By Nick Anders, disillusioned expat in Spain.
Thinking of living in Spain?
I’ve had enough, get me out of here – whatever your choice, the end result is the same. I’m leaving Spain to go back to the UK.
I moved to Spain to start a new life and at first I loved it but now I can’t wait to get out.
So you want to know what it is like living in Spain? Here goes!
There are lots of downsides to living in Spain and I just didn’t know about these when I moved to Spain.
I’ll tell you why living in Spain can be considered bad, I’ll list the problems and give you insights into the biggest mistakes expats make.
I’ve been living in Nerja which is a coastal town with nice sandy beach on the Costa del Sol of Spain, I won’t bore you with my tales of woe but I wanted to write this to let off some steam but also to warn anyone thinking of moving to Spain to be very careful.
At least move to Spain with your eyes wide open – aware of all the negatives about living in Spain.
An expats life in Spain can be really hard, a constant struggle, make sure you are prepared for all of this because you haven’t seen anything like this on A Place In The Sun and nobody involved in the property/estate agent business will ever warn you of the downsides and disadvantages to moving and living in Spain.
Note from Spain Made Simple Admin – © Please respect our copyright. Yes we do allow this article or excerpts to be repurposed or republished but we do ask that you credit us by linking back to our website, thanks.
Reasons I Want To Move Back to the UK
Living and Working in Spain
I moved to Spain for a better life. I hate how I now work harder in Spain than I ever did in the UK. I moved to Spain with savings of £15,000, now I have pretty much nothing but the shirt on my back.
I figured that with so many expats living in Spain that there must be a bundle of potential new business opportunities or companies looking for staff. I was so wrong!
I soon found out that jobs and opportunities in Spain were few and far between apart from the obvious ones.
Fact – I hate villa cleaning, I hate cleaning pools, I hate working in bars until 2 am waiting for the last drunken expat to leave, I hate building work in the baking midday sun.
The Word Manana
Like everyone else, I thought this was a funny joke at first. Every time a person in Spain – whether Spanish or British let me down I would grin and say manana like it was ok or normal. When I’m paying for a job I want it done as promised – and on time – or am I mad for expecting this?
Customer Service in Spain
What I hate in Spain is when I go into a shop and stand waiting while the assistant chats away to their friend or relative totally ignoring me and everyone else.
In this global economy you just can’t see the Spanish having a chance against the likes of American, British or Indian companies who are hungry and put customer service first.
Much of the time you are served when people feel like it, you get little help and assistance and often you are not even greeted at the counter – you greet them. It is like you are doing them a favour by shopping there!
I hate getting anything done in Spain. Often I end up going to the local town hall and being sent from one department to another where I am told conflicting advice. The paperwork and bureaucracy are horrendous. If you are coming to live in Spain bring a photocopier!
Getting Ripped Off in Spain
I hate that people prey on each other in Spain. Everyone seems so desperate that getting cheated is a story every expat I know can tell. I personally put a €8,000 deposit down on an apartment and the estate agent did a runner with my cash. God knows where they are now but I won’t stop looking until I find them.
Other common expat stories are ones such as being sold a property that was actually illegal, didn’t have planning permissions etc and often the people had a Spanish lawyer so they were not cutting corners and they still have lost their life savings.
Corruption is a problem in Spain and often there are stories in the newspapers about local town hall officials being involved in shady/illegal deals. Anything and I mean anything, can happen in Spain.
When I first moved to Spain the currency was the Peseta. The cost of living in Spain was low as most food and drink was cheap compared to northern Europe. Then the Euro came in and it seemed everyone took the opportunity to raise their prices – typical – now I think it could actually be possible – no I’m sure it is – that Spain’s cost of living is now higher than the UK!
When I go back to the UK I notice sales, discounts. When I go shopping in Spain, despite a so-called recession I don’t see shops dropping the prices, I don’t see special offers, I don’t see much evidence of competition between retailers. In my local supermarket when food goes out of date they don’t slash the price, instead, it stays on the shelf and so you have to be careful what you are buying.
Poor Roads/Facilities in Spain
I hate the lack of infrastructure in Spain. The motorways/autoroutes are superb as a lot of EU money has been given to Spain but locally our roads are terrible. The amount of tyres we go through because of holes in the road is ridiculous.
There is no drainage so when it rains heavily places get flooded and roads are washed away. Areas that used to soak up the water have been built on due to pure greed. The councils just don’t seem to invest back into the community, instead the money collected from me in taxes is blown up – literally – by stunning firework displays that even Disney would be proud of.
I wish I had never moved to Spain and I urge anyone else thinking of Spain seriously to consider my story, especially any young families who I see writing on the expat forums about how they can’t wait to move to Spain, how they are fed up with life in the United Kingdom etc – you don’t realise how lucky you have it! Don’t even think of moving to Spain if you have no money – it is not the cheap place to live that it used to be – the cost of living in Spain continues to match UK levels.
What they don’t read about are the thousands of young families who have moved to Spain and who would love to move back to the UK, if they only could afford to as they have no money. Or the ones who have moved back already having realised their mistake in moving to Spain in the first place.
If you are thinking about selling up and moving to Spain then my advice is, if you really MUST try living in Spain then don’t sell your house in the UK, don’t burn all your bridges, try live in Spain for 6 months or 1 year by renting a house for that length of time. Then you can truly decide and you can move back to the UK or wherever you came from originally without ruining your life. Sorry to sound so negative! Adios!
Editor’s note – This article is a reader’s opinion of life in Spain, it is not shared by us but it does represent the thinking of some people who currently live in Spain or of those who have subsequently moved back to their home country.
We are always being asked, is it good to live in Spain? We do encourage you to carefully consider your decision in advance, living in Spain has both pros AND cons and you need to balance these out, judging what is most important TO YOU in life. Remember that many expats absolutely love living in Spain. Read some responses to Nick’s opinion below and in our comments section and please do share this article and like it on Facebook.
Before we get to some replies to Nick, we have a special section for those of you who still want to move to Spain and have not been put off so far! We get so many questions on where the best place is to move to so we cover some of the frequently asked questions for you below. Don’t worry, most people love Spain!
Where is the best place to live in Spain (for expats) in 2024?
We simply cannot give you one town or city and tell you that is the best place to live in Spain because it does depend on your criteria and your likes and dislikes. We will however be able to give you some definite suggestions based on these preferences in the different sections below in which we narrow down the categories and nationalities of expats seeking to live in Spain on a permanent basis. In short, we give you all the pitfalls, pros and cons of living in different areas of Spain.
Many people ask questions such as what are the best places to live in Spain for 1 month, 2 months, 3 months or 6 months etc. Basically, if you are looking to live in Spain for a short time only then we suggest a busy area such as one of the cities or Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca where you can experience as much in a short time frame as possible. The Costa del Sol would be our pick – from here you can visit many places such as Seville, Cordoba, Ronda, Marbella, Malaga, Granada etc. while enjoying the Andalucian way of life, beaches etc.
Where do most UK expats live in Spain?
First, make the obvious choice between living in areas full of expats (most are British) or for truly trying to integrate with the Spanish which usually means living away from the busy coasts. By busy we mean Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and to a lesser extent also Costa Almeria, Murcia and Costa Brava. If you do wish to live by the sea we suggest northern Spanish regions such as Galicia and Asturias (Costa Verde) or Costa Tropical, Costa del Azahar and Costa de la Luz.
Below we have a table with statistics from 2020 showing the most popular 12 nationalities living in Spain. Not on that list are also large numbers of Germans (Costa Blanca), Irish (Lanzarote and Tenerife), Americans (Madrid and Barcelona) and Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden (Costa Blanca). As you can see a lot of South Americans come to live in Spain, mostly illegally. They come from poor countries to try get a better way of life for themselves and their families back home, unfortunately these usually very friendly people are often looked down upon by the Spanish.
The population of Spain is 47,431,256 to be exact or approximately 47 million people (and rising).
| Country of Origin | Population |
|---|---|
| Spain | 46,450,795 |
| Morocco | 935,089 |
| Romania | 578,228 |
| Colombia | 514,110 |
| Ecuador | 416,527 |
| Venezuela | 396,188 |
| Argentina | 293,037 |
| United Kingdom | 268,957 |
| Peru | 244,827 |
| France | 210,529 |
| China | 208,788 |
| Dominican Republic | 186,395 |
But really you want to be slightly inland. Prices drop as soon as you get into the countryside. Expats (especially the British) are few and far between and you will have to speak Spanish, the locals will appreciate any effort and will usually be patient to you. We like Extremadura, a beautiful ‘undiscovered’ region of Spain. Or how about some of the inland areas such as the Jalon Valley on the Costa Blanca where you can reach the coast in 20-30 minutes but still feel part of the ‘real’ Spain? On the Costa del Sol you have similar villages such as Frigiliana and Benahavis (although there are plenty of expats in both).
Be careful to think about getting older. As idyllic as a house in the countryside sounds, what about when you get older and maybe cannot drive? Public transport is often minimal in Spain. How far away is the nearest medical centre and supermarkets?
If you want to know the best places to live in Spain for British people or for expats then you want to be in areas that have international schools which attracts families. We suggest Costa Blanca towns such as Javea, Moraira or Calpe, all are beautiful with great beaches. Benidorm if you want cheap food and drink and nightlife. On the Costa del Sol you have Marbella, Malaga and Puerto Banus. The Costa del Sol is the wealthiest area attracting the rich and famous. The climate is the best of mainland Spain and you can even ski just two hours away at Sierra Nevada, perfect! The inland Andalucian towns and villages such as Ronda and Mijas Pueblo are very pretty. If you are looking for the best villages to live in Spain these are definitely up there with the best.
What about living on the Spanish Balearic islands such as Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca? They are lovely islands but you can get island fever where you want to get away and you feel enclosed. You will be in fairly near proximity to tourist resorts so the island will fill up in the summer months and potentially be overcrowded. We would prefer the mainland so we can jump in the car and explore different terrain and regions but that is our opinion.
What about living on the the Canary islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote? Well similar to above but at least these islands have a consistent temperature all year round being situated off the coast of Africa. Even in summer they tend to be around 25 degrees Celsius and in winter only a little less with days in January mostly having temperatures in the early twenties. They are however much less green and scenic than the Balearic islands and much of mainland Spain. Many expats choose these islands but do beware of getting island/cabin fever.
Where is the safest place to live in Spain? Zoe Conlong wrote in to say: “I have lived in Spain for over 21 years. Inland is definitely the safest place to be, the infrastructure is superb, locals are friendly, schools are excellent, however, you must be prepared to learn the language and integrate! I live in Ontinyent, 40,000 inhabitants approx.”
Tony Burgess writes: “Brexit may scupper many Brits retirement plans.”
Peter Brian Gillon recommends: “Benejuzar Alicante, we have a place there, so underrated, must admit my wife and I wondered if we’d made the right decision at first, very few expats, not to be disrespectful but that’s what we wanted, now, not one regret, Spanish locals so friendly and accommodating, we laugh trying our Spanish and they, their English, such a beautiful place surrounded by orange groves and neighbouring farmer supplies our oranges free after every crop picked. Can’t wait to become a permanent resident there.”
Where Do Most British People Live in Spain?
According to popular website Statista.com, the 10 most popular autonomous communities for British residents in Spain are:
- Andalusia – 88,233 British residents (includes Costa del Sol with popular cities such as Malaga, Marbella, Torremolinos & Fuengirola)
- Valencia – 85,025 (includes Costa Blanca with popular towns and cities such as Alicante, Benidorm and Valencia)
- Canary Islands – 28,723 (includes Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife)
- Catalonia – 23,940 (includes Barcelona)
- Balearic Islands – 17,953 (includes Menorca, Mallorca & Ibiza)
- Murcia – 16,625
- Madrid – 11,605
- Galicia – 2,315 (north of Spain)
- Basque Country – 1,676 (borders France)
- Asturias – 1,135
What are the cheapest places to live in Spain?
If you need to get a job in Spain in order to survive, we have some bad news because you will have to live in the most expensive areas to live. Most jobs will be the major cities or in the populated Costas such as Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca. These are very developed areas filled with well-off foreigners and prices are usually higher than remote countryside areas with little English-speaking people.
If you are a retiree with a choice of living anywhere in Spain then you need to seriously look at the lowest cost of living. We have a whole page on where is the best place to retire in Spain. If you still want to live by the sea Spain has an awful lot of coastline so you can easily avoid the Costa del Sol, and Costa Blanca.
How about northern ‘green’ Spain such as Galicia which has wonderful cities such as Santiago de Compostela. It is however the wettest region of Spain but it is cheap for property and eating out. We also like the coastal cities of Santander and San Sebastian on the northern coast of Spain.
What are the best cities to move to in Spain?
If you are going to move to a city then surely you should live in the biggest busiest cities such as Madrid and Valencia in our opinion. The third biggest city is Valencia but that is like a small town when compared to the big two.
So which one?
Reasons to move to and live in Madrid would be the culture as it has three major art museums and the nightlife is vibrant. The capital city can, however, be freezing in winter and baking hot in August when most residents leave for the coast, which is a long-distance away.
Our choice for the best city to live in Spain would be Barcelona because it is as big as Madrid but it has more tourist attractions and arguably a more mixed and vibrant expat scene. It is literally by the beach and close to mountains (the Pyrenees) for skiing.
Living in Spain in the Winter
For many people, particularly pensioners, Spain is the ideal place to choose when looking to escape the nippy UK winters. It is arguable that the Canary Islands are the best destination to spend your time in given that they’re located so much further South than Spain’s mainland. If lucky, the coldest months of the year can get up to 20 or 21 degrees Celsius, whereas if you choose to spend your time living in for example Madrid, you’d be dealing with cold 10-12 temperature degrees at best. If you were set on choosing to retire or move to the mainland, the Costa del Sol coast is the way to go; you’d be enjoying 14-15 degree warm weather making sightseeing during the winter completely do-able while also benefiting from the smaller crowds.
Living in Spain during the winter doesn’t require a far-fetched budget. When looking for affordability as well as the ideal temperature, Malaga has the best of both worlds. Being in Andalusia, its temperature is pleasant all year around and long term rentals are absolutely reasonable. Malaga offers culture such as the famous Picasso museum, beautiful beaches and the close proximity of so many other amazing Costa del Sol destinations one can enjoy on a day out.
As mentioned previously, the Canary Islands attract many with its fantastic weather. As a result of lots of competition, long term rentals and lets on the islands are very affordable. The best and most cost-effective of the islands are Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Due to their popularity, airlines have even increased their number of flights for Britons going out to the islands, which makes getting out there easier and cheaper as well.
What are the best places to live in Spain for Americans?
We have pretty much answered the question in the section above because the two biggest cities of Madrid and Barcelona have the largest American populations in Spain and many large multinational companies have headquarters or offices here which is ideal for getting work in Spain when you speak little Spanish.
Response From Silvia as a Spanish Expat in the UK!
I’d like to give my point of view as a Spanish expat in UK.
The problem comes when you move to another country without enough information about the place. When I came to UK I spent months searching information about the country and its people. Because I really wanted to fit in. And I think a lot of British don’t do that when they move out to Spain. They spent their holidays in Spain and they think they know the country. I had been in London before but I knew that it wasn’t the same. The life as a tourist is totally different than the life as a citizen.
And, to be honest, after all this time I don’t know where I prefer to live. There are bad and good thing in both countries. But I want to focus in what you said in your post.
Jobs:
– Spain: Really?? Didn’t you speak with a Spanish person before you moved to Spain?? Any Spanish had told you about the problems we have in Spain with this. And it’s not only about find a job, it’s when you get one what conditions you’re going to have: low salary, a lot of extra unpaid hours….
– UK: I’m graduated and I have several experience years in my sector but I was working for 2 years making sandwiches why?? Because my English wasn’t good enough. And when it improved, it took a lot of time to have a better job, because I had experience but not in UK. So I had (and I still have) to fight for my opportunity. Because I have to prove I’m a better option than a native or someone from another place. I have to fight against the topic “Spanish are lazy people thinking in anything but take siestas and eat paella”
I worked more hours here than in Spain. 56 hours is just illegal in Spain…. the good thing is: UK they pay every single hour you work.
A bad thing in UK is when you get sick, for example. They don’t pay you, even if you had an accident at work and you’re sick or injured because of it.
I remember I had to work having a terrible flu because I couldn’t afford stay at home. Another time I cut my finger so deeply with a knife at work and I had to keep working bleeding!!! Do you know how dangerous is that a sick person makes sandwiches for customers? But I, as many other people, had to do it because we have to pay our rent.
Crime:
– Spain: It’s true, the crime in Spain increased lately because of the crisis. You have to watch your belongings because of the pickpockets. And obviously, when you’re going to pay for something (as a deposit) you have to be sure you are giving the money to a formal agency. Scammers are in all the countries. But usually Spain is safe as the statistics say. We have a lot of police patrolling the streets.
– UK: One thing that surprised me about UK it’s that the windows of houses don’t have grilles; the doors are made with wood and glass, easy to kick and open. At first I thought it was because it was safer here, people aren’t going to get in your house and steal your staff. But not….that wasn’t the true. Your can be stolen at any time. Actually, there were 3 burglaries in my building in a year. And you could think “London is a place with a large amount of immigration, maybe that’s the reason”. Well, I have to say that the police caught the thieves, and 2 of the 3 occasions, they were English.
About the police, I don’t see them, they don’t patrol the street. They come up when something happens, but they’re not watching that nothing happen really. So I can see a lot of young people offering weed in every corner of the high street. And the fights in the street are something normal every single weekend….
Mañana:
– Spain: I really don’t believe someone doesn’t make the job you’re paying for. I just don’t believe it….In Spain there is something called: “consumo”. If you paid for something and you don’t receive it you have to go to consumo and they’ll fix it. Companies and self-employed don’t want a penalty from consumo, that’s for sure.
– UK: In UK, I worked in something related with construction, remodelling houses. You can’t imagine how many times I saw a work unfinished or wrong done when the customer paid a lot of money for it, and he just didn’t have what he paid. And you cannot do anything, because in this country “consumo” doesn’t exist. So if you want your money back you have to take that people to the court and spend a lot of money, and that is so unfair.
Another example, recently I moved to another house, and I was shaking because I remember how hard is here to get your internet supply. And I wasn’t wrong. I need internet for work, I contracted one of the most expensive internet providers and the instalation of optic fibre for that company was already done in this house. Well….It took for them 1 month to come to my house to plug the router. According to them this was something only its staff could do, so they weren’t going to send me the router to plug it for myself. The real reason was it charges me 10 pounds for the technical’s visit and they told me it was an offer because normally it was 40 pounds…..come on….
Customer service:
– Spain: that’s true, customer service in Spain sucks. It seems like they are making you a favour….and it’s something I hate from Spain. Companies don’t care about his employees, they pay a low salary, employees work a lot of hours, some of them unpaid, and this has repercussions in customer services. It’s a pity.
– UK: Normally, at least in London, the customer service is good. Except for GP and hospital receptionist; doctors and nurses are really charming but the staff in the reception 90% of times are rude and impatient.
Getting ripped off:
– Spain: The thing is I can’t speak about this in Spain, I don’t have any experience and I don’t know anyone that was in that situation, even my foreign friends. Maybe because I know the country and the language and it’s difficult for them try to rip me off. I don’t doubt that this happen as everywhere.
– UK: As in Spain I don’t have the experience to be ripped off in UK, but I know some people who do. They were cheated when they were trying to rent a flat or a room. And this is something so usual in London. I read about that before I came here and it’s for that I’m very careful when I want to rent something.
They main problem here are the landlord, you can be very careful but if you have a bad landlord it’s difficult to do something. And I lived and I heard terrified stories about some landlord and their houses.
Poor road/facilities.
– Spain: In this point, I totally disagree with you. I’ve driven in both countries and in many areas of them, and I have to say that Spanish road have a high quality if you compare them with France ones or England ones. Obviously, you live in a village, you can’t expect the same road in Madrid (6 million hab.) with Nerja (21.000 hab). Some local road to connect villages to each other or a village with a main motorway could be worst. But the government just cannot invest in the best road for every single village in Spain, it’s just impossible; it’s a big country with a lot of small villages. I’ve travelled through Europe and I have seen lots of villages with dirt roads instead of highways and that it doesn’t happen in Spain, even in the smallest village in the middle of a mountain…
About the floods, that is something so difficult to fix because of the ground. That area is not used to getting so much water suddenly, and when it happens the ground can’t take it, even if it has the best sewage system. Something like that happened some weeks ago in Paris, so imagine in a village. But it doesn’t happen in the north of Spain for instance, because the ground used to get lots of water as in England.
– UK: Do you know how many council tax I pay in London? Like 5 times what I used to pay in Spain. Apparently it’s not enough to fix the streets. Every single tile in my street is not in its place, so I see every day people fall in the street because of this. The streetlight in front of my house is broken for 4 months, I’ve called 3 times to the council and it’s still broken.
The sign indicating the name of the street, two streets away from mine, fell down a month ago and god knows when they’re going to fix it.
And a special mention to the rubbish truck, which comes once every 2 weeks to take the rubbish. I know this country is not hot and the rubbish doesn’t smell as it does in hot countries but it brings rats and the foxes are fighting for the rubbish every night. And I’ll say the price we pay for the rubbish collection is far too cheap.
One good point, public transport is expensive but it works so well and I love it.
I don’t want to compare both countries, because it doesn’t make sense. They are just different, if you want to live in one of them you have to assume the change and be part of the community.
I love my country and I think Spain have something special that everybody likes and I love England and I see special thing here as well.
I know some Spanish and Italian people here and they always say “I want to go back to Spain/Italy”, and I don’t have that feeling. When I’m here in UK I miss Spain, the weather, my people, my food. And when I go to Spain, at first I’m happy, but then after a couple of days, I start to feel sad because I miss UK, I realized I miss the same things: the people, the food, even I miss the language.
The point is, my friends want to go back because they didn’t want to be part of the English culture, so they are fighting every day to keep their culture, to not change anything. They idealize their countries and forget why they decided to leave it. And when they finally return, most of them realise it’s not what they thought.
Is Spain a Good or Bad Place to Live? Shirley Loves Living in Spain!
Many people ask what are some of the best things about living in Spain?
Below we have a response to the article from Shirley who has a house in Ontinyent:
“After reading your article from Nick from Nerja, I would expect that you received many emails in reply.
I realise that life has become more difficult for many during this recession, and Britain is no different from Spain. I don’t know when Nick was in the UK last, but around half the shops in our town in South Wales have closed down, and many families are struggling to get by after being made redundant. I work as an estate agent, and we are getting several repossessions every week and house prices are not increasing, as a lot of people believe.
I have been learning Spanish for a few years now and wouldn’t expect to get work in Spain, other than by working for Brits, doing things like cleaning apartments and pools. How would a Spaniard fare in Britain getting work if he didn’t speak English?
I feel that the Costa del Sol is probably a much different place to live than the Costa Blanca in many ways and I’m not sure Nick is qualified to comment on the Costa Blanca uncovered newsletter! One of the reasons we avoided the South of Spain was that it’s closer to Africa and has more crime. I wonder how much research Nick did before choosing an area to live in Spain.
We don’t know any Brits in our area, although we don’t live there, and I don’t kid myself that we could move out and make a good living, certainly not in this economic climate. I also think that moving out with just 15k savings is a very risky thing to do!
We have had no bad experiences of being cheated by anyone, and have made some wonderful friends. I am always happy with the service I get in local shops and restaurants, although I do agree that certain things are more complicated, like dealing with the council etc.
But then there is no litter in our town, no discarded chewing gum stuck all over the pavements, and NO drunken louts fighting in town on a Saturday night out. My 21 year old daughter was recently assaulted on a night out in our home town in Wales, and head-butted in the face, by a complete stranger, another girl, completely unprovoked while walking down the street with some friends.
As for Manana, when we went to buy some air conditioning in July from a small retailers, they turned up, as agreed, the following day, and worked until late until the job was finished, which wasn’t what we expected after all the stories we heard!
We recently had a problem with our internet in the UK, and were told by our supplier that we needed a new modem, would arrange an appointment for their technician to call to replace it. We asked if they could send a replacement by post but were told no. They couldn’t give a specific time, but booked a morning appointment between 8am and 12 noon.
My partner took a morning off work to be there. No one turned up, and when he rang them, they said that there had been a fault in our area at the time of our complaint, so they had cancelled the appointment (without bothering to tell us!) When he pointed out that it still wasn’t working, they said they would send us a new one, which was what we originally asked for but were refused!
I might also mention that our fuel bills at present are £60 a month for electricity, £80 a month for gas (due to increase again soon), and £45 a month for water. My council tax bill here £120 a month compared to 189 euros a YEAR in Spain.”
Regards
Shirley
Places to consider living on the Costa Blanca: Albir, Alcossebre, Alcoy, Alfaz del Pi, Algorfa/La Finca, Alicante, Almoradi, Altea, Beniarbeig, Benidoleig, Benidorm, Benijófar, Benimar, Benissa, Benitachell, Bolulla, Busot, Cabo Roig, Calpe, Campoamor, Castalla, Catral, Caudete, Ciudad Quesada, Cumbre Del Sol, Denia, Dolores, El Campello, Elche/Elx, Els Poblets, Gandia, Gata de Gorgos, Gran Alacant, Guardamar, Hondon de la Nieves, Hondón Valley, Jalón Valley, Javea, La Drova/Barx, La Empedrola, La Fustera, La Marina, La Mata, La Nucia, La Zenia, Las Ramblas, Los Altos, Los Montesinos, Mar Menor, Mazarrón, Mil Palmeras, Monovar, Monserrat, Moraira, Oliva, Orba, Orcheta, Orihuela, Pedreguer, Pego, Pilar de la Horadada, Pinar de Campoverde, Pinoso, Playa Flamenca, Polop, Punta Prima, Rafol de Almunia, Relleu, Rojales, San Miguel de Salinas, Sanet Y Negrals, Santa Pola, Santiago de la Ribera, Sax, Teulada, Tibi, Torrevieja, Totana, Vall de Laguar, Villajoyosa, Villamartin, Villena, Villotel.
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Deb says
I can’t believe some of these comments! I have had exactly the opposite experience living in Spain.
While there are people in every country who will try to rip you off, the only people I’ve been caught out by were British ex-pats shortly after we came to live here 23 years ago. The vast majority of Spaniards have been courteous, kind, friendly, and helpful.
The worst people in Spain are the immigrants, ie: ANYONE who lives here but is not Spanish, and who will never believe they are ‘foreigners’ in this wonderful country. They believe that ‘foreigners’ don’t look like them… roll my eyes.
And don’t get me started on those immigrants who have lived here for years and don’t speak a word of Spanish, and have no intention of learning. They’re usually the first people to criticise immigrants in their own country for not learning their native language.
Also, people like Nick who say things like, ‘Trouble is Spain is very close to some very poor African countries and there are lots of poor immigrants, mostly illegal and from places such as Eastern Europe, South America and Morocco, who will do anything to survive.’
Seriously? You think the majority of crime in Spain is committed by ‘poor immigrants’?
And to you, Rachel, your comment that most Spanish have moved out of Spain is laughable!
Adios to you both when you go back to the UK. Can’t happen quick enough.
Jonathan Rees says
I live in Madrid where the people are lovely, the bars and restaurants great and there is plenty to do. However, barring these benefits there are plenty of problems in the country. The economy is a mess with the government lavishing money on lazy funcionarios (civil servants), as well as pensioners. Autónomos (private workers) are taxed within an inch of their lives to pay for the funcionarios and retired people and the result is high unemployment, especially for young people are forced to find work abroad. Asides from hotel and catering industry I, sadly, don’t trust Spaniards to do a decent job of things. If you have a problem with an item you’ve bought it’s difficult dealing with customer service and recently I’ve confined myself to Amazon. If you need a handyman or a reputable builder they’re often impossible to find as many young people would prefer to earn less and work in an office. That’s not to say that other countries don’t have their problems but Spain, like lots of southern European countries seems to excel in pretending everything’s okay when it’s not.
Dorian says
Hola!
A brief comment here. You probably know better than I, but as an american who studied on exchange back in the 90s in Stockholm, I had lots of Spanish and Catalan friends/fellow exchange student classmates, and learned a lot about the country, fell in love with it.
The Spanish students, both the chicas and chicos would occasionally mention that they hated the stereotype of ‘manana… manana…’ attributed to them and their country.
I know these young people studied hard, worked hard. (and have enjoyed all my visits to that country).
I think it’s a disservice to continue this stereotype. I think Spain has done well economically over the past 30 years, despite everything done ‘manana’ as you say.
Working as a cleaner, bartender may not also expose oneself to the best side of a people/country (though those folks also work hard). As one comment earlier said, you seem to have a lot of anger, but one should look inward first.
Joel says
Estoy de acuerdo en comentarios y opiniones, pero como Español ciudadano que soy, y con orgullo, te informo de que tú artículo, menosptecia el estado, nación o reino en sus pluralidades, por tu experiencia totalmente entendible. Pero creo que en vez de poner el título de, “ODIO ESPAÑA” no sólo te pasas, si no que destruyes lo poco que a los civiles de pueblo, nos queda.
Por si no queda claro, el pueblo español, está gritando AYUDA a los compañeros. Y aquí nadie ve como nos tienen.
Aleopa says
We recently moved to Spain with my partner 3 months ago for our so called ‘staycation’. We would like to stay for a year or so. I didn’t know any Spanish (I speak 4 langs but not Spanish) but my partner knows Spanish from school and so we were able, thanks to him, to go by quite well. And some Spaniards speak English very well too like in a bank, or at a lawyer’s office. The most important was getting the NIE and then find a place to live (we live in a rented apartment in Costa Del Sol now, and buy a car. And it is a little stressful. I just got my permanent residence for 5 years 2 days ago (you have to get this ‘green card’ if you plan to stay for more than 3 months even if you come from another EU country) while he still has to wait for 1 more month for his. His process is different because he is not from a EU country. I find the people here very friendly, it almost made me cry because I feel like I still cannot return my kindness back in a way I would want to as of now. I’m very shy and anxious when meeting new people (especially in another country) like a lawyer, going to a bank or police station for the NIE number, even when going shopping to a supermarket, or any other kind of social interactions. So therefore I’m staying distanced whenever I can but everyone should know that Spaniards are very friendly and nice people overall. I will need more time to relocate and learn more Spanish (which I’m doing now) because using only English (which is not my native language either) in Spain will probably not be enough in the future. BTW I love Spanish and the way it sounds) and until then I am hopping that they won’t feel disappointed with me and or sad or feel hurt in any way, because with me it’s all about being a shy and anxious person who needs more time to start acting like them. Believe me it’s the hardest thing I’m going through now. Everything else is fine. My partner is actually way forward with everything. He used to be a manager and has worked with different people all his life. He is used to daily social interactions and enjoys it. And knows Spanish well and even English is his native mother language. We have our stable monthly income and enough savings to support us financially. So money isn’t problem.
What I really love is these green parrots all over the place even tho I read that Spanish people don’t like them very much due to their nests and noises, then the ocean view is beautiful of course, mountains all over the place, the food is wonderful in Spain, and more. The weather has been too hot for me during the summer months but it’s getting better now and I can’t wait to enjoy my first warm-ish winter in Spain. It’s going to be first winter without snow and cold air which is what I was looking forward to for a long time.
Love you Spain❤️! And sorry for being too shy sometimes but I’ll work on it.
Campero says
“I used to frequently visit Spain costa del sol and Almeria. I found 95% of the people in the service industry rude and unhelpful “:
Really, have you been in 100% of the hotels in Spain?
“I’ve since discovered Thailand and it is the very opposite in every aspect of what Spain is.”:
I agree with you. I hope you have fun in Thailand and don’t get any diseases.
Ken Walker says
Too many poorly educated, unskilled, naive English people who know little Spanish beyond asking for a couple of beers move to Spain. They then spend their days failing to integrate in any way and moaning that Spain isn’t England with sunshine.
If people think Spain is the promise-land where all their dreams will come true then it’s more a reflection of their stupidity than anything else.
Those who make an effort to learn the language and culture, and have something to offer will fit in no problem and enjoy living in Spain.
peter timothy hill says
agree with you here. integration is key.
Dorian says
I also agree with you. On another post, I noted that I studied some years ago in Sweden, together with Spanish erasmus students. I found that the Spanish are some of the warmest, nicest folks in europe (I’m american).
Davey says
Tbh I’ve got to agree with a lot of what the author says. I used to frequently visit Spain costa del sol and Almeria. I found 95% of the people in the service industry rude and unhelpful (as if they were doing me a favour shopping or eating in their establishments)
I’ve since discovered Thailand and it is the very opposite in every aspect of what Spain is. It’s incredible climate , genuine smiles and warmth of everyone I speak to , unbelievably good value property rental , air conditioning with fans in every Airbnb & hotel with no limits.
If anyone wants to go the extra mile and not sheepishly jump on the spain bus there are MUCH better countries to either holiday or emigrate to. I’d even put Germany , Holland or France way ahead of spain as either objective.
Frank says
So, you think that Thailand is all genuine smiles and warmth, everybody is kind and nice? It seems that way only because you don’t understand Thai!
Spencer Fletcher says
Sounds like you are a lazy bloke with no vision. Living in fear isn’t what Spain is about.
I’m Australian, and Spain is ok. It’s better than the UK which has font to the dogs.
There is an ocean of money out there you just need to tap in to it,
Open your eyes. The time it took you to write that dross, I have found opportunity in Spain.
Good luck in the UK you’re going to need it.
Spencer
Jon says
I have learnt that Britain is quite disliked in Spain, Brexit made it worse.
We are only welcome as 2 categories :-
1) Low paid workers.
2) When the British are spending good quantities of money here.
We as British living in Spain need to be when they cannot do it themselves. Then exploit this.
I have 2 kids here, gained shared custody. Then the ex and her friends destroyed my reputatation. She is a manager in the company I used to work, with a much much higher salary than my colleagues which my manager regularly told me in reviews after the separation.
We should whatever forum and maybe even video calls for people that are vulnerable or need help following seperations involving kids.
Don’t let them grind us down.
WelcometoSpain says
As Spanish I should say:
Spain has laws, if you don’t like them, don’t come.
We don’t know your story but you use it to attack an entire country.
By the way, here we don’t hate England at all, and we don’t look at what each foreigner comes to, like the thousands of migrants we welcome in Spain every year, and you know what? We don’t put them in a giant ship in the middle of the sea so they don’t bother you, does this ring a bell? you should be ashamed
Amanda says
Well said…… we have lived in Spain for 18 years and feel honoured to be here, we run our own business and do not spend our days in bars drinking like some brits do. We went back to the UK for four days… Cornwall it looked run down in parts, customer service non existent in restaurants and cafes…. they act as tho they are doing you a favour serving you!!!, everyone looked miserable and hardly anyone said hello. Could not wait to get home to Spain.
Dan says
This guy is a total loser. Spain is the best country on the planet, the UK is the worst. Guess where this clown prefers to live. I stopped reading after a couple of paragraphs. Life’s too ******* short!!
morgan says
I read this and wondered if this is the same Spain I have been fortunate to move to post-Brexit. I have encountered nothing but warmth from all the Spanish people I meet, and doing business here is a bit slower than in the UK but it is not cumbersome and you learn to slow down and adapt (adapt or die).
I feel 100% safe here, the quality of living is way higher than in the UK (life is not just about money – take a walk out at night and see the joy of children playing with their friends, watch the families gather weekly on the beach – from the gran to the newest child as an example). .
I also live between the UK and here and without a doubt the UK is far more expensive (try taking the train anywhere), try going to the supermarket and seeing the prices there and let’s not forget how costly utilities are.
I love both countries but give me Spain any day.
Sharon Arnold says
You are right god knows what these **** ****** are on about going back to England if they think Spain is expensive then they are absolutely wrong ever thought about the War having an impact on every country I am English so I know what I am on about and you think England will be better ah da no. Wake up and smell the coffee good luck in England that has always been the most expensive country plus you are vulnerable coming out of the Brexit sorry but England is the best joke all around the world
david says
Programmes like “A Place in the Sun” depict a totally false picture of living in Spain so do not be fooled. The climate is generally lovely and if you crave sunshine and cheap beer it is definately a good choice. If you have kids forget it. The bullying at school is terrible ( almost a sport ) and afterwards there is zero chance of finding a job. Rightly or wrongly Spaniards come first in Spain and the counrty has the begging bowl out to the EU all the time. Brexit hasn’t helped matters and it has taken Spain nearly 3 years to sort the driving licence issue out. Soemhow they tagged it the Gibraltar issue but all is sorted now. If you plan to retire to Spain be aware there are no state care homes. You’re on your own unless you go private which is very expensive. remenber once you opt out of the UK system and become Spanish Resident there’s no easy way back. A permanent move needs very careful consideration. Rent for 6-12 months and see if you can cope.
pepe says
Claro que sí David, basarte en una serie de TV para toar una decisión que cambia 100% tu vida solo puede ser tomada por un … como lo dirías …absolute fool?
Espero que la terapia de grupo de Oh, sufrimos tanto los inmigrantes ingleses…poor us!
Una palabra: RYANAIR.COM
Paco says
I am Spanish from the region where this lad was, Nerja (Andalucía).
People in Spain is very different across the country. Specially in Andalucía.
I know very well that, because Id been living between Balearic and Andalucía, and people are completely different in many ways.
I live now in UK. Spain no future. Price are more expensive in Spain than UK, but the wages is massive difference, if this trend is not cutting down, living is Spain is going to be tougher than ever, as it already is. Generally, Spanish like comunnist and socialism, now the country is on this way to savage Shitty wages, and exorbitant crazy prices. ¿Is Spain transforming like a new Venezuela?
Curro Jiménez says
“Prices are more expensive in Spain than the UK”, LOL.. For sure buddy,
I think you have not lived in the UK or Spain or tou are lying if you say that because it is completely false.
In Spain electricity, water, food, houses, EVERYTHING is cheaper than in England, although in England wages are higher, yes
So, you should inform yourself before or stop lying.
Frank says
Sure! The grass is always greener elsewhere. Twenty years ago, I was feeling the same way. After twenty years in the UK, you will see Spain differently.
Steve says
Nick Anders article is the biggest load of bilge I’ve read in a while and assuming it is just ‘clickbait’. Let’s hope he buggers off out of Spain where he can moan about the next place he lives.
Joel says
I came across this webpage and had reactions ranging from smiling to raging. I am not sure what to think about Nick who hates the country but has been here since the peseta was in circulation. Really?
To give some perspective, I started watching “Ten Pound Poms” on a streaming service, about the British who emigrated from UK to Australia after the second world war. I had a look at wikipedia to learn more about it. Reported that half the Brits who went to Australia returned before the 2 year “probation period” (meaning they had to pay a huge fee for their return to compensate for the £10 they paid to go to Australia). But more surprising is the reporting that HALF of the half that returned then went back to Australia.
Been listening to Joni Mitchell lately: you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.
I am an American, who has lived in London for more than 25 years and spent half the year in Spain for the past 6 years. I cannot imagine moving to a country where I don’t speak the language. I am lucky because my partner is Spanish so I have an in and get a lot of insight into Spain, and have ready made friends.
We recently considered moving to Portugal for tax reasons, but I speak 2 phrases in Portuguese. Also, the life there is so slow and laid back that I think we might kill each other (I love it for vacations though).
In my experience there are all kinds of Spaniards. However, I have found they are the most social people in the world (that does vary a bit around Spain), and with a bit of kindness and humility they can be great friends, neighbours and service providers. Once we had to the local town hall to get the circulation permit for a car. The woman was grumpy and visibly annoyed that she was going to be going home soon. A little charm and humour from my partner and we sat there talking for more than an hour.
I learned many years ago (but maybe don’t practice enough) to go with some humility and ask for help. I learned this in the UK. Sarcasm may be self satisfying but it is pretty much guaranteed to thwart your intentions.
And when I have horror stories of workmen (builders) I have to remind myself that I went into deep depression in London over a building project. My niece in Germany ended up in court several times over building projects, a friend’s friend basically gave up a property in Italy after bad works, and all my friends have horror stories from the USA as well.
The joy of moving to another country is realising the differences, questioning your own preconceived notions, and celebrating the differences. Don’t move to Portugal and complain about no decent tacos. In that case stay in Texas! (I read a whole blog on this)
And yes I will still have whinges with my niece about our respective adopted countries, but I try to do it from a sense of “wonderment” about the differences.
Eric says
Jesus chrsit tell us how you really feel about immigrants you Trumpanzee
Ana says
Im spanish, currently living in Valencia but lived in UK for 18years. Seems you are holding so much anger against a country! seriously, I faced serious challenges in Uk (e.g. having a robbery into the house scariest time of my life never happened to me in Spain) but still Im thankful for many thinks I learned in England and I cant blame an entire country for not adapting well! glad you left!!
Chris says
One of the joys of living in Extremadura has been the distance from the holiday crowds. I’ve lived here for 8 years and having easy access to Portugal is just cream on top of all the other pleasures living here. I learned Spanish and I swapped life as an IT contractor for teaching English and technology. I’d rather be poorer in Extremadura than richer anywhere else. Having easy access to the wonderfully diverse countryside has been fantastic, as well as all the festivities that happen all year round. I moved before Brexit, and that also made my decision not to go back to the UK. The simpler life is the opposite of boring; it gives time to saviour the things that life in the city makes it easily given up. I feel privileged to be here and I owe it to Laura, a beautiful Extremeñan, my other half who I met in Bath!.
Espartaco says
To Bibichette:
I am very happy that you are not in Spain anymore. People like you are a drag, with airs of grandeur and believing that what you think is the absolute truth.
People in Spain help those who deserve it, maybe you didn’t deserve it for something, and of course, after reading you it is understandable.
Later we could talk about your racism (against the gypsies for example) and your rudeness and arrogance, saying that all Spaniards are little more than inept, but that would already be wasting much more time.
All you do is tell your personal experience and give your opinion, and opinions are like butts, we all have one. What you say is not the absolute truth, you know that right?
They say that everyone is where they are wanted, because around here we don’t want you, you arrogant rude.
Sila says
I feel deeply grateful that the renegade foreigners who have lived in my country and who have taken advantage of the excellent quality of life that exists in Spain, go back to their countries. There is nothing more disgusting than listening to a foreigner who lives here complain about how they live here. If you don’t like it, get out! and please don’t come back
Bibichette says
Jua Jua the excellent quality of life in Spain… Like if they had invented the Sun and the Sea.
Nick tells the truth like the others sharing his views. Telling the truth, facts, is something the French, the Swiss, the Dutch understand. They read books unlike Spaniards. They are multilingual like I am.
Africa ends in the Pyreneans. Exactly so if this country was ruled by North Africans for 700 years.
Sila’s comment is the proof of it. They are never grateful and if you help Spaniards they will backstab you. If you are a man, it is fine. If you are single woman like I am but with a foreign mindset able to speak 5 languages and discuss about any topic, daring to give arguments born from thinking process processing facts and not MIMICKING WHAT they hear on TV, they will shun you with the well known mala leche, aka the milk of envy, gossip, anger. Their ignorance is generally abysmal. They mock America but if they travel there, in Spanish speaking areas preferably, like sheep as they fear independence more than anything else, they come back bragging and boasting. Spaniards like a real honest Spanish migrant to the US put it is a mix of African Asian mindset. Anything offends them. The inferiority complex is the one I was myself accused of when trying to be HONEST and self corrective, 2 virtues despised by the majority of Spaniards. Balearic Locals, the fakest with the ones in Southern Spain.
Recently I was told by locals they did not appreciate people speaking their mind. WOW. A Belgian vendor I was chatting with amicably put it best ‘des faux culs’ fake A+++. So incredibly fake the British sound like first class candid children. This is when I knew they could keep their miserable island.
England is a Magic Island damaged like all the West is. I am not blind. Many things are not ok in England especially the woke replica of America Woke, the homeless, etc but when i think of my youth, the Joy of Listening to Seas of Music, of Reading incredible authors of the past or the present, EVIDENCE of the superior Aries Factor, Intelligence and Sense of Humor, Uk is an Aries nation and so am I, well Sila will see what happens to Spain in less than 2 years.
For in England, despite the flaws. THEY KNOW HOW TO WORK. They reply to questions patiently and with a smile. They help if they can help. All you have to do is smile back. No matter their mood, the British pay attention to their work. In Spain, banks close at 2 in Balearic islands but Behold, the Cashier only works from 8.30 to 11.00 am. What SPANISH BANKS did to me is beyond shameful.
What locals did to me, the single woman, insulting me because I lived alone, well all that is the reason I FLY BACK to UK and will start the due completion of a Book that contains thousands of pages already. In much better English. Now I reacted to Sila and the Hordes of Gypsies that run Spain basically. Even a fraction of my relatives are Gitanos. Liars, Thieves, people of Bad Faith.
George Sand said it all. 200 years ago. All she said is truth 100%. A Belgian landlord finally told me nobody like Spaniards in Brugge and me so surprised she waited so long. She replied they are too aggressive. Logic. Passive aggressive is the fate of ignorance, refusing to learn from superior cultures.
Unfortunately the Good Intelligent Honest Hard working Spaniards like my deceased father, the only Decent Spaniard raised without a father and the Father came to expand his Mind, America.
In England, the British helped me each time I found myself in a dire situation. In Spain, only an English helped me. No one helps anyone here. No one pays you a coffee where I am. They fear me like the bubonic plague for being the best of gone Spain and the best gone Europe, reinventing the Best of each Culture. I find myself giving back to the cultures that gave me so much happiness, the FR, the EN and my Beloved American Child born from Mother Britain. With spicy Irish sauce.
Cochina Envidia is Spain’s second name.
Stephanie Ronson says
100% agree!
Every single one of these Brits on this site, complaining, are typically ‘Brits Abroad’. To leave the UK to move to another country and expect everything to run as it does in the UK (Thank the Lord, it doesn’t), is incredibly unintelligent.
Nick Anders is completely wrong on every single point. I have lived in Spain, having departed the UK, for 10 years. It’s a slight struggle to adapt but as absolutely every Spanish authority was as patient and helpful as they possibly could be, it took my daughter and I just 6 months.
We arrived in Alucante but sadly found too many Brits Abroad…we then moved to Barcelona and enjoyed 5 years there. We moved again, as we found we were not in agreement with Catalan politics. We spent 3 months in beautiful Mojacar, Almaria but once again found a large influx of Brits and for this reason we moved South to where we now reside, in a small region of Cádiz.
I don’t speak a word of Spanish (I find languages difficult) and it has not caused any difficulties. Technology helps with this However, the main reason we enjoy every day of our lives in this stunning country is the Spanish people. They never moan, they are positive, they are trusting, forgiving, patient and above all, kind. They will always give us time and help. So, in other words; the complete opposite of most people in the UK!
It’s all about attitude. We are so grateful to be living here and therefore give the Soanish authorities and the Spanush people, from every walk of life, the respect they deserve.
It is clear to see here that Nick and his fellow haters have completely the wrong attitude..
I am delighted to hear that Nick & co. are returning to the UK where they will fit in nicely. I would like to see the backs of all these Brits; they are nit wanted here.
Information: my daughter was speaking Spanish in 3 months following our arrival in Spain. She immediately got a well paid grade 2, job within that 1st 3 month. She then got another, then another, climbing the ladder, she is now Assistant Manager in a 5 Star Spanish Hotel. She is hugely appreciated by her Spanish colleagues, for her calmness, manners, attitude and Englush language. Every day is total bliss here. I cannot bear to return to the UK, for even a visit: we do go to see family occasionally but it’s too dark, wet, cold, aggressive, rude and negative for us I’m afraid. A very, very different culture to Spain.
Finally, whilst I am a Remainer, I am so relieved that Brexit has made it much less possible for the British to move to Spain. However, for those with the correct attitude and a willingness to embrace this amazing country and its cultures it is still possible., so good luck.
vanessa says
Thanks for your comment, I definetley won’t be retiring to spain if this is what the locals are like! Really interesting page, we all think the grass is greener and Spain with it’s sun is always the obvious want to go to retire destination, has certainly made me think twice…
Madison says
As a US citizen living in Spain, I can tell you that all the happy expats are relieved when people like this guy leave the country. The sense of entitlement in his post (and the comments section) is hilarious. Don’t like it, don’t live here – we’ll enjoy it for you instead.
I live a far more comfortable life than I ever could in the US. I am happier, have cheap health care, and the cost of living is insanely low. People are kind and laid back, and I’ve never been ripped off, robbed, or messed with in any way, shape or form.
bibichette says
Wait and see Madison, US CITIZEN allowed to live in the country I was born but me denied the same right, to start with. For your hypocrisy is the one that will show off as soon as the War will break in. The War is on US soil but I do not fear the woke, the guns, the dangers on US soil and do not Love America to get cheap CHEAP HEALTH CARE. The first thing you will do when the ineluctable will come to Spain, well I am a clairvoyant by birth in the stubborn habit to share my lucid dreams with a few selected Americans, the most educated ones, is to run to the US embassy to get on first flight. But you want both worlds. Your cheap life in Spain and the American almighty certainty to ‘demand your rights’ as soon as you will be in danger. Is that not so? It must be. Americans I met were impossibly honest. Spaniards are not laid back at all once you have problems. In America I was welcomed in homes and offered to stay. In Spain NOBODY does that. They only would invite an American like you out of interest. A social bonus they can brag about. In America they knew I was a French speaking person speaking excellent English and loving each second of the True Heart of America.
I am the American one. You are the Spanish one. Cheap is your Goal. My Goal is Feel this exhilarating Feeling I only felt in America. My whole body and soul growing at landing. In Europe I feel shrinking.
Cheap. Insanely low. Like the intellect.
In UK I feel my mind accelerate in seconds.
Michael says
Totally agree with Bob’s perspectives on Valencia. We lived 10 years there and finally decided to leave in late 2021. We just couldn’t take the noise, the pollution, and the constant aggravation anymore. Now we live in the country and although Spaniards are pretty much the same wherever you go (no matter what they say) it’s a more peaceful and tranquil life.
DESMOND KELLY says
RE “I HATE SPAIN”.I AM RETIRED AND LIVE HALF TIME IN SPAIN FOR LAST 14 YEARS.YES! THERE ARE ALWAYS A FEW “WHINGERS” AND I AVOID THEM LIKE THE PLAGUE.[NO OFFENCE]IN RETIREMENT I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.,ESPECIALLY THE BEAUTIFULL CLIMATE AND THE VERY HEALTHY MEDITERREANEAN DIET AND LIFESTYLE,ETC,ETC,
Denise says
As an expat from USA now living in Panama…I can change the name Spain for Panama …or any country in Central America. Same story…same problems!.
LoveSpain says
Lol. You have never been to Spain. What you say is false at all.
The first thing you are wrong about is that in Spain there are hardly any murders, unlike what happens in almost all of South America, and there are much fewer crimes of any kind. Security in Spain is much higher than in South America.
The second one is that many South Americans come to Spain to look for work because there are none in their countries.
The third thing is the standard of living, in Spain is higher than South América.
The fourth one is cleaning.
The fifth one is food. In Spain you can eat nice and healthy. Food is amazing in Spain.
I recommend you to live for a while in Spain before giving your opinion
Xosefa says
Why keep suffering so much when you probably dont even bothered to learn the language?
If you cannot find anything great to talk about in Spain, you may consider thatz not a place for you.
If I was you,would go back to UK without hesitation.
You are missing a great country, without corruption from Westminster to up & down the country. A great country without burocracy apart from Dover to Norther Ireland.
A country where weather is previsible imprebisible with rain all year round.
You may long enough out of your country that forgot how things rinning there. Not violence except for the every other day someone get stabed and nurses have to feed themselves in foodbanks to kill the hunger.
And by the way, Spanish do offer good customer service. When you say someone did not bother about you while was talking with a friend. Yes,because that friend is also customer and beter customer than you. Thats why writer..
Michael says
En serio, escuchas la misma acusación una y otra vez, sin embargo muchos de nosotros ‘guiris’ hablamos español perfectamente 😉
Gary says
I really get where Nick is coming from, I have lived here for 21 years now, we moved just as the euro was introduced, we was ripped off by our builder and promoter when we had the house built, the water company installed the wrong sized water pipe for the urbanisation so instead of laying a new one before disconnecting the old the one, they cut every body off for a whole year while they re-laid the pipe and still charged a standing charge! Everything that Nick has mentioned is true, thankfully things did improve over the years but then went down hill again during the pandemic, the lock down was so harsh that even the supreme court finally saw sense and deemed it illegal and made the police pay back all those ridiculous fines, even so we are all paying for the mistakes of the Spanish government in higher taxes and social security. I could go on but it’s already been said, on the upside I do love Spain as a country, I have been to more cities in Spain that in the Uk and in general I find the people less rude than the UK and I do think that customer service has improved quite a lot since we have lived here.
Carlos says
I am living in spain now for some 1,5 year. And while i recognise the cost/expense ratio is here quite stark for lower income jobs, that is not necessarily different for UK. Imagine job you would get in UK not speaking english..
But on some angles i need to agree:
Services: be it bank, phone company, energy provider the communication and professionality is low. But- do i want to sacrifice my life for job? Do ppl here have better work life balance? Thats some tradeoff i am able to take, but everyone needs to decide for themselves.
Quality of housing: windows are not well fitted allowing cold going inside, electricity is led in same way as in asia and bathrooms stink (they do not have closed piping systems like rest of western europe). I saw dozens of places where this was all true and it was not cheap places..(sarria villas included)
But then you got loads of benefits: weather, people, nature. For me this works. But you need to brace for patience to make first year and be clear what you want and can expect
Quijote says
“Quality of housing: windows are not well fitted allowing cold going inside, electricity is led in same way as in asia and bathrooms stink (they do not have closed piping systems like rest of western europe). I saw dozens of places where this was all true and it was not cheap places..(sarria villas included)”
–
Quality of housing: you can’t talk about all the houses in Spain, that depends on the house you are living in, saying that is like I say all the people in Rusia loves Putin or all English people have bad teeth, it is not true.
Electricity: I don’t know what you meant. As the previous point that depends on the place, if it is a village, a town or the city, in the oldest places you may see old infrastructures, but they are completely safe and functional. I have never been to all of Asia, have you? so I can’t understand what you are trying to say, but I suppose you mean Asia and Spain are the same at this point, what is completely false.
Smell in bathrooms: that is not true at all. Some bathrooms stink, yeah, but that depends on the people, if they clean or not, if there is air extraction, etc, I have been to London three times and I can say there are also places that stink. Closed piping system are installed a long time ago. Maybe some old villages could be like that but not all Spain.
–
“Services: be it bank, phone company, energy provider the communication and professionality is low”: Do you speak a properly Spanish? That would be the first question to understand the situation, because if you don’t, you can’t rate it. Do you know Spain is the country where you pay less for those services?
Noreen Byrne says
Wow! I feel so sad for those people that didn’t feel happy enough to stay in Spain. I admit my first year as a teacher in Guadalajara was tough as I missed my family, had zilch knowledge of the Spanish language and had sever osteoporosis from living in a rain infested country- Ireland. Then, after a visit to a doctor, free, I was quickly sent to a specialist, free, and had two complete hip transplants within one year. I secured a teaching contract, took Spanish lessons, and throughly enjoyed the marvelous fruit and glorious sunshine. 20 years on and I’ve made wonderful friends among my students and local people. All of them Spanish. True the service sector was snappy to say the least but it is improving fast. The health service is excellent and free if you register and get a Sip card. I lived in Chelsea and Birmingham as a young girl and came across a lot of prejudice there not only against Irish but all nationalities. So really, in my opinion, it’s up to each individual. The glorious sun, rich succulent fruit and warm seas are certainly worth a little hassle. There is no heaven on earth.
Albert says
This post is a joke and a complete lie, from a lazy person that wants the EASY way in life and blames others for their failures. My wife is American and has lived in Spain for 12 years. She says Spain is the best country to live in. Of course, she learned the language, made Spanish friends and adapted to the culture. Just like you would in any other country. Looking for high-quality office work in Nerja?….lol…It´s like moving to the mojave dessert and looking for a high tech job…..get serious bro
Diego says
UK citizens come and have no intention of even learning the language. They complain that in the town hall that the employees do not speak English, when they have a phone line for them. They complain that the advertising is in Spanish. They complain about having to pay taxes. But they don’t make a single effort to integrate. They are in their rosy life among their English colleagues and they don’t wake up.
Rob says
Incredible, yet totally non surprising, a guiri moves to the Costa, expecting paradise but not prepared to integrate, learn the language, and wanting everything on a plate. I am sure when you return to the UK you will find the streets paved with gold and a wonderful open and friendly culture for which it is famed. I am a Brit, have lived in Malaga for 6 years, speak fluent spanish learnt since arrival, have a decent job, they are there if you look, Nerja probably not the best place to be searching for work, I see this time and time again, lazy, arrogant Brits that come to Spain and do nothing to help themselves, ” I wish i could speak spanish but etc etc” give me another pint of Stella señor. Spanish people and above all Andalusians, are for the most part great, alyways helpful, honest, and friendly, so what if mañana culture exists, you are not in the UK, I really don´t understand what you are expecting. I have never been ripped off, treated badly, i may have experienced a slow waiter once in a while but who cares, I don´t get premium service everyehere in the UK neither. Get a grip, go back to the UK, get to Weatherspoons and get a cheap pint and spend your time raving about how wonderful the UK is. If only the rest of the chavs would make the same decision and head back as well, the only compaint I have about Spain is the Brits. Peace out, hasta luego.
Sean says
You are 100% correct Rob. Brits come here expecting it to be like the UK with sun. Make an effort for Gods sake folks. And you are immigrants, not Expats.
Ra says
An immigrant is a permanent resident, so this doesn’t apply to everyone.
Isa says
Is this a joke? you moved to a holiday beach town – that is dead most of the year … without having a job , clearly you never did any research on the job market with this idea that spain. Was going to be like a vacation but all the time? Then the comments about it being dangerous bc of poor “African and South American immigrants “. My goodness this reeks of white male privilege. Not remotely
Shocked you moved to a tourist town in Malaga… and to even suggest that spain is equally as expensive as the UK is ridiculous. You moved to a holiday town … and who gives moves to some random person then gets mad they didn’t do their due diligence beforehand and got scammed. Just go
Guillermo says
I’ m spanish and you are right, my country is ahora. I want to scape from here to Canada USA anywhere in the 1world
Guillermo Tell(s) foolishness says
It’s funny that you didn’t say you wanted to escape to the UK when you said you wanted to move to a “first world country”, maybe you don’t consider the UK first world.
I think you should know that the first thing you need to move to a foreign country is to know the language, if you want to have the opportunity to work and communicate. I hope you can make it, but I feel like we’re going to have you around for a long, long time.
By the way, could you tell us why Spain is not a first world country? because you didn’t say anything about this, it’s like I’m saying you’re dumb without knowing you.
Macca in Galicia. says
Tossers queuing up to diss a wonderful country. Close the door on your way out.
Petro Giuliano says
Brits were a colonialist Super Power at one point, they still think they own every place they occupy. Brits refuse to adapt to the culture .. instead they try to creaet little Britanias throughout Spain … What’s really funny is these dumb Brits voted for Brext and some got kicked out for failing to follow Spanish Laws. Spain has legalized Prostitution .. there way more progressive socially than Brits with their uptight demeanor.
Linda McAllister says
Well said that man, I’ve lived in Torrox for many years, it was quite frustrating at first, but once we accepted the Spanish way of life it became much easier, we only tend to mix with the Spanish as we find them very friendly, we learnt the language and have made so many friends even family, we find the Brits very irritating because they only stick together and don’t ?earn the language,that is so lazy, we have pretty much been excepted in Torrox they even call me Mama Linda, as I took one motherless young man to my heart looking after him untill he stood on his own two feet, he is a happy man now with a girlfriend and house of his own, through him the village excepted us totally, we love it there.
Chole says
I just arrived at Valencia airport, we are in November 2022 and very rude policemen shouting at me “masquerilla”, meaning that I have to wear a face mask. Noone advised that before arriving. This is horrendous
PETER JULIANO says
Seems like you have low self esteem
Picaro says
What a disaster! A policeman told you to wear a face mask, I can’t believe that, it is simply outrageous. They deserve to die for sure. I am just kidding, obviously.
You should know every country has its own rules and if you travel there you must follow them, it is simple. If you do not like this you can travel to Qatar, for example, and not to follow their rules, they will be more patient with you, for sure.
bruce ketcheson says
Hmmm, please take this with the goodwill intended. You need to seek professional help and begin on your path back to sanity.
Vanessa says
My God. This resonated with me to the core. I arrived 4 days ago on a lifetime dream of motorcycling through Spain. Everything he has said has been every day in my only 4 days here. I have felt and seen nothing but attitude, cigarette smoke everywhere you walk, sit, eat or drink, and disgusting rudeness & attitude, expense and difficulty from the minute I rode over the border into Spain. I had heard that the Spanish were Rude but this place is above and beyond any of the masses if countries i have visited in my lifetime of a love of travel, this place is ridiculous. There is NO customer service, they just don’t give a yet they come to my country and expect to be treated like kinds and queens.. and you pay stupid prices for a tiny meal that wouldn’t feed a chihuahua. I don’t know how you lasted that long here.im in 2 minds to turn back and put this country down to a bad decision, kick the dust of my feet and rude right out and never look back
Alex says
You havent been all over spain but with 4 days you are already judging a whole country as if you had seen every corner and you had met every single person. Spanish people arent rude. There are rude people and non-rude people everywhere. 47 million people cannot be all rude.
Norma says
I lived in Spain for a couple of years and found the Spanish to be ok and polite. Didn’t face discrimination and even tried to speak to them. The area had decent Brits living there but they do tend to hang around with other Brits in Brit bars. I didn’t frequent the bar too much but it was good for getting advice. I felt safe there but petty theft is rife and u can never leave anything anywhere without it sprouting legs. Visiting is not the same as living there. I enjoyed my time there but it’s a big step to move without knowing the language. I had to learn the basics while there as they didn’t speak English so it was good. Little by little I got more confident. I did like the farmacies…….really helpful and better than the UK’s. I didn’t find the locals hostile or come across scams. On the Costas high season it is noisy and hot hot hot……..not good. I love Autumn out there when the crowds have gone but in winter it goes very quiet……too quiet and the weather isn’t always good despite what the Brits say. Once we had two weeks of cloud but it was not cold. It can get chilly at night in winter when the wind blows…..but just got a few more clothes. The floors get cold in the properties due to tiled floors. It’s deffo cheaper than the UK generally. Lots of properties have no insulation so sound travels and it does get noisy and not always the Spanish people. Lots of scandies there mainly decent but a few nutters.
Cathy says
Haha great reading (above) peeps, thoroughly enjoyed, thanks.
Seriously man? says
So you moved to a foreign country with 15.000 GBP in your pocket, without speaking the language, without a job or apparently any marketable skills. However you expected the country to bow to you and provide with high income and opportunities, all that while keeping cost of living (i.e. salaries for local people) low.
it didn’t go well. How shocking
I lived in the UK for about 7 years, also Germany, US and Asia. Somehow, this type of entitled brat seems to be a uniquely British specimen. Like the British retirees that voted for Brexit and are now outraged about the dump in the value of the GBP and the fact they now have to pay for the free healthcare the Spanish taxpayer was previously providing. So, yes, don’t blame Spaniards for showing a bit of Schadenfreude when facing people like you.
Alex says
Most of the explanations made in this post against Spain are made by British biggots who thought living in Spain was like living on Holidays all year long.
If you go to a country and you barely speak the language and barely understand the culture what the hell you expect? Adapt, you are the immigrant not them.
A lot of the comments speak about Spaniards like they are immigrants when the people writing the post are a bunch of delusional foreigners living in Spain.
Calling Spaniards spikes/spics while living in Spain it’s the equivalent of a Spaniard going to LIVE in England and calling them “guiris”. I think it’s rude no matter what, but you should get down of your ivory tower if you think it’s okay or justified to call names to the native population of the COUNTRY YOU MIGRATE TO. Also, it’s very hard to adapt if you go with children and nor you or your children speak
the native language. It will take A LOT of time for an only English speaker to learn how to speak properly in Spanish
(or any Latin language really), and any Spanish speaker in the world will agree with you that Spanish from Spain
(usually refered to as “Castilian”/”Castellano”) is one of if not the most hard to speak variant of Spanish. Mainly
because of the sheer speed of it. That you have a 500+ day streak on Duolingo doesn’t mean you speak the language
at a native level, and let’s put aside accents, in Spain accents have a pretty strong role in the language since the country
has a VERY long “uninterrupted” story that can be traced back to the days before the Greeks explored the Mediterranean sea.
People in Galicia have Spanish+Galician, in the Vasque Contry they speak Vasque+Spanish, Catalonia has Catalan+Spanish, and so on.
I see a lot of biggots who can’t take their heads out of their bums commenting about how bad Spain is compared to the UK
yet they choose to come to Spain without knowing the culture, the language or the diferent “regional” cultures Spain has (and the whole Iberian Peninsula really). To put it simple: A lot of the people being uneducated biggots here expect Spain to be like England, not to be like the
UK; In the UK you have Scotish people and their accents, people from Wales, North Ireland citizens, and English… All diferent, but then again,
the people commenting here expect Spain to be monocultural when Spains history in general is far more multicultural than England or Uk will ever be.
If someone is reading this and want to know the downsides of living in Spain I will mention them in a realistic manner, some points might be more extent but I think it’s a quite straightforward summary.
1.- Climate: Can be very good and if you are a foreigner you probably thing Spain is living on a sunshine, But north Spain and England
climate it’s not that diferent. Heat in Barcelona is way more hard hitting than heat in Madrid because humidity. Viceversa with cold. Summer in
south Spain is literally North African summer climate and North of Spain has an average 22-25 degrees Celsius during August.
2.- Language: Even Latin Americans/Hispanic American citizens have a lot of trouble adapting to Spains Spanish; if you don’t even speak native Spanish, expect to struggle quite a lot, specially with spoken speed. That said, it’s the “standard” for Spanish, so if you learn it you are
more than good to go to travel to any Spanish speaking countries, and that includes to an extent Israel and the Filipines.
3.- Multiculturalism: As I mentioned before Spain has a ton of diferent cultures. Catalonia might come of as the most “pro European”,
the Vasque country has the most ancient language in Europe and the World; Galicia suffered a lot culturally (and not) speaking so they are trying to not let their roots die; South of Spain, Andalucia in particular was very heavily influenced by Arabic cultures and by the Reconquista so they are quite unique and weird. If you are not willing to understand that traveling from Madrid to Vigo is the Spanish equivalent of going from England to Scotland (for example). You are better staying wherever you are.
4.- Recent history: Spain’s history can be “culturally traced” to the early Phoenician colonies. And it’s anthropological history can be traced from around 35.000 BC to modern day.
During all those times a lot of cultures have influenced Spain: Phoenicias, Greeks, Latins/Romans, Goths, Visigoths, Berebers, Gipsies, Celts, Gallic, Arabs, Jews/Hebrews and so on. But in the last century Spainish people have tried to overthrow Monarchy using democratic elections, and both times they were struck with coups d’état that slowed down and already declining Spain and both times the rest of Europe looked in other directions while Spaniards were being killed by the thousands. Spaniards are quite fond of people like George Orwell or Ernest Hemingway because they came to defend democratic ideals when Spain was sufering in that regard, but neither USA or the UK (or Europe) moved a finger. Before WW2 that scar intensified A LOT because Spain found itself surrounded by countries condemning fascism or concerned about it but nobody tried to help a Spain that suffered a fascist coup d’état while fascist Italy and NAZI GERMANY bombed civilians during years. All that ended in Spain sufering a dictatorship for 40 YEARS, seeing that same dictator shake hands with Europe and the US and die in bed mourned by the fascists at power while many Spaniards held secret celebrations to rejoy about their dictators’ death.
Due to all that and more, Spain’s citizens are understandably scared and scepcitc about foreign genuine contribution to Spain’s lands.
5.- Tourism: This is simple, most of the British, German and American people who travel to Spain during Holiday end up being anoying drunks
who only make loud noise, destoy things and puke/piss on the streets. It’s a bit of a shame because there’s plenty of healthy tourists as well, but specially from the UK and Germany there’s A LOT of “scrub tourists” who act entitled and only cause trouble.
It’s sad but if you combine this with point number 4 you will probably have a grasp on why the bad reputation of (specially) British and Germans in Spanish soil. If you want to live here you will have to understand that and prove the people you interact with that you are not like those street peing drunk scum they are so used to see.
6.- European Union. Europe has been slowly relegating Spain to a touristic paradise and not much else, so the country is becoming day by day more and more reliant on tourism, making the “offseason” periods pretty uncumfortable. That’s a 100% Spain’s fault for allowing it to happen but you have to keep in mind depending on where you want to live in Spain there will be periods of time where scarcity is a reality.
7.- Historical racism: Spain has sufered historical racism during a lot of it’s history. (without going further to the past than this)Spain was ostrasized by the rest of Europe due to the Arab long ocupation of a huge part of the Iberian Peninsula and the massive immigration of Jews during the long period the “Reconquista” (Reconquering) was. Look up what Martin Luther said about Spaniards to have a bit more “in depth” info about the subject, but basicly Europe thought that Spaniards had “European blood stained by Jewish and Arab blood”. That sentiment lasted centuries and allowed the “Leyenda negra” (Black legend) to be born. The Black Legend is basicly an exageration of the atrocities Spaniards comited combined with litteral lies popularized by rival powers at the time. Hollywood played a big part on keeping that sentiment of “Spaniards are the descendants of the blood and gold thirsty Conquistadors”.
Being permanently subject to lies (and truths, let’s be honest: Spanish Imperia era wasn’t full of saints) made a toll on Spaniard culture allowing their people to be a bit more reserved and wary with foreigners. Combine that with 40 uninterrupted years of rulying by the only European Fascist head of state that survived WW2 and you will find that sadly there are parts of rural Spain were racism or xenophobia is very strong, even racism against other Spaniards (Usually Catalans and Vasques take the bigger hit on that matter).
Also keep in mind that Spanish culture has thrived around half of the globe while being constantly harassed by specially anglo saxon global powers, so there’s also this “insular” mentality about not needing to learn/comprehend cultures outside of Spain, “since anyway half of the planet speaks Spanish”. It’s a bad mentality, but don’t be surprised to find biggots in Spain, sadly biggots have no nation but fear of the diferent and no flag but intolerance.
8.- Corruption: To put it simple, Spain ruling class has been the most corrupt of Europe way before Spain lost it’s colonies. The balance of power might have shifted during the centuries but one thing always crippled spain: The blatant unpunished corruption of it’s ruling class.
If you look up the story of Iberian Spain you will find that their people tried since VERY eraly on to stablish a more democratic aproach to life and one way or another the corrupt ruling class opresed the Spanish people. Same goes to Imperial Spain: There’s plenty of data from “less powerful” sources like catholic priests and intelectuals who fought for the literacy and the preservation of the native population of the Spanish colonies and even succesfully preasured the more powerful to stablish laws protecting them. But corruption was still rampant and the breaking of those laws was quite extended on many colonies controled by corrupted high profile members of the nobility.
This hasn’t changed, Fascist coup d’état was the perfect “playground” for blatand corrupt higher classes to thrive and the more than questionable transition that Spain had from dictatorship to Democracy allowed those corrupts to still wield the power.
9.- Mafia. Spain has no mafia. If you want to understand why I think the erradication of Italian mafia by Mussolini it’s a perfect example.
Spain corrupt ruling class is Spain’s Mafia. There’s plenty of evidence in the recent years of corrupt people going unpunished after crippling Spaniard society in unforgivable ways. There’s also A LOT of cases of people who got caught being blatantly corrupt that died in “strange and not investigated” circumstances (“Almost Epstein style”). There’s also plenty of data showing how opressive towards “non profitable progress” spanish ruling class is. They literally made up a tax on sunlight that made solar energy economically speaking non viable for anyone not willing to get ripped off.
10.- Friendly Spaniards: There’s an aspect of Spaniards that many foreigners take as rude that is Spaniards being rude. Many Spaniards will be rude on a joking matter. In many places of Spain (and Hispanic America really) it’s quite common to mess with the people you respect or love to an extent. Thus a Spaniard calling a foreigner “Guiri” in Spain it’s not as ofensive as a British for example calling “Spike” to a Spaniard in the UK. Don’t missunderstand, Guiri it’s a ofensive word that means basicly “foreigner” or “tourist”. But if you find that people who seem friendly to you call you “guiri”, they probably mean no harm and they will stop if you tell them you feel ofended by that word.
Also don’t take that as a free pass for being insulted. It’s okay to be a little disrespectful with the people you love/respect because it’s considered “heavy banter”. But that shouldn’t be an excuse to allow you being called all sort of names and treated with hostility. But again, try to diferenciate between someone being rude and someone who is starting to be fond of you and baters with you to show acceptance. Yet again, rural parts of Spain tend to be “all or nothing on this”. Either super hostile and biggoty or super welcoming and friendly, learning where the line is drawn will allow you to diferenciate between bater and disrespect. But keep in mind in Hispanic culture it’s a sign of acceptance to certain extent to call names and mess a bit with the people you show acceptance to, a genuine cordial and straightforward talk about any thign that ofends you should prevent you from being ofended in the future by Spaniards who just were showing acceptance to you.
11.- Depression: Spainards have been depressed for longer than the European Union have been “alive”. It’s a country which their people took the hits to protect the ruling class most of the time (larn about Napoleonic wars in Spain if you want to witness a tragicomedy). So many people are exploited by their employers, badly paid or uncertain of thei nearby future, piling up axiety to it’s population. All that combined with being more and more depentent on tourism. Normally Spaniards are friendly but the general atitude has become more jaded over the last two decades. It’s hard to have a positive atitude when you are overworked, underpaid with an uncertain nearby future all while a english speaking biggot customer has a negative atitude towards you because you can’t speak native english in Spain while working on a job that didn’t require to know any language besides Spanish and (MAYBE) some regional Language like Catalan or Galician.
