costal resorts that may be suffering, but there again do we have any current (ie this year) data for numbers, and the amount they are spending?
Aug 14th 2010, 2:52 pm
#33
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Re: Has Spain had its day
I think there were 2 million less British tourists visited Spain last year and the first 6 months of this year was well down. Happens to all countries...not many people want to return to the same place every year, drink in the same bars etc. There is a big world out there! Although I do know one couple who come to the CDS twice a year, stay in the same apartment and eat and drink in the same places, whatever floats your boat I suppose.
Some travel "expert" said on TV last week that there is a growing trend for Britis to take their summer holiday in the UK and a winter one in far away tropical places.
As for selling up and setting up in Spain there aren't enough jobs around now, unless you are lucky enough to have a business which runs itself in the UK or you can work from home. I liked Spain better about 10 years ago when there were a lot less Brits living here. The spaniards dislike us now, unless spending money with them.
Some travel "expert" said on TV last week that there is a growing trend for Britis to take their summer holiday in the UK and a winter one in far away tropical places.
As for selling up and setting up in Spain there aren't enough jobs around now, unless you are lucky enough to have a business which runs itself in the UK or you can work from home. I liked Spain better about 10 years ago when there were a lot less Brits living here. The spaniards dislike us now, unless spending money with them.
Aug 14th 2010, 4:03 pm
#34
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Re: Has Spain had its day
Where there are hard times for some there is opportunity for others. This is not unique to Spain.
A recession creates a land grab opportunity for the wealthy, rich or those who have been waiting to scoop up what others can no longer afford or lose.
I'm sure there's plenty of Expats with a few quid looking about at forced sales, commercial property and other opportunities scratching there beards and thinking about making a few quid...
Speaking for myself, being an Internet entrepreneur I can work from wherever! Spain has appeal to me for a number of reasons...but I've no doubt there are plenty of things just as wrong with Spain as there are with the uk.
To me Spain offers an awesome opportunity right now to change my lifestyle for the better. I'm biased tho as I'm sick of the uk but haven't experienced living in Spain yet.... Maybe I'll get a rude shock and have my bubble burst earlier than I expected.... Who knows?!
The easy times for many will return.....It's called boom and bust lol
A recession creates a land grab opportunity for the wealthy, rich or those who have been waiting to scoop up what others can no longer afford or lose.
I'm sure there's plenty of Expats with a few quid looking about at forced sales, commercial property and other opportunities scratching there beards and thinking about making a few quid...
Speaking for myself, being an Internet entrepreneur I can work from wherever! Spain has appeal to me for a number of reasons...but I've no doubt there are plenty of things just as wrong with Spain as there are with the uk.
To me Spain offers an awesome opportunity right now to change my lifestyle for the better. I'm biased tho as I'm sick of the uk but haven't experienced living in Spain yet.... Maybe I'll get a rude shock and have my bubble burst earlier than I expected.... Who knows?!
The easy times for many will return.....It's called boom and bust lol
I don't see any reduction in people falling for the charms of Spain, even in these money-straightened times. Even on this board (famed for certain negative posters) we see some posters who've struggled to go back again after many years. Judging by the numbers of Spanish I see in London (they can't all be tourists surely?) maybe we're going to end up having a total switch around?
Aug 14th 2010, 4:06 pm
#35
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Re: Has Spain had its day
Some travel "expert" said on TV last week that there is a growing trend for Britis to take their summer holiday in the UK and a winter one in far away tropical places.
Aug 14th 2010, 4:17 pm
#36
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Re: Has Spain had its day
As for the thread question - I don't have the flight numbers to Spain, but I'd bet they are a lot higher than 10 or even 5 years ago. The numbers of people retiring there may ease off a little, but even then I can't see greater than a 10% reduction. The numbers of holidaymakers visiting places like Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid are far higher than before (I suspect this tends to be more weekend visitors). It's the Med costal resorts that may be suffering, but there again do we have any current (ie this year) data for numbers, and the amount they are spending?
http://blog.mirayvuela.com/madrid-ba...os-y-viajeros/
Aug 14th 2010, 4:21 pm
#37
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Re: Has Spain had its day
Tell me about it, it's bucketing it down here in the UK. When we came last summer it was hot for the whole of August. Just had 3 weeks of really lovely weather though, nice temps of 23C to 25C just right.
There does seem to be a lot of spanish around the UK right now. Went to Hampton Court last week and lots of spanish voices there. Yesterday went to a local picnic spot and a party of guys from madrid were there having fly-fishing lessons!
There does seem to be a lot of spanish around the UK right now. Went to Hampton Court last week and lots of spanish voices there. Yesterday went to a local picnic spot and a party of guys from madrid were there having fly-fishing lessons!
Aug 14th 2010, 5:38 pm
#38
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Re: Has Spain had its day
Tell me about it, it's bucketing it down here in the UK. When we came last summer it was hot for the whole of August. Just had 3 weeks of really lovely weather though, nice temps of 23C to 25C just right.
