British Expats - Moving to Spain

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)

- Spain (https://britishexpats.com/forum/spain-75/)

- - Moving to Spain (https://britishexpats.com/forum/spain-75/moving-spain-863011/)

Re: Moving to Spain

Quote:

Originally Posted by amideislas (Post 11718194)

There's a reason why Brits flock to Benidorm. It's warm, you don't need to learn another language, your pension goes further, and you can buy HP at the local supermarket.

But going there to find a job would be a bit like moving to Italy to get way from Italians.

I wouldn't say Benidorm is cheap for what you are getting. Renting is certainly cheaper than other areas, but if you are buying there's nothing decent out there. Apart from the full English, the cost of living is basically the same as many other towns along the coast and HP sauce is available everywhere these days. Even the Chinese now sell HP sauce.

Re: Moving to Spain

Around here you have to go to a special shop or a supermarket in one of the handful of British expat communities to get British food (HP included). And they will be as expensive or more than what you pay in the UK, even factoring the exchange rate. Pataks curry sauces are especially outrageous for some reason. Carrefour does carry a few British products. But again, at elevated prices.

In terms of rents or buying a home, yes, you'll pay much more in a British expat community than elsewhere, but again, that's to be expected due to the strength of the pound.

As for Benidorm, I'd have to reckon it follows similar economics. Expensive compared to much of Spain, but still a bit less than the equivalent you'd find in say, southern England.

Re: Moving to Spain

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irmelin (Post 11718080)

, the biggest house bill we have is 70 euro swimming pool clean. we had bought small bottle of gas for hot water and another for cooking 12 euro each, still using it.

It is very hot here now, but we are all loving it (we do have aircon working all day so )

Have you had an electricity bill yet?

Re: Moving to Spain

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irmelin (Post 11718080)

We just moved to Javea about 30 min drive from Benidorm. I went on my own in April to explore area from Alicante to Valencia and fell in love with Javea, this little town has a lot to offer it has old town going back to 14 century, port and massive sandy beach with promenade and restorans. I was lucky in April there was not a lot of long rent available, but I had managed to get a lovely Spanish willa 4 bedrooms with swimming pool and gardens with orange trees for 700 euro per months, the biggest house bill we have is 70 euro swimming pool clean. we had bought small bottle of gas for hot water and another for cooking 12 euro each, still using it. We have online business in Uk and set up company in Spain to do the same thing, so work wasn't an issue for us. We have 2 girls age 3 and 6, they been going to summer school for a month it will break tomorrow for summer, they will start school on 10 of September. There almost has not been any problems for us so far, also took longer to buy a car then we expected and ended up buying a new one as prices on used almost as high as on new! It is very hot here now, but we are all loving it (we do have aircon working all day so :) ) and girls spend most time in swimming pool. So if you in retail you may try online business, there are a lot of companies in UK offer drop ship service (they hold your stock and ship it to your customers) and Amazon being one of them offer a platform to sell as well...just an option...

Have you checked what language the school teaches in? As many schools in Javea use Valencian as the first and primary language. yes they teach Spanish as a second language which is often a problem for ex pats. especially learning Spanish. Not many outside of Valencia speak Valencian but it is similar to Catalan and the Balearics (Mallorquin etc)