12.- Crimes: They happen, they are more common in recent days and they are tightly tied to drug abuse and nord african immigration. So if you can’t live protected from those things (for example’s sake: coming to live in a high income neighbourhood) you are likely to face pickpocketing, bullying and drug abuse around you. Beaches, metro stations and very high tourism density places are red points on the map that tend to have those negative aspects.
Last tips:
If you don’t know Spanish, and you are unaware of Spain’s Spanish. Don’t come to live to Spain. You will struggle a lot, specially if your attitude is entitled and rude as many of the comments from English expats that i’ve seen here. And even if you come with the best intentions possible, if you don’t know Spain’s Spanish you will struggle quite a lot on a daily basis. Bigger cities might allow you to do daily stuff in english but that’s all. Also if you try to learn Spanish, the bigger cities are the worst places unless you go to a college in that city. Many Barcelona and Madrid citizens (for example) tend to try to speak you in english (if they can) once they find out you don’t know Spanish very well, making the learning process of learning native Spanish even harder.
So basicly: Have a pretty good grasp of Spain’s Spanish if you are an adult thinking about living in Spain.
The country won’t get better. Corruption it’s crippling the country very hard and the population will slowly boil until it explodes like what happened in Catalonia. Don’t expect that living here will be great and easy just because coming here on vacation is awesome. The “native” population of Spain is paying the prize for being so “vacation friendly”.
Put effort. In my experience the same has happened to me in England, i had been very well treated the time I was there because I learnt English on a British Enlgish school. So many of the Brits I made were very amused by the fact that I spoke “British english with spanish accent” and treated me incredibly well. Same thing happens in spain, the vast majority of Spaniards will straight up melt if you show them you are trying to learn their Language and their culture and will try to cheer you up (maybe will be overwhelming, care).
If you travel to a place, no matter what, don’t base your point of view on biased biggots like many of the delusional comments I’ve read here. You will find bad and good people, but having an open atitude towards learning the culture of the country you want to live in will open you many of the doors that biggots in this coments tell you are closed. Thanks for reading, I hope it helped you.
Spainforever says
Wow. What you wrote is simply amazing and the pure reality. I would have never explained it as good as you did.
I have lived in Spain for 20 years and I agree with you at all.
Begginins are hard.
If you want to live here, open mind.
If you only want to come on a vacation, you are welcome.
Grettings from the south of Spain.
Notsomeonyouknow says
Yeah Spanish people are crazy rude people.And some are friendly… I will say mix 50/50..But if i lived here for long prolly think 70% are rude…But again so are many other cultures to and depends how much you wanna learn the culture(if their culture you dont care blabla)…I would not stay long in a Spanish country though many dont understand english kinda dealbreaker..But hey cant have it all i think most Spanish people suck not all but alot:)))cheers
Ben says
There’s no need to put down Spain and say there’s better countries to live in. It depends what you are looking for, but if you know yourself and search a little bit the things (before buying a house for ex or else you wouldn’t encounter that many problems). I am french and have lived in Ireland, Australia, New Zeland, Mexico and Chile so far. I have adapted myself and changed my ways to try to fit in and of course not everyone will accept you. Changing country can be an amazing experience but also the worst one depending on your expectations. There is no country that fits everyone’s desire, all have pros and cons. Key is to adapt and try to understand the people, find a circle that accepts you, get out of your confort zone, dot things you wouldn’t be doing back home and learn the language. Sometimes you are simply unlucky but you can take actions and try to maximize that luck factor and then create yourself the experience that you want to live. Knowing yourself and being understanding and respectful towards people can bring you a long way. focus on people that made your experience better. Spain is not for everyone and it is fine of course but is it fair to bring down a whole country because you didn’t have it your ways?
Alex says
You don’t have a problem with Spain, you have a problem with yourself
Firesword says
I would never have paid for a house in a foreign country without knowing anything about its legislation. Even when I am buying on Amazon, I make sure to understand the rules to avoid problems.
So if I pay without informing myself and without knowing anything about the matter, it is not fair to blame the country, in any case only those people, and lastly those who were not previously informed.
Anyway, no one forces anyone to come to Spain and buy a house or whatever, so if you don’t like how Spain works, you can stay in the UK forever.
Everybody is welcome here.
Keep calm and stay in the UK, lol.
Paul says
Britain is arguably the dirtiest country in Europe, with highest infaltion rate, crime and stabbings everywhere and massive unemployement.
Not to mention Brits are not very fond to take showers… they say running water is expensive there.
Best thing is to send all the brits living in Spain (+/- 1 million) and all the brits living in the EU (+/- 1 million) back to the tiny little dirty island
Bob says
Spain is the dirtiest country in Europe. Cities coated in dog mess and rubbish from the overflowing communal on street bins (not helped by the bin dippers). And in the summer, wholes cities can stink of… from the drains.
sue williams says
I sympathise with this disgruntled ex-pat. I moved to the Costa Blanca in the early 90’s after owning a small house on an urbanisation for five years. Thankfully, we rented out our home in Wales until we were sure. No-one could have been happier than my husband and I the day we drove down through Spain to start our new life. The excitement soon evaporated over the following months. Everything he says is true now as it was 30 years ago only food and utilities were marginally cheaper then. The Spanish people and authorities do not like the English, with good reason in most instances, but tolerate us because of the massive influx of money every year. The country was almost bankrupted during the pandemic. We returned after one year of constant fighting local councils for amenities not supplied that were paid for in advance. They also love to pretend they have no idea what you are saying. We were lucky we sold our property to a local Spanish family and got out quick. There were so many people desperate to come home but had burnt their bridges and had no funds or means to get back and were at the mercy of the ever changing rules applied to foreigners. We never regretting coming home, we secured jobs immediately and settled back into the life with thought we didn’t want. Be careful what you wish for.
DocMaligno says
People in Spain have improved the country, public services and their standard of living, therefore now tourists and residents pay more. I believe that is normal.
In Spain there is a lot of immigration of people with few resources and there are no problems with it. It looks like something normal. How can they not accept people with money? that’s absurd.
Regarding the bankruptcy of Spain during the pandemic, I have to say that we are almost the same as Spain.
England’s public debt amounts to almost 100% of GDP. Spain’s debt is 115%.
In addition to Brexit and inflation which is going to hurt us.
In addition, in Spain they have limited the price of electricity and they want to put a real tax on electricity producers.
I think we can learn a lot from Spain
bob says
Oh yes indeed!! They really pretend not to know when they want to. I tried to get a new NIE certificate post Brexit, oh boy, nasty little idiots!!
Bobo says
What you say is funny because what is very difficult after Brexit is to find qualified workers, in addition to residence, of course, in England. If this was difficult before, now it is impossible.
And then there is the matter of wanting to send immigrants to Rwanda.
England seems more and more like V for Vendetta or the Years and Years series.
What a pity.
bob says
Spain is being carved up between the Chinese and South Americans. The VOX moment is coming, like it or not.
Bobo says
You have given yourself away with that comment. VOX is a fascist party, as you. That kind of party will never govern in Spain again, whether you like it or not “buddy”.
SeñoraBee says
Your NIE is your NIE for life. You cannot change/exchange or renew it. It’s similar to the National Insurance Number you get in Britain! Doh.
Paul Cedron says
“massive influx of money every year”
Wot?
LOL.
Englanders and British (tourists or immigrants) in general have always been a burden to the Sistema de Salud and the taxpayer.
Not to mention their chronic monoglottism and alcoholism.
Now you understand why they are not too popular in Spain or the rest of the EU, no?
Tony Tokel says
Turns out, everyone’s experience is unique based on their expectations, financial situation, language ability or desire, flexibility, and much more. Knowing yourself is a better way to determine how a move like this will affect you. And do your research without encasing the idea in gold. Look logically at a place, recognizing it isn’t a vacation when you move – it’s living.
Wiz says
Oh my friend. First thing, you are an immigrant and not the fancy white washing word expat. You faced the life of an immigrant going to another country with little to no money except you thought it would go through smoothly as you are a brit. You wanted to live on the beach, make lots and lots of money, and be adored by the locals as you thought you were special….a brit. Do not go to another country unless you are ready to work your butt off, use the education you earned, or bring in a ton of cash. Just like what the brits expect from their immigrants is what you should so if you are one
Ra says
Only permanent residents are considered immigrants, so there are times when “expat” (someone living in another country for any amount of time) is appropriate.
Manuel López says
Cacha el nombre gringo que tienes!!
España es igual o peor que Sudamérica, porque están en Europa se creen europeos!!! Ja ja!! Ponte la mascarilla y no emitas opinión. España es TERCER MUNDO
Mástontoynonaces says
Jajaja. No paraces muy latino, más bien pareces anglosajón haciéndote pasar por latino.
Ya te gustaría que eso fuera cierto. No se puede comparar a España con Sudamérica en nada, bueno si hay una cosa, en las playas, España tiene de las mejores playas que hay.
Por eso España ha recibido y recibe cada año cientos o miles de inmigrantes que buscan una vida mejor, y por supuesto muchos de ellos provenientes de Sudamérica, de donde huyen de las pésimas condiciones que allí tienen, como asesinatos, hambre, inseguridad, falta de trabajo, etc.
Te noto con resquemor por algo que te haya podido con algún policía por la mascarilla, y es que machote, en España hay normas y reglas, y se cumplen, y sino te gustan pues ya sabes que puedes quedarte o volverte, que en Sudamérica se vive mejor que en España jajaja.
Paul Cedron says
Que cazzo podés saber vos de Sudamérica, forro con ojos?
Sudamérica es un desastre, sólo superado por el Reino “Unido” (LOL) en violencia y suciedad.
Inglaterra es lo más parecido a un villa miseria.
Tu problema es que nunca saliste de ese villorrio miserable in Northern England.
Capisce?
Linda says
I moved with my husband to Spain in 2002, having sold our 5-bedroom house in Hampshire and bought a finca in Alhaurin el Grande in 2000. We didn’t know about Spanish Inheritance Tax that has to be paid by the widow/widower and cannot be raised on the property so we’d have to find around €30k in that eventuality. We found that out after seeing front-page articles in the EuroWeekly every week in 2005/2006 about how to minimise that risk – not realising that it was illegal and a scam! I left in 2010 and moved back to England and have a very happy life now but the court case is still going on and the other party insisted I attend court in Coin next Tuesday 5th April. My ex-husband is now too disabled to travel but I booked my flights and accommodation. On Monday I emailed the Abogados there with my itinerary – to receive a reply that the case has been adjourned – too late to cancel my plans now! It’s so typical of the Spanish to do this and I’m absolutely livid!
Spainsword says
Sorry about reading your experience, but I think it was your fault, I mean you were scamed for some people, not for Spain. Maybe you should have done some research before paying for anything.
Spanish Inheritance tax is not never paid for a buyer, that tax is only paid for a relative when they are going to inherit a house or a property from a relative.
Talking about lawyers, what can I say? They are lawyers…
Matt says
Such a typical Spanish response. Everything is explained away (poorly) so there is no fault in the end. Spain sucks sometimes, especially for people used to countries with better functioning systems, so just get used to reality.
Spanishway says
I would never have paid for a house in a foreign country without knowing anything about its legislation. Even when I am buying on Amazon, I make sure to understand the rules to avoid problems.
So if I pay without informing myself and without knowing anything about the matter, it is not fair to blame the country, in any case only those people, and lastly those who were not previously informed.
Anyway, no one forces anyone to come to Spain and buy a house or whatever, so if you don’t like how Spain works, you can stay in the UK forever.
Everybody is welcome here.
Keep calm and stay in the UK, lol.
Alistair S. Duff says
Very helpful. Good on spainmadesimple.com for publishing critical views and responses. I admire the Spanish for surving fascism until 1976. How these good people must have suffered. I cannot fault them.
Ihatevox says
Thank you.
In fact, we are still fighting fascism. Most of us hate it but there are some people who want that back. I hate VOX.
reggie andrews says
i feel fed up with my past so i wish secret leaves wayt to torrenaivija location for good so i am deaf gay person and 81 y/o so please help me about nice home UP TO 400 TO 450 PCM FOR RENTS TY TOUH SOON
Alex says
Funny youd mention roads, never seen worse infrastructure as in Scotland. Should these lovely folks get the independence and I kid you not, in less than 5 years this region would turn into some failed African state.
Martin says
Web sites and TV programs avoid mentioning disadvantages of moving to Spain (or anywhere for that matter). There are disadvantages in Spain such as high unemployment, low wages, bureaucracy, tax affairs, an inefficient legal system…
You have to visit Spain a few times for research, especially on tax affairs. I’ve found that British tax consultants in Spain are the best since they know the system in both countries and give direct advice. Make sure you are aware of the consequences of Brexit, the process for buying or renting property, schools, getting driving licences changed and so on.
Oh, and you’ll need far more than 15,000 € to set yourself up anywhere!
Daniel says
I wonder why some British could believe they have better infrastructure in the UK, after having visited Spain. This is not true. Not true at all. I think it’s due to some kind of “nationalistic blindness” (and this premise can be extrapolated to many areas as I have seen). When I lived in the UK I really missed an efficient public transport net like the one we have in Spain. Spain has the largest network of highways and freeways in Europe. Spain’s network of excellent highways and freeways extends over 17,000 km, much higher than the European average… And Spain ranks first worldwide in road connectivity according to the WEF Global Competitiveness Report 2019.
Go home says
Spain is a joke of a country and has been for a long time.
No longer relevant in any conversation from a political, social, cultural or economic viewpoint, it offers very little to anyone who has known and lived through better.
It’s where British people run away to when they don’t know what else better to do, or can’t afford anywhere better. Speaks to their lack of ambition and imagination.
A country in decline, noise pollution issues, corruption issues, et al. This country suffered under Franco, now it allows foreigners to pick at the carcass, while largely ignoring its own people, so no surprise locals try to rip off foreigners. Try living in a country like Finland and see how far you get as a non native, even when you’re married to one. But that’s a country with a lot to offer and it knows it. Very little has changed post Brexit and in reality for most people nothing will, they’re not going to stop the only people dumb or classless enough to spend their retirement/savings money in another country.
Truth be told, if you like living in Spain, it’s because you don’t know there is better out there. For the record better places: Switzerland/Thailand/Australia/Bulgaria/Croatia/Kenya/Cuba/Barbados, I could go on.
People need to stop with this Spain propaganda. Leave Spain to the Spanish so maybe, just maybe, they will focus on trying to improve it for their own people, instead of trying to accommodate leeching ex pats.
BastardSpaniard says
Hahaha.
No one forces you to come here for looking for a job or for living.
You used to come here to get free surgeries or for a vacation.
In fact, we do not need more stupid people here, we already have a lot.
I hope you don’t need a surgery in your beloved UK.
KEVIN MILLARD says
Total load of rubbish! You talk about much better places to live such as Barbados, Australia and Switzerland. You cannot just up and live in these countries. Spain is a lovely country but inhabited by a lot of ex pats, many who behave as if Spain owes them a living and show bow and scrape to them. Wrong. In any country of the world home drums beat first and that is exactly how it should be. Too many Brits move to Spain thinking they can just relax in the sun all day and do nothing else, even in their 40’s and 50’s. Again wrong. Living anywhere costs money. By all means live in Spain but act like you are living, not on holiday, and the money will stretch a lot further. A common problem with Brits is that they do not want to adapt to another country, but want that country to adapt to them. It doesn’t work like that. And then they want to blame Spain for all the problems that are their doing, not Spain’s. And as for people saying the UK is better and has a lower cost of living what a load of tosh. Poll taxes, energy bills, petrol, lying politicians, woke brigade etc etc etc. Welcome back to the UK for all you Spanish haters!!
robin says
Unfortunately as clearly evidenced by these replies humans hate anyone that is different from them. It should change at some point to where people in different countries can focus on and recognize both the positive and negative qualities of other countries and of their own. Hopefully one day the foolish human brain evolves towards a point where it doesn’t need to point out perceived faults of other countries to feel superior, but instead to learn from them and also to learn from the positive aspects (likewise may we all recognize the positive and negative aspects in our native country). Every country has good and bad qualities; pretending in either direction solves nothing. And this comment is the same thing people from the UK say about the polish and other immigrants or people of any country say about immigrants in general; I don’t understand how replicating the same behavior helps.
marnie says
so True Kevin,
I don´t understand these negative views, Spain is a great country, I am Australian, have lived in the Barcelona area for over 30 years, Also lived in the UK, nice countryside, hated the weather!
I have never experienced any of the things people are saying here …, rude people, dirty country, crime, Yes, we have crime, unfortunately so do most European countries, including the UK! and sorry to say, but, most are people from Latin America, North Africa.
I have always found everyone very friendly and interested to know where I am from, I speak Spanish fluently of course now.
Most of the places mentioned here are tourist areas, frequented by drunken foreign tourists, a disgrace to their country, are you surprised that they are not welcome!
Many Brits seem to think they are a superior race and that they do not need to learn the language of the country they live in, this is so disrespectful.
What type of job would a foreign immigrant get in the UK if they didn´t speak English?
Nick, moving to a foreign country with 15,000 pounds!! you must be joking.
Yes, wages may be lower here, but, dining out, beers, tapas on the beach, alcohol, public transport
cigarettes, all these are so much cheaper than in the Uk… plus so many days of sunshine and good weather.
People like Nick and many others who have put such biased comments here are certainly not welcome, not here, or in Australia or anywhere else, so just stay in your own country.,
Matthew says
Australia?!! Seriously? Please indulge me with your rational argument as to how it’s better than Spain in any meaningful way?
Eliezer says
Cuba??? Really? You do not even know what you are talking about, you mentioned a country which is a total ruin, where a doctor makes half of a policeman’s salary, where parents cannot afford a glass of milk for their children, where elderly people are unable to get a tiny piece of bread, the city of Havana is nothing but a dumpster falling apart, soon there will be nothing left of a country which used to be the pearl of the Antilles. Now, it is nothing thanks to a communist dictatorship that has lasted for 63 years. Come on, it shows your lack of education and knowledge mentioning that miserable excuse of a ravaged country. Just explain as how Cuba it’s better than Spain in any way when the country is ruled and owned by a communist clan who doesn’t give a damn about its enslaved citizens? I have visited Spain and I have nothing negative to say about it, I think is very beautiful with a very rich culture, and its people are the nicest. I got lost several times and people went out of their way to help me out, I was treated in a very kindly way. If you do not like Spain then crawl back to your third world country where you came from.
Adrián López says
Españoles pobres!!! Hasta hace poco iban a buscar trabajo en Chile. En los 70s era mejor Argentina o Venezuela que España. Por algo la juventud se va de allí a Inglaterra, Alemania o Suiza, porque es un país de tercera clase. Geográficamente en Europa. Adrián de Quito.
Daniel says
Seremos muy pobres pero aquí vienen los de tu país a buscar una vida mejor, huyendo de la inseguridad y la miseria 😉
Paul says
De Quito?
Pero ustedes son una villa miseria… de que pobres hablás, pedazo de pelotudo??
De tu familia miserable?
JAJA
Badger says
You shouldn’t move to Spain with only 15k end of. Nerja is a tourist hot spot with all that entails crime, rip offs etc. Thorough research on areas to live and correct funding in place before moving is essential.
I’ve lived here 3 years as a retiree and love it
One final point..a fool and his money are soon parted.
Neil says
Hello Badger,
The main reason in my view people who knock Spain have no done any research, for the three years prior to moving here to live I looked at all things that would be relevant to me and also came over three times to look at different areas at the end of the last visit I had a few hours to spare to before going back checked out another area, stopped the car got out and said to myself,THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE,job done and moved here nines years ago.
Viva Espana.
Neil.
Morestupidandyouwerentborn says
Pedrito se ve que eres español porque no tienes ni idea de inglés, pero en cambio estás en Inglaterra, seguramente con los gastos pagados por los “papis” y encima te permites el lujo de criticar a tu patria porque gobierna quien no te gusta.
Hala majete, quédate por esos lares que con el nivel de inglés que tienes seguro que se pelean por ti.
Angry Spaniard man says
Ilegal immigration?
Wasn’t that the same reason for the UK to leave EU?
I imagine you voted for quitting, I imagine you prefer not to help anyone or maybe you only like foreign football players.
When Spain was in a Civil War, many families, children and old people had to leave their country because of it and they had to go to others countries, because NO COUNTRY helped us to fight Fascism. Just Russia and just a little.
That is the reason Spain let people enter the country, we perfectly now what happens when your country is in war or any other danger and you need a way out.
Maybe we do not have the best country, we may improve a lot of things, but you have no idea what Spain is, and you will never.
Grettings from Spain and sorry for my English, but you know I am a Spaniard man and maybe I am idiot.
Francesco says
La masquerilla gringo!
Liv says
I live in Andalusian village for 4 years already and I love it here. I lived for 20 years in the US and Spain is 100% better because is affordable, low crime, and very helpful people. Everyone is nicer to me than Americans in the US. I work online part-time and I am fine. In the US 3 jobs were not enough. We have fiestas all the time in the village. It is very laid back here. I speak intermediate Spanish, and have many international friends from all over including Spaniards. In the US, I had one friend only because everyone is working non-stop. I lived in 9 different countries and Spain is the best so far.
Richard says
The comment section has provided much entertainment. Spain, like almost every country, has its pros and cons. If you have a poor attitude you are going to be met with problems in every single country, even your home country. If you are sad and depressed and moaning about life in one country, after the novelty of somewhere new wears off, your inner depression will make you hate the next country. Im from the UK and lived in the Canary Islands for 4 years, then moved to Ireland where I’ve been for just over a decade. Now about to move to mainland Spain and very much looking forward to it. The one thing I disliked the most about living in Spain previously, was the negativity of a lot of depressed British immigrants who would love spending hour after hour complaining about how much better it was back home. My advice to anyone moving to any country, avoid negative people from all nations and surround yourself with positive people. Your experience will be greatly enriched as a result.
Pedrito says
Hello,
I’m from spain living in London.
In spain there’s no jobs for us. Everything is contacts and bribe.
Plus half of world population died in Spain because of the Corona. So spain now is very restrictions and military control of the street. I prefer the economy of western Europe like Scandinavia, UK or Germany. Spain has no future, sadly for my fellow people. For holidays better visit Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Miami…
Inlovewithespain says
I do not know if you are a Spaniard in fact but I know you are a liar.
Deaths caused by corona in Spain = 97350. Population = 47,3 millions of people.
Deaths caused by corona in Italy = 152000. Population = 59,5 millions of people.
Deaths caused by corona In the UK = 160000. Population = 67,2 millions of people.
Deaths caused by corona in Germany = 132000. Population = 83,2 millions of people.
The percentage of deaths per citizen is similar in these countries.
I hope you are better at speaking English than you are at math.
Maybe you just want to people come to your country instead of Spain for their vacation, those places you said are nice too, but if you want to have a great experience on your vacation, come to Spain, sun, beaches, mountains, nice villages and a lot of hotels, beauty, food, people, weather, price, safety, medical attention…
I love Spain.
Fakearmy says
Miltitary control in the streets?
Seriously man, how much did you smoke? Maybe you saw a movie the day you wrote this.
There is Police as always. Spain just used the Army in some parts in the country during the lockdown, the only one in Spain during all the pandemic, and it was to help Police to control streets.
In fact, Spain used the Army another time in 2021, when Filomena hit Spain in January and almost all the country was icy or covered with half a meter of snow. UME (Emergency Military Unit) was used all over the country to rescue people stuck, to reopen roads, to help people isolated…
Don’t lie man.
Fred Van deryk says
You Brits should know that Spain is a third world country. I’m Dutch, asthmatic, and I have been hit by the police because I can’t wear a mask. They said you are asthmatic in your country, in spain wear a face mask. That was enough, with my arm bleeding I crossed to Portugal .
camila says
Kevan, You are correct about Galicia, and especially the Pontevedra costal areas. My husband and I had been living for many years in Mallorca, and 3 years ago we decided to move to Ogrove, a beautiful costal area between Santiago and Vigo. We loved our home there…BUT, after almost 3 years, we still were not able to create any social life. I speak fluent Spanish and am now a Spanish citizen, and we are very sociable people with lots of good friends in Mallorca. Gallegos are generally very nice people but extremely distant with outsiders and all family oriented, We love seafood, but it was impossible to find any other kind of restaurant outside of the big cities. Entertaining was only done with family at home. We felt very isolated (covid did not help of course) and have recently returned to Mallorca. We have many Mallorcan friends here among others, and do not like the expat ghetto mentality, but I would certainly recommend that anyone thinking of living in a small community in the north of Spain be aware that there is very little variety in culture compared to other regions of Spain. In 3 years, I never heard English spoken once, depite being a famous tourist area of Galicia. Many Madrilenos go to Galicia in summer for the beaches and seafood, but it is still unkown outside of Spain. Hence, no Japanese, Thai, Mexican, etc. restaurants!
Alan wilson says
Realy cant believe i read it surely i wind up i moved my family to alcudia in 2004 wife son 7 daughter 5 were still here yes a few teething problems but we aint in blighty with a great honest prime minister or hundreds of migrants per day yes we need to work hard no problem with that need to work where ever you are get out of life what you put in my children are 27 and 25 looking to start theyre own families with spanish partners the writer of the original post must have been of questionable character to begin with obviously deluded and work shy my opion we as a family have had a truly magnificent life here and can not wait for the next chapter to begin IN SPAIN
Oliver Bold says
Wenn ICH MIT unterlagen und bild/ton aufnahmen nachweisen kann was für ein unfähiges das königreich von spanien IST werden immer mehr Menschen nicht einmal urlaub machen wollen .UNZUCHT IN spanien IST was?
Joseph Wilson says
Por lo menos esto debe hacernos pensar antes de odiar. Creo que ir a vivir en cualquier otro país distinto a su país de origen a menudo es difícil sin tener mucho dinero, y trabajando para mantenerse. Para los ingleses privilegiados (me refiero a los que no son muy ricos, pero relativamente, a veces siguen siendo algo privilegiados; por ejemplo los jovenes que suelen tener poco dinero propio) puede ser menos difícil que para otros, pero aún así difícil, porque hay que pagar alquiler, trabajar, estar alejado de su familia (aunque sea por elección y deseo propio) y fracasar en algunas relaciones quizás por falta de comprensión y adaptación cultural. En cuanto a pagar alquiler, es explotación, pero en reino unido va a pasar lo mismo sino que en mayor medida, es decir peor. Quedándose en inglaterra quizás tengamos la opción de vivir en casa de los padres y así pagar menos alquiler. Pero para un extranjero en inglaterra, va a ocurrir la misma explotación en lo que es el alquiler.
O sea, hay dificultades, pero no son específicas de españa. Quién nos explota es una clase internacional, y en inglaterra va a ser más intenso. Debemos mantener la fé y ver más allá – let’s not give up and turn to hatred yet. We always have more to learn.
Jaime says
Spain has less than half the murder rate of the UK so I don’t know why your complaining about crime is totally off.
Ed Wilcox says
My Spanish wife & I moved from Chelmsford to Manilva in 1982 and neither of us has regretted it.
At the time my wife was working in a Spanish restaurant near to Piccadilly Circus and I too did some work for them. I was fluent in French and had some knowledge of Spanish and was able to make a living from my knowledge of languages. My wife was actually brought up in Morocco where she was educated in a French school.
My wife had family here, in Spain but close to Gibraltar and thanks to being close to the up-market development of Sotogrande we both found work very quickly. We have never regretted coming here.
Carlos says
I think you are just angry for something that happened to you. Anger and racism are an atomic bomb together. But either way go back to you country please.
Q says
Ah yes, the good old “racist” who accuses another person of being racist even though there is no evidence of them actually being racist.
C says
There you have another racist idiot.You you must be Spanish.
Here in this blog you show how Spaniards really think.
I am not surprised at all
I have lived in Spain for a very long time.
C says
I’ve lived in Madrid for over thirty years now and came with the Idea that the Spanish were friendly and approachable.
What a load of crap that is. They are so false it’s unbelievable..If they actually talk to you it’s only because they need or want something from you.be it English classes free or to manipulate you,Rob you or take advantage in a number of ways.
Friendship doesn’t actually exist here. The gossip is rife.
There is corruption on every level from the local people to any government association.
Justice is only based on your bank account or who you know.
Jobs are got on a who you’re connected to basis and hard work is not valued at all. Better to be the office clown than actually work.
Oh and I guess there are a number of people who think I don’t speak the language or have never fitted in and stay within the English speaking community.Well you’re completely wrong.
I have lived here for 30 years ,am totally bilingual and have no British speaking friends. I also have had various friends (if you can call them that ) who are Spanish.The only conclusion after 30 years is that they have all disappeared the moment you might ask them for anything and all have slagged me off behind my back.
If you are thinking of moving to Spain or even visiting.my advice Don’t….
Victor says
Either you have had very bad luck or maybe the problem is you.
C kirk says
I have lived for 14 years in a mountain Spanish village in Andalucia. The people here are, in general, pleasant and hardworking. Spanish builders can be a bad joke but ours employs a lot of Rumanians who turn up On time, can lay bricks straight and clean up afterwards. I have heard of one robbery ( by outsiders) who got nothing and have had my dropped wallet returned several times. I am retired so am not seeking work but several expats do work here and they are treated well. They do speak Spanish and work hard but so do the locals (2 or 3 jobs is normal)
Spanish bureaucracy is vile and annoying. I would like to say you get used to it. You dont!
The cost of living here is MUCH lower and the weather is better. It does snow in my village and it CERTAINLY rains. No plans to return to BORIS heaven.
Rob says
I have been living in Barcelona for about 3 years already and have not experienced any of this! No place is perfect but to me it sounds like they are talking about a different country. I wonder if life in Andalusia is so drastically different than Catalunya.
Spik, as you kindly say says
Andalusia is the poorest area in Spain, that’s why the British go there, because it is cheap. They flock to the coast because they want a holiday resort experience (in “Costa del Sol”, as they say, because they don’t even bother to know the name of the provinces where it is located…).
Most British don’t want the experience of living in real Spain, so they don’t, and are totally unaware of the local culture, history, politics, media, even the languages spoken. They just want to lie in the sun, watch English football and get cheaper alcohol than at home. It’s a very low-brow attitude, so they are seen as zombies. Empty shells that contribute nothing, and who don’t give a f*** about the country.
Are they going to Andalusia to work in the aeronautics industry? Of course not. They have no real skills for working in proper jobs. For God’s sake, they can’t even speak Spanish!! Without speaking the language, they don’t qualify even to be dishwashers, fruit pickers or care workers. And have in mind that Spain is already full of overqualified people doing all kinds of jobs.
So their only choice is working as cleaners or waiters for other “expats” (by the way, this word is ridiculous for Spaniards, it means an immigrant with a complex). They don’t realize that hospitality jobs are seasonal in the coast, and so grueling that few Spaniards go for them nowadays. Even students reject them as summer jobs. Spanish bar and restaurant owners have difficulty recruiting people, so it’s becoming a job for immigrants only.
“Expats” have a few other options. Doing odd jobs for other expats (prepare for botched construction disasters), scamming other expats via real estate agencies or teaching English (typically while having no command of grammar, so they are despised by pupils because this kind of stuff is taught in Spain since primary school).
All in all, I’m not surprised that many return to UK. They are not welcome here. Many think wrongly that by living or buying a house they are doing the Spanish economy a favour. Sorry, but no. It’s just the opposite. Wherever they go, house prices and rentals rise, and salaries DROP drastically, so locals are screwed. And the towns where they gather, even outside Andalusia (in places such as Torrevieja, Benidorm or Lloret de Mar) hit rock bottom and become the poverty shitholes of the region. This happens invariably. Being close to a low-cost airport, being a touristic location, is a curse in Spain. It kills towns.
I won’t even mention the environmental wreck they cause with their golf course obsession (who in hell needs lawns in areas affected by drought) or the general destruction of landscape.
So please, future expats, go elsewhere! We are tired of uneducated Brexiters, we are tired of lager louts. Get a LED lamp for SAD disorder, get your cheap alcohol al Aldi and stay at home. Please.
PS. Rob, this is not about you, I bet you are one of the nice ones. I just started writing and got carried away, please take this is a general response to the opinions above.
Ed Wilcox says
Life in Andalusia is seriously different to life in say Barcelona. The Andalusians and the Barceloneses have a completely different outlook on life. I see that as being good, imagine how boring it would be if everywhere was the same!
Dan says
Well I’ve been in Spain now for 18 years and still enjoy my life here it’s not easy and if it was then everyone would be moving from the UK to here, I agree with some of the points in this review but you know what the Sunsets the amazing people from all over the world the parties and not to mention the amazing selection of bars and restaurants offering good quality food and drinks at amazing prices and recently my little boy came of his bike and the medical care here was amazing so good in fact I cancelled my private insurance .. I know a lot of people come and go from Spain but believe me life is what you make it and Spain is a magical place …. you only live once and once is enough My personal experience of Spain has been great and the people are amazing … if eventually I do have to go back to the UK I will always look back and think it’s been a great adventure rather than focusing on the negative as the reason why I had to leave … My advice better to regret the things you have done than wonder if only … ☀️
Kevan says
There is much more than Barcelona, Madrid or Andalucía.
Take a look to Santiago de Compostela, Gijón, San Sebastián, etc.
The north of the country has high life level and is free of crime. Few (or 0…) immigration. Their problem, the weather. Similar to Uk.
You should visit Galicia for 2 weeks, and write your opinion next. Beautiful monuments, nice people, amazing beaches (google islas cies, also isla villagarcia de arousa) and mountains, celtic tradition… Just take a look.
Marcos says
My favourite part is “they don’t take us for their jobs, spanish people go first” loooool
People here KILL for a native english in their company.
Tell me where happened that to you, so I can find a job for my friends. Hahahah.
Darwin says
Dear Bob,
So you move to a country “that you don’t know” their famous unemployment and data like that??
Your fault. You can’t move to another country just for a good summer there. No info about, no planning… What did you expect????!!!!!
Bob says
Didn’t move for a “Good Summer”. Life has many facets, and I knew about the problems, but many don’t. Actually, the problems are far beyond what you’d think. They treat each other like dirt in the job market and work place – so they won’t treat foreigners any better – so the “racism” many on here report is likely to be just that.
John says
Dear Heather,
Good luck if you have cancer in USA. If you can’t pay …. you will need it.
Jent says
Wow… what an article. I’m sure Spain is happy to lose you, you don’t sound like the person that would get along well in a group of spanish people (or any kind of group of people if I am honest). You can’t expect everything in Spain to work like in the UK. If you don’t like it here, GO. I think you’re very bitter…
A Armenakian says
What an interesting thread! I am sorry for the writers here who loathe their Spanish experience, and I understand both sides. True about the frustrating bureaucracy, older medical staff who can be unsympathetic, shop staff who don’t acknowledge you – sometimes. But then in my small mountain town south of Granada, the same lovely guy has been delivering our gas bottles for 17 years, same waiter at favourite cafe for 17 years, hairdresser, ditto…the list goes on. I love this small-town continuity, the cheerful stoicism of hard workers and elderly people here, at least they are still sustained by community and family. Speaking Spanish is the key. I am not very good but can chat and be friendly and deal with public life here. There is a lot of goodwill generated when you speak even 60% good Spanish! We pay very low rent for our big flat, eating out and local groceries are relatively cheap. I am lucky that I can work online and internationally, yes. But I could never return to the UK as it is now unaffordable for me, but I can envisage staying here as a pensioner.
desmond kelly says
In my humble opinion this article is written by the mother and father of all whingers.Just learn to enjoy living your dream here and avoid the whingers like the plague is the secret methinks.
Dr Dre says
Love the different opinions. Love the article. I ve been living in my rustic home in a small mountain village in Almeria, Andalucia for going-on 3 month.. Can’t Wait to leave!!! and as another digi-nomad and researcher in psychology and behaviorism in and around many countries here are my honest opinions. Nick is spot-on. And the following points toted. I note the couples are more strongly in defence of.. Well gee, go figure. As a single woman it’s been total hell … Gossip…. Derision..
sexual assault in lieu of ‘help’, on more than one occasion. Judgement and nastiness akin to medieval persecution. Keep wondering if a posse is gonna turn up at my door and drag me to the stake… Its uncalled for. I almost feel as hunted as all the abused and traumatised animals around me…. Un-fkkn-believable!! My noisy and really hostile neighbours are literally Malliry’s parents from the movie Natural Born Killers…. The Brits seem to be predominantly cagey ex-cons, freeloaders, stoners or retirees and won’t lift a finger to help or just be vaguely friendly. The arrogance and ignorance of possibly one of the only countries left in the world who stoically refuse to speak another language…. Its a joke. The reckoning is upon the world and this is a fishbowl on the eve of its own demise.
Bob says
The village people, loads of them moved into poorly built flats in the cities in the 70’s/80’s, hence all the empty villages in Spain. They cause the same problems in the cities as they did in the villages. Just to be fair, the UK has the notion of the “village idiot”.
As for the Brits, had to laugh at the “ex-cons” bit, the Costa Del Sol is also known as the Costa Del Crime in the UK – due to Brit criminals on the run going there (especially when there wasn’t an extradition treaty in place). Plenty of feature films use this premise, for example Sexy Beast.
Pizza Pasta says
“The arrogance and ignorance of possibly one of the only countries left in the world who stoically refuse to speak another language…. Its a joke.”
Tell me, how many languages do you speak?
I am from Italy, I’ve been living in the UK for over seven years and I’m now looking at moving to Spain. My experience in the UK (in a couple of very different places) is that nearly NO ONE speaks another language at a reasonable level, apart from English. Instead, as a foreigner, I’ve been told countless by people from Britain, how they feel that the Brits are lazy in not learning other languages and in always expecting the others to be able to speak English, especially when they travel abroad. Well, guess what: this happens in any country. Most people in most country don’t travel much abroad and therefore they never need to be able to speak fluently a foreign language. Having said that, what makes you think that it is alright to move to another country and to expect the locals to speak your own language?
Heather says
Andrés,
You say Spanish have the best healthcare in the world? Ha! I have to laugh at how false that statement is. The public health care system is the absolute worst I’ve ever experienced. Doctors simply do not care about you, you have to wait weeks, sometimes months to even get seen by a specialist, and don’t even get me started on the serious lack of mental health care here. The doctors think every mental health problem can be solved with exercise and a good diet. Or they just say you’re “depressed” and send you on your way.
The public system here is horrendous because the enployees know they have their jobs guaranteed the rest of their lives, so MANY doctors working in the public system just don’t give a shit anymore and barely listen when you come to see them. I’ve had doctors blatantly say nothing was wrong with me even though my blood tests showed different results.
Spain’s horrible healthcare and terrible approach to mental health is why I’m leaving and returning home to the US as well.
Laura says
Hi Jay,
Thank you so much for calling me a lazy bugger! Just so you know, whilst living in the UK I had several jobs at the same time so I could pay my rent, bills etc. and paid my taxes so some of those who live of benefits can carry on doing nothing and abusing the system.
What I can’t understand is why you came to Spain in the first place?! If you hate Spain and the Spanish so much, why on earth did you come?!
I am glad to hear from your experience, that at least, the feeling was mutual. You didn’t like the Spanish and the Spanish didn’t like you in return, it is only fair.
Bob says
Because Spain hides it’s awfulness behind sand, sea, sun, sangria & Barcelona (50% of whom don’t want to Spanish anyway – can’t blame them really). It’s not until you get there to live that you realise, as a foreigner, you’re not going to get a job, there’s already a long queue of locals in front of you.
ps. Alicante Province is great though 🙂
Laura says
I must say this conversation puts Spain as a bit of a marmite country, either you hate it or you love it.
Every country in the world has its positives and negatives. I am Spanish, but have lived in the UK for 16 years. I agree with many of those that say bureaucracy in Spain is horrendous, it is! It makes no sense and it is extremely frustrating.
However it is also true that I have found British expats trying to rip us off charging us 550 Euros for a service that would cost 100 euros if done by its Spanish counterpart.
I have been the victim of racism in the UK in more than one occasion but I don’t think all British people are racists, so please do not generalise.
With regards to being bullied at school, I was bullied at school regardless of being Spanish or not. Bulling happens everywhere and mean children will use anything as an insult, read the newspapers in the UK and you’ll find there are also lots of children being bullied at school in the UK too.
It is sad to hear people are having bad experiences but before moving to a different country, it is important to do some research and be fully aware of cultural disparities that could cause shock or upset if having to live with them.
Pointing out cultural differences and use them to belittle an entire nation isn’t fair. Spanish people may not say thank you and please as much as the brits do, but it doesn’t mean they are not grateful. The Chinese don’t understand queuing either, there are plenty of cultures that don’t do queuing. In Spain you just need to ask who’s last and then you know when your turn is.
The type of behaviour described in shops or supermarkets where the staff are engaged in conversation with a friend and don’t serve you happens to all of us and it tends to happen in very small places. They actually aren’t talking to a friend, it is probably another customer.
The main problem of moving to a smallish place in Spain is that locals know each other and tend to be very insular. This means that not only Brits get treated as foreigners, we all do!
I didn’t get mad at the UK because people did things differently there, I embraced it and learned how things got done. I do get very frustrated at how some things work (or better said, don’t work) in Spain and compare it to the UK, but the truth is, it is unfair to make comparisons like that. It is a different country with different historical events that affected the way things are. Countries, like people, are shaped by their histories.
There’s good and bad everywhere in the world.
Neil says
Hey don’t knock Reliant Robins Del Boy liked his!!
As for giving up my English passport I would if I could only
get to the required standard in written and oral Spanish.
Neil.
Hamish says
Neil, you do know that there is no such thing as an English passport?
Neil says
Hi Matt,
Your comment about Spain in all aspects is very true when people ask me what I like about is
the people they are brilliant so nice and the police are also very good!! and polite.
Some years ago I asked the web site owner to delete people like Nick Anders as they are giving
Spain a very bad reputation all the comments from Anders et al are very much out of date now
if there was any truth at all in what he had to say.
Before I came to live here over a period of four years and three trips to different parts of the coast
doing my research I knew the cost of living here etc.
Neil,in Alicante province.
Que tengas un buen dia.
matt says
The Expats here complaning about Spain, all i can say is f#ck off then back to the UK! I lived in Spain for 4 years and loved it, yeh it has its problems like any other country. The culture, food, weather and country is beautiful! Seeing these typical expats on the costa del sol, in there expat bubble at the bar watching Eastenders and eating fish and chips, they dont even mix with the Spanish people or culture, or even know a word of Spanish. Then they complain about nothing.
Jamie says
It’s very true.
Diana Arnold says
Very true. We have lived in retirement here for fourteen years and have never regretted coming for one moment.we have always been treated with courtesy by the Spanish and I hope we have been courteous to them, we have certainly tried to be. We have always found them very friendly and helpful. It certainly helps to speak the language which we both do after all you are living in their country so why should they speak English? I am sure it would not go down too well in the UK if the English were expected to speak all the languages of the foreigners living there. We have also found the Spanish Health System very good and despite several quite serios problems we certainly have nothing to grumble about. My advice to the people who hate Spain is to go back the UK and leave the rest of us to enjoy our life here
Jean Wyatt says
Thank you for all your comments – it has helped make up my mind about retiring to Spain. I think if it was just paying tax on the pension, it would still be considered but there seem so many economic pressures past and present there with everything that goes with it – I can understand why the locals are unhappy. My partner (of 30 years) I know would try hard to learn language but mobile phones were invented decades ago and he still struggles with that. I like learning languages – there is a definitive reason for learning it if we emigated. We only have one chance and we are not millionaires but comfortable. If that goes we have nothing. Everything considered, we think it is too much of a risk and so have decided to stay in the UK.
B says
Wise choice jean , my husband and I have had so many complacations, and no one to turn to for sound advice ,would love to be back in the u.k a.s .a.p , kind regards
Jay says
YES, SAME HERE. I HATE SPAIN! So many unprofessional, rude and lazy people. I have a good job (working for an international company; I will NEVER work for a Spanish company), but I actually am thinking about leaving this country. Thing is – Spanish hate foreigners – they call us ‘giris’, and they do not want us to stay. Forget about employee rights; forget about getting paid on time; forget about getting things done. I came here 5 years ago with an open heart and now i am counting days to leave, because I can not stand this country anymore.
Adios, lazy buggers!!!
Bob says
Retiring to Spain on a pension is vastly different to actually working there. Retiring there is fine, but take note of the paperwork, it’s infuriating, but retirees will have the time to deal with it. Stay away from “dinero negro” schemes dreamt up by estate agents and builders, they benefit them, not you. “Customer Service” barely exists, even the big foreign owned DIY chains can be as bad as the dodgy cash in hand builder.
From what I can see, working there is awful – if you think it’s “relaxed” then you’re deluding yourself – if you think a working day of 8.30am – 6.30pm is acceptable, then go for it. Ageism is rife, pay is low.
Derek says
Jay you’re so xenophobic! You’ll need a description of that actually! It means RACIST! Stay away from Spain please!
Hamish says
Derek, invest in a dictionary, there is a big difference between a racist and a xenophobe. And if Jay is xenophobic, as you suggest, he would not want to move to a foreign country in the first place!
John says
Now that the Poluce are better empowered to act, hopefully Brexit will start to rid Spain of all the British illegal immigrants here. Only concerned in working in tbe black economy, and all looking to dodge the taxman. It’s irònic that mostly they don’t integrate here, won’t learn the language, have their heads in the UK, whinge about having to change their driving licences to Spanish etc, erc, – the list goes on, – while criticing llegal immigrants in the UK for doing the same thing. Go home, you antogonise the legal British taxpaying residents here, and don’t belong here now…..
Neil says
VERY WELL SAID,JOHN
Hamish says
John, you talk of British (illegal immigrants) only working in the black economy in Spain. Well they have very good teachers in the Spanish.
When I bought my house the notary stepped out of the room to allow both seller and buyer to discuss/ decide how much would be paid in black money and how much in white money… And, the notary is meant to make sure everything is done correctly on behalf of the Spanish State.
The Spanish builder I hired to do work on the house wanted paying cash in hand and did not want to give a receipt (ie. black money). I paid him in cash but insisted on a receipt (which I got) but was called all the f’s, b’s and c’s under the sun. That said the builder did a good job.
First time I had work done on my car the garage asked if I wanted to pay IVA (VAT) or not. Lets be honest they would not have offered to knock the IVA off unless they were also making something.
A few years ago I was out for a drink on a Friday night. About 9pm all the customers were asked to leave by the owner, without being able to finish their drinks, and the bar was quickly shut up. Turns out the police, tax authorities and employment authorities were checking various bars in the small town I live in. Once the authorities raided the first bar news spread and others, like the one I was in, shut… Now, why would all those bars shut early on a Friday night if everything was above board? The daft thing is the authorities left it at that and did not come back to check again another night.
Black economy, the Spanish are experts.
Laura says
I just wanted to comment on Silvia’s response as a Spanish expat in the UK regarding sick pay. This is simply not true! I’ve worked in the UK for over 16 years and I can attest that Silvia’s argument regarding sick leave is misleading.
If you work in an industry like hospitality where Zero-hour contracts are the norm, then yes, you do not get sick pay, but you also get as many unpaid holiday leave as you want and people tend not to declare their income from tips so they don’t get taxed on it.
A part from the hospitality industry, I do not know of any other industry where Zero-hour contracts are common. Therefore it is unfair and misleading to say that there is no sick pay in the UK.
Thanks,
Laura
Shelagh Moore says
Hmm. I think Nick summed things up perfectly. EXPAT . No one who is serious about moving to another country constantly refers to themselves as an Expat, nor do they spend all their time trying to live like they did at home, in a little Expat bubble. No, they spend years researching, learning the language, the history the culture, the laws, and then when they Do move, they call themselves an Immigrant.
Nerja is a dump. As are most of the Costas infected by Exprats.
I spent 13 years in Extremadura, where no one speaks English, there are no Tescos or Brit bars, because there are virtually no Brits just lovely Spanish Rural life. You can leave your car unlocked and the windows down; if you live in the campo, your front door open and it is like turning the clock back.
But I am not getting any younger and an injury left my mobility a bit dodgy, so I moved to one of the quiter Costas. The Culture shock here was worse than moving to Spain in the first place! The Grey Brigade. They live in their little ghettoes, have their silly little gardening and book clubs, their tea rooms and pubs and never meet a Spaniard if they can avoid it! It is like a giant Geriatric home. Fortunately I can Still avoid them, Just! But if you look at Nick’s attitude, it was obvious he was on a Fail. As for the woman who said they call them ‘Giddies’ she knows so little about Spain that she does not even know that the word is ‘Guiri’ ‘We call them Spiks’ Classy. She is an Uninvited guest in their country. I suspect she is the very same type who voted Brexit to get rid of ‘immigrunts’ in the UK.
I love Spain. I have Spanish friends who often ask ‘Are you sure you are English? You are like Us, you are not like Them!’
Spain is an incredible, beautiful country, with amazingly kind people, If you take the trouble and time to integrate and not become another geriatric in a ghetto. It’s an adventure! Each region is different, even every village is different. The food can vary between exquisite to ‘sustenance’ and the wine can vary from World beating to drain cleaner! But that is part of the fun. As for the ‘bad service’ it is only ‘bad’ if you are still stuck in an English mindset. Relax, accept it, and it does wonders for your stress levels! You suddenly don’t have any! I wish more people like Nick would leave to be honest. They are blots on the sunny landscape. If you are moving to Spain, please come with the intention of being an Immigrant, not an ‘Expat’ Life is for experiencing and learning, why shut yourself into a rather nasty little xenophobic bubble in Someone Else’s country? Then complain about Them? How Rude is that!
Sue Hester says
We are winter swallows.We’ve had our property here for 20+ years but have never been resident.Why?Because we like to come and go. We like our home in Rural Somerset, we like quiet country lanes to cycle in, we like the green and pleasant land of England ,the daffodils,bluebells,snowdrops,real green grass( not the fake stuff that so many brits put down in their gardens in Spain.!). Seeing cows and sheep in the fields grazing,We like visiting friends and relatives and have them visit us. IN THE SUMMER.
It’s a different story in the winter! Then Spain comes into its own! The temperature is ambient most of the time ,we can sit out for our meals ,we can go to an uncrowded beach, still swim in the sea, wear less clothes than in the UK winter, have menu del dia with friends a couple of times a week, ride our bikes ,play tennis, go walking ,play petanc then have a drink or meal after.We like friends and relatives visit us to get away from the dreary UK winter.We still go on holidays to other countries, Oz, NZ,Asia.
It’s about having the best of both worlds, not that one is better than the other.This is the way we choose to do it.
Brexit has made it a little more of a challenge but with a little careful planning it’s still doable,
LJ says
Thank you Shelagh, for putting some balance into the information presented on this page. We would love to retire (young) to Spain. In fact, we just retired! Any move is a year or two away, but it seemed a bit uncharacteristic to charge the entire country and its people by unrealistic expectations and living along one of the coastal areas. At least, it could have been more specific about the expectations overall, and not lump the entire country in to this post.
We are thinking of Galicia anyway, a far enough distance from the other end of the peninsula. I’ve been in Spain, stayed with a family there as a house guest, also spent time as a visitor, and as an outdoor enthusiast, and didn’t really encounter hostility even when it became obvious that my Spanish wasn’t very skillful (much better these days, however!) Again, thank you for taking the time to put your experiences up on this page.
Neil says
Brilliant comment Shelagh,
I DETEST the word EXPAT, I regard my self as Spanish though English by birth.
Que tengas un buen dia.
Neil.
Hamish says
Neil, in that case renounce your UK citizenship and apply for Spanish citizenship.
ROSA FUSTER says
Thank you Shelagh! Muchas gracias!
Andrés says
You have no idea about Spain.
First of all, as I’m Spanish, I’m going to tell you how things are here.
I’d like to point out that you were living in the worst place of Spain. We all know the bad reputation Andalucía has.
I’m from València, and here life is far different from Andalucía. Catalonia, València and the Balearic Islands are the best places to live.
What you said about politicians and burocracy is completely true, and we complain about that every single day.
Anyways, here life is easy, we have the best healthcare in the world, and our life expectancy is amongst the highest in the world.
We have the best infrastructures in Europe. It’s not my opinion, and everyone can Google it.
England hasn’t got good infrastructure, the internet sucks, and people are rude, cold, and blue. Here you can enjoy and laugh with people even if you don’t know them, because we’re warm, extroverts, and we like to welcome everyone.
You say rubbish about Spain, but my experience in England was not good at all.
I was living in Bristol because I wanted to learn English, and I saw some thinks I hadn’t expected before going there. A lot of people were really drunk and lying on the floor at night everywhere and nearly everyday, and boys saying “you really turn me on, baby” to girls that came with us. They were so “machos”. It repeated several times when we went to pubs to enjoy English life at night.
Parks are really dangerous at night and they told us not to go through them, so we had to take taxis to go back home.
There was a lot of racism and you could even read it on walls, where paintings warned us we could be in danger, so we didn’t speak Spanish at night, just in case.
I’ve also been in Leeds, and the story about racism is quite similar.
When I was in Oxford, I got into a supermarket with a friend. As we were speaking Spanish, two workers that maybe thought we didn’t understand them were laughing at us until I started speaking English to them. Their facial expression changed suddenly, but they were still so rude with us.
Not to talk about English people coming here to our festivals singing really loud at 2 A.M. on the streets like hooligans, drinking a lot, dropping A LOT of rubbish on the floor, peeing and pooing everywhere.
And what about those festivals in Ibiza? Drugs, alcohol, jumping from balconies to the pools…
But you know what? I don’t hate your country because of bad experiences. You should travel around Spain and see how different is from where you used to live and how welcoming people are. I’ve read a lot of opinions about how amazing Spain and Spaniards are, as well as food, culture (apart from bullfighting), weather, and how easy is to live here.
Cheers.
Shelagh Moore says
Andres, I am sorry you had those bad experiences in my country of birth. I have only ever been shown kindness in yours.
Unfortunately those people who treated you that way arte the very ones that come to Spain and set up the ghettoes. Their only interest is in cheap booze, cheap fags and sun! So they end up looking like a smoke dried piece of old leather and drunk all the time! haha! They are desperately unhappy people most of them. With little education to make them grasp Why or how to rectify it. A wise English gentleman on Mallorca once told me ‘My dear, avoid the Expats like the plague. They are all running from something. They are carrying a lot of baggage and what they are Really running from is themselves. Until they stop and realise that they will run forever and nowhere will fit.’ I think about his words a lot when I see some of them around here and read posts like Nicks’s His problem is Not Spain, it is his fantasy of Spain, which did not meet his expectations. Partly because he never experienced Spain, and partly because his real issue is himself.
B says
The thing with opinions they’re like un gilliepollis, everybody has one.
Laura says
So true Shelagh and that was a wise man indeed. I am so pleased that you are enjoying living in Spain! We are not from where our passports say we are, but from where our hearts belong. I loved every single moment that I lived in the UK, even the painful ones, because they made me who I am today.
I love Britain and Spain because they are both wonderful. Happiness is a state of mind not a location.
Carole Baez says
I lived in Gran Caneria for over 10 years, I found the people kind, caring and very friendly. yes there were some “break ins” but you get that everywhere in all countries. I lived in the states for 10 years and I feel that the Spanish were so much more kinder than any of the Americans.
Yes the form filling and getting the wrong information is annoying and time consuming but the UK is not much better. My job had indefinite contract, I had a job for life, my boss was the best, paid me when I got sick, put me forward for any training, I really had a wonderful time and would say to anyone thinking of going to live there, “try before you buy” it is not easy to live abroad but if you look for the best and take the rough with the smooth you will have some wonderful experiences. What Andres says is so true.
Carol Caldicott says
Thank you Andre’s. My husband and I are moving to Villena permanently on June. We had a holiday home in La font de la figuera for two years. A quaint little village with 99% spanish people living there. I can honestly say we have never been made so welcome anywhere. Lovely people who treat us like royalty when we pop to the local pub. We can not wait to get out there
Have made so many spanish friends and yet we speak little Spanish ( Google translate is a god send). I think if you go with the flow and respect the culture you cant go wrong. I for one love everything about spain. I hate most things about the uk (England) I feel safer in spain than I do my own country.
Derek says
¡Hola Andrés! – please ignore this person! We love Spain and the Spanish!
At the coast here in Alicante we play spot the nation – it’s easy!
Local Spanish – Classy – friendly – sociable – helpful – goes without saying
Germans – friendly – organised – socks pulled up ready for action
Scandinavians – friendly – outgoing – adventurous
The British – no class at all (on the whole) – drunk – overweight and rude! Most can’t speak a word of Spanish hardly – embarrassing! Just like this commenter! You can see Brits arriving on the horizon!! in their zero class wife-beater vests normally! (I’m not talking about Brits who like your country & people, & are nicely settled here, people who join in with fiestas etc – You know, the right kind)
Denise Leki says
Bravo! You get what you give in life and I think Nick is not a very hospitable person.
I love Spain and I’m sitting in Melbourne Australia dreaming of my long holiday once covid allows me to travel again.
ROSA FUSTER says
Hola Andres, I am spanish and worked and lived in the UK (Oxford) for about 2 and a half years. The fact that I am very fluent in English helped a lot, but sometimes you can smell the racism, like people blatantly asking me if I was there for the “benefits”. The only people I knew on benefits were english, I was working really hard and in good companies. Apart from some episodes with that racist scent, in general I was feeling very comfortable as you only need to assume where you are… living in a different country with a different culture and background.
Martin says
I moved to Spain in 2005 bought a new Villa and paid with extras 380,000 euros I hated the Urbanizacion we lived on and sold it 2 years later for 226,000 euros I see today 2021 it is up for sale for 179,000 euros. Do not be fooled into buying. I also hate Spain why because like the first person said it is all true and more. Corruption is everywhere and everyone gets away with it. The Banks are the worst. Never, never trust a Spainish bank. I took mine to Court – Banco Popular and 6 years later got my day in court the bank admitted they had not translated everything correctly. 7 months after the Court date I got told I had cleared my name and won where was my 71,000 euros they had stolen oh you now need to go to court again yeah really. The Spanish have changed towards the Brits they are arrogant and rude. It is hard to live in Spain even when you can speak Spanish. It is not cheap and the exchange rate is terrible. I came back in 2019 and thank goodness I did. I will never say a bad word against my Country again that’s the UK. I did enjoy most of the time out in Spain but its bloody great being home again.
Anton says
What nobody has mentioned here is that, first, Spain have a LONG history of severe political difficulties. The Civil War didn´t come out of nothing. A 40 year long dictatorship followed, and then, overnight, the country had to learn how to become a democracy, which is not easy. You simply cannot compare it to other, stable European countries where things run smoothly.
Second, it is a big country with a central government and then a series of autonomous regions. It is unavoidable that burocracy is snarly. I´m surprised that no-one has mentioned that lot of the burocracy is nowadays resolved online and if you have to do it physically, you set up an appointment and get dealt with straight away. No endless queues anymore (a positive aspect with Covid.).
Third, Spain has been in a deep economical recession from 2008-16, which hit the country very very badly. Unemployment was up above 33%. Just as the country was starting to recover somewhat, Covid hit. Tourism is one of the cornerstones of Spanish economy and that has virtually dissappeared so now it is the whole story all over again. Will probably be way worse, in fact.
To expect Spain to be as efficient as UK, or my native country of Sweden, just because the country forms part of the EU is just plain dumb. To expect Spanish people to receive North Europeans with open arms as the potential saviours is simply to be out of touch with reality. Spansih people are struggling very hard to survive, it is impossible for young people to find somewehere on their own to live, so of course foreigners who often do not even speak the language and come with heaps of money, buying properties that the locals will never be able to buy, will not necessarily be loved. And Im sorry, but I have to say that UK citizens in particular have worked very hard during several decades to create a really, really bad image.
Bad customer service? Hmm, I really don´t know about that one. Never had anything to complain about in my visits to Madrid, Valencia an the south, or the Canaries where I have been living since 1986. I would say that the vast majority of people I have met have been very loving and very attentive. As for the time things tend to take to get resolved, well, this is just the flip side of all those “sleepy little whitewashed towns with a laid back and unhurried lifestyle” clichés that abound in traveller´s blogs and tourist guides.
Job situation. With the current situation, why on Earth would you get preference in the job queue? As things are right now, there is only one rule: if you are offered a job, you take it. I had to laugh about the bloke complainging about not wanting to clean pools or work in bars. If you really want to work, and you reject the job offers, you are really only ensuring that you will not be counted on again. It is as simple as that. If you want to work you got to be creative. Teach privately, set up your own business, create an online course, things like that.
The country is very big, with more than 8000 municipalitites. There are tons of small villages and towns. I did a road trip through southern Spain a few years ago and we passed through some amazingly beautiful places with really wonderful and friendly people. I have read lots of very positive accounts of European foreigners who come and set up small farms and homesteads and who work on getting involved with their local communities. Have some lovely English neighbours myself, as a matter of fact. Spain is so very much more than the sun and the cheap booze. Now,if you insist on settling down where all the expats do, expect to be treated as an expat.
In reality it is very simple. If you want to settle down in Spain, you simply have to accept that the country is how it is. There´s just no way around it. And, for God´s sake, learn the language properly!
Shelagh Moore says
Beautifully put! The problem with the Expat mob is they have spent holidays in Benidorm and think that is how life will be. They have no interest in Spain per se, just as a base to get cheap booze, cheap fags and sun. They know Zilch about Spanish history, culture or the Constitution, nor do they want to. They want to live on permanent Benidorm booze up. Then it all starts to fall apart. Reality kicks in, in the shape of laws and taxes and proving you are legally here. They get ripped off by other Brits who charge them 950euros to change a car plate, which actually costs 45! 450 euros to get residencia which costs 12! Most of them have no idea what a padron is!
But then, worse happens. They suddenly realise that a life of permanent booze and fags and lying about is a very hollow one and pretty miserable. So they kick back. Not at Themselves, who created it, but at the Spanish! ‘You didn’t give me my ‘Happy Ever After!’ Well, of course they didn’t! Most Spaniards work very hard, and are just like you, me and the bloke next door. Why should they be asked to be responsible for Their rather misguided choices?
Noreen Gentleman says
Hi Shelagh,
I found your article very helpful, I have been planning to move to Spain for a few years now, and was all set to make the big move last year but then the virus hit! I have lived abroad in many other countries and yes you do have to make the effort to integrate with the local people.
I am now a young person, but I am very fit and healthy, and i found it very funny and interesting how you described us old farts when we retire. I definitely do not want to be one of the bookclub, gardening crowd! but having said I live in the middle of nowhere here in Ireland and its so boring and lonely especially since we have been in lockdown for most of the year. I do not want to live in a remote area again, so I think I will have to live in a community.
I would appreciate any advice you can give me please. is the crime as bad as Nick says ,and is there a lot of animosity towards foreigners?
Thank you
Noreen
Bob says
Hi,
I am 82 in a few weeks and have been living in Andalusia for 8 years + 3 years of winters to begin with. We live on the portuguese Spain border in a small Spanish port. Our community is mainly spanish and our neighbours are the best we have ever had. There are crimes committed here but mostly drug running which you only see in the newspapers. There are more Police outside the schools every morning than are on duty any time in Milton Keynes.
Having lived in and worked in other EU countries although the there is a very strong Family life here we feel very happy here and would not want to return to the UK.
We spent 2 years in the escuela de Linguas here for free, which is available in all Spain learning the language. The only difficulty here is the natives do not speak Spanish but half portuguese and they leave the beginning or endings off words.
Burocracy is the same wherever you go.
Derek says
Well said Bob!! You really know how it is! People listen to and read the wrong information – especially on the internet & websites like this
People need to see the good, rather than search out the bad!
have a great day!
Derek
John Cumberland says
Having read many of the above comments I feel I would like to make My contribution
We are buying a Property in Spain having owned one in the Granada area in the past’
I am retired now and have many friends Who live in Spain having moved out there having being disenchanted by the UK some many years ago,
I think many people especially young family’s think its the land of milk and honey well I know it isn’t if you want that the UK is as near as you will get with the wonderful if extremely under funded NHS and benefits system its like the old saying the grass always looks greener on the other side etc it more often than not isn’t,
But We are retired and have visited Spain on many occasions and yes witnessed the Criminals and Ladies of the night that trawl Puerto Banus praying on the Vulnerable ripping expensive jewels and watches from the unwary but then I live in the real world and have seen the same or far worse a Guy murdered outside of Harrods for His watch and People being blown to peace’s in Manchester going to a POP Consort etc etc,
I love America I love to travel My wife and I could have had our watches stolen on Venice Beach in LA if We hadn’t been vigilant We love Spain We love the people who We choose to be with no matter there Nationality We live in the Northeast of England and always have not some posh part of the affluent North,
I have worked all of My life paying into this tax system only for My hard earned taxes to be in many ways squandered I believe if I’m going to live in another Country I should contribute and pay My dues I really do feel for young People Who move there wanting to make a life for themselves and families and end up casualty’s of the system the best advice I could say is Why do you think so many Immigrants risk there lives to get to the UK and not stay in Spain exactly the same reason for a better life.
Luis says
It is difficult for me to accept the story of Sammy, from Murcia, because I have not seen people less close and friendly than the British. They are very hostile towards people who 1) are not British and 2) do not speak their language, and above all very hostile towards Spanish.
I have had acquaintances living in England and that was not contempt, it was outright racism, and even assaults.
Maria says
I am from Spain, 50, female and I am looking for a private room to rent in a shared place while helping with the language and daily Life whoever lives also there. I have specially liked Motril by Granada and I would also consider other locations as long as they are safe and I dont freeze. I dont drink alcohol, I dont smoke. Contact me if interested.
Trevor Worthy says
I have lived in Spain since 2002– 1 st at La Marina , while waiting for our house to be built at CAMPOSOL .
When my wife and I moved there , I hated it ,having thought we would be amongst “Spanish “— none !!
So we moved north of Totana / a Spanish town –perfect ! except my wife became ill and 2 1/2 years later passed away .
3 years ago I was introduced to a Spanish lady , who did not and still does not speak English ! and WHY should she , this is Spain !! My Spanish is not good , but we get by !! also her family do not speak English .
So what ! we are happy , and they will do anything for me — IF you do not understand WHAT is being said –
still smile and they will repeat it . We are not people WHO always want to go to a bar / just our own company.
Linda says
Hahahaha this is to funny.
The fact you hate practically all kinds of jobs, expats (mostly British), live in the place where there most and in the south….
For a fact not much other places in the world you will “survive”.
There is no place in the world where you should go without money, some (or more) local languages skills en fake dreams…
Living abroad can be hard, like really hard. I’ve been living in many places in Europe. Learned my languages took every job I could get and kept searching for better ones untill I found them….
And don’t forget the fact I’m Dutch, we “always complain” hahahaha
But if you really want something you should go for it. If it’s not in place one you move. You can’t hate it because it didn’t work for you…. You didn’t make it happen… Your dream… Because you had a vision that wasn’t reality. In Spain you have to work hard for your salary, salary’s are lower than the north of Europe. The Euro made each and every country more expensive.
It are all facts and a little research and a set of good brains (as we say) you’ve would have found out/known before you’ve moved…
But like I said it’s a funny story thank you for your entertainment
Eugene says
Why is it that all foreigners who move to another country are immigrants, but the British are expats? I am a British immigrant who has lived in Spain for 10 years. Would never dream of moving back to the UK. Would rather go round the world in a Reliant Robin first.
Hamish says
Eugene, perhaps pick up a dictionary and compare the definition of immigrant and expatriate. There is a difference.
The comment you make about never moving back to the UK is interesting. If you truly feel that way, would you be willing to give up your UK passport and to renounce your British citizenship?
Carly Pope says
Yes please!!! You can have my passport if you like. Bunch of embarrassments. What’s the Spanish word? Giri. Adios to the land of Colonial fantasists. Hola Europe!
Bubbe Beverly says
Hello,
Could you tell me what a Reliant Robin is ?
Thank you,
Bubbe
Ian Brown says
I’m not quite sure how someone can move out to Spain 4 years ago and hate it so much, especially when he says when he moved out there he still bought things with Pesetas!
They finished back in 2002, 18 years ago!
Bit confused!
camelia says
Not sure where you expats get your sad bad tales of woe from in Spain, we have lived here five years, and quite frankly compared to the UK it is paradise. NIck Anders wrote his article not as informative to help expats but highlighting himself as an idiot! Blaming Spain for his stupidity who hands over 8,000, no contract, no lawyer, was the transaction in a bar!!!! Compare the UK with Spain, we left for the following reasons. Miserable climate, high cost of living, overpowering over paid local council robbing us and threatening us with prison if we do not pay our council tax on time, we missed one month. TV licence pensioners imprisoned for not paying. Road rage, people dragged from their cars and stabbed to death or beaten up!!! Handbag snatching from passing motorbikes. Wheel clamping by bullies if you happen to park in the wrong place by mistake, 250.00 fine. High cost of parking everywhere even hospitals a fortune if you want to see your sick or dying relatives, even at the beach pay for parking, 20.00 – 60.00 a day. Speed cameras on every road, filling the coffers of local council so they can pay themselves 400,000 a year.(corrupt) Expensive food, high rent, crowded roads, mad neighbours, every street has the overpowering bossy one, who make life miserable. Rubbish everywhere, gangs on the streets who beat up adults who tell them to behave themselves.. School classrooms where teachers are attacked. Hospitals overcrowded and no beds available. And do not ever try to get on a train if your train ticket does not have ID, the bullying guard will throw you off. in the middle of nowhere. And horrible coffee served in a bucket, and sugar everywhere, cakes, pies, biscuits. Wingeing moaning english, always complaining about something. Most annoying caravans blocking the roads in the high season!!!! Ahh Spain is bliss, perfect clean safe beaches, lots of free parking, great healthy food, lovely climate, one of the healthiest places to live in the world. Can visit the doctor and seen on time, no crowded surgery. We have no problems with contractors, mostly the british ones rip us off and do not turn up on time.. Feel very safe here with the guarda civil, patrolling the streets. There is a lot of paperwork, once you understand the system it all makes sense, Spain is mostly ruled from Madrid, all documents are stored there. Townhalls are very helpful and always get a lawyer or gestor to do the legal work. If you are mean and do not want to pay for this service then good luck. We have found the Spanish very helpful and well behaved youth who respect their elders and take care of their family. We would highly recommend Spain as fantastic country to live, and it is Spain things are different here and is not little Britain. To add to the comments above about living in the USA if you are lucky to not get shot, or murdered for your life insurance, or pay 100,000 a year for medication then yes great place to live. lol
Cliff Riley says
Camelia,
I’ve lived here on the Costa Del Sol since retirement eighteen years ago.
I agree with every word you say. I love it here for many reasons and can’t wait to get back from my rare visits to UK. Well done!
Bubbe says
Hello,
I hope you can answer my question.
I’ve seen several people write (above) about a “council tax bill”, what is that?
Is it the same as “property tax” on the property you own such as your home and/or car?
Or, is it “sales tax” on the items you purchase?
And, I also saw in many people’s comments that people in Spain and England call people disparaging names. Is that true? Has that been your experience?
Thank you,
Bubbe
Fiona says
Everybody who rents or owns a home in the UK has to pay council tax, otherwise you’ll get fined or sent to prison. It depends on your property value, but very unfair as based on property value in 1991 (yes, really!). So some properties have shot up in value since then but their owners still pay low tax. We live in a tiny 60 m2 house (4 people) and pay about £1400 per year. It’s by far our biggest bill, and takes a large chunk of our income. Owners of larger houses can pay up to around £3600 per year (Band H). The money pays for the police, education, hospitals, roads, adult social care, etc etc.
Bob says
Love her perfect view of Spain, but it’s far form reality.
Contractors prey on everyone, not found a decent one yet.
Mad neighbours too in Spain, the police told us it’s common in the city.
Ah the police, who spend all day walking in the park or drinking coffee in the cafe, while ignoring the cars parked all day in the loading bay 10m away (but I know another city where they hammer those parked illegally in a particular loading bay, get the tow truck!)
Horrid bureaucracy. Bring a photocopier, a printer and take every document you can think of with you. Why should I have to pay a lawyer to buy a car???
Corrupt from ex-King Juan Carlos down.
Free parking, but just avoid the parking monkeys, why the hell are they tolerated???
HT says
There are some major societal problems in the U.S. but believe it or not, people are actually more polite and considerate, when you don’t have the crazy white dude or gang member gunning someone down. I’ve never once had someone slam by my shopping cart in a supermarket and while out in the street, I didn’t have women play these obsessive, passive-aggressive games with each other 24-7. It’s appalling how much they hate each other, and (non-ugly, god forbid) foreign women even more. Thank god they don’t have guns. Also not impressed with “men” muttering nonsense as they walk by. No charm whatsoever.
desmod kelly says
Excellent post.Puts thing in perspective superbly.
Victor says
The language barrier is a handicap when ones move abroad. That is something we should not doubt about at all. Although any of us has great and bad live experiences, there are some facts we cannot run from.
One of them is that the human being is discriminative no matter where we chose to be, one will be discriminated. I want to point out that some places are worse than others. For example, I was shock when my cousin in U.S.A. asked me to remove my face picture from a CV I had sent to her twelve years at the beginning of the economical recession. Guess what, In Spain you should present a picture of yours in the first page of your CV. Of course you will be discarded. If you are not good looking enough you will be discard by your name or surname . Always there will be something that will say you have a different background. I know this because I am Spanish, born in Spain but with African background. As soon as I enter in a bar or shop, I have all eyes on me. Anyway, discrimination is within the human being. While I was in Scotland I did not have any issue however my partner did. (She is from East-European) Here the skin factor was out of the ecuacion.
Second, is not only Spain, Italy and France are not too different neither.
Third, no matter how good you are at your job or a great work candidate. The family or friend of someone else will have the job before you! I personally have not suffered this situation in the UK but perhaps someone else have lived it.
Four, big cities are more welcoming to foreigner because people are a bit more open minded.
My last point is that except for when we are kids be integrated in a new community is almost impossible for adults. I do not know why but, by our biases we tent to be less opened to new peoples at our adult years. In my case I have study English for so many years and assist to all type of events but for one reason or another British people are neither open to accept someone else from other nation in their group of friendships. I strongly believe that so are other nations.
