Spain Explained

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:27 am. Some people think of Torrevieja as just a seaside holiday resort. In the hustle and bustle of the summer season you could be forgiven for this. However, it’s also a town with a history and salt is at its heart. Torrevieja’s population has rocketed in the […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:03 pm. Not everyone selling their property in Spain is leaving the country. There are times when a different type of property, perhaps in a different area, is what’s needed. What should you take into consideration if you’re not only the seller but the buyer too? Emily Clark […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:56 pm. If you are convinced that Spain is your home and you want to take the next step in showing you belong here, you might want to consider becoming a Spanish national. In this article María Wiedemann tells us what it entails. Most people who come to […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:28 am. Most people think of Torrevieja as primarily being a seaside resort. It’s not a package holiday destination as such but, with its prime location on the shores of the Mediterranean, it’s a popular holiday destination for Northern Europeans and Spanish alike. Although this swells business during […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:38 am. This is the fourth article of a series of five articles on Spanish residency for EU and British citizens. David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translations explains the process and what you need to comply.   The table of contents is: Spanish Residency Overview Pensioners Workers Self-employed/business Unemployed Today’s article […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 02:05 pm. If you have property in Spain you will be keen to ensure that your inheritors are not burdened with a large Spanish inheritance tax bill when you die. Leaving property in Spain brings different tax requirements to what you might be used to in your home […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:39 am. If you buy a property in Spain then you will need to take out insurance. Insurance in Spain works very similarly to that in other European countries, more or less. You pay a Premium and, unless you have to make a claim, that is it. However, […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:39 am. Noisy neighbours, barking dogs, bars and restaurants playing music to the early hours. We’re often asked what can be done about noise in Spain. In this article Marina Lorente from our legal department looks at the issue and the possible actions that can be taken. Spain […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:04 pm. Buying a holiday home in Spain when you retire continues to be a popular option. For Claire a little luck helped her secure the perfect spot to enjoy her free time.   When Claire retired, buying a property in Spain as a holiday home was on […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:34 am. This is the third article of a series of five articles on Spanish residency for EU and British citizens. David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translations explains the process and what you need to comply.   The table of contents is: Spanish Residency Overview Pensioners Workers Self-employed/business Unemployed This article […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:35 am. The number of tourists visiting Spain keeps on rising. In 2015 68.1 million people came to Spain whilst in 2016 the number recorded had reached 71.6 million by November. In this Infograph we can clearly see how the number of tourists visiting Spain over the past […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:36 am. Jamie Oliver certainly caused a storm when he recommended that paella be made with chorizo. Eduardo Simón from the Customer Care Department at Ábaco explains what should and shouldn’t be in this very important Spanish dish.  What conjures up Spain more than a large, colourful paella? […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:36 am. Carnaval, the Spanish spelling of carnival, is quite an event in many parts of Spain. It can also be something of a conundrum if you are not a native of the country. In this article we delve a little into what ‘carnaval’ is all about. It’s […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 02:05 pm. We have written before about the benefits of donating or ‘gifting’ your assets rather than bequeathing them when you die. ‘Donación de bienes’ is an alternative way of handing over your property which has a number of benefits. Arranging this handover sooner rather than later means […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:38 am. Many people are confused when it comes to what they need to apply for residency in Spain. In this series of four articles, David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translation, explains what the specific requirements are for pensioners. This is the second article of a series of five […]

Last updated on February 19th, 2020 at 01:37 am. Many people are confused when it comes to what they need to apply for residency in Spain. In this series of four articles, David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translation, explains what the general requirements are.   Welcome to the Mini guide to Spanish residency. This is the first […]

Last updated on June 5th, 2020 at 06:16 pm. Like many words, ‘embargoes’ has different connotations in Spain to what it does in the UK. For most British people when you talk about embargoes you picture a prohibition from one country on another. So what does embargo mean? It comes as something of a shock […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. When Bob Bray first fell in love with Harley Davidsons at eight years old he didn’t envisage that he would be touring Spain on one. Now, he plans to share the varied and marvellous scenery with his wife too. ‘I was in Bognor Regis when I […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:05 pm. When Paul and Donna Mclaren bought their first property in Spain they didn’t realise just how much they would fall in love with Gran Alacant. Now, thirteen years later they’re on the move…down the road.  Paul and Donna bought their first Spanish property in 2003. ‘We’d looked […]

Last updated on April 9th, 2020 at 12:25 pm. Spain is famous for its wine and deservedly so. It has a huge number of vineyards many of which welcome people to come and find out about the grapes that are grown there and the wines that result. The bodega is officially the warehouse where the […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. The EU Court of Justice has ruled that banks in Spain must return all the interest on mortgages that they have over-charged prior to 2013 as well as after. During the property boom, many Spanish banks got their customers to sign mortgage agreements that included a […]

Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 11:41 am. Spain has a reputation for having one of the best national health services in Europe. How can you make sure you can access it if you come to live here? Caroline Clinton explains what the options are. For those people considering coming to live in Spain […]

Last updated on April 30th, 2020 at 05:42 pm. Like most countries, you must pay council tax in Spain. But what is it and how is it calculated?  In this article Linda Robertsson Posada, from the fiscal department, explains IBI and the role that the valor catastral has to play. However, we would like to […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:06 pm. It’s often said that to find your perfect property you must compromise. After all, you can’t expect to have everything you want in one location. But perhaps there is an alternative- why not build your own in Spain? In this article we find out more about […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. The HSBC survey aims to give people an opportunity to see how others rate the country they’ve moved to. In this article we look at the overall results and summarise opinions on Spain. If you live in Spain but are of a different nationality, what made […]