Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. People who have property in Spain fall into one of two groups – resident or non-resident. You are a non-resident here if you live less than 183 days in Spain – and these don’t need to be consecutive days. However, there is perhaps another group within […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Most people with property in Spain have enjoyed cheap flights for a few years. Without doubt it’s one of the reasons why people choose property here. With good, predictable warm weather in the summer and milder winters on the coast, you’re not far away from family […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Have you ever been on a cruise ship? Taking a cruise around the Mediterranean is on plenty of people’s bucket lists. In this blog Spain Explained provides some advice on what’s available and how to make the most of it. The presence of cruise ships around […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Hotels, guest houses, apartments and staying with relatives. Lots of different ways in which you can take advantage of Spain’s beautiful climate and hospitality. But what about camping? There are ample opportunities to enjoy this too. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Using communal showers, hikes […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. If you come out to live in Spain it’s not only healthcare that you need to organize. You need to look after your teeth too. Spain Explained spoke to Dr. Ian Smith from Carredent Dental Practice about his experience of being a dentist in Spain. There […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. You’ve made the bold decision to move your family to Spain. With children to consider, your priority must be, how will they fit in too? It’s no easy matter moving your whole family abroad. The paper work itself can take an age to do and then […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Trying to get the best deal when it comes to renting a car is no easy matter. We talked to Mike at Coys Rent A Car to find out the behind-the-scenes information. In this part of the Costa Blanca, businesses have a tendency of coming and […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. If you have a property in Spain, there is chance that at some point you have hired a car here. Most people like to be able to travel around to get the real benefit of a holiday home. If you live in Spain, you have probably […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. In many respects we hope you never have to use either a consulate or an embassy.  A visit to either of these outposts in someone else’s native country is usually a sign that something has gone wrong. The holiday maker who has lost their passport or […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. One of the main foundations of the Spanish economy is tourism. Tourism and Spain have been linked in the minds of many Europeans for decades. However, this close relationship hasn’t always been cosy or predictable and the tourism statistics for Spain are evidence of this. During […]

Last updated on May 18th, 2020 at 04:39 pm. Help Vega Baja is a not-for-profit association, helping people out in the local community. In our question and answer session they explain what they do, how they might help you and how you could help them too. Who are you? HELP Vega Baja was established more […]

Last updated on May 18th, 2020 at 05:13 pm. It’s been one of the longest lasting debates in the forums in Spain. Must you exchange your foreign driver’s licence for a Spanish driving licence? The camps have been equally divided for years and you will hear countless stories in the bars about people who were […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It is hard learning a language, especially if you are slightly older in years and you’re starting from scratch. You can think because you live in another country or visit it regularly that it will somehow come to you naturally. That you will absorb it just […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. We all know how difficult it can be to find the right insurance policy. There is a lot to be made from commission and companies will jostle each other for your custom. No matter how carefully you read through the small print your policy can still […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It’s everywhere. Or so it seems at times. Graffiti is on walls, trains, bins and fences. Anywhere there is a spare square meter of space to record names and messages. Although some of this graffiti is pretty banal there are examples of street-art that have artistic […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. The internet has transformed our lives. The way in which most people communicate, research, work and relax has changed immeasurably and it won’t stop there. We cannot imagine what the next twenty years will hold in terms of this revolution. And it is a revolution. The […]

Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 11:49 am. Driving in Spain can be a pleasure. Once you put the city centre behind you, you can find long stretches of motorway without a traffic cone or tailback in sight. Spanish motorways seem to be extraordinarily free from road works and are generally enjoyable to drive […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It’s a sad fact; in most European countries currently work is in short supply. The unemployment figures fluctuate but the trend is still down and we are seeing generally a better-qualified workforce earning less, if they’re earning at all. Some employers are exploiting the situation with […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Do you love the sales? Most people seem to fall into one of two groups. Those who love rooting through piles of clothes to find a bargain and those who will avoid the shops until it’s all over. The Spanish word for ‘sale’ is ‘rebajas’ and […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Spain is a country of contrasts. Only a few hours from where they’re basking in the sun on the beaches they’re skiing down the slopes in three layers of clothes and woolly mittens. One of the amazing things about Spain is the variation in its climate […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Do you like celebrating Christmas at home? Is your idea of the ideal Christmas one that involves your home hearth, slippers and a good helping of turkey? Or do your prefer to slip away and let someone else do all the donkey work? Most people fall […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Love them or hate them, the out-of-town commercial centre is here to stay.  Their presence in Spain has gradually increased over the past ten years. They do have their advantages. You can leave your car in one place whilst you browse amongst all the major high […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. We often take them for granted, but if you have ever lived in an area that’s short of local Spanish taxis you will recognise just what an underestimated resource they can be. In Spain, obtaining a licence to run an official taxi is expensive and it […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. National borders have a lot to answer for.  Countries continue to battle over where the lines are drawn and who gets to fly the flag. But who should decide what belongs to whom? The issue has been carefully documented in both Britain and Spain recently. With […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. When you’re travelling in a foreign country, having an accident might be one of the last things on your mind. However, the risk is probably greater than in your own country. Driving a hire car on holiday, the majority of people have probably not studied the […]