In general I do not want to complain at this stage of my life and having lived in several countries I can say that we are not too pleasant to be around. However always there are great people in between that are worthy. (Do not expect have a great life without any pain).
Amanda says
I have to agree with many of the comments here. I lived in mallorca from 2004 until 2018 and whilst its nice to wake up to many days of sun and blue sky there is a price to pay for that benefit. We knew many people who were robbed,personally and broken into at home, dogs and children drugged overnight from gas canisters thrown into their air con units! Laws that change daily, ridiculous amounts charged in traffic fines that continue to increase if not paid in the correct timeframe oh and dont expect a letter dropping through your letterbox it’s down to you to check online to see if you have incurred any fines (many shocked people who discover old fines which increased to a crazy crazy amount). Spanish want your money..period!
Other nationalities that live there also have learned “when in Rome”
Tax authorities who can take money from your bank account without permission, and they very often get it wrong, but never to your advantage and you just try to get that money back…good luck! Outrageous electric bill’s that have no rhyme or reason. Try to find out why….good luck! Any unpaid fines of any kind and they will “embargo”
(Freeze your bank account), until you pay even if you dont know you have fines as that’s down to you to find out!
Endless paperwork and bureaucracy and God help you if you have to go to the town hall or traffico…you will be in endless queues and each will send you on a merry go round to different depts. as no one wants to be responsible for anything so they pass the book. Also, if you want to be self employed you will be charged approx 300 euros a month just for that priveledge. If you dont pay they will just take it from your account anyway. Buying a second hand car if it has fines outstanding to it you will be legally liable to pay them regardless and it’s not straight forward like buying a car in the uk. You also have to pay tax on a 2nd hand car regardless of what you paid for it, THEY tell you the value and you pay a percentage accordingly. Corruption is rife it’s in their DNA. Landlords are Greedy and I would suggest to never rent from a local spanish, big deposits usually required, then when things go wrong they will not spend a penny on fixing, you really have to be careful. I would never live there again, whilst it wasnt all bad they make things complicated and you pay a lot for basic things.
Red hot, humid summers and very cold damp winters, mold in a lot of houses and apartments which is due to the humidity and very hard to stop! Limited on choice, things you take for granted in the uk you will struggle with in mallorca, although that has improved recently.
You really have to research everything before thinking of living there full time.
Jeff morton says
This article put me off moving to Spain!
Carly Pope says
Good! More room for the rest of us.
Rupert says
Congratulations, all of you came to a southern little town, in the middle of nowhere. The closest big city is like 45min away and is just a crap southern, hot and sunny city without any big company there. What do you expect? To come with your punds with any spanish word to say and be like a king? Why a company of a non-technical job will chose a expat that hardly speaks spanish if you don’t want to clean, construction worker or whatever. Also if you’re looking for a technical job you aren’t the smartest person I know. WTF are you doing in Andalucia?
I see that when you think about Spain is just sunny cheap places where you can buy a house for less than 150k €. Don’t you think WHY they cost that? Because no one wants to live there! There is no job, no oportunities, only sun, good beaches, cheap (big and good) houses and bad jobs. Do you expect good roads in a place that lives only less than a milion of people? you’re talking about crap southern roads like all Spain are the same. BTW why a country that barely hard rains 4 days each year will spend money and design a drainage system for roads?
The only possible ways to have a future in Spain are Barcelona and Valencia, with sun and beaches. Madrid is also good for a good jobs but crap weather. Bilbao and Santander also but wheather is more like UK with much more rainy days, lots of green mountains there.
Then forget to have a house for 150k. Even a Flat in Barcelona outskirt.
I’ve meet several Expats in Barcelona and they are fine here. Even American one. Just forget the idea of settling in a crap and cheap southern town. Forget to think you’re a god because pounds and english. If you come here like that forget to success.
Even in countries, you get what you pay for. Cheap place? done. Why are they cheap? all the answers are in that thread.
Catalonia is not Spain. Come and you’ll see how differente we’re.
Will Ross says
USA and European social-economic models are different. First, if you want to comapre Spain with some other country, the logical way would be to compare Spain to the other european countries that follow the same social-economic principles (more or less). That is when Spain becomes the big looser. You are moving to Spain and you are from the USA? Well, sure your are not moving because of the nice weather -USA has a lot places with amazing temeperatures and beaches-. In Spain you will have a better health care system without having to pay enourmous amounts of money -remember the high taxes in Spain, specially for the low-medium classes… -another form of corruption-, but here is where everything good ends (I do not comment on gun law- in compariosn Spain’s laws do make it safer then USA in this aspect): better worker rights? If you think that, then you know nothing about Spain. Salaries are shit in general (Unless you are a manager in a big business, if you have specific social contacts here lol). In Spain there is no gtechnological growth in comparison to USA, Germany, UK, Ireland, France, Norway, Holland, and a large etc…, that is one of the general problems in Spain. If you are a high valued worker and you are moving to Spain -God knows why- I wish you good luck in your life (why do you think Spain is one of the western countries that has thwe mos qualified emigrants) . About worker rights… don’t be confused: they can fire you in a heartbeat, and it’s easier than what one may expect even if you have a legal contract. Spain is famous because of the use of a large amount of temporary contract workers -but not like Germany, where these contracts in general have better conditions- and the abuse of unpayed internships. There are more issues that have to be mentioned, like their famous corruption. If someone is interested in knowing facts about Spain’s economical structure,, almost everyone knows that the internal canals of Spain (what to say about they corrupted media) are manipulated and extremely false. Much better, check these elements on international sources. In the same way, lot of people know that there are a lot of spaniards or people who have economic interests there (basicaly summer tourism offices) that are cheking in the web places -like Quora- where people says ‘discouraging things’ about Spain and their reality for interviing defending an ‘abstract perfect Spain’ using fake news or simply the little data that they found helpfull without considering the rest of the bad data (ej: Spain is safer than Bolivia for a travel. (…) Congrats). You have to know that Spain only spends money on marketing and tourism, because their economy is sustented by tourism. If you want a better life, I would recommend UK, Ireland, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zeland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, USA, Austria, Finland, etc, like the spanish emmigrants always do. Then, u can earn money constructing a future and one of your summer options could be Spain! By the way, I always noticed that the only people who defend Spain no matter what, in social media are, what a coincidence, spanish nationalist people or people who have economical interests in Spanish tourism; but is nice to see when much more spaniards starts to say that people are lying lol. Please publish the comment, there’s something called freedom of speach… even when you talk about Spain lol. Thanks a lot.
Carlos says
Will Ross, tourism is not the only industry that moves money in Spain, tourism is just another sector. Ignorance is very daring, and you just have to read yourself to realize it.
It is true that today Spain has many problems and, above all, with this inept government that we have, starting with Pedro Sánchez, but you can believe me, I would never change my country for yours. I do not like his country of morons, where the rights of blacks remain as in 1865, where every year thousands of people die from gunshots and murders, where seeing a person electrocuted or with an injection die is quite a spectacle, where the Racial segregationism is the fundamental normal, where if a person does not earn enough to pay for health insurance under conditions he dies on the doorstep of the hospital … and well, let’s not say people without resources and who have to undergo some costly operation, many of them have to go to have surgery in Spain, or buy their expensive drugs in Canada.
No, Mister Ross, thank you. We don’t like your violent and demential society. Have you seen the murder of the young black man in Minneapolis lately? just like in 1991, when they hit Rodney King.
Your country may have more money, more technology companies etc but as a society it is a real rubbish. It is not surprising that it is the country with the most psychopaths in the world.
Paul says
Right on, brother. Just remember this is why some of us Americans live in Spain too! I love it here.
AGE says
Spain sucks! I agree with you Nick!
Tourism in Spain is the third major contributor to national economic life after the industrial and the business/banking sectors, contributing about 10–11% of Spain’s GDP.[1]
Carolina says
Good morning. I think you’re generalising in a lot of aspects that you write about in this article. You are perpetuating stereotypes of my country that, frankly, aren’t true. We have amazing cultural diversity, our infrastructures, honestly, better than I’ve seen in other countries, historical and monumental legacy…
People here will be more friendly to you than I’ve seen in other countries (including the UK).
Please do us a favor and try to check yourself before perpetrating harmful stereotypes about us. Have a good day.
Will Ross says
They are perpetuating facts. There are no stereotypes here. There are friendly and disgracefull people in every place of the world, i’m sorry if u thought that ‘friendly people’ only exists in your country. But, as I always see on social media like Quora, there are always some spaniards that intend to hide the general realities of Spain because spain REALLY NEEDS the tourism (Spain’s economy is sustented basicaly on tourism…). You know, always marketing.
TG says
Will Ross. Surprisingly, according to Wikipedia Spain’s tourism is only 5% of the country’s GDP (2015). So when ‘perpetuating facts’ it might be wise to check yours first. It’s probably a little higher now but every country exploits what is has right? Spain has done a pretty good job with the fact people want to go there.
soph says
ye you’ve just said your opinion, but that doesn’t mean everyone else will think the same! :/
Lucy says
Why are you making this sound as Spain is the most horrible place in the world?! I believe (even though I have never been to Spain) that it is a hot, sunny, friendly place to be. I have always wanted to go to Spain and it is basically one of my dream places to go! I’ll tell you this though: Spain is much better than the UK for several reasons. So then, where is the nearest nice beach in the UK huh? Oh ye you have to travel ages for a nice beach. But in Spain, the ocean is nice, the weather is nice, most beaches are nice… So you might be right about one particular place in Spain, but one place is very different from another.
Lucy xox
Nina says
Sorry, but you sound as thick as mince
PeterH says
Who cares about beaches and nice weather when people are running out of money and are unemployed. Spain will fall into a very deep depression, not just a recession, things will get very bad for many years to come, and as usually most country´s from south europe will suffer a lot more. Expect very high rates of unemployment, criminalitiy, and the housing prices will crash because many so called ´´expats´´ will leave the country and second home owners will also try to sell, while the spanish won´t have money to buy. The entire economy is in deep trouble, but spain will be worse of.
Canon MG3550 says
You’re such an idiot actually, if you hate it that much why did you go? And also like everything, it depends of the zone you went, literally ALL DOES DEPEND OF THE ZONE.
pedro says
Spain is a haven for drugtraffiquers,alcoholics and trades that goes against the law. In some regiones the salary of a policeman is much higher than the waage a
of medical doctor.The only advantage is the sun and the life outside from home.
Carol says
Hola Pedro. No se si habrás estado en los Estados Unidos. Yo la primera vez que fui lo que más me impactó no fue la infraestructura ni la diversidad cultural, sino la cantidad de gente que estaba en la calle sin hogar por problemas de drogas.
En España hay cosas malas, como en todas partes, pero no debería de hacer una generalización como la que acabas de hacer. Que tengas un buen día.
Will Ross says
Hablaré en su idioma, doña Carol: ¿No generalizar España? Don Pedro ha dicho datos que son contrastables todos ellos -y no mediante diarios nacionales pseudo-patriotras, sino mediante estadísticas y cifras oficiales… como lo de los sueldos de funcionarios públicos y su desajuste entre especialidades… por solo citar una de las vergüenzas de la administración española, que siempre es un desastre para cuadrar en los presupuestos y que toda la Unión Europea, en los círculos internos, siempre advierte. El trabajo en España es indiscutiblemente precario en comparación con muchas naciones europeas equivalentes; su grado de corrupción institucional, político y empresarial es de los más altos de la European Union (busca índices); y un largo etcétera que si quiere puedo especificarle. Respecto de los USA, su sistema es opuesto a la concepción europea de Estado del Bienestar; sus especialidades tiene ventajas y desventajas. Evidentemente, por mi parte, prefiero el modelo europeo. La comparación USA – Spain es absolutamente falaz, todo el mundo que sepa algo de economía y política lo sabe. Compare España con sus socios europeos, a ver que tan bien parada sale, y luego si quiere comparemos modelos socio-económicos. La demagogía en España es una herramienta habitual, pero para los que somos de otras partes del mundo no nos ‘cuela’, como dicen en España. Estoy deseando que salte algún patriota spaniard a defender su modelo de país, con orgullo de hacer malvivir a una alucinante proporción de sus propios compatriotras.
Avril says
I have lived in two foreign countries in my life and my son has lived in Spain for 30 years.
In my experience there are similar things of importance when living abroad..
1.
You must not expect it to be like your home country after all that is why you are leaving.
2.Do a lot of research before you decide to move.
3.Learn language even a few basic words will help.
4.Both counties I have lived in have more red tape than U.K.My son has great problems in in his 30 yrs.
5.Go out of your way to talk,meet and laugh with the local people as it will help with your integration.
6.Above all revel in the differences.
Although I said I have lived in two countries maybe it should be three because and now live in Cornwall but feel accepted(i am being a little flippant)
My other adventures were in France and Bahrain.
Me too says
Believe you 100%. Spain/England both suck. Do yourself a favor move to U.S.A there is a reason its the best country in the world. Move to Rhode Island. You will get TDi taken out in case you need an operation or are I’ll for months. Workmen’s Comp covers worker injury ( employers pay that) You & employer will pay for health insurance. We have excellent customer service. Rhode Island/Massachusetts is much like England, Beaches,Rocks,Green lands, Fish-n-chips etc.DO NOT LIVE in a city,but on outskirts of a city. We have tropical areas so you don’t have to leave the country for vacation. I am Latino decent & We Hate Spain & their bloody lispy language. We feel that England is somewhat nice,but as of late seems populated by Thugs who will kill you at a soccer match or classless women who dress like clowns. Come over the pond you won’t be disappointed if you move a seaside community in New England.
Fine in Spain says
Me Too, I have to disagree with you. I’ve lived in Spain since 1991. Before that, I lived in Boston. Spain has plenty of things that can be bettered. But it has others that are much better than any you will find in the United States. Workers have sick leave. Everyone has health insurance paid through taxes, with extremely few deductibles (you pay around 4% of the prescription price). You do NOT pay for insurance out of pocket, nor is it dependent upon having a job. No one goes bankrupt to pay a hospital bill of any kind. There are many areas in Spain where it is much cheaper to live than in New England, which is one of the areas of the United States with the highest cost of living. Besides, we don’t get New England winters, except high in the Pyrenees. As for your description of the English, it seems you are generalizing an opinion which is not based on facts.
Joel says
Your comment is ridiculous! The states is filled with much more crime than the UK a lot more homicides and gang violence. Yes we have fights in some football matches but that was much worse in the 80’s and 90’s. The USA can be a great country if you are rich and successful for anyone else it’s a big struggle filled with poverty and if you get sick and don’t have money forget about it you’ll struggle to pay your medical bills. England may not be always the most exciting place but it certainly provides a better quality of life for all people not just the wealthy. I think sadly you are speaking from lack of experience.
Gaius Gracchus says
Well, Joel, that is another generalization. The United States has its share of crime, but it is like any place else, it depends on where you are. In our city the crime rate is very low and in our neighborhood it is non-existent. In many areas the crime rate is very low – it just depends on where you are. In poorer urban areas it is higher. There is more gun violence in certain areas, but the odds of being a victim of a mass or gang-related shooting is extremely low (unless you are in a gang-infested area or are a part of a gang) – like the odds of getting struck by lightning.
On the other hand, the amount of petty theft and pickpocketing is also very low here, which is the opposite of many European countries.
The US is a huge country with over 300 million residents. Most people are not the victims of gun violence and many areas in the country are very safe.
There are issues here that cause us to think about moving to another country sometimes (mostly political) but crime really is not an issue – at least for us.
Barbara Murphy says
Nick, I laughed so much. Hilarious.
Basque_Spaniard says
Well, as an Spaniard, Spain is a country of differences. Many expats think that spain is like a paradise of beaches, parties and bullfighting and is far from that.
Andalusia is a tourist region with only agriculture as her principal profit. This primary sector attracts many migrants for easy job. So, is normal, to be poorest region fulled of migrants. Only a few can achieve a good job and you must have a good CV. So many jobs as a waiter or even a fisherman. So in other word its an unstable region. In the building boom. many rich andalusian achieved a big profits but nowadays is far from that. Poor education, poor economy, high taxes or even many drug dealers.
On the other side, Basque country, an industrial region called the small germany. Is the engineers paradise.
If you want holidays, go to andalusia or to the mediterranean coast. But if you want a job go to madrid or even basque country.
I have lived in UK, and is true, the main reason to move is the job. However, the social life is very poor and have more migrants than in Spain. Many Spaniards there said me why you prefer to go back to Spain having a job here and I said them, I couldnt live always sad and bored. I said to the manager, thanks for the opportunity to give me but I cannot integrate here, even he tried to change my job. I booked my flight back home before even if I have a chance to continue.
Stewart says
A nicer, kinder people than the Spanish would be impossible to find. As usual, the people bleating about how bad it is here are those who probably expected/wanted to find little England in the sun. For the most part, they never learn Spanish and expect everyone to speak English. How can one ever fit into a country/culture without learning the language? Best thing that can happen is if all the unhappy English go back to where they came from and whinge from there.
Suzanne Andrew says
With regard to the original story by Nick Anders we lived in Benalmadena for 25 yrs and we have been through everything he says and more would a bank in the UK dare take all your money from your account (72,000 pts) and buy shares in the bank and then be told because you had no money left in your account to bring more from Engand when you live here and told that because there was no money in the account to pay the mortgage pay when you have some money but we will add the 20% for late payment. Needless to say all the staff in the bank were put in jail as they made a mistake and did it to a Spaniard who reported them it took us 6 mths to get any money back and the list goes on and on. Enough is enough and we came back to England last year for good.
Basque_Spaniard says
Do not buy a house in spain. Is better to rent a flat. Here do not trust banks.
Chris Hoffland says
We loved our 8 years living in the San Fulgencio area, had no idea that the Spanish may have resented us being amongst them. Met many lovely people of all nationalities, including Spanish funnily, and seemed to get on well with everyone. Was advised that, in supermarkets as an example, the customer in front of the staff member was important, they could chat for as long as they wished and to show any impatience would be considered extremely rude. We were happy to accept that some people wanted to chat, and a few minutes delay here and there was not going to spoil our day. But we’re relaxed types!! Loved Spain and the Spanish we were introduced to. And all the interesting people from around Europe who had settled in the area. Fabulous times.
H. says
Hello.
To me, it’s quite easy. I don’t live where I don’t like it. I’ve been living in England, then in Ireland, and I live in Spain now. No place is perfect, but I never spoke rubbish of nowhere or their people no matter how hard it was for me.
Show some respect and stop generalising. I have been ripped off in Ireland and not because of that should I consider Ireland a shitty country with plenty of crime. I wouldn’t be telling the truth.
Oh, and this is important. Spanish people try reaaaally hard speaking English (some better than others) whenever we visit English-speaking countries. But when most (not everybody, luckily) of the european Enslish native speakers come to Spain, they don’t even try! Why? Just because English language is the official language and your empire is SUPREME, don’t make you superior enough to assume that we have to learn English “to make your stay better”. I’ve been to villages where there are only british native people who reject Spanish language and everything that has to do with Spain, actually. Not a single Spaniard! Absolute English communities where people do not want to socialise with Spain, consequently, not being able to say a word in Spanish in YEARS, and going to restaurants and markets expecting to be served and assisted kindly and politely in a language that IS NOT OURS. And that is rude. Does it make you all UK people the same? … No, right? Ok, let’s keep reading.
By the way, STUPIDITY IS EVERYWHERE, not only in Spain. I think this “bully article” is just a response to your lack of previous research, blaming on everyone else (Spaniards, especially). If you don’t like it here, just take some action, make some changes and stop spreading your filthy word. There are good Spanish people everywhere, and people with different ideologies all over the world. I don’t think it is the same living in Central London, Brighton, Nothingham, or damn Lambeth! Come on. Stop it with so much hypocrisy!! Nobody in the world is born to wipe off your non-conformism. Our culture defines us, defines every one of us. So, nothing makes you better or worse, neither coming from one country or another. In fact, we Spanish people also suffer the wrong side of the Spanish central management and burocracy, but it doesn’t mean we’re happy about it. There’s nothing we can do, to be honest.
So yeah, a lot of things are bad and wrong here. But hey, you’re free human beings. Free to come and go and move to whichever place makes you feel like happy kings and queens. But do not dare to come here to talk cheap if you are not making, or trying to make, things better like many of us are.
I don’t know who told you in UK that Spain is paradise, which it isn’t. Come on! You come here if it’s cheap and easy. When it isn’t, then Spain is rubbish. Right? Anyway… Still, I believe that there are so many of you who are good, educated and polite people and who, at least, know what respect is.
Spain is Spain. UK is UK. Just remember yourself/ves Spain was not born or created to make your life easier, dear supreme beings. You’re paying now for what you believed about this “Promised Land”. If you want a perfect, cheap, sunny, easy, rich, safe, beautiful country with beautiful people, then (like Gulliver in Gulliver’s Travels) you might as well keep dreaming or start leaving Planet Earth, far from Yahoos and unworthy places to live.
Victor says
Well, british, especially the english, now with Brexit you have more reasons to return to your gray and cold island.
HT says
It’s shocking how jealous, petty, and passive-aggressive the women are. Here in Catalunya (but also just about everywhere, frankly), they’re very plain (no makeup or jewelry the majority of the time) and they HATE any woman who stands out. Instead of enjoying themselves and making themselves attractive, they’re miserable, they don’t trust their cheating, entitled, spoiled men, and they’re disgusting (in a spineless, passive-aggressive way of course) with other women. Just pathetic. If you’re a straight white man, then by all means, come to this country!
John says
What utter & complete rubbish these people above have written about living in Spain.
I have been here for 20plus years & mainly have Spanish friends, yes I have integrated & been accepted by the Spanish. I am obviously British & yet they treat as one of their own. I live in Alicante (the city) & have never had any problems with crime & never had a single instance where somebody has tried to cheat me. Yes the
Spanish do have their own way of doing things in their own country, why shouldn’t they & yes the council are slow & the paperwork is a pain, but it is a pain for the Spanish too so they are not doing it to you because you are a Brit. They do it to everybody.
I also know many Brits here that have no problems of the kind described by others above. We all just get on & do our jobs, shopping & living a normal life. I can only reason that these unhappy Brits have some defect that they carry with them wherever they go because nothing I read relates to the experience I & my British & other North European friends here have had. We all have Spanish friends that treat us with respect. If I have a problem I pick up the phone & can guarantee I will get help from Spanish friends now, not tomorrow & no excuses about being busy. They will help without question. I am not British to them, I am just me.
I do not recognise what these moaners are talking about, it is not the country I live in & the (Spanish) people they describe are not the (Spanish) people I know.
I can only reason these Brits would fail to fit in wherever they went because they carry their failings with them & blame others for their own inadequacies.
Henar says
Thank you, glad there is someone realistic and honest here!
Marc says
Having lived and worked around the globe, I think Spain is, without doubt, the best place I have ever lived. After 9 years here, all I can say is – warm friendly people, great cost of living, very low crime rate, lovely food, fabulous summers (OK, winters aren’t great) all combine to make this a wonderful place. Sadly, there are some English who just have to talk down everyone and everything in the world that isn’t English. They are an embarrassment to themselves and their country and the sooner they go back to where they are comfortable being, the better for everyone.
KD Punshon says
Come on people, enough of the insults! I have lived in the UK, Spain and Canada. There are pros and cons to every country. There are good and bad people everywhere. Let’s try not to be insulting to each other.
Paul says
The problem is that most of the English people that live in Spain are the scum of the UK that cant even afford getting a house in their own country and they go there thinking that they are going to live the dream.
If the UK is so wonderful why are they moving out? Terrible food, low wages, expensive properties, NHS if you can call it NHS, no motorways…and the national sport (claiming benefits)
María says
I’m absolutely shocked by all the comments of the British who hate living in Spain. I lived in England for two years and it was a period enough to know the country. Let me tell you, that the truth is that I was afraid of speaking Spanish outdoors. You’ve become a racist county and your are proud of it. Your NHS is just a joke, very slow service for everything, it is funny the fact that if you go to buy medicines you have to wait until they are “ready“. Very slow country. And very slow wifi. I did my best to speak understandable English, and I always had the same rude faces doing no effort to make things easy for foreigns. Weather… I think everybody knows this part of the story. During the time I was living there I couldn’t have a bank account even though I was working. I don’t like to generalize but I found rude people everywhere, and hypocrisy is your identity. I drove through small roads where if two cars tried to pass at the same time they were stuck, it was a nightmare. And I was just twenty minutes away from London, not rural areas or isolated England village. I remember once that I was reading the news and I came across with an article making jokes about how rude are Spaniards, luckily for me, the same week there was a big scandal of a gentleman club where the women were told to wear skimpy black outfits with matching underwear and high heels. Fighting for women’s rights, isn’t it? I mean come on, you should first look at you, with your racist, homophobic and sexist traditions that you love to keep alive. We are just the same, same problems in both countries. But at least we first look at us before open our big condescending mouth. At least the Spaniards tried to learn the language, culture, to make local friends… Just the things you should try when you are an expat. I live in Alicante (my hometown) and it is full of British people, with British karaoke’s bars, British supermarkets and British clubs. For New Year’s eve we like to go to an Irish pub (full of brits), good atmosphere and good English music. This time my aunt ask for one song in Spanish, and the ”DJ” with his British red face was extremely rude. You don’t like Spain, you love England and you are proud of your country, if you cannot find anything better, why you still here? We are run out of parking spaces.
Paul Colclough says
Bravo, Excellent reply! I am British and I am ashamed of our culture and how brits “expect” everyone to speak English in a foreign country! I would like to move to Spain, but I want to learn the language, I want to mingle with locals I want a normal job.. Is it possible? maybe a dream but I don’t want to be a typical brit abroad!
Bob says
Unless you are pretty gifted, you would be much better moving here and learning here. Going to classes is a bit of a waste of time and money. I speak fluent French and Spanish and never went to a single class in my life. Forget your “Britishness”. Jump in and start speaking it. You will be amazed how quickly you start to have conversation. Unlike Brits, the locals don’t make fun of people trying to learn their language. They take it as a compliment and help whenever they can. If you are really dedicated, you can be chatting to the locals in a year or two. That is highly unlikely in the classroom scenario.
Ruby Guinn says
We lived in Rojales for 16 years I loved it when we first moved there but then the neighbours changed new neighbours brought load of
dogs barking morning and night some Spainish are very noisy shouting banging doors throughout the night!
The legal does get a bit confusing, we didn’t understand about our bank that we had to prove we were paying taxes in the UK that was in the December 2918 when we went down to our property in the April they had shut out account down and we had all our direct debit s and standing order stopped one was the SUMA which must be paid otherwise you could end up in court we were weeks away from having our electric an water being cut off….we had had enough, so we sold up after 16 years I think it could become more intense after Brexit, we have still got to close our bank account in April after we have paid our non residency tax and to pay our solicitor…..never again!!
Silje says
José Manuel Thank you dearly for your input I am glad to hear about the lack of crime compared to the south, “bad” roads do not scare me, I am from the west og Norway, even though it is a rich country it is not good at maintaining its roads. I will be aware of people trying to take advantage of me though, Norwegians are naive by nature, so we trust too easily. I am not a loud, abrasive and demanding tourist so I hope I will enjoy Spain and hopefully integrate by time. Moving to rural Lugo, but close to a few towns, I think I will do all right. I only look for peace and quiet, and maybe to buy a farm one day. Gracias José
Silje says
How do Spaniards treat Norwegians?
I must admit I got a bit anxious reading this. My Spanish isn’t the best, but I will learn to speak at least good enough to be understood.
I have rented a rural property in the Galicia region for a year.
Any tips?
José Manuel says
As a Galician I’d say you could indeed be seen as just another gullible foreigner from the north, but the kind of attitudes described in the post are more typical from more “touristy” regions where there are quite an important amount of foreigners. Rural Galicia is practically the opposite of that and I’d say the people there would be far more reserved. Another thing to note is that crime isn’t that of an issue here in the rural north, and that the roads aren’t nearly as bad as he makes it seem. The main problem would be indeed the lack of facilities, but as long as you live near a town it isn’t an issue. Of course all of this really depends of where is that property (the crowded and touristic Rías Baixas aren’t the same as the more isolated interior of Lugo or Ourense).
Another tips are that generally people in the countryside tend to be quite old (most young people having moved to the cities) and that, while they know Spanish, they tend to mix it with Galician.
Hope this helps!
Chris says
I am British and in Galicia at the moment, nearer Santiago de Compostela but outside the towns.
Basic Spanish is really needed, Galican is spoken a lot and it’s quite a bit different but people are brilliant, they make you understand what they are saying – some are very emotive but you’ll need that basic Spanish to get what they’re saying. Very few speak English, if they do, they don’t really want to speak it day to day.
if you are in a farmhouse 20 minutes from a town, you are going to struggle – in winter rain can be bad, it is very cold and gas heating is as good as your insulation. If you go to one of the smaller towns, it will be difficult but if you want to learn, you will learn and some people might be happy to try learn some English from you as you learn Spanish. Internet on 3g/4g is available a good amount of Galicia, so no excuse to at least be trying on the translator apps while you get up to speed.
Getting stuff installed/fixed/repaired is a different experience, people work their own schedules including major providers. Be prepared to wait.
You’ll probably stick out like a sore thumb being Norwegian, I know I do, so be prepared for a few funny looks – it’s not rude, they may have never seen anyone like you before 🙂
I wish my Spanish was better, it would make a massive difference. Enjoy the amazing culture, people, countryside and try your best to integrate.
colin says
I totally agree with Nicks article. I came out to Spain two months ago with the intention of buying and living here. For two years I have been learning Spanish and preparing to move. But I get ignored in shops and bars even trying to speak Spanish. Everybody wants to rip me off, I am just seen as another stupid English man to rip off. The estate agents are terrible, you can not believe a single word they say and their fees, One agent wanted Euro 900 commision to rent a flat for 3 months. Just not worth my effort doing it for less was their comment. So now I just continue to rent in hotels. Lunch time in Spain lasts for every (3 hours). I have been to four car shops to buy a new car and because I turned up 15 minutes before lunch they would not talk to me, come back at 4pm. The housing estates are awful, broken roads and massive garden walls. I am near Benidorm and since November we get frosts nearly every night. And there are no road drains so yesterday after the rain the road was 10cm deep of water. Spain is also not right for me – Florida next year, they speak English and property is far cheaper.
Colin wrote on 3 December 2019
TINA says
Fl is Great you will get a warm welcome Lots of other parts of USA. Indonesia is very nice, I lost money in Spain years back Rude bank and have a blocked loo nobody would fix plumber never came would never visit it as a country again ! BIG WORLD out there Spain is backward did think it was safe guess crime on the up!
Tina says
My zoom so tiny so sorry I had a blocked loo
SF says
You’ve been here 2 months and you’re moaning like you are? Good riddance to you.
Steven says
I would like to say, Spain’s “expat” population (‘s) is made-up of many european countries (not only UK English) if you look at the bigger picture. Understandably, some of these migrating countries to Spain may hold a larger percentage to others, but let us be aware, all of these “expats-immigrants” to Spain are highly contributing financially to the country as spaniards are in “their’ adopted countries.
Therefore, based upon the above earlier negative comment (Jose) – “be nice”, while your boat is being kept afloat! .
Emma says
Couldn’t you get any more patronising? .. To be honest most of the foreigners in “costal” areas treat Spaniards like the “natives” in their way between the sun and their cheap beer. My parents and I were subjected to some language by holiday makers that I decided not to translate because I didn’t want to upset my parents. To suffer racism in your own country by a visitor / guest / foreigner should only be in history books and in Europe, it is a sport happly played by northen countries visiting .. how do you call it again? ah yes the PIGS countries. Are you telling me that I should be greatful to you for keeping my “boat” afloat? or else what? .. I spent 20 year of my life working and living in another country (with a very strong welfare system to which I was happily contributing with my taxes because I was living there) and never – ever -ever dared to think something like that for a second. Your words are the reflection of a superiority complex that we spaniards are only too used to and .. are meant to take it with “grace”? or else? .. Until you leave your superiority behind, you have proven to deserve those comments. Take them.
Jose says
Yea yea
Great to see English people are going back to their country. We don’t want you in Spain. The English are just trouble in Spain. Loud, drunk, rude, and cocky. I’m glad you don’t like our country.Go Back to your little village in UK.
You don’t deserve and understand Spain.
Maybe your experience was your reflection.
Marion Carr says
I was hoping to buy a property in Spain, looks like you don’t want the English in your country Jose?
Or are you just a small minded minority?
Joselito says
Jose is the minority ONLY in that he actually came out and said so. My experience is that most Spaniards feel exactly as Jose, but are NOT honest and won’t say it to you out in the open. There is a small percentage of Spaniards who are open. But they are a very small percentage, and do not expect them to defend you or any other innocent person. Almost everywhere else in the world I’ve been has had people of higher moral quality. Spain is sun. Good for holiday, or for people who are also fundamentally selfish.
robert says
I do understand Spanish mentality, totally.
Going back to England to get away from the greedy, “I’m a little Franco”, small minded, Franco/Civil war obsessed Spanish seems a good idea, just avoid the prevalent Chav culture and endless Hitler/WWII obsession when you get back. Staying in the ex-pat ghettos is probably a good option!
I never want to meet a Spanish person from “the village” again, the most horrendous people I’ve ever come across.
tina says
Hey Cuba is great Spain is awful Cuba million times better canary better Spain Ulgy mountains ja ja ja
Donald T. says
Spain first!
G webb says
What a load of rubbish this article is , you moved to the costa Del crime, it’s not called that for nothing.
We have lived in Murcia for the last 7years where there are less brits more integration and prices about half of the costa Del Sol . Maybe if you had done more research you might have fared a lot better. You get out what you put in.
Wendy Wearn says
Lived here for 15 years, can’t wait to leave!
Don’t be fooled thinking it’s better here , it was possibly in the 1960 s Have had water sprayed on me told to go back where I came from . Never thought people could be as they are but very few want to know let alone mix with you!
I worked and never was payed for nearly two years , I was stupid but trusted the owner who always had an excuse , took him to court and he still wouldn’t pay , that cost me thousands and I lost more !
Nothing good here the Spanish rule and will take every thing , they believe the Brits are rich and if you have it they want it.
Best thing about Spain in the flight out!
Macus says
I lived in Spain for 18 months and am thinking of going back again next year for 6 months.
I also have foreign friends in the UK.
What I see is people being taken advantage of in both countries often by their fellow countrymen. A typical Spanish or Englishman on the street is straight enough but someone in either country that sees a chance to make some easy money from someone vulnerable will be tempted to do it. It’s harder to take advantage of someone who knows the laws of the land and the language. English people in Spain were the worst for trying to rip me off when I first got there but after a few months I knew all their tricks and the dodgy ones would leave me alone.
I was there before in 2008 – 2009, after a recent visit it looks like things have improved overall but now you have got to be doing everything more legal yourself such as not driving everywhere in an English plated car or you will be a target. England has definitely gone backwards in the last decade and I can’t for the life of me understand why a Spaniard would want to be here especially in London.
How well you will get on in Spain if you are from England depends a lot on who you know in Spain and how well you get on with people in general. I expect to be able to make a bit more money there in summer than in the UK because of the connections I have (nothing dodgy) but when work dries up for winter I will come back rather than end up broke like the first year I was there. The second summer I saved my money then came back and started again. This time I will keep the place I have rented in UK and just get any job as I don’t earn much above minimum wage anymore now anyway so have no motivation to stay in my current job.
If you have any amount of debt and cannot afford to lose any money you have saved I don’t recommend trying to live in Spain. I have zero debt, a few assets and a few grand of savings I can afford to lose, plus I have better than average Spanish compared to English people. I also have experience from last time and situations in England of being able to talk my way out of trouble and don’t look like a victim. Not to mention I am a Thai boxer and have some basic knife & firearms training as people pulling guns on you is a possibility in Costa del Sol.
As long as you don’t mind work & heat you might get on ok. If you think it will all be hablo poco espanol with your feet up and a cold beer you will be sadly mistaken.
Also you open yourself up if you don’t have any mechanical skills, I always have tools and spares for my vehicles so I can do 90% of the work myself. Same in England though people are ripped off by garages all the time, many garages only wipe the sensors and check the dash lights on a £600 service.
The Spanish people in general are more old school, not too many maricons and no political correctness which is one of the things I like. Also don’t mess with or disrespect the police as they will shoot, I like that too, you know where you are with them. Roads are also better and the Spanish also drive much better, the standards of both in England have got so bad in recent years I gave up motorcycling and riding a bicycle on the road.
De Wilde Marleen says
this is FANTASTIC news, I hate the English people here on the Costa del Sol becaus they dont RESPECT the Spanish people,
you are talking and doing the same as in England, you forget that Spain is an other country & other mentality
VIVA ESPANA for who’s speaking the language and want to adopt just a litle bit the spanish mentality
GO ALL BACK TO YOUR ISLAND !
Sara Jaiti Zamora says
You hate Spain but you have lived here for a long time … You are very welcome to leave our beautiful country!
Buen viaje 🙂
NM says
I am a 50 year old Spanish female, and sadly I feel stuck in Spain without any future, I speak German, English and Spanish, I have 2 University degrees from American Universities and a Masters Degree. No true job I can live from though. So sad. If you happen to read me and you know of any company in UK that would want to give me a chance and would want to benefit from my enthusiasm, time and experience please let me know. focusonthismoment@hotmail.com
antonio says
Hi, I am from Spain and I agree with most of what Nick has written. Spain is becoming a dangerous place. We have allowed so much unregulated immigration that our streets aren’t safe any more. Many immigrants without a job, plus organized crime have joined the local criminals. Add to the mix the general corruption and you are a target for everybody (petty thieves, organized crime, desperate people, corrupted politician, lawyers, bankers…even the phone companies will try to steal from you as much as they can).
Our politicians , who most only care about making as much money as possible, do not realize that tourism is key to the economic stability of the country. They have to make sure our streets as safe and the people that come with money to visit or invest are more protected.
Now, saying that, like in any other country, you need to have some common sense before handing your hard earned money, Nick. Do a bit of research before buying a property or a business.
I also agree with the bad customer service and the general lack of manners. It is a shame but that is how most people are in Spain.
That is why I live in the UK with my family.
But there are a few things I do not agree. Maybe because Nick is just talking about Nerja. I have not been there. In general, the infrastructure in Spain is good, we have good roads, good transport system, the bin is collected every single day!, the medical care is better than in the UK for example, the education also is better in my opinion- I have degrees in Spain and UK.
Saying that, I do not want to live in Spain.
As I joke in my household we call Spain- Ukafrica. You have the UK infrastructure but with the corruption levels, unsafe streets and lack of customer service of Morocco, for example.
For us Spain is a holiday place now. We go for a couple of weeks in the summer to see the family and adios!
Miguel says
I am Spanish and I am living in England for 6 years, in East Sussex.
I live in Jerez, Andalucia. And well, to sum up, we have nice weather, nice food… But… That’s great as long as you have a nice wage or money enough.
For young people like me… I finished a degree in Tourism and another one in Marketing. I learned English and German, expecting to find a nice job with good conditions. For several months, it never happened.
Most of the jobs are required a disabled person, minimum 33% or internship. If I got a job, it was a wage that barely let me travel, safe or have my own independence. It is ok if two people are working.
Then, I tried in UK first and started as waiter. Of course, conditions were crap as well but then another company offered me the opportunity of working in logistic. This is something I like of UK. They gave me the opportunity of working in another sector with no experience, providing training.
The conditions were so much better and I stayed there. Then I had the opportunity of living on my own, saving money and travelling.
When I go to Jerez for holidays, it’s great and nice but I hear several experiences and histories about how fed up people are with their jobs. Complaints and more complaints. I told them to try in another country or area.
And well, one point I have to add. Now that I spent a few years living in Eastbourne, is that I appreciate customer service and it’s something I feel really embarrassed from Spain. When I go to the shops or Mercadona (supermarket), even the cashier shouts to another staff far away next to me, next to my ear. It happened plenty of time. Shouting next to my ear.
When I ate at Domino’s, the staff as some people said, was rude and unprofessional. I complain through the website and never has got any reply. Same at Mercadona when staffs shout next to the customers. No reply.
One time, I was unhappy with Southern service trains and I complained. I received an apology. Same with a unprofessional service st Sainsburys and I have got a reply.
It is not a point of comparison but customer service for me and seriousness at work, well paid, good conditions, is a point of being civilized and I don’t feel proud about we have this in Spain but lack. (At least in the South).
Spain is nice. Good weather, food, gastronomy, some local events, nice sceneries… But there is no progression of career for young people. It is said that money is not everything but if you want to travel, buy a laptop, have your own property, privacy… You need this. And so far, UK gave me this.
By the way, I made as well some nice friends in Eastbourne and love Weatherspoon.
Pst: ‘now one or some subculture chavs who does not know accept a critic will write. GET OUT then! Stay there, blah and blah. Common… (Sight)’
jimmy says
Spain is rubbish, poor and they just dont like anybody who is not Spanish, simples !! thieves and robbers, poor coastline with rubbish views, yes they have sun and nice food but thats it ….. expenisve, amazing how you can buy a house from a Spaniard who has lived their for years and all of a sudden you buy and get so much grief from the ministry, just dont buy there is not good.
I choose CROATIA, wow what a paradise and can tell you they like the Brits, fabulous coastline food and no crime, we dont have to put bars on our windows like Spain, we also have s many more wonderful countries around us to visit, never a dull day here and especially wonderful ZAGREB.
Forget Spain its a dream that will soon become a nightmare, no culture no future, no hope.
CROATIA CROATIA CROATIA make Spain look like Blackpool sorry Blackpool but everybody knows its a dump Blackpool same as all seaside places in the UK no exceptions. DEFINITELY NO SPAIN
I am more travelled than most on here…seen over 140 countries and continue to travel most of the year up to 41 countries this year !! well informed and good judgement, DO DO SPAIN THEY HATE ANYBODY WHO IS NOT SPANISH, want your money legally or illegally.
Victor says
Croac, croac, croac …. ha ha ha like the frogs, eh Jimmy? In Spain don´t want misfits, troublesome and arrogant like you. Stay in Croac, croac, Croatia and never come back.
Garry Lewis says
41 countries in one year…stupid twat
Anna says
I live in Tenerife (Canary Islands) for 10 years now and even though I don’t consider these islands 100% Spanish (because of so many cultural differences) , I can say it’s the best place to live in the world if you want to live a quiet , peaceful and healthy life . I have a child myself who spent the most of his life here and he doesn’t want to go anywhere else .. With all the respect , the British expat community here live in a very isolated way , the most of UK people I know barely speak Spanish . And those who do , have more job opportunities because employees with a good Spanish and native English is always on demand! There are always nice jobs positions, especially in sales and in the hotel business . If you are looking for security and stability I´d suggest trying to find a work in the big hotel chains or construction companies, if you´re looking for a higher income , you´d rather be a self-employed and get a job in sales. Besides that , there are many positions for people with no job experience , freelancers etc etc .. There are always pros and cons anywhere you go . But I can say that I love Tenerife and Spain , and people are wonderful here !!
Blas says
Hello everyone!
I admire all the English and English, and British and foreigners in general, who have spent many years in Spain, hating the country but, above all, hating its people, and then they have gone to their countries of origin. I really admire you. I spent a week in England and the truth, in all that time I just wanted to cut my veins. I don’t know what was worse, if the weather, the food, the people … I don’t know, I think it was all together. But fortunately, although it was an eternity, time passes and I was able to get out of there.
That’s why I admire them, foreigners and especially the English, for being in a country they hate for so long, sometimes I think it’s even masochism.
Like you, I think exactly the same, we are very, very incompatible.
Joseph says
Hello, my name is joseph, I’m twelve years old, and I was born and brought up in Spain by my parents, who are english , and so I consider myself english. So, I just happened to notice this website, and glanced through a couple of paragraphs of it, an d I just think that the things you are saying are utter rot, I have lived in Spain for all of my twelve years of life, and although sometimes you get the odd person who is a bit rude, the same any and every country in the world, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Spain and the people who live here. Also, please note that I live in Berja, a small town about an hour and a half away from Nerja (both in the same province, Almeria) so there is hardly any geographic diference. All I see in this website are the words an ignorant tourist trying to put people off coming to this incredible country
Clive says
My wife wants to move to Spain because of the increasing violence here in Mexico. I wouldn’t mind either because at least my UK pension would be unfrozen. However I wonder what the locals would make of a Mexican / British couple, or for that matter the fact that we speak Mexican Spanish as well as English?
Karima Osmani/ La Francesa says
Hi, there. French living in Spain since 4 years now. What a joke. The only thing that didn’t fail me is the weather and nature. Everything else is a joke.
With time working for my job, my pay went down, they change your work activities often and expect you to adapt your life entirely on them. The mañana is not to be taken lightly, it is always mañana. But then mañana well it is raining, God forbid. Then when it’s sunny, well it’s too hot or it’s time to eat or it’s Sunday, we don’t work on Sunday, or it’s festival…I mean these guys aren’t serious.
Going into a shop, good luck. Yes yes there is someone inside but that employee isn’t paid enough to take care of you. All they say about Spain bad sides is true and I am French, I don’t compare it to UK. I mean you can find it not to be true but that’s because you got lucky. That’s an exception.
Blas says
Karina, there is always the option to cross the Pyrenees and return to France. The important thing is not to continue suffering in a country that you hate and that you don’t want to adapt to.
HT says
That’s what Americans say to anyone who criticizes their country, “GET OUT THEN.” Things can improve you know, but not if we pretend that problems don’t exist. You also have the option to not read these comments if you don’t want to.
Blas says
We Spaniards are the first to recognize that in our country there are problems, but we are not crying all day, we are trying to improve the country, or will you deny me that there are no problems in your home country? but if I go to your country I will try to adapt. The truth is that there are many foreigners who, when they come to Spain, want a country that has been made for they and that is impossible. Foreigners that living in their communities, shopping in their stores, mixing only with each other and despising the culture and language of Spain, but then they have the little shame to come demanding and saying that Spain is the worst, do you understand it?
I hope so, because there are many foreigners who are very happy and very well adapted in Spain, but unfortunately they are the ones who least come to comment here.
HT says
I hear Spaniards complain all the time about food in other countries so I doubt the adapting will come that easily. They also prefer to stay in Spain, as that is what they know. Also, Spanish women are incredibly insecure and jealous of foreign women (probably each other as well) so THEY’RE the ones who don’t accept them. I’m not saying this is only in Spain (of course not) but it’s quite common here. And most Spanish men want to marry a Spanish woman, so you can’t say it’s that easy for others to adapt when the dominant culture rejects them.
Angela says
The Spanish costas have a massive volume of foreign holidaymakers there to spend money and enjoy themselves so if course they are a magnet for thieves criminals and conmen. Do not judge the rest of spain on the experiences you have had in this part of spain. We retired to the North five years ago beaches and scenery superb. Everyone has been most helpful lovely lifestyle no stifling political correctness, no grilled on Windows very few guard dogs. I would never consider moving abroad to work must be an absolute nightmare to adapt no matter which country you choose.
Kevin Sealey says
I have lived in Spain since 1988 and have worked all those years up to the present day. My wife is Spanish and my children were born here. We have been married 28 years now and both our girls are out of university and one is a public school teacher and the other a Historian. My main language is Spanish obviously and my wholñe life is Spanish. It has been a hard slog sometimes as I am in the estate agency industry as well as legal investigations into property fraud. There have been times when life has been amazingly good and other where you’re on lentil soup, that’s life wherever you go unless you win the lottery!. Sometimes the Spanish can be rude but I am so fluent they are shot down in flames before they get to the 5th word and if anybody calls me a “Guirri” I ask them how it’s spelt 🙂 then tell them we are all europeans which causes a nice scene and can be great fun. I have many friends here and have my little hole in the wall paid for when I pop my cloggs. Me and the wife went back to the UK 15 years ago for a weeks holiday and after 2 days went to Gatwick airport to get a flight to Madrid where we spent the rest of our Holidays in Toledo which is a very friendly place if you treat them right. We had a gut full of the UK after 2 days, the first a policeman was beaten up in a high street and the second day an old couple had thugs throwing full bear cans at them. So Spain is what you make it, if you give youll get back if you don’t youll get nout. Things to remember. Speak Fluent Spanish. Don’t bitch everyday. If a Spaniard gives you a dirty look give one back and ask was he or she born with a face like that. Take each day as it comes and look at the bigger picture. Fun Tip, if you are fluent in Spanish go into a bar and pretend you don’t speak Spanish then after 15 minutes of them talking about you answer back in Spanish so fast they spin, amazing fun
Bob says
I am married to a Spanish women for the last 48 years, and do love Spain. I remember crying the first 4 years till I was able topick up the Castillano, I didn’t know what was going on in the world, couldn’t talk with anyone but my wife, and was totally dependent on her for everything. Being that my proffesion was in sales and marketing, you can emagine how things where for me, UP S–T creek without a paddle. But I will tell you this much, any foriegn country you decide to live in without the language will be the same. It is not easy to establish yourself and be successful in any country 90% of businesses go bust and few survive, even fewer make you rich, anywhere and every where you go, even in the UK.
Fiona Robb says
I have lived in a very small town (population 8,400 people) for nearly 15 years and I have to say, the vast majority of people here have been very kind and welcoming. I could probably count 8 or 9 people in all this time who have been rude or insulting to me. I wonder how many of you did some research before you moved here? How many of you took the time to not only look at the language differences but also the cultural differences? I’m afraid to say that many Brits move here and presume that the system works the ame way as the UK. It doesn’t! You need to leave the British mentality back in the UK and accept that the way things work here are completely different! Yes, things take longer here, the way they do things is different. I struggle to understand why people move here when they constantly compare it to the UK! THIS IS NOT THE UK!!! Learn to adapt or go back!
Nicolás says
Anglo-Saxons are responsible for the negativity reflected toward them in the world. They aren’t satisfied with their treatment because they haven’t treated other cultures with respect and see themselves in the mirror of experience.
Ricci Sayer says
Thanks to everyone for their comments here, they have all been most helpful. I have lived and worked in France since 2000, and have encountered some of the same problems but not anything like the extent described here by some.
School is the same and bullying of foreign children is a problem. As always, the Brits are very clannish here, most don’t integrate or learn the language even seeming surprised sometimes to find that they actually speak French In France. The Brits always let themselves down by not doing the research before they move, then not integrating when they get here and, particularly, not learning the language.
I have just spent the last winter in Chile, where it wasn’t (just returned) and came up against many of these problems. However, I made friends there easily, because I made the effort and, was guided and protected by them. It is a dangerous place for a European to be, whether in the city or country and the infrastructure is poor. I like tarmac on my roads and have no desire to drive a hundred kilometres without. The object of the visit was to decide if I wanted to live there. Nope, I don’t. So Spain was my next choice because I got used to the heat. My intention is to rent a finca or chalet, in the country, somewhere between Malaga and Savilla. My Spanish is passable and gives the indigenous populous a laugh but they appreciate that I learn from them and often make it their business to help. Or so it was in Chile and also Rio where I spent some time.
In short I am very pleased to have read all the comments and will keep them at the forefront of my mind when preparing to go this winter. I’ll let you all know what happens.
10 years. I tried. says
It’s true, Spain zaps positive energy. You get used to it, roll with it, but eventually it will beat you into submission! Spain will grind you down…The easiest retort is to call out the little Britain brigade which is undeniable – sad but true. However, I know there are many people like me (intelligent, culturally appreciative, have lived, worked, learnt and spoke the language, married a half Spaniard) who would agree with a lot of the comments. Unfortunately, it’s a backwards country at the core of its attitudes and there’s only so long a healthy mind can reasonably tolerate it. I’m back in the UK after more than a decade living the dream, and often reminisce of the good times (mainly the relaxed lifestyle and enjoying the world’s greatest cuisine) – but then you remember the hideous bureaucracy, corruption and attitudes that drove you away. I don’t regret my stint at all, so many experiences over the Brits that never discovered what I discovered – but ultimately I do think that we’re just not compatible.
jim says
Nice summary, my child is Spanish and every time I go there the behaviour of the Spanish just makes me dislike them more and more – grinds you down is so true.
HT says
It’s extremely backwards. I can’t go anywhere without hearing misogynistic or sexist language/slurs against female anatomy 24-7 (especially in the south). Catty women, gross old men. That’s why I’m trying my luck in Barcelona, much more diversity and less inbreeding.
HT says
Ok, outside of the main touristic areas, it’s even worse than other places. Appalling. But I’m leaving, finally! Adios! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Karolina says
I am on holiday in Almeria right now. Love the beaches and weather but people are extremely rude I mean not only rude but also very spiteful and mean. Not every single person obviously, there are nice people here, but in general it is horrible here. Restaurants, hotel receptionist what a rudeness, and omg I asked receptionist because I just couldn’t take this anymore- why are you so angry??? He replied “ me ? angry ? nooooooooo I am a very friendly “ Oh my WORD! Rudeness here is a norm and anyone who dares to challenge it is labeled as mentally ill a troublemaker. Can’t stand this people, women are even more aggressive they stare like insane with that hateful, jealous, evil, psycho killer look. Well I guess people today are just like that. Politeness, friendliness is very rare. Narcissism in on the rise….
S.C. says
I was very drawn to this article, as we are currently planning to retire in Spain. We live in South Florida, and have a good income now, but, it costs a fortune to live here, and we’d be working forever. We were thinking about Cascais, PT, so we just traveled through Portugal and Spain, but really liked Spain a lot. My husband is British, but we would never think of living in the UK with the Brexit mess. Also, too cold and too expensive. We really liked Malaga–we have to be someplace mostly warm, it’s a city, but a small one, and it is extremely low COL compared to Florida–maybe a third of what we need here. The US is not such a great place to live these days, in our opinion. The political climate is toxic, the divisions between people are huge and the gun situation is a nightmare. The USA is being taken backwards and regressing–some may like that, but I hate it. I like to look forward and believe in science. I do not like the US anti-immigrant fervor–it is mostly scapegoating anyhow–but it is getting pretty ugly. The US also has its share of homophobia and racism–more so now than ever. I thought Spain was actually more progressive than the US. The transportation systems are extremely good compared to the US. Spain seems much more progressive regarding the environment and wastefulness, electric cars, etc. Americans are massively wasteful–everything is disposable and people are pretty much focused on income and material things. We waste water, paper, plastic, etc. I felt like I was coming back to a third world from Madrid to Florida. Madrid was so much more efficient and organized. In Florida–there are not really any affordable restaurants or bars on the beach, and some counties’ beaches do not even allow bars to exist. So you cannot sit by the water and have a bite or drink and relax. When you get near the coast, it is very expensive–the wealthy pretty much own the coastlines and beach areas here. Spain just feels better–better lifestyle, more relaxed, more fun. Also, we can travel to other cities in Europe. Florida is sort of boring if you don’t play golf or work, and I’ve been everywhere in the US I wanted to go. We are learning Spanish, and plan to visit in the winter to see if we still like it when it is not so sunny and warm, but so far, we have not been anywhere else that fits the bill like Spain does. We don’t really have a lot to lose–we can always come back–but I can’t imagine wanting to–I really can’t wait to leave. I see it getting worse here–much worse.
Arturo says
Living in Spain is not complicated, it only requires learning the language, not going with pretensions of superiority (yes, I say it especially by you, Anglo-Saxon person) and respecting the norms and customs of the country. With this I do not deny that you ever meet a Spanish person who is unpleasant and hostile to you, I say it because I am Spanish and unfortunately Spain is not an exception, but if we had to generalize to the Anglo-Saxon countries like United Kingdom United States, Canada , etc. they must be considered little less than social dumps, due to the great hostility and racism that exists in those countries towards foreigners.
In Spain, we tend to have a lot of tolerance towards foreigners who come here, especially those who have been living in Spain for many years and never bothered to learn the language and integrate into the country, they only live with their people in their “little England “,” small Germany “etc.
This is not a perfect country and Spaniards we are more critical than anyone in this aspect, but if it is such a diabolical country for some expatriates, it is best to pack and leave, which is why airports and airplanes are already there.
Greetings.
Craig says
Interesting re: Spain No place is perfect; I have lived in Hawaii for a few years where I own a house: Hawaii to me can be very boring so I enjoyed the other views of the people living in Spain. I live in Hawaii and I went to the ocean once in the past year and a half; I cannot swim and the sun is too strong; I live at 800 metres (2700′) so I enjoy an equitable climate yet I am still bored; I am retired. Hawaii though is nicer than California where I lived for many years; friends want me to return but I have no desire to do so. California is truly a hellhole. I may yet leave Hawaii. 3 WEEKS IS A VACATION but regular living is routine wherever you live longer. So who knows? I hope all people make the right decision. I considered Cornwall years ago but I have tax issues re: living in another tax jurisdiction as I would pay dearly for my residency with 2 taxes. Cheers from Hawaii
Fiona says
Just my tuppence as someone who has lived in different countries, well looks like Spain is like everywhere else!!
I’m British, born in Switzerland, lived in Canada for 3 years, in the UK for 10 years, now back in Switzerland. Well guess what, all these countries have their pros and cons, but a few things are for sure:
– you need to speak the language. No ifs, no buts.
– you have to look into the country seriously. Not a couple of holidays. Rent before you buy. Don’t be arrogant and/or stupid enough to think the want/need you there, they don’t. We paid an arm and a leg for a Canadian visa, well guess what, they don’t care, they will still give preference to a Canadian, laugh at your accent behind your back and tell you to return home if you dare criticise anything, including the climate…. same thing in the UK, they were horrible to my husband, couldn’t place his accent, therefore decided he was polish, he got the worst nastiness hurled at him. My kids got bullied in school, despite having British passports, and then got bullied in Switzerland despite having Swiss passports!!!!!
– at the local coop in the UK one of the workers flatly refused to ever serve my husband. She would literally just stand there and ignore him, he would have to wait until someone else came to be able to pay for his shopping. Sone of his colleagues laughed at his accent behind his back and otherwise completely ignored him. My sons were told they were not welcome in the UK and asked if they are even British.
– in Canada one day when I was commenting on the cold and snow, mid May…. the sales person very aggressively and nastily told me to go back to France, and my 2 year old son who was counting in English was told that in Quebec, you speak french, very aggressively.
Anyway, all that to say that you will encounter good and bad everywhere, and if you are not ready to open your mind to a new culture and language then yes, you should defo stay in your own country!!!!
Jorge says
Ah yes, Quebec, don’t feel bad, most of Canada barely tolerates Quebec and it’s racism and Xenophobia. The rest of the country is much better, trust me.
Laura says
I totally agree with you! it is a third world country from the northern point of view, yet people who are coming from lesser developed countries will never understand. I had so many issues because people thought i was spoiled, but in fact, i could not stand racism, envy and hatrid- all things i experience in Spain. As a Canadian, from a country that promotes peace and where diversity is our strength, Spain is lagging behind!
Fiona says
Hi Laura, I think the problem is more where you’re from and what you are used to. I lived in Canada for 3 years and what you describe is certainly not what I encountered, actually i encountered in Canada what you encountered in Spain: racism, envy and hatred, to the point that we gave up after 3 years and that I would never want to go back there because I hated Canada!!
Laura says
Honestly, i am a Canadian, from a country where we promote peace, thrive on diversity, and help one another. Spain was the contrary. It was very hard living in Spain and i only lasted 6 months. Perhaps, i am very privileged and not all Canadians are nice people, if so, but my parents did an amazing job at raising me in an environment with people who think about helping others. In Spain, everyone was so envious and dishonest. Its like you owe them something! i hated Spain and if i ever go back, its a quick vacation
Emile says
I am Spanish although I have lived in several countries. Sincerely, Spain is a country for a quick holidays to enjoy the sun, beach and food; nothing else. If you are an honest, empathetic, hardworking, considerate, educated person, who does not enjoy parties, who hates noise and bad manners, I would never never NEVER recommend you living in Spain. My partner and I made the wrong decision to return after living in a civilized country (we are entrepreneurs) and after a year and a half we are bitter and looking for a country in which to feel good to get away from this definitely. Spain steals you a lot of positive energy. We have lived from north to south of Spain in different cities and the only place where we can stay longer without feeling too bad is Madrid city center. The Spanish culture is frankly difficult; we know it in depth. However, if you are retired, you do not care about the lack of honesty and discretion, you do not mind the noise, you have a lot of patience and you only enjoy the parties, sun, beach and food, it is undoubtedly your country. PD. After the crisis Spain has become even more unbearable as almost everybody tries to cheat to you (restaurants, hotels, services …). Of course there are wonderful people here, but unfortunately, the most prepared and outstanding people have to go to other countries, because envy is the capital sin of Spain.
Richard Tedeschi says
Take this as a generic idea and with a pinch of salt because like anything in life some of it can and is true, some other things are the person who writes perceptions, their time in life, their circumstances, what they expect and want from life, no place in the world has everything and no place in the world is perfect, I know British and Germans living in Spain for decades and they would NEVER go back to the countries they came from.
John Thomas says
I lived and worked in Spain for 12 years. If I could, I would be back there in a second. The friends were the best I ever had and loyal to a fault. It is not a dangerous country and most crime is of a petty nature, like pick-pockets. There is very little violent crime and having some moron go into a mall with an assault weapon is unheard of. Yes, life is unhurried and people eat later in the day. For this reason there is less stress and people live longer. Also the national healthcare system is excellent. I had to go into the hospital twice for surgery and paid a total of $25! And that was so a friend could sleep over with me. I am suspecting that the author of this article went to Spain with an attitude and expected everyone around him to change to meet his expectations instead of taking the time to grow into his environment. I would go back to Spain in a second if I could and I pray that in the future I will be able to retire there.
F C Greybe says
How old is this post???? He says “I moved to Spain four years ago to start a new life” and then later on he says “When I first moved to Spain the currency was the Peseta” – Doing the maths he must have moved to Spain before 2002 so this viewpoint can’t be later than 2006 – a lot has happened since then so most of these comments are no longer current. Pointless! hats just apart from all the gross generalisations and inaccurate, unfounded conclusions.
Bazza says
Well, it seems to original poster, Mr Nick Anders, of this will be happy now that Brexit is happening. I’m sure he voted for it. So he moved to Spain, and gives out about immigrants? Give out because he can’t get a job. Blame an entire country for their problems?
Fact – I hate villa cleaning, I hate cleaning pools, I hate working in bars until 2 am waiting for the last drunken expat to leave, I hate building work in the baking midday sun. I hate Spain!
So it’s Spain’s fault that the only work you can get is villa cleaning, pools, bars etc?
No sales or discounts in Spain? Have you had your head stuck up your backside since you arrived? There are sales all the time there, and I’ve regularly picked up clothes etc in sales.
You should move to loyalist East Belfast. Union flags everywhere, red, white and blue painted kerbs, they don’t like immigrants and they love Brexit.
Clown.
Steve says
Bazza, Loving Brexit – is only what the majority of the UK decided to do in a referendum. Only someone out of their mind would want to see democracy ignored. It’s nice that Belfast is proud of the union. Spain is now more expensive than the UK, all thanks to the EU and the €. And yes there are no jobs there in Spain
Hugo says
All this problems is a normal problem when you move to another country, you got lenguage and culture barrier, and is normal to compare, but all countries have good and bad things, and depend of the people and the place where you been. I am living in Nottingham now but I am move back to Spain , because I hate England, I am joking…. Is because I don’t match with this counter and culture…. So… Is you choice where you want to live and stay, I had racist English people with me and I’m not feel well for that but I know ignorant all over the world.
Frank says
Viva España great place to live we try hard to integrate and have found the Spanish on the most part warm and friendly
Lived in UK for 60 years and when you move or lived in a new town / village, the locals would not accept you small town mentality.
Thank you Spain
Elizabeth says
I live in Spain. Moved here with my two girls. We all speak Spanish so no issue there. There are things I hate about Spain: people generally are more closed minded and it’s hard to make good friends at first, the school education is totally different from the UK, they shout and are generally ‘ruder’ but I have to take the rough with the smooth and have a positive attitude towards the Spanish. The food and weather is better plus there are good things you can always take home from every culture.
Maria says
I went to Cardiff University and got taken the mickey behind my back, I heard them, by fellow students because of my Spanish accent. Spent a year studying a Master in Leeds where I once went for a job interview at a company a bit outside the city. They assured me they would pay for my taxi but when I got there not only didn’t they give me any money for the taxi but also I got mocked by the examiner in front of all the candidates “Spaniard, eh? mañana, mañana” Political correctness my a—-, twenty of them were laughing at me to suck up to the examiner and get rid of the Spanish competitor, two in one. On my last day in Leeds, my landlord, who called himself Dr Biswas, failed to turn up to return the deposit from the apartment, knowing that I had a plane to catch. My three years in Cardiff, God I love that place, were wonderful except for the constant stream of wa>ke>s in the park along the Taff river were I used to take daily walks with my dog. They probably were rapists but my German shepherd kept them at bay. Is that respect for women’s rights? Is that a more evolved society? By the way, my darling dog scared burglars off the house while next doors were broken into a few times. I absolutely love England and British people and culture. There are idiots and crime everywhere. You will be happy if you want to.
Ed says
I feel terrible for anyone who experienced a bad time in Spain but to generalise an entire country for an experience in a small town / village is narrow minded and bigoted, they comments on the Spanish people in themselves derogory and racist – shame on you all for being hippocrits!! Especially the comments about calling Spanish people Spics – most racist comment on here !!
Meeka G. Gonzalez says
Excellent comment! I lived the 7 happiest years of my life in Spain. I understand the haters of Spain now-a-days. I lived in another Spain, during the last 2 years of Franco and 5 years of the “freedom” post Franco era. I had a well paid bilingual position, I met the best kind of people Spaniards, Brits, French, mainly. That Spain was wonderful, people were very nice, courteous and culturally well rounded. I would not like to live in the mess the socialists have turned Spain into and having to look for a job and not having a perfect command of the Spanish language. Try getting a job in England and in Germany or France not speaking English and German or French perfectly well. I fell in love with Greece so the first thing I did when I returned to Spain was to look for a teacher to learn modern Greek. By the time I had a pretty good knowledge of the language, I had fallen in love with Spain. You must speak the language of the country you are planning to move to. Study the history, government, laws, criminal life, traditions, food, religion. Ignorance makes people very unhappy.
Azdog says
Boy, you sound a good! They’ll miss your joie de vive
Aaron Rose says
I think the experts and Spaniards alike will grieve heartily when you shonk off back to the uk, you sound like a hoot
keenan says
I have to agree with Just a Spaniard, people is generalizing a little here.Seems like you’ve had many bad experiences, or lived in bad places in Spain.
Well, I was ripped off in France my first day there.
Me and my girlfriend got robbed in Amsterdam. Some guys took my backpack and the police just ignored us when we told them.
I’ve seen kids in London yelling at a guy in his store calling him a “fucking paky” in front of his daughter.
I’ve seen horrible roads and facilities in many places in Germany, and the worst apartments i’ve ever seen in Berlin.
I once talked to a swedish gay couple that told me they had moved to Madrid because they didn’t feel comfortable nor accepted in Gothenburg where they lived, and they where absolutely amazed by the gay community and movement here.
I’ve experienced all sorts of bad things in many countries, but i would never say that France, Germany, Netherlands or Sweden (where i haven’t been yet but i’m eager to) are racist or homophobic countries, or places where you always get ripped off.
There are a lot problems here, and yeah, there is still some ignorant, racist, homophobic, rude people here. But just like everywhere else i suppose.
And if you think Spain is a third world country, well, i guess you’ve never been out of Europe.
Just like a week ago i went to have some drinks with an argentinian friend who came to visit and he was telling me how different it felt to be in a first world country like Spain lol.
As for your spanish studies, there’s still another 600M people you can talk to other than spaniards.
Just a Spaniard says
Im sorry you had such a bad experience in Spain, but Spaniards are generally not homophobic people, its one of the most tolerant countries in the world. Its also one of the first countries in Europe to legalize same sex marriage and adoption by gay couples probably even before most of the nordic countries you are talking about. About women´s rights, I totally disagree with you, I just think you got a wrong concept of Spain,women here have the same rights than men just as gays, lesbian, transexual people have furthermore Spain has one of the lowest rates of gender violence if you compare it to other countries like Sweden France or the UK,you can look it up if you dont believe me. What happened to you in the street can happen every where Im not saying I dont believe you but that is really uncommon here, never heard that before and I have a lot of girl friends with short hair trust me. Maybe Spain was just not the place for you or you just had several bad experiences but not because of that its a third world country with no rights, to me nordic countries are quite boring,its seems that there is really nothing going on there,you don´t see vibrant and outgoing cities like in the rest of Europe especially the south, the weather is also awful in my opinion but I wouldnt generalize like you did and say all nordics are boring and living there even in cities will make you feel isolated from the rest of the word. Hope you come back and get another view of Spain and its people, dont feel bad that you spent some time learning the language, after all its the second most spoken language in the world and very useful for traveling especially America, unlike nordic languages spoken by 6-7 million people that would only be useful if you want to live there .
¡Ánimo que siempre se puede tener malas experiencias pero aprende a no generalizar!
O.J. says
Spain is indeed a third world country from the northern point of view, in every possible way. I’m from a Nordic country, so the difference is probably even more striking for me. I’ve travelled in Spain twice, and lived in Valencia half a year because of my studies, but that was enough. What someone said about the apparent influence of the Franco era was really spot on – and it’s also true when it comes to women’s rights.
I was appalled by the racism, machismo and homophobia, though I must say I did meet nice spaniards too. I’m not surprised at all about the bullying in schools someone else mentioned. I was yelled insults on the street just because I was a foreign woman with short hair!
I actually feel a bit sad I spent years studying the language instead of something else.
Olly says
We moved to spain two years ago costa blanca near Denia, and we LOVE it here. Have settled in and is the healthiest and most beautiful country. We find the spanish delightful friendly and helpful they maybe a little slow and not as manic as the brits who want everything right now. The food is very fresh and with flavour. The roads are great, shopping is fantastic, and weather perfect. Best medical cover in the world. We found its the expat entitled brits who rip us off not the spanish as most brits want something for nothing.
As for the UK, what a contrast, rude miserable moaning people, overcrowding everywhere, sugar filled processed food. Supermarkets on every corner as brits cannot stop eating. Bad service in restaurants unfresh salads, brown leaves, etc. overpriced. Ripped off by BT and electricity companies, too many rules and roads busy with traffic. NHS still a mess.Winging relatives. Ah back to spain, peace quiet, no crowds excellent food and friendly people, sunshine. I guess most expats who winge in spain would moan anywhere, Always look on the bright side and be positive, smile and be happy and locals will love you treat them with respect and they will do the same.
Justin says
I didn’t have to read any more as I agree … Spanish don’t really like us.. and the banks I f*#kin hate them, the system stinks and wait till Brexit, they will have are pants down!!
I lived there for 15 years and now come home… I’m lucky I came back with money… I hate the place and people who like it!! Let’s face it, people live there for sun not culture, life or family, just self obsession … Good luck people when they can really kick you ( Happy Brexit)
Ximo says
Reading these sad messages about Spain and having visited UK so many times and knowing many spaniards living there too… my conclusion is that we are too different in many ways (family, friends, respect for law and order, reliability in work, etc etc…) and these differences are a problem when it comes to be an expat. Under these circumstances, only an open mind can help you fit here. If you don’t think you have it, don’t move away to such a different country unless you are in need to make a living
Pollencí trist says
I comprehend you, Nick. Years ago, I wished that Spain got better, but Spain got actually worse. In fact nobody knows how stupid the Spanish people are. And Madrid is the worst city for all tourists, so they must NOT go there anytime. Going to Madrid is a real mistake.
So, I’m Mallorquin/Majorcan/from Majorca.
jack says
> So, I’m Mallorquin/Majorcan/from Majorca.
Well that explain your comment. Hatred towards Madrid, the national sport. And I’m not even Madrileño.
Ela says
There is a lot of “Britons” “Little Britain” mentioned here but there are 4 Nations in UK, are we all the same out in Spain? Or are English, Scots, Welsh and northern Irish all the same in whinging?
Marc Britain says
I respect you opinion but you are lying quite a lot. I live in Spain and I don’t cope with all you say.
Lrp says
I live in Spain and it sounds like this was written to put anyone thinking of moving here off the idea. Life in Spain is good!
Juanma says
As many people have pointed out before, it seems to me that this has to be emphasized: it is imperative to know the place one is traveling to. I think it’s quite childish to idealize a country because of what friends who live in a perpetual adolescence tell you. I’ve been living in Melbourne for three years and not even in day one have I taken it I as an idyllic stay. I knew I was going to have a hard time. I knew I was going to miss my house, family, etc. And, above all, I knew that no matter how much time passed, I would always be an emigrant with a characteristic accent (let’s be honest, that will only disappear in second generations). It is up to you to accept it or go to another country with a similar language & way of life.
Come on people, we are not teenagers. Let’s be adults and behave as we would like to be treated. Even if you do not want to integrate or have it difficult, at least learn the language. I know it’s difficult; I know some of you feel old to start with it, but it pays off. At the end of the day, what matters is to have tried and go to bed with a clear conscience.
KD Punshon says
I moved to a small urbanization just outside a small village in Andalucia. My first point is I wish the Spain Made Simple would have put dates on these articles because things change quite dramatically here. I have lived here only 9 months after living in the UK for 6 years. I am Canadian. Definitely as adults we know there is good and bad in every country and it really depends on individual situations. If you are of working age you would need to ensure you had a job here (and I think that would be difficult). I have used both Spanish and British service people. As in all over the world you need to be careful when you hire people. I would consider Spain a 2nd world country and because of that there are pros and cons. Again, it depends on your situation. I have Fiber Wifi living 10k up a mountain and its reliable. I buy from the local markets to avoid being taken advantage of by expensive stores. It isn’t as cheap as it used to be for sure. Things are a bit more difficult when you don’t speak Spanish but there are good people who will help. If you make a small effort I have found the service to be good but there are improvements that can be made everywhere. Spain is a more chilled out place than anywhere else I have lived. I have seen no crime where I live, feel totally safe and it suits me. I love my simple life here so far and I see things improving all the time. I have become involved with a local organization helping stray cats and have met local people who have become friends.
