Hi, You must have read something like this a million times. I am hoping to move out to Spain in 2-4 years time. There's a good chance I maybe able to work for my UK company as all my work is carried out from home. I have some Q's

1. I would like to live somewhere where there are not too many Ex-pats, sound miserable don't I but If I am going to take the plunge I would like to get involved with the Spanish culture etc.... What area's would be good for that? I am already learning the language albeit very slowly

2. Is there any documents/material I can read to give me an idea of all things i should consider in making a decision like this. i.e .. local bills, what to expect to pay to run an average house, health care ... etc.... things like that. If so it would be a great start.

Thanks in Advanced

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. Myself and Fred James are the moderators for the Spanish forums whilst BEVS moderates Europe. Moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. This is so that members gain the information that they are looking for and find their experiences on the forums to be friendly and worthwhile.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Dealing with your 1st point only, have a good look at a map of Spain. Decide what sort of climate you'd like.
To avoid ex-pats, avoid the Costas. Especially Costa del sol. They have the climatic advantage though.
Anywhere inland will be better for integrating, but it might be rather dead. If you like the sea, there's the Med or the Atlantic.
We have a good climate here in the Basque country, excellent for gardening, though we still get dry periods. And we're close to France. Very few expats.
Galicia is wetter than here. Aragon is lovely; property less expensive than here. Renting first would be better.
Castilla is dry and cold in winter, few expats, and a long way from the coast.
Madrid is a capital like most others and right in the middle.
So, all in all, you're spoilt for choice!

Many thanks for your reply, I will investigate further

We live on the Costa Tropical in Albuñol very few expats and we have had to learn Spanish, the coast here runs from Almuñecar/La Herradura to basically us nearest seaside village is La Rábita

I know it kind of defeats the object of British Expats but I started with a book called something like "Moving to Spain" or "Retiring to Spain" from Amazon, answered most of the basic questions and then you can ask more specific Qs on here and get better value responses

Of course everybody on here lives in the best part of Spain. We have a place on the Costa De La Luz up against the Portuguese border. Small friendly expat community but you do really need some Spanish to do well. Great climate, unspoiled beaches, fertile hinterland with hidden fincas and farmhouses if that's your thing. You get the advantage of the two adjacent countries and cultures and cuisines. Only slight snag - which you will find in most of the remoter places - is that telecommunications are not quite 21st century. If you are going to need a reliable connection for work the you'll probably end up either in Madrid or near one of the other bigger cities.

I've visited the following places and you could research into them:

1 The North of Palencia province..small towns with populations falling as people move chasing jobs, Romanic churches and fabulous scenery as you hit the border with Asturias

2 North of Soria city into the national parks

3 Salamanca city or going West to Portugal or South West to Extremadura. Many lovely little towns.

These are all in Castilla Leon so not so many ex-pats. On big problem is that you won't be in easy reach of an airport. Also the winters are very cold.

I recall spending a pleasant Summer based in a weird old townhouse owned by a Swedish lady friend in Albunol back in the nineties.
The area was totally undeveloped back then, not a Brit to be seen as far as I can recall. Some very interesting unspoilt villages such as La Rabita and further up the mountain the lovely Alpujarra region was quite nice too with its white houses and strange chimney pots and red geraniums everywhere.
I often wonder what it's like now as I heard there'd been some development since, so I just hope it hasn't been messed about too much the way so many other previously nice areas have been virtually destroyed.

There aren't many places in Spain where you won't find Expats (immigrants), unless you're in really rural areas. If you want to avoid Brits, but be close to the coast, the only Costa would be Costa Brava. There you will find more mainland Europeans and the further you go up, the more French it will be. In general, it would be more classy than other Costas. Costa de la Luz might be better than Costa Blanca or Costa del Sol and then obviously the whole North of Spain (Atlantic) would be very Spanish.

Any town above around 10,000 people in Spain has excellent internet connection nowadays, but you have to live in the actual town rather than being in the countryside close to the town

OP, it is impossible to answer your question. Only a small part of Spain has a lot of expats, and even then, they are easily avoided. I spent 3 years in the Costa del sol and only ever spoke Spanish. Expats then leave you alone

To be truthful I get a better mobile and internet connection in the back and beyond of Spain than I do in a moderately populated area in the south west of the UK......UK patchy at best unless living in a high density city area.

Moses, are you having a pop at CB again? There are loads of Spanish (who all speak very good English) down Torre way.....

Yeah, just like you would find Africans who speak Spanish, but that wasn't the point.
The OP said I would like to live somewhere where there are not too many Ex-pats and I said there aren't many places in Spain where you won't find Expats (immigrants). If we're talking about British people, you'll find less in very rural areas and anywhere above Barcelona.

Moses, just checking that you are still alive.......

All good