Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Evening all :)

I apologise as I'm sure there is already a thread on here somewhere asking all the same questions as I'm about to...Just baffled by all the info I've been reading on the web :huh:

Myself, my husband are considering moving abroad. I am 99% surenitmwill happen if we can find a suitable area for us all. We have looked into Australia in the past, however I had doubts just as we applied for our visa, main reason because its so far for family to visit or for us to return to the uk.

We are now looking into Spain, I love tenerife as a holiday place however I'm told work is not easy to find here. I've been reading so much online I'm all in a pickle now. I've read costa del sol is a nice place however I've also read that our two dogs, who will be coming with us, are on the dangerous dog list there. Which means they would need to be muzzled and kept on leads at all times, which I am not prepared to do.

We also have to consider schools... We would prefer an English school that teaches Spanish, I know there are fees for international schools. I am planning on taking up Spanish lessons before we move, ASAP infact.

Work wise... My husband holds a HGV license and is a qualified plumbing and heating engineer. He is currently project manager for wind turbine transportation. I'm unsure as to how easy it is to obtain work and in what areas work is available... I have been a full time mum for the last two years but done home care previous to that.

So I guess Im looking for suggestions on what regions have ample work for those who aren't fluent in Spanish, have reasonable english type schools, and somewhere that doesn't inflict a law whereby any dog that weighs over 25kg and is of 'dangerous type', must be muzzled in public....

Many thanks in advance...

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

I believe that the law regarding the dogs is throughout Spain but I am sure that there must be someone on here with more reliable information on this factor. One thing that I am very sure about is that there is no ideal province for work, Spain is in an employment crisis and many Spaniards are leaving to find work in other countries. So if fluent Spanish speakers are unable to find work I do not think that it will be at all easy for you. In order to live here now the government insists that you prove how you are going to support yourselves.

Sorry to have to hit a negative note but it is the way it is here at present.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Probably hundreds, usually 2 or 3 per week. You will also get the usual my area is ideal posts too.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Pretty well no chance of work in any regions of Spain if you are not fluent. In the south it is 35% unemployment.

The dog laws apply across the whole of Spain.

A HGV licence is not a lot of use - there are tens of thousands of lorries off the road at the moment as there is no work for them and plumbing and heating skills are not a lot of use either as there are plenty of out of work plumbers here since the entire construction industry collapsed.

I think you will need to look somewhere entirely different to meet your criteria - Spain is definitely not on the list for you.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

RE- The Dogs, Its not your call, while I do believe there are places that may not inflict the law, you personally can not call it.

As much as I understand and agree with you, its the law of the country and you have to abide by it or take the consequences, hopefully you can accept that first.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

I met a HGV or 'wagon driver' as he preferred on our last visit and he worked in a chip shop, he was content, also he could have been lying as the longer he talked the more aamzing were his life stories, but still...............when we left him, it hit me just how hard it is to get a job if you had too.

some of the things Jacky has responded to me in some posts, well they play on my mind a few weeks later

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

A lot of Spanish lorry drivers and builders seem to have headed off to Germany so I presume that there is still the possibility of work there.

Rosemary

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

I've had so called 'dangerous' dogs for years in Spain and the new rules are rigidly enforced. In my area, not only does the dog need to be muzzled in a public place, but you need to attend the local town hall to pass a test to determine whether you're a suitable person to keep such a dog. On top of that the dog needs to have dangerous dogs insurance, which doesn't come cheap, and the usual chip and health checks.

But, as usual, us honest expats greedily soak up all the Spanish laws forced upon us and comply with them, only to find that our Spanish neighbours just laugh at us. They don't bother with any of them, they don't even insure their cars, never mind their dogs, and if you see a dog with a muzzle the owner will be a guiri.

(I don't advocate a foreigner breaking any Spanish laws, a Spaniard might get away with minor transgressions, but you won't).

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Thanks for replies..

I'm thinking about Australia again now...Simply for work and the fact they speak english and our dogs are not classed as dangerous over there! Bugger how far away it is for family, we want what's best for OUR family

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Yes it looks like when / if we move we will have to do the same, have a medical and draw a plan of the house and pay the fee. It did put me off for a while, just have to see how it goes once we are there.

I met some people with same dog but they have not done that, but I think it depends how the dog acts, mine as in my avatar has a big jaw and is always open when he walks and panting and he looks the part, but he is not dangerous.

The other similar dogs do not have such a look about them and do not pant from what I have seen, so they do not give the look of the breed.

I also met a lady with a muzzled dog similar to ours and she said that it was not long before the council (is it?) wrote to her, I would imagine somebody tipped the authorities off.

Training our dog to wear a muzzle is not very easy, he has already broke out of one and ripped it to shreds.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Good luck down under :thumbsup:

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Thanks. Never as easy as it sounds though is it and I'm so impatient lol! We'll get there one day.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

As others have said Laura, best of luck. Sorry, just can't get my head round the concept of a life changing move, involving children, being dictated by DOGS?
'o nonno

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

What do you think I should do then? Rehome the dogs? I couldn't imagine having to explain to my boys why we've left our dogs in another country. They have to come with us. I can't imagine not being able to let them run about playing with each other like they do every day here at the park either. Which is something that won't happen in Spain. I know it's going to cost a bomb to take them with us to oz but we will just have to see what happens...

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

In my experience many people say they want to move away from the UK, some actually do, but many do not for family or work reasons. Those that do often go back for family reasons so make sure you have thought about why you want to move away in the first place. From the numbers of Rumanians that want to go there it cant be that bad!!