Blasto says
Can anyone comment on the Balearics being an exception to the incompetence? Richard Branson is opening a resort there, there is lots of foreign investment from all over Europe, and the islands seem to be self-contained and want to function and have the advantage of large influxes of money.
I’m just wondering if Mallorca has it’s act any more together than the mainland, and are the major cities any better. Vlalencia has such a modern reputation for architecture and attractions that it seems it would be more efficient, like Milan is in comparison to the rest of Italy.
Anyway, I’m an American sick of winters, and I thought Mallorca or Valencia would offer good weather, and easy flight access to the major cities of Europe, but maybe I’ll be looking at property outside of Basel, which is not unaffordable. I assume France and certainly Germany have their acts more together. I did spend some time on in exchange in Spain in my college days, and could not believe the utter lack of authority and regular education I saw in the colleges. It was like the student union would declare a day of protest, the professor would leave, and there would be a big party. It was fun for a while, but then not so much. Anyway, I do telecommuting work, and I’ve heard the internet on Mallorca is not the best.
keenan says
If you like having 20 year old drunk brits, puking all over the streets, sleeping in your doorway, horrible food, clubs playing rave music until 6 am, and just not seeing one spaniard. Well you’ll love it there!
Internet is ok btw. Trust me, that will be the last problem you have.
The comparison of Valencia to Milan is just….no.
Nancy says
maybe enjoy the failed us empire–other than hu$tling, huckstering, and endless war–what was its’ narrative? Spiritually and intellectually empty -a corporate owned wasteland.
Victor says
Making reference to the message of the Catalan pro-independence Luisa
Spain has its problems, and the UK has its problems, as a criminal problem that is not now, that has years and that Spain does not have. And well, within Spain we must highlight Catalonia, because if there is corruption in European countries, well, there is Spain, as corruption is in other countries only more underground, but within Spain is Catalonia and its corruption at high levels that there is not in any other area of the country. The ex president Jordi Pujol has been robbing Catalonia for decades, he did it with one hand, while with the other he had the Catalan independence flag, which, by the way, and to all foreigners’ knowledge, has never been a country, therefore it can not be compared to Scotland. Those have been a gang of scoundrels that you have been taking advantage of the spanish people, making money with your crap industry based entirely on the primary sector
In Catalonia there are people who want the independence of the country, but these people are not all the people of Catalonia. I say it for foreigners who are reading my message. And I ask, please, do not listen to these Catalan separatists, like this woman, because they only make a lot of noise, they do not represent Catalonia. They are like the Nazis, or like in the Basque Country, people who think that these places belong only to them, and harass the rest of the population, their own neighbors. It is the same riffraff that has turned Catalonia and the Basque Country into social dumps, something similar to what was lived in Nazi Germany
Do not listen to this type of people. Catalonia, with País Vasco and Navarra, has been and is one of the places that has benefited the most from Spain. And it is not something new, it goes back to 200 years, when everything started with the protection of the Catalan textile industry to the detriment of the British. Neither they are persecuted by the Spaniards, nor are they poorer, and they have never been a nation like Scotland. Never.This is a gang of sectarian, radical, very violent people who want to make foreigners think that they are being persecuted here, when it is the opposite
If you have lived in Catalonia or the Basque Country, you will see the lies of the independentistas, curiously many of them descendants of Spaniards (like Andalusians, Extremadura, etc etc etc) who emigrated to those places
Regares
Louise says
Where there is poverty there is crime, it is a simple equation. No doubt those on here that are moaning about Spain, would also be moaning if they were in the UK. I have lived all over the world. The issues start when and where the “Little Britain” enclaves develop. British people never stop moaning and unfortunately, places like the Costa’s attract a certain type of person who generally have a low level of education.To live in such a place would be simply HELL! and that my friends is because of the Brits, not the Spanish!
Guy says
Your reference to the “Little Britain” enclaves is spot on as is ‘certain type of person/low intellect’. I lived on the Costa Blanca (inland) and had to suffer these people. I had more Spanish friends than English so automatically I became an enemy and threat to the “Brits”! What truly angered me was their attitude to the Spanish, their language and culture. They were very happy to take what they could get but put little back into the community. I would get fresh oranges, lemons, artichokes, melons, eggs etc from the local farmers with whom I got on well and all the others would then bitch and moan as to why – Maybe it was because I tried to fit it, speak the language and did not go into the fields and help myself…One irate farmer informed the “Little Britain” crowd that I got stuff because I was his Amigo. That didn’t go down too well!!!! The Spanish do have an attitude towards foreigners especially if they don’t make an effort to fit in and who can blame them.
I think I would have stayed as the Spanish were truly wonderful but the “Little Britain” crowd ruined it..
The arrogance of the Brits is unbelievable..One couple (Resident) walked into a local cafe/bar and ordered “Two, that’s two Cafe con milk” – I nearly choked on my drink. Another was a lady! who walked into a bank and demanded ‘Change’. As the (new) teller had little idea of what she was on about she then went into a rant about her having lived there for 12 years and you would have thought that by now they would have learned English. Arrogant or what…So yes I fully agree with every word you wrote..
NonameGirlSouthFlorida says
I am in USA… moving to Spain because I’m getting married there. I’m American but am of Cuban heritage and have zero problems with the language. In fact, 2 of my grandparents are Spanish on my paternal side and on my maternal side my great grandparents were Spanish. The point being I speak Spanish very well and have had no issues when visiting for extended periods of time. I want to add that I moved from South Florida to NYC for 10 years give or take. I had a similar sensation of not fitting in 100% as some people have mentioned. I also lived in LA for 2 years for work. Same thing. When you are “home” you “ARE” home. Period. Living in a foreign country or city will always leave you with that feeling and on some days it can very well feel more present (that feeling of not belonging or slightly homesick)… Spain is different. There is a reason that phrase exists. But no one is forcing any of you “expats” to move to Spain. If you “hate” it so much, please do all of Spain a favor and leave. Go back to your foggy gray skies and be happy. Hopefully you will find what you are looking for there…. Hopefully. Maybe not. Since you found a reason to leave in the first place.
Hector says
Spot on, I have lived in many countries including Spain and this idea of superiority and arrogance demonstrated by the British is rather annoying. I wish they just stay home and stop poisoning the host community with their bitterness and unnecessary hate.
Traveller says
I have lived in six different countries, several years, and Spain is by far the worst. You say Brits are arrogant? Well I lived there two and they have nothing on Spaniards. Spaniards are supremely arrogant, self-entitled lot with severe linguistic issues. Such disorganised and bureaucratic nightmare that former Soviet Union could look at in awe. 10 years behind other countries in EU and not likely to catch up.
jack says
Sure mate. That’s why we don’t have problems with anyone… except brits. So it has to be something else, not the brits, of course.
Come on guys, don’t be so childish.
Fiona Robb says
Traveller is it their attitude or yours? I have lived in 8 different countries and I have had no great problems with any of the local people I lived with. Maybe you need to be a little more open-minded and tolerant of other countries and their customs….
Emi says
Sammy from Murcia change every word “Spanish” into “English” and you can see the UK. I am Polish woman from Poland. I have been living for 13 years in the UK and all that you write about Spain it exactly the same about your country… The difference is that it still is some job and they pay you for it, but the rest rubbish customer service, bad roads, bulling foreign children, bullying at work, working with lazy and dirty people, rubbish on the street, curvy pavements, no public transport (buses go to city centre and from), cheating by landlords, English people expect that you will provide them constantly enjoyment otherwise they are like children constantly bored or tired etc. Everything you have written you have in the UK… Only money keeps foreigners in the UK if they do not get it no one will come here, because there is nothing more…
Jeanne Fox says
EMI to you Nick and all the other contributors, a little story I read once.
An old man stood on a bridge, looking down on a town. Along comes a young man and says, what is the town like down there, I am moving to it. The old man says what is the town like, that you are leaving? The young man replied, it is an awful town, the people are nasty, the crime rate is high, the town is dirty. The old man said, then that is what you will find in the town down there.
Some days later the old man is agiain stood looking down at the town, when another young man comes across and says what is the town like down there. The old man says, what is the town like that you are leaving. The man says, it is a nice town, clean and friendly people are kind and helpful. The old man says, the town down there is the same, good people, kind and helpful. Moral is you only get out what you put in.
silvia says
Si Jeanne, exactly!!
mark anderson says
have lived in cost blanca now for over 3 years, and yes there are probelms, yes there is poor service, yes there is rude spaniards, and even more rude brits, but like all things its what you make of it.
a lot of the brits in spain beggar belief, and are frankly downright rude, arrogant, self absorbed and egos the size of the titanic, and out of all this the biggest bug bear i have and i have read it all the way through this post is that your all labelling yourselves as EXPATS, no your not n expat your an immigrant, get used to the word because thats what you are,
every country you live in has its problems, its what you make of it as a person that defines your stay there and most importantly you as a person. spitting your dummy out the pram and labeling yourself as an expat and detaling all the negatives of a country hardly confirms the fact you are giving the country and people of spain a fair chance. id agree they are rude, and xenophobic, but that is limited compared to the brits who would rip off their own nationality for a few euros. the brits mentality is every man for themselves, stick 500 spaniards or any nationality in britain and they would stick together and help each other, stick 500 brits in the costas and they will drink excessively, and rob you blind at any given chance, only difference from the african immigrants you labelled is that they dont break down your door to do it, they act as your best friend to do it.
Lyndsey says
Ok, interesting article. For someone who has lived in various areas in Spain from Castellon, Benidorm, La Linea and 4 years in Granada I know that there’s good and bad everywhere. Still to this day I am unsure what the best thing to do is.
Ok, the good points: outdoor lifestyle, weather, beaches, people are more alive than like England. Cheap beer and some wonderful food and places to visit and not as much violence. The UK is dangerous compared to Spain. The Police are better at protecting the people than in the UK. Buses and trains are a lot cheaper.
Bad points: a lot of corruption, abandoned animals and see dogs hung from trees (these are greyhound type dogs farmers use to hunt rabbits and when the season is over they hang them) you see dogs abandoned on motorways. There’s no such thing as the RSPCA or similar organisations. Don’t be fooled by all these ppl walking their little yorkshire terriers there’s a lot of animal cruelty!
The TV is god damn awful. In Granada there’s a lot of mala follar! in other words, the customer service is terrible and people don’t mince their words, of course this doesn’t apply to everyone in Spain just well known in Granada and Castellon the ppl were unhelpful and closed. The worst thing about Benidorm is the Brits not the Spanish and the expats who live there who do nothing but gossip. La Linea is dangerous and a lot of gipsies that rob you when crossing the border from ugly Gibraltar. The authorities in Spain so here’s why they are so bad, mostly they are older people, they will always be in a job and are not interested in working tbh and are not helpful at all, sending you here there and everywhere. Public hospitals and health services are horrendous and don’t really like helping foreigners. You are best going private but you will pay a lot of money. I have had doctors refusing to help me and my Spanish friend and you can’t do anything about it unlike in England! In fact, you can’t do much about any problem you face in Spain unless it involves the police. Banks – god damn awful! they rob you all the time, go with ING it’s probably one of the best ones. Is Spain boring or fun? It’s what you make of it. There’s a lot of places to go hiking or camping, swimming etc, not many modern facilities or huge parks for kids etc like the UK but you make your own fun.
paul says
Thanks for your post I totally agree with what you have written as I felt the same whilst living in mallorca.
I had to laugh out loud when you mentioned ‘ugly Gibraltar’ innit???? thanks paul
Dani says
I fell sorry for this person. Moving back to England isn’t going to make your fears disappear. there’s just as many and the same problems there, the only difference is that it’s gray and cloudy. I find it’s much easier to face the problems of life when the sun is shining.
John R says
I know that there is such a thing as the grumbling expat Brit. The Australians don’t talk of “whinging Poms” for nothing! I happen to speak Spanish well very well, and when I lived there I always tried to integrate myself. My Spanish was good enough for me to be accepted by a Spanish-speaking creative writing group! I made some really great friends in Spain. That said, the issue for me is a practical one. I don’t have that much money. Can I get a job in Spain that gives me enough money to live on? I don’t want to go there and be unemployed.
paul says
just go for it……………. i had no spanish when i went aged 44 and found work with 2k of savings! it lasted 2 years before it went tits up but that was my problem not spain. i am now on an even keel and aged 55 and am going give it another shot! paul
Alan says
Great , Wish you all the best, if yu need a chat just contact us we have lived here for 22 years and would never go back.
Luisa says
Hello, I’m a Catalan who has been living in the UK for 4 years. Now I’m back again in Barcelona. When I was there in the UK I understood that it was a “serious” country, while Spain can only be considered as a joke. A place to go for some days and then come back home for doing some serious job. It’s not that I like it, but it’s what Spain is becoming. Sometimes I think we’re kind of experimenting a “specialization” as a whole theme park country. Everything is focused on turism. And that’s so sad.
Anyway, I’m a translator, and I know how different the situation is for freelancers here and in the UK. Up there I had to pay nothing at first, and then if I’m not mistaken it was 12 pounds a week. Then you have to pay accordingly to your earnings. You have to pay about 300€ a month in Spain. Luckily just in January they changed the law and we can pay only 50€ for the first year, before that you had to pay 300€ since day one. Even if you earned nothing.
So it’s good knowing other cultures, other countries, and realizing your country isn’t worth a dime.
Also, as I said, I’m Catalan and I want independence from Spain as soon as possible. We’re looking up to you, a democratic country where it’s possible to vote in a referendum for independence. There was a campaign for yes, one for no. It got a “no”, ok. The same could have happened here. We would accept it. We’ve been claiming for a chance to vote for years now. When finally we did it, of course without permission from Madrid, we just got beaten the hell out of us by the spanish “guardia civil” (something in between police and army) in full riot gear.
I could go on and on with lots of other aspects of spanish nonsense but it’s too late at night, at least too late for me. This country is a joke. A very bad one. And I don’t want to be part of it anymore.
Alan says
We have lived in Spain for 22 years and never had any regrets, the people are warm, friendly and kind, and are always there to help when you need it. You do need to be able to speak the language to be able to be a part of life here and not live as an expat foreigner . We do not drink or smoke but still enjoy the life here with our Spanish friends, we do not have any English friends at all , we have friends from all nationalities except England. English people try and reinvent themselves when they come here, cant find any work and drink to the point of ending up alcoholic, they do not understand the differences in the culture and expect Spain to be England in the Sun. We live in Alicante City which has many visitors from all over the world. No way would be ever go back to the UK and leave Spain, it is our home.
mira says
Hi Alan
I want to move there, what is your advice? I have a special need daughter that would be looking to hire a mentor. Would you like to share few things about Spain etc…. Cost to hire a good person, rental? Just the other day, I was googling different cities including Alicante. We moved to Slovenia, (back home to me) after 27 years, and people are too cold, need some passionate, friendly people etc… That they don’t look people with disabilities side ways. Any advices are welcome.
Just in case if you decide to write, my email is capris1111@hotmail.com
Thank you
Mira
Stuart Dabbs says
I have lived in Spain for 46 years, more than half my life, my wife is Spanish and my two grown up daughters were born here. I am perfectly bilingual and speak Spanish most of the time. I have little contact with expats as I find most of them live in a little Britain culture bubble and know nothing about Spain. Most British expats never learn any Spanish in spite of living here for several years.
I came to Spain when I was 22, I learnt to speak Spanish and have a diploma from the Spanish authorities which qualifies me to teach it. I have had to work very hard and have my own business which has been moderately successful and allows me to have a comfortable lifestyle. I have always been treated very well and suffered none of the difficulties that Nick Anders mentions.
Getting a job at the moment is not easy for Spanish people, more so for expats who don’t speak any Spanish. Anyone who wished to settle in Britain with no English would have similar problems. I recently heard an expat in a bar complaining loudly that a Spanish plumber who did a job at his house spoke no English. I wondered how many English plumbers could speak Spanish, but said nothing.
Iñigo says
People like you is what we need in Spain. I am from Santander but i lived in Tenerife and now i am living in Valencia, and what i have noticed in most of English people is that they simply DONT WANT to be integrated in the country they have choosen to live in….i mean, camon, they dont even try…
Look, i lived in Brazil for 7 years, and i dived in their culture from day one, trying to learn portuguesse, making brazilian friends.learn about their culture….and i tell you they loved and valorated my efforts to integrated myself as we spanish people love when english people try to speak spanish for example…
If you are going to leave England do it 100% dont try to convert another whole different country in your Sunny England Versión and everything will be easier for you…..sorry for my english btw
Blue says
Actually, most Spaniards aren’t particularly interested in getting to know foreigners, even when we’re super friendly and speak Spanish with them (Las Palmas de GC being an exception).
Alan says
I totally agree with Iñigo , I cannot understand why Brits come here and expect it to be ” Little Britian with the Sun” Everything is totally difefrent here and they should make friends with Spanish and all Nationalities and leave the Brits out of it , they cause problems and leave there brains at the airport, they dont want to speak the language and are rude to the Spanish in Shops, Offices and Doctors, they just dont understand the culture or the language, we have leave here now for 23 years would never go back to the UK , speak the language integrate with the people and love the place his is our Home. Another thing I note is that the expats all read English Newpapers, why ! Why would you want to know whats going on in the UK if you are in Spain as a Resident. It is beyond me I am integrated 110% and so is all my family.
Denise Watson says
Oh, how right you are to hate Spain, Nick. I have lived in Galicia for twelve years now and I can’t wait to get back to England. It’s a backward country and that is not only from my lips as a non-Spanish person. I have a couple of professional Spanish friends in Madrid. They don’t know each other and yet they have both said the same thing to me:-
“We in Spain think that we are in the western world but we’re not. We’re part of Africa.”
It says it all, doesn’t it?
I’ve actually got three small booklets up on Kindle, about how people shouldn’t plan a future in Spain and how they should never think of buying a property. Rent as, that way, when you get to the point where you know you have made a mistake, you can simply upsticks.
Unfortunately, we bought and now our lives are torn between the 1,700 mile between Galicia and N.E. England, as we have pets to take into consideration and must therefore drive.
You get what you pay for and, yes, England may be a lot more expensive than Spain but it’s worth every penny in comparison.
bobbo says
Sad to say, but I can’t help thinking that Spain is a third world country with a first world gloss paid for with EU money.
Go beyond beaches/bars/nightlife and it’s generally boring, with very few family oriented attractions. Compare Devon or North Wales with the Costa Blanca, you’ll quickly see what I mean.
We were in Carrefour the other day, it’s one of the few supermarkets with self-service checkouts, the big Spanish ones (Mercadona and Consum) don’t have them, and the locals were hardly able to operate them.
If you own a house in Spain, be very very aware that UK regulation for gas fitters and electricians are no where to be seen, anyone can set themselves up a boiler repairer etc, and there’s no way at all you can check on them. Most likely they’ll rip you off even if they do know what they’re doing.
John R. says
Hi there, Denise Watson. Your comment was very interesting. Could you possibly tell me the names of the booklets you put on Kindle regarding why people shouldn’t buy property in or move to Spain? I would be interested to read the negative viewpoint, . I suppose the ideal is for people to rent out their property in the U.K. and then move into rented accommodation in Spain (that way, the landlord is responsible for the gas boiler). When my Aunt and Uncle lived in South Africa, they did something similar.
I have had any wonderful social experiences in Spain, and made some really great friends. After all, I speak the language. Periodically, I want to go back and teach again. But once I took up a job in Madrid, and was disillusioned, and I lost the job, and I had ignored better offers from other countries! The point is that this wastes time and costs money.
Most recently I taught in South Korea. I may well go back. In that country I met a couple on holiday. A Spanish woman and her American husband had opened a travel business in Seville. I asked about the paperwork involved, and the American admitted that it was a nightmare compared with the U.S. (and presumably the U.K.). There was so much to-ing and fro-ing and having to get the same document more than once. I have to emphasise that their business was succeeding. But they needed a lot of money to start it, money from the USA, not Spain.
I can tell you that one problem is that between 1939 and 1975, Spain had Franco to deal with. But France, Germany, the US and so on were booming, while Franco mismanaged Spain and crippled the economy. There is still a lot of historical baggage from back then, for example, the obsession with buying property before 2008.
All in all, while I acknowledge that some people had a great experience in Spain, the country is in a difficult state still, and many Spanish people are still suffering. We should be sober and realistic about that country. We should not be surprised that things can go wrong.
anne says
Hello Denise. How right you are. I live in Galicia too and totally concur with the comments about Spain being a backward economy and society (as one of the commentators below said – 3rd world with a 1st world veneer). I knew a lot of Spanish people before I moved here and they were all wonderful – AND not representative because they had all decided to spread their wings and see the world. And obviously, they were not xenophobic. If you are thinking of moving here please be aware of the by far higher levels of overt racism here (my opinion, but if you live here you know exactly what I’m talking about). Gibralter is not a joke here. It generates a lot of anti-British feeling. Do not underestimate it and never joke about it. The social backwardness may be a result of Franco’s rule but you really need to be aware of it if you move here. It has made my life miserable. I have been seriously and publicly criticised for not making my own bread every day! Economically, what may seem quaint on a holiday makes for a massively miserable lifestyle. I am a minimalist and not very material at all, but I find it hard to cope with. Every commodity seems to be overpriced. And don’t expect your food bill to be lower (it will be higher). Smaller problems are lack of any form of customer service and truly abysmal roads. Bigger problems include the hideous opportunism and corruption that pervades all levels of society. Not just businesses but neighbours will try to rip you off. It’s really very depressing. Driving is atrocious and dangerous. Every day I drive back from work the roads are teeming with obviously intoxicated drivers swarming everywhere. The police? They are more interested in stopping foreigners than anything else. Never stopped in the UK. Stopped at least two times EVERY MONTH here. For me, the two worst things here are (a) the aggression towards foreigners (b) animal welfare – my neighbours openly thrash their animals in front of me with sticks until they bleed and even burn their ears with cigarettes. I have rescued countless animals here and this is the ONLY reason I am staying here at the moment! For the record, I’ve lived in other countries too. This is the worst. Very sad. Had high hope. Dashed.
jezza says
Some of this is amusing. many Brits go to Spain, cant speak a word of Spanish and then moan that the Spanish don’t speak much English. Hilarious really. Everyone wants to live the dream on the costa’s but the competition is massive and they often do it with eyes closed and cant speak the language. My own experience is limited, but did spend two weeks in Malaga city on an intensive language course and I found the people there warm and accommodating.
bobbo says
Nothing to do with being able to speak Spanish, many of them are unemployed and they rip each other off without much effort.
I suggest you buy a car privately (not from a garage), a fairly simple and quick process in the UK which Spain has managed to turn into a over worked nightmare (seller->trafico->tax office->bank->tax office->trafico, plenty of long long queues to wait in while you’re enjoying yourself, and the process takes at least 1 full day, probably 2)
Bridget says
Reading so many of these negative comments about life in Spain, i have come to the conclusion that none of these disappointed people have ever lived in Getmany or south of France as an ex pat …. try that for size …..
Dominique says
Spot on ! So far as I could ascertain in my numerous travels, Germans stick to themselves. And the French are hardly better, especially in Southern France. A normal French person never walks up to you for a chat. You can be in a crowded park and be lonely as fuck. Happens everywhere. But in France you’ll be lonely even when you share an interest with them – for example in a sport club – they tend not to communicate with “strangers”. I know that so well because… I am French.
darren says
Moved to a country hes never lived in before with 15,000 euros , wow, what an idiot, and made every mistake he could have made in any other country. Don’t blame the country blame the fool he is !!
Jeanne Fox says
As someone else has pointed out, why do people keep referring to themselves as ex-pat, and other cultures moving to the UK as immigrants. We are all immigrants, if we move into another Country. I lived in South West France and had no British migrants living near us. My language skills we dreadful, but we loved living there, got involved with neighbours, hosted meals and made friends. I don’t remember meeting anyone who was unpleasant.
Dave Findlay says
I have lived in Spain for eleven years. Your first person who posted said they had been in Spain for 4 years when the currency was the pesada, I think not it was the euro. The main problem with most expats is that they want little England in Spain, don’t make any attempt to intigrate with the Spanish, make no or little attempt to speak the language,and wonder why they feel unwelcome. They also forget that most Spanish understand English (having been taught it since the age of 5)and will blithely make disparaging and offensive remarks about the country and people. They also do no homework before they decide to move here, have scant regard for the law evidenced by the number driving around in English registered cars which are on sorn certificates in England and so are uninsured and driving them after consuming large amounts of drink. As to the roads., are any of you going to try to tell people our roads in Spain are worse than the pothole ridden tracks in England? As to crime if you choose to only live partirme in an expat conclave which is a burglar paradise that’s your choice, and your risk, shop assistants not serving you but talking to one another, sounds. More like England to me. In all my Eleven years here I have always been treated with extreme kindness,recieved the best medical treatment.and never been ripped off except once and that was by another English expat. It sounds to me as if you expect the Spanish to drop everything for you the old expat attitude ( don’t they know ow I’m English) instead of I’m a guest here and I’m going to integrate. Can you imagine what the attitude would be if a large population of non English tried to build an urbanisation on the coast at Bournemouth would be.? So to conclude I would say to anyone in England who is thinking of moving here, is do your homework, find out what the laws are, obay them and you will find d yourself living with some of the happiest, friendliest people in the world. To those of you on this site moaning, stop we don’t want to bred you the Spanish dont want to here, and none of us want you. So goodbye
Jamboni says
This is what frustrates me about Spain the most; the conformism. You can’t just think Spain’s OK, you have to love it and blindly advocate for it. The local side streets, and I live in the city, couldn’t stand up to a cold snap and three weeks of rain to the point where anything more than 20 km/h is like driving my mum’s old Triumph Herald. It’s like you have to obtain the fervour of a Spanish nationalist or else you can’t fit in, which is the point Sammy makes in the original article. I see some good, I see a lot of bad. My attitude is still that life is what you make of it.
REGGIE ANDREWS (deaf) says
I am profoundly deaf 7 77 y/o wants like leaves for sitting down in Benidorm area because of unhappy life at Poole home o I want have confidentially to leaves way to start new life there if possible but i need touch with Spain future for myself soon but I have problem with debt over £15,000 for 9 + more Owe to company i apologised about it hope able help me ways to Spain by quick leaves Possible but wait see and I need have one bedroom with walking to shower please thanks hope keep touch soon my state benefits is good but I am nt sure yet but maybe rights or not I will gets new passport near soon but my neighbour always fll noe about my own business so really nothing with them
Juan says
Well, english friends, certainly in Spain we are not to blame for being perfect, like you … but there is always the option to return, right? it must be a torture to live in a country that has nothing to do with yours, where the natives prefer to speak their language instead of english, where you are not given facilities to work in comfortable offices … really, are disgusting these spanish, treat the english so badly.
However, England is an admirable country, where if they hear a spaniard speak in their language and they beat him up, where if a spaniard complains about something they invite him to leave, where if the spaniard asks for a drink and can not pronounce well in english the waiter ignores him, where the best jobs they give the spaniards is to clean dishes … then, Spaniards, you do things wells for once, and you copy to the english.
Felipe says
Juan, don’t be so bitter, The English don’t have the monopoly on biggotry and stupidity.
People need to accept that the cultures are different and enjoy the differences.
I spend the summer in Spain and the winter in England, the reason is that Spanish houses are so poorly constructed/ insulated. In my opinion why try and heat a house that was designed to lose heat.
I que in the shops with Spanish people and yes we don’t que in a line
I like seeing the traffic waiting while two friends say “hola”
Too many English bring their English mentality with them, just the same as too many Spaniards
have their anti- establishment closet communism chip on their shoulder.
I have many Spanish friends and know many more spaniards that aren’t worth the time of day,and it is the same scenario in England.
My advice is earn your money in England and spend some of it in Spain, rent a home for minimum of 2 years before buying( if at all) forget about working like a dog…. it’s just too hot ,and learn to laugh at things that used to wind you up!
Anne says
I have never read something more ridiculous in my life. Spain is by fat my favorite country and I’m so glad my husband and I moved here 5 years ago. All of our friends are locals (our Spanish is very good), life quality here is excellent, people are so friendly and warm, the food is perfect, we are in love with this beautiful country… The UK is depressing, people are cold, the weather and the food suck and everything is just grey. Spain is colorful, happy, warm, friendly, open… their culture is incredibly beautiful, and Spain is just gorgeous. I want to spend my life exploring every single Spanish town. The post makes absolutely no sense, everything is a generalization of a particular bad experience, or just a plain lie. Spain is the love of my life.
Toni says
I agree I really really really dislike living on the Costa del Sol. I imagine it would be a bit different somewhere else maybe where they aren’t andalucian but you have hit the nail on the head. No customer service at all. They are right the customer is wrong deal with it attitude. Everything seems to be cheap quality but more expensive that other places with clothes and the food quality is poor. The country is ridiculously boring when it rains or is cold as there is nothing to do but eat or drink. The driving…..do t get me started. The noise is ridiculous but the Spanish just don’t seem to notice they are screaming across a road to a ate in a busy restaurant for 5 minutes or bibbing their car horn constantly or stopping in the middle of a road for a chat with 20 cars behind. Ignorance is normality here.
Could blame their education but it is their way and I hate it. Counting the days till I leave Europe altogether. Feels like Spai is a 3rd world country so I may as well go and live in one and get a new experience.
Victor says
I am from Spain, and frankly, except for honorable exceptions, I have never read so much nonsense and stupid things of my country like those that are written in this forum. Some really absurd valuations. It is to write a book
And also almost always generalizing
Sheryll says
I certainly hope you’re right, Victor. I was planning to visit Seville for a month, and look into possibly moving there. But if these valuations are correct, no thank you. I’m from the U.S. and wonder if this is just the U.K. way of looking at things
Victor says
No, these are not the things or the way of seeing Spain in UK, are the conclusions of some people, nothing more. People who may have once arriving to Spain, had a touch with someone, and then we are all bad. Can you imagine? I’m going to the United States, I have a problem with someone or with the police, and oh! All Americans are bad! Seriously, do you see that rational? Therefore, when you come you have to draw your own conclusions for yourself, and try not to come with prejudice and not let yourself be influenced by comments from outsiders, because if you come with a negative predisposition to the spaniards, then you will not need to know us , because everything we do will seem wrong for you: the gestures, the way of speaking, etc etc etc
In my opinion, I think that as a general rule we are friendly and cordial even with people who are not from Spain, although I also have to tell you that we are human beings, and that you can find someone who may not have had a good day. But issuing a judge for that person and extrapolating it to 47 million people would not be fair, do not you think? Spain receives 80 million tourists every year, so we should not be so bad or horrible like some want to make us seem here
I have come to read that here there are people who hate Spain for truly improbable things, like that people here talk to each other and do not say hello. Should they say hello to this Briton, if they do not know him at all? I am spaniard, I have lived here all my life, and my friends or well-known people greet me, but not all the people, even the Spaniards, greet me. Or people who have lived all their lives here in Spain, and do not know Spanish, not even the most basic, then it is something that frustrates them, locks them up in their community and does not know the country or the culture, and from here to hate only there is a step
I know many foreigners, in this case from the EU and mainly British who live in Spain (and here are some) and are delighted to live here, with answers such as saying look at the blue sky every day or deal with their neighbors, the gastronomy, etc etc etc, is something that is very rewarding. And I’m talking about very young people to retirees
Learning the language also helps a lot, especially when you are going to live in a country, because it allows you to know the country, culture, etc etc etc. It is not mandatory, here there are communities of foreigners who live among them, they speak among themselves in their language, they read their newspapers in their language, etc etc etc, but after you don’t complain if you have never been able to have friends (in this case Spanish) or not know people better, or what they really wanted to tell you, etc etc etc. As I said before, from here to hate the country, it is not very difficult. And I assure to you that in Spain we are very patient (since my point of view, too much patients) even with foreigners who have gone to the doctor speaking in English, and on top of that they got angry because the doctors did not speak their language, they had to bring a translator. There are gestures of arrogance that were to frame them in a box
In short, I think that people here without being perfect are reasonably kind. And if you ever come, I hope your stay is rewarding. And although our country is not very big, it’s not just beach, also it offers more varied things, such as mountain, fauna, history, etc etc etc
Regards
Jamboni says
I think Americans appreciate Spain much more than Brits. It depends where you go really and where you’re from. Culture is very different depending on where you go. I’m from London, we’re not into greeting everybody hello and goodbye, we barely even look at other people on public transport. In Madrid, I had an issue where I wasn’t saying hello and goodbye to people in the lift in the office. Kissing or shaking hands every time you see people is just so alien to me. However, what I would consider basic common courtesy and manners is largely missing. Madrlienos don’t strike me as particularly cold but people from other parts of Spain and other parts of the UK tell me that they are.
Don’t jump to conclusions. Make sure you’re working on your basic language and pronunciation, say hello to random grannies in the street, don’t accidentally eat tripe or intestines in a tapas bar. It’s fairly straightforward.
Jacob says
Wow, I’ve never come across such a sad negative view of Spain.. As an American who has lived over in Europe half my life I have always strived to learn the language of my new adopted country. I think if you don’t try an integrate to some extent you will never be happy in a new country. Of course, living in a foreign land you may always feel like a bit of a foreigner but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, I’ve lived so long outside of the States that when I go back there with the current political climate I feel more like a foreigner there than in Europe!
I speak Polish and Czech and live in Central Europe for the last 18 years. I’m now planning on moving to Spain with my family in a year’s time. Funny place to ask for advice, but from the comments it seems there are many level heads who dropped some knowledge so..
I am looking for an area that is coastal, good weather but also not too touristy (We will leave during July & August anyway) but also not too isolated where we can leave a happy peaceful life and integrate as much as possible into the culture and language. Work isn’t a problem because we run our own small family business with international customers and can easily relocate this to Spain. The two areas we want to explore are in the hills close to Almunecar on the Costa Tropical or to Gandia, one hour south of Valencia.
Any advice on living in the Valencia area vs Almunecar? We want to buy a small house or finca with enough land to have a nice garden and fruit trees but also be fairly close to either of these towns. We are both musicians, love to play music, hike in the mountains, meet interesting people and attend cultural events.
Any genuine guidance or helpful opinions I’m most grateful for!
Liz Morris says
Try Rincón de la Victoria, half an hour on a bus from Málaga. I sort of don’t even want to tell anyone about it. It’s so lovely. I adore Valencia, my favourite of all the Spanish cities I’ve been in. But the place I would want to live in, if I weren’t in rainy grey Dublin (Ireland) is Rincón. I have to say that I don’t know of any places that have live music there, but then I don’t know it as well as I’d like. If ever I tire of rain and grey, and want to live under blue skies I shall go and live in Rincón.
What I know of Spain does not tally with the accounts of the people who’ve not loved it. I love Spain, love the food, love the people, love the culture. I speak some Spanish but would expect to have difficulties with my level of Spanish, just as I’d expect anyone trying to deal with housing agencies or gardaí or any State officials who didn’t have very good English if they were here. I have always found Spanish people to be extremely helpful and encouraging to anyone who speaks any Spanish / tries to use the Spanish they have. I am going to enrol in a class in Spanish in the Instituto Cervantes as soon as I can.
robert cook says
I love all this moaning and groaning about living in spain, the trouble is alot of brits who come to live here in spain are all so obsessed with themselves they think because they own their own home here that they are entittled to be treatted better than everyone else.
They often choose to live in little enclaves or Clicks if you will, and not intergrate into the spanish way of life, I am sometimes embarassed to be English when some owners/ tourists are here as their atitude is one of inpatience and sometimes downright ignorance, but i guess you get that where ever you live or holiday.
My family and i have lived here in spain for 12 years and love every minute of it, yes the paperwork and beaurocrasy (please forgive my spelling) can drive you mad but in the end with persisstance things get done.
My two sons are fluent in both castillano and catalan while my wife and i are not fluent but are able to make conversation, put it this way i will never starve or die of thirst !!! we all work here and have had no problems finding work either.
We choose to live in a village rather than trying to lord it up in some resort which frankly is not my scene, Living on Menorca i have to say yes in summer it becomes difficult to relax with tourists from all over europe and even further a field but living here you come to except it because we all know in 6 months we get the island back and its time to once more relax.
Blue says
It happens in the U.S. all the time. Immigrants come and open their own grocery stores and restaurants. That’s what I love about the U.S. From my experience, the locals in more cosmopolitan areas are much nicer because there’s more diversity, so they’re more open-minded. Why does this make you angry?
Toni says
I have to disagree from the perspective and experience of living in the coastal area of Marbella its awful! I definitely chose the wrong area but the Spanish way in Andalucia is a joke with the worst customer service I have ever experienced and their go away you are wrong lying attitude is unbelievable. I have set my plans in motion to leave and hope never to return to the area as an expat. Trying to get something as simple as a health card here when I am paying through the nose for tax and social security with autonomo payments and they cannot even get a card to me that hasn’t already been cancelled is a joke as with all of their other ridiculously impossible hoops they make you jump through. Glad it works for you but even with my partner who speaks fluent spanish they find it impossible and the Doctors are just as impossible who are stubborn and just get you to take expensive pills instead of solving a problem. Good luck to you all!
Elkabo says
Ok then please don’t get back to Spain.
I think a Spaniard stole your girlfriend because I have never seen more false things in my whole life. Seriously. You just described Venezuela or something and then compared it to Spain. Just with these parts: Spain unsafe, bad roads and scams … anyone who spended at least 1 week here knows that nothing of this is true. Actually you can find better roads connecting orange cultivations in Spain than regional roads in the UK. But yes whatever.
Sally says
Well. Only the well off and rich Brits will be able to move to or stay in Spain after Brexit.
casandra says
What it might be missing is the fact of TAXATION in Spain . I found it ludicrous the fact that nothing in spain ( according to what i read on the internet ) nothing is permanent but there are always and often changes on the taxes and even Capital Gains tax charged to expats assets sold out of Spain.
I have compared Spain with other main countries and find out that the best financially speaking in EU are:
Portugal and Malta. Malta is a tax heaven for expats. Portugal very sensible approach to expats.
Passin Thru says
France and the US are #1 & 2 most visited. I would think instead of defending all the crime and gang issues you people would fight it like we’ve been doing. Funny but now they have a gang war going inside prison. If you keep turning your backs, the gangs will take over. They are bullies. As far as jobs, you really should have a job before you up and move to a foreign country. It’s pretty idiotic not to. My brother in law lives in NW Spain and he his wife and kids love it and are staying til they retire. Here in the US the next generation seems to be the same about Etiquette. They don’t open doors, say please, thank you only have a memememememememememe attitude. My friends daughter is 21 and thinks her parents owe her everything and to think I kicked both mine out at 18.
Tom Mole says
I’ve lived is Spain now for over 30 years, mostly in Madrid but also in San Sebastian and Zaragoza (my favourite Spanish city).
In those years I’ve set up a English teaching business with a Spanish friend – well, he was born and brought up in Morocco, but not Moroccan – but then, not really Spanish. But he’s the only Spanish friend I have after all those years. My wife is Spanish and is really the only reason why I stay in Spain.
The idea that the Spanish are open and friendly and welcoming is not true; they aren’t. They’re not hostile either, just indifferent. Making friends or finding somebody with your outlook on life is very difficult for British people, bordering on the impossible. This is a problem for me as I had an active social life when I lived in England. Now I find myself alone apart from my wife and her family who I see about every other month for the ritual boring family get together. I’m retired now so the feeling of isolation is even more.
There are so many cultural differences – not speaking to people you don’t know, not appreciating humour and only looking out for people who are friends or family make it hard work getting to live some kind of normal life. All my attempts at humour fall flat and my political and social attitudes – I’m inoffensively liberal –
are way off the mark for Spaniards. Spain has a very different culture. Hard and unforgiving.
I could go on (and on) about the lack of academic or cultural standards, the crushing bureaucracy and total lack of responsibility from just about everybody (there are honourable exceptions TBH) but suffice it to say that Spain has been a big disappointment for me. The one big plus is that the nature and wildlife in Spain is wonderful but doesn’t make up for all the other negatives.
Blue says
As a woman who lives in Spain, Spanish women can be a bit hostile! As a friend puts it, it’s a “culture of jealousy.”
Jamboni says
My Spanish can be pretty limited at times. I know what I know but I also know what is beyond me.
However, when I go to the bank, I happily chat to the lady behind the counter and she’s quite nice to me. My wife went in there and came out saying “what a hostile bitch”. Every time I go, she’s nice. Every time my wife goes, she’s a horrid bitch. We’ve had this experience time and again with women around the neighbourhood.
Blue says
Wow, I’m sorry 🙁 To be fair, I feel like the city makes a difference, at least from my experience. In general, I didn’t have great experiences in smaller northern cities but I love Catalunya, and so far, I’m enjoying Seville (call me crazy, but I’m going through a better astrological cycle as well, so things have improved here more than before). Whatever the case is, I know it’s a problem everywhere but some places are worse than others!
Blue says
Also, when I deal with chauvinism here, I tend to have more issues with the women than the men. Women can reinforce sexist views as well (i.e., seeing other women as nothing but a threat and as competition)!
Jamboni says
I’ve only ever lived in Madrid and, unless there’s a serious change in circumstance, I assume that will be the only place I live in. My wife is neither Spanish nor British but she said she’s take Britain 100 times out of 100.
Blue says
I take it back – Seville is just as bad. The women are an absolute nightmare with other women. So glad I’m leaving soon.
shelagh says
Yet more expats that have done NO research whatsoever, plonked themselves in a ghetto and now complain. What is wrong with cleaning pools? Did he think he was going to get a job as a brain surgeon? Its called “Work Ethic” some of us have it, most of these people don’t. If you need to live, you work, and you do whatever (legal) job is offered, Another Brit with entitlement issues. The idiot complaining about Spanish shop practices and queuing was another gem. The Spanish do queue. They just don’t stand in a silly line to do it. IF she had bothered ro learn some Spanish and about Spanish life she would have known that you just join the group asking “Quien es Ultima?” Who is last? They will tell you, and you know your place in the queue. When the next person arrives you tell them you are now last and so it goes. How simple is that to understand? Also it is rather nice that they like to chat Its called community spirit. You just allow time for it. People like that woman make me sick. I hope she settles back into her life in Romford or wherever And will you please stop referring to the Costas as Spain. They ARE NOT Spain. They are Foreigners living some warped idea of Spain in silly houses and being ripped of by their own. Strangely enough I can wander the streets at 2am, kids play unsupervised until 1am, gentleman carry my shopping, I can leave my car and house unlocked and no one rips me off. Perhaps because I live in SPAIN, not some abortion on the edge of it
Debbie says
Can you kindly tell me which area of Spain you live in, please. We are looking to retire in the next 5 yrs and are wanting the real Spain, not the Costas.
Thank you
jane rawlins says
house is freezing in the winter months cant get a job want to go back to pembrokershire to my detached house fully central heated woodburner and good job cant wait to get out of this place
Jesus says
Why did you not get a house with central heating? That’s crazy
jane rawlins says
ha ha
Blue says
In Seville, they are overtly sexist. At these little Spanish cafes, half the time, the men won’t even wait on solo female customers. They’ll call you to pick up your food/drinks but bring out the food/drinks to other people (when a man is there, or maybe if they’re Spaniards). It’s really gross.
leandrin says
To all the unhappy brits expats in Spain… Just move back to your country guys… Over there in the UK everything is nicer… Nothing to do here!!!
Javier says
It turns very dangerous when it begins to generalize.
There is one important fact, Spain is the #1 most visited country in the world, and eventually a lot of these tourists decide to stay here. So maybe we are not that bad.
Crazy, mean, rude, ignorant people can be found everywhere. If you had a bad experience, I’m really sorry.
Stop spreading unnecessary nonsense hate, even when you are being kicked off Europe.
Unity in diversity, always.
Si Pedro nga Ingles says
Javier, I have just read a number of the ex pat post’s moaning about the Spanish and Spain being English myself I have say we are a lazy race of people when it comes to speaking any foreign language (I include myself), I am married to a Filipina, my wife is teaching me Cebuano ( base on Spanish but a little harder to learn) although not the national language the area’s my new family live speak this. It get’s me annoyed when someone up sticks (so to speak) moves to a foreign country be it within or outside the EU and have the nerve to say they do not speak English, they hate the British, yet when living in the UK often a foreigner is told learn English normally in a loud voice as if the person is deaf who maybe just asking the way to so and so. No one force these Brit’s migrants to live in Spain, it was their choice. If you move to a country without researching the pro’s and con’s then sorry that is your fault it is not the host countries fault. I have never had any trouble with the Spanish yes things tend to go a little slower than in the UK but you are not living in the UK and that is YOUR choice. I have been lucky in my 68 years on the planet I have travelled to many countries not on holidays but also as part of my work, I have two Golden rules and keeping to these rules I have never had trouble with locals:
1/ Learn to speak a litttle of the language you are visiting, even if is just one or two words such as Hello, take a phrase book try to speak to a person in their languish using the phrase book, yes they may laugh at the way you are saying not in nasty way but the way you are pronoucing tthe words but if you try then they will go out of their way to help you.
2/ Obey the country you are in Laws, you break the law then do not expect to be treated any different than any local.
Remember the old saying “You’ve made your bed, now lie in it” as it is your choice.
Blue says
I speak the language but I speak it with an accent, so I’m always a foreigner here (and female, which makes it worse). People are friendlier with me in more touristic places although sometimes, there are still Spaniards who just don’t like non-Spaniards and get this attitude when I speak “their” language. The provincial places might be quaint and cute to visit, but totally alienating to live in so I’ll be moving elsewhere soon, thank God.
Melissa Dura says
One thing I have been doing is writing about my experiences of learning Spanish in Spain – Madrid to be exact. I do it because I love writing, but also to help me process and make sense of my own experiences, whilst also hopefully inspiring a few others. Good luck with your quest. One thing I have to say is that you will probably always feel like a ‘foreigner’. That is no bad thing, it’s simply what you are. Before I moved here I was married to another ‘foreigner’ in the UK, so in a way I was somewhat prepared for how it might feel myself. Gaining language skills and making friends with Spanish people and long-term residents will open up your world, trust me. Good luck with your quest! 🙂
Blue says
Thank you Melissa. The friendliest and most open-minded people here are other foreigners, and I’m fine with that. I’m sure I’ll settle somewhere eventually, ideally a place with a good amount of diversity.
Carl says
So you have an accent and people know you’re a foreigner. Welcome to the world! That’s what it is like for the rest of the non English speaking world ALL THE TIME. You need to embrace that. Let people get to know you and get to know other people. Trying to fit into a new culture takes time and adjustment.
It’s funny here in Barcelona I reconnected with an old American friend who was living here and made friends with his other American friends. They had this little war on who was becoming more Spanish, who wad more local friends, or could speak better Catalan or participated more in local traditions. I always found it funny but also a bit sad because they were only doing that to fight their frustration. An unnecessary frustration because they were all already integrated.
The rest goes to the OP:
Seriously, I am appalled at what I’ve read today.
So yes, Spain is not wonderland but many of the things that have been said here are either blatant lies or a generalization of a single bad experience.
Crime in Spain: Astonishingly low rates of crime. Tons of pickpocketing in larger cities though.
The only time my house has been burglared was in Liverpool, but I don’t go telling people you will get robbed if you move to the UK, or lived in fear for the rest of my stay there.
Living and Working in Spain: Welcome to the Spain, we’ve been telling you, we work more hours and get paid less. The whole world still call us lazy asses
The Word Manana: That’s what you get when people are being overworked and underpaid
Customer Service in Spain: I have to agree with you on this one. Although it really depends what you like and where you are.
Getting Ripped Off in Spain: Come on. Spain is like the cheapest country. So there are some touristy places that make money on tourists. Well, just stay away from big sangria jugs and fluorescent yellow paellas. Corruption indeed is a huge problem in Spain.
Poor Roads/Facilities in Spain: The orography of Spain makes it really expensive to build roads and even then we have tons of free highways that are in a pretty ok state. If you compare building roads in flat Britain to building roads in the mountains in Spain that is just not a fair comparison. And in general public facilities are fantastic. Try a public service in the UK
Where is the best place to live in Spain (for expats)? This is up to them to decide. I personally like bigger towns near the coast or Madrid. When you start talking all “costa something, costa something else” that’s when you give out you probably never got out of your expat community. It’s a learning curve to be a foreign country but it looks like you didn’t even make an effort
What are the cheapest places to live in Spain?
What are the best cities to move in Spain?
What are the best places to live in Spain for Americans? Couldn’t say, but I think the question is just wrong. Can’t two different American individuals have a different experience in different parts of spain? My personal experience in the wild west of the United States as a Spaniard was great. Others might be better off in New York, or in Miami where more Latinos live.
I don’t mean to be rude but it just gets on my nerves when people from the dominating culture just throw a tantrum about how their little ‘expat’ (never say immigrant, of course) adventure in a foreign country went wrong.
Blue says
Carl, you can tell immigrants to “embrace” whatever, but I’ll never embrace bigotry. Sorry. Also, you’re a dude. I see men come to Spain and sweep up a sweet little Spanish wife left and right. It doesn’t work that way for women, which is something you’ll never understand.
Bernard Tardif says
Here is someone who makes sense! Make a decision from living in the country you chose and adapt rather than expect the country to fit your needs. Some of the greatest experiences in life come unexpected.
jane rawlins says
go
Melissa Dura says
As I have often thought when hearing immigrants to the UK saying that they hate they country, ‘you don’t really know the country’ – the same thought applies here. I thought your post here was really interesting and I agree with it 100%, living here as an immigrant in Spain. I especially like your comment that the two countries are simply ‘different’. Thank you so much for taking the time to write an honest and unbiased account of your experiences in both countries.
Melissa Dura says
Sorry, the above comment was meant for someone else in this thread, but your point about the language is exactly how I feel – and also your stress on the fact that the majority of British people come to Spain by choice, and choice alone.
auldgrumpy says
Anyone that thinks the UK is better than ANY country in the EU, sorry, but you living in cloud cuckoo land. Tory run UK is a disgrace. More corrupt and deceitful politicians than anywhere else. Only if you are a millionaire tory voter do you get treated as a person. Spain treats people as people deserve to be treated. (Mostly). They also like good workers, not the average UK shirker. I have no intention of going back to the shambles that is UK. And as for the roads, UK roads are pitiful compared to Spains.
Frank says
Obviously Nick has no clue what he is talking about. Firstly, he is mentioning Spain when he has been living in Nerja, a quasi village. Nerja is not Spain and Spain is not Nerja. The roads in Spain are one of the best in Europe. Nick most likely had a bad experience because he most likely didn’t talk one word of Spanish. If in Spain speak the language. If too was scammed in Spain once, not by a Spaniard but by a Brit who now lives in London. Generalizing is a very dumb thing to do. It’s like getting into a car accident in Paris and saying all French people are bad drivers.
leja says
Crime is rife, the customer service are rude and kids do get bullied and battered, anyone who tells you it doesn’t happen has been lucky? I was in many areas of spain and my family are Spanish, they don’t have the same brit mentality so don’t expect them to reform to you? they are kind and helpful if you ask I assure you, stupid to go without money as the country is struggling in its self, jobs are mainly restaurants/café, the Spanish have huge families and so word spread fast if a job is about to float, yes like any good country they look after their own but that don’t make them bad, crime is rife, people and dogs are doped and robbed, some leave marks on your wall for gang members to understand who or what they are stealing, kids are bullied bad and the brits do fight, so all the peeps on here screaming liers, its not lies, to all the people on here crying they hate it? well you came to a country unprepared and failing to prpare is preparing to fail, so, go spain, rent if you want to stay, but you will always be learning.
Luis says
I am agree that Spain has bad things but likewise in England. I am living in England for 2 years and to be honest, every day I spend here, I am looking forward to coming back to Spain. 2 years it is too long, I know but I have tried in different places. First Bournemouth, then Manchester, then Falmouth (Cornwall), Portsmout and Eastbourne (now). I tried different places and I found most of the time the same.
– Rude people. There are polite people as well, of course, but most of them, my personal experience was that they did not smile or speak in a bad way. (F****** hell. Bloody hell…)
– Plenty and plenty of chavs. In Spain we have some cani people. There are a lot but here in England, whenever I went, I found an incredibly huge ammounts of chav groups.
– There are plenty of jobs and opportunities. That is good but… in which conditions. I have seen that any rude people van be manager. Maybe people don’t see the relation between ruse and professional. I have seen how managers are quiet rude and people from companies left for this. Then, they have constantily the same problem. “We are short of staff…” This is something I learnt in the university. Managers should be nice, friendly, not too bossy. Maybe, I was unlucky, but the managers I found here in the different places (not all but most of them, have been arrogant and rude).
– Too many lads, young people, drinking alcohol in the street at 1/2 pm. One thing I was quiet shocked and surprised from England is the big ammount of people who drink in the street too early and how they have easily acces to the drugs. In Spain, people drink as well but I did not see they did too early. I have seen drugs sometimes as well. In England, it was a very big coincide that whenever I went, I found drug,
Well, and at night I have got afraid to go out. At least I found minimum two strong fights. (I am not exagerating). At first I thought. Ups, Bournemouth… But in all the places I have been living in UK, fights in the streets. I felt not sure I always think: I don’t want to have a child and don’t grow up here… In fact, in the buses, they mess up a lot, something I don’t see commonly in Spain.
Another thing, I found an incredibly ammount of ignorant people. They don’t know on average about others cultures nor languages. In Spain at least younger people start learning another languages or know about general knowledge. I saw a girl with a dolphin tatto in her arm and I told her. Oh, Dolphin is a clever animal” “Oh, REALLY, is it? Waaau!. Something like that.
.Weather… I feel depressing with that. I am ea person who enjoyes outdoors, having a walk, at night with my music… Here, I can’t. When I go out for a walks at 9pm for example, I barely find people in the streets. Just lighted houses.
And well, there are much more but I just focused in the main aspects.
Every country has their good and bad things. Spain, the big problem is the corruption (Above all in the South) but in England I think the big problem is the society. They refer to the wealth when someone dislike his country. I found too many people “But we are richer…” Yes, that’s ok. But money is not everything.
I prefer to be honest, earn less money and have a better quality of life. Education of the people, have a coffe in a terrace outside with nice people, talking… Go to the supermarket and find and smell fresh food and above all, walk in a place where most of the people smile and say, hello, good morning and could go out at nights thinking I am going to dance with people with nice music instead of finding problems, fights.
Pst: AI have to add: In a pub, when I wanted to order, English that have already ordered still stay in the desk. I mean, they don’t order and go to another place and leave free the space for the next customer. I had to struggle for ordering in some pubs.
In this case, Germany is better for living. I am going back to Spain before winter. I am looking forward to it. And If I am not lucky, I’ll be back but in Germany.
stupid-spain says
One thing the Spanish won’t tell you, they are the biggest bunch of rip-off artists and con-merchants you’ll find anywhere. They do it to themselves and foreigners too.
As for not drinking at 1/2pm, well, I’ve seen plenty of Spaniards knocking back the booze in bars at 10 in the morning.
Jesus Quist says
Same with the Portuguese. Must be their Semitic blood. Italians are more honest.
Blue says
Italians are more honest?! Haha! Good one. If by charging flat fees at metered taxis and inventing over the top prices for tourists, then yes by all means, they’re “honest”.
Si Pedro nga Ingles says
Luis well said there is always one person who cannot hack it in another country
Melissa Dura says
As I have often thought when hearing immigrants to the UK saying that they hate they country, ‘you don’t really know the country’ – the same thought applies here. I thought your post here was really interesting and I agree with it 100%, living here as an immigrant in Spain. I especially like your comment that the two countries are simply ‘different’. Thank you so much for taking the time to write an honest and unbiased account of your experiences in both countries.
Anthony says
I am a Lithuanian expat in England and I have been to Spain many times and I can say that Spain is a very nice country with very nice people.
Richard says
I am sure true but you are not living there. You are not an expat in Spain, I think if you ever have to deal with their bureaucracy you may well change your mind.
Anthony says
Lived in Portugal and their bureaucracy was a slight inconvenience, but the climate and the views are well worth it. It depends on an individual. I am fine with a bureaucracy as long as I set myself to live at a slow pace. No place is perfect. Not even Japan.
Elkabo says
Spain has both better climate and views than elsewhere in Portugal does.
Spain has a much better health care and infrastructure as well. It’s practically 2 different leagues. I agree Portugal is slightly cheaper but it’s not worthy. In southern Spain you can get summer days even in winter, while in Portugal that’s more like a dream.
Isabel says
Richard, bureaucracy in Spain got much worse since they entered the EU, but if you are not happy living there you can always go back to your own country.
Richard Tedeschi says
My wife and I are thinking of relocating to Spain, I have lived in Italy for 30 years, I think I will have no surprises with Spanish bureaucracy 😛
Richard says
Isabel, I am because I am fortunate enough to be able to afford to buy a house (exchange of contracts three days ago). You make it seem as if leaving is just a matter of buying an airline ticket and strolling down to the airport. In fact it is an extremely stressful exercise. You have to sell the Spanish property in a dead market, HMRC demands penal levels of Stamp Duty if you don´t do the impossible and sell the Spanish property on the same day as you purchase in the UK or rent in between. You have to purchase a house from a distance and deal with solicitors and banks that tell you to call in at the offices or to go to the house you are purchasing to check up on some minor point. You have to pack up everything to a high standard for the long trip, you have to find a company that will collect from areas with restricted access for large vehicles. If you have pets there is the making sure that they have their chips in place and the vaccinations. Then you have to arrange their transport. I am seventy, I have to do all this all by myself. Oh yes so so easy to go back.
When I stayed in Spain for five months a year the bureaucracy was an inconvenience but nothing more. On becoming resident there was a lot of running about getting the documentation sorted out. But then came the nightmare MODELO 720. Each and everything you own in another part of the EU has to be listed in great detail and if you get anything wrong there is a threat of massive fines. I estimate it took me 125 man hours gathering the information. When I phoned the companies they did not have the information required without a great deal of passing up to a more senior level. I then I had to pay and accountant €400 to compile and present the information. And in case you are thinking my assets were in millions they were most certainly not. The standard Spanish tax return asks for no information about assets Spanish or otherwise.
But of course the majority of people filling in that form are Spanish; with Modelo 720 the majority are foreigners. This stress is my reward for paying double tax I do UK (You have to pay both for the first year and then claim it back). I am not sure what the EU has to do with bureaucracy, they have been subsidised from Northern Europe for thirty years now (do you remember Spain before the EU? I seem to recall it was a bit like Colombia is these days although less efficient). Yes for some reason Junker and his right wing friends seems to think Modelo 720 is non-discriminatory (I do wonder what they would do if one of the protestant northern European countries introduced something similar). But they did not introduce it. It was the Spanish government. And it is the Spanish government that is still fighting to keep the massive disproportionate fines.
Yes I shall probably be contributing to the good life of Spanish for a few years more. But not on the scale of thousands of Euros.
Robert James Kaas says
Sounds like Portugal is the answer, especially the tropical Azores, where there is no property tax and not much in taxes beyond your vehicle tax of about 26€ per year. Rents overthere are 150 to 250€ even for a house. What not to like?
Luis says
Sure. Spain, Spain. England… What about sanity? What about average young happiness (Quality of life) in the country?
Have a look, have a look in news and articles, please.
Blue says
Isabel (and everyone else) if you don’t like these comments, you can always stop reading them.
Anthony says
I am ok dealing with bureaucracy, cause ours is the worst.
stupid-spain says
Stay away from Spain and its stupid stupid stupid bureaucracy.
As for modelo 720, how are they going to find out, if they knew they wouldn’t ask. You can find out what info is and isn’t reported from the UK to Spain, just plan ahead. The loop holes are there (premium bonds, pensions and ISAs I think aren’t reported), no need to wonder why, the people who enforce it need to avoid it too.
Majd says
Sorry but l could not help but laugh reading this, ENGLISH PEOPLE complaining that a different culture bullied them based on their race and wasn’t very accepting of them in their own country? This is the most ironic thing I have ever read lol.. you harvest what you sow l guess, Karma is known to hit hard
Richard says
? My Spanish is better than Majd´s English and I don´t go around posting on Spanish language web sites. From what I gather he is saying that the is racism in England. Well of course there is. There is racism in every country. Can´t say I have noticed much in Spain except they all think we need to be parted with our money for little or nothing in return.
PeepoG says
Thats not racism – Just business..
Xanti says
The worst problem with brits in Spain is that as soon as they come here they make their own ghettos. If you go to Canary Islands, Andalucía, or Valencia, that’s what you find (in Mallorca there’s a german ghetto, but that’s another story). For example, there’s a lot of pensionist that come here due to the healthcare, and above all the better weather, but this is not the worst people that you can find here, of course not but they didn’t want to integrate themselves in our society. Do you know that Spain it’s bigger than Canary Islands, Andalucía, or Valencia? Have you tried to live in Galicia, Cantabria, or Asturias??? No because the weather it’s colder than the south I suppose, isn’t it? Have you try to learn the language? You can’t come to a place and then trying to put your own rules. For example I can’t understand the hypocrite british politeness because it’s absolutely fake, and I still don’t know what a british are trying to tell me still so many times (in these way I prefer something rudder but honest,and you can find that kind of people in Britain as well, but there’s a lot of “very polite” people that… well you know), but when I was there I understood that it’s the way that you trate the people, and that for you it’s really important, but the thing it’s that nobody it’s so extremely “polite” with everybody, except you. Here the people it’s more direct. And finally, if you are going to live in Spain, always, and I’ll repeat once again, always for God sake, make sure to find a job before to boy the flight. If you think that spaniards use to emigrate since 2007 like a hobby, er… you must learn so many things about this country and its economic and political context.
Marie says
Having read the main article and quite a few comments, I can’t help but leave a comment. Some people write that foreigners come to Spain to the most touristic areas and that is the wrong choice. But it is an understandable choice – for many people it is exactly the sea and the beach that is most appealing. I moved to the south of Tenerife nearly three years ago, it was intended as a 4-5 months’ stay, but I loved the place and decided to stay on and try to settle in. I did not speak Spanish when I came, but, naturally, in the process of living here I have learned to speak it enough to get by with authorities etc., though not enough to work for an all-Spanish firm. I would not say I stayed hoping for a laid-back life style, I love to work and have a great sense of responsibily for doing a good job, what was appealing to me was the vicinity of beach and the possibility to go there after work and at weekends, all year round – it does work as great stress relief and gives the change of pace and relaxation like nothing else. I am also a very adaptable person, and get along with most people I meet, despite nationality, race, age, or educational background. Whatever negative comments I have read here about Spanish people can be applied to many other nations. I have met many good Spanish people here; yes, you have to speak their language as most of them do not speak English at all or not sufficiently to hold a meaningful conversation. There are cultural differences, of course, yes, there is the mañana thing, but not everyone is the same. I have dealt with very efficient and helpful people in the municipality, in gestoria, in court, in car rental agency, just to name a few. It appears to be a combination of luck as well as your own attitude: even a very professional and helpful person will turn his/her unfriendly side to you if your manner expresses mistrust and expectation of inefficiency or failure. Tenerife, naturally, does not have a wide selection of office jobs for qualified professionals, and the competition is fierce, that is only to be expected. The only truly bad thing here, as well as in the continental Spain for what I hear from other people, is the labour market situation. It does not concern people who come here for retirement or have tons of money or a good business idea (the latter two categories are not guaranteed against meeting the labour market face to face at some point either), but people who need a job to live. Salaries are low, that is one thing, but what is worse is that you can almost never hope to get a permanent contract, whether you are Canarian or whatever you are. This was the “brilliant” idea of the Spanish goverment to fight the recession of 2008 – to relax the legislation concerning temporary contracts – and vola! – the official unemployment rates have dropped allowing the governement to start boasting everywhere about the so-called Spanish miracle. In practice, it means this: you are given a temporary contract, usually 3 or 6 months initially, then it may be prolonged to one year, but not beyond that because in this case the employer must give you a permanent contract. In order to avoid this, they fire you, no matter whether you are good or bad at your job, you have your 4 months of unemployment benefits, and then the cycle repeats – work for maximum 1 year, 4 months of benefits. Hotel chains might move you to another hotel after those 4 months. Car rental agencies works the same way. So there is an army of hotel receptionists, car rental agents, waiters, cooks, and chambermaids, as well as office clerks, migrating from company to company in a cycle. Experience and work quality mean nothing, what matters to the employer is not to give you a permanent contract and not to pay you sickness/holidays/pension at all costs. There are some companies who do value employees and offer permanent contracts to good workers, but they are so few that by the time you find one you will already be planning to move away. It is not surprising that the customer service is often bad as people are discouraged and depressed. Funnily enough, it is mainly British-owned firms that offer better conditions and permanent contracts, but they are so few and often out of reach for the locals due to poor command of English. Many young Canarians, both single and families, who try to build an independent life, are often forced to give up and move back with theirs parents simply not being able to continue paying the rent. Foreigners fight for a while and leave the island. Understandably, this situation on the labour market means that there is no stability and no way to plan anything for a longer term, not to mention any career growth of course. If you need to work for a living, sooner or later this instability gets to you and you realise that not even the vicinity of the ocean helps on the general mood. Very sadly, after all this time, I am leaving for UK. After witnessing the job market and seeing everyone I know being thrown about like garbage for all this time, no sun and beach can beat a permanent contract in UK and its dignified work conditions. It is painful to see people here struggling. It is not true at all that all Spanish are so lazy as many people seem to believe, many of them work like slaves in inhuman conditions and no hope for any change. I have been extemely lucky here with my landlord, and a well-paid job that was excellent until a new manager came, but it is a mistake to think that the situation that the majority of people are in will never touch me, and staying on will just be pushing my luck. Compared to the situation on the labour market, all I have read here is petty complaints about things that are either unpredictable accidents or things one can adjust to. After all this, I would never say I hate Spain or Tenerife! I love this island so much, it is a fantastic place in so many aspects, and I only feel huge compassion for people who live and work here, and can only hope that this situation will improve the sooner the better.
Frank Fitzsimons says
What an inciteful post. Thank you for educating me.
Frank Fitzsimons says
I meant to say, “Insightful post”. LOL! Oh well, the vageries of the English language.
Zee zee says
I moved to Spain 5 months ago. And, i never been in very-understimated condition like in here. People here so proud about their country. Well, over proud. Ok its normal. But not normal when u started to comparing “yours” with “mine”. Yes true my country is not great like Spain. But my country is not rubbish. They are treating me like one-immigrant-whose-lookingfor-betterlife in Spain. They think my country can not give anything to the citizen over there. They think my country so primitive and retarded. I came here bcoz i married with one Spanish guy. Before i moved to Spain i was have good job and i am well educated in University. But, peoples here so discriminating to people who can not speaks their language. Si, yo no hablo Español. My face looked totally oriental, when they know my language, i only speak English here, so they are acting differents, mostly when they know where i came from. And this is not happened only 1 or 2 times. Its so sad must happen like this. If Spain really great country, why must comparing their country with others? They are make busy their life with over show off with what they have and make underestimate opinion about others. Why dont let foreigner fall in love with their country
naturally? If i say my country have something good, they will dont believe and start comparing. For example; if people ask to me where i come from, I said, im from Bali, they will say, Bali maybe is good, but never place more beautiful than Ibiza or Canary Island..that was maybe only one from many of my exprience with people here, so what do u think?
John says
I am not Iberian. I am from North of Europe and living in Portugal I had one guy tell me “Spaniard” (in Portuguese) in such a way that was meant to be slightly insulting. He did it because I would not rent him an apartment (because I suspected they have no job and no money beyond the first month). As much as I would LOVE to build an entire town and let people live there for free. Regarding Sain, I had about 4 days exposure to Spain and I have nothing bad to say, except that I had problems speaking English in Barcelona and some city in Northern Spain, but not in Madrid or on the southern coast. No one would help me to push my car in Barcelona except the Policia and English students. A taxi driver, a gy of maybe 37 years old told me “I don’t want to” (in Spanish). On the FR-ES border the toll collector told me “NO Espanol = Muchas Problemas”. I do not understand – I am a tourist who speaks English and a few more languages, but not Iberian languages. Why discriminate on me visiting Spain for just 3 days? Still, I think I would like to try to living in Spain for a few years. One thing I am worried – about road bandits. So I chose Portugal, or to be exact – the Azores. Viva España! Viva Cataluña! Viva Portugal! Viva Euskarra!
Maria says
At least our healt services are way better than nhs, while i was living in spain i’d get blood test and check ups twice a year by rule but also if u eanted one u ask the doctor & you’d have it, here in the uk i haven’t had a blood test in 10 years and when i asked my doctor if i could have one to make sure everything is ok she laughed and say we don’t do that here… same about testing my allergies she wouldn’t do it because it doesn’t go any further as long as i take the allergy tablets so to this day i have no clue what I’m allergic to. In spain they do listen and take care of you. Mañana is a great word and means chill man, learn to be pacient it will be done, here everyone is stressed and wants everything and they want it quick, customer service… ues u might get better customer service in uk but is all fake, they are nice to you because you have to in spain we are genuine and if i think u are a dick and i don’t fancy being nice to u then i won’t at least will teach u to be nice…. i don’t need anyone to be nice with me when I’m buying something and don’t need the world at my feet as i pass, you people do that’s why u love customer service even if fake so u feel superior, to me it bothers me, i prefer if they are genuine
Richard Tedeschi says
I have to agree on the fakeness of the Brits, please, thank you, you’re welcome, all smiles and nice words but as soon as you’re out of their sight they couldn’t care less about you, Brits being seen as reserved is more like unfriendly in my opinion.
I think people are very selfish and hypocrites in the UK and friendships are superficial compared to southern Europe and Latin European countries, I’d much prefer to be told right in my face what someone thinks (and the Brits do it out of fake politeness) rather than fake attitudes.
Pepe says
“And it isn’t because the English have misbehaved. There are nice, kind, polite retirees, so confused why they are being teated so badly, when a good trait of the Spaniard is to treat their elderly with much dignity & respect.”
Sorry, I couldn’t read further – my sides are aching.
In any case, and before the Brexit throw us back to the Dark Ages, I have a wife to sell.
Camels accepted.
Victor says
The worst problem with Spain is the bureaucracy and the politicians who rob alletaxpayers in several ways; outright stealing, making laws which make robbing taxpayers legal, laws that create a huge parasitic industry; “gestores” of all sorts you have to hire to navigate the bureaucracy, civil servant that off hours they work for business whose joo is to deal with the bureaucracy, notarys (who make millions because they have the politicians in their pockes who make laws that make notarys necessary and control who enters the profession. Same goes for “regiseradores de la propiedad (pm Rajoyeis one of them and has made laws to help his buddies and himself).
Then you have career civil servans with jobs for life but who can leave their jobs to make a killing helping all sort of business navigate the bureaucracy and get juicy contracts. Others become politicians. The cutest thingsis that their old jobs are waiting for them, no matter how many years they have been away obsolete their knowledge is.
So Spainsis run like in the middle ages; the political class is the new nobility and the civil servant help screw and squeeze the rest who basically are slave labor.
Another thing; Spain is choke full of laws that in many cases are unworkable and government knows it but they are in the books, so is you complain too loud about politicians, bureacracy soon you learn the tax office can inspect you and alway will find you broke a few laws that are now applied to you so you have to pay penalties. At the local level is the same; soon they wiln send an inspector who finds a tree projecting over the street, or a covering ofsa porche without permit.
You get the picture; terrible governance at all levels and a time bomb. There is no way Spain can stay in Euro because of the above is nike Spaniards have to compete with the Germans but Spaniards have several iron balls tied to their ankles.
Richard says
I think this is the best description of Spain. I came here for eight years and although the bureaucracy was annoying it was an inconveniences. I then sold my UK house and took up fiscal residence. First I was bombarded with letters from UK companies to prove that I existed and lived in Spain so they could let the Spanish tax people know. But the real horror is the thing called Modelo 720 Declaration of Foreign Assets which obviously is not a thing many Spaniards need to fill in. This gives them the same information provided under several conventions on exchange of financial information between tax authorities. They demand incredible detail and obviously believe that all other countries have exactly the same company structures as in Spain. Gathering the information, checking and proof reading it took me four solid weeks. I then paid €400 to an accountant for advice, checking the information and entering into the Spanish system. This week I was sent a letter telling me that they were fining me €300 for: well actually they don´t say just a lot of general headings Resistance, obstruction, excuse of the actions of the tax authority, not presenting the demanded data with general character in fulfilment of the obligation of supply in relation to Modelo 720. Now considering that I checked and rechecked my data and my form was filled in by an accountant who has been filling in these forms in day after day it is quite amazing that I have done all those things. The accountant says they have no idea what this is about so why am I expected to? Actually the fine is quite small, only €300. Their tariff is €300 for each minor error (comma in the wrong place?) and 30,000 for each and any major error. If they consider the error to be deliberate it is 125% of the asset value concerned plus the fine. These are magnitudes above the fines for errors on their standard tax return which does not require any details of assets just a single number for income received. This is the form that Spaniards fill in so no inconvenience for them. The accountant tells me most Spaniards with businesses declare an income way below poverty level, but that´s how it should be, they are Spanish.
I decided to leave Spain immediately on seeing the threats and with house purchase nearly completed I shall be out of Spain in the next three months. Spain is for Spaniards and for foreigners with no assets and a low income. I never believed at seventy I would be spending my life compiling financial information and worrying about fines in the tens of thousands of Euros. I end with a Spanish prayer: Señor, te rogamos darnos el dinero de extranjeros, lo merecemos porque somos los más generosos del mundo. Oh and point out that Spain as a percentage of incomes gives one third the amount of the UK and in 2014 and gave asylum to 1600 people compared to the UK´s 14,065. But we wouldn´t want to remove Spanish ideas of their perfection and their gentle colonisation of the Americas.
Richard says
A correction to my post it should have said that Spain as a percentage of incomes gives one third the amount of the UK as foreign aid.
Jorge says
I feel fortunate that I was only screwed out of 1800 euros when we sold, it was a resident tax held as I have a Spanish passport as well as Canadian. Planning to go back to Spain for a visit this year. I don’t have hope of getting it back.