There does seem to be a lot of spanish around the UK right now. Went to Hampton Court last week and lots of spanish voices there. Yesterday went to a local picnic spot and a party of guys from madrid were there having fly-fishing lessons!
There does seem to be a lot of spanish around the UK right now. Went to Hampton Court last week and lots of spanish voices there. Yesterday went to a local picnic spot and a party of guys from madrid were there having fly-fishing lessons!
Walked the coast for 5 hours yesterday, couldn't do that in 43º. Mind you, it has been fairly grim this summer, you have done better than us overall. July was poor for us. The Spanish here don't seemed fazed by the weather either, reading their forums I'm always amazed how many seem to settle here, and even in Scandinavia.
Aug 14th 2010, 7:55 pm
#39
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Re: Has Spain had its day
http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/todos/re.../5.html#847156
Aug 15th 2010, 12:49 am
#40
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Posts: 189
Re: Has Spain had its day
people that are well off will always tell you spain is great,they have 2 houses,
the average person that has moved here in the last 5 years has lost money and gone back to the uk if they can sell their overpriced apartment or bar that the estate agent told them was a good investment,thing was people lost their minds when buying here,partly due to tv living the dream stuff and the rest was their stupidity
i aint rich but i laugh at these idiots who i still see wanting too buy bars,they wouldnt listen too me anyway as they have their mind set to do it
for the brits,spain has lost its day,those countries in the euro it has not,they are the ones investing here now
the average person that has moved here in the last 5 years has lost money and gone back to the uk if they can sell their overpriced apartment or bar that the estate agent told them was a good investment,thing was people lost their minds when buying here,partly due to tv living the dream stuff and the rest was their stupidity
i aint rich but i laugh at these idiots who i still see wanting too buy bars,they wouldnt listen too me anyway as they have their mind set to do it
for the brits,spain has lost its day,those countries in the euro it has not,they are the ones investing here now
Aug 15th 2010, 8:07 am
#41
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Re: Has Spain had its day
OK we are looking into checking accommodation areas before retiring to Spain. We would be self-sufficient in finance, my question is would it be different with our financial circumstances, apart from the weather. I am not yet 60 and my wife is not yet 50, so would it be worth the move which we are looking for?
Richard and Jackie
Richard and Jackie
Aug 15th 2010, 8:20 am
#42
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Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
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Re: Has Spain had its day
OK we are looking into checking accommodation areas before retiring to Spain. We would be self-sufficient in finance, my question is would it be different with our financial circumstances, apart from the weather. I am not yet 60 and my wife is not yet 50, so would it be worth the move which we are looking for?
Richard and Jackie
Richard and Jackie
of course that could all change
& the weather does make for a more outdoor lifestyle, & depending on where you finally settle the air could be so very much cleaner
Aug 15th 2010, 8:24 am
#43
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Re: Has Spain had its day
OK we are looking into checking accommodation areas before retiring to Spain. We would be self-sufficient in finance, my question is would it be different with our financial circumstances, apart from the weather. I am not yet 60 and my wife is not yet 50, so would it be worth the move which we are looking for?
Richard and Jackie
Richard and Jackie
I feel the whole "expat" thing will come to an end, but it may take 20 years. The huge movement of Brits to Spain was driven by an increase in British house prices and cheap prices in Spain meaning people with modest incomes in the UK felt much better off in Spain.
That is no longer the case and it is now very much more difficult to get a job just speaking English.
A few years ago I applied for a job in BCN (a professional job in marketing), they loved my marketing experience but said they are looking for someone who at least speaks English, Spanish, Catalan and French. The Catalan system at least is churning out students who speak at least 4 languages well. In this kind of environment, Brits have no chance until they change their mentality completely.
Aug 15th 2010, 8:59 am
#44
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Location: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
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Re: Has Spain had its day
IMO primary schools should teach basic maths, English, grammar and the basics of two or three foreign languages. The young brain needs to be stretched at that age as it makes learning easier.
I love language, but my kids were never inspired at school and while the eldest did quite well at German, (I worked with her a lot) the other two frankly weren't interested, and I just gave up.
After spending 6 years allegedly learning German, they couldn't even decline the verb 'to be' I am, you are, he is, we are, you are, they are.
Couldn't even do that. Now to me that implies that the teaching at their school was CRAP.
Aug 15th 2010, 9:03 am
#45
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Re: Has Spain had its day
OK we are looking into checking accommodation areas before retiring to Spain. We would be self-sufficient in finance, my question is would it be different with our financial circumstances, apart from the weather. I am not yet 60 and my wife is not yet 50, so would it be worth the move which we are looking for?
Richard and Jackie
Richard and Jackie
Spain offers you a massive range of locality, weather and living. Town, campo, or village. You can chose whatever suits you, expat community, all Spanish, whatever you wish.
Just do learn the language as it will massively improve you experience.
Health wise, it's far better here, and remember this. In the UK, many pensioners have the choice of eating or staying warm. Here the winters aren't as bad, and the lifestyle is more relaxed.
Why not rent here for the coming winter? That will give you a better taste for the life here and you can maybe try different areas.