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A quick guide to Spanish life:
Updated: 13 Apr 2010
Spain is now home to the largest population of Britons outside of the UK. Many have settled in the temperate coastal regions, choosing to live in a warmer climate and make the most of the Mediterranean lifestyle.
It is no accident that people living in Spain have a life expectancy on average 10 years longer than their Northern European counterparts.
With lower cost flights it can now takes less time to fly to Alicante than it would to commute from the suburbs of central London. It can be argued that with road pricing, increased car tax and fuel duty, it is also cheaper. With modern communications and Internet technology, many now find that if they can work from home in the UK, they can just as easily work from their Spanish home.
Any move to Spain will inevitably present you with challenges. However, a basic understanding of the language can make your move a great deal less stressful. There is always plenty of help on hand, and whilst there are people who have lived the greater part of their lives in Spain without ever learning Spanish, we still recommend giving priority to Spanish language tuition. This is especially important for children who may be moving with you.
Retirement in Spain, is still a popular option despite the relative weakness of the sterling. UK Pensions continue to have greater buying power in Spain. Council taxes remain much lower, as are the cost of eating out, food and motoring.
In recent years, many young professionals have also been making the change to a Mediterranean lifestyle. New communities have grown up in popular resorts with thriving businesses operating all year round to service the needs of the new residents.
People thinking of relocation often ask about Spanish schools and worry about the quality of education their children are going to receive. This is something that should be given careful consideration, as the age children enter the schooling system in Spain can have a bearing on which type of school is most appropriate.
The Spanish State schools on the whole have much to recommend them with their keen focus on literary and numeric skills. Young people graduating can expect to have acquired a well rounded education and one which compares favourably to that of the UK. Add to this the combined benefits of becoming bi-lingual, living in a safer and secure environment, as well as a healthier diet and active lifestyle, it is not hard to see why this is a popular choice. There also many who decide to put their children into one of the International Schools, where the English curriculum and school hours are followed.
Spanish health care can be amongst the best in the western world. There have been may advances in surgical techniques pioneered by Spanish surgeons. In the public system waiting times to see a specialist or for treatment are generally shorter than in the UK. Of course there is also a thriving private sector and many Spanish doctors divide their time equally between working for the state and their own private patience.
Survival rates for serious diseases such as cancer are known to be significantly higher in Spain than in the UK, although it is by no means clear if this is related to diet, lifestyle or clinical care. On balance most residents believe that their care in Spain has been equal to or better than what they would have received in their country of origin, although in common with the UK Health Service, you do still hear the odd horror story.
Dental care in Spain is completely in the private sector. There are a number of highly regarded qualified British and European dentists who offer free first time checks. Dental costs vary greatly, (as in the UK) and it may be worth adding dental provision to your private health insurance, should you decide on this option. My own experience has been that treatment has been more affordable than private treatment in the UK. However, Dental treatment is not free for children and this needs to be taken into account if your child requires Orthodontic work in the future.
Crime in Spain remains at a much lower level than other Northern European countries. The crime figures tend to rise during the holiday season with the influx of new visitors. Bigger cities such as Barcelona can attract gangs of criminals and have similar problems to their European counterparts. However, it has to be said, that in general the fear of crime amongst the general population is much lower than in the UK.
The Costa Blanca has a rich and diverse cultural heritage There is a great deal less crime in Spain, especially when you take into account the reports of QI magazine who claim that "England and Wales have the worst crime rate in the Western world".
People who choose to make Spain their home for the most part agree that there is more to life in Spain that simply good weather. Most ex-pats say that if they had any regrets at all, then it would probably be that they did not come out sooner.
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