Richard says
I lived both in Italy and UK and visited Spain, I have to say I like the British sense of humour music and Land Rover and that the job situation and the merits on which you find work (for what you’re worth and what can offer instead of who you know) these are pretty much the only things I miss when not living in the UK, as for the rest I think quality of life is much better in Spain and southern Europe.
Marta says
Did you even bother to look what you were getting yourself into? Most of Spain’s youth is leaving because of the lack of opportunity when it comes to jobs and you decide to move in? Our salary is one of the lowest in the EU.
As a cashier/saleswoman in Spain I can say that yes we talk a lot, but that’s how we are, you can try and get into the conversation, we will include you in, did you try that? Bet not because English-speaking people are usually so self-conceited on the ”I speak English, why should I learn another language? The other people should learn to understand ME!” And I know what I’m talking about, I’ve been an expat too, in China, went to a British school and all the friends I managed to make where either Spanish, Latinos, Asian or Italians because Brits were like “You don’t speak English, why should I try and help you get better at it?” But came back begging for help to pass their Spanish.
Oh, and also, customer service ain’t that great in the UK either, almost everyone looks down on you if you don’t speak perfect English and won’t try to even understand you if you don’t.
Jim Devlin says
This page has a ton of varying opinions. It’s actually not very helpful as it seems to fall under either “lovers” or “haters” of Spain with very little middle ground. I’m a 49 year old Canadian who is married to a Swedish citizen. Because she’s an EU member she can migrate to Spain easily and we are considering retirement there. What I’m thinking is Costa del Sol region (Malaga?), buying a trailer in a trailer park across from the beach. Has anyone here done this and if so, what are your thoughts? Also, what are the monthly costs to live this lifestyle? We don’t drink or party, and would likely cook far more than ever dining out if that helps. Any information you could provide would be appreciated.
jimmy says
we have finally decided to take the plunge (in our 60s) to rent out our bungalow and move to the malaga region of spain benalmadena area to be exact for 6 months at first, I know holidaying in spain could be completely different that’s why were trying 6 months, we live in a lovely part of north wales but hate the UK its now turning into an islamic country there seems to be more mosques than churches here, the roads are terrible shops are closing down wherever you go, prices creeping up, beggars are everywhere, especially romanians, town centres and cities are battle grounds at the weekend when the pubs and clubs close and if you go to casualty on a friday or saturday night it looks like theres been a civil war, we have never had a problem in spain so what have we got to lose, if it doesn’t work out we still have a home to come back to
michelle says
There are A LOT of muslims here too. All of the ‘african’ men who are forever trying to sell things make any dining out or a nice beach walk a nightmare with their approaching you every 2 to 3 minutes to sell you something like a handbag, watch or copied dvd – all muslims. Each and every time we eat out (weve been here a year) we have to try and find somewhere that they aren’t. Otherwise we cannot get into a proper conversation because we are constantly having to say no thank you, no thank you to these guys who just don’t quit. Even after saying no we have had comments like ‘but its Ramadan and this will pay for me to eat tonight after fasting. If you’re coming here for a quiet life and to avoid muslims…don’t. We are interact with muslims all of the time here.
If you yore coming to enjoy the never ending heat and humidity (apart from January/February) And the beach then you will enjoy it. But be aware – no more cool crisp air, very little green, never ending intense heat even through the night, so you have to keep the air condition running which costs a fortune. It all gets a bit old. Give me daffodils, daisies, sheep, fresh air and the green grass of home 🙂 This place is great for holiday but there is no place like home.
PeepoG says
People moving to Spain for the laid back lifestyle and weather and then complaining about ‘Manana’ and missing English rain really need to take a look at themselves..
Spanish people are just like us – suspicious of outsiders until they get to know you so make the effort t and integrate. Learn a few words !!!
Both countries are difficult job-wise for people of different nationality but that’s a world-wide problem so no use complaining about that.
ChickGirl says
Hi!
I don’t usually reply this kind of comments however in this case I’d like to share my opinion… I see uk by far a better place to live if you want a good job a good house a good education for your children etc… In my case being Spanish with an English mum and a Spanish Dad I have to say that people were very cruel to me when I went to school even thought I spoke perfect English they kept calling me Spaniard and they even told me a few times to come back to my country … and I’m not speaking about 2 years ago this was about 17 years ago. I had a very hard time there. I’m an English teacher in Spain and I’ve seen that people are nicer to English students and people in general than people were to me in uk. I like the English culture I love the food etc… I also have to say that I consider Spain my country and I love it … a few years ago I thought about going back to uk as i miss my family I was a bit down because of my job etc so I decided to write a port in a Forum asking about life in Uk jobs, things to do etc … to see from outside my family as they wanted me to go back how everything was. I got replys saying … are you polish? Why do you want to come to uk? Do you want to claim benefits… and so on … obviously it didn’t take me 1 min to make my mind .. my surname is always going to be a problem for me in the Uk. Now I obviously go twice a year or so to vist my family and I see some friends which I had from school but to tell you the truth I wouldn’t feel safe living back in uk actually I don’t speak a word of Spanish when I’m there in case somebody says anything as it already happened to me. This in Spain doesn’t happen believe me it doesn’t. Apart from that as I said before I think the quality of live job etc is better in uk … the quality of life as in leisure is much better in Spain … by the way I lived in a big city in the north. I know not everyone is like that but 80% of them were to me.
About jobs I think in uk you have much more opportunity of getting a good job even if you’re not qualified speaking English of course … whereas in Spain it doesn’t matter how many degrees you have or how many languages u speak it is still very difficult and as you have commented before shit salary a loads of hours and bosses who think you have to say thank u to them everyday. Food is extremely expensive compared to uk, however bills I think that u actually pay more tax over there than we do here in Spain but I can’t really give my opinion as i never owned a house there but my family moan and from what I hear it’s true. Oh! And something I don’t like about British people is that even though that they might have been living here for six years they don’t speak a word of Spanish!! I think that they don’t make the effort because Spanish people are always willing to speak English with them to actually practice the language … eso es todo amigos!!
Burton Trent says
Hi, I read your article, I am one of those people who lived in Spain for 6 years, It took my first year learning to speak Spanish. I came from England via Nueva Zelanda. I also had a mate from New Zealnd, who after 7 months spoke and taught English to Spanish. He also lived with a Spanish girl in Arricife.
I found Spanish people the most friendly people to get on with when you take some effort to speak Spanish. French are the same. But when you get arrogant arseholes (Poms) going to Spain and saying to a Camarero (Waiter for you poms) Don’t you speak English, when they are in their Country makes those type Ignorant F%$Ks. I used to cringe at many poms abroad being with this attitude. It never seemed to Bother New Zealanders we just got on with it. By the Way Spanish are not a racist Country they are willing to get on with anybody. I loved Spain and would live there again anytime.
Kevin says
Doing some research about returning to Spain so couldn’t help myself but add my 2p. Nick seems to have had an extraordinarily bad experience, quite different to my own in Barcelona from 2006 – 2009. I’m from Northampton (England), my wife from Barcelona and two of our children were born in Vall d’Hedron, Barcelona. We currently live in Northampton and own our house.
First off, stop it with the vitriol. Both countries, like all countries, have pluses and minuses. And here is my take on some of those:
work: never had a problem even without fluent Spanish (at the time). Everything depends on your work type. It is true, however, that the pay is low even in Barcelona. The UK wins on the career side and Spanish youth unemployment is astronomical. Check out infojobs.net for research. I’ll be taking my job with me if we go so not a consideration.
food: no contest, Spain wins hands down. I love some of our British cuisines but for 10€ you can dine like a king in Spain. Restaurant owners also really appreciate your business and the service is always with a smile. The UK does have greater variety in our super-super markets, though.
language: speak Spanish if you go to Spain! Not just Spanish but Catalan as well if you go to Catalunya! The UK is totally deficient at languages.
culture: this can be quite subjective but Spain, as Italy and other med countries, have an extremely tight family culture. This is probably their greatest strength and something I admire hugely. Spanish people have always been welcoming and are very “warm”. The UK, in my opinion, has a broader worldview. However, many British people also genuinely believe themselves to be superior (especially to Eastern Europeans), something I hate about our culture. Brexit has also brought the worst out in some people.
housing: UK has slightly better housing quality in my opinion although I’ve seen some fantastic properties near Barcelona. Check out idealista.com for research. Both are expensive and over priced.
weather: I love the unpredictability of the UK weather! Spains weather is predictable and boring – 300 days or more of solid, hot sun. However, our miserable, cold and wet winters really limit your options for doing anything outdoors.
roads & driving: Spain’s roads are better and driving quality is about equal (at least in and around Barcelona).
health: the Spanish “NHS” is absolutely brilliant, one of the best in the world. So is the UK’s NHS though so equally matched really.
bureaucracy: Never really experienced a problem in either country although Spain is perhaps a little “paper heavy”.
cost of living: probably slightly lower overall in Spain and food is certainly cheaper.
TV/Cinema: I don’t like the habit of dubbing in Spain, very off putting. UK TV has got more variety. I recommend original language cinemas because of dubbing.
Well, I’ve written more than I expected. Both countries have a lot to offer and we will decide within a few months whether to move to Catalunya (buy or rent?) or not. Both countries are our home and I look forward to the challenge of learning Catalan if we do go. Try and see the positives of your experience Nick, living in Spain will have been an excellent life experience for you just as it was for me.
Pete says
I wouldn’t usually comment on these sites, but I came across this discussion my accident.
I also live on Barcelona and think that Kevin is spot on.
My wife is Spanish and we have moved between Catalonia and the UK on a number of occasons. I would say that we have had no fewer good or bad experiences in one country or the other.
Personally, if I could afford it, I would prefer to have a place in each country as they are almost exact opposites. Then, when I’ve had enough of one I could jump on Easyjet and hop across to the other and vice versa. Perfect!
Monica says
Kevin, you were spot on in many things however regarding housing maybe in the North of England ,certainly London is a rip off , usually the houses are full of mold and dirty. Northerer are much friendly that the in the South….
Monica says
Kevin ,,,,the british weather is horrible you can’t NEVER EVER plan any days out ahead only a day inadvance !pero me gustan muchas cosas del Reino Unido …
Allan C says
Wow, I don’t know where you are living, but I love living in Spain as an American expat who has lived in Spain, England, Germany, and Argentina.
1) CRIME IN SPAIN. Crime in Spain is certainly lower than in the UK and the US. The intentional homicide rate in Spain is 0.7 per 100.000 people; in the UK it is 0.9 and in the US 3.9. Burglary is higher in German and France than it is in Spain (EUROSTAT data). And so is sexual violence, and theft! Actually recent data shows a decrease in crime since 2008. I’ve been mugged outside Victoria Station in London on a Wednesday around 5 PM; had my car stolen in Marylebone in London; was mugged in NY near Penn Station; in 2006 someone broke into the next door house in Boston and after taking all the valuables of the house raped my 59 year old neighbor… I know there are organized groups from Romania, Morocco, and Georgia that do all those things in Spain, but I know they also happen in Italy, France, Greece, and Austria.
2) Infrastructure. I don’t know what are you talking about but roads, trains, and airports are much better in Spain than they are anywhere in the UK, including London. And talking about my own crountry they are certainly better than anywhere in major American city.
3) Costumer service. That is so true. I agree with you.
4) Manana. If you have been to the DMV anywhere in America you would not complain about Spain. Also, you don’t know what pain and incompetence is until you’ve spent a day at HM Revenue and Custom.
Torvic says
Both cultures have their own good things. I am a Spanish businessman in the UK I have my own company in London trading with all UK & Ireland. I do find business here is easier to conduct I do prefer protestant mentality and dealing with English customers.
I never had a problem with anyone in London, although I felt that sometimes some brits did like my products but not dealing with a Spaniard so I did transfer the business relationship to my fellow brit employees
I like it here but I miss Spain because the weather and the food, I am from Barcelona, and I need sun and proper gastronomy so I will move back in 2 years max spending 10 days in Uk and rest of month in Spain.
After all i am Mediterranean and is tough for me to live without sun.
Since the moment I arrived and I guess for me it was easier because my status of investor creating jobs for British people everyone treated me with respect and I have never complained about some aspects of British culture I find a very uncivilised.
The world is facing a major issue with a hostile culture towards the western world, whose immigration is really a problem, the Islamic one, all issues here described by both sides are petty issues, as brit and spanish immigration do give positive things to their resident countries.
we are allies, not enemies, hate is a very strong word, I only hate totalitarian ideologies, and if shit hits the fan, I will stand with my British brothers always.
Grace says
I just want to say that above all these comments I read of a guy who was from France and bla bla bla …
He said that his country has its imperfections but that it is his country and that he prefers his beloved country.
Well it is the same, Spain has and will have its imperfections and its problems like all countries, YOU can not come angry and get to say things.
That patriotic people may disturb them, although, well .. perhaps the Spaniards do not care because they have something else to do.
I understand that you, as a human being, want to say your opinion, but you do it in the worst way, as if you were looking for attention, and you are getting it, my friend.
Natalie says
Spain is a beautiful country and most of the Spanish people are very friendly.
My parents retired to a small town in Andalucia 8 yes ago
from day one my parents next door neighbours were rude
They reconstructed there house which was a new build anyway which lasted for 2 years drilling at all hours of the say and night when my parents tried to complain they were told they could go back where they came from
It seems if you have permission from the town hall
In Spain you can do what you want here even if it effects the health of your neighbours. The laws in Spain need to change when it comes to building noise
George Alban says
I forgot to add that I have been to Spain and I liked it, but I chose Azores instead.
George Alban says
I chose Azores. It does not have most of the problems you mention. It’s never above +30C and never below +10C. It’s very safe, no robberies, no crime. People are very friendly. They do speak about others, but only the bad ones, who are the thieves. They only steal cheap stuff worth a few €. They are scared to steal expensive stuff. Properties are affordable. Most people speak some English. Some speak it very well. A lot of Canadian and US returnees live in the Azores, with money. They are all Portuguese. Not too many expats. No need. Portuguese are very friendly and very decent. You sure have to be careful a little bit, to not get ripped off, but its rare. I took out 5000€ cash in the bank on Pico island and joked that now I will get attacked in the street by a mob and the banker clerk said don’t worry, no one will rob you. It is really that safe. Never saw a single aggressive behaviour. People are very dear. They come at you with a genuine smile. This place is almost perfect. And I like flying 2 hours to Portuguese mainland and then taking off with a rental car to elsewhere for a short 1 week vacation. There are 9 islands to choose from. The busiest one is SÂO MIGUEL, so I chose second biggest one – PICO. It has slightly cheaper properties and has direct non-stop flights to Boston and Amsterdam. Both a 3 to 4 hour flight. Please DO NOT come to Azores is droves…. do not spoil this paradise. I actually “hate” the tourists in summer season as they buy all the best food and the supply of stores is not always the fastest here.
Morena says
Eddy, What took you so long to realize Spain wasn’t for you? Come on France is not the land of milk and honey.
eddy says
I am a French native and had the opportunity to live and study in both countries for quite a long period of time.
Both countries are different . Most of the stuff told on this page about Spain is true . England doesn ‘t fare much better though I was never robbed in England but insulted quite a few times for being French and gay , even by the staff in the schools where I was working . I would bnever live in England again ! Spain is not much better , People ripping you off all the time , employers not wanting to pay you. La cultura del listillo , el pasotismo de la gente, el individualismo. la corrupcion a todos niveles , España me tiene harto , asqueado.
The only thing I aspire to now is to go back to France after twenty years. France is not perfect , but I ve had enough with being a foreigner . I understand why people would want to leave Spain . I hate it more and more . As for England, I try to keep in touch with my English friends as much as possible but would never live there again. Too much xenophobia , fakeness, talk about money.
I am aware France is not perfect but Iat least I won ‘t get ripped ( I was in England too) .
Stam says
I’m spanish and I’ve been living in the UK for a while so I think I’m in a good position to give my opinion on this matter.
To be honest, after reading your post, I gotta say that I disagree on most of the things you say. I don’t want to be rude or anything so, no offense, but it sounds like you didn’t know a thing about the country you were moving into. I suggest you do some research next time and speak to a local guy if possible. Going on holidays to some place a couple of times doesn’t really give you a good idea of how things work.
Anyway, going a bit into detail I’ll speak about crime first. I haven’t taken a look at statistics which would probably be the ideal thing to do, but my personal experience is that crime is not significantly higher in Spain than in the UK. I’ve seen a lot more things happen here in 5 years than in Spain in 25. I’m speaking about theft, vandalism, public disorder (specially this one) and racism incidents; I’ve seen a lot more of that here in the UK than in Spain. I find this quite funny considering I used to live in Madrid (big big city) in Spain and here in the UK I live in York (which is supposed to be one of the nicest cities in the country). Said that, I think this is highly subjective and it basically depends on the person, each person will have a different experience. I think it is really bad that you took your personal experience and said “Oh, Spain is full of crime because I’ve seen a couple of things”. I mean I’ve seen quite a bit here and I don’t think the UK is the crime paradise.
Second, jobs? Seriously? did you even google a bit about the Spanish job market? Were you actually hoping to find loads of jobs? Do you even speak good Spanish?. I mean the way you complaint about this makes me think you didn’t even google both words (Spain and job) together in google. I understand your complain about it Spanish job market is shit, but the outrage because you thought you’d find plenty of opportunities just baffles me. Also, being a foreign guy in a country with potentially a bit of language issues, man you have to lower your expectations, It took me more than a year to find a decent job in the UK and I’m and engineer etc etc and I spent my first year cleaning toilets.
The manana thing, maybe I’m taking this the wrong way but it looks like you’re saying Spanish people are lazy. This really surprises me coming from a UK person, I’ve lived in quite a few countries in my life and I mean no offense, but generally speaking English people (don’t know about NI, Scotland or wales) are the laziest people I’ve seen in my life. There are obviously a lot of hardworking people in the UK, no doubt, but as I said the laziest people I’ve known in my life where English and with the poorest working ethics. I mean, people skipping work because they had too much to drink the day before and they’re hungover? I’ve only seen that in this country.
Customer service, fair enough, it’s shit in Spain and in the UK is significantly better. Although in my personal opinion it isn’t great either, but that’s probably because I’m not local and you can see how they treat you differently. Anyway, yeah you’re right about customer service.
Getting ripped off, again it may be true, life is expensive in Spain considering what you get payed, but again, it all comes down to do a bit of research before moving, I don’t know how it caught you off guard really.
Poor roads and facilities?, I have to strongly disagree on this; roads in Spain are so so so so much better than in the UK. This comes from a guy (me) that’s driven up a down both countries in both highways and country roads and I’m sorry but roads are not great in the UK, especially in the north of England. And then all railway services, including underground are quite poor in England and stupidly expensive. I’m sorry but I don’t know how you can say it is worse in Spain.
I mean no offense with this; I agree with your advice of thinking twice and do research before moving to Spain, I just think you didn’t do it and now you’re just giving a really bad and disrespectful opinion of Spain based on your frustration. If you don’t like a country, if you don’t like Spain, that’s all right, just go somewhere else, but speaking shit of some country just because you don’t like it, it’s quite disrespectful. No wonder why, unfortunately, everybody thinks English people are arrogant. I personally don’t like living in the UK, there is quite a few things I don’t like about the UK, but you don’t see me speaking shit of it. I am actually grateful for the chances I’ve been given here and I’ll leave in the future trying to find a place I like more. Even when I don’t like the UK I still think is a good country that is just not of my liking and I could be really disrespectful about the things I don’t like here and generalise saying the UK is shit, but I choose not to because it is not fair nor right nor respectful.
Richard Tedeschi says
I have to agree with JM, if you don’t like something/a country or even a person then the majority of the time it is your problem, move out. I don’t like the UK and am moving out.
JM says
Do not waste your time and go home, no one forces them with a gun to live here.
And my respects to Michael, german who has lived for many years in California and is now living happily in Valencia. An example of integration and respect for the country that welcomes you.
JM says
What is the problem with Spain and the Spanish? the british, and especially the english, do not mix with the Spaniards. They don´t want to learn the Spanish language, just want to buy in british shops, go to british restaurants, british discos …. British living in Spain but only to be surrounded by British, then …. what is the problem?
By the way, in Spain no attacks on British single for speaking your language in the street, the Spanish can not say the same in the UK.
Nina says
“They don’t want to learn the Spanish language, just want to buy in british shops, go to british restaurants, british discos… British living in Spain but only to be surrounded by British”. So very true JM. I saw it happening in Spain and Portugal. PS. With all due respect to British people… to go for British food in a country like Spain is a crime. Spain has the best cuisine in the world… Spaniard chefs are creative, always innovating, and they know what’s really good. British cuisine no reference… nothing, it’s really bad with its forever and ever fish and chips, brownies, teas, and medieval stuff.
Fazel says
Part of UK I live, I speak my beautiful Persian whenever my phone rings or I bump to a Persian speaker who I know. I have been to Spain many times and love Spain and people . I respect them in return.
Joshua Mr Manning says
Hello, my name is Joshua from Somerset in the UK I lived and worked in Madrid back in 2014-15 albeit for just one year. I had to come back to Somerset in the UK due to a family issue in the UK.
In Madrid I got a place to rent quite easily and felt at home. Spanish people if you can generalise are proud, friendly and also have a great sense of humour! Just like we do, including London.
I feel nothing but warmth for them. I was welcomed to play football in the park with them etc.
A tongue cheek thing I remember is that one person thought we are pirates as they have long memories, I thought this was funny, not funny because probably true.
Anyway, to all you bigots above who use words like hate etc, get a life.
I have just got a job offer in Castellon and will accept.
Regards
Richard Tedeschi says
Mmm… I have been only to Madrid and Barcelona about fifteen years ago, never lived in Spain, if all the bad points are true I understand it all as I now live in the UK and want to move out, can’t take the weather here any longer, I have lived thirty years in Rome Italy which is the same story as Spain with the bad points, on top of that is a lot more expensive and dirty.
Holeintheleg says
Hi. Great forum. Good to read every one s experiences. I m considering renting for a few months so will have to start really dealing with all this stuff. I just had a parking fine and it s been a trial just finding out where and how to pay it- an office open only on a Thursday apparently. But I have found on a one to one basis that the Spanish in the south are extremely friendly, conscientious and if you treat them with respect and courtesy, and try and speak, relate, chat they are enormously hospitable. We re wired up so differently and this culture is very different. Driving s a fucking nightmare but like everything I have experienced here, paradoxically also a joy. It seems to be a country of contradictions.
DA says
What could you expect living in… Nerja.. LOL
Learn the different cultures that populate Spain, and then choose better. I am so sorry for you.
Mary says
Si no te gusta te vas . I am going to write my post in Spanish. Estoy harta de que los llamados británicos siempre se quejen de España. Entonces no vengas. Yo llevo 14 anos en el Reino Unido , tiene cosas muy buenas , muchas que mejorar y otras bastantes malas pero por eso yo no odio el país , al contrario estoy agradecida de vivir esta experiencia e igualmente le digo a todo extranjero que viene a vivir aquí sino te gusta vete a otro lugar . En fin , la felicidad la lleva unos no el país el que vive …Good luck mate !
Joanne says
Soy inglés y tengo intención de trasladarme a España con mi novio en marzo. He leído foros buenos y malos …. Cada país tiene sus propios problemas y creo que el hecho de que el spainsh llamar a los nombres en inglés, es realmente asqueroso, como en el Reino Unido que sería arrestado por el racismo. Personalmente no puedo esperar para comenzar mi nueva aventura y el próximo capítulo de nuestras vidas juntos. A partir de España continental y la planificación de ir a las Canarias el próximo año tal vez, como idealmente es donde nos gustaría vivir permanentemente. I am determined to make our futures work, and we mil succeed if it kills me! I cannot wait to be in the sun!
Victoria Mena Marina says
There are plenty to say about Britain too… believe me!
Not the “warmest” people, I must say. They complain about everything and everyone because they consider themselves better than the rest of the world, that’s just how they see themselves and the world knows that.
HOW ABOUT THAT FOR YA?!!
The truth is, I don’t think you or I should judge a whole country by one’s experience, that’s just wrong!! All It says is that (for whatever reason) you were unsatisfied and now intends to retaliate, that’s all.
Let your hurt go, nothing you can say or write on the internet will change the way the world LOVES Spain. Millions and millions of tourists travel to my country yearly and leave renewed and happy, you were the odd case, that’s all so, go on with your miserable lives… so people are not meant to leave their country or their neighborhood for that matter. Stay put, wherever you’re from and try enjoy that!
ME, WHO LOVES SPAIN, IT’S PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN! <3
Richard Tedeschi says
I think the Brits are polite, many may initially confise this as being friendly which in my opinion they’re generally not, they have the tendency to be way too reserved and nowadays a selfish society, except obvisously if they’re your personal friends.
The wall which blocks you out of certain things comes up much quicker withing British friendships say than with an Italian friendship which goes much deeper down and you can never have the sort of meaningful conversations you have with an Italian firend with the English counterpart, I say this from personal experience of having lived thirty years in Italy and about fifteen in the UK, born in the UK from English mother and Italian father.
Claire says
I love Spain! I can´t beleive you can even have a page called I hate Spain, ungrateful little prat, with petty stupid complaints about people not adapting themselves to you. If you are a mindless, superior little Englander, stay where you are, the rest of the world has moved on since you had an empire. I thank my lucky stars that I am able to live in Spain and would change my nationality in a heartbeat if push came to shove between living in ltitle England and living in Europe. So sad what´s happened to England! We all have to take cover when the football fans come to Barcelona! Ugh. And now Brexit, when will people wake up??
Now trilingual, and so much more in touch with the whole world, gracias por todo España- y gràcies Catalunya! I love both UK and Spain,
stircrazy says
You’re the ungrateful mindless prat. How’s Daddies bank account, spent it all yet???
Wait until Spain bites you, it’ll bite you harder than you’ll ever know. Tried the Spanish “NHS”??? Looks very nice, all shiny new hospitals, pretty nurses, hunky Drs etc etc, but they’re brutal, there’s no such thing as informed consent here, needles and knives come out very easily, especially when you’re in labour. Try it and find out.
In Britain people complain to get things improved, and by god they have. In Spain almost nobody does, and the majority don’t care, which is why you see all the posts above.
Maria says
Dear Claire,
I appreciate your comment. I’m a Spaniard living in London for 6 months, but before I’ve lived in Poland. I had a deeper conversation with an English woman and I told her exactly what you said. Some English people still have a colonialist mind and they expect everyone to addapt to them. I think this is the main reason of this web. Gracias y viva España!
Patsy says
I have lived in the USA, Australia, Canada, France, Spain and Goa and the UK. The UK rocks, it’s the very best country to live in. Spain is ok depends on whereabouts you live in Spain. I lived in BCN for a time and then moved further south, not so good. The Spanish, generally speaking do not like the Brits. OK so the Brits have behaved badly with booze etc over the years, but look at the money they have brought into the country. It is not a good idea to live in Spain if you don’t speak the language, and their bureaucratic system moves at a snails pace, and is very ineffective. The costas are generally full of ill bred Brits with no work and no money, and depression is rife. Generally speaking they are low lifes looking to make a swift euro to drink more. They spend their lives drinking mostly in the cheap bars. What a life in the sun 🙁 It is truly awful to witness. The more “switched on” Brits live fairly well inland in their nice villas. The UK will do better now they’re out of the EU and a bunch of self appointed crooks running it. I now live and work in London and love it. The night life is second to none, the people are very friendly and there’s a great buzz about the place now.
Edward says
I lived in Spain for 15 years and lived briefly in my younger years in England. As an African who left his country when he was 17 and gone through three European countries, I can say I am fed up with Europe. I visited Denmark once and can say maybe it is the best country I have stayed. Spain is the worst. It is all time wasting for me. Of my 15 years of living there, I could actually work with my engineering profession in a Dutch company in Spain. Spanish people don´t employ foreigners in good position or in jobs with good qualifications. They so much into this that the country does not move forward. They believe they are the best in the world, but actually, they are arrogant, envious and self-deny of their short-comings.
The little I lived in England my life changed drastically. I could say it is a place that could reward your hard work. The only thing that I found a bit awkward was the coldness of the people.
I am happy living in the USA now even though I see in the news cops killing people of my colour. It is just a free world and people should be able to decide where to settle
Ana says
Well…I’m a spanish expat living in UK and I feel exactly the same here. Hate UK and hate English people and fake politeness. So…nothing elseeketo add here.
Hansje says
i am a Dutch woman (47) and live now for almost 2 years in Spain, first in Valencia and now in Palma Mallorca. The culture is very different from mine but I feel welcome here. I do my best to speak Spanish and a little Catalan. I find it odd that people say that Spaniards don’t invite others in their homes. I think that Spanish people are open to others. I made Spanish friends and get invited at their home for example on a Sunday afternoon to eat together. At this moment I share a flat with two Spaniards and those are both helpful, respectful and very friendly. I lived abroad more often but this is my favourite country by far! Also I think it is a little rude when you live voluntarily in spain to say al those stigmatising generalizing comments about Spanish people. Anyway I am happy here and hope to stay for a very long time.
Louis says
Ive worked in the Nightclub industry for years in the UK and I have spoken to all types of people around the world you name it. The Spanish are by far the friendliest people I have met from all the people I have spoken to (Americans/English probably being the worst, especially the city entitled types). I find the British have this Inferiority Complex they feel they have to carry with them wherever they go. The way they act in foreign countries is shocking too. Throwing bed mats out of hotel windows??? They dont understand there is a stigma attached to their antics which are imposed long term to the daily British holiday goer. Thats why we deserve to get scammed, disliked, robbed. Unless we change our ways, the perception of the British people will change to foreigners.
Im 28 years old now and planning to move to spain since I get along with the people, I also own a online business and plan on expanding it in the spanish language so I think being in Spain will be very helpful for me.
Also to those that want to live in the UK, Housing prices are going up, especially in London. Your quality of Life will be LOW since most of your money will be going towards your rent and the food prices are getting more expensive. Terrible air pollution conditions which are proven to impact human health. Its all a sacrifice at the end of the day but just be aware of it.
Manners says
Man, they simply never stop talking so of course you found the Spanish the most friendly, duh
Randy says
Hi Louis,
We are here in Madrid and we also own an online business based in UK. Now we are here in Madrid to expand the business We would be happy to help you out with your business and hoping to know about your business as well.
I’ll be waiting for your reply.
Randy S
Manners says
Spanish are awful . You will have a better time/ life in other countries. Avoid. Save yourself the stress. Sad but sooooooooo true. So funny how the Spanish react to criticism. They never look inwards and think how can they be better, instead they attck the bottom denomination of their own intelligence, biggest one I find odd is that boozed up Brits on holiday are treated the same as young, middle aged or old ex pats who either go to work and attempt to integrate or they have spent their whole lives working to go and spend it being disrespected by total ignorance. Silly really
Fifi says
Reply to Manners: God only knows how the Spanish put up with the rude, arrogant, disgusting behaviour of the Brits. I have lived all over the world and visited many, many countries and I can honestly, easily say that Spain is my paradise due purely to the loving, trusting, kind nature of the Spanish. We have lived in Spain for 4 years now and never come across anyone who isn’t compassionate, caring, kind and honest! We have lived in Alicante, Valencia and Barcelona – they are, by nature, wonderful people from the North to the South. Although I expect they must be less patient in areas such as Orihuela Costa where they are invaded by ignorant Brits Abroad.
Manners says
True, but the Brits can’t behave like that in other countries. Why Spain? Why can’t they sort it out so the holidaymakers behave and then normal people will be treated with dignity by the rest of the majority of the Spanish. Seeing as they are a herd, in that they believe the television and only read news in Spanish. Dig dig
woops says
What bubble do you live in or are you always this naive?
Ruairi says
Pal , you´ve just had a vote in the UK that was the worst expression of superficial thoughtless emotionalism that will end up destroying the country you purport to love. Think twice before you accuse other people of being unable to reflect
Manners says
People in England voted out of the eu in protest at the American led foreign policy that unfortunately makes every eu country say “how high” to their orders to jump. The eu has nothing to do with unity, every country is divided and should not be controlled by overpaid unelected puppets controlled by Washington. Not to do with xenophobia. Look, Spain is a nice place, there are nice people, but when you actually live there, you feel unappreciated. Not so much in other countries, Portugal, Italy, France, Greece, it’s not the same they actually welcome you.
Manners says
Even though voting out will not make the slightest difference to that American beast system as yes, the U.K. Is in deep in its pocket too. Don’t blame the Brits blame the unelected politicians, now we have new ones that no one elected, it goes on and on. Perhaps we don’t hate Spain we hate the system that we are all caught up in, causing this divide and rule society. People are easily influenced to hate and not so easily persuaded to love. Blame the media for all this misdirected hatred. The people aren’t to blame, perhaps.
Richard Tedeschi says
To the average Joe governments pretty much suck and don’t work in their favour in any country of the world, once you understand they work for themselves and their millionaire and billionaire cronies: banks and corporations/private enterprise this comes as no suprise.
There is no right or left, there is top and botton, we citizens are at the bottom and them rich dictatorial mafia scrounging parasites are at the top and they love poor, desperate, ignorant and divided people and countries as they are easier to control, same story all over the world… faith to make it better for everyone has to be put in people/us, not governments.
Michael says
“Take a drive on the excellent roads in Spain and you’ll be impressed by the disciplined and courteous driving.”
LMAO – obviously that is a memo that didn’t make it over here to Valencia – hahahaaaa!!! Where do you live?
David says
Valencia
Tom says
I agree with Michael, driving standards in Valencia are pretty poor, not uncommon to see red light jumping, see or experience “cutting up” and hardly anyone signals on the roundabouts.
That said, the traffic lights system in Valencia is well thought out, plenty of roads have “green waves”, unlike UK towns where traffic lights now seem to be used to cause traffic jams.
Peter H says
Hi Michael, Reading many of your posts I think you have a rather balanced and well informed view, I would not mind catching up on your experiences in Valencia, if you have time for a call, also because I think we share a similar background / life experiences . My wife and I are looking to move to Catalunya in a few years and currently we are busy learning catalan and researching. I am not sure how to reach out to you though…
sue says
Oh sorry Soly I thought you meant me. And I was a bit upset as I am aware that Britain is made up o foreigners, and we all tick along quite nicely in the main. I have friends in London from all over the planet and never give it a thought. I am foreign after all too 🙂
sue says
Whose disgusting attitude?
Mrs Margaret E Mawer says
Hello Everyone. For the past few hours I have been reading the views of either moving to Spain; or even moving back to UK or elsewhere.
Well, to those people all rushing to get on a plane back to UK please re-think. England has changed. Where I live in the South East of England we sometimes do not hear an English voice. In fact, it is hard to find a naturalised British. I want to personally escape all this rat race. Oh I do not wish to live remotely. I just want to embrace the culture of a new country. I am in the fortunate position of having finished work, my husband will be retiring within the next few years. We are in good health which helps. We think maybe Spain will be on the agenda but we have time to explore and having the Internet and sites like spainmadesimple.com is just a fabulous bonus.
Good Luck Everybody and the best thing is to be positive. There is good and bad everywhere. Margaret
sue says
HI Margaret I too live in the south east, Surrey. I rarely hear a foreign accent except when I go to Lidl to get the basics. I don’t have a problem with foreign people living here. Why not try and embrace their culture? You will hear plenty of foreign accents in Spain 🙂 We can’t make up our minds whether to chose Spain or Portugal. Portugal at the moment seems to be winning.
SolySangria says
Mrs Margaret E Mawer
Please don’t move to Spain, With your disgusting attitude no-one want you here in Spain.
R Polo says
True; it is all about your attitude.
J Metcalfe says
Dear Margaret, I know exactly what you mean. I now live in south Oxfordshire although I used to live in Oxford central. I was going to say ‘sometimes’ but I’m afraid the sad fact is you are right. In Oxford now you hardly ever see English, or hear English being spoken. I live in the south of the county now but whenever I go up to Oxford for the day, I could cry. And I rarely go now, for this very reason. England is f****d. At least we have voted to get out. Thank God for that. Good luck Margaret! 🙂
J Metcalfe says
PS Sorry, I meant to say, the main reason I am on this page is to read the advice from people against going to live in Spain. I am considering it, or Portugal, where I have contacts, and am grateful to read all the different opinions, for or against. I intend to learn the language, and get informed about how to fit in, what to expect, etc, no matter our opinions.
Fiona says
Why on earth would you want to move abroad when you don’t like foreigners? And what makes you think you will be welcome, or even able to, having voted as you did? Unbelievable…..
David says
Why on earth do some British people think they can go to Spain and integrate into Spanish society when they can’t speak Spanish, know nothing about Spanish history or culture and expect Spanish people to behave like them?! I’m British but can speak and write fluent Spanish. My children have dual nationality and, like me, love Spain and the Spanish people. Of all the countries I have ever visited, Spain must be the friendliest and most welcoming. Spanish people are patient and long-suffering when it comes to British thugs and hooligans who invade their country and abuse them with drunken vile behaviour. In nearly 30 years of visiting and living in Spain I have never once been insulted by a Spaniard. I have many Spanish friends who have only ever shown me great kindness and generosity. Spain’s tragedy is simply that it joined the Euro – were it not for that fact, I am convinced that Spain would be doing just as well economically as the UK. But that is the fault of politicians, not ordinary Spaniards, who were told the Euro would be good for their country. Walk along a typical street in a Spanish town around 8 o’clock in the evening – the ‘hora del paseo’: crowds of Spaniards are out for their evening walk, enjoying the warm sunshine, stopping for a drink or a tapa, chatting to friends and family. No sense of fear you might experience in some British towns in the evening, especially if you look at someone, which is OK in Spain. Go into a bar in the evening and you’ll find families with children having a meal and talking to each other in a civilised way, not binge drinking in a mad rush to get as drunk as possible as quickly as possible. Take a drive on the excellent roads in Spain and you’ll be impressed by the disciplined and courteous driving. Ever travelled by train in Spain? Their modern high speed rail network and comfortable, state of the art trains put dirty British clapped out rolling stock to shame. Ever visited a Spanish hospital? Ever noticed that no-one is ever placed in a room (i.e. ward) with more than two people? I love Britain and I certainly don’t think Spain is perfect. But I am shocked by many of the comments I have read on this blog about Spain and the Spanish people. I can tell you from my own experience that it is easier to get a social security number in Spain that it is to get a national insurance number in Britain. I speak from my own experience. I got a Spanish social security number in 15 minutes last year in Madrid. A Spaniard living in my house in England took 2 months to get a national insurance number! Talk to Spanish people about the problems they have with bureaucracy in Britain before you criticise the Spanish system!
Mr. Honest says
Your comment is rubbish! – “Take a drive on the excellent roads in Spain and you’ll be impressed by the disciplined and courteous driving”
We lived in Spain, and the drivers are APPAULING!!!!! All idiots!
Ian says
I love Spain and planning to live ther next year, I have driven on the roads from north to south many times over the years and think the roads in general are very bad. Some new EU funded roads have been built but they are generally toll motorways. Spanish drivers are usually very poor and impatient they will tailgate and flash headlights until you move out of the way. They pay little attention to speed limits
Raullm says
Hi all!
There are hundred of thousands if not one million of Brits living a happy life in Spain so what´s the drama?
By the way I dont see in the Spanish press any hostility against britons in Spain neither racism, xenophobia or double standard; while in the British press can find almost every day scare-mongering and all kind of lies about European Immigrants (funny how the British people living abroad call themseves ex-pats while the foreigners in their country are immigrants) as a scare tactic,
The brits wouldn´t be so happy if They had the same the Spain.
Some people say think that Britons are only a good thing in Spain, while the Immigrants in the UK are just parasites taking jobs and bennefits away…for those who think like that…just think again:
It costs the Spanish government £249 million a year to provide health care to the Britons who live in Spain (after insurance and UK charges). Many Britons living in Spain are pensioners and not actively contributing to the Spanish economy. On the contrary, immigrants to the UK from other parts of Europe in the last decade made a net fiscal contribution to the UK of around £22 billion. Most immigrants to the UK from the rest of Europe are in gainful employment and make a substantial net contribution to the economy.
Even with all these facts….I love the british people living in Spain, I wish them all the best….. and I love the British society and the UK…thats why even when I had a very good job and life in Spain as well, I decieded to go to live there and after 1 year in GB I m more than happy…..like the hundreds of thousands of Brits in my country 😉
On the contrary other Spaniars are writing too “I Hate the UK…..” on their blogs…..Ironic?
By the way…I have 15 british living in Spain doing excatly the same I m doing in the UK….and they are very happy as well 🙂
PS: I didn´t use public services in the UK at all, I pay more than 400 pounds a month in taxes, I live in a place with Full Employment , and of course never claimed benefits or lived in a social housing…so If anyone have a problem with that; no worries! It would be the same (mental) problem the tabloids have.
Good Evening
sue says
I think you will find that the British Government reimburses the Spanish government for British Health care in Spain. That is the Brits who are there legally.
Nate says
Actually UK government pay a percentage but not 100%. And they pay only when that person use the European Health Insurance Card, if you’re register in Spain (you have your NIE) you can apply for your own spanish health insurance card, in that case, UK government doesn’t pay anything. Most of the Brits living in Spain, specially pensioners, are registered….
Don’t believe everything the press say….
I’m going to tell you something curious about why the Spanish government started to claim these expenses some years ago.
Spain is the world leader in organ donations, for this reason a lot of people from other countries (UE countries mostly) come to Spain to get a organ. I remember a story in the newspaper telling how a man with heart problems was found running and jumping. His wife said he was trying to provoke a heart failure to himself to get a heart because in his country the wait list was so long. This was a long time ago, more than 15 years ago, now he wouldn’t have to do that because of the UE agreements.
Tricia says
Wow I have read some of the comments here with shock, fear and trepidation 🙂
I lived in Sitges in the 60’s and loved it. I have lived in Los Angeles, Newport Beach and Santa Ana in the USA. I have also lived in Ireland. In fact I was born in Ireland. We have travelled to Spain many times over the last 20 years, and a lot of what people have to say is true I believe. Especially the negative stuff. I wonder though does it depend entirely on the area you live? eg we have stayed at various places along the coast such as Aguilas, Villaricos, Palomares, Vera, Mojacar, Carbonaras (sp) and we only really enjoyed Aguilas and Carbonaras. Mojacar to a degree as well. And we put this down to the fact that these 2 places are more “Spanish”. Recently we are toying with the idea of moving over, renting first and then maybe buy. We don’t want to burn any bridges with the UK. I just really fancy chilling in my retirement in a nice villa/cortijo with a nice pool. We are not keen on the costas as we have witnessed so many bored Brits who just drink, and at the same time looking for ways to make money. It’s lowlife behaviour in every respect. I am not surprised the Spanish don’t like the Brits much. Look at what they have to put up with? Loutish behaviour, coupled with uneducated and unskilled people generally speaking. Maybe I have my rose tinted glasses on and it’s an unrealistic dream. But I want a simpler life. I used t have a good grasp of Spanish, but had a head and neck cancer and now can’t learn much of anything new 🙂 As one gets older one doesn’t mix socially that much anymore, well that’s been my experience anyway. We were thinking of moving inland a bit Zurgena, El Cucador areas. I don’t drink and partner hardly at all. We love food, reading and a good movie. And lazing about too. Any socialising we do tends to be at home, or got to a restuarant with friends. Life is simpler and happier. I started this by say wow etc. I will bear in mind everything that has been shared, come to Spain and make my own mind up I think.
Michael says
In the past I have said a lot of good things about Spain and the Spaniards in this very thread. But there’s one theme that keeps popping up and that I must point out – although I don’t think it will make any difference:
SPANIARDS HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CRITICISM.
There I said it. Lo lamento, pero es verdad. It’s like pressing a button. Someone points out a single problem in their country (and it’s riddled with them, let’s be honest) and the standard response is along the lines of ‘it’s all your fault and stop criticizing my country’. That’s exactly the type of attitude you find in customer service here and when conducing business in general. There is a huge sense of entitlement present and little responsibility and even less self reflection. No wonder the rest of the world doesn’t take Spain seriously – a large portion of the population insists on acting like a bunch of immature teenagers.
That said – I still love living here and in general it’s been a good experience. Reason being I spent 20 years in Los Angeles and that’ll give you pretty thick skin when it comes to people. I would have agree with the xenophobic part however. I have made Spanish friends in VLC and as a matter of fact do not know any expats over here. They are happy to go grab tapas or hit a bar but only one out of about 15 people ever invited me to their house. There is a clear delineation between ‘them’ and ‘us’ and although they are happy to add you to their whatsapp list, breaking into their closely knit circle of friends is next to impossible. The people here make their friends in their youth, then get married, and after that everyone else is either a guiri or a Spaniard from a region they hate. Which explains a lot of systemic problems in this country as well as the widespread ‘enchufismo’ (i.e. nepotism) that’s rampant.
I even teach an MA class for free to a whole bunch of Spaniards every week. Do you think I’ve ever been invited or shown any appreciation? Never. Once. And yes I’m house trained 😉
Fiona says
Same can be said for every country around the world !!!
Sophie says
Our tenth year in Andalucia. Been trying to escape for five years. Made the mistake of buying a house. Schools are totally useless, people are generally nice, but xenophobic under the skin. Corruption is rife, nothing can be made legal, nothing basic can be taken for granted. No jobs, i’ve tried for over seven years – just part-time crap work. Quality of everything from houses to domestic appliances is absolute rubbish, even branded goods are inferior (like they are made for Spain.) Spain is not cheap either, it has lots of hidden costs that you could never be aware of before buying. Rent, don’t buy, holiday, don’t live. Take my advice and save your health and sanity.
Mary says
Sophie , please let me know when you are leaving Spain so we can have a party…..lol.
Antonio says
So people here are moaning about how tough their life in Spain is, how hot it is during the summer, how they got ripped off by some state agent and how miserable their life are because Spanish are rude and unpleasant to them. Cool. That makes me wonder, why did you move there in the first place? also, why 90 per cent of you moved into cities where half of the population are Brits? Weren’t you looking for a “new life start”? a bit funny innit? Let me tell you something, you are living in Spain but you are not living Spain mates. Unfortunately for you guys, you cannot expect to keep having the same way of life you used to have while in the UK and enjoy sunny Spain at the same time. Move to somewhere else where no Brits are around, immerse yourselves into the local culture, do not be overcautious but always keep your eyes open… in a nutshell: don’t be like Karl Pilkington on “An Idiot Abroad”. And, please, stop talking bulls**t about my country. If you´re too closed-minded to appreciate other cultures you better stay at home, it’s that simple.
By the way, I lived in Madrid for 9 years and have been living in London for nearly 4 years now and bloody love the two of them, just so let you know.
Cheers
John says
I’m amazed at the negativity in most of these comments. Some of you really need to ask yourselves something – Why did you move to Spain in the first place? Was it to improve your lifestyle? Britain wasn’t meeting your needs so you decided to move. Then when you got here you discovered that Spain doesn’t meet your needs either.
Why not get on and try to make it work instead of moaning about it. Life is far too short to be so negative and to be sitting there wringing your hands saying “Woe is me. Why did I move?” Remember, the other man’s grass is not always greener but there’s nothing, absolutely nothing to stop you doing your best to make a go of it. And to those who do, I salute you. Well done!
But for Heaven’s sake, the rest of you, lose the hostility, stop bitching and just go.
John (from Ireland, and I fully intend to move to Spain when I retire)
Mr Terry Watts says
We came and rented first and then we bought with no problems, We specifically bought in an area with lots of Brits and Irish because integration with any other culture is too difficult in the long term, Iv’e never personally felt resentment from Spanish but then i never go out of my way to talk to them and let’s face it the country is big enough for all of us. We bring wealth and income and help towards the local economy of wherever we are. 10′ of 1000’s of Spaniards live and work in our country while our young in Spain are never given a chance…….but then i guess more fool our own stupid goverment who give priority to all foreigners.
Michael says
I actually think that was your mistake, Terry. You should force yourself to immediate connect with Spaniards ONLY. Although there is a benefit of having an expat network available to learn the ropes it’s best if you figure out ‘las gajes de oficio’ the hard way. First up it builds character and you learn how the system really works.
Of course Spaniards are going to be preferential to other Spaniards. Their culture is very clan based and connections as well as family means even more than in anglo-saxon countries. Some call it nepotism – okay, that’s fine. But it’s how the system works. You won’t be able to change it – so either accept it or go back to where you came from. FYI – I’m a German/American who spent the last four years here in VLC. I often get sick of all the little things but then I have to remind myself of all the good things here as well.
Instead of complaining and asking for the Spanish to make the first move you will have to work hard for THEM to ACCEPT YOU! It is their country after all. We are guests here and unless you abuela/abuelo was born in your city you are a stranger to them and have to work hard to earn their trust and respect.
I have had shitty experience as well. BUT I have also learned that the more generous and supportive you are the more appreciative will the Spaniards be. Try to volunteer and get involved in communal efforts. You are only a ‘guiri’ if you act like one 😉
Blue says
No, you’re a guiri no matter what. And we don’t *own* our countries. That’s the exact mentality that breeds xenophobia and racism.
Richard Tedeschi says
You know what… we humans talk a lot of rubbish to justify doing whatever we want and maybe feel at peace with ourselves and the world.
Roberto Roselló says
Spain is different, Can you be different? If not, stay home.
Anthony says
And i would say the same to you..and is that the best you can come up with.
I think you need to read my post properly,as i have said not all brits coming to your country are the same so dont tarnish all brits with the same brush.
I hate whiners says
I hate those whiners that, instead trying to adapt to a different country (Spain or others), the only thing they can do is crying. Don’t be so coward, stop moaning like if you were a little stupid kid and behave as an adult. Have you been ripped off? Ginger up!!! Can’t you find work? That’s probably because you aren’t qualified enough…study!!! The jobs are low paid?? Start from the base, as we all have done…
I am fed up of Brits that come to MY country totally DRUNK, THROWING LITTER on the streets, SHOUTING AND BREAKING windows…I think it also has to do with crime…and I have to pay WITH MY TAXES the mess Brits produce because “they are on holiday”. Not to mention about those Brits criminals that infect my country with their presence trying not to be arrested.
Yes, you’re right. You should better come back into your mum’s arms and when you grow up, having studied enough to get a job in which you will be pay what you think you worth, then come back to my country. See? We’re not so bad…we’re not rancorous…could you, Brit, say the same??? I’m sure you can’t.
Anthony says
Read your comments and had to reply,i have been coming to spain for over 6 years and have to say some of your comments are correct.
But also some are very wrong,when we come to spain we dont drop litter we dont go breaking windows and we always use our manners be it thank you or gracias.
One thing we have noticed is that sometimes no matter how courteous you are you still get treated like you are nothing.
Concerning your comments on tourist lets be honest without the tourists coming to spain your country would have gone to the wall years ago,so as with most things in life their are good things about tourists and their is bad things.
And yes their is british criminals in spain,just as it is possible their are spanish criminals in britain so swings and roundabouts
But i do agree with you concerning people coming to live and work in spain,if you want to atleast make a good go of things then do as the spanish do just as i would expect if you came here do as the british do.
We are all different and have a different way of living and at the end of the day if we all atleast tried to help a person in need rather than judge them from where they are from they maybe the world would be a better place.
Michael says
Most Brits who come here are fine people. Don’t confuse them with the ‘guiris’ that just pop by during the summer vacation and sometimes make a mess of themselves. They exist everywhere in the world and it’s not country specific. You must differentiate between some Yahoos who just are here to let off some steam and those who actually work very hard to integrate. My wife and I are among the latter – we only have Spanish friends here and we only speak Spanish when we’re outside. At the gym almost everyone knows me and talks to me. I even teach a free martial arts class to a group of Spaniards. Así que no todos somos gillipollas 😉
Stephen says
I’m English and have lived in Valencia for 2 years, many of the younger people are very nice and open minded, but a lot are very racist, rude and openly hostile to any foreigners, particularly the older people. I am lucky enough to work online for a UK company, so I can live anywhere in Europe. I worked for a Spanish company initially, but they were very unreliable, offered much lower benefits than UK companies and were very inefficient and didn’t care about their clients at all. My Spanish friends confirm most of the companies they work for are like that too, often riddled with nepotism and often do things off book or flout the law. The sad thing is that the vast majority Spanish workers are very hard working, but the business owners, systems of local gov, tax, social security(Autonomo) etc are shocking and make it very hard to set up a company, make money or be entrepreneurial. The bureaucracy is unbelievable, coming from a country where you can do virtually anything online, I now have to visit multiple offices and photocopy things (remember them?!) just to get anything done. Companies often don’t show up with no excuse given and I’ve lost count the number of times they didn’t deliver on services or obligations that they contracted to. You end up having to build in contingency plans for anything you do.
I chose Spain to learn the language and experience another culture, I spoke intermediate Spanish after 6 months of study and am gradually working up to fluency. Language helps, but is not a panacea and will not change your status as a foreigner by much, you will just be able to realise when you are being ripped off or spoken about. I only have a few English or Spanish friends here, I mainly have Cuban, Latin American, Japanese, Korean, Italian, German etc but we all speak in Spanish, sometime English if they don’t speak it. They are all foreigners too, so have similar experiences / treatment which we can bond over and laugh about. As a Londoner I am used to diversity and love it, here it’s not the same at all. It’s the thing I miss about London the most.
I’ll live here for a year or two more, but I wouldn’t raise a family here. The schools are generally not very good, from what my neighbours with kids say, which is confirmed in the European rankings. Motorways and trains aside (which are excellent, although trains/metro etc don’t run very late) the infrastructure is woeful and the opportunities for jobs are minimal. My Aunt moved to Spain in 1960s so my cousins were born and raised in Spain in Cadiz and went to Uni here, but neither could get a job until their mid twenties, when they both left the country, one to Italy the other to Australia where they found work immediately.
Anyone thinking of coming should still do it if they really want to; rents and property are cheap (be careful about buying though, there are many pitfalls and tales of woe) the countryside is unbelievable, but it is very dependent on what stage of your life you are at. Just left Uni, want to have an adventure and learn a language, or want to retire and already have an independent income then cool, do it. Anyone else, think hard because unless you work in an expat community, you will be shocked at what the employers are like, if you can even find work, and you will not earn enough to save for a pension or anything else you would expect to in UK. Healthcare in my experience is good and vets are cheaper than the UK, although some of the animal cruelty is hard to take. People mistreat dogs and animals frequently eg Yesterday I saw someone punching his dog, when I stopped and looked he threatened to kill me, gave me loads of xenophobic and personal abuse and called me “gay” about 30 times. lol. That said, they are generally tolerant of gay people, at least here in Valencia and in Barcelona where I have gay friends that I visit often. Things like cars are more expensive than the UK, but food and petrol is cheaper. Weigh it up and visit for 6 months before making the plunge if you are able to.
Jorge says
Stephen, well said.
The red tape and costs to set up a new business contribute to the high unemployment. Not to mention the lack of govt services to support businesses.
Iberdrola is a criminal organization, they even cut off electricity to buildings affecting all residents even if it is one person that hasn’t paid (feel free to Google this).
It’s a very insular country and don’t think that some people calling Spain 3rd world is completely unfair.
Michael says
Hey Stephen – I actually live in VLC as well. Moved here from Los Angeles and the cosmopolitan lifestyle is something I miss very much as well. My wife and I would love to join your group of expats sometime. We speak English, French, German, and of course Spanish.
Red says
Hi Stephen,
Same here I am also working online for an UK company providing IT services. And now with my wife we registered her as Autonomo for our IT business here in Madrid. Everything seems to be smooth after several days of talking to lawyers and other small businesses asking for some tips. I instantly saw the differences between UK and Spanish laws and I like it better in the UK in terms of process and procedures. Even if I can barely understand and speak Spanish, I tried to blend in and I love it here hahaha. People are so friendly and helpful. I wish we have an English speaking neighbor.
Anyone here in Madrid, please feel free to give me a shout and I am happy to buy you coffee or beer.
lehammer says
I hate living in Spain due to how horrible the British immigrant expats are. Spain attracts the most down-market, skanky, bigoted, basic, drunken, ignorant, violent, scummy, sub-human British people I have ever had the misfortune to meet. I am embarrassed to be British when I am in Spain and I feel really sorry for the Spanish people having to put up with the animals that come to their lovely country from Britain. It is not surprising that in a recent BBC World Service survey, the Spanish hated the British more than people from any country except for those from Pakistan.
I shall be heading off to mid Portugal to live, where the English seem to be far more civilised and less backward. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the Spanish population on behalf of my fellow countrymen. I promise we are not all like the people you have had to endure in your country.
Stephen says
Sounds like you are one of the more prejudiced British people posting on here, Spain will not miss you and Portugal will not be the richer for your presence.
Tricia says
Yes, you have nailed it. Most of those Brits we have seen come from the north of England. Where anywhere would seem like heaven compared to what they’ve left. They are generally illiterate and without morals or any integrity. Just hearing their awful voices puts me off. I want to move somewhere in the south of Spain where these people don’t live. But I am not sure where that may be. I do like Barcelona and south of BCN but it’s way too expensive to buy a 4 bed house in those regions. Even down towards Girona is becoming out of reach.
Alan C says
Tricia, The North of England are illiterate,no morals,or integrity. Can I ask where in the North you have been? In England the north is beautiful, from Yorkshire all the way up through Northumberland we have lush green valleys and beautiful coast line and beaches. I live on the outskirts of the wear valley,please Google it and take a look,before making such stupid comments, the people here in the North East are warm and friendly they work hard to save up their moneys to visit Spain and boost your economy whilst doing so, and they are definitely not illiterate. I visit Spain 2 or 3 times each year and love it. And I will continue to do so. There’s good and bad in all countries,. I’ve travelled the world from China to Australia ,Canada, Greece , Dubia, Hongkong,Cyprus etc, etc, and always find each country is unique and all have their own culture and way of doing things,get used to that and you will get on ok with them all.
Heather says
Tricia, You ignorant moron, stating all from the north of England are immoral and illiterate if you want to see the person you described? one answer look in your mirror.
Fred says
Hi everyone,
I’m a Dutch male citizen about 55 years with a cash capital of € 500K. I want to set up a business in Gran Canaria.
Has anyone experience in setting up a business in Gran Canaria?
Is there any suggestion or advice?
All suggestions or advices are welcome.
Thanks
Jorge says
You could also flush that 500 grand down the toilet
macs says
Hi Fred,
I live in the Netherlands and I want to move to the Canary Islands. Just give me your money!!!! 🙂 — kidding. Why don’t you go there and spend a few months living in GC? You can look around and see what is going on. Maybe find someone who lives there and can give you a good advice? Een kleine hotel kopen en voor Nederlandse toeristen te huren? Of zo iets…
I liked the Canary Islands and I did not experience that kind of “rip off” mentality. I used to live in Barcelona and did not like Catalan people at all! The rest of Spain is much better!
Vriendelijke groeten,
macs
Blue says
Gran Canaria is amazing. That’s funny because I’ve lived all over the country and I loved Barcelona! Traveling while alone, female and foreign (three counts against me here with the men and women, at times) the worst service I ever experienced was in Madrid and Seville (sometimes in Bilbao too). But in Catalunya, not so. I even remember having pan con tomate at this restaurant in a little town and the waitress brought out fresh ingredients and showed me how to make it. She couldn’t have been nicer. Go figure!
Lidon says
I think a big part of whether a foreigner does well in Spain has to do with gender, skin color, any features that stand out as not being Spanish, and age. In chauvinistic Mediterranean countries, the Madonna-Whore syndrome is alive and well. I have Spanish people (mostly older women) being sweet to my mother and even speaking English with her, whereas they NEVER do that with me. However, many of the younger (and older) women are cold, give dirty looks, smirks, and are even rude (which is ridiculous as most Spanish men want to marry versions of their mother anyway).
su says
It’s depends where part of the country do you live. I live in the north and is lovely
Heyyoo says
I’m sorry to hear that, right now, Spain is one of the safest places in the world my friend.
Billy says
My wife and I have been living and (more importantly) Working in Spain for just over 12 years. The reality is that there are two Spanish scenarios: 1) You have enough money to live in Spain without needing to work and 2) You need to work in Spain.
Your enjoyment of the country is going to be Vastly different based on either 1 or 2.
Add to that the cultural and educational differences between north and south (it’s the same in Italy & France) and you get even more dynamics, especially for those folks who have to work to make ends meet.
We have been running our own business for many years now and around 95% of our income is foreign income. If we had to rely on Spanish business we’d be dead in the water ages ago.
I don’t think people truly understand how tough it is to do business in Spain with the Spanish.
We’ve long moved past the surprise about handshakes and promises not being met. (Always get it in writing from the Spanish.)
How greedy and dishonest the Spanish can be.
We’ve have many Spanish clients who hold on to foreigner’s money where they are 100% within their rights to receive a refund for the items (Thousands of Euros). The Spanish refuse because they know how complicated the Spanish law system is in order for them to get their money back.
We have to do business with people like this all the time because there are no alternatives. It’s sickening to have to look at and speak to these people.
It takes years, if ever, to be accepted into any business Niche, and that’s usually only after you’ve made them a lot of money, despite them, rather than because of them.
The Spanish (and most Mediterranean countries) are a long way behind the business models of the English speaking and certain Asian countries. Marketing is as basic as the States in the 1940s, and customer service is almost non-existent in most parts of Spain (Cataluña is better).
Nationalism is 100% engaged, even if the Spanish don’t realise it themselves. Franco’s legacy (Spain is the best country in the world etc. etc.) is firmly entrenched. The most futile effort here would be to try and convince the Spanish to do something a different way or, heaven forbid, to copy a business model from Northern Europe.
This is completely evident in their building and civil engineering industry.
Essentially no changes or improvements in building standards have been made in the last 100 years, hence the damp basements, poor foundations and subsequent cracked walls, leaking pools, and plumbing that smells like sewer depending on the wind direction. (This does improve in the direction South to North.)
(We’re talking about placing plastic sheets under floor slabs, between support walls and around window frames. Proper earth compaction, primer on plastered walls before painting, and adequate foundation concrete and sometimes reinforcement. This is not an expensive to do, but it’s very costly to repair, over and over again.)
The civil engineering sector is no better. I have seen intersections, off-ramps, and roundabouts that have made my head spin. Structural concrete where the reinforcement has no cover is almost a standard.
Checking to see that you did it right the first time is a luxury.
And you’ll scratch your head, because people have been doing it better and for cheaper for many years just a few miles North. All the Spanish have to do is ask for advice, or if they were to proud to ask then go spy a little to see how they do things better elsewhere…
If you are retired in Spain then the worst you’ll experience is the poor customer service, or maybe lose some of your savings on an ilegal property purchase from a Spanish lawyer, agent and builder. (By the way Spanish law will punish you for acquiring an ilegal property and not the lawyer, agent or builder.)
Your frustrations will however be less compared to someone who has to work or run their own business in the country, and wiggle their way through the bureaucratic and cultural minefield without getting stomach ulcers 🙂
My very honest advice:
If you’re thinking about moving to Spain then
1) First rent for at least 2/3 years to consider the areas you would actually like to live in, to get over the honeymoon period, to see how you adapt to Spanish culture (or the lack thereof – depending on what you are specifically used to), and to understand the system better.
2) Take note that the level of education amongst the Spanish in the South is at a very basic level. This improves in the North and is best in areas of Cataluña, Basque and Asturias.
3) If you have to work in Spain then first consider Cataluña where the economy is the strongest. We all want great beach weather but sometimes there has to be some compromises.
If you have children and you can’t afford private schools then you have to consider the level of education they will receive.
Hope that helps someone.
Lidon says
I’ve been living in Bilbao and I feel like a white person in an African village, with the way the women stare at me 24-7 (I’m a woman with blue eyes (GASP!!!)), dirty looks, smirks, refusal to be remotely friendly, huge lack of diversity here in general. They may have gone to school but they aren’t remotely cosmopolitan. They have the typical villager mentality – no outsiders.
Kat says
Hi Lidon, I’m considering moving to Bilbao. How’s the job market there? Kat
Sicknote says
Good answer, been working here 26 years, my advice, do not come to Spain to work, bursting to get out of this eternal hell hole.
Maria says
I too am Spanish, and as a 5 year old I was taken to Australia by my parents that was in 1971, when i got married my husband and i started our own family we decided to return to Spain in 2000, thinking that we were going to have a better life here in Spain. but i can honestly say that the saying “you don’t know what you have until you have lost it” is a true saying. We are arranging to go back next year as we are tried of all the bull sh………. here in Spain. The corruption, the the ripping off, everything. I myself have almost been ripped off, because i have not Spanish accent because i was brought up in Australia most people thought I was from the UK, little did they know that I am also fluent in Spanish, because of this I really have not made friends with Spanish people and I have stuck to the English community. I think that the biggest mistake that my husband and I have made in our lives was coming to Spain. I think that we actually made it worse for our children putting them into the Spanish education system which leaves a lot to be desired for. I am glade that my daughter made the decision to return back to Australia when she became an adult. I will be glade to see the back of Spain next year.
Fifi Montague says
Response to ‘I Hate Spain’ by Nick Anders
My response will probably be most effective, I my comments are written in red, immediately following Nick’s claims.
I Hate Spain (by Nick Anders, disillusioned expat)
Maybe hate is too strong a word but ok then I dislike Spain, I’ve had enough, get me out of here – whatever your choice, the end result if the same. I’m leaving Spain to go back to the UK.
It sounds as if you really do hate the Spain you know. You should definitely move back to the UK, you sound very British with a typical ex-pat attitude to life overseas.
I’m not the only one who now hates Spain. It’s a bit like the thin line between love and hate.
It’s true, there are many ex-pat’s who sound like you.
I moved to Spain four years ago to start a new life and at first I loved it but now I hate Spain and can’t wait to get out.
Again, it sounds familiar, coming from someone who has decided to move to a very ‘British occupied’ area of Spain.
There are lots of downsides to living in Spain and I just didn’t know about these when I moved to Spain.
There are virtually no down-sides to living in Spain but it totally depends on your state of mind and where, in Spain in particular, you live.
I’ve been living in Nerja which is a coastal town with nice sandy beach on the Costa del Sol of Spain, I won’t bore you with my tales of woe but I wanted to write this to let off some steam but also to warn anyone thinking of moving to Spain to be very careful.
Personally, I wouldn’t advise anyone moving to Spain, to live in a major British ex-pat community. You don’t see enough of true Spain or get to know true Spanish people
At least move to Spain with your eyes wide open – aware of all the negatives about living in Spain.
I’m happy because I did my research.
An expats life in Spain can be really hard, a constant struggle, make sure you are prepared for all of this because you haven’t seen anything like this on A Place In The Sun and nobody involved in the property/estate agent business will ever warn you of the downsides and disadvantages to moving and living in Spain.
Again, it’s like fresh air to me, after leaving the UK but research should be carried out so your expectations are real.
Reasons I Now Hate Spain and Want To Move Back
Crime in Spain
I felt safe in Spain when I first moved here. I didn’t see any crime, people were friendly, I thought crime didn’t hardly exist here.
Compared to the UK, crime is virtual non-existent! I don’t think the Spanish know the meaning of theft!
Until I found out that often when people are burgled in Spain they are bound and gagged.
Never heard that one! However, crime is slightly relevant on the Costa del Sol – but I could almost guarantee, the burglars are not Spanish!
The luckier ones are gassed. Even houses with dogs – and have you noticed how many people have big dogs – yeah now I get it – get hit because they poison the dogs.
I think you may have been watching too much TV (British or American TV)
No, I don’t like living in fear and I’m sure the recession will only increase crime in Spain.
No, you’re very wrong and you must avoid speaking about Spain on the whole. As with all countries, locations matter.
Trouble is Spain is very close to some very poor African countries and there are lots of poor immigrants, mostly illegal, who will do anything to survive.
I live on the Costa Blanca, (3 years) soon to move to Barcelona and have never ever encountered poor immigrants or illegal immigrants. Maybe I’ve just been blessed.
Work and Jobs in Spain
I moved to Spain for a better life. I hate how I now work harder in Spain than I ever did in the UK. I moved to Spain with savings of £15,000, now I have pretty much nothing but the shirt on my back.
Again, you perhaps should have researched the job market before coming. Yes, it’s true the Spanish are very hard workers – unlike most of the UK who think about the end of their shift, the moment they start it.
I figured that with so many expats living in Spain that there must be a bundle of potential new business opportunities or companies looking for staff. I was so wrong!
My daughter is just 23 years of age and is a student. When we moved here she couldn’t speak a word of Spanish – now, in 3 years she is fluent. Mostly thanks to the 4 fantastic jobs she has held down. She began on 25€ an hour for teaching English to a 1 year old boy. She then moved on to a golf course whilst learning Spanish. She then acquired a position in Laura Ashley where her dual language was very useful and when the store moved town, she immediately found a senior role running a golf pro shop – always choosing when and where she wanted to work. Opportunities are there for people who are prepared to be polite, work hard and feel grateful for the chance.
I soon found out that jobs and opportunities in Spain were few and far between apart from the obvious ones.
I would agree that in the Costas – most opportunities are bar/waiting work but others do exist, you just need to prove yourself, be flexible and accepting. (Perhaps now Nick’s forte)
Fact – I hate villa cleaning, I hate cleaning pools, I hate working in bars until 2 am waiting for the last drunken expat to leave, I hate building work in the baking midday sun. I hate Spain!
As I said earlier, I think the UK is the place for you. You get paid for doing nothing.
The Word Manana
Like everyone else I thought this was a funny joke at first. Every time a person in Spain – whether Spanish or British let me down I would grin and say manana like it was ok or normal. When I’m paying for a job I want it done as promised – and on time – or am I mad for expecting this?
It’s true. All over Spain, it seems to be slow paced but you can adapt and get the very best out of people. At least the Spanish workers are always polite, want to please, persistent and won’t give up until they know you are happy. At least in the parts I know.
Customer Service in Spain
What I hate in Spain is when I go into a shop and stand waiting while the assistant chats away to their friend or relative totally ignoring me and everyone else.
This must be local to Costa del Sol, I think. I’ve never encountered any customer service here that isn’t a total contrast to what you put up with in the UK! They are always very grateful for your custom, treat you like a princess and will do anything to ensure you are satisfied.
In this global economy you just can’t see the Spanish having a chance against the likes of American, British or Indian companies who are hungry and put customer service first.
British – putting customers first. I think you have had too much sun and sangria! If a UK bus driver sees you running for his bus, he will deliberately pull away, leaving you stranded and I’ve known them to throw my daughter off a bus, in an unknown area, in the dark because she was 5p short of her fare!! Here, by contrast, they have driven us from one town to another for nothing, when we didn’t quite have the correct change for the machine.
There is NO customer service in Spain. Much of the time you are served when people feel like it, you get little help and assistance and often you are not even greeted at the counter – you greet them. It is like you are doing them a favour by shopping there!
This couldn’t be farther from the truth, in my experience; from Barcelona down to the South of the country, we have always received the utmost attention. Mmmm, I’m wondering if perhaps they can sense that you don’t like them and are always ready to criticise?
I hate getting anything done in Spain. Often I end up going to the local town hall and being sent from one department to another where I am told conflicting advice. The paperwork and bureaucracy is horrendous. If you are coming to live in Spain bring a photocopier!
I don’t think you speak Spanish Nick (maybe you do?) but this would cause a struggle in the Town Halls. They do have a lot of paperwork here, I admit but it works. They know what they are doing and every employee at the Town Hall, has been trained the same – they all know the drill so, unlike the UK – you don’t receive conflicting advice and they never leave you stranded – we have always found them to be extremely helpful and have got things done with the minimum of trouble.
Getting Ripped Off in Spain
I hate that people prey on each other in Spain. Everyone seems so desperate that getting cheated is a story every expat I know can tell. I personally put a €8,000 deposit down on an apartment and the estate agent did a runner with my cash. God knows where they are now but I won’t stop looking until I find them.
I bet I could guess what nationality the estate agent was! Certainly not Spanish. We have been ripped off only once in Spain in 3 years and that was when I took a risk by shopping at a British butchers shop. Normally, I would stick with Spanish retail every time but I purchased Christmas pack of dates from the shop – only to find, when we got home that they were from 2 years ago and were dried and inedible! I might have known! Never again; we will only ever shop from Spanish retailers now.
Other common expat stories are ones such as being sold a property that was actually illegal, didn’t have planning permissions etc and often the people had a Spanish lawyer so they were not cutting corners and they still have lost their life savings.
What! You mean people were buying properties via a Spanish lawyer (who didn’t speak English) signing documents they didn’t understand and failing to check the building and planning permissions on the proposed property before handing over their savings?? How did these people work out how to travel to Spain in the first place, or even get out of bed in the morning?
Corruption is a problem in Spain and often there are stories in the newspapers about local town hall officials being involved in shady/illegal deals. Anything and I mean anything, can happen in Spain.
I’ve heard the same, but never experienced it. So, the same as the UK then only here the news is very much out there in the public eye rather than in the UK where it is hidden behind the scene.
When I first moved to Spain the currency was the Peseta. The cost of living in Spain was low as most food and drink was cheap compared to northern Europe. Then the Euro came in and it seemed everyone took the opportunity to raise their prices – typical – now I think it could actually be possible – no I’m sure it is – that the cost of living is now higher than the UK!
Ha, ha, ha! So surely you devised a COL comparison document before you moved here? I did and compared: Council Tax, Parking, Petrol, Food, Water Bill, Telephone Bill, Electricity Bill, Gas Bill, car tax, car insurance, cost of mortgage or rent. There has only been one service I’ve found more expensive here than in London and that is taxis. Even most outdoor events are free!
When I go back to the UK I notice sales, discounts. When I go shopping in Spain, despite a so called recession I don’t see shops dropping the prices, I don’t see special offers, I don’t see much evidence of competition between retailers. In my local supermarket when food goes out of date they don’t slash the price, instead it stays on the shelf and so you have to be careful what you are buying.
I really think you are living in the wrong part of Spain. Here on the Costa Blanca, I wonder if they ever have a non sale period. One sale follows another continuously. When I complained to the local supermarket that my fresh produce wasn’t good (I didn’t return it, I just happened to mention it on my next trip). The assistant simply put a pile of the same fruit (fresh) in a bag and market the label ‘No charge’.