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Myself and my husband 100% want to move abroad, preferably Spain or oz. my husband works away in the week here in the uk as a lorry driver, and its very rare is he home for a whole weekend. When he is we're expected to visit family which drives me insane as we also har OUR own family to think about. His time with us is precious and we feel the lifestyle oz could offer for example would suit us better. He could potentially go back to plumbing there which is his dream. I k ow it will be hard saying goodbye to certain family members but we want what's best for our children. The government imo have ran this country into the ground.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

No disrespect intended, but if that is one of your prime motives for considering a move to Spain, then out of the frying pan into the fire comes to mind.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

It's not my prime motive! Family matters are my prime motives. And if you read the full thread Spain is not an option anymore. The more research I've done I've realized is not for us :)

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

I think quite a few people are coming to the same conclusion as you Laura.


Is there any one particular thing that finally put you off?

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

The fact that the fees for an English school are so high and also work, my husband can't speak any Spanish and although he's willing to learn it will take time and we can't afford to be out of work.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

A good decision. I really don't think Spain is the right place for you and your family (including the canine part).

You should go over and have a look at the Oz forum as they will be able to give you some good advice about the possibility of jobs and also the dog laws which seem to vary depending on the state.

However I get the impression that it isn't that easy to satisfy their immigration requirements any more.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

I have joined the oz forum. We have enough points, just. We could boost them up a bit if my husband took the English test. not sure how well he'd do though lol. I'm hoping to see if we can finance the move as it costs so much more.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

I wish you well. The lack of a language barrier in both jobs and education, and many more job opportunities, must be advantageous. I have to confess, though, to sometimes watching the "Wanted Down Under" programmes and the house prices in Australia often seem to take people by surprise as they are so high, and the general cost of living is expensive too, even though salaries are higher.

Unfortunately it seems there's no such thing any more as a land of milk and honey (if there ever was such a thing!) and the good things about another country will always have to be weighed against the not so good.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

The fact that cost of living is high does worry me slightly I must admit. It's true, there will always be pros and cons, I just think the lifestyle appeals to us. As everybody does, we want a better life for our children, neither are in school yet so we feel now is the best time to do it... We have 2 years before they start school here!

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

+1

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

If the cost of international schools in Spain puts you off, then put the kids into the Spanish State system, they would fit roght in, and by the end of the first year they would be almost fluent in Spanish, at least they would be able to translate for you. I know this from personal experience when a friend of ours in Spain started school at 7, he knew no Spanish, but by his second year he was pretty fluent, and translating things for his parents when they were talking to Spanish neighbours

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

I think dogs have to go in quarantine when entering Australia.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Yes they do for a month.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

+2

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

They do seem a little extreme with their entry restrictions down under.

I watched one of their border control programmes in which a visitor had unwittingly left an apple in her pocket which she'd been given on the flight.
It was almost like she'd been found with a bomb in her pocket, such was the extreme reaction of the OZ customs.

Most of the programme was devoted to explaining just how serious an offence the somewhat bemused lady had just committed.
Not content with that the Customs officials then went outside the airport entrance and confronted the ladies bewildered friends who were simply waiting to pick her up and likewise couldn't quite get their heads around the extreme nature of the officials reaction.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

If you haven't got anything informative to say pls don't comment on this thread. Thanks for the info dick :)

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

He was merely trying to say that Australia is very strict on immigration in every sense.

Personally, I think Spain is not the place for you, your family (including your children) and your dogs, if working is important to you.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

I hope you feel better for that rant?

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

I know he was, I ws genuinely thanking him. His name is dick dasterdly, I want being rude calling him dick lol. it's the ppl that keep adding +1 +2 that I was referring to.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Perhaps it just came out wrong.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

?

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

What makes you think the Spanish Government and the Australian Government haven't run their Country's into the ground ?

What is your perception of a Country run into the ground, how has this shown itself to you ? Or is it that you just don't like immigrants in the UK? Cos guess what they are all over Spain and Australia if that's what you are running away from.

The general cost of living is astronomical in Australia compared to both the UK and Spain. I have sat next to a woman at work who is Australian who has lived here 10 years or so she goes back every two years to see family and friends and wonders how people with ordinary everyday type jobs can afford their groceries.

I suspect that as many hours will have to be worked in Australia to put food on the table as in the UK so not sure how that will help the 'family' aspect of things.

I'm the first to admit I'm not a dog person especially the drug dealer breeds of dog, can't see the attraction. But I seriously wonder about the sincerity of people who put dogs before their families chance of what they perceive as a better lifestyle.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Drug dealer type breeds, pmsl!!! I'll have you know our dog/s are THE BEST with my children, my kids can do anything to them, take a bone from their mouth, poke their eyes, not intentionally, and they have never battered an eyelid. Rotties are, if you read the true temperament info, one of the most docile, tolerant dogs ever. They were not bred for fighting, nor we're they bred to be used as guard dogs, try were bred in roman times to pull carts and herd cattle! And they adore children and will protect them with their life if needed. Not like the snappy little terrier type dogs who snap and bark and then run to their owner to be picked up!! Neither of my two have ever shown aggression to a dog or human. Pisses me off when ppl are so judgmental of breeds. And how dare you suggest our dogs are more important!! They are not more important, however they are part of the family and are our boys best friends. We want to go to Australia because we want to! Don't want to get to 50 and regret not taking a chance to better out future. You only live once!!! if you've the funds and skills to get to Australia why not?

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

I am sure those on Australia board will be glad to advise you.

Re: Where should we consider moving to in Spain?
 

Can I delete this thread?