Poor Roads/Facilities in Spain
I hate the lack of infrastructure in Spain. The motorways/auto routes are superb as a lot of EU money has been given to Spain but locally our roads are terrible. The amount of tyres we go through because of holes in the road is ridiculous.
True! It seems to be bad all over the country.
There is no drainage so when it rains heavily places get flooded and roads are washed away. Areas that used to soak up the water have been built on due to pure greed. The councils just don’t seem to invest back into the community, instead the money collected from me in taxes is blown up – literally – by stunning firework displays that even Disney would be proud of.
I think there might be some truth in this – although to spend money on fast drainage in a country that rarely sees any rain, would cause disagreements in political circles, I think.
I wish I had never moved to Spain and I urge anyone else thinking of Spain seriously to consider my story, especially any young families who I see writing on the expat forums about how they can’t wait to move to Spain, how they are fed up with life in the United Kingdom etc – you don’t realise how lucky you have it!
My advice would be the opposite. If you have a young family and are thinking of moving to Spain, I would research, research, research and find the best area for you. Giving a young family the chances they may never get in the UK is what moving to Spain would achieve. The education is far superior to that in the UK – the numbers in classes are much smaller and the drive and passion of the teachers is very impressive – I doubt there is one class in the whole of Spain that has to employ the police to stand at the back of the classroom! Plus in no time at all, your children would be speaking a language that is very important. Not to mention their health. Plus the health service is on another level – they don’t even have GP’s – every doctor specialises in his subject unlike in the UK where they give you only 10 minutes and prescribe cough medicine for everything! Here, the medical expertise is second to none!
What they don’t read about are the thousands of young families who have moved to Spain and who would love to move back to the UK, if they only could afford to as they have no money. Or the ones who have moved back already having realised their mistake in moving to Spain in the first place.
I think those families who want to move back or are glad they have – belong there. We don’t want those kind of Brits here, thank you. I’m sick of the negativity of the UK and the British people; they criticise and moan about everything and think the world owes them a living!
Sophie Jarrell says
I have a great time in the Basque Country, although they would have insisted they were not actually Spanish, a less great time in Madrid. I think that just like any other country where you live, what your job is, who your friends are have just as much effect as the country on your quality of life! I overall really enjoyed my time in Spain, but did run into “manana” syndrome and struggle to get people to keep to deadlines. I agree with pablo that you will find good and bad people everywhere and crime everywhere! In the end I moved back to the UK not because I didn’t like Spain but because my temporary contract teaching Esol had run out and my sister had just had a baby. I went home to visit planning t o go back and get more work but then I ended up getting work in the UK instead *shrugs* c’est la vie.
WHATEVER YOU DO THOUGH definitely definitely make sure you know the language before you go it makes such a huge difference.
damian says
i feel sorry to read all that, i am spanish from the coast near nerja and currently living in uk, and i have to say you are right, spain service is really bad, there so many corruption and so many crisis and so many money trickers, but is either with foraing people and spanish, there so many ignorant people in spain,most of them don´t speak any english and see the person from another country as a menace (to their job positions,their mental capacity or their phissical apparence) but also there is so many nice people who love english people or another outsiders,and so mane places where the peple are so open and friendly and we like to see people from the rest ofthe world, when i was living in spain i used to make friends with people from other countrys and that´s how i met my girlfriend,and now i moved to uk with her,i feel glad to have diferent cultures and i think we should have more of that in spain cause the politics just try to make everybody stupid so nobody will complaing or say anything about the corruptions
ChrissieB says
I am originally German, but spent 39 Years in South Africa and the last year in Germany and the UK, but I am moving to Spain at the end of November as it just feels a lot more like home.
For those of you who complain about Spain… don’t ever move to South Africa, it is way worse there, but I love it anyway! I do miss it, but since being White in SA is not a good thing these days, I thought I would come back to Europe and see how it goes here.
Like all countries, Spain has its problems, but the lifestyle is just so much more relaxed… and I am used to ‘manana’, it is like that in SA as well.
Germany is ok, everything works well and it is for the most part nice and clean and very organised… too much so for my liking, I guess I’m used to a bit of chaos! The Germans are a bit of a boring lot though and I don’t feel like I belong here.
England is awful… my 3 kids live in London and it is a filthy, noisy, hectic place to live! But they are young and it suits them for now. I work as a Carer and therefore I have seen a lot of the southern parts of England and although it is fairly pretty, it is also extremely boring. A lot of Brits I met are nice enough, but they are also not my kind of people, they are far too stuck in the past, quite judgmental and almost as grey as their weather! And not everything works that well in the UK… Germany is definitely one up on them!
I am looking forward to my move to Spain, have been learning Spanish and plan to integrate with the locals as much as possible. I love the Spanish landscape, it reminds me of Africa and I really don’t mind that things don’t always work 100%, it can’t be any worse than SA.
As for Crime, sadly it seems that is on the increase all over the world, so no matter where I go, I always keep an eye out for potential trouble. There is no such thing as Paradise, but better weather and a more relaxed lifestyle sure does help.
Eventually I plan to work here as well, but need to master the language first, so for now I will continue to work in other countries and come home for relaxation as often as I can.
Michael says
Hallo Chrissie – herzlich willkommen in Spanien!! 🙂
I’m originally German as well but moved to the States in 1991 never to return. As a kid I grew up in Austria and Switzerland and when I came back to Germany at the age of 11 I couldn’t stand the industrialized North with all the hustle and buzzle. And as you already mentioned, the people are very cold and only live for work. So wound up spending 20 years in L.A. (not exactly quiet either but different lifestyle) and now I’m here in Spain with my lovely French wife. We love it here and we are very glad the Spanish will have us as we are horrified by what is going on in Northern Europe right now. If you are worried about being white in S.A. then wait 5 or 10 years – you will see the very same thing happening in Germany and France, it’s already starting to happen if you dig below the main stream media. Enough said as I don’t want to derail this thread.
My tip to you right now: Una palabra cada día. One Spanish word each day – you’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll be able to have a conversation with people. The Spanish grammar is pretty simple mostly – except when you jump into the subjuntivo forms (tenga, sea, tuviera, etc.) and the perifrasis (vengo trabajando, llevo viviendo, etc.).
If you work hard to integrate then you will see that they Spaniards will accept you with open arms. Of course there are idiots here as well but that’s a given in any place in the world. But judging by your introduction you sound like the perfect global citizen – give it three years and a handful of friends and you’ll be chatting away like a Spaniard.
If you’re ever in Valencia give me a holler and I’ll buy you a caña o dos 😉
Lidon says
That’s a myth, the Spanish are very xenophobic. I know enough people who “loved Spain” and are fluent in Spanish…and they’re now back in their own countries. I know a Spanish woman who told me herself that the Spanish are very “tight knit” (my euphemism). People in general are close-minded. It’s travelers and the expats who have the open minds, not the locals.
Norma says
Thank you all for your comments, pro and con. We’ve recently returned from our first trip to Spain, and we loved it. Our hotel staff (in Madrid) was wonderful and kind, and we spent most of our time in Andalucia and Valencia–loved visiting historic cities, enjoyed the food and the weather, fabulous roads, great agribusiness, and possibly the cleanest cities I’ve ever seen in Europe or the U.S. The worst part of Spain is the graffiti, and I never got used to it. I will be more sensitive to foreigners and immigrants in my country/city after reading your comments.
Raquel says
Oh My God! Thank you for this article. I live in the USA and speak Spanish fluently, as a result I was thinking about moving to Spain to live. Now, I will not do that. My parents die and I don’t have a family so I thought I will move to a pretty coastal town where I could rest and have a beautiful, view to look at every morning. I do have a dog and I would die if someone hurt her, I know she will die one day but I don’t want some crook to hurt her. And, Yes! there is crime everywhere but here is pretty safe. The government agencies could be a pain but everything is done legally and if they don’t and is find out, it would be a big investigation until they get to the bottom of it. I know how the system works and I prefer to feel safe than in a beautiful place. By the way I did live in London back in 2003 for three years and I love it! Make a couple of fantastic British friends which whom I am still in contact. Thank you for this article, I will direct my search somewhere else, or maybe, I will stay in the USA.
Victor says
Mister Madrid, if southern Spain is a disaster for you because Madrid receive 50% of the state’s investments, a shame, while the rest of the country, especially the south, is almost forgotten and without receiving anything. In Murcia, where I live now, trains are waste of Madrid, the Basque Country and Catalonia and break almost every day. Wirings of the tracks, an embarrassment, so in Murcia still see trains running on diesel. The AVE to know when it will arrive, and many of the roads appear to have been bombed from the air.
According to you, the south is a drain on the economy … you tell me, what benefits of Madrid receive the people of the south, and me that I am in the area? you are the “señoritos de Madrid”,economic predators while in some parts of the country without electricity and water. Madrid and its central government and Basque, Navarre and Catalonia, are the parasites of the other regions of Spain, impoverishing and promoting their marginality.
You imagine to Madrid without foreign multinationals? they would be poorer and with less money that Murcia, a forgotten region that has gone ahead with the effort of its people and no foreign investment
I feel disgust and shame that you’re Spanish….
Michael says
Victor – I understand that there are many tensions between regional autonomies in Spain and have been there historically for a long time. During economic crises regional tensions are always guaranteed to arise – it’s human nature. Everyone gets alone just fine during the boom years. Separation and finger pointing in my humble opinion is short sighted and will only hurt us in the long run.
Because we are facing much bigger problems right now. Europe is going through a veritable Muslim invasion and if there is one country in the world that remembers the meaning of this then it is España! While we Europeans are bickering amongst ourselves (in Brussels, Berlin, Madrid, London, everywhere) there are fanatical forces at work that threaten to completely overturn our Western civilization within one or two generations! How much would you enjoy seeing your children being forced into Sharia law in about 20 or 30 years from now?
That is NOT to diminish the grievances you and many of your countrymen may be feeling – I am sure they are valid and need to be addressed. However I hope that Spain (as well as other European countries by the way) can resolve their differences and realize that we are stronger TOGETHER and not separately. The real enemy is already amongst us.
This may all sound a bit naive as the multi-nationalists are busy destroying Europe (not just Spain) and the realy story here is way beyond the scope of this discussion thread. All I’m saying is that we Europeans need to find common ground and that quickly. Otherwise we may be facing another big war – things are falling apart everywhere – even in Germany, Austria, Holland, and other so called ‘rich’ nations.
Remember the old adage: ve divide y venceras – divide and conquer. That strategy seems to be working very well right now.
Victor says
Let’s be clear, Spain does not oblige any foreigner to stay in their territory.. the if the t foreigners do not adapt to Spain for their prejudices toward Spaniards, feelings of superiority and not be willing to learn the language and integrate etc etc etc the solution is very simple: airport and for to home.
Michael says
I would agree! When moving to a new country you will always encounter things that do not suit you. It’s part of life and you always have the option to leave. Of course a bit of bickering hasn’t hurt anyone and it’s part of human nature. I for one am not prejudices against Spaniards – I think you are great people. Please do not think that the negative comments here reflect the attitude of all ‘guiris’ 😉
Lidon says
If you don’t look Spanish, trust me, they WILL NOT let you integrate. Just ask any minority.
Barbara Nelson says
I don’t agree with your statement at all, I have lived inland from Malaga in a Spanish village for nine years, both of my daughters have gone through the education system in the village. Within a few weeks of moving here one of my daughters was playing in the village band, she has done well at school (blond and very English looking) and is now at Granada uni studying Chemistry. All of my two daughters friends are Spanish, both have Spanish boyfriends and are welcomed to their homes, their friends parents also welcome them and have been nothing but friendly.
Blue says
There are blond Spaniards too. And if your daughters are learning the language before adulthood, chances are, they speak like natives and therefore could pass as Spanish.
Spanish in UK says
I think the trouble is that Nick – as well as most British expats I think – went to live in Southern Spain. Southern Spain has always been known among Spaniards for being a total disaster – I know it because I’m Spanish. And in fact, economic data constantly shows that the South is a drain for the Spanish economy, Spain would actually be a very rich country if only the Northern part existed.
I am from Madrid and I have never experienced any of the problems Nick talks about there. In Madrid you will get assisted properly and promptly in shops, cafes, etc, and you will get things done as promised, not “mañana”. Also, I have spend holidays in Alicante and never had any problems there.
However I have experienced some of the problems Nick talks about in Southern Spain. And also, in the UK I experienced a very similar situation to that of Sherley when I got internet at home and I never ever managed to get any handyman to come to my house at a settled time when I needed to fix something, they always refused to settle a particular time alleging the were too busy, they promised they would call back and then they basically either appeared just when they wanted (sometimes several weeks after) or, if I was lucky enough, they called 5 minutes before to tell me it had to be then or never. And a few times they just didn’t appear at all. This kind of things would be unthinkable in Madrid, I just couldn’t believe it the first times until I stopped getting surprised after so many times. And by the way, roads in Madrid and in Northern Spain are way way better than in East Sussex where I live. In fact, the town I live in is full of road wholes, and I really can’t understand where my taxes go because nothing seems to be done here apart from mowing the lawn around every now and then and leaving the cut grass just there to get dry or mouldy.
So we all have skeletons in the cupboard…
Red says
We are planning to migrate back to Spain by the end of March this year. When I was reading some of the comments here, at first I stopped and asked myself, are we doing the right thing moving from UK to Spain? There are so many negativity from the folks who have had bad experiences in Spain. I feel sorry to all of them. When we were in Madrid back in 2013, it was like love at first sight. I love the people and they were very friendly. The food is great. The weather is very livable and fun everyday. So to cut the story short, we’ve enjoyed our stay in Madrid and that’s why we want to go back and live there permanently. Work is no problem as I am still going to be employed by my UK employer in London and my wife will be teaching English courses. If anyone in Madrid wants to have a chit chat and meetup,feel free to drop me a message. BTW, I’m not British, Im an Asian guy married to a Spanish citizen.
Gregorio says
Hola, soy español, solo queria pedirte disculpas en nombre de mi pais y desearte un mejor futuro alli donde vayas, no toda España es igual, pero tienes toda la libertad de odiarnos.
Un saludo amigo
An expat says
31/08/2015 – 337,107 were fired in one day.
https://www.elmundo.es/economia/2015/09/03/55e751ace2704ec4268b4595.html
There’s something very rotten in the state of Spain. Nice sun, nice food, but a basket case economy.
Pascual says
The only rotten in Spain is an ominous political class (the old parties) that has already expired, never cared about this country, not even invested in industry, now it’s 15% of GDP country, when in the 80s it was 34% or 35% of our GDP country
Pascual says
Where are you from? Of the perfect country?
Pascual says
Tell me one thing,.
we are 47 million people in Spain, you have meet all these people? Your opinion is the same as always, the typical view that you had problems with some people, now all spanish people we are labeled. It is as absurd as if I live in Quebec, I have problems with a neighbor in my building or I’m docked at one of the banks of Quebec, and then say that all canadienes are criminals and thieves..then, don’t you think it would be absurd to generalize about all the canadian people for one specific events? however, is not the first video I see on youtube where in english-speaking countries people give beatings or insult to who speak Spanish or another language, like the case of the french girls in Australia, or the couple of spanish tourists in the UK, where almost kill them
I know many foreigners (British, german, norwegian etc etc) living in Spain, and still do not know anyone to whom they have given a beating for speaking English. It would be stupid, but most stupid, it would be impossible what you say, in a country as tourist as Spain, with millions of tourists annually
Anyone who has lived in Spain knows that we are not a perfect country, not like yours, where you kill seal pups to sticks. We are not perfect, but you the english speakers you are not better than us. Not even close. You are simply hostile
If you could speak Spanish and you socialize with people, I can assure than you would not be telling the stupidity that you has been said here. You, and all who think like you here
Michael says
@Pascual – I’m one of the few people here who speak relatively fluent Spanish and actually like living here (VLC). I have made some friends and in general have no problems – there are very nice people here and of course like any other country Spain has its shared of idiots (I have lived in four five countries just FYI).
That said – occasionally I have noticed hostility against guiris – it’s not always blatant but it it is definitely there. Having lived in Los Angeles for 20 years I must tell you that I never felt like a stranger there – clearly many people come there from many parts of the world. Originally I am German but I also speak English fluently and now Spanish. Not the kind of guy who runs around peeing in street corners, getting drunk at night, or insulting people on the street. I live a quiet existence and I volunteer teaching martial arts to a group of young Spaniards (for free).
I’m just conveying this to you so that you understand that like you Spaniards we guiris are not all cut from the same tree. Some of us integrate quite well and some others don’t even bother to learn the language. I hope that I fit the former category. But at any rate – I do often sense hostility despite all that. It’s just a look or the way you get treated in comparison with everyone else. Perhaps many other foreigners, being on vacation here, have made a bad impression and there is a lot of negative sentiment against us. Then of course there are cultural aspects of Spain – very family and clique oriented due to its distant Moorish past. Not necessarily a negative thing – but it makes it hard for us ‘outsiders’ to integrate and make friends.
Let me ask you – how often have you invited a foreigner into your house? I know at least a dozen people here with whom I communicate regularly on whatsapp. Only one of them have invited me to their house – nobody else ever has. I find that strange as in U.S. and in other countries it’s a pretty normal thing to do. Again, probably a cultural thing…
De todos modos – a este guiri le encanta vivir en España 😉
Rob says
Clacton it is then!
Lisa says
I lived in Granada for close to 3 years. I went there for work and loved the city so I decided to stay a little longer. I began dating a Spanish guy who is now my husband and we left Spain about 2 years ago. I speak fluent Spanish and traveled around Spain whenever I could. My husband and I both have a love/hate relationship with Spain and both agree that it’s a great place to visit but neither of us ever want to live there again.
The last year I spent there was the year that I really started noticing the negative aspects. I moved into my boyfriend’s apartment which was in the same building as his parents, the same building he grew up in and so of course he knew all the inhabitants. In the lobby of the building people would make comments to my boyfriend like, “Oh good, you finally found someone to cook and do your laundry,” and “There are foreigners in our building.” All this without even looking me in the eye.
I don’t know how many times I heard things like “Se vive muy bien en Granada” and people telling me that English is a much simpler and easier-to-learn language than Spanish. People, I might add, that don’t speak a word of English nor have ever traveled outside of Spain.
The people of Spain are incredibly proud and competitive, I constantly found that when I mentioned something positive about my country (Canada), it seemed like I was threatening Spain and people became defensive.
The more time I spent with the Spanish, which was a lot since I was always with my boyfriend’s family and friends, the more I began to find people to be arrogant and ignorant — a deadly combination. If they didn’t know something, they made it up. They judge and compete within each other and do anything to feign wealth and status. They have this “conventional wisdom” about their country that puts Spain in a good light… things are often not true or focus on a small part of a much bigger picture.
The Spanish will push and shove their way onto a bus with assigned seating. The stories my husband has told me about the cruelty of the Spanish has brought me to tears.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Mexico and Central America and have had amazing experiences with the latino people in those countries. I love a lot of things about Spain, but it’s the people and backwards thinking that really make it a frustrating place to live. Spain has a lot of work to do and I hope they can move past their pride and narrow-mindedness and work together to create a less corrupt country.
We will be back to visit my husband’s family and friends, but unless there is a huge change in the mentality, we won’t be back to stay.
Michael says
Sorry to hear you’re having a hard time here in Valencia, Mariaat. I myself have settled in nicely here but the one thing that continues to bother me is that the Spaniards around me do not seem to be at all interested in the outside world. Very limited horizon IMO – and nothing outside of Spain really matters to them. Not once has anyone asked me more than one question about my life before Spain. Strange…. again, it’s the one pet peeve. Otherwise I get on well here. In terms of petty crime – yeah, it’s out of control. But there’s 50% youth unemployment here – so in some respect it’s to be expected. Those kids don’t know what to do with themselves and you can only spend so much time at the gym 😉
I’d be happy to buy you a beer one of these days – unless you’re already in Barcelona? FYI – I have been there and if you don’t like the people down here, boy are you in a for a surprise. The Catalans are among the snobbiest people I have come across – and I have been in over a dozen countries in my life.
Mariaat says
Hi Michael, thanks for your response, and for the beer! Ajaja
Sadly, I’m moving tomorrow morning, but will be coming back to Valencia. I have relatives that live in Castellón, so have to visit. Maybe some other time, also I can let you my email if you would like to.
To respond to your comment, I know that some people is not that open to the outside world, but in my theory is because they haven’t travelled much. Or never was in the situation of being alone outside.
I think I might have made it sound harsh what I wrote in my first comment, is just a hate/love situation, that made it hard for me, but I’m sure I’ll live. And I also know that when you are moving to another place that is not really your place, you just can’t expect everything comes easy. I guess it takes time, but it’s also built your own happiness. So that’s what I’m trying to move to Barcelona. Trust me, I have met most of the snobbiest people in my architecture school, and I think they are everywhere! Jojojo what makes me happy is that we are all here, just trying to find our happiness. Everyone has their own way, and it makes me happy you have found yours, gives me hope jaja. 🙂
Michael says
Mariaat – the only reason why living here works for us is that we are ‘eternal tourists’ in a sense. My business is online and I don’t work here – don’t even own a car and only rent a moto month to month. I could buy one but I don’t want to deal with all the paperwork. So it’s probably a unique situation in that I can insulate myself from all the b.s. and I’m not competing with anyone here. I hit the gym – chat with people – come home and work for a few hours – go for some food and drinks – that’s my life. My wife doesn’t work and supports me in my online business. We could really be anywhere and we are not forced to do things that would annoy us on a daily basis. Once a year I have to go out to the bank and wait in line to pay for health insurance – not a big deal. Otherwise I virtually live all over the world and only really interact with Spain and the Spaniards when I choose to. I think this is the best of both worlds and although I do interact with a lot of Spaniards it’s at my choosing. I reckon if you have to deal with ignorant idiots on a daily basis and they treat me like a ‘dumb guiri’ it would be a different story altogether. Although I have met a lot of good people here I have to admit that I haven’t made any really good friends – it’s very hard to break through the Spanish wall but I do understand that I am not the only one, it’s a cultural thing. Then again I used to live in L.A. and thus the bar for me is very low – I’m perfectly happy with what Spain offers me and at least right now I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Mariaat says
What can I say.. I’m peruvian, and I came to Spain to do my masters in architecture. what I found was that living in Spain is something hard.
I speak spanish, but because of my accent spanish people wont accept me, well most of them. Also I found that people would be very racist, I find a difference in people when they see me say that I’m from Peru , because i guess I’m a white peruvian as they will say…
I live in Valencia now, and trust me it was hard to get spanish friends you really have to open and try very hard. You will find lots of people that will be very nice and also very bad. (that can be anywhere)
and yes, of course paperwork always takes lots of time here, no customer support… tottaly agree on that, people that will charge you more because you are not from here, people will try to steal as well ..(long story but tried to get my camara entering by my window in benimaclet, valencia…not live there)
i also agree on bringing a photocopier..or a printer that makes copies..
be really really open minded …
in my personal experience i wouldnt like to raise my kids here, but also I don’t have money to move to another country where I would find the idea of europe i was dreaming for , because Spain is not europe..
maybe someday!!, now I’m moving to Barcelona because I found another master that is taught by english people, an international master at a private school. ( what I can recognise is that there’s better facilities of education, rather than in my country but I bet people from other parts of europe or american can also have and even better.. and also think that education from outside Spain is a little better)
I guess I also have a hate/love relationship with Spain, and making this post I’m just trying to say my experience and hope not to offend anyone. I love it’s history, traditions, little towns but also hate not having clean cities, racism, giris and sudacas … and also the very old and crappy student flats.. but that’s is just me.
hope this can help anyone interested in the subject. 🙂 and thanks to the autor of the blog 🙂
ivan says
Feel free for travel to your country as soon how you feel right. I hope that you don´t receive any state money help, studentship or use access to the public education. I think you should be more grateful with this country and remember that all spanish people are making an high tax effort for people how you.
Do you know all spanish people are paying the most part of your education?.
If you haven´t money… How you live? Spain is a poor country now, It´s a hard time, I don´t understand you. I supose you only are here to suck all kind of helps, and next you will go to UK, Germany and next go to Sweden to continue suck all the helps that Europeans friendly gives to foreigners . At 2015 with the crisis, all good south american people (WORKERS) move out to better chances.
In Spain only workers and tourists are welcome. People who come to take advantage of our public system are not welcome. It´s the same english or peruvians. Maybe nobody will tell you, but every people think about it.
Mariaat says
Dear Ivan, thanks for putting an example of the narrow minded people.
let me tell you that I dont recive any help from your goverment, as you will say “to suck helps” .
as any foreigner I use my savings and spend them in your country, because I worked in my country for several years and decided to spend it here. …now I wonder who should be grateful..?
If you don’t understand that, I’m really sorry.
Don Juan says
In their excuse:
Spain is a great country for anyone who wants to live in a 1970s Banana Republic, basically the problem is that the country never did its “homework” after Franco left in the so called transicion but, for whatever reason chose to form their fundament for democracy including the brown shites (there are actual Franco ministers who are founding fathers of the PP) in their newborn resulting corrupt feudal system ……. The acting Spanish government wouldn’t survive one day north of the Pyrenees, just no way – the problem is prolonged by keeping the plebus dumb and ignorant, most Spanish do not speak nor see the necessity to learn a different language so they swallow the crap that 95% of Spanish media is giving them without being able to look anywhere else for information, Joseph Goebbles would be proud of the lies and “see how good we are” propaganda. So how can they know that a greasy potato omelet isn’t the best food in the world ? Or that they are one of the poorest underdeveloped countries in the EU ? or that talking with a lisp isn’t really cool ……. They don’t trust in their institutions, how can you when the Guardia Civil Capitan who did despicable things during Francos reign is still walking around your village collecting a fat state pension and was never held accountable ? so they will need about another 100 years or so to come up to speed, its a slow process made slower yet by so called “brain flight” their best academically educated generation has left, because “Building Bubbles” do not really create work for academics – and most will not be back apart from holidays in the good ol country. Who can blame them ? So who stayed ? The guys who left school to work in construction, now no work no schooling not even a formal usable construction formation – most can’t put up a halfway straight brick wall that would last 2 years. The best hope are the new political movements like Podemos who at least want to bring the truth to light …… Because there is no real cure in putting more and more bandaids (paid for by Subsidies from Brussels) on this humongous tumor ——- As is a great place for a 2 week holiday but not an inspiring modern society to bring up kids in 🙁
Blue says
Don Juan I love you
JW says
The worst thing about living in Spain is meeting, befriending and subsequently having to avoid the type of British people who live here. I have never met such an uneducated, ignorant, ill-mannered, small minded, bigoted, racist bunch of drunken morons in my life. I didn’t know British people like this existed – I have never met anybody so basic and backward in my life anywhere in the world. They are almost always the runaways, losers, scammers and minor criminals from the UK (remember the English managed to get a whole area of Spain renamed as the ‘Costa del Crime’). They moan about foreigners in Britain whilst hardly learning a word of Spanish or attempting to integrate into Spain’s culture. Oh the irony… I hate the British in Spain. They are dregs of British society and it makes me feel like apologising to every Spanish person I meet for all the other British people here. I love my hometown of London but being here makes me feel embarrassed to be English.
carol voss says
I returned to uk two years ago after living eight years in spain. I returned mainly because of the lonliness after my partner left me, as it was hard to meet people as a single woman of a certain age. my Spanish was poor, my partner had spoken fluent Spanish and i’m afraid I was lazy as there was no urgency for me to learn. and not being much of a drinker or a sun reader there wasn’t much on offer among ex pat society. I left with both relief and regret. but since I’ve been in England there are times I feel i’m living in a nightmare, as its changed so much since I ‘ve been away, so that just registering with a doctor required numerous checks and information, setting up a bank account was like breaking into fort knox and I was charged more for car insurance as i’d ‘been out of the country’ and did wonder if I was being punished for having dared to leave England, property prices were unbelieveable and what was on offer was a rip off, lavatories in cafes and pubs were awful after the cleanliness i’d encountered everywhere I went in spain,and when I eventually found a place I could afford, it was only because it needed totally renovating, and as for English workmen.. they were the pits. unreliable, overpriced, inefficient, lazy, needing tea every hour acting as if they did you a favour, whereas I never found the Spanish lazy, I found them hard workers and totally reliable. a lot of the English were pretty dodgy as I found to my cost, and can anyone tell me why if you buy something in spain it will be delivered either the same day or the following one, whereas in England it’s normal to wait up to six weeks? too many things to mention really, but have to admit I find English people in England pretty inhumane, petty, and money or class obsessed, and often felt ashamed to be English when I lived in spain and saw ex pats drunks causing problems etc, yet don’t feel I belong in either country now, and a few people I’ve spoken to seem to feel that way too, it’s hard to fit in somewhere new, or when you return to somewhere that’s changed so much you realise it isn’t home any more.
Alan says
So true JW, I stay well claer of English we have no English friends at all , just Spanish and other nationalitied. WE totally agree with everything yu have commented on.
jimmy says
we are considering selling our property in north wales and moving to costa blanca north and taking our daughter and granddaughter with us as we are sick of the weather the crime and the thought that the uk is fastly becoming a foreign country wereas the white people will soon be a minority here, but reading most of the comments here it doesnt seem to be much different in spain (except for the influx of african migrants), so do we go to spain for a better and slower way of life or stay here in the UK, big decision
fer says
Like you, I would hate to live in an unhealthy coastal area where neither the Iberians and the Romans and until the year 2006… anybody, I insist, wanted to build houses and settle there, (is there any reason?) And pay an overrated price in an overexploited place, surrounded by settlers of the same nationality than me who have confused their own idea of a promised land, much more like Blackpool with sun).
Dear friend, you do not hate Spain, you hate that Spain is not like what you had imagined before. You hate your own contradictions.
And, finally, as your home has not been increased in price to infinity, because Economy is allways easily predictible, you feel disappointed … wait! pero si usted es un español auténtico. ¡¡A mis brazos!!
P.S. In many ways you are right, indeed. The point is to handle with this and not to feel melancholic because future may bring worst things.
Adam says
^^^ Havent any of you lot got anything else to ?? After reading the above I have come to the conclusion that the human race hasn’t got a chance.
tom says
“bureaucracy and competitiveness but thats the charm of being here”.
Can’t say buying a second car in Spain is a “charm”. Here’s a quick summary of how it’s done.
1. Draw up a contract of sale.
2. Fill in forms for the Trafico.
3 Go to the Trafico, wait in a queue, get a form for the second hand car tax.
4. Go to another office (on the other side of the city, naturally) to pay the tax. (a) wait in a queue to pay 20 cents or so for a form (b) wait in another queue to get the form filled out, (c) go to the bank to actually pay the tax, after waiting in a queue. (d) go back to show you’ve paid the tax and get another form, of course you have to wait in a queue for this too.
5. go back to the Trafico, and the process is finished, after waiting in another queue.
Why are second hand cars in Spain so expensive???? However, we got the price down by several hundred euros to the top end of the UK market value.
Here’s a warning about Valencia city. Stay away. My partner is Spanish and doesn’t like the people here. All the tradesmen we’ve used are rip of merchants, from the basic thief to the not done as well as it should have been but still expensive. Our area of the city is covered in dog mess, lots of people just “hanging around”. Concrete block city. But, drive an hour or so into the mountains and the countryside is beautiful, really quiet and peaceful.
That said, there’s no way I’d go back to where I lived in the UK, lots of rubbish, boozing culture, violence and muggings. And potentially corrupt politicians, although it’s done in way that’s more “hidden” than in Spain – unnecessary and unwanted works that cost millions but can be justified for some reason or other.
fer says
In a simple word: GESTORÍA.
Aren´t there administrative advisory services in the UK? They do all the ugly stuff for you.
Hamish says
fer, in the UK you may employ the services of a solicitor, accountant, tax advisor, etc to help with complex issues.
But the ‘day to day’ isues, that a gestor deals with in Spain (obviously at a cost to the person employing them) are generally more simplified in the UK. This allows a member of the public to deal with matters, on their own, without paying a third party, like in Spain.
The problem in Spain is that they like to over complicate the simplest thing.
Take the example, by Tom above, of buying a second hand car. In the UK you would agree a price and then simply fill in the appropriate part of the cars log book and post it to the DVLA…Job done!
I used to have a season ticket for my villages municipal pool. Process for obtaining as follows:
1. Collect application form from adjuntament. 2. Fill in form. Then take to the bank, as designated by the adjuntament, to pay fee. 3. Return to town hall with proof of payment, then be given another receipt. 4. Take receipt to pool, with photo and wait 2-3 days for your seaon ticket to be made up, when in reality the person on the pools turnstile could have made the card up in 20 minutes if they were not gossiping to their pals.
You could not even pick the application form up from the pool. Nor could you pay in the adjuntament, had to be the bank. Daft or what?
At the start of the school year buying the kids books is as bad.
1. Go up to school queue and select books required. 2. Join another queue to get a receipt for the cost of the books. 3. Go to, designated, bank to pay. 4. Return to school and queue to have payment checked. 5. Queue again to pick up your books.
Infants, primary and ESO all had different book days. So depending on your kids age you could potentially have to go through the rigmarole 3 times.
The adjuntament sends their post to the post office with a member of staff. Said member of staff will wait whilst every letter or packet is stamped and then take the bill back to the adjuntament…For payment at a later date!
Said member of staff is normally in the post office for at least half an hour upwards. Add that up over a year.
Why can he not just drop off todays post and and collect yesterdays bill, allowing the staff to stamp everything when not dealing with other customers. Afterall my town hall taxes are paying for him to stand around in a post office doing nothing. And if I can see this then surely the town hall and mayor can.
Better still, in this day and age, invest in a franking machine!
The Guardia Civil in my village are the same…No franking machine and have to take the post to the post office.
Anybody who has ever queued and been dealt with in a Spanish bank will know how ‘long winded’ and ‘painfull’ the process is.
As I said earlier Spain likes to over complicate matters.
It takes a simple issue and turns it into a long drawn out and inefficient ‘saga’. Hence the need for a gestor.
You could take this post as a bit of a rant from an expat. But would a Spaniard really want to pay a gestor, good money, if they could avoid it? I know, for a fact, my Spanish friends wouldn’t.
Michael says
As much as I love it here I have to concede that the Spanish have zero business sense – it’s just not in the culture. I have been looking for a long time to find a place to teach martial arts to a group of kids. Impossible to make a deal with anyone – although I only need a place once per week and would pay for the day none of the people I have inquired have even gotten back to me. It seems like they are used to people chasing THEM down to give them money. Customer service does not exit here in España.
Or a little example – every ordered anything contra reembolso? Noticed that none of the delivery guys carry cash on them? Here’s a business that relies on people paying in person on delivery but they don’t equip their personnel with change – they expect you to have the exact amount at hand. The Spaniards are set in their ways and all our bitching won’t make a difference – these are things they will have to come to realize themselves. If this crisis won’t do it then I’m afraid nothing will.
I could go on but I don’t want to come across as a hater. It’s just something I have come to accept here in Spain and my wife and I mostly laugh it off. Perhaps if Spain was more like Britain or the U.S. then we wouldn’t be bitching but we may not enjoy living here either.
Jay says
Hello all you wonderful people.
First of all thank you for making this blog. My heart is a little bit low as I have been in Spain for about 6 years and 8 months. In Madrid only.
I have worked so hard here trying to build a business, and the lack of customer service is starting to get to me as well is professionalism.
I am born and bred in the UK. Having good customer service skills as well as respect for other people is quite paramount in UK. In fact it is a mandatory aspect when you are brought up.
Also, in the UK people are open-minded to different cultures. Admittedly, the UK has a big immigration problem at present.
Spain can be such a spiteful place. I have been persecuted for the colour of my skin but in such a vulgar way. Have you ever had someone insults you without them intentionally trying to insult you only to feel somewhat confused and trying to rationalise what the hell just happened. For example, one woman told me. “Are you looking for the Indian embassy, oh it is just across the road over their”. To which I replied, “no I am British and I have bought an office here”! She said it in somewhat of a polite and sarcastic way, as if I were invading her territorial of her professional, posh community.
Then you try to meet people and try to get into a circle of good friends. However, it is always the same story: “oh this weekend I am going to my village to meet my friends”. Then you politely ask if you could come along and meet some people only for them to say to you that: “that might not be a good idea”. You politely accepted tenet knowledge them because you do not want to be disrespectful. As is the British way.
Some Spanish people have no idea of cultural aspects let alone being open to the world. Trying to get a girlfriend here seems somewhat impossible. Do not get me wrong I am not the most handsome guy in the world but I am quite tall, athletically built, look after myself and so on.
I even once remember having tried to talk to with a girl in Spanish, only for her to reply back to me that “Sorry I do not want to buy anything from you”. So she assumed that I was one of those guys walking around selling roses or other things whom are normally Indian.
The documentation in Spain is nothing but a joke when it comes to the autonomo system you are screwed over and over just for the privilege of being self-employed. You pay €268 every month with no benefit whatsoever. This is an absolute joke to say the very least as even if you have no income you are still expected to pay that amount.
Even if you want to deactivate your autonomo status you have to go to 2 offices. I mean really how stupid is that. God forbid if they were to employ some aspects of efficiency. You know, to make life easier.
I think it is harder in Madrid as at least in the south you can meet other British people. I feel like I am alone amongst 4 million people in this city and everything is against me. Do not get me wrong, I am well versed in qualifications. Not to sound egotistical. So when I have worked for professional companies such as PRISA, BBVA etc, the lack of professionalism is a joke. In this country it is not what you know it is who you know and more importantly it is what you know on who you know.
Managing multi-million euro projects from an Excel sheet seems something absurd yet it happens. What surprised me is that in Spain, only one person can have one skill. I have been told by senior directors that I can only do one thing and that being multi-skilled is not the Spanish way.
Some people get offended when I speak to them in English, but ultimately am trying to help them as an English teacher for free. So I speak in Spanish. Then when you get someone who wants to learn English they only want to meet up and have a drink so they can practice their English with you for free. The irony.
I spent countless hours correcting other people’s English. The usual things forgetting the pronoun, forgetting the proposition or using a completely incorrect one etc. Do not get me started on their enunciation. That is an entire conversation by itself.
I know it sounds like I am ranting, well I am actually. I have spent over 6 years in this country and I have not ranted once. I am glad to say that at least I have a few good Spanish friends which ironically come from being my students except one.
If you are like myself, somewhat alone in Madrid and frustrated yet with a twinkle in your eyes the success. Please message me and I hope we can meet up.
Sorry for not providing an inspiring positive message. As time passes Spain is becoming a bad place.
Ohhh, how I miss the UK.
PS. And of course there are those that are suggesting this very moment that I could just move back to the UK. But I have spent 3 1/2 years building an entire infrastructure based on technology, and as you know technology is quite backwards in Spain so moving everything to the UK would be a horrendous task.
Mark says
Hi Jay,
I have been in Spain for little over 3 months, travelling through Catalunia and the middle of the country. I’m afraid your observations are spot on, the culture, social environment and customer service here is horrendous. People look at me, see that my eyes are blue, and from then on all they perceive is a walking wallet!
Your IT comment caught my eye. Sorry to hear that your infrastructure is tying you to this place. I have 20 years of experience in IT, including setting up virtual and non-localised infrastructure. Drop me an email, I might be able to help you move. ‘Farrma’ at gmail.
Cheers,
Mark
CJ says
There was an insane amount of portuguese people leaving portugal to UK. Everybody here in portugal as a friend or two living in the UK, especially england.
Resuming the feedback from my friends: we are here because of jobs and money.
I receive job offers to uk every month. As an telecom engineer with experience, in uk I would get at least 5x more money than in here. But honestly, while the money that I earn here in portugal is enough for house+car+travel sometimes, as it is now, I am not leaving this sun and beaches… Some stuff money can’t buy.
As someone already said, what happens here happens there as well, if you look different, you’ll be a foreigner, always.
Sometimes I feel like a foreigner in portugal because I’m black, and I basicly was born here. To completly integrate in a country it looks like there are two main things: Look alike and speak the language. Otherwise there will be always someone who will try to make you fell bad.
Irene says
I am sorry to read so many people have had bad experiences in Spain, but actually, everything mentioned is applied also to the UK. You might no be aware of it because you are from the UK, but ask any Spanish expat in the UK… Nowhere is perfect.
Robert Prose-Jones says
Hello,
to all the Spain haters yes you reading this 1st and foremost open your eyes because it seems the lot of you have them closed, 1st mistake the bulk of you all on this site are living in the Costas i cant see you integrating to well there with other Spanish people as its full of Poms. Why do i speak like this to you all because i for one I am not blind. I live in Spain but not on the Costas. I have lived in the UK for 13 years in London and I have lived in Australia for 22 years therefore I can make an informed comparison about the 3 countries. The lot of you who are negative about Spain seem to describe the UK as some paradise, more money there, true however at what cost poor quality of life expensive living costs for example i lived in London I needed 1400 pounds per month to make endsmeet living in a small studio. Here with much less money i live in a 2 bedroom flat with the Ocean as my living room lets not forget I have car. Pointless in London and impossible, money goes a long way in Spain its just how you use it. For the people who understand Spanish there is a saying Como te lo Montas frankly this has been my driving engine since I landed . Australia beautiful country fantastic life but extremely expensive and isolated from the rest of the world not to mention the weak Australian dollar very difficult to travel. Australia is such a large country to travel interstate it always involves a flight of a few hours and people there can be very closed once you leave Sydney and Melbourne. Yes the Spanish have their issues, unreliability, bureaucracy and competitiveness but thats the charm of being here. The way some of you narrow minded fools write is like the UK has more to offer, the reason I left was that it had less. I am a teacher and due to Cameron educational cuts in schools i lost my job due to ( restructuring) since I have been in Spain I haven’t stopped working.
When you stereo type a group of people you show you are no better than the ignorant fools that talk down to you. To the Brits that want to leave Bon Voyage. ( ps I am a Britsh/ Australian expat and I speak Spanish fluently why because I made an effort to learn the language)
CJ says
I’m surprised with this negativeness about Spain.
The truth is you can’t expect southern europe countries to be like northerns, we are generally more rude, direct, tricky, with less manners… you’re not moving to Sweden or Finland…
There’s a lot of differences, but you should have done your homework before moving to one of them. There’s bad reputation of uk citizens because of the many of young who are trouble makers (too much alcool).
I live in Portugal, but I travel somehow to the other latin countries, and I have friends in Spain and Italy. But you can notice that Spanish people are more reserved and don’t mix with other groups easily, Southern Italians are most openned but you’ll not find people who speaks english, but after them are the southern Portuguese.
In portugal a lot of people can speak english, specialy the young and middle aged ones. I would say that, besides being the country with less money and weaker economy, Portugal is where you’ll fell more wellcomed, and receive some treatment like in uk. Zero doubts.
But finding a job here is quite challenging, you better sart your hown business, think about something that can give some profit all year long, or work in lisbon and settle a home in algarve. I’m sure you’ll be happy.
Russell says
I have lived in many places around the globe during my long working career. I should have stayed in my home city of Quebec in Canada, but that’s another story. I currently live 9-mths in Buckinghamshire and 3-mths in Spain. I loved Spain for holidays, but to live it is not for me. I speak fluent Spanish, German, English and my native French.
I find the Spanish people on the whole noisy rude and un-educated, crime is everywhere. I can’t be bothered to write an essay, but take heed of these few sentences – or come at your own risk. I love my home in Quebec, but my wife who is from France hates the cold, my job which pays well keeps me in the UK. If you want a fair honest society that cares of its citizens – try France, Germany, Holland, or the UK but certainly not Spain, they are years behind in every respect. There is little infrastructure and customer service hasn’t been invented, every thing is tomorrow. There is little honesty and no honour in the people you deal with. I am Canadian by birth and proud of it, but Britain is a wonderful place compared to Spain, enjoy what you have. Try France. Seriously, unless you are retiring here don’t expect to find work, if you do it will be badly paid. My wife who speaks 6 languages and earns £50,000 a year in the UK can’t get a job in Spain paying more than £4.00 and its not for the lack of trying. We intend to sell our home hear in Spain and come back only for holidays. Thankfully, we had the foresight not to sell our house in the UK. Finally, most Spanish are very resentful of foreigners and those with money – be ware! They have no respect or your rights, because your not Spanish.
Bassman says
What you state is true, I’m from Canada as well and they seem to make it extra tough for foreigners. Take for example drivers license, if you have a Canadian drivers license, you cannot exchange it for a Spanish one. However, a Spaniard can exchange theirs for a Canadian one. Most European countries allow for a license exchange, but in true form, the Spanish enjoy penalizing foreigners.
If you want to start a business in Spain? Forget it, too much paperwork and too much heartache. To give you an idea Canada is rated number 2 in the world of ease of starting a business and Spain is 144th, pretty bad.
It’s ironic, given that small businesses employ the bulk of workers in most countries and if they didn’t penalize small business owners they could put a dent in the appalling 25% unemployment they are currently experiencing.
I’ve heard and read of examples where businesses in a given month have to pay out more tax than they have income coming in. This kind of situation just does not happen in Canada or most progressive countries. I truly think Spain is not far behind Greece and will probably default as well in the next year.
Laura says
Pues si tanto lo odias ya sabes donde está la puerta! Nadie te obliga a estar aqui y no queremos gente que piensa asi sobre nosotros en nuestro pais asi que buena suerte! Y esperemos que en verano vayas a emborracharte a otra parte guapo! Que te aproveche tu país!
Don Juan says
Ah the good old “love it or leave it” redneck phrase >> too ignorant to understand who is feeding you 🙂
Carlos says
My parents moved out to Murcia area 7 years ago, they love it my mom speaks Spanish quite well my Dad never bothered.
They love the people the weather the food the health service is great, the red tape is the same in all countries.
They would stay till they died, the only reason they are thinking of coming home is that my Mom has developed Parkinson’s disease she is being well looked after by the health service it’s just hard work for Dad now he too isn’t a 100%. They are still there and may stay.
So in all a lovely country with lovely people all the times I stay in this region never had a hard time great place.
Manners says
Not to mention this other obsession the Spanish have with everyone having to speak Spanish and if they don’t they are uncultured or disrespectful of their culture. Even in the UK if people try to speak English and some cannot speak, the people still try to help them. In Spain they start talking faster, making jokes, taking the monkey out of them. Basically abusing them and, well it’s basically unkind even when people try it seems they have this body language of lifting their chin and it just makes it harder for the person trying to speak their language.
Manners says
The problem with Spain is unfortunately the primitive mentality the Spanish have towards people and their possessions and privacy. They hate anyone who has what they believe to be “money” as they all think it is better to live like hippies in communities. They invade people’s privacy. Have an obsession with tourists, and blame the tourist for all their problems, forgetting that it was the greed of their own who set the prices. I have never met such a group of nosy, childish and lazy folk. They have a siesta because basically they have to stay up all night in the streets chatting away over and over. They see a tourist as some kind of alien they have never seen before. The next day they are so tired from irresponsible activities they need to siesta every day. The countryside is beautiful and the sun does shine. But the mentality of these savage rednecks, makes it a depressing and hurtful place to live. And I lived 3 years in Bcn. It is sad, but they lost me ….and I tried very hard to integrate. Unfortunately the people postTing here are correct. Respect people, don’t steal, don’t take advantage. Have some morality about things, not seeing anyone foreign as something that should be robbed of their dignity. The Spanish are harsh, hence the long drawn out brutal killings of bulls. They for some reason love this type of torture. There is something wrong with the Spanish. Nice piece of land, inhabited by thieves and savages.
Lidon says
It’s so true! I’ve been teaching English here for a while and my students have told me (without me bringing it up) that they don’t like when people stare, and yet the women here gawk at me like crazy even though my ancestors were European! I guess I just look different enough from them to label me as not Spanish, heaven forbid. They really do look at foreigners as if we’re animals in a zoo. I speak the language, I dress and act respectfully, and it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever (even in the “educated” north).
Lidon says
Okay, I’ve talked to more people and the women just stare at each other in general, even though lots of them don’t like that behavior. It’s a shame because younger generations of men have learned to behave better (no more harassing women in the street, grabbing at them, etc.) but the women never learned to be more respectful of each other (dirty looks, smirking, staring, pushing by each other on the street, etc.). Maybe with time, this will also become less socially acceptable.
Tom Vickery says
Hi …I think we should go back to the beginning of this thread. Speaking as a long-term resident in Spain (31 years and not on the ‘costas’) and as someone with a Modern Language degree who has fallen in love with a Spanish woman, married into a Spanish family, brought up bilingual Spanish kids, worked in a major Spanish company, paid taxes, bought a house and been treated by Spanish doctors when I’ve been ill, I have to say that I understand Nick Anders disgruntlement with some (not all) of the points he mentions in his post. This is a country in the grip of one of the most severe economic crises in recent history. As in some other European countries, this has had a terrible toll socially and politically and unfortunately in the hearts and minds of its residents. This explains why thousands of Young Spanish people have moved to other climes to look for work and seek a better future for themselves. Sadly for Spain, many of them won’t return. Nick Anders is not alone in his feeling of disenfranchisement. Most Young Spaniards feel the same way. In fact, one of the great things about the ‘crisis’ is the fact that many Spaniards are now starting to accept the fact for the first time in many years, that it is OK and indeed quite healthy to criticise your own country. The BBC travel/property shows definitely don’t show the reality, preferring to feed on the British ‘received wisdom’ that Spain is a Paradise for retired Brits. cos of falling property prices, the Sun, the beaches and a kind of weird folklorical idea of what this country is really about. Yes, it’s true…austerity has eroded social services in a way that most moaning Brits could never believe possible; people are being taxed out their skins, Jobs are practically non-existent, many laws are horribly unfair and administered by corrupt officials. Corruption is rife from grassroots local council levels right up to the corridors of power in the Moncloa. The amazing thing about corruption is that it is, and always has been, so clearly visible, to all and sundry. Except when things were going well, nobody seemed to really care about it. Corruption is the real cause of the downfall of this beautiful country. Apart from that, yes money is sent up in ‘smoke’ in awful local fiestas, with mega-firework displays and the ritual slaughter of bulls. Culture has been affected to the extent that it practically doesn’t exist. Don’t expect to garner any respect in this country if you are a musician or an artist. People just don’t care and are too busy looking after no.1 to fork out any of their money for your paintings, concerts or music. People here used to boast that they really ‘weren’t racist’, now unfortunately the situation is the complete opposite. It’s a sad truth that in hard-times, honest hard-working people in most countries often turn to racist ideas to voice their dissatisfaction. I would say to anyone thinking of coming here that they think carefully about it, think again and then REALLY think. I think that if I went to live in the UK again after so long, I would have similar grievances. I love this country. I love the UK too. In fact, the great thing about modern living is that you can have one leg here and the other leg there. Britain/Spain is only 2 hours away folks. Oh…and my Spanish friends, it’s a great thing that you are now traveling and settling in other countries. The UK, by the way, doesn’t have such a a bad climate. It’s never as cold as here in my Spanish mountain home in Winter. The rain falls and makes the beautiful plants and flowers grow. It’s never unbearably hot in Summer (yes, my English friends, 40 degrees is not ‘lovely and hot’). The food has improved tons too. Just make sure you go to the right pubs/restaurants and don’t try and get someone to serve you meal at 3.30 in the afternoon or eleven o´clock in the evening. And finally, most of the people I meet in Britain are lovely, funny and friendly. Especially if you get out of London (really!). Of course, there are total idiots in every country. Just try and avoid them. I would say, look at that fable by Aesop about the man sitting on a rock outside Athens. Approached by an unfriendly stranger enquiring about the ‘people of Athens. Aesop says ‘the people of Athens are much like you- unfriendly and rude’. When approached by a friendly traveler, asking the same question, Aesop says ‘You will find the people of Athens much like you: friendly and willing to help’. So, to a large degree, the answer lies in you my friends.
Anacleto says
Hola a todos,
Vivo en una zona donde hay muchos ingleses residentes, en su mayoría están muy contentos, de hecho cuando tienen que viajar a inglaterra por algún asunto están deseando volver, no les gusta el clima de allí, ni las caras largas de la gente.
El problema es que hay dos tipos de ingleses que decidieron venir a España. Unos serían los jubilados y gente con ingresos suficientes para vivir sin trabajar, estas personas han notado evidentemente la subida de precios con la crisis, pero en su gran mayoría sigue aquí, contentos y disfrutando. Otra clase de personas son los jóvenes de 20 a 40 años que se vinieron a trabajar, hace 10 años sí había trabajo para todos en el sector de la construcción, comercio y hosteleria, pero ahora eso ha bajado bastante y tenemos que luchar mucho más.
Ahora quiero que ustedes hagan una reflexión. ¿Qué clase de gente joven se va de su país a un país inferior a buscar trabajo? Porque hay que tener presente que los ingleses siempre nos han visto como inferiores. A mí no se me ocurriría coger mi familia y trasladarme a Ecuador o Perú a no ser que aquí fuese un gandúl y me dijeran que allí hay una colonia de españoles con dinero que están haciendo casas y hay muchas oportunidades.
No digo que todos los jóvenes ingleses sean así, pero hay o había bastantes, porque esos fueron los primeros en irse. Un amigo director de un colegio infantil me comentaba los grandes problemas que tenía con esos niños, padres separados, alcohólicos, etc.
En cuanto al engaño, evidentemente hay muchos españoles que han estafado a ingleses, pero igual que muchos ingleses se han estafado entre sí.
En España no sobra el trabajo, así que pretender venir a trabajar es una idea descabellada, sobretodo si lo que se busca son trabajos primarios básicos.
Ines says
Great. Then you all go back to boring, grey, rainy, inhumane England. You guys are incredible. You move to a country without speaking the language, and you expect everything to work out perfectly for you from the very beginning. You think Spaniards must be at your service. You are such a bunch of snobs.
I have lived in England (London) myself. And also ended up HATING it. I used to love the UK when I went there for holidays. But when I moved to live and work there, everything changed. Londoners are RUDE, inhumane, conceited persons. They fake-smile to you while actually looking down at you. They think too highly of themselves. The weather is a nightmare. There is not a single day of heat in all year. Always raining. Always depressing. People in London don’t give a damn about others. They are too centered on their own bellybuttons. I’ve seen people falling down the stairs on the tube and nobody stopped to help them; in fact, people stomped over them because they were on their way! Everyone is bitter in that damn city. Everyone is fake. Burocracy works TERRIBLY there, Spain has nothing to envy England. Three months and a thousand calls to solve a problem with an overpayment of council tax. Flatmates don’t talk to you. Londoners are racist.
I also got tired of your country, and decided to come back to Spain. There might be a recession (same as in the UK, by the way, in case you didn’t know), but people here are nice, genuine, happy, they care about each other and they don’t have a stick up their butts. The weather is nice enough to give us some summer months after a long winter. I can see the SUN again. And I don’t have to sell an eye to buy food.
To each his own.
Ashley says
Try living in Ecuador!! Haha that is some rant. But seriously you can’t move to a different culture and expect it to be the same as home.
Paul says
Take everyone as you find them regardless of nationality.
Spain has problems, the UK has problems, the US has problems get over it your a long time dead.
To all the long winded wind up posts.
El pero que ladra mas no es necesariamente el pero mas intelligente
Joshua says
Attractive man is dangerous. Find yourself a caveman in France or the Azores.
Esther says
Spanish men are terrible, horrible, unnice , unsure etc, I would never find an spanish men attractive, and they are not able to have a normal conversation. I hate it
Megs Mum says
There are a lot of men here…… if these are the ones you have met might say more about you than them
Julian Hildick says
I really never response to forum posts but I don’t see the point of this one.
We all make our own choices and all the wrong ones I’ve made are not going to become better by telling a forum about them. Just deal with it and move on. In fact I only read about 3 or four lines of the initial post before scrolling down to may my point. I’m sure there are many other posts that share my opinion.
In the UK we complain if a foreigner moves in and doesn’t speak English. We complain literally about everything so what makes it OK for us Brits to move to another country and expect the local culture to adapt to us. We move here with little or no Spanish, we know nothing of the history of the land. We probably don’t even know any of the local customs and foods.
There are some of us that immigrated to Spain at an age where we still need to work and bring up a family. In order to do that we need to adapt to the where we live. Accept it or go home.
Maybe instead of looking at blaming Spain you should instead look at yourself and becoming happy with yourself.
Joshua says
I agree with Michael, USA sucks and he did not mention many things why it sucks even more. $200 doctor visits where anything done to you is extra, as opposed to 2 € in the Azores where I am at now. Property tax here is 115€ per year as opposed to a medium of $2000 in USA in cheaper states and up to $15000 a year in NE etc. or if you live in a total USAhole, your property tax can be as cheap as $300-$700 but you must put up with a total hole, somewhere in the South (yuck).
Regarding Spain, I never lived there, just visited, in the 1990s and I was told on the FR-SP border: “No Español = Muchas Problemas”. No one would speak to me in English (I tried speaking Spanish though), except one young taxi driver, English students and some Spanish basketball and football fans who probably learned English in the stadiums.
In fact I have never been to California, lack of time and money, it is very expensive to live there on my budget. I liked Miami in January, but in summer when I lived in FL it was too sickening of a climate and the a/c is infested with dangerous mold, even in the hospitals. Regarding healthcare in USA…. been to ER and received $8000 bill and went through a $400+ cholesterol test. I would say most of the country is a con (scam) and rip off for what they have to offer.
Sorry for a messy post.
Joshua says
I much more like Portugal, especially the Azore4s, than Spain. Life is so much easier in Portugal and so much better and cheaper and so on and so on and the crime is very low and there are almost no rip offs in Portugal! Well, at least, in the Azores.
Pascual says
HELLO!
I AM SPANIARD,AND I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE STRANGE MANIA OF SOME PEOPLE WITH US AND MY COUNTRY…
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
Michael says
Hola Pascual – por favor lee mis mensajes arriba – me encanta vivir en España y nunca me arrepentí mudarme aquí 🙂
Steverino says
Pascual,
I had JM jump on me in an earlier post because I expressed my disappointment of what Spain was like after 30 plus years of being absent. My post really got under his skin. I can understand this. I spent the 70’s and 80’s living in Spain listening to euroweenies bad mouth the USA. It’s hurtful sometimes, but it’s also good to hear diverse perspectives. I doubt if anyone here in the forum actually does hate Spain. In fact, if they didn’t love Spain on some level, they would not even post here, nor come to Spain in the first place. It is possible to have a love-hate relationship with any person or place. The Chinese need to rid themselves of the concept of losing face; and the Spanish need to discard this arrogance that has been self defeating for centuries and listen to what other have to say. Sobre todo, tenemos el espirtu de España en nuestros corazones y almas, ten paciencia con nosostros.
Megs Mum says
Good God, I am so glad i live no where near most of you either in Spain or in the Uk. There are so many stupid statements on here I could not possibly respond to them all. Its simple folk, no one told you to move to another country, this is not the 50;s you were not paid a shilling to get the boat over, you chose to come.Sometimes it works out,sometimes it does not. Personally I have nothing but respect for the Spaniards I have met, hard working ( if they can find a job) kind and welcoming. Spain is no different to the UK in so much as there are good and bad everywhere. I love some of the English, they move to another country, and expect everything to be the same, just with sun. They call themselves expats, well I have news for all you so called “expats” your immigrants, living in another country, where you have to adapt to a different way of life or go home, your immigrants, just like the people who you probably complained about back in the UK, Just like you probably told the immigrants in the UK… ” don’t like it, go home”………..
Carlos says
Rachel says: ‘They do call us “guiris” but we call them “spiks” and we are a easy target to be ripped off.’ You don’t have to call them ‘spiks’ at all, be the bigger, better educated person and try to not drag yourself down to ‘their’ lowest common denominator of behaviour.
‘my parents even call me a plastic spik because my outlook on life and the way I live is not that of a English person’
You are a ‘plastic spik’ because you – probably have committed the crime of being able to speak Spanish – and you wonder why you and your family are so miserable when you hold the locals in such contempt – how about going back to the UK – like today? I am sure the BNP could do with your votes.
Irish says
Just my 2 cents, Moving to Spain with little or no money is a horrible idea. Decades I’ve past the unemployment office on my way to dropping of my kids at school and seen the line blocks long. Hours of work are (more or less) 9 am to 9 pm with a 3 hr break. Too much of a gamble for small-time employers making you fijo. A fijo working contract literally means “fixed” and if you get dismissed from the company the employer has to pay you a % of your salary for each year you worked. They always want to make you autonomo or “freelance” but that excludes you from most all government benefits, certain subsidies for children, unemployment, any sort of severance package, social security is a fixed rate regardless of income, ect….
Anyway I’d advise anyone to go there with a plan. If you are a pensioner, this does not apply to you. But realize you are in the government’s sights also. You will be expected to pay tax on a pension you already paid taxes on in the UK. Furthermore, The Spanish government wants to tax you on any foreign asset worth over 20,000 euros. So If you left a new car in the UK, their aim is to double tax you on that also. As for making a life independently there, unless you have something lined up before you go, I’d have something set aside to open up a small business. The average person HAS to set their sights loww if you are lucky enough to find any work at all. You are competing against a work force that never had high expectations from birth. The amount of people in Spain who can’t afford to leave their parent’s house well into their 30’s proves that.
Lynda says
Hi again, Michael! I can always depend on you for support! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Lynda says
David, with respect, your thinking is rather constricted. YOU may be 63, YOU may consider spending half of your life savings to buy a property in a foreign country and YOU may not speak the language. THAT is NOT everyone’s situation. As my previous post stated, I am NOT 63 (not quite anyway – I am 56), I am going to RENT an appropriately-sized apartment when I get to Spain (and hang on to ALL of MY life savings) and I DO speak the language due to many years of visiting Spain, a love of the language and by expending considerable effort to honor the Spanish by being at the very least able to communicate adequately with them! There is more than one way to skin a cat, you know! I am moving to with my eyes wide open – knowledgeable of the culture, cognizant of the pros and cons, ready to embrace life there and accept it is DIFFERENT from Britain. Having said that, there are no guarantees, are there? I’m in the lucky position that I am FREE (childless, no real ties anywhere, a small amount of money in the bank to follow my dreams….) and I realise not everyone is in that position. At the end of the day, I feel we must all follow our dreams and embrace what follows! If what you said is true, then obviously moving to Spain is not for you – it is neither your dream nor your mindset.
Michael says
Meh – to quote U2: Don’t let the bastards grind you down 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9BiDISzOVU
You’re doing the right thing – come over to Spain and live your life. It’s your adventure – enjoy every second of it.
david says
British are strange people, indeed.
I am 63 year old. I am going to spend half of my life savings to buy a property in a foreign country, which language I am unable to speak. What can go wrong?
Laura says
Hi,
I am very sorry to read these comments.
I am Spanish and I live and work in UK, because there is NO JOBS in Spain, this is a fact, this is why a lot of young people have moved to UK.
About easy target to be burgled, it is in part true. I don´t know what Malaga, Murcia, Alicante have….but there are so many British, Germans… that thieves know where to go. It is a big shame, but in my defence I will say, most of these thieves, are not Spanish, although is true, Spanish authorities should look closer this.
My advice, don´t go to live to crowd places of european retired with high pension live, there are other many places where to live like a local, where, estates are not use to to trick you….because honestly….with one year salary of a Engineer in UK, you can buy a new property in the beach in Spain…..incredible but true… Give a try to places like Valencia or Castellon…. Andalucia, Murcia and Alicante, there are a lot of european residents, also in the islands (Canary and Balearic), Catalunya is more expensive, and in the north of Spain is colder than in the Mediterranean.
I haven´t read all the comments, because there are quite a lot…. about electricity, say the electricity is expensive in Spain, is a joke, if you compare to UK, but I will give you a free good advice: If you live only two people, or you have gas boiler or cooker, to reduce the bill INMENSELY, ask to your current company to move COMERCIALIZADORA DE ULTIMO RECURSO, most of the electricity companies have a second company that provides electricity a cheaper prices fix by the government. No everybody can claim this, but there is a specific case, you can achieve this tariff, and don´t matter your savings or incomings, and it is having a low potency at home, 2.3 only, it means, you can´t have the oven and the boiler at the same time on. It is really useful buy some timers, per 6 euros, and then for example have the water boiler on during the night, and during the day use other appliancies like hob, oven, dishwasher, wash machine warm water programmes, tumble dryer (you only will be able to use once a time of these). If you want to save more, ask for DISCRIMINACION HORARIA, means cheaper in the night than in the day, and day hours are like 10 per day only……
This is one of the things I did to reduce expenses when the crisis start, before emigrate to UK, and we were 2 people in the flat, with ALL applicancies using electricity, and bills where of 40 euros per month…. Also a obvious tip, look for a property facing the south…. probably you will need heating….50 evenings per year??
Another tip, this one maybe more utopian, is do a home swap, retired people looking for sun, Spanish young people looking for a job to pay the mortgage of a property that is empty, because they are in UK….. It is silly pay two rentals, when doing a exchange will be free for both parts. I don´t know how to achieve this, I have tried through gumtree, but anyone seems to want this, or maybe they don´t trust too much…. We have already done it, with a British couple, we were in their house until we found accommodation, and then they went to Spain, and any money was exchanged, just an agreement.
I hope this helps to people, and to don´t hate Spain, as a Spanish I will always love it, I will go for holidays, and to retired, if I have left, is due to the economic situation, not because it is a horrible place as some of you describe.
Michael says
Hola Lynda – no soy latino – originalmente soy de Alemania 😉
Cuando nos decidimos a mudarnos a España a principios de 2012, vendimos o regalamos todas nuestras posesiones dentro de dos meses. Llegamos agotado pero feliz con cuatro maletas. No hace falta mucho para hacer una vida nueva.
¡Te deseo mucha suerte!
Lynda says
Hola, Michael , y gracias por su buena respuesta a mi mensaje . Siempre estoy interesado en saber lo que piensan los latinos de la forma de vida americana …. su un concepto interesante para mí.
Estoy contento que usted y su familia se han asentado en Valencia – una ciudad encantadora , para estar seguro (tengo un primo que vive allí. )
Al igual que usted , creo que voy a resolver muy bien en un estilo de vida español – Me encanta la gente , la música , la cultura , las siestas , buena comida española , especialmente de tapas …. y créanme , soy muy consciente de que España es NO es un ” país tranquilo . ” Jejeje !
España es vibrante y viva. Después de tantos años de nada más que un trabajo agotador en América, estoy deseando volver a vivir en un país que valora en otras cosas, las cosas que realmente importan – familia, amigos, musica, cultura. Estoy empacando mis cosas aquí en Estados Unidos de manera rápida y con interés el día me despertaré en España, listo para una nueva vida!
(Espero que puedes entender mi español – Recuerdo que me enseñó a mí mismo de un amor de la lengua , pero yo reconozco que muchas veces me sale todo mal!)
Y me aseguraré de llevar mis tapones para los oídos conmigo cuando voy por allá!
Michael says
*tapones para las orejas* – ¿quizás el moderador puede corregirme? gracias de antemano.
Michael says
Hola Lynda – estaba encantado de leer tu respuesta, ya que al parecer compartimos un camino similar en la vida. Estás totalmente en lo cierto en que la vida en los EE.UU. se ha vuelto sumamente estresante, y en este punto es económicamente inasequible. A lo largo de 20 años he sido testigo progresivamente de las grandes corporaciones codiciosas se adueñaron de la mayoría de los aspectos de la vida en los EE.UU., y llegaremos a punto en que sencillamente no podíamos soportarlo más.
Creo que vas a salir muy bien aquí en España y te animo a dar le la vida aquí una oportunidad. Nosotros decidimos a mudarnos aquí a Valencia hace tres años y estamos muy felices – ¡es increíble como el tiempo pasa volando! Pero si vengas lleva tapones para los orejas – España no es un país tranquilo – jeje 😉
Lynda says
Wow! Stumbled across this page while researching different areas of Spain with a view to perhaps living there after living and working in America for the past 35 years. I am a Brit with a LOG history with Spain – I went there as a young girl, fell in love with it, have many friends there, and have stayed in many different areas over the years – the Costa del Sol, Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza, Costa Blanca, etc. etc. I DO speak the language (self-taught from books and experience). I was thinking about going there to live later this year… but now I may re-think it.
NONE of what is written above is a surprise to me – there is definitely truth in most of it, but with varying degrees. A LOT of the above has to do with CULTURE – if you want to live a “British lifestyle”, live in Britain. Don’t go to another country and expect them to live the way the Brits do. The ONLY place that is BRITISH is BRITAIN.
As I said, I have lived in the USA for the past 35 years and I have had just about as much of it as I can stand – they are OBSESSED with work here, when you take a new job you get NO HOLIDAY TIME during the first year and they only give you ONE WEEK after a full year. You can work for a company here for 40 years and STILL only get 3 weeks holiday!!!! People are arrogant and self-centered – all they care about is how much money you make, what kind of car you drive, what kind of house you have, what you look like, how old you are (if you are more than 35, you’re “washed-up”), everyone is so shallow, lacking in any concept of class or culture, the medical system STINKS (you can lose everything you own in one hospital stay if you don’t have medical insurance), there’s no sense of neighborly spirit, you MUST own a car because they’ve NEVER HEARD OF public transportation….. the list of why I’m fed up with the States goes on and on.
SURELY life in Spain can’t be THAT bad. I’m thinking of going to somewhere on the coast, NOT the Costa del Sol, POSSIBLY one of the islands. I will RENT (not BUY a home), I will go with the equivalent of approximately 50,000 pounds, I hope NOT to have to work there since I will soon become eligible for both a British AND an American pension and I hope to live happily ever after.
AM I BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE?????? I’d love some feedback from anyone “in-the-know” who sees this post….. not much mention was made above of life in Mallorca, or Ibiza or Menorca…. any feedback on that???? (I know Menorca very well, been many, many times and it is DEFINITELY not what it used to be. Any suggestions on where the quality of life is better than on the COSTA DEL SOL????? Looking forward to seeing any responses I get! Thanks!
Teixujo says
Hi:
In my first year of Universited I knew for a fact that I will have to emigrate due to the apalling Spanish market.Once completed my degree in law I moved to the UK and worked as a windowns cleaner 65 hours a week in order to improve my english and moved on.My bosses was a cr..ck and just tried to enslave me from day 1 and I even had a job accident that kept my at home with no pay.Did not give a f**k as I was very young and I wanted to earn as much as possible, enjoy weekends and travel around the islands falling in love with the Scottish highland, Ireland… that reminded me my homeland. Mainly going out with foreign and socializing as much as possible in order to improve my English.
Got an office job, Eastern Europe, ended up in Gibraltar. Hats off with my British, Swedish, Chinese, Irish colleagues, great multicultural atmosphere new for me working for a Brithis company.Moved again, South and Central america and back to Spain in Madrid.
I am Galician and Spain is such a diverse country full of contradictions: I love my brothers portuguese and I am a Real Madrid whose best player is mocked as fu..g portuguese in all stadiums and treated like inferiors to spanish; I lived in Andalusia but their culture does not have much todo with mine (can´t stand flamenco and bullfighting), I am closer with the Basque even if they want to be independent and I feel Spanish (we live under the same cloudy sky, green forests, wild animals and we love our food), actually I have more in commom with my cousin the Irish than most of my fellow Spanish.
Look the contradictions and how diverse my country Spain is that I F***G LOVE IT and I wish I should never have to move again. I can go to Barcelona for a break, the Castillas looking for some isolation, Canary Islands for some amazing beaches, the levante for a break from Canarias, the north for my beloved green north and family, and the pescaito frito from andalucia to taste the sun and THE F****G STUNNING AMAZING SPANISH COUSINE. Is up to you british, learn a little spanish and make up your minds!!!
Michael says
Brian – the problem isn’t Spain – it’s that you are not skilled enough to make more than minimum wage IN ANY COUNTRY! As an English teacher you are competing with millions of other people as it’s a fairly easy skill to acquire and the supply probably outweighs demand. (which why I’m surprised why so many Spaniards still don’t speak English – but that’s actually helpful in my efforts to learn Spanish)
I’m sorry but working for telemarketing firms or teaching English is not a basis for a career, especially if a wife and children are involved. If you were an engineer, mechanic, scientist, etc. then you would have better chances to make a decent living. Not easy as you are right about the corruption and the lack of jobs here in Spain. But quite a lot easier over the long term, don’t you think?
You’re saying that you’re in NY right now – I know that city pretty well and I also know how much one pays for even the tiniest place somewhere on the island. Or are you talking NY State? Either way rents over there are a multiple of what they are over here and I expect that your COL has at least doubled.
Bottom line is that you guys keep blaming Spain for your own personal problems and shortcomings.
Brian says
Yes this cost of living for me has doubled, I have a bachelor’s of arts in International Business Economics, and a minor in Anthro from SUNY Brockport. If there was a collage major I could have chosen to suit me there it’s that. If I stayed in New York to go on to get an MBA it probably just would wasted money. Any higher learning Spain doesn’t recognize. I know doctors that have traveled to Spain to work because they were specialized in 1 area, and could only do so for 2 weeks. Spain doesn’t even recognize an American driver’s licence. If I were a doctor or a lawyer, even a vet. I’d still be in the same position but still paying off student loans 15 years later. 12 Years of living there and I’d have to have been a brick not to absorb the language. There’s a reason the population of Mijas fell over 10,000 in the past year alone.
Degrees = the person wants to get paid more, for the minuscule amount of non-waiter, cashier, telemarketing jobs there were I lived.
I was willing to do anything to stay near my wife and kids. But good luck finding a job over a national with 1:3 unemployed.
You have to have money to make it in Spain. Little opportunity beyond that.
Brian says
Last comment, and a silver lining, I have been in New York 6 days and already have a job.
Michael says
You make a good point there – I apologize if I may have misjudged your qualifications. Yes, agreed – in terms of foreign qualifications there’s a mountain of red tape and wasted time. But the same actually happens over in the States – I remember some excellent Russian doctors who had to start working driving taxies to bridge over.
I think the lesson to be learned is that all countries to some extent make it difficult for their own citizens to emigrate and foreign ones to immigrate. We are held virtual prisoners in our countries and breaking out of that bond requires significant energy, investment, and effort. That’s why so few actually succeed in the end. Countries are an outdated concept IMO and pretty much everything should be standardized these days and taught in English or Spanish – with some variations of course.
I’m glad you found a job so quickly over in NY – perhaps you will find your new life over there more fulfilling.
Brian says
In a range of career opportunities around torremolinos anyway, I’d say driving a taxi is a good 8 out of 10. And you speak of it like it’s flipping burgers at McDonalds, which in the area I know well, Is a lifelong career, as well as working at a gas station or even more lucky the guy working for the ayuntamiento taking that 1 euro coin every time you park. I don’t know what the answer is. All I know is, to set foot in the country where my kids and my wife are, I’d better do it with a pocket full of cash and a plan for a Mom and Pop Shop and I can pass down to my sons, because it’s going to be the best chance they will have to make it.
Brian says
I first stepped foot in Spain in 1998, when I met my present day wife. We dated long distance, summers and holidays while I finished up my university in 2003. Then the fun began. I first started out in real estate. Telemarketing for MacAnthony in Marbella. Then after a few months of banging my head against a cubicle wall placing 500 phone calls a day, I went to a smaller real estate as an actual agent, but that didn’t last long as the business shut down. I bounced from job to job. My first son was born in 2009, my second was born new years eave 2014. My recent stint, and basically only option in Spain was being an English teacher. Once commuting was factored in, there is no way I could support 2 kids, and a wife doing this. My present situation is that I am in New York working while my wife and kids are in Spain. I miss them but a Spanish girl will rarely move away from her mother.
Granted, of course, the Spanish are not working for 100 USD a month, however it IS true that there is higher unemployment in Spain than there is even in the Sudan or Nigeria. The CIA world fact book states it’s 26%, but remember those people receiving any kind of government aid, or actively registered in an employment agency are figured in as having a job, the real number is much higher.The Sudan and Nigeria are about 19-20%. So good luck getting a real job over a Spanish national. I saw the corruption levels in the newspaper, The Sur, are equal to Botswana. So nepotism is RAMPANT over the “best” jobs.
I gave Spain around 15 years of my life, I’m walking away owing it nothing though, and left a wife and kids there whom refuse to leave.
Michael says
You guys crack me up. One negative report after the other, bitching and moaning about how your Spanish dream somehow went up in smoke. The problem isn’t Spain people – it’s you and your unreasonable expectations. So you moved your butts to a completely new country, expecting to be embraced and be living the good life without running into any problems? How ridiculous and you only have yourself to blame for being unhappy and for having failed.
Now before you go for my jugular here’s a bit of background on myself: Born German who was raised in Austria and Switzerland as a kid. I hated the crappy weather and dismal life in Germany and when I was in my early twenties I moved to Los Angeles with two suitcases and 2000 marks in my pocket – that was it. I didn’t know a soul over there and my English was rudimentary. I wound up living there over 20 years and even became a U.S. citizen. And as you can imagine it wasn’t easy – quite to the contrary. There is no social net over there and I didn’t know anyone. Had to fend completely for myself but I pulled through because I was good at learning and adapting. You can say a lot of bad things about the U.S. but if you work hard you can make a life for yourself.
Now in 2012 my (also European) wife and I decided to move back to Europe. No way would we go back to the North as we had been completely spoiled by the weather in California. So Spain it is and we didn’t even speak three words of Spanish – very silly, I know. So I got myself a Pimsleur course and started studying every day. Three years later I’m semi-fluent and am able to hold conversations understanding about 80% of what’s being said on average (depending on accent and speaker). Although we are pretty well off we decided to rent and found an amazing place in the heart of Valencia. What we are paying would be considered very high rent over here but in comparison with Los Angeles it’s a pittance given that we’re occupying an entire floor of a 16th century building with six balconies and 14” ceilings. In L.A. I would be paying over $15k/month for a place like this.
In short we love it here and are slowly becoming a part of a little community. My wife has the butcher, the baker, the vegetable store, etc. on speed dial. They all adore her and although we wouldn’t consider them ‘friends’ we feel that they are accepting us and are not considering us a bother or stain on their community. Of course we run into a lot of what they would call ‘Euro trash’ over in the States. But at the same time there are also a ton of wonderful people here, you just have to make an effort and integrate into THEIR culture.
And that’s really the rub isn’t it? Some of you reading this surely speak Spanish but I’m sure many of you also managed to live in your little British bubble. I have met a bunch of English expats down near Jávea and they couldn’t put together three sentences in Spanish after having lived there for several years. How sad is that? And what did you expect?
Let’s get this straight: You are living on Spanish soil, a country with a complex, rich, but also somewhat difficult history. Spain has left an indelible mark on the rest of the world and like the British is still coming to terms with being a post colonial nation. Yes, politically it’s a bit of a mess and corruption ranks high. But believe me the same can be said of the United States and a ton of other countries. And when reading British and German news these days I constantly find myself shaking my head, and not once in the past 20+ years did I regret having left. It’s a big world out there and it’s up to you to make it your home.
Yes, the Spanish can be racist, xenophobic, and a bit insular at times. They don’t speak English very well, which however was great for us trying to learn Spanish! Over in L.A. most Latinos will respond to you in English when you try to speak Spanish to them, unless you are completely fluent. I can’t count how many times I have stammered my way through a conversation on the phone with a poor Spanish on the other side patiently listening while I was butchering his/her language. So yes, the Spanish, like the Germans, or the Austrians, or Swiss, or British, or Americans etc.. have their faults. Because we all share one thing – we are human beings and we adapt to living in our particular monkey sphere.
When moving to a new country expect to find NOTHING but difficulties. They don’t need you here. They may appreciate your money but you are a GUEST in their country so instead of asking and expecting things try to GIVE and HELP the community. I for example teach a free martial arts class in the park every Sunday and managed to make good friends this way. Frankly, I’m in my late 40s now and don’t expect much in terms of making new friendships. It’s true that most social bonds here in Spain are forged in one’s youth and from then one people pretty much stick with their social circle. But that’s just how it is here – it’s a lot more traditional than in other cultures and after living in the ever ephemeral Los Angeles it is actually a cultural attribute we came here for! You have to take the good with the bad. As you Brits and Americans often say: You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Our landlords actually have become friends down here in VLC and they even let us use their own home down South when they are out of town. It’s like we are part of the family. I NEVER EVER ran into people like that over in the States in my 20 years living there. So there you go – the point I am trying to make. Don’t come here with all your money and broken Spanish expecting the good life devoid of any challenges. Spain is a wonderful country and you have to eek out your own little life here. And if you do then you get to enjoy the wonderful weather, the architecture, the gorgeous people, the amazing food, and of course the Spanish culture. Not from the perspective of a tourist but as a Spaniard. You have trouble adapting to Spanish life? Become more Spanish then! Learn more of the language – some slang helps to make people laugh and accept you. Talk to people – learn how things are done here.
Yes, some of you have been ripped off here in Spain. You came here with all your money and someone took advantage of you. Well, perhaps you should have learned the system before dropping tens or hundreds of thousands of Euros into the laps of opportunists. The world is full of them and you will find them in Spain, the U.K., in the States, as well as in hundreds of other nations. Go on some online forums and you’ll learn quickly. It’s your fault for not properly understanding how business is done down here. Perhaps if you had made a few Spanish friends they could have helped get sorted. I would never buy a place without consulting with my existing landlords who own several high quality properties. And I would never buy in L.A. without consulting with my friends over there.
FYI – I have been running into trouble here in the past few years. My moto got stolen and several times it got vandalized or the mirrors were taken – once they took the battery. I should paint a target on that thing! Never had that happen in L.A. but heck – maybe I just got very lucky. On the other hand I remember several break-ins over in Los Angeles were the owners got shot and killed. Our own neighbors were attacked and beaten by Mexican guest workers while we were just a wall away, we could hear them bang on the wall for help after they had been tied up (the gun didn’t work or they would have been shot dead). We may get robbed or perhaps vandalized over here in Spain but I don’t think there’s a big chance of us being shot at home or in the street. It’s a generally safe country and that’s hard to find these days. We also feel that people live in general harmony with each other, if you cancel out all the political tensions. I’m referring to right here in our neighborhood – old people side by side with young people, several generations living and working together. Also something that’s missing in many Western countries these days.
We don’t know how long our Spanish adventure will last. So far we are very happy here and every day is a gift we are eager to enjoy. My thanks go out to you Spanish people for allowing us to share your beautiful country. There are some of us here who love living here and enjoy your country AS IS – not for what we would like to want it to be.
walter faust says
I too shared the dream of living in Spain (BCN). Invested considerable time (years) and considerable monies to build a home in one of BCN’s best neighborhoods (Supermaresma). Unfortunately I have found the experience abusive. Sales tax 21%. Endesa the electric company has sued me to declare my property “rural” rather than “urban” Supermaresma sold me the property as urban but b/c the neighborhood does not have a sewer system there is an issue. I have spent 22k USD defending the lawsuit. Don’t know if I will prevail. The town is now hurrying to put a sewer system in and there will be a 20k USD hook-up charge. Of course my septic is brand new. Had a brush with the judicial system. Importer of my car went rouge with my application, along with 300 -400 other applications putting forward some bogus documents. G-d knows why. I brought in a 25 year old car and any import tax would have been nominal. When the importer told me there would be no import tax I was not surprised and didn’t think anything of it. Spain’s judiciary starts by finger printing you, photographing you, essentially arresting you, taking your car and then they ask questions. More than a rude experience. There is crime there to. Plus, in BCN, I’m tired of bringing my visitors to the Gaudi attractions (expensive admission fees) and the Gothic area gets old. Built the home of my dreams. Now I think about when I can sell the place and move on. The people are nice. The weather is nice save exception for December through February. Of course there are no prospects for jobs or working in Spain with their terrible unemployment situation. If somebody wanted to buy property there, now would be the time as values are so far south of where they were before the recession; the bottom is expected to be reached in 2015. And from what I hear, the south of Spain, Costa de Sol is supposed to be an unreal disaster for many folks with corruption beyond belief. By all means, rent for a year before ever considering buying in Spain.
Mike Davidson says
I am not saying that all Brits are like this but there are a number who seem to think the whole world belongs to them. Some of the English think everyone who is not English is inferior to them. Deserved or not, the reputation for drunken and lewd alcohol-fueled behavior is associated with Brits abroad. It is felt that the Brits have destroyed Ibiza. It is not desirable for many people (including other Brits) to go away on holiday and be surrounded by pub quiz/pub night/ Sky Sports, fish and chip places, full English breakfasts, etc. As for the idea that British/English women are drunken slags and that the men are troublemakers, there are a number who have caused this to be the case.
Melinda says
I thought I would weigh in on this since I am neither British or Spanish. I am Kiwi (with an Italian father), and I have lived 6 years in Madrid. My husband is from Jerez de la Frontera.
Yes, Spain is pretty messed up. Look at the economy, the unemployment, the rampant racism going on. It makes me sick that the government is robbing people, and there is also the general public working in black and collecting unemployment pay.
I also lived in England. The climate, oh the horror! Yes, it rains so much! The sun goes down so early!! Dinner is so early! On the other hand, there is no “mañana” when it comes to pay. You get paid, and if not, you can raise hell and you will be paid. There is racism, but you would never see an “Anti-Islam” protest in front of a mosque, mid-day, with people chanting “Get out of England you dirty Moors!”
My point is, yes there is the good with the bad. However, I suggest it´s time to leave if you are really sick of Spain. I include myself in this advice, I need to go. The amount of day light, the good night life, and fresh fruit and seafood cannot justify the amount of corruption and overall feeling of hopelessness that is going on in this country at the moment.
So, get out of Spain. You will be much happier, trust me. If you can´t let go, and have the means to do so, buy vacation property and visit here a few weeks of the year.
If you want to move to a country with a stable economy and one that is welcoming to foreigners, I suggest Vancouver, Canada, or New Zealand. Both have lush scenery, multi-culturalism, and if you are a Brit, I am sure it´s much easier to move to these places since they are Commonwealth countries 🙂
Victor says
If all the kiwi were so idiots like you, and they say the stupid things you say about my country, I’ll tell you in my language: ” Iriamos apañados ”
Yes, the spaniards are very bad. We brought the two world wars, the Kennedy murder and conspire for Brazil lost the World
Therefore, we are second world tourist destination, gastronomic, cultural, etc etc. Because we are everything you say. The problem is when you recognize you do not know us at all
Demonblade says
I have to agree with most of the stuff you guys think about Spain.
Sadly is the truth. But it’s got much worse over the last 10/15 years, than it used to be.
If we talk about people, rudeness has taken commonplace and aggressive behaviors are often seen too.
Culprits: Disgusting governments over and over, pathetic media output into people’s decaying brains, morals, believes and attitudes.
Results are seen now.
But this said, other things, like poor costumer service, treacherous friends and all the gossip and generalized crime in all strands of society are also part of a legacy that goes beyond this century.
And with all this said, there are also lovely people here, hardworking, and genuine friendly people who aren’t two faced bastards ready to eat your soul.
It’s also not like UK is paradise, for it is not quite that. They have their own problems too and let’s say it British food is utterly disgusting once you tried Spanish,(or most EU foods).
Back to Spain, I would say it used to be altogether a nice place to live back then, people didn’t have much households economy, was stagnant for centuries even, but there was stability, but I think under all the petty backstabbing there always was there was something of Humble and people had honor and pride.
Now long gone.
For showing off your muscles or your flashy new motorbike and spitting like a gorilla on the floor ready to assault anyone on your path is not exactly what it was.
Walter Faust says
I don’t “hate” living in Spain. I like the people. However, I am beginning to believe that after making a very sizable investment to pursue a dream, that the dream may not materialize. I built a home at great expense and with substantial headache in one of BCN’s finest neighborhoods. Recession comes, adjacent lots are not selling (more than a million usd for a half acre) and Endesa the electric company decides that my neighborhood is not “urban” because there is no sewer system in it (we have septic). They want me to pay something like 250,000 USD to build a sub-station. They sue me to declare my property “rural”. They wouldn’t do this to my neighbors who built after me, perhaps because they own the BCN soccer team, the CEO of Spain’s largest bank, an internationally known athlete (Moto-GP champion of the world x2). Then I import an old Mercedes Benz to Spain and the importer goes rogue, forging documents with something like 300- 400 of his clients’ applications. I have to appear before a judge. Well first I have to appear before a police investigator. Well first they fingerprint me and photograph me like a criminal. They make me bring a lawyer to this meeting where I am a lawyer myself. They want to see my car which they say will be released to me. But then the judge is not available to review my statement and thus they keep my car. I have to fly back to the States the next day. They want me back in BCN before the judge on April 9th. Like I have to change my life to accommodate a judge who couldn’t keep a previously arranged appointment. The investigator and the judge know damn well that 300 – 400 people would not forge documents to avoid import tax, what in my case would have been petty monies. And my home was burglarized prompting me to invest huge monies to have a real sophisticated system. It is not worth it. When the recession lifts I anticipate that I will pull up stakes and leave my Spanish dream behind me. Very painful as I love the home that I built, I love the weather and so many of the people are so very nice.
Victor says
I am Spanish, and Spain is not a perfect country. But within our crisis, it is infinitely better than many countries that boast of being more developed than us…but in what? We have cars, good infrastructure (schools, hospitals, prisons, etc etc) high-speed trains, we participate in aero-space projects, we have troops on missions abroad and we build our own navy, among other things … what is the problem with Spain? And most importantly, as a country we have heart. Even with crisis, we empathize with the problems of foreigners. That is, treat people humanely, This is also very important
Maybe that’s why many foreigners, when they have known the country and they are well integrated, not want to return to their country, even if they earn less money. Because quality of life (climate, nature, safety, fresh food, etc etc) that offers this country, and that don’t have all the countries of the world
May be factors, along with our history and culture, that have made to Spain a world destination
Ana says
Wow… if I replace ”English” with ”Romanian” and ”Spain” with ”Britain”, I can feel like I wrote this article and some of this comments… I moved to UK with my kids thinking that is gonna be heaven on earth but if my kids wouldn’t be at school in UK I would move back to my country tomorrow. I wasn’t able to find a job in an year and a half, (so I decided to start my own business), having a Uni Degree 1’st grade and 16 years experience in my field. (medical). I applied even for jobs where the only requirement was ”some interest in science” and GCSE’s, still nobody invited me for a damn interview. I applied as stock assistant in supermarkets, nobody reply to my application or gave me a damn phone call… I am absolutely sure, just because I wasn’t British. My kids were bullied in school in first year, when they weren’t speak English. Even today they can’t integrate because British kids don’t mix with foreigners, aren’t they… You say Spanish are ignorant as they think you all are drinking heavily and eating egg and bacon every breakfast. What about British, who cannot differentiate between Romanians and Gipsies? Is like someone cannot differentiate between a British and a Pakistany born in UK… What about beaurocracy in UK, who asked me to send my passport and my kids passports 5 times during my application for child benefit (which is fabulous amount of 16 pounds per week! someone could even buy two pizzas from Dominos with this huge amount), also letter from schools, letter from medical practice, proof of my income in the last 6 months, copy of house contract, etc, etc, etc, until I gave up. Also, when enter a British shop, I always get a smile from shop assistant, indeed, but this smiles suddenly disappear if my daughter start to speak with me in Romanian. On top of all this, here it rains daily .
Truth says
Speaking of Spain, the women can be really nasty and competitive with each other. Pushing, shoving, dirty looks. Come on ladies, insecurity is not attractive. Grow up.
rebecca says
My brother moved to spain 2 years ago. went to visit him last week, he works Monday-Saturday from 11:30am to 10pm and earns 1 euro an hour which is shared between him and his girlfriend. after one day I wanted to live there, most fun I’ve had in years. The UK is crap, end of. Even sitting outside my brothers bar for 5 hours on Friday was more fun that sitting at home in London. im 18 and have only just got a job after being on jobseekers for a year and a half (no was not my choice). its not even a job, its an apprenticeship and ill be back on jobseekers by june next year. I earn £380 a month and I pay my dad £100 every month for rent but I hate my job. My brother just got a job at 22, 16 hours a week and he had to do 4 weeks work experience (he is 22) I would honestly rather learn Spanish and move to spain and work in a bar from 10-10 than live in east London. Applied to jobs today in spain and within 2 hours, someone has already rung me asking when I can get a flight there for an interview. in uk, applied to jobs every day and they don’t say nothing.
The part of London i’m in is CRAP.. fag packs on the floor, mcdonalds packets outside my house, fag butts in the garden, beer cans on street corners, gum all over pavements.. didn’t see one bit of rubbish in spain.
Hamish says
rebecca, there is a big difference between visiting a place on holiday, sitting outside a bar for five hours, and living there trying to make ends meet.
You say your brother, in Spain, earns 1 euro/ hour for a 63 hour week = 63 euros/ week, which he shares with his girlfriend. On those wages your brother is being paid far below the Spanish minimum wage, even if he also receives board and lodgings in lieu.
Therefore he is probably working illegally with no employment contract.
You say you are 18 and were ‘on jobseekers for a year and a half’. Under 18 year olds do not receive Jobseekers Allowance, except in exceptional circumstances. And from the information you give, in your post, it is unlikely you meet those circumstances.
You are left with £280/ month, after paying ‘digs’ to your Dad. Thats works out more than your brother, in Spain, gets.
Good luck with your job hunt in Spain, but paying for a flight to attend an interview is expensive should you not get the job. And ask yourself is the job above board and legal or is it ‘black’. Do you even have an NIE?
And you do realise that Spain has one of the worst youth unemployment problems in Europe?
In your last paragraph you mention the amount of rubbish in London and finish with, ‘didn’t see one bit of rubbish in spain’ [sic]
I take it you did not see much of Spain then? Spain, as I have said in a previous post, is endemically full of litter bugs and fly tippers.
Most young people tend not to be happy with their lot in life, but the grass is not always greener!
Sandra says
Hamish so pleased you brought up some important facts about property prices.
I have fallen out of love with living in Spain already!
We started the process of buying a property in the Costa Blanca. After five years of research we chose where we wanted to retire to and the house we wanted. The last two weeks have been a nightmare!
Our solicitor seemed more interested in us signing the power if attorney above anything else.
Things were progressing nicely. We obtained our own NIE number in the Edinburgh Consulate, we transferred the 5.000 euro deposit, we traveled to Spain last month to sign the purchase contract, amending the first one as we were not properly protected and this should have been picked up by our solicitors. We asked the solicitor if there were any unexpected amounts still to pay, she said no. A paralegal accompanied us to the notary to sign the POA. The firm prides itself as being English speaking yet the only translation of this very important document was given to us verbally by the paralegal of course we could not digest all the details because we naively thought our solicitors were looking after our interests but they did not have the decency to provide us with a translation of something which would be pretty standard. A week after we returned to UK we received an email saying we would have to pay almost 5.000 euros more because of the medium market value tax! We told her we don’t have this money we are retired and this is our life savings. She said we have three option to pay if the tax office sends the demand, pull out and lose our deposit or have the house valued by a surveyor (more fees) and she could appeal the decision (more fees) the first appeal she might lose but we appeal again (more fees) and she might win?????
We lost sleep over the last two weeks not to mention the stress we were under. The inheritance tax implications gave us another headache. We are not married and the thought of one of us having to pay an inflated amount of tax when one of us died, or the complications and taxes our beneficiaries would suffer on our deaths further convinced us to cut our losses and pull out.
We notified our solicitor who tried to get us to raise the money but we were adamant. We have not received a reply to our last email written four days ago. We feel so sorry for the vendors who have been trying to sell their house for years now and the husband is ill. They are non residents and as such have to pay hefty fees and taxes when they sell on top of the balance of their mortgage. My partner phoned him tonight because we feel awful for them and felt they should know sooner than later what was happening.
To cut a long story short, on top of all their expenses and taxes they have to pay to sell their property, his solicitor told him he has to pay half the purchasers legal fees as well as his own!!!! What the heck! is his solicitor pocketing this amount? or is sharing this backhander with our solicitor? it all sound very dodgy.
I have lost all enthusiasm for living in Spain and don’t have any trust in Spain’s legal and taxation system.
PS we had a breakfast in Spain this summer. The menu card showed the choices and the prices clearly.
The waitress charged us 2 euros each over and above the price. When we queried it she said the prices are ‘from’ the prices marked on the menu. What can you say? A breakfast sitting at the seafront in the sun ruined! this leaves a bad taste in your mouth and creates more ‘moaning Brits’
JM says
Steverino, you miss that Spain “poor and exotic” of the 60 and 70 right? when the dictator Franco was the official American ass-kissing. But I remind you that Spain was poor and exotic first by a civil war that destroyed our country, and second by a dictatorship for almost 40 years … of course, you yearn those years, but the Spaniards did not … Or that you would want for your country? in Spain the concept “siesta” is not known, most Spaniards here works all day and does not sleep after eating. I remind you that the nap was a break from the Spanish agricultural laborers in the time of summer, when the heat at noon impossible. I know that you, as a good Anglo-Saxon ignorant, xenophobic and Prejudice think the “siesta” is somewhat institutionalized within Spain, but wrong.
The Spaniards have always been European so much geographically speaking as of mentality, religion and values, for that reason we are one of the nations but old of Europe and there it is our history to corroborate it, I recommend him that you reads History of Spain, same you are surprised. But I will prescribe medicines to their ignorance and incidentally to give it another kind of history: before the Civil War Spain began the Republic, which gave to the citizens big civil rights and a large welfare for society in many ways, the path of modernity and take the wagon of modern Europe … until the arrival of the Civil War and destruction.I understand perfectly that the Europeans in the time in that you were military, they do not want to know nothing of USA, because americans are an authentic problem where they go., for that reason they allied with a dictator.r freedom.
Yeah, better you go back to your country and step you take all American troops from Rota, Moron and Torrejon de Ardoz, because abound here. Take them to your country because USA have enemies until under of the stones.
BigJon says
please dont write while drunk – its very difficult to follow.
And where do you live? i arrived to Madrid, the CAPITAL, in ’95 and was amazed that EVERYBODY went for siesta. Literally everything shut mid afternoon, for hours and hours.
And virtually everybody in the city left for the coast for august.
This laid back, inefficient, (caribbean?) lifestyle was why i stayed 🙂
ok in the last 5 years its changed a lot, and now ‘appears’ like a modern european city, but the attitudes (of bigots, xenophobics, nationalists, etc) are still the same.
So please, be real in this discussion – this isnt tripadvisor!
Steverino says
To JM,
What happened? Your girlfriend left you for an American who treated her better? I disagree with you that Spaniards are European; you know the old expression “Africa begins at the Pyrenees.” If Americans are so Xenophobic and aligned with dictators, why did you Europeans give Obama the Nobel Peace Prize? The fact is, my words made you angry because they touched a nerve. Sometimes the truth is hard to take, man up.
BigJon says
Lynne: wow. sorry to hear it went that bad. But good for you for getting out (in every sense). I wish you all the luck with getting your life back.
Lynne says
my husband and I retired to Spain 5 years ago,it was ok for the first 2 years,but I hated the manana approach,and became really homesick. My husband loved it. In the end,his behaviour towards me became increasingly controlling,as he didn’t want to return. It became so bad,my sons drove from England and got me.
To me,I think you have to accept their culture or get out,I chose the later. Sunshine isn’t everything,and I’ve not regretted my decision to leave my bullying husband in the campo. He’ll remain there,even though he’s refused to even learn Spanish.
George says
I lived in a really wonderful place on Costa del Sol for over 6 months. There are many fantastic things about Spain (sun, sea, beaches, fresh food, outdoor activities, no serious crime) but there are some serious downsides also. Basically, everything boils down to one thing. If you are not ready and able to accept the Spanish way of life, it will be extremely difficult living in Spain. If you are not OK with the “manana mentality” then you are in big trouble. The bottomline is that while in any country being a tourist is easier than being an expat, in Spain the difference is considerably larger.
emilio says
I been in Australia living for one year, but finaly was choose to come back, Why? cause I was thinking “realy what I doing here? I´m spanish and the way of life will never will be here like spain, and I love the way of life in spain” If you want to live like brithis in spain you´re wrong, change your mind and try to be more Spanish, don´t worries for everything and enjoy every day like spanish, if you really can´t do it, maybe you are in a wrong country. The spanish we trate to be happy every day and we live depending our circumstances, but we try it. How you think how could be UK with our troubles?
James says
Reply to Hamish:-
It all depends where you live, I am in a small town an hour north of Granada, this areas house prices have risen and there are lots of new expats buying houses and starting a new life here, granted there are tax issues but if the purchase price is reasonable for the area there are no tax surprises, this occurs when someone declares an often silly value due to the local sellers wanting vast sums of “black money” such as 20k for furniture (often just an old curtain). I do have good English friends that rely on earning an income picking olives, last year most had 3 months work, this year our region has practically no olive to harvest so these people have no work and will be struggling until next year.
Most of the problems seem to be with buying and selling close to the coast.
Hamish says
James, average house prices in Spain, as a whole, did rise slightly in August 2014. Yet in the year to August they have still fallen by quite a considerable amount, even taking Augusts rise into account.
There have been 25 consecutive quarterly year on year declines in Spanish house prices.
In your posts you mention both the Jaen area and the area north of Granada.
Andalucia as a whole has seen a significant drop in average house prices in the year to August 2014.
Both the Provinces of Granada and Jaen have likewise seen a significant drop in average house price.
Taking in to account the above, I cannot see how you can say, ‘I am in a small town an hour north of Granada, this areas house prices have risen’.
One months growth is a step in the right direction. But, it does not undo the damage caused by years of decline. It will take years for for prices to return to what they were pre the financial crisis.
As I said in my previous post, as you have lived in Spain for eight years (since before the crisis) your house is, likely, not worth the same now as what you paid for it. Not a problem, unless for whatever reason you need to sell up. You say you are happy here, in Spain, but circumstances can change.
The tax issues, I spoke of previously, have nothing to do with silly amounts of ‘black money’. It has happened to people buying, 100% legally, with just ‘white money’, as has been reported in both the English and Spanish language press. I also know of people it has happened to.
But on the subject of ‘black money’ what hope is there if the notary, who is meant to ensure things are done above board and proper, steps out of the room whilst the buyer and seller discuss exactly how much ‘black money’ will be used in the house purchase.
And ‘black money’ is rife in all walks of Spanish life, not just house sales.
You mention your ‘good English friends’ and how they will find it hard to survive until next year.
If they came to Spain to pick olives, then they did not plan their move and how they would earn a living very well. But, it is probably more likely that their circumstances have changed and they have no option, other than picking olives, to try and make ends meet.
Perhaps they would like to sell up and move, but cannot due to the housing market. As I said before, ‘They do not want to be here, yet they cannot afford to leave.’
James says
I love Spain……
I lived here for 8 years in the Jaen area, There are a few expats I know, most are happy and then there are some that just sit and drink all day moaning about life in Spain, The main reason there are so many unhappy expats is that after enjoying brief holidays they think that they can continue to be on holiday on a permanent basis, they run out of money or as with a lot of Brits they have a “superior attitude” and think that because they are British they are better than the Spanish.
Before we came here to live we did 2 years of planning, how we would earn an income, what we wanted out of living here learned as much Spanish as we could and took steps to try and be prepared.
Most expats decide on the coast and yes there is crime, yes there are rip off merchants especially so called estate agents, and yes we have been through the frustrating bureaucracy and the manana way of doing things but these are very short lived experiences if you speak the language or have an interpreter with you.
My advice…If you dont like it here then go back to where you came from and chalk it up to experience, if you like it here then adapt, dont surround yourself with negative thinking expats, integrate with your community and life will improve to where like me I enjoy every day here.
I would also advise you to take out private medical insurance, it can be costly but it will give you peace of mind………..thats my opinion.
Hamish says
James, glad you enjoy Spain and I agree with you that if moving abroad, regardless of to which country, you should do some serious planning/ research.
You say, ‘My advice…If you dont like it here then go back to where you came from and chalk it up to experience’.
That is a line you hear repeated, many, many times, on this forum and other similar forums. But, it is not always that easy!
I am sure those who genuinely want out of Spain, for whatever reason, would be gone like a shot if it were not for the poor state of the housing market.
Everybody knows that, the majority of, house prices in Spain were so over priced. Negative equity is a very big problem. Even if there is no mortgage, can the average person afford to let a house, they paid 400,000 euros for, go for, maybe just, a third or quarter of that value? And have nothing left to start again, elsewhere.
I, like you, planned and researched before moving to Spain. Taxes, of various kinds, being one of the things I looked into.
In my time here the taxes involved with selling a property (in a lot of ways they could be termed as ‘exit’ taxes) have risen quite a bit. Therefore if a person does manage to sell, the taxman will take a greater chunk. Just another factor to consider, and one that most people could not have foreseen, regardless of planning, when they moved to Spain.
House prices tend to find their own level, depending on the economy and supply and demand. And at the moment in Spain it is certainly a buyers market.
Yet what hope is there if you buy a house at the current market value, say 100,000 euros and months later the taxman says your house is really worth 250,000 euros and demands taxes on the extra 150,00. Again, not something you could have planned for.
You say you have lived here, in Spain, for eight years, therefore I would hazard a guess that your house is, also, not worth what you paid for it.
Not a problem as you like living here. But, if, for whatever reason, your circumstances changed and you had to sell up it would become a very big problem.
I think most people who move to Spain do so to better the lives of themselves and their families. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, through no fault of their own. They do not want to be here, yet they cannot afford to leave.
Being in such a situation can breed resentment.
Berserk says
I agree on many points, like costumer service being really crap, they do what they feel, in many let’s say street bars they feel above costumer and can ignore or even be rude and act accordingly, it’s the mentality they have.
Job wise is a disaster too, but there are good things, a lot better than UK, like the food, no question on that.
Also you don’t get wet each and every time you have to do shopping etc
It’s not that dangerous, it can be though, depends what area, city etc, people can be aggressive and impolite ,but I doubt you robbed that often, that could be bad luck, or a compromised quarter of the city etc..
My opinion.
John says
At least Spain is warm and sunny, instead of grey and depressing like the UK. People have tried to kick in the door of my house in the UK. I have been beat up by a gang of chavs in the street in the UK. Did I mention it’s grey and depressing? (And always cold and rainy)
Steverino says
I thought maybe an American viewpoint may add a different perspective. First of all, “hate” is a very strong word and should be avoided when discussing entire countries. I lived in Spain back in the late 70’s and 80’s as part of my military service in Rota, Cadiz. It was a wonderful enchanting existence for us where we could have a fantastic night out for less than 500 pesetas. We were never accepted as one of the locals, but they did consider us “their Americanos” and would even come to our defense when criticized by outsiders. We, in those days, were also nice guests (well at least those of us who were permanently assigned to the base). I considered it a very harmonious and symbiotic relationship. This was during the cold war when we were despised by many other Europeans as importers of nuclear Pershing II missiles and we accosted by silly Scandinavian peaceniks…so, we lavished the acceptance of our Spanish hosts. The Spanish of those days were simpler, poorer yet perfectly contented to have just a moped, flamenco and a glass of fine wine. Listening to half drunk Spanish friends singing a fandango on dirt floored bodega are some of my fondest memories.
As I type these words, I’m in Torremolinos pondering my upcoming 60th birthday on Aug 25th with mixed emotions. Just 3 weeks ago, I returned to Spain like a Time Traveler from a Jules Verne novel. Honestly, what I see disappoints me. The mopeds have been replaced by cars which struggle to find parking spots, I pay more for a beer than I do home at Seattle, and the warmth I felt from the Spanish back then is now gone. There is definitely an air of arrogance now. I’m not judging, simply reporting my observations. I see a culture that is clashing with itself. They joined the EU and turned in pesetas for euros–they wanted to be “European” and international, yet they cling to their old ways. Yesterday, I was having coffee at bar that is on the main walking route from the beach. I noticed the owner has a sign up indicating that they are closed on Saturdays so the staff can rest. Close on Saturdays?, while thirsty tourists walk by from the beach? To be part of the new capitalism they envisioned by the change to the euro, would in my opinion, require that the place open at 6 am and close at midnight, 7 days a week–the heck with siesta–and why does your staff need to rest with 30% unemployment? And yes, customer service is nonexistent. More than once, I sat waiting in an office while the receptionist chatted away on her cell phone, and others in the office ignored me. There was no noticing that a customer, someone who can bring income to the company, was waiting and should have been accommodated. Yes, even a fake smile and a “can I help you?” would have been welcome.
Jobs are still given to friends or relatives, undermining the basic employer/employee relationship. Workers are not fired for inefficiency. Honestly, I don’t see Spain coming out of their economic crises until there is a fundamental shift and the discarding of the old ways. Absent such, they’d be better off to go back to the peseta and their previous way of life. Even long established Brits are adopting their ways. I just had an email exchange with one selling insurance who displayed the same arrogance and lack of customer service. On a final note, what’s with all these dogs? One in three Spaniards is walking a dog resulting in me having to dodge land mines all days. The streets are covered with a nauseating film of dog waste.
I wish I could be more positive, but I have to call it the way I see it. I will return to the U.S. next month, but I will choose to cherish more the 35 year old memories of spending pesetas in the bodegas of Chipiona.
Marcos Delgado says
Dear classy Brits,
Let’s set the record straight. Stop being ignorants and get an education.
I am living in Manchester and I would like to claim that it is proper rough city. I have never seen in my whole life such a high rate of crime in the streets. Drug-dealers, homeless people, beggars… all of them trying to mug you, get spare change or a fag from you… it’s absolutely unbearable. That doesn’t only happen in the middle of the city centre but in quite residential areas as well.
Everyday is good for the British to get drunk and spend their giro on alcohol. They can’t be bothered to work on a minimum salary. Immigrants can do it instead. I’ve never seen so many women of all ages drunk, dragging on the floor, screaming and fighting against each others. It’s embarrassing, believe me. Come to Manchester or Liverpool.
Why not talking about public transport?! That’s a real pain in the neck. Bus packed with sweaty people who stink from miles away, drunk passengers vomiting on the floor and drinking beer, scallies and hoodies trying to get a lift for free or smash the windows with passengers inside if not allowed, appalling… But, wait a minute… passengers are not the worst, their lazy drivers don’t even stop to pick up passengers if you are not sticking your megarider out or they are about to run over you.
We all know that the UK is all about rain and wind, wind and rain. Roads and streets are in poor conditions. They always get flooded and take them ages to drain. Where are all our taxes going?
Who said that there are Spanish people working without being able to speak English. It is true that not everybody can speak a language overnight, it’s not a chip inserted in your brain and that’s it. In the UK, recruiters are very strict with their employees and unless you go through all the selection process in English, you’ll not get a job. No chance!!
So, dear Brits I do invite you to live in a foreign country and dare you to write your rants in Spanish, French, Arabic or Hindi… It’s horrible to generalize, isn’t it?!
Short Fat Retiree Coming to Spain Soon says
Ok, so I’ve read the majority of posts here. I did get a bit lost with conflicting opinions. I did get a bit frightened by people talking about the crime rates. HOWEVER! I’m still coming!
I’m learning Spanish, I’m reading everything I can, I’m planning to be self sufficient,as we’ll be retired and not seeking work. I’m learning the ropes of the “red tape” I could however do with a little guidance as to where to settle. We don’t want bars and restaurants, we don’t want the “fish and chips” culture. We don’t want to live on an all Brit complex, or any complex for that matter. We want to be safe, left alone and to be pleasant to neighbours Spanish or otherwise!
We do want to live in the countryside, we do have a limited house purchase budget and we will rent something first, to find our own way when we get there. So! has anyone got any HELPFUL advice on where to start looking? I must admit we were searching by price of property, but now realise that we have to take into account the safety aspect a lot more. I’m open to any helpful advice please, but no don’t tell me not to come, I’ve been planning this move for ages and I’m not going to give up now.
Thanks to anyone who wants to post something positive for me.
HILARIOUS says
Oh you dont feel welcome at all? Oh poor you… must be because:
1) YOU DONT BOTHER TO LEARN OUR LANGUAGE: I know british school teachers that have lived for 20 years in Mallorca and still dont speak spanish, NOT A SINGLE WORD
2) INTEGRATE IN SOCIETY. You british people just relate with other british people, you go to british only parties and dont have a single spanish friend. On top of that, you dont live in the city, you live where other british people live.
3) Stop acting like you are on a higher level than the rest of the world.
Hilarious antidote says
1) yes, learn Spanish. Then you can understand directly that you are hated because you’re not Spanish.
2) Integrate. Keep trying to make Spanish friends. I’m told that after 10 years you *may* be accepted.
3) Brits do not act like they are on a higher level, its “just not cricket”. If you feel inferior to the Brits its because you have good reason. After all, being British is to be the best in all things…
Ana says
”being British is to be the best in all things” lol That was deep.
Victor says
No. You learn Spanish because unlike you, the british, we have patience with people who want to learn our language, and we don’t go through life like you, demanding to speak our languag, do you understand? And one of the many differences (fortunately) we have about you, is that we have heart. Who does not adapt to Spain, it is because simply not want. This is not a colony yours. In Spain until we translate to our language the films of non spanish speaking. By the way, 10 years to accept you into Spain? Like told me a citizen of your country, if you live in the UK, and if someone was able to say “Good morning” , is that it should be the crazy of the neighborhood…
You yourself have portrayed, when you say that the best thing ever is to be British…Tell me why or in what
Michael says
That is patently not true. I have met many wonderful people here over the past three years and although they may not all have accepted me into their life they have gone beyond what I would have ever expected. The couple who rents us our apartment here in VLC have become good friends and even let us use their own house in Jávea when they are out of town. We are talking about a multi million Euro mansion full of antiques and we were invited into their home and life just a few months into our stay here. That would have NEVER happened in the United States – people simply don’t trust each other here.
We love the Spanish and perhaps that is why they like sharing their wonderful country with us.
Blue says
If you’re not too concerned about making a lot of money, teaching English is a good way to get by while also experiencing a different culture. I really enjoy teaching, so it hasn’t been bad for me, although I would have made more money teaching English in Asia or the Middle East. Personally, I met friendlier people in Italy and in Turkey than I have in Spain. Also, unlike those countries, the men here seem to be obsessed with blondes (every time I’m out with a blonde friend, I’m more invisible than usual). Oh well.
I’ve had very nice students and have rented flats from kind, reliable landlords, and I’ve always found work easily enough, even as someone who isn’t part of the EU. But if you want to come to Spain for the sun, look into the place before you move there. Madrid is winter most of the year (“nueve meses de invierno, tres meses de inferno”) with lots of cloudy, cold, rainy days and even Valencia gets its cloudy days regularly. If you’re vegetarian, you’re not going to have the number of choices you had in the U.S. (or some other countries as well) although you’ll still get by. From my experience, the immigrants and visitors here (Chinese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, German, Italian, South American) have been the friendliest. As I posted above, people in Valencia seem a bit friendlier than in Madrid, at least with foreigners (I’ve lived in both places for a year each). Of course, it will all still vary from person to person, but these have been my experiences.
Orla says
A lot of this was really funny for me to read as an American. I’ve never been to Britain or the UK so I’m not sure how native English locals treat their tourists and immigrants, but in America, especially these days with so many Latino immigrants coming in illegally, Americans are horrible to their immigrants.
People in America seem to act exactly as the Spanish do, claiming that immigrants are stupid and don’t belong, demanding that everyone speak english or “go back to where you came from”, claiming that they are stealing all the jobs and therefor making it pretty much impossible for anyone who isn’t fluent in English to get a job (and if they see your name on an application as “Jose Rosa Martinez” they will most certainly pass you up for that “John M. Smithson” over there).
I’m not trying to say that revenge is a good or mature way to handle things, but if white Americans are treated the same way English people were when going to Spain, I would almost say that for a majority of Americans, it would be good for them to see how it feels to be treated the way we treat all of our immigrants. Maybe it would be a wakeup call.
It is sad that I wasn’t even surprised that a country would be discriminatory towards outsiders.
(We’ve also ALWAYS been really awful to immigrants from ANY country throughout all the years of migration into America. We treated the Irish like pigs, put people of asian descent in internment camps after working most of them to death on the transcontinental railroad, oh and let’s not forget how we dragged thousands of African and Islander people here and made them our slaves….)
The Experienced Traveller says
Wow! This article really caused a sh#tstorm.
Which just goes to show how true it is! After 20 years of living here, in various cities, I can only agree with EVERY negative comment made about the Spanish. Yes, a few are nice, but its not the norm. The culture is to rip-off, cheat and steal from others. INCLUDING each other.
Don’t for a moment think its them verses us: its me, me, me for the Spanish. I know just as many Spaniards having houses bulldozed, bogus fines, deliberately life-screwing bureaucracy… as any other nationality/giri.
We started our own business: water and bin rates at home €40/2mths, for the flat where the business is: €230!!!!!!/2mths <- This is spain. Most of the other businesses just don't pay taxes.
One of the beachside restaurants (leased from townhall) finally shut down after not paying taxes for 4 years – everyone knew the situation…for 4 years !!!!
One thing I have learnt: the people that defend spain are VERY wealthy. Always, without fail.
Mary says
A lot of what is being expressed here appears to be a clash between expectations and reality. Many of the expats I’ve either read about or met in Spain seem to have presumed that they were moving to a sunnier UK. They are then stunned and upset when it turns out not to be the case. It constantly surprises me that people who CHOOSE to move to another country are then offended and angry when everything there is not the way it is at home – why on earth would it be? If you move to a different country of course it will have a different culture, different societal rules, different behaviors, different laws, etc. Why do we expect to be treated as if we were born and breed, we can hardly say that every person that comes to our own country is treated this way – and if they don’t even speak the language, well! I’ve lived in several different countries and believe me there are things that have driven me absolutely crazy about some of the places, but the problem is ME – the place or people didn’t suddenly change just to peeve me off, that’s how it is there, it’s me that isn’t adapting adequately. I’ve been ripped off, lied to, conned etc, but that goes on everywhere, including the UK – I was friends with a Polish couple who were being charged three times the normal rent because their English was poor and they didn’t know the average rental costs. If we are going to leave the confines of our own shores we need to change our expectations, adapt to our new surroundings and stop believing that the rest of the world should be exactly the same as our part of it.
Martin says
There are some good comments here and obviously a bit of anger. We’ve just sold up in Mijas Pueblo and are sad to be leaving Spain. Like nearly everyone we’ve sold cheap to get out after several years of hoping something would happen to make life better for everyone who lives in Spain. It’s got so much more going for it than snooty France, great weather, people and beaches, brilliant cycling, food and bars, full of life. I understand the anger of British people living there who cannot get work. Most of the Brits we knew have bailed out, at a loss as we have, unable to afford staying really. After 11 years, we’ve seen Mijas improve, roads, order, organisation but the charm has gone. People are definitely less friendly than they were, the good times have gone for everone for the time being. It can be a frustrating place to live in, banks work oddly, local government too, roads close at a whim trapping your car for a day, streets become one way then change back to two way when someone feels like it, roads wash away leaving death traps with no warning, it can be an adventure. Tragic for the young especially, I wish Spain and Spaniards the best of luck in the future but I’m glad I’m back in the UK now.
Pedro says
To all the British who are complaining about Spain here: some of the things you say are sadly true or half true. As a Spaniard I have to deal with all of that s*** everyday. But there are other points you state that are very biased and I have no choice but disagree. Anyway, Spain is a great country and so the Great Britain. We are no saints, but neither you are. Love to all.
Roberto says
Hi
As Spaniard living now in UK for 3 years, I think I can tell you something, comparing places and people from both countries.
ROADS: main network more or less the same… but newer in Spain. Secondary roads SO FAR BETTER IN SPAIN.
HEALTH SYSTEM: 1 of the best in the world, public and working system. Why do you go from UK to Spain to get visited by our doctors?. A disaster in UK, few skilled people only in hospitals, but you dont go to the hospital for a headache or a cold. Very good and polite words by people, and basically let you cure by yourself, or go inmediatly to the hospital because you are really sick.
PEOPLE BEHAVIOUR: YES, we are more noisy, TRUE. But more sincere, able yo talk and to do exactly the same, not to give polite words and after that, NOTHING. I suffered this attitude here in the schools, in the Coulcil, with the Real State Agents, with the Insurance Agents, in my job, in everywhere. Brits are extremly polite, YES, and AFTER THAT? NO PROBLEM IS SOLVED… Really do you prefer that?
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Its a joke if you say there are no costumer service, neither you belive that. There are particular cases in everywhere, and here in UK, the same…. VERY GOOD AND POLITE WORDS, and after that????? sometimes solved, other not…..
And here nobody speaks Spanish to give you the service, of course. What expect then in Spain, people talking to you in English? Really ?? Come on… be serious. Customer Service is not better here in UK, after my experiences with several companies.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES: FAR FAR BETTER IN SPAIN. Train, bus, metro, I am sorry, but our systems are better, more modern and CHEAPER !!!! Only British Airways is better, because was overpowered (well done) by UK government.
SIESTA: OMG why its so famous??? Its no common nowadays, and it has its reason to do. We have different working hours, different sun hours basically. Try to work as farmer at 12:00 from Jun to Sep. IMPOSSIBLE. Ancient farmers did siesta in order to avoid worse sun hours. If not, why do you go to the hospital after some continued hours in the Spanish beaches???
RACISM: like any other country… when you see a lot of foreign people entering and wasting your money, you are not happy. Here in UK is the same now, exactly the same.
GIBRALTAR: Invaded not legally when after some storms, some vessels were allowed to settle there in order to not die all in the middle of the sea. Still British colony in XXI century… WHY? As usual in British “way to do”, oppositte to the international rules and law when there are some special interest. There is a military importance to control the Mediterranean entrance, and there is a economical interest with the Ilegal paradises, out on UE regulations.
If I were the Spanish president, I would close the “VERJA” years ago. Do you want Gibraltar belonging to UK? thats right…them TAKE IT.
1 more thing… surrounding waters are Spanish, because are not detailed in Utretch agreement. Again, UK violates rules and laws in its interest when is necessary.
We also have bad things, OF COURSE… several ones and I would need days to talk about that, but do you really think the UK is the paradise??? No, it isn’t.
Finally, I must say I live happy and in peace in UK, with the good things ans the bad things, LIKE EVERYWHERE. I am not against UK and nobody, but obviously things could be quite different, it depends on the point of view and your experiences.
Kind regards to everybody.
eddie says
The level of stupidity in the articles above is astonishing…
please guys get a grip.
miguel says
Interesting comments. I agree that, generally speaking, Spaniards are noisy and many times irresponsible, I’ve lived here from my birth and I know very well my compatriots. The climate of the South isn´t as good as many of you think, 35-38 Celsius degrees in summer is too hot for me. But there are many differences between regions and social classes. In my opinion, without regard the language, there’s more difference between a Galician(North-West) and Andalusian, than between and average British and average Spaniard. The same to you British, not every British that come to Spain are middle-aged and well educated British gentlemen and ladies. Because some of them seem very improvable: drunks, they urinate in the streets, they are violent and s*x obsessed and they don’t seem intelligent and learned. Are all of them from the worst neighborhood of Liverpool?, I don´t think so. So, as they say in my country: ¡Menos humos!( don’t be so arrogant!). I don´t recommend you to buy a property in Spain unless you are totally in love with Spain, its landscapes, monuments and History, its joy of living(it depends on the region and the economic climate), its music(flamenco is a wonderful music),…so you can offset the bad experiences that surely you are going to have.
Chris says
Reading this makes me truly happy. For one its great that all the people that are / where here in Spain and are leaving are hopefully gone to the UK which gives me and my family more room to enjoy this beautiful country. Its in the nature of most people to write and talk negative but do absolutely nothing about it. This is most caused by their own actions and the inability to take responsibility. The legendary ” If I don’t get a job and have to clean pools its surely the countries fault” scenario. Same applies to robberies. Secure your House properly. We are not in the UK. If you come to Spain expect higher crime rates and act to it. Ever since I am in Spain I have worked in my sector and integrated as good as possible into the Country and the locals. If you are willing to work and put effort in your search you will succeed no doubt. When someone says “manjana” then it is. No need to get frustrated that the mentality doesn’t suit your one that is not native. What I see all to often is that people are unable to adapt and that leads to these very narrow minded comments. If you do not like the country…leave, but with dignity. I love Spain. I met my partner now wife here. We have two lovely children which are native Spanish. I love Spains nature and rhythm and would like to encourage people to look over their edge of their plate to see what it really has to offer.
William says
This has been an interesting comments page. I’ve lived in Gibraltar for 3 years now and it surprises me the love and affection they have for Spain. They all support Spain in the World cup yet they want Britain to protect them. It is so pathetic its untrue. The Gibraltarians are the biggest hypocrites its untrue. I am a British person and it makes me sick. I live in Gibraltar yet everyone wears a Barcelona or Real Madrid shirt, they all speak Spanish to you in the shops. Yet they ‘pretend’ to be british. Do not get lied to, the people of Gibraltar are Spanish, they are lazy! They only want to be British because of tax reasons, and are the laziest people in the world
Victoria Maria says
I believe most of what Nick Anders said. Customer service in Spain, what customer service? specially if you don’t speak their language, you are made to feel like a super idiot and a complete outsider even if you are doing business for them as a tourist. If I may add, spaniards hardly smile which sealed my first impression of them as one of the unfriendliest people on earth.
Jeweli Taylor says
Is quite easy to say, “I hate this and I hate that” well any place that you go and live then you will feel this way specially if you havent been able to mix with the locals or have not been part of what is happening there. Also I would not live for 6 or 9 yrs to find out how much I hate a place. I have lived in the UK and now I am living in Galicia, for 5 years now, and when it comes to choosing a better place I would prefer Spain right away.
The main thing is to learn the language and to eat, live and have fun like Spaniards so stick with them. Here I also feel with much less pressure and feel much safer than when I was living in London or in Wales. The food is much better, so is the quality of life. Sure you will find a wise guy trying to pull a fast one on you but hey in the UK was even worse. But to all of you hating Brits, GOOD RIDDANCE and dont let the door knock you on your way out! From an expat who LOVES Spain. Jewell Taylor, 29 yrs old
R Polo says
Yep; is all about the attitude.
Mark says
I am British who has been living in Spain for a number of years. It is really disappointing to see so many fellow British slugging a country and its population so badly. I suspect that most of you people had failed to integrate with the locals. Integrating will not only give you an overview of the spanish culture such as siesta or having la cena at 10 and then heading out for a drink but also create opportunities to improve your language skills as well as gaining a local referee for a possible job at some point. Spaniards like Italians and Cypriots have the Mediterranean attitude. Siesta is a must because of the fact is simply too warm in the Summer. What perhaps we see as rude in terms of customer service is not actually the case. The way that we are getting treated is pretty much the same way locals get treated by their fellow Spaniards. For example in Spain you do not require to say por favor (please) whenever you have a request for the reason that you will stand out as a foreigner. Spaniards have direct approach straight to the point. Racism does exist like in any country but is not just against British but also against other nations like Moroccans other latino countries with sizeable migrant groups like Ecuadorians and so on.
So it is all about integrating.. Understanding how the local bureaucracy works and researching as much as possible. What is the point living in a country and just counter-interact just with fellow British in another country.
Wages are not as good as in UK however based on my personal experience living in Madrid cost of living here is perhaps 30-40% cheaper than London so overall that actually makes life better. Transport especially the rail and the underground are also top notch and very very cheap compared to UK.
Lawyers property developers estate agents local building contractors and taxi drivers can be very manipulative however that is why you need to research all these aspects before you attempt anything. it may be exhausting however it is crucial. This is certainly applicable in any mediterrean country!!
Hamish says
Mark, you say, ‘Siesta is a must because of the fact is simply too warm in the Summer’.
What a load of rubbish and if what you say is true then why do they still take a siesta in the cooler months of the year?
The siesta is a relic of a bygone age that is best relegated to the scrap heap.
In this day and age with air conditioning, etc there is no need to shut up shop midday. And for those that work outside the physical effort, of yesteryear, is negated by the use of power tools/ machinery.
The siesta is counterproductive, which is clear for all to see. A fact a Spanish parliamentary commission recognised in 2013, when they called on the government to introduce regular working hours and to, also, revert Spanish time back an hour to GMT, which it was before Franco aligned Spain with the time used by Nazi Germany.
Cabeza de Vaca says
First of all, I apologise for my bad bad bad english. However, believe me, is far better than the spanish spoken by the majority of british living in Spain.
I really love british popular culture. That’s why I moved to your country six years ago. I wanted to live in London in order to see a lot of concerts. Maybe it sounds stupid, but it was really important for me when I was younger. I thought: Why not? I have a degree which is wanted in each corner of this rotten world and I’m hungry for new experiences. As I also knew the language and London was only 2 hours from my city, Barcelona, I finally decided to go there.
And well… Your complaints make me laugh. Has a Spain a lot of problems, specially at this moment? Yeah, that’s true. But… Is the magnificient and “powerful” United Kingdom some kind of paradyse in which every, I say every, thing works fine? Mate, If your answer is “yes” let me tell you that you suffer from some kind of illness.
Secondly, are the spaniards racist? Oh, please… Do you know that United Kingdom has more fascist parties and movements than any other country? Although I was more qualified than the 90% of brits, they told me things like “what the hell are you doing here?”, “You, the immigrants, are sinkening our glorious country”, “Oh, are you spaniard? I can’t believe it because of your blue eyes!”, “Hey, look at that, it’s a mobile phone!”. Etc.
All my partners made fun of “siesta”. Some of them were convinced that spaniards sleep during the daytime and go out during the night time. Some of them were also the laziest people I’ve ever met. Yeah, sofisticated londoners who were extremely accostumed to shirking. And I was earning less money than them being more qualified! Why? Because I wasn’t british. Therefore, what you say about special manners in Spain is absolutely the same shit or even worse in your country.
Then you’re talking about bureaucracy. ha, ha, ha. Bureaucrazy is slow everywhere. But in the U.K. it could be exasperating and infuriating. And if you’re british, you know what I’m talking about.
And… what about the almost ruined British flats? or the typical and ugly British uncomfortable semi-detacched houses? Or the british food? Yeah, you can not compare fish and chips, delicious for every palate, with paella or another awful spanish dish.
So, mate, I was a “poor” and “illiterate” spaniard who was aware of the differences between regions in the U.K. and the differences between U.K and Spain. I applied for my job being in Barcelona because I did not want to waste my time and money waiting for an opportunity. I had also and agreement with one landlord to rent his house. Etc. I know that not all the spaniards do the same, but I’m trying to show you how stupid are the stereotypes.
Nevertheless, I have a lot of british friends who are amazing people and who treat me extremely well. Prejudices are always stupid. And, man, if you don’t like your town, “ancha es Castilla”. And if you don’t like Spain, please stop hurting yourserlf uselessly. Now I live in Madrid. I love your country. I wasn’t happy enough there owing to the weather and stuff so… what’s the matter? There’s no matter! I just moved on!
Natasha says
Hi all, I was born in Spain but grew up in London and came back when I was 14 ( 30 now)
I have both English and Spanish family.
It’s very funny to hear English people talk about Spain. Living in Spain is nothing like a holiday in Benidorm, Just like living in UK is nothing like a holiday in London.
All countries have their pros and cons.
To the first person who wrote: you said i hate working until 2 am, waiting for the last drunk to go… I bet you loved it when you were the last drunk to go.
About the robbers, etc… yes well… The Spanish have low wages and long working hours, But Last time I went to UK, they talked on the news about rape like it was a side note! Everyday, I couldn’t believe it! Rape and murder is NOT something normal in Spain, Yes you might get robbed, but there is a very low chance you will get raped or murdered. The most talked about murder in Spain was that of Madeleine McCann…
It was a huge thing! Not a normal situation and not provoked by the Spanish or Portuguese.. As the murderers are obvious.. but i wont go into that.
Im not sure where you’ve heard the bound and gagged thing, maybe your friend watches too many films. The whole point of robbing is not being seen… this has happened ONCE and it was because the person was a politician.
But its funny to hear the English ”Gossip”.
You can’t pretend that you are going to move to another country and be treated like a tourist,
This is another point from another blogger up there, Its better to live with the English and not integrate, this is when you will be treated differently, when you don’t even bother in meeting people, other people wont look at you twice and you certainly will become a Guiri, and not a friend, or a respected citizen.
There is one huge problem in Spain, The government. This applies to everything.. even customers service, when you re in a job that you enter at 10 am and leave at 8 pm, yes there is a very big chance you will not be attended in a straight away fashion, also, in Spain, people are not treated like idiots, im sure when you go in a shop, you know what you are looking for, and if not,… will probably ask.
Spain is next to Africa, get used to it, there is African people who have come here looking for a better life.
Once you become a Spanish citizen, you will be treated like one, you will not be adored for being British,
You will not be a tourist spending money, you will be a worker, and you will get a low pay, but you will also get a Mediterranean diet, and 6 months of Sun. And if you bother, you will get great friends and better social life. Also, your kids will be able to play on the street until late with no risks.
your kids will have a better education ( schools are not good here, there is no great school trips, infrastructures, after school activities or slower capacity, or special needs stuff, but the education is more demanding and on a much, much higher level) University is Endlessly cheaper, and nº1 in the world for Medical, Graphics, Architecture and engineering, and are acclaimed in mostly Germany, Japan, UK and US where the specifically want Spanish educated.
UK- you have, better pay, people are polite, and punctual.
People mind their own business, but on the other hand have a limited social life and bad weather, So you have to see if it is better to earn less and live more, or Earn more and live in Spain when you are 65 (If you get to be 65).
I would also like to point out the way Spanish people are treated in UK, the only difference is they move there KNOWING they are going to be a ”no one” and don’t expect or DEMAND anything from anyone.
For the person talking about the day after pill, yes in Spain you have to pay its 22€, this is to prevent teens using it as a normal contraception method. Still UK is nº1 in Europe for teen pregnancies.
anyway, there is one sure thing, If you don’t want to live and be a part of a country, im 100% sure you are not welcome to do so.
Its as simple as leaving.
danielle says
Swings and roundabouts folks!
js says
Shirley you’re obviously an idiot:
“One of the reasons we avoided the South of Spain was that it’s closer to Africa and has more crime.”
There is so much wrong with the above sentence.
Jourdan says
I guess it is just a matter of opinion, I lived in Malaga city centre for about a year and I agree with it being hard to find work, eventually I had to come home back to Newcastle as I could not find work.
But other than that Malaga to me was the best time of my life, before that I lived further down south in Estepona and Malaga city was like a different world…
Life in Spain is definitely slower, but for that you get a great lifestyle… maybe you just weren’t suited to it… but I have no idea where you are getting this “crime” stuff from… I have experienced multiple VIOLENT crimes here in the united kingdom and many more anti-social related crimes on a almost weekly occurrence… the entire time I lived in Spain that would equal to about 2-2 1/2 years I think I witnessed maybe one or two acts of anti-social behaviour and that’s it really…
You should keep your wits about you anywhere you go, including the UK…
maybe you just aren’t suited to Spain.
Laura says
Hi all!
I am from Valencia and I have been living in Uk for a year and 8 months and I can´t live in Uk anymore.
The cultural shock it is just too much for me and despite of the situation in my country, I just want to go to Spain. I am working as a Customer Service Rep in an American company and speak 5 languages. I have been living in different countries due to the situation in my country and loved it but this time, It could be me or the majority of people I met, I can´t do it anymore.
It is really complicated to adapt to another culture and many factors can make your days better or worse.
I have found really wonderful people in Uk as i could find in any other country in the world and some miserable people that I have never seen in my entire life.
Obviously, All the bad things you are saying about Spain, I could say about Uk in other way, but not just Uk…. we all are human beings with many things to be changed in our behaviour.. but I am just not going to waste my time with that.
You can find racism, greed, arrogance, dishonesty, corruption, intolerance….. in every country. We make a mistake when we speak in general, but we do it unfortunately as it is easier than writting %
I just want to say why I want to go back to Spain and which values I love from British Society that are part of our cultural identity:
– I was born in a Country where money is not buying happiness. (despite some people think like that)
– A country where We work to live, not live to work (obviously there are exceptions)
– A country where the family is our life and way of living (as it happens in Italy, Portugal or Greece.. places where I lived) (obviously there are exceptions)
– A country with a culture of food, love, friendship.. enjoying every minute of our life. (because we just have one life and If you don´t enjoy every bite of your food, or every minute with you couple or friends, family… what are we here for???)……
The developed countries have just made “work” as the main value and it is not . You can feel it in Uk so hard. But obviously it is your choice to decide which values are in your life.
– Uk Customer Service is the best I have experienced all over the world. (It is so fu%$&!! good that It makes me think that the fake smiles are just trying to sell me something or helping me to make me come back and it annoys me a lot sometimes)
– Music is your motion (we do not have that music culture in Spain, I love it)
– Love for animals (Amazing)
I would probably need more time to get to know more about UK identity as a country and I am probably missing a lot of good things.
There are many reasons that can make you move to another country but I would say that we must always follow our heart and go wherever we want to go and If we make a mistake it is as easy as rethinking again our priorities and move and change.
I hope to find a job soon in Spain and I wish to all the people who are not happy in Spain, the best in their lifes. Don´t be afraid of change and think about your priorities and what it is making you happy.
Those willing to move to Spain, I would say go for it if you really want it. Better days will come.
Laura
Prism says
Hi
This is a very interesting read. We are hoping to move to Spain in about 5 years time so have started to learn the language now. Us Brits are constantly moaning here, especially concerning immigration – we expect people who move here to know the language but when we move abroad we expect them to speak english! Go figure!
There will always be positives and negatives about moving abroad but as long as you do the research and visit the area as much as possible you give yourself a fighting chance of doing ok. Luckily I won’t need to work but anyone who is under the impression that life is sweet here then ought to do their own research. Unemployment figures may seem to be getting better here but those figures are for people receiving benefits. These figures do not include those who have had their benefits stopped for 3 months or more, which is what happened to my son when they told him to go for a job interview in a town 30 miles away with no way of getting there. When he didn’t go they stopped his job seekers allowance for 3 months! This happens all the time.
Also, with all the government cuts to services like NHS, Police, Schools, councils etc things will get a whole lot worse here for us Brits. The crime figures are down as there are no Policemen to report the crime to any more. Crime will rise. This Government will not be happy until they have got the NHS and Police off their books!
Every country has their own problems. At least those of you who are coming back have given it a go…it wasn’t for you, but don’t knock those who have found happiness in Spain.
Please stop taking every comment so personally….we live in democratic countries and are able to have our say, so don’t attack others just because their view is different to yours.
I just hope everyone finds the happiness they are seeking
peter says
Well, what an interesting read comments from all walks… from the ignorant, the informed , the intelligent and the fools amongst us!!!
I live in inland Andalucía and love it, I have been welcomed and accepted into the community, I have joined groups and do volunteer work. I speak Spanish, have Spanish friends and have nothing negative to say about the people, the town or the country. I lived in Spain, and attended university here, 45 years ago there are nostalgic memories but places grow, change and move on.
The only person who has treated me badly since I have been here is a British builder, a major con artist aided by his wife, he steals pensioners savings and although he professes to have been working in the industry for 10 years in the region, has no building knowledge what so ever and has left a trail of destruction!!.
This is the only negative.
Hamish says
Peter, you say you have a relationship with Spain that stretches back many years. Attending university, in Spain, 45 years ago.
In all that time you have nothing negative to say about the place/ people, except for your run in with a British builder! No negatives in all that time, are you sure you are not in Utopia rather than Spain? For no country, in the world, is without its problems/ negatives.
As for your run in with said builder. If you are as intergrated into Spanish life and speak the language, as you say, then why did you not use a Spanish builder? After all a native builder would have served their time and spent their working life working on Spanish style buildings, which are a lot different to British buildings.
And surely, anybody having building work carried out, regardless of what country they are in, would ask for references first. References go a long way to eliminate bad experiences….Caveat emptor!
JM says
Globertrotter, if you are the India you are not the but suitable to say that Spain is a poor country. My country suffers a serious economic crisis but you cannot compare to that underdeveloped country where the poverty, the insalubrity, the disease and the big social inequalities are part, always, of its daily life. To compare Spain with your country is as comparing the Real Madrid with a a team of regional fourth.
By the way, you say that the Spaniards are more racists that the Britons …. you tell seriously? don’t you remember the colonial time of their country? I believe that you are a great demagogue because you has never been in Spain.
Victor says
Globertrotter…
Indian? I would not travel to your country, nor although I am the richest man in the world…
Who knows of your country, knows that the only thing beautiful of your country are the tigers and the elephants, nothing else
To compare the India with Spain? Is a joke? It is only necessary to compare our fleet of trains and our way of traveling with yours. And is only an example…
Blue says
So you’re angry when people insult Spain, and then you go and insult India even though you’ve never been? I’ve been to Kerala – it was beautiful, had friendly people, and delicious food. India, with its ancient culture and rich spiritual history, is amazing and I can’t wait to go back.
David Davidson says
Why do so many English people think they own the rest of the world and all of the people in it?? They think they and their way of life are superior to all others. Wake up and take on board that Spain is not just one big resort for booze, sex and sun. It is a country!! Why do you go abroad expecting everyplace to be just like your overcrowded, dirty, grimy has been little country?? The UK lives on past glories and can’t handle being a former world power. The country has a major inferiority complex. The English are pushy, rude, obnoxious and loud mouths. No wonder as tourists they have the worst reputation in Europe. English women are rated as being the most likely to have affairs among European women. They bring the attitude that they are easy on themselves with their drunken and slutty behavior and scanty attire. It is not at all surprising that most rapes and sexual assaûlts on English holidaymakers in Europe are perpetrated by their fellow countrymen. The Spanish are sick of the Brits misusing their country and who can blame them?? Getting drunk and passing out in the streets, packing the free clinics for the morning after pill, etc. Generally behaving like savages. Who can blame the Spaniards for not wanting the English culture and way of life forced on them?? These lowlifes only ruin it for those who go there to have nice holidays and behave themselves. It is time for them to take it on board that they are not welcome to go to Spain take over and colonize it.The British Empire, along with their freeloading royal family are jokes and has beens. The UK has a higher rate of violent crimes per 100,000 people than the USA and South Africa. So maybe they need to address their own problems before they try to change others??
Hamish says
David Davidson, thats a bit of an anti English/ British rant!
No country is without its problems and mine has plenty (Scotland/ the UK). But I cant help feeling many of the points you make are without foundation.
You say that ‘Spain is not just one big resort for booze, sex and sun. It is a country!!’ If all the Brits, and other nationalities, be them holiday makers or expats, went home then Spains already fragile economy would nose dive big time.
You mention the UK being a former world power, many European countries had an empire at some point in the past, Spain, France, Holland being amongst them.
Today the UK may not have much of an empire left, but pound for pound it punches well above its weight:
It has a permanent seat on the security council.
Member of G7 and G20. Spain is only represented in both through EU membership and is also an invitee to G20. Note invitee not member.
Fifth strongest military power. That is through conventional weaponary and not nuclear.
One of three countries with true blue-water navy capability as opposed to green-water navy capability.
Therefore I dont think the UK ‘lives on past glories’ and ‘has a major inferiority complex’, as you try to claim.
‘English women are rated as being the most likely to have affairs among European women’. Really?
Research, readily available on the internet, of six major European countries shows:
UK 29% of woman have had affair. Spain lower at 28%. Belgium 29%. France 32%. Italy 34%. Germany 42%.
Of those who had had an affair 51% of British women regretted it. Spain only 29% regretted it. Germany 28%. Italy 27%. Belgium 24%. France 21%.
These figures tend to disprove your statement.
You say of British/ English women, ‘they are easy on themselves with their drunken and slutty behavior and scanty attire’. And no Spanish women ever match that description?
As for drunken behaviour. The Spanish locals in the village where I live, both male and female, can put British holidaymakers, in places such as Ibiza, Benidorm, Magaluf, etc to shame with their drunken antics during the local village fiestas. I have had my front door used as a toilet, as have my Spanish neighbours, even though the ajuntament supplies portable loos. Yet if you complain to the ajuntament or local police they dont want to know and can’t believe the locals would behave in such a manner, even if you show them photos!
‘Packing the free clinics for the morning after pill’. Are you sure? Contraception, be it regular or emergency is not free in Spain, YOU HAVE TO PAY!
Any woman in Spain can buy the morning after pill, from a chemist, regardless of age. Yet in the UK an under 16 year old can only obtain it through a health care professional.
I think any person who has spent any time in Spain knows of Spanish girls/ women who have gone on a so called holiday for a few days. Yet in reality they are visiting abortion clinics in places such as the UK.
And what of the abortion cruises? Medically equipped ships would pick female passengers up from Spanish ports, steam over the 12 mile limit and provide abortions in international waters.
Therefore I dont believe British women are any more or less virtuous than Spanish women.
You talk of the UK having a higher rate of crime than places such as South Africa and the USA.
When this fact was reported a while back an American criminologist looked at the figures in great detail. His findings, available online, found the UK to be far safer than the USA. As for South Africa, do you really believe it is a safer country than the UK?
Towards the end of your post you talk about ‘lowlifes’ trying ‘to take over (Spain) and colonize it’. Do you really believe that to be the case?
The vast majority of British visitors to Spain, be them holiday makers or permanent expats, are law abiding and just want to enjoy themselves and get on with their life.
Yet, I will say if they ‘overstep the mark’ then they should be held accountable for their actions.
David Davidson, you are of course entitled to your opinion, but please dont try to dress it up as fact. Because anybody who cares to do a little research can find that much of what you have said is untrue and without foundation.
Lastly, for someone having such an anti English rant you have a very English sounding name!
Blue says
Please keep sexism and misogyny out of this (WHY DID THAT COMMENT EVEN GET APPROVED???)
Someone says
If you don’t like spain it’s okay but what’t the point of making a website about it keep it to yourself
Mark Eastwood says
We love Spain but the purpose of the website is to give advantages and disadvantages to help people who may want to move here. We feel it is only fair to publish readers opinions – whether positive or negative towards Spain. We just don’t publish any messages that are abusive or include swearing or personal insults.
Jofre says
I wrote a short comment about racism in Spain and it was removed. To say that there is racism in Spain is not an insult and is a very useful information for those thinking to move here. You can hear comments and jokes about latin americans, portuguese or romanian in every tv show (even or specially in left oriented ones). Maybe Victor’s comment against an indian guy in this very forum is a better example.
Blue says
I agree. I’ve had Spanish students tell me about racial epithets aimed at black players during football matches, insults towards Mexicans, Chinese who are fluent in Spanish but don’t have the same job opportunities, etc. There’s racism EVERYWHERE, unfortunately, so there’s no need to idealize one country.
JM says
All the countries have ugly things and beautiful things, it a way of getting used. For example if I go to United Kingdom I will live with the people more ugly of Europe, many drunkards, a lot of violence, horrible climate and still worse food, ghosts in the houses, the dog of Baskerville, the man American wolf in London, Wayne Rooney etc and all those things : -) but is there also more work, political more honest, etc truth? everything is adaptation, a complicate word for the british citizens, specially the english.
Respect to the language, in Spain we don’t speak in English unless it is for courtesy or to practice English, and much less us the Spaniards will look for friendship with foreigners that want to live in their little England with their language, their compatriots, their supermarkets etc and that they don’t have the most minimum interest for Spain and the Spaniards.
By the way, the work problems, medical negligence, corruption etc that the Britons suffer in Spain are also suffers for the Spaniards. Spain has not always been so corrupt, this has happened of here to some years behind, and everything for blame of some soft laws toward the thieves of white glove of the politics and the Spanish banking. It is the duty of the Spaniards to change this situation, more for us that for the foreigners, certainly.
Steven Gonzalvez says
Moving abroad always demands significant adaptation. Every country does. Spain has its own set of challenges. Some countries are probably easier than Spain is to get used to and many countries are a lot worse. I also tried to settle in Spain and failed. In my experience, the worst thing about Spain is their useless national health service. As several people in this forum have noted, Spanish law enforcement is shockingly ineffective, too, at least compared by UK standards (I soon discovered it is definitely a bad idea to ride a bicycle in Spain after dark -the aggression coming from drivers is almost constant. So crime in Spain is not only poverty-driven, but something of a cultural thing.) I personally hated being ordered to leave my rucksack in the lockers when shopping in a supermarket -obviously there is so much shoplifting going on they can’t allow customers carry their own bags in store! And yes, the labour market is a totally different story. Basically you need to keep in mind the unemployment rate is extremely high (consistently the highest in Europe), so you shouldn’t expect getting a good deal unless you possess some kind of formidably marketable qualification, and maybe not even then because another fact that needs to be understood is that Spain’s public sector is deeply corrupt and the private sector often very unprofessional. So generally speaking it is a mistake to expect your career to go better in Spain than it did in the UK. Moving in Spain may be OK if you are retiring there (although beware of their medical care!) but for working migrants, Spain only offers an improvement if you are coming from a developing country or parts of East Europe/Russia, not if you are from northern Europe.
Globetrotter says
I am Indian and have lived in london for a few years as well as paris…I recently visited spain..Barcelona to be precise and hated it like no other place ive ever hated before. Span and Catalans especially are very rude disgusting people…they dont treat anyone nicely. The spanish government is corrupt to the core…its seriously worse than India …life in india is easy for expats…and the people in india are very welcoming but spanish people are bad for the majority…only a few are nice. In UK there are lots of problems too but its not such a bad country….there is racism in Uk but the judicial system is fast and clean….police is not as racist in Uk as they are in spain….i was assaulted by the police as a rich well dressed well spoken indian just minding my own business in spain….they have no manners how to treat a tourist…in UK the police are polite and cannot do anything wrong so easily anymore…the system is too strong in Uk..everyone has to follow a protocol and thank god for cctv’s all over Uk…crimes are solved easily. ..at least Uk is progressing. Countries like spain are poor and getting poorer…the more they become poor the less tolerant they will be,…i know a lot of British hate immigrants too but its a different kind of resentment….british hate poor lazy immigrants….spanish hate everyone,..rich or poor they are jealous of the rich cuz spain has no opportunities …most spanish make 1500 euros a month and can barely survive…yet they have a lot of attitude…and blame all their problems on immigrants. Well i would not live in spain or UK either…I prefer India now…and i love france for holidaying…is the best country in the world.
Teixujo says
Maybe you are right, go to India and tell your fellow indians to stop gangraping tourists and the low status ladies from your stone age social clases, buy rolling paper and smoke yourselves all the pollution you produce and free the kids from labouring yoi rich well dresses well spoken indian.
TERESA says
Iain Renfrew I have read your post and honestly it bought tears to my eyes.. I really thought my case was bad enough, I,m really sorry for the loss of your beautiful wife. I hope you have decided to sue the doctors like I have done. If you want to contact me do so on my e.mail address…. manchester1966@hotmail.com May your wife rest in peace !!!
Victor says
Errata: where I said ” I am from fraud “, meant ” I’m not a fraud “
Jofre says
Hey, Victor
You’re blind
Spanish banks robbed poor old people for years with the “preferentes” scam (and they didn’t got their money back). Policemen and bank clerks evict families, even with crippled members, without compassion. Recently we knew that a supposed paralympian basketball team was in fact formed by normal guys. Face it: that’s your country.
Victor says
Hey, Jofre
You’re wrong
I am spanish, and I am from fraud, cowardice, dishonesty, cruelty, cowardice, etc., must be your own virtues, because are not mine. I’m not your brother, that’s for sure. And perhaps many people from your country is not like you, and what I think I will not say, for not to censor the comment. I don’t want to be by your moral height, which is to the height of my shoes
Jofre says
Suspicion, hypocrisy, Schadenfreude, dishonesty, shallowness, cruelty, cowardice, arrogance. These are some features of the spanish soul. Maybe they were distillated by the long dictatorship of Franco, but the original stuff wasn’t so good. There’s a lot of good people too, but they are not the standard.
john says
I found all these comments interesting , thank goodness I sold my house in Malaga province 4 yrs ago after moving to Spain for a new life, it was certainly and experience and lose of cash. Took 3 yrs to sell , ripped off by English estate agent and tax person who has vanished.
I took the discussion to move to Poland where things are very different , mind you I have a polish partner , far easier to purchase property, no hassles and no feeling you do not fit in. My polish is growing and one is viewed with honour as a resident something I never found in Spain.
I do feel the main problem over the years was the over selling by mainly English property developers pushing Spanish property and life style , naturally these companies are now doing the same thing in London hence the huge and stupid price rises however I do think it will be short lived
johan kist says
Did anybody read the story about the spanish girl studying at English school at Tenerife? She is sooooooooo right! Basically she welcomes all kind of nationalities but she asks if the English can understand that Spanish english speakers are sick and tired of being used to help them out when needed, only to see how the English then retrieves again into their English communities until, of course they need help again! You are sooo right girl! Most English that I know abroad slack the Spanish off constantly but like I wrote above I live now in the UK and most English are to rude to answer their emails and hospitals are so behind the Spanish organisations. Please do not start about getting things done! There is no trust here and why is that? you have to pay your bill everywhere for your drinks and food even before you receive it! Why?? Because there is no more criminal country within Europe! That is Why. Slavery, Child abuse and murder are daily news subjects in the UK. No country discriminates more than the UK. They basically want all foreigners out at the moment. Well.. that will leave the country to self destruction as almost all doctors, taxi drivers and other intelligent people over here are FOREIGNERS!!
I say Please foreigners lets move out of the UK all together at once!
Victor says
Jane
To learn the language, if you want to stay to live in Spain (like it is your case) it will be of a great advantage, because you will not only know another new language, you will also know better the customs of the country, you will be able to make social life and in definitive you will be able to move by the country. Also people here are grateful if they see that you make an effort in learning the language, they will even help you
Victor says
Carol
Carol, stays in your country, with the customs of your country (death penalty, most violent police the world, 80% of the psychopaths of the world, hate groups, racial justice, etc etc) in Spain we don’t want to you or anything of your country, so until we translate americans flims in our language. We don’t want your barbarism. Thanks 🙂
Much of your country for 300 years belonged to Spain (something you desconocerás, of course) and my country helped your country in your independence (or even you don’t know that the first two days of Thanksgiving in american land did the Spaniards). However, the United States never helped Spain in nothing except screw us life, especially since the war in Cuba so far
Of course, the blame is of ours governments by to keep american bases in our territory. We don’t owe absolutely nothing to US
johan kist says
pffffffffffffffffffffffffffff!! What can I say other than. I am dutch! Lived 15 years in spain, moved to the UK with my English wife and two little children at the end of 2012. Now 3 months in to 2014 we made up our minds that we will move back to Spain!! I agree that Spain isn’t easy but it gave us a much better and happier life than the UK. We say “better poor in Spain than comfortable in the UK” and we mean it!! I have to agree with everyone in who wrote that you have to speak Spanish and integrating is important too. I wouldn’t want to live in any country if I couldn’t speak the language. I have more Spanish friends than from any other nationality and my best times i spent with my family and them around a big paella dish at their fincas!! Spanish people I love you and I feel much more welcome with you than with the cold English and Dutch. Hasta pronto mis queridos amigos, ya pronto juntamos.
Bruce says
Well Well, some of us Brits have found out the World has a chip on their shoulders. Its about history, at some time or other we have kicked their ass. Get over it. Spain is like any other place we like to move too its warm. integrate or don’t its your choice. Just remember why you moved there and enjoy or move.
Carol says
I “lived” in Madrid in the 70s. I have dual citizenship, as I was unfortunately born on an American Air Base there in the 60’s. When we were forced to go back in the mid 1970’s, I was maybe 7 or 8. I hated every second of living there. Dad was USAF, and I cried every weekend for the three years Dad was stationed there. When we moved there, it felt as if the rug of stability was ripped out beneath my feet. NOTHING felt right about living there. I was exposed to a culture and a lifestyle that was not familiar at all to me. They also tried to force me to learn their ways and their language, which I flat out refused to learn cause I wanted to just go back to the States. I never did “adjust” and I had behavior problems both at school and home. As I look back many years later, I know I was acting out and lashing out cause I was so unhappy there. Believe me, IF I could have left Spain on my own at the age of 8 I would have. Today when folks say “Ooh, you lived in Spain”? I say “It was horrible, and I hated every minute of it.” Being forced to exist there has totally screwed up my head to this day some 40 years later.
Jack says
Hello everyone, I don’t know if yet another posting to this thread will be of any use, but here goes. First, I have never lived in Spain. I have visited for holidays, in the countryside, and had truly wonderful times. I am however an ex-patriot, I am Anglo/Scottish, but have lived, with my NZ wife, in New Zealand for nearly thirty years.. When I moved here I did so for family reasons, not professional, and in doing so, I was perhaps not as fully committed emotionally as one needs to be when moving to another country. I have found living here quite hard emotionally; it is a constant regret, that despite trying to live a good New Zealand life-style, I have never felt completely at home – 30 years is a long time for feeling displaced. And there’s no language difficulties here – well, not really!. But if I were to return to the UK, would I feel at home there now either? Is something of what I don’t understand or appreciate here related to so much change around the world generally? New Zealand has so fundamentally changed, from a laid back, egalitarian society, where at weekend the shops closed and everyone had time for their family or going to the beach, to a what I see as a grasping, insensitive, shallow, histrionic, and very unequal society (more so than even the UK) , controlled mainly by the rich and powerful for their own benefit. One could at one time forgive the shoddy and unappealing architecture in the cities and towns, the car-saturated culture and the sheer monotony and monoculturalism of the country on the basis that NZ at least ran an inclusive society. Now we no longer have that inclusive society, these other matters really grate. I wonder if some of those railing at the failings of other societies aren’t in fact railing at modern times and the failings of an economic and political system that is no longer working for our needs, and has been hijacked by the cynical and unscrupulous? Perhaps we’ve all become “harder” and more intolerant; less sensitive, greedy, and more unequal. All nations have been affected by revolutionary changes, and consequently societies are feeling a distinct social unease and cultural dislocation, basically society is getting more and more stressed, in which case it would hardly be surprising if more people are either just out for themselves, or if they’re desperate, out to help themselves. I put this thought here, because this slanging match between so many of the posters to this thread is quite distressing to me. I subscribe to the theory that people are people wherever they’re from and that if some of these people misbehave then there are probably deep social reasons and failings that would explain much of this. To those who are truly miserable, I would suggest move on. Life is what you make it, my life in NZ is not quite what I wanted it to be, and there are times my frustration does get the better of me and get me down, but on the other hand, I know I’m well, my family are doing well and are happy, and for the most part, I’m reasonably happy too. Perhaps that’s all most of us deserve in life in any case.
CPW says
@Sammy from Murcia, “DO NOT EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN HERE.” – Both my children went through the excellent Spanish education system and when they went to UK universties they were appalled at the low level of knowledge of English students. My son even gave remdial maths classes to other students. Oh, and the reason they went to the UK to do their degrees was because over here it is considered an advantage irrespective as to whether the course was better or not. It seems from the comments that most of those who don’t like Spain wouldn’t like anywhere. I’d lived and worked in a few countries before settling in Spain over 25 years ago and met many ex-pats who just couldn’t wait to get out of wherever. It takes a certain sort of person to uproot and live elsewhere, those who can’t blame everything else except their own personality type. During my time here I’ve never been out of work and have only been mildly insulted once by a shop assistant in El Corte Ingles. Spaniards are, let’s say, patriotic. If you come here with the right attitude and not just think of Spain as being the Costas then you’ll enjoy yourself and have a good life.The others can take their whingeing and go back to England, the quicker the better.
Hamish says
CPW, you talk of the ‘excellent Spanish education system’. Is it really that excellent? My four kids have been through the Spanish system (the eldest just in secondary, the middle two primary and secondary, the youngest infant, primary and later this year secondary) and believe me I would choose a British education over Spanish any day of the week.
My eldest was taught in history that the battle of the Spanish Armada ended in a draw, the English and Spanish fleets shook hands and they all went home in time for lunch. No mention that Phillip II and Spain were bankrupted as a result. She pointed out that she was taught a completely different version, at school in the UK prior to us moving to Spain, only to be told that the British teachers were obviously wrong.
Also with regards to history, only Spanish history is taught. Absolutely no world history whatsoever.
Another example with my eldest, this time in English lessons. And lets not forget that my daughter is a native English speaker, unlike the teacher. The teacher told the class ‘I eated an apple’. My daughter said to teacher it should have been ‘I ate an apple’, only to be told that ‘eated’ was correct. As a result of this incident my daughter was failed in the next English exam, when she was undoubtably the best in the class. Is this right?
These are not isolated incidents, I could give many more examples.
You say that your son gave remedial maths lessons when he returned to the UK for university. Well here in Spain many students leave school at 18 without obtaining the basic ESO qualifications that they could have obtained aged 16. In the village where I live I know many, many of my kids former schoolmates who attend night classes, in the Casa Cultura, to try and get the qualifications they failed to at school.
You say of your childrens decision to return to the UK for university, ‘Oh, and the reason they went to the UK to do their degrees was because over here it is considered an advantage irrespective as to whether the course was better or not.’ If a UK degree is considered, as you say, an advantage (presumably you are talking with regards the job market) then by default it must be a better/ more desirable degree than a Spanish degree.
Do an internet search for top 100 universities in the world. You will find the UK has quite a few (ranked second, I believe, following the USA), Spain does not feature on the list!
You say that the Spanish are ‘patriotic’. There is absolutely nothing wrong with patriotism. But at times the Spanish are too patriotic, to the verge of being insular or even xenophobic.
In this day and age one of the main areas where you can see patriotism is on the sporting field:
I was on holiday in Ibiza during the 2006 world cup. I had found a nice bar where I enjoyed watching many of the games with a cold beer. I went in after Spain were knocked out in the last 16, only to find the owner was refusing to show any of the remaining games.
Tennis, similar thing. If Nadal is knocked out the Spanish lose interest.
Formula 1, same. I have been in bars watching a race and if Alonso crashes out early on the TV has been switched over because there is no longer any Spanish interest.
2010 during the Vancouver Winter Olympics. I was in the local paper shop and commented to the owner (a Spaniard) that there was not much coverage in the Spanish press. She told me that as Spain had little hope of winning nobody is interested.
The insularity the Spanish show with regards to sport ties in with the insularity in their schooling (ie no world history is taught).
Jane says
Hello all
I have read the comments and Gee wee! Lots of opinions and emotions going on here. I have traveled in many countries and am from a desert tribe educated in Europe and Canada and now living in Germany. I am looking to spend 5 months out of the years in Spain and what I have learned during my stays in other countries is that some countries are for me and others are not. Either due to the mentality the attitude of people their narrowmindeness or cheer arrogance and or great people cultured people simple people. I believe we attract like minded to us and so we need to be positive and clear on what we want to experience while living in another country. By learning the language we learn so much about the society into which we are wanting to be part of and going to Spain for me is to enjoy the sun the slow pace being aware that there will be issues like any other places. In UK I could not deal with the racism and uptight attitude of some people and lack of intelligence/ Any how I will make sure that I learn more while in Spain and connect with the people. I do not like ghettos because they bring problems and what happens is that people live their lives within those ghettos and giving others a bad reputation. There is good and bad EVERYWHERE. It just depends on how we choose to take it and what we make of it. Looking forwards to another journey and experience.
Marian says
It all depend on yourself. Your education, work experience and willing to speak Spanish asap. If you are a fighter and determined you will get there. It also depend in what kind of circles you are moving around. Just look for a quality urbanization with quality people. Yes, we have a class system here as well. I would not have a cup of coffee with a low class person in my own country so why mingling myself with lower class spanish. You have to be intelligent in order to survive here and enjoy your life is my advice.
AnnChristine says
I am considering moving to Spain in the next year or so. I am 67 years old and female. I want to live inland maybe BAZA area, because I like the Cave Houses, I have lived in Zambia on the copper belt for 3 years in the 70’s and Sri Lanka for 1 year in 1980 I loved both countries, as long as you stick to the rules life will treat you OK.
I will sell my house and live on the proceeds after buying my cave. I have to turn my heat off part of the day as it is too expensive gas and electric has rocketed in price here UK. I own my house but have no savings left, maintaining the house is a constant worry, always something needs fixing, my son killed himself last year. He had behavioural problems was epileptic could not work, the state took all his benefits from him.
I will make a visit to the area in May to have a look around, my other son is in total agreement.
He lives in Wiltshire and plans making a business in Thailand soon, we are not rich and never have been,
Perhaps I am crazy, I have read all the comments, Many thanks to you all.
Victor says
What people think is Spain?… Disneyland? i would like reply to Sammy but first i would like to say
some comments like “kids call us guiri” just make laugh. Excuse me but i think is not enough reason for comment about Spain ,anyway this doesnt mean nothing bad.
I read some comments and i would like ask a question to english comunity.
¿Its easy for a spanish find job in England?
¿Why everybody should speak properly in english but the 90% of english people do not speak spanish?.
¿What do you think about a person who is living in England but doesnt speak english?
Probably spanish language can be difficult for english but its the same for a spanish learn english.
In the other hand i wanna say that i admire the respect for the life of the english people with the animals especially dogs and i dont wanna forget say that ONLY A SMALL of spanish people support bullfights or similar atrocity but that small part is really powerfull and there are many money influences and interests in this matter.
Sammy,i live in Murcia too, in La Manga specifically,please answer me
What kind of job you think a educated,graduate, proffesional, spanish can find in England?
Probably washing dishes or waiter
You say
Sammy says: ” you are willing to pretend to be Spanish, dress like them, eat their food, socialize only with Spanish, then they might accept you more or less, but never completely ”
Lol? dress like us? eat our food? What we are? People from Mars? lol if you never have been accepted try find other friends and not be a copy of what you’re not and ,please, eat just eat whatever you like lol.
Sammy says “:No matter how good my Spanish and how Spanish I may look, the job will always be given to Spanish first.
Of course, in same conditions the job will allways be given to a Spanish, if you dont contribute with any special appropriate skills for the job. But im really interested in see how good its your spanish and how spanish you look, ¿do you use a special make up kit or something?lol
For reply ,any question or if i can help in something.
sunsoulevents@live.com
Finally say that:every city ,town, place or state in Spain is different The people from some states can be completly different than people from other states. I recommend always rent differents places before buy or ask spanish friends about best places for live .There are really greats places and people in Spain.
Michael says
Spain is the best, you don´t know nothing about spain
Koen Smeets says
Jeez, what a lot of negative energy here!! People, you decided to live in a foreign country, it is up to you to make it work for you. I have lived 15yrs in the UK and had a blast there. I am now living in Spain and all is going great here too. That Spanish culture is not like the British is for you to adapt to, not the other way around. If you don’t like the mañana culture, stay home. If you want to fit in, adapt their culture. It is the same story for foreigners in Western countries: You adapt, you will be part of the culture and have a great time. You don’t adapt, you will get frustrated and live on the fringes of society… The choice is yours. But please stop moaning about how Spain is a sh!t country!!
johan kist says
well said koen!!
Carla says
I am the daughter of a British/Irish Mother and Afro-Caribbean Father and have recently purchased a property in the Valencia region. The plan is for now to use it as a holiday home, and eventually move to Spain permanently. It is not near the coast, but some ways inland. The main reason my husband and I decided to go so far inland, was because. I don’t want to drink at the ‘Rose and Crown’ or eat fish and chips every Friday. If I wanted to do that I would stay in the UK. I want to get to know the culture, eat Spanish food and learn the language. Spain is rich in history, some good and some bad. The same as the UK. And it’s not just about the weather either, if I wanted good weather I would go to Barbados where I have dual nationality and family to fall back on.
That doesn’t mean I’m not proud to be British, I am. An urbanization would be my idea of hell, doesn’t mean it’s not right for someone else. We are all different good and bad, in all races and cultures.
You may say that because I haven’t lived in Spain yet that I don’t know what I’m talking about. My mother in law has been in Spain for 20 years, and it wasn’t an easy transition, but like a lot of the British she hasn’t really progressed much with the language, only eats in English bars and restaurants, and that is her choice but not for me.
On our last visit some of our items were stolen from outside our property, it taught me a valuable lesson. I won’t leave anything out next time! But then returning home from holiday to the UK, my garage had been robbed.
The Spanish I have met so far have been nothing but friendly and welcoming. I am appalled at some of the comments the British have said about the Spanish. How can a whole nation be exactly the same? When my father left Barbados in the 50’s he didn’t expect to change anything, he accepted that he would fit in with the British way. The same as I expect to fit in with the Spanish way. I agree with Arv that it’s impossible to tar all with the same brush.
Gotti says
Spain…… in a nutshell….LOVE\HATE
I lived in spain for 12 years, owned 2 apartments and had a wonderful time BUT only because I had a good job and made good money, if you took this factor away my time would have been miserable mainly because of these reasons:
-You will never make friends for life, everybody comes and goes.
-The winters are very difficult, not very insulated apartments, no work, no people, if you haven’t got your family there it can be very lonely.
– If you cant speak the language you will always feel like an outsider and your only friends will be ex pats who just want to get p****ed most nights.
– Spanish laws will drive you up the wall.
– Buying and selling property will leave you feeling like you have been r***d by jimmy saville, costs 10% on top of what you pay when you purchase and then 10% when you sell in fees (estate agent 5% rest to do with government b******s) so you need to sell the property for 20% more than what you buy it for just to get your money back.
– Spanish people can be bloody miserable sods.
I can fully understand why people hate spain and looking back there were many times I detested the place but it was also very good to me only because I had a job that involved British tourists who by in large when they are on holiday are great people to be around, when it got to the end of the season and I was left on my own it was avery lonely place, I personally do not want to put anyone off going to Spain as we are all on different journey in life and you just know what will happen, I have had friends who landed in spain and met their future wives and have children in spain, I know people who were on the run, people who made their fortunes by coming to spain and also people who lost everything by listening to some dodgy bloke they meet in a bar and persuades them to invest in a hair brain scheme, a few people have committed suicide
Sometimes you can feel like your a celebrity as you know everybody but then once they all f*** off cos they miss going to Tescos on a saturday and asking a lovely shop assitant where the milk is and she says follow me instead of Que?? or just the sight of English number plates and clean cars with no dents in them!!!, you know what? your left on your tod again with the only people who seem to be there year after year…… the sad losers who sit in the local bars saying how they hate the UK, the temperature is s***, how expensive it is blah blah blah and then you start thinking to yourself I cant do this anymore, the only people I can communicate are these saddos and yea Ive been trying to learn spanish for 7 years but even when I do talk to them in spanish they talk back in english arrrrgggghhhh get me on a flight to the UK Ive had enough!!!!!
But at least you can say you done it…. life is a roller coaster and if it was all ups and no downs it would be pretty pointless so just bloody go for it.
Laura Schmidt says
The spanish do not greet you at stores because the Spanish do not like the typical cheesy American greeting, can I help you? with the fake smile. The Spanish are not shy and do not need anyone to come up to them and ask them if they need help. This bothers them and is unwanted. They will go up to you and ask for help if they need it. The british tend to be shy and thus may need the extra handholding, but the Spanish are not shy about talking to others.
As far as the crime, you are right. Under Franco, there was no crime other than gypsy bands who roamed the streets, carried knifes and tried to steal. It was the state in Europe with the most order, and least crime. Back then, there was no illegal immigration, though. Franco would not have allowed it to happen. Kids could play outside at night all by themselves, no parents, it was heaven.
All the poor immigrants coming in from all over the world, not justAfrica but also slavic countries, latin american countries,….. has led to a lot of crime. It is awful that the Spanish government has not wanted/.not been able to stop this flow of illegal immigration. Nonetheless, Spain is still relatively safe compared to other European countries like the UK.
You are right about no jobs. This is terrible. Of course, there were some people who did not like Franco, but most people in Spain loved the order that he provided and the unity. The job situation is particularly bad in Spain. I do not really have an explanation but this is why many young Spanish people have to leave to find work elsewhere.
“You are right that if you work in Spain, you will make less. This is exasperating. Perhaps Spain is too capitalistic with no protection for the workers. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that there is illegal labor available everywhere and the work for much less.
YOu love Spain because you loved it at first. The fact that Spain is expensive now is because Spain is a very attractive country for tourists and we get much more tourism than the UK. As such, the Spanish do not have to slash prices. YOu should also know that Spanish products, tend to be the finest, whether it be the shoes, the wine, the olives, the ham, the clothing, the furniture. If it is Spanish, it is problably first class as the Spanish are sticklers for quality in everything (almost too much).
Again, I love Spain too. However, I have been told not to go there because it has changed so much and I will not recognze it. People warn me that I will cry because it is so different now, in a bad way.
YOu will miss that yummy Spanish food in England and our weather, which is arguably better.
Oscar says
What can you expect when you move to another country with no pretentions of learning the local language? One thing is rich people who come to live here and don´t need to work because they have money and other is coming and expect to find a good job and pretending to live millionaries when you only can clean, doing some gardening and other cowboy skills.
Time of living just by selling ice to skimos are over in Spain. It is shame to go to work abroad and after many years not speaking the language. You are the one who fails, not the country that is accepting you, keep that in mind
Tim says
Well all I can say is this, I have been coming to Spain for years, family holidays, golfing holidays and visiting friends. I have never had any problem with any Spanish man or woman for that matter. I have always been treated with respect and I have always gone out of way way to give it. I have been to gib all the way to Barcelona. I my self have just brought an apartment in villamartin and love it there. People say it’s all Brits ….no it’s not there are Spanish people living there also and in fact i brought next door to a Spanish family who made conversation with me while viewing the property. Most British people need to realise you get treated the way you treat people remember that! So for me personally I love spain I love the way of life and the people and can’t wait to go as much as possible!!!!!
Andrew says
I moved to spain 5 years ago, initially for work for a few months on business near Seville, after reading this Blog it seems that some of you wanted little england with the sun!
Well I live in the middle of no where, in the campo, only spanish people, No expat community and its amazing even in a crisis.
Yes OK their driving is not what english people are used to, yes there restaurants aren t brilliant, yes some of them are arrogant, well Look at the UK !!!!!!!! Full of scrounging half whits from other EU countries claiming benefits whilst UK tax payers support them, wandering around in bling and tracksuits, driving tarted up stolen BMWs selling drugs to your children, paying over the top money for below average service.
If you want to compare UK to Spain nowhere is nirvana but at least the Spanish have Family values.!!!!
jonny the ponny says
well, what to say, Spain is not the country that many think it was 30 years ago, where you can live with little money, a lot of changes, economically and culturally only brought globalization, now this country is considered to be rich for immigrants and poor for Spaniards. the crisis, politics and many other factors focus Spanish society to think and believe that there is not a easy and quick solution By the way, I prefer the Spanish lifestyle to rest of the European countries, despite jobs and other internal issues, here you can enjoy life without to have to show off, gracias, quote: for all those that want to go back to their countries, be mu guest, 🙂
Vicky says
Hi! I’m from Spain and… i don’t know what to say… i’m Sorry?
Spain is nice, but like everything have the bad side.Currently find a job is hard , sometimes the children are cruel… But there are good and funny people… Don’t hate Spain please, there are a stupid people, a lot, like in all the countries.
I’m really sorry if you don’t feel good in Spain.
Now, i’m living in London (UK), the people is diferent, but is nice and very polite.
Thanks, have a nice day!
Darren says
Hi i am looking at moving to Spain could you guys help me as I would like to know if there are any British security companies out there as I am a licensed door supervisor looking for working night clubs ect even security guarding sites, willing to work hard to get where I want to be in life,and also is renting a room popular and easy ?.
Peter says
Amongst all of the emotive comments from both sides of the argument, lies a wedge of truth. Spain is not a perfect country to live in, but then neither is the UK or anywhere else on this planet. Reason being, US. We are fickle and easily upset. I lived in Spain from 2007 – July 2013. We came back because of a new position my wife was offered. She was glad to return to UK, I less so, Don’t get me wrong I am English, England is my home country but I can see it for what it is, warts and all. Spain ( or at least where I lived) was not perfect ( see the similarities already) but we too did an awful lot of reading and researching before we even left the UK, Our village and it’s inhabitants made us very welcome and I learnt so much about the history and customs of the area from the local old guys, because I took the trouble to talk to them in my stuttering Spanish. When I got it wrong they politely helped me and this improved my Spanish far more than Rosetta Stone ever would. The thing is though, you have to put in some effort, you have to accept change, you can not transpose Basildon to Benidorm and not expect local resentment. If you are going to live in Spain ( or any other country for that matter ) isn’t it just polite and respectful to learn the language and adopt that way of life? After all isn’t that what you want ? Something different, If not then the best place to be without any shadow of a doubt is where you feel most at home. Yes some of you have had bad experiences but I bet you could get just as many ( if not more) bad experience stories from immigrants into the UK. As I said at the outset, Spain is not perfect nor is the UK, but guess what guys. Shangri La is an ideal not a reality.
Simone says
I am really suprised of so many negative comments!
We have our second home at Costa del Sol which regarding this forum should be the worst place…
Well, I only have met nice spanish people willing to help you in any ways. Latest tonight (Sunday evening!) when all our electricity was gone by my own stupid mistake, an older spanish gentleman fixed it without charging anything! Staff in the shops is more than helpful all the time.
We bought the apartment without any problems, had different workers to fix it up to our standard and now I am only enjoying my life here! Ok, I don’t have to work here and I do believe it is difficult to get a job, but from my point of view my life is so enjoyable here. Lots of sun, good climate, good food and nice people.
Bureaucracy here was not as easy as in Northern countries, but we got f.ex our NIE in just few days, a bank account without any problems with an excellent internet bank – which was absolutely not the case in UK! Getting just an account there was a nightmare. Wifi was working on the next day after ordering it. All deliveries (furniture, kitchen appliances, lamps etc.) and workers have been at our place almost punctually. So far no experience of cheating or rubberies (hopefully won’t have at all!)
I agree with those who say that learning the language is important, also for those who are not working here. I have moved 10 times from country to country and always the first thing was to start learning the language. I also find it very important to respect the country and its culture even if it is dfferent of my own. When I came to Spain I said to myself that this country has a totally different life style what we have in Northern Europe and I have to and WANT to live with that. Even if my neighbours above use high heels on the marble floor in the middle of the night and their children run (with shoes on) late in the evening and early in the morning, I couldn’t care less -this is Spain and I came here to live with their culture, not trying to change them to live with my culture. And this is something I have done in every country where I have lived.
Spanish is widely spoken all over the world, why not to learn it? Why try to survive with english!? Having learned several languages I also can use them here to find the best workers: We have got help from swedish, norwegian, danish, english, german, finnish and spanish people! Now I have good contacts and will always find somebody to help -even on Sunday night like today.
I suppose it is needless to say that for me it has been easy to live in all those countries where I have moved to… Spain is now my second home, but not even my first home is in my own country and I can’t say that I would desperately or even at all miss it!
Sonia says
As a native of north-western Spain, I totally disagree with this post. I get the impression that most immigrants from Western Europe move to the areas of Spain with the higher crime rate. Also, if you are moving abroad, you should learn the local language. If you do not speak Spanish, you are unlikely to get a good job. In fact, moving abroad before having found a job is never a good idea.
The media portrays Spain as a country where you can lead a more relaxing lifestyle, and some foreigners may feel disappointed to discover that they have to work just as much as they did in their home countries.
Lasse says
Well, this is rather black and white isn’t it ?
Here in CB north, as much as there are totally useless spanish drivers, there are “don’t rip me off foreigner” expats….. That’s understandable as the guy/girl in the bar is a foreigner…(=not brittish)
But, in the end, I do think that both sides would get a long better if we weren’t all so happy to group together all our opinions and insights. As of today, happily getting along with brittish, spanish and many others. Many of the brittish DO view the brittish way of trying to have a “uk with sun” as the wrong approach, many of the Spanish go crazy about the manana attitude of their countrymen.
Looking at it as a society, it DO have a long way to go before things get right again. Backhanders, protectionism, etc isn’t working in their favor. On the other hand, for us and our kids, we still feel welcome, cared for and appriciated here every day.
Andrew says
I moved to northern inland Spain in 1990 and was immediately struck by the ability to walk home in a city of 700,000 at 3:00am in complete safety. The people I have met have been overwhelmingly friendly and helpful, even at first when I was learning the language. Yes, the government leaves a lot to be desired, and democracy, civil society and good administration will take hundreds of years to bed in, but I think exposure to the rest of the world will show Spaniards that things can be done differently and attitudes are changing. Finding work is extremely difficult, but if you have the means, I think living anywhere outside the tourist areas is great fun, safe and easy to integrate. You’ll never be a local, but that’s the same whichever country you’re in. The kids in the local village school come from Mauritania, Romania, Venezuela and the UK and they’re all treated extremely well, with teachers doing special days and activities to find out about life in their home countries. Local people once even looked after the Mauritanian kids when the parents had to find work elsewhere for a while! The standard of education, however, is quite poor: it’s antiquated French-style classification of knowledge and cramming of facts. There’s very little experimentation or science and technology, some of which is down to lack of resources and some just down to apathy and a traditional mind set. There’s good and bad in both the UK and Spain and for me, my choice comes down to where I can make the most money!
Mike says
I think some people can have bad experiences everywhere, but if all these comments were true I wouldn’t understand why so many brits are still living there, maybe because if something of those comments are real, aren’t general
JM says
You are wrong, UK is an invention, a real nonsense that will return to normal in 2014 with the independence of that country called Scotland. By the way, I would like to explain to me the differences between into northern spanish and southern spanish because I’m from the southeast and except the landscape and the accent can not find other differences.But I guess that you, a stranger, a newcomer, you know more than I do in my own country, where I have lived since I was born 40 years ago. And finally, english citizens, if you do not like Spain can go back the way they came. Nobody put a gun to the neck for them to live here, I personally I have no interest in living in England. But if I lived attempt to adapt and make my stay there not become in a “little Spain”, only gathering with spanish, without learning English, buying only in Spanish shops etc.
Goodbye, and close the door behind you.
Goodbye, and close the door behind you.
A thing to consider says
Everyone here is missing the whole point. Spain is an invent, it is a enforced union of diferent regions and cultures, and so IT HAS NOTHING TO DO San Sebastian with Cadiz NOTHING. So it is impossible to generalize. For some people, the southern culture is better (with all the cultural pros and cons of the warm as it happens in all countries of the world, compare Seattle to Miami), and for others northern is better. What I found mostly here is UK is migrating to the southern spain (is it really necessary to go to the other extreme around? Isn’t it too much hot and southern culturally speaking?) No way most of this things you are describing apply in A Coruña, San Sebastian and Barcelona, amongst others.
Arv says
Craig Butterfield – “perhaps we should all go back to where we came from and make the best of our lives and countrys there?”
Why? Not everyone has had bad experiences in Spain, indeed some of the posters have love Spain and want to spend the rest of their lives there. Why do you asume everyone has had only bad experiences? I bet if you asked all ex pats living in Spain the majority would want to stay.
And yes, what you said sounds incredibly zenophobic!
Arv says
Some of the comments I am reading are shocking. I am sure there are 5 year old’s who are more mature. I am a black Carribean born in the UK. Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s I sufered racism, sometimes in the extreme, at School, work, neighbours etc. But I do not, and will never, tar every Brit with the same brush the way some posters are tarring Spaniards. I feel embarrased at some comments made here by mainly Brits, and yet they say the Spanish are rude! Unbelivable considering the amount of whinging by Brits about “immigrants” living in the UK!
That said I have noted some of the more mature comments about the negative aspects of Spanish life. I aim to move to Spain to retire in a couple of years and have spent the last 18 months researching the good and bad aspects as well as learning Spanish before I go. So I already know about things like having to change the UK number plates on my car that upset “Jay” so much! There are plenty of genuine websites which offer advice of how to get around the negatives. Good advice really is just a Google click away. It frightens me that people who are doing one of the most important things they will do, put so little effort into research.
Instead of being put off moving to Spain like some posters I will look at the negatives as challenges to overcome. I also have an exit plan. I own a few properties in the UK so can come back if necessary. But I assure you even if I do, I will never be as rude about a whole country as some of the people here. Some here have genuine complaints about things which should change and I accept that, but do remember you are living in SPAIN, not the UK and in some cases it is YOU who should change not the Spanish! I would like to apologise to Spanish citizens reading some of these posts, we Brits are not all like that.
robin says
Best comment.
Charles says
I agree.
It makes terrible reading and leaves you frustrated what some people write down.
It certainly does not put me off relocating to Spain in the very near future. For me Spain ticks the majority of boxes. Unfortunately this cannot be said about other countries I lived in: UK, Belgium, France. It is a personal choice for everybody. If you do not like a country, then move on.
Alain Ochoa says
Nice to read that Charles. You will be very welcome. If you need any help with your Spanish you should easily find free language exchange groups.
And thank you to all other Brits who are also telling the other side of the story. Spain has a lot to improve. But it’s pretty far from being hell on Earth.
Hugo says
Thanks for your kind words! We know all Brits aren’t like that, for which we are glad. I’m aware that there are many things that need improving in Spain, but we’re trying, we spaniards won’t settle with the state things are now. In the meantime, I’m sorry so many of you feel this way about my country, but i assure you we as a whole are not rude, lazy and unfriendly. Greetings!!
Robert Rodriguez says
I am from the USA but my family is from Northwest Spain. I have been all over and frequent my family in the North. While I empathize with some of the growling over the inefficiency in Spain (asi es) I find the Anglo comments fairly insulting. Any idiot who moves to South Beach Florida or Las Vegas gets what he deserves, no different in Spain living on the coast for the beach lifestyle. Tourist heavy areas always have the problems described. So …. life ain’t a party and unfortunately, to me, it seems “la mayoria de los ingles se fueron a Espana para vivir la march 24 por 7” with a few thousand pounds. Really, grow up, or find a way to make some cash so that way you don’t have to deal with the nonsense. Also try living in non-Brit communities, it helps. To quote my father “la verdad que son tremendos jilipoyas.”
Craig Butterfield says
Hi guys well what can i say ? Spain is for many people in the UK that have seen there quality of deteriorate at home, is perhaps the answer to our prayers? I have lived in Puerto Pollensa in Mallorca for nearly 3 years. I came for 12 months as a dip in the med type exercise?. Did i want too much?…… wouldnt i commit to a spanish lifrestyle…….i tried?…. (still people answer ever my billingual spanish teacher back in english!!!!!). I honestly dont know?…ive met some great people here many spanish, but also norwegians, germans, french….people that i would never have socialised with in my sad life before? That is the best thing about Spain or was…..the kind of melting pot of europe! Alas, ive called it a day and go home in 3 weeks, more so because i need a change, but also the changes happening within Spain will surely only marganilise foreigners more in time to come? The old “we wont to know what your worth” ….but not to tax you???…..come on! The shipping company taking me home says 90% of there trade is taking people from Mallorca back to the uk home, which from a supposed teflon like place here, shows whats really is happening here on the ground? Im really glad i came here, if not just to open my eyes to the world, but more importantly to what we take for granted back home! I think Spain is a great ….no a fantastic place, but it has been interfered with to much by…..i have to say greedy politicians, developers.ect, the euro and i guess us wanting part of the dream? I know it sounds hugely zenophobic, but perhaps we should all go back to where we came from and make the best of our lives and countrys there?
jackie, ITV says
I am currently working on an edition of ITV’s Tonight programme on Buying in Spain, which we are mainly filming this week in Spain — though there is the possibility of doing more in the next two weeks.
The programme is posing the question, “Is it a good time to buy in Spain?” The crew are filming in Galicia, Cuenca, Almeria and Alicante, with buyers viewing various bargains.
Obviously we recognise the need for some cautionary tales, so would like to feature some individuals who want to or are moving back to the UK, whom we could interview about why they are making this move. We have done a lot of research, but it’s always better to have those affected speaking directly.
We are filming in Almeria and the Costa Blanca this week, but are open to filming elsewhere.
Please contact Jackie on jackiewrites@live.co.uk and 96 579 3842 or 3842 or mobile: 722 297 812. Or James Bolchover on james.bolchover@itv.com on 07970 420514
Spaniard. says
Os agradecería muchísimo a todos que volvieseis a vuestra querida inglaterra y no regresaseis aquí nunca más. Así no tendría que volver a veros. Sería como un sueño.
I am spaniard but I feel shame of you says
Eres un ******. No caigas en el mismo error que ellos, al que no le guste sus razones tendrá por muy maleducado que sea (o tu halas bien de todas las gentes que conoces?), y al que le guste, no lo metas en el saco porque te estan agredeciendo.
Matt says
I am really not surprised at all at some of the whinging on this forum, above all by disgruntled Brits that moved out here thinking it was going to be a non-stop holiday. Spain is not perfect, nor is Britain, nor is anywhere probably, but it’s what you make of it, different countries have different cultures and different ways of doing things, so if you decide to move there to live then you need to get to grips with these differences, adapt, integrate and get on with it otherwise you’ll never be happy anywhere.
I have lived in the Malaga area for about 9 years and am really happy here to be honest. I have met and married a Spanish girl and as it is at the moment am settled here, I have been embraced by all her family, have plenty of Spanish friends and feel totally accepted, and have done since long before we were married. I lived for a few years in Benalmadena, and when I met my wife I moved in with her in Malaga city centre. I speak Spanish perfectly (made the effort to study it before moving over here!!) and work in a large Spanish firm that is doing brilliantly in spite of the recession…and why is it doing brilliantly?? Because the owners are internationally minded, I have been here for over five years and was the first 100% Brit in the firm and now there are numerous French, Portuguese etc, and they embrace the foreign people in the firm, realising that to get on over here you need to think outside of the Malaga tourist bubble, and adapt to foreign cultures, contrary to what most people on here say about Spanish people. Yeah it’s true that there are racists and ignorant people over here, but name a country in the world where there aren’t people like that?
Professionally I have never felt like preference is given to Spanish people for work instead of Brits as some have said on here. On the contrary actually, Spanish firms are crying out for foreigners, WHO HAVE MADE THE EFFORT TO LEARN SPANISH. The Spanish economy is dead in the water so what most firms want now is to export, sell their products & services overseas, and the quickest way to do that is with decent foreign staff, but if you have lived here for 10 years and only hung around with Brits and not learnt Spanish, then what do you expect!!!???
I don’t have any British friends out here, mine are all Spanish and that’s the way it’s going to stay as long as I live here. I tried with British friends when I lived in Benalmadena and couldn’t be bothered in the end, they are all too busy moaning and slagging off any other Brits who actually do ok, sitting in the British bars and ripping each other off whenever possible. Yeah the Spanish rip people off too, but don’t just assume that because you’re British you are the only ones, the Spanish, THAT ARE THAT WAY INCLINED, will gladly stitch up anybody, whether they are British, French, Dutch, Spanish, Colombian or whatever, as with any other people that are like that anywhere in the world. One thing is for sure, if I ever need any work or anything done on my house etc, I would NEVER call a British “firm”, sorry. I’ve seen far too many cowboy Brit builders cock up stuff and then the poor client has to shell out a fortune to have a Spanish firm put it right.
Yeah Spanish people have their bad points, and sometimes the Spanish bureaucracy, from a foreigner’s point of view, is arse about face, however the Spanish are the FIRST in line to criticise it ahead of all the disgruntled Brits. But that lies rooted deep within the country’s internal problems and bit by bit they are improving, I’ve noticed the differences during my time here. Yeah they are stubborn and overly proud too, especially about the bloody football, I’ve suffered untold amounts of banter at work about that, but our day will come, one day in my lifetime I hope, and I give it back as good as I get it when I can. And yeah, the comments one person made about Spanish TV and chat shows etc earlier made me chuckle, but are sooo true.
At the end of the day, life in any country is what you make of it, yeah the Spanish have their peculiarities, underneath all the macho bravado they really aren’t as “tough” as they like to think they are haha, but on the whole they are great people, welcoming and friendly if you make the effort they will do anything for you. They are very similar to us Brits in many ways, and yet also very, very different…it’s a different culture so if you are not prepared to adapt and integrate into it then why did you come here in the first place?…
Scott says
Yep. exactly as I would expect from the British!
People coming here expecting life to be the same as in the UK except with more sunshine. Most British are ignorant of the rest of the world so the fundamental problem is people do not have their eyes open BEFORE they arrive.
Instead the dissenters here will return to the UK and whinge about that and then whinge about the ‘bloody foreigners’ Well at least you had a taste of how you treat immigrants in the UK.
If the £ to € was still as favourable as it was when you first came out here you wouldn’t be whining would you?
Scott says
Oh….and by the way the £ to € is much less now because of the British politicians devaluing the £. At least with Spanish politicians you know you are being screwed unlike the British politicians who are masters of deceit. You are returning to the MOST indebted country on the planet simply because British are sheep who ignorant of what is happening to them and those that do understand either leave or stay and whinge.
You like servitude, that’s why you vote for it and simper over a royal family….ugghh
Yes I am British
An expat says
If only the problems were limited to the south, as some people defending Spain have wrote. I’m not in the south and the labour market is still a wasteland and the workplace is still hierarchical, inflexible, and micromanaged. If you think of a faster or better way of doing something you’ll probably be told you can’t do it as this is the should be done. If on the other hand you do it anyway because you don’t think you should bother your boss tiny pointless details and the result is the same, you’ll probably get bollocked for daring to not do something the prescribed way. Training is non-existent, nor are you given time to train yourself, and if you aren’t in Spain to retire then living and working in Spain is a good way to derail your career and litter your CV with jobs that have nothing whatsoever to do with your profession (some may even have the right job title but you end up doing something completely different).
As for work-life balance, there is little in the way of part-time work or flexible hours. If you have a young family you are expected to have two sets of grandparents to willingly step in whenever the company requires. If you are a foreigner with a Spanish partner then you only have one set of grandparents, it doesn’t seem to click that you might not be able to change your plans at the drop of a hat. If you are both foreigners then either one of you stays at home or it’s impossible.
And in case anyone’s still confused I don’t mean pool cleaning companies, I mean Spanish multinational companies, and I’ve been in several.
As for educating your children… School in the early years just seems to be a way of passing time between local and regional festivals learning about local and regional festivals. Once again the hours are impractical and you are expected to have a complete set of grandparents which can step in at the drop of a hat or have one person at home constantly. Two, three, and four year old children end the day exhausted and irritable because their school day runs from 9-5. As far as I can tell the idea seems to be to get them to embrace another traditional Spanish custom, sleep deprivation. As for older children, I haven’t been able to experience that myself as a parent but basically it involves bringing up the rear of western education league tables (see PISA reports). My child’s cousins seem completely unable to answer questions they’ve not been asked before based on what they do know, if they haven’t learnt it by rote then they just draw a blank. Their parents are however forced to buy books every year at outrageous prices because new editions are published every year (mainly seems to change the font size and chapter order) and also a laptop from the school, which seems to be mainly used by the pupils to connect to social networks.
If you don’t live in a British area, i.e. you live in a block of flats with Spaniards, you’ll find that every so often there are reuniones de vecinos. You may have read before coming to Spain that this is where maintenance and financial issues that affect everyone in the block are sorted out. However in practice it means people go into different groups and spend two-three hours shouting at each other, arguing that antisocial behaviour, running a freezer in the storage room, or using the common electricity and water supply to clean and wash their cars and having the rest pay for it is perfectly acceptable. The occasional vote is held and as the night wears on people disappear. Once concluded everyone goes back and does what they were doing anyway or does what they wanted to do anyway but were told not to.
What else? You will get most use out of the telly when 1) you don’t understand the language and therefore are learning it and, once you’ve learnt it, 2) set it up to view foreign TV with a satellite or connecting a computer to it. News either comes direct from the regional or central government press office or avoids being news altogether by filling it with the weather in the 17 autonomous regions then over to sport. Spanish talk shows are unstructured where hosts and guests talk loudly over each other or the occasional foreign guest is invited and and ends up looking like a rabbit trapped in front of the headlights (e.g. Hormiguero). Supposedly serious debating programs are unstructured where the hosts and guests talk loudly over each other, AFAIK only one that manages to avoid this is one where guests are given 59 seconds to talk and then the microphone automatically descends into the table in front of them (often enough with the guest still trying to talk into it). Series are copies of foreign ones or people hysterically shouting at each other (Aquí no hay quien viva/Con el culo en el aire/Lo que se avecina/etc…). And those are the best programs. Finally there’s a strange way of showing films, children’s films are shown at 10:30 at night and murder/thriller films are shown at 4pm in the afternoon.
Politicians treat their town/province/autonomous region as their personal fiefdom and think nothing of giant glorious hugely expensive public works. Every province needs an airport, every town needs a high speed train line, roads must be built, and so on… Central government spends its time trying to cancel the regional stuff and replacing it with their own public works. Top Gear this week just scratched the surface. And as recent news shows all government at all levels is sinking in a mire of corruption and debt. None of this affects voting habits though.
You could carry on talking about justice, police, journalism, etc… The question is, does it look like Spain can dig itself out of the hole its got itself into? Cheap credit after the euro did a lot to cover up the problems but now that’s gone, and the answer seems to be no. But yes, the weather can be nice (when it’s not 45º or humid) and they’ve got paella.
Andrew says
At what an “ex – pat” has to say.
That’s a lot of experience that you’ve had. It’s interesting to hear both side’s. Thanks for sharing.
Do they really show kids films at 10;30pm and horrors at 4pm?
MountieOnTheLoose says
Negative Aspects of Spain:
(1) The simplified Spanish national character has the arrogance of a past empire, the resentment of an impoverished nation, the double-faced villainy of a Third World country and the unpolished cruelty of the ancient Roman Empire.
(2) Ever since 1492 the indolence of the Spanish upper classes was/is masked by the imposition of a stifling, overbearing, gargantuan bureaucracy which projects a ficticious air of legality, hustle and bustle, and which naturally fosters an eclosion of corruption at all levels regardless of who is in power. Moreover the average Spaniard praises a corrupt individual as an intelligent person unless said corruption affects him personally. This love of and admiration for scoundrels besmirches every other Latin country and constitutes an inalienable legacy of the ancient Roman Empire. The rule of thumb is, “You bet I will rip you off if I can.”
(3) In the imperatorial phase of the ancient Roman Empire the rule of law was made wholly subservient to the whims of Caesar. Every Spaniard emulates Caesar. Thus he scoffs at and flouts the law whenever he can. A Spaniard’s basic philosophy on life is, “No one tells me what I can or what I can not do.” Thus personal insults and assaults even on perfect strangers are common, and vulgarity and rudeness are held up as a mark of distinction, not a cause for opprobium.
Positive Aspects of Spain:
(1) The climate if you have honest access to AC in the summer and indoor heating in the winter. Most Spanish hotels lack both or if they do have AC and central heating these will be turned on at their discretion, not your need.
(2) The food.
Two Countries That Offer What Spain Offers But Are Civilized: Australia, New Zealand.
How To Fix Spain:
An outside power has to impose itself militarily on the country employing the ruthlessness of the ancient Roman Empire. For example Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels commented in the Renanian newspaper that the Spaniards were a race earmarked for extermination as they were not capable of adapting themselves to the new realities.
Ivan says
Hi, I’m Spanish but I’ve been living in the US for 2 years now. Before coming to the US I lived in the UK for over a year, so I’m confident to say that I’ve truly formed an opinion on each of those countries. Of course someone’s opinion will be highly dependent on where he lives, living let’s say in New York is very different to living in Kentucky, just like living in Madrid is very different to do it in Extremadura. Nevertheless, most people in a country share common traits regardless of the city where they live. Getting back on topic, there a number of things that I like about Spain: my family lives there, the climate is good (I am originally from Mallorca), there is affordable access to quality health care for everyone (or so it was before I left to the US, not so sure now), food is awesome, and I was able to receive college-level education without putting my parents’ financial health in jeopardy. Now the bad things about Spain: the political corruption in Spain is absolutely rampant in all government levels and is really getting out of control. In my opinion corruption is the major threat that Spanish are facing. The problem is that government’s patronage networks are so large that they have enough power to put and keep corrupt political parties in office indefinitely. Votes can be regarded as a form of reciprocity in return for favors. The consequences of this are dramatic: one of the highest unemployment rates among developed countries, low salaries, trash work contracts, low-qualified jobs, etc. Now, if you have no job or your job doesn’t pay you a life with dignity then trust me life is not fun, regardless of all the things that I like about Spain. Not to mention that living with the knowledge that your leaders are using the tax-payer money (your money) for their own private benefit generates in me anger and stress, which is not healthy. And I agree, customer service is poor. Add to this the fact that the average Spanish is quite ignorant, especially as regards politics or economics, and often rude and with no manners and you will understand why I left Spain. In the UK the job market is better, salaries are reasonable for a developed country and health-care and education are also affordable. Food and weather, however, are far from ideal. I prefer the US to both Spain and the UK, not by much, but still enough. In the US there are plenty of well-paid jobs, especially if you are an educated person with the will to work hard, probably as a result of the fact that there is more economic liberty. People are very friendly and they tend to help each other, much more than in the UK or in Spain. Customer service is excellent in general. Also everything that you imagine you find it here, I mean everything. There are lots of stuff that you can find here but not in the UK or Spain. I may go on and on but this post was about Spain so I will stop here. Well some drawbacks of living in the US, in my opinion, are the ridiculously expensive health care and the voracious American consumerism.
Rafa says
I’m Spanish.
I can see a clear trend here, most of the people moaning had its “Spanish experience” living in the south, which I think is the most underdeveloped part of Spain, both economically and socially. The same traits can be found in the whole Spain, but in a different proportion.
I have/had many English friends in Barcelona and the biggest problem for them (and for me) was the lack of opportunities for young people, otherwise the things mentioned here were perfectly bareable and the overall balance possitive. The most that left was due to work/money related matters.
I’m myself an expat in Sweden and guess what, you can read thelocal.se (English written newspaper) were many English speaking people bashes Sweden with similar arguments than those exposed here. Is it a surprise for someone that unknown Swedish people is colder than its neighbours back in the place he was born?
There is no perfect country, so when moving do your research and be sure to pick up a country that can match your expectations. Don’t be wrong, Spain for now is just a holiday or retirement place, and it will get worse, as many of the educated/demanded proffesionals are leaving for greener pastures.
Felix says
Hi !
I totally agree with Iker. Most of you live in the south or in touristic places, what kind of job were you expecting to get?
Those places that are now crowded by tourists were before the tourictic “boom” just a bunch of farms and small villages, so don’t expect to find the same kind of customer service, politeness and general basic culture as in big cities.
Spain is not that cheap anymore (thanks Euro!). With 15.000 pounds nowadays you are poor even in the supposedly cheap Eastern Europe. I think that the author of this blog had a wrong idea when he decided to move.
As Iker, I was born in Bilbao (I’m also living abroad now). Just want to say that Spain is BIG. Visit Bilbao, San Sebastian, Santander, Asturias, and the experience will be definitively different (don’t expect the 300 days of sun as in the south though).
Cheers,
Felix
Iker says
Hi, I´m Spanish. I´ve been reading most of the comments and I see that most of you have decided to stay in coastal towns, famous for being summer touristic destinations. Well, I don´t really get how you pretend to be treated as something else as tourists. It´s exactly the same as with lots of german people residing in Marbella. They end up living in residential areas for german people. No wonder you find it hard to integrate among Spanish people. As for the jobs in touristic destinations, well, most of them are summer jobs cleaning pools, as waiters…
Try other cities in northern Spain (Bilbao´s mayor, where I come from, was recently awarded as best in the world by a british society), San Sebastian is probably Spain´s most beautiful ciy, Asturias is beautiful as a whole. It´s sure you won´t get the same weather as in Nerja, but maybe they´re more balanced as a whole.
It´s true administration procedures are slow but not as slow as in France, where I live at the moment. A year passed before I finally got my social security card even working for an international firm that helped me with all the procedures. As for customer-service, you don´t know what bad customer-service is until you meet a waiter from Bordeaux.
When you talk about having spent all your savings yo seem to forget that, even with much lower salaries, the main reason for this is the climate. I bet you´ve spent mucho more time going out, eating and drinking than when you were back in UK, but everybody seems to forget this.
What´s next? Crime. Well, I find Bordeaux much more dangerous than Bilbao or Madrid, mainly because French people don´t know when to stop and, before coming to France, I had never seen a fight between drunken people. Well, this is not completely true. I did see a whole lot of fights when I was younger. Do you know where? In Salou. Who was taking part in those fights? I suppose you don´t need me to tell you.
Finally, I didn´t leave Spain because my country was in crisis. I had an interesting offer and decided to try. I speak French as a second mother tongue, English (which I´m forgetting because of French people command of foreign languages), German and Basque.
I might be soon moving to Germany because my actual job is not creative enough. I´ll get the chance if all the wonders we hear from that country are that true.
Cheers, Iker.
P.S: Please, remove carpets from your kitchens and toilets. Thank you so much.
Laura says
I am sorry to hear you faced so many problems. I am a Spanish living abroad and I like to hear about others’experiences.
Though is hard to read that someone do think that Spanish people are rude and racist. I do not consider my friends, family or any other person in my circle as any of those you described. But I do know there are, indeed when you stay or move to another country, foreigners and locals will find people who are selfish, racist, nice, hardworkers, lazy…time filters people, and I believe as a local or as a foreigner we do need to filter and we finally find a group or create a group of people that offer loyalty and open minds and hearts.
My husband is not Spanish and he did not face any problem in any of our trips, he smiles to everyone, he is kind, and he does not speak much Spanish, starter level. People like him because he is open, he tries hard, and wants to learn, he is hungry. With people I mean…strangers or people that was part of my life before this.
He was so excited about every of his trips that you could see it in his face, he loves it. He loves the country, he loves the people, and therefore, people do feel it and like him too.
This is all about many variables:
location, location, location
your own attitude towards the country / other
willingness to learn
open minded or not
local’s image of your country / people
behavior of foreigners from that country in Spain..
If you ask someone who works in hospitality in Spain, and you engage into a nice conversation you will see that there are preferences in terms of country visitors.
They like Germans because they do try to say few words in Spanish: hola and gracias, and they like to spend money in local places
They do not like much tourists from UK because they start and only use English all the time, true story, assuming that we all need to speak English. Lets see that waiters have a pretty low salary and people expect them to be fluent in languages too.
They do like Portuguese and Italian tourists because of the language ability and their warm attitude.
etc etc etc
This happens in every country.
jon says
I,m British living in Madrid with my Spanish girlfriend and i love Spain, i have always found the people polite and even my girlfriends family, and the UK you think it doesn,t have problems too, bad economy, bad government, and as for crime dont even get me started on that, maybe if you hate it that much in Spain clear off and dont look back, but i think you,ll find that the UK is not so rosy anymore, the biggest thieves are H.M government
leah says
hi there just been reading all the coments for over an hour. found it really interesting I live in the uk blackpool but born in Yorkshire. ive been doing research on spain over the past 2 years as I have my heart set on moving there in the next year just got a bit more saving to do. I have not been put off by any of the bad reports I have read as I am a person that likes to make my own mistakes and learn from them aswell as experiencing things for myself. I’ve been going to spain since I was a kid year after year and I’ve never come across any nastiness the Spanish seem to be lovely people and I love the food and lifestyle I cook many Spanish recepies at home and over in spain whilst holidaying I always find people to talk to the Spanish have been brilliant with me over the past 2 years as they know I plan to move there soon and at the moment trying hard to learn the language but I’ve known some Spanish for a number of years that’s why I probably don’t have any problems when I’m over there and I just hope this wont change when I do finaly settle there. although I am still researching which area I want to live in as I need to make sure i’m close enough to schools for my 2 children who are doing very well with there Spanish. and yes all countries have downfalls but you cant get worse than uk I’m very depressed here and have been for many years and I would much rather carry on with the same financial struggles of life and working over in spain than here in the uk. its not about the weather for me its about the culture and there way of life we have hot days here in the uk but i’m still bloody miserable. and I prefere Spanish people to English people have done for years.
Larry says
“Javier, I am agree with everything you have written is absolutely true. If the spanish people continue to allow our politicians (possibly the worst in the world) continue lying, stealing, cheating and laughing of us will have a country full of problems and no future. At least we must say that in the UK would not allow abuses of the political and financial class like here , for this reason UK is a country works better than Spain.
Dear Dear JM. Where have you been hiding. The UK’s Financial Oligarghy is imposing some of the most horrendous austerity measures on the working people of Britain. Just google Fight the Cuts, No to Austeriaty and you will find protests of hundreds of thousands all over UK. The Spanish are just as much politically astute and are agitating and fighting back against the in every city of spain. They are not “allowing” this to go on. They are being opressed in the same way that they are in the UK. You really need to get up to date on the situation.
Larry says
The problems you have with Spain are the problems you will face in every capitalist country.
JM says
Javier, I am agree with everything you have written is absolutely true. If the spanish people continue to allow our politicians (possibly the worst in the world) continue lying, stealing, cheating and laughing of us will have a country full of problems and no future. At least we must say that in the UK would not allow abuses of the political and financial class like here , for this reason UK is a country works better than Spain.
JM says
I hate Spain, they kill bulls, they not speak english, are this, are the other …. ha ha ha ok see you, someone forced to the english to live here? NO. Then it is easy if you do not adapt because you can not or do not want, that pretty common among the English, then take your bags and leave to England. I never would not live in England, I do not like their weather, their food and other things that I will not name even for respect, something we rarely see among the English living in Spain or who come from tourism.
I say English, who are almost always those who are complaining all. If you want to live in peace and without problemas let his arrogance in England, and if not Disappear from here.
Arthur says
Well, well… very interesting, I enjoyed reading all the comments. Its almost like reading Agatha Christi’s Poirot, but, unlike in her books, it’s impossible to establish in the end who IS the crime and who’s fault etc :}}
I am gay, from former Russia, moved to London 11 years ago and fell in love not only with my partner, but with the country, people, Anglo-Saxon/American culture (literature, movies, tv programs), system, way of life and so on and on and on, love it to bits. I fill here like home, the ONLY home. Also I visited Spain many many times and never ever had trouble with Spaniards… Honestly I didn’t expect to read so much negativity from English people, as I portray you like very optimistic, down to earth, warm hearted, adventurous, open minded people in general. It looks like the comments comes from empire-chauvinistic complexes sleeping in the back of your minds. I am saying that because something similar happened in Russia during Perestroika, when suddenly millions of Russians found themselves living not in the Soviet Union (aka mother-Russia), but in foreign independent countries with rich cultures, histories, their own languages etc. Russians even didn’t suspect of existence of all that. Millions had to move back to their historic motherland incapable to learn and understand the whole new aspects of life in a different country, where they are not masters anymore, but, in fact, just an ethnic minority. It was a tragedy of cosmic proportions almost unknown in the West. But I know that and I see (reading the comments) that most of ex-pats (English AND Spanish) behave very similar to what forced Russian to the great Exodus of the late 20th century. Don’t be fools!! Respect each other, merge into each other. You both are (arguably) the greatest nations on Earth. When going to Spain from Britain (or vice verse) LEAVE behind your old habits, your honor, your national pride (i assume non of you have nothing to do and don’t mix your modest life achievements with Shakespeare, Isaak Newton, Cervantes, Anthony Hopkins, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Penelope Cruz) and learn, learn and learn again!! The learning process itself can be very exiting, interesting and beneficial. Don’t install a satellite dish to watch your favorite tv programs in your own bloody language (sorry!), don’t bring your bloody (sorry again!) “fish and chips” or “paella” with you. When I came to London the love of my partner was absolutely enough for me to adopt and suck in everything good from British culture and history. When you move abroad with your wives/husbands AND children you get support of the whole your family, what else you need? but if you don’t get support from one you love, so what do you expect from strangers?? to become British citizen I, yes!, didn’t spend a penny of public or my partner’s money. 1st year or so it was very difficult to understand all English accents and I struggle to built a phrase or hold a conversation, but I tried and tried and tried again!! and I succeeded. I accomplished 2 long term courses in holistic therapies and advanced personal training , I am self employed with a good income which pays the bills and allows me to holiday anywhere i want and I’ve done it all without asking help outside my partnership and paid mostly myself. I became so self-confident, don’t worry about future and now thinking to go to live abroad for a while (may be Florida or, hehehe, Spain) and do NOT see any reason why not. In order to do so we are saving money as much as we can, studying Spanish, searching internet about all aspects of life in those 2 countries, planning a long take-a-look trip (3-6 month) to Spain this autumn and keep our options and eyes widely open. If we fail, not going to blame anybody, but us!!
Andrew says
To Arthur well said. It was good to read your experience. You sound very positive, and I hope I can learn from your positivity.
Carlos says
gREAT POST!!
Javier says
España no es, solo, el sur soleado. Gran Bretaña no es, solo, London. Por desgracia para los británicos que tanto se quejan…, pues es verdad, pero lo era antes de que ellos llegarán. Ocurre que, probablemente, la casi totalidad no investigaron el lugar, ni la Historia, ni la situación económica real, ni el carácter “español”. España posee fuertes diferencias en lo tocante a comportamiento con los extraños, servicio a los clientes, clima (weather), delincuencia. Desde luego que zonas de fuerte crecimiento urbanístico son altamente propensar a mayor corrupción, aunque es cierto que la corrupción es generalizada; la burocracia es compleja (no más que en otros países de Europa) y establecer un negocio “serio” es casi una película de Disney. Podría extenderme, es suficiente con aceptar que mucho de lo que cuentan es cierto, también falso dependiendo de que zona de España. Si califican a España por una sola región en la que hayan vivido, automáticamente se descalifican. Sobre pertenecer a la Unión Europea les digo que no es un regalo y todo el dinero que provinó de ella tenía unas cláusulas ocultas que ahora debemos pagar. No me gusta la Unión Europea, no me gusta un imperio franco-alemán dirigido financieramente desde London y amaestrado a conveniencia de Washintong D.C. Un último apunte sobre recesiones y crisis económicas: estudien el sistema finaciero británico, a alguno de ustedes les puede enseñar algo sobre orígenes de crisis y fraudes a escala mundial. Los españoles tenemos lo que nos merecemos, y otros tienen lo que han cosechado, también. Un saludo
Jacobus says
Having spent the last hour or so reading the various comments, very interesting indeed. As a UK expat living for the past 40 years in Canada, and possibly contemplating a relocation to Spain for my retirement years, I guess I’ll be thinking again. Yes, there are good and bad all over, no matter where you are, one has to make the best of it, disregard the negative comments, and keep a positive attitude. I take offence to various comments about the UK being a sh*#t&le with the majority of people living in poverty and being unhappy, I don’t know where you were living or visiting, but the people I associate with in the UK most certainly have a much better quality of life than a helluva lot of people living here in Canada, which supposedly, is the best place on earth…? There are many areas in this City where I live, Vancouver, that you would not attempt to walk alone at night time without being mugged or possibly assaulted, especially if you are a woman. As the population grows, it attracts more opportunists and mostly the immigrant criminal element, sad, but it is a fact of life. Trying to get business done, lots of red tape and somewhat frustrating to say the least. And now, very, very expensive. My advice to anyone thinking of a move to Vancouver, don’t bother, unless you don’t need a job, and don’t mind being taken over by the China. However, even with all the negative comments, I will still take a look at Spain, it beats the hell out of the constant pissing rain for 9 months of the year.
Cheers
Bob says
P.S. I have learned all the languages in the countries I have lived and worked in and I speak enough Spanish to get by but within 2 years I am sure it will as good as my other languages.
Bob says
Anybody remeber the winging Poms, well history is repeating itself in Spain this time. If everthing is so great in the UK why did you move??
The UK is in more of a mess than Spain or Italy, it is the per capita the most indebted country in the world the politicians are just as corrupt as anywhere in the world, or do you only read the good news.
The infrastructure is crap, I’ve had 2 brand new tyres replaced in the last year.
The cost of living here is double Spain’s.
We have 2 Etonian Bankers running the country making sure we pay for their mistakes.
The civil service is costing us billions because of their incompetence in the NHS, the Railways, and now we have to fork out for 2 Aircraft carriers and Trident replacements that we do need and have never used in the past.
I am married to a Dutch girl and she is tired of all the anti European diatribe we constantly get here, most people I know here are racist and homophobic and openly so.
The crime is such that we do not venture out in the evenings to the centre especially in weekends.
We have lived and worked in Scandinavia, Germany, and of course Holland, and we are moving to Spain to get away from this paradise you are all dreaming about. Where politicians are so honest and everyone is so friendly and the service is so great etc., etc..
We have just had 2 power cuts this morning. Dream on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve says
This is possibly the most wrong thing on the internet.
You honestly think that the 7th richest country in the world, with the highest wages in Europe, falling unemployment, rising productivity is in a worse state than Spain? You actually think that?
The infrastructure could be better, but it could be worse. Like Spain, for example.
Most people you know are racist and homophobic? You need to move in better circles. The only racism and homophobia I hear in England comes from certain “religious” communities or foreigners. English people are the most tolerant on the planet.
You don’t venture to city centres of an evening because of crime? Well if you did you’d know that reports of crime are massively over exaggerated. Seriously, stop believing everything you read in the papers and get some experiences.
Your comment was over a year ago so you’ve probably already left Spain after you’ve found out we weren’t lying.
Reese says
Greetings! After reading this, you could’ve been writing about Italy or any other Mediterranean country. I think it’s really down to the culture and its society, and the similarities are scary! I’ve been living in Italy for more than 4 years now and it’s almost exactly the same, if not worse. I am definitely ready to go home where the majority of the people obey the rules, laws and morals of its society, and believe in the principles and dignity of a human being. I’ve travelled around the world and lived in a few places, and I have to say that the type of culture and society determines the laws, infrastructure, and polite morals of societies, education, etc. and its reflected across every minute thing that we do.
Abe says
Greetings!
All that I have read in the paragraphs above is accurate information regarding the Spanish´s behavior towards the British and Northern Europeans that come here to spend their money (bottom line), regardless their behavior or cultural traits in Spain. I have spent 8 years of my life here and have had enough!! I am finally going back to America where customer service is a priority. I cannot wait to go back and meet the genuine people I used to know because amongst the Spanish any can and will stick a knife when you’re not looking. I am sorry to see what this country has become over the years but it is well-deserved and so hopefully they learn a lesson. I could begin sharing my stories, experiences here in this article but I rather not as I would be instigating anger and frustration, and possibly hatred from the Brits towards the Spanish. And not all of them feel the same, especially those who have travelled up North of Europe.
Best wishes.
Your Mexican pal!
chris says
I have lived in Spain for 20 years and although I agree with some points made by individual on this site, I have to say and I do believe this to be true; you moan for moaning, it’s as simple as that. Instead of getting on with life, learning Spanish getting involved with local life and most important making friends with the locals, just basically changing to adapt to new surrounds. I know many people who are not Spanish who live and work and are very happy with their lot here and enjoy life to the full.
When anyone moves overseas a plan of action needs to be put into action and the first thing is money; enough money for up to a 3 year period, secondly learning the language to a level of communication, when in business target everyone and not just those who speak English as this limits your business activity to about 20% of the local population. If you have come or are coming to Spain to retire do not buyer a property miles away from an urban area as this will bring many difficulties with emergency services and of caurse robbery and if you are not willing to learn Spanish then do bear in mind that the Spanish won’t speak English. Our Spanish friends and neighbours just can’t do enough to help us. I end by saying that we all get ripped off in all countries including the UK though some but not agree with this statement but as a child I lived in London and robbery / burglary was quiet common in many inner areas, I hope this situation has changed but again I hear of shootings as a norm..On a positive note at least we have the sun and this is the main reason for coming to Spain and I’m only sorry those who haven’t had a good experience.
Caccia says
Well well well, I have read many of the comments regarding the bad things in Spain. Spain is not a country for young English people with a family. I often wonder why these dissatisfied people give up such a great wonderful life in the U.K and decide that they would love to live in Spain. I often speak to young people on holiday with a young family that say they would love to live here and asked why and in most cases it’s the sunshine and the cheaper cost of living.
Asked what they do for a living and it’s the same old answer, a builder, a painter, an electrician and i always tell them to forget it as there are plenty of Spanish with similar occupations out of work.
Spain to me is for affluent retired people. People that are self sufficient, people that can afford the better things in life in Spain. I have lived here for 20 years and do not speak Spanish (get by with my pigeon Spanish) and if i need any professional help i use an interpreter. My partner and i are both on the Spanish NHS and find it first class although perhaps the after care service needs a kick up the backside, but then the Spanish expect your family to pitch in even when you return home and not like in the U.K shoved off to some old peoples home.
Yes there are faults here in Spain the same as in the U.K. I return once or twice a year to the U.K and see a big difference each time i visit. Never seen so many foreign people and different languages being spoken and feel i’m the outsider in my own country. .
The English people that rip off other English people are in the same situation as the person being ripped, hard up. Promise to turn up and never do yet i have had no problem with the Spanish workers. I could go on and on but i won’t. It’s horses for courses as far as i can see. Those that return to the U.K will no doubt go onto the British Social system like so many that rely on to which i still contribute by paying Income Tax., but life is also hard there if you’re skint. Take my word for it, just read the British press.
Audrey Beauchamp says
I lived in several countries including Spain, England(London), India, México and Italy.As I spent enough time in each place to get to know it well, and the people as well as I made sure not matter how difficult, to speak the languages of every place I lived in. I completely disagree on the comments I have read here. It just mean to me how negative some of you are and most of the time people with that type of mentality no matter where they live, will always be unhappy. Everywhere you go you will find good and bad things, but if you are negative you will only see the bad things… I can only say I feel lucky to have lived in places that are so different from each other and made long last friends. If you are so fed up just take a plane back, but I really think you haven’t learn a thing. I met some people while living in London who were fed up with London and the English people and I used to tell them the same, try to learn english and get to know the people, otherwise take a plane back. It will be your loss
esla ltres says
Wow, I thought it wasn’t something to talk about. Every time when I’m asked by locals if I like Spain, out of politeness I feel obliged to say yes. I can’t agree more with the points made, though luckily, I haven’t been robbed and hope will never be. Have been here for 11 years, and I am dying to go away. I speak Spanish and I even got my Ph.D in one of the universities, but you feel you’re an outsider all right. I live first in Barcelona and then move to Girona. I guess it’s true that there’re always good people and bad people everywhere, but the sense of frustration is so hard here that sometimes it’s just impossible. I can’t agree more with the service; I don’t think the concept of customer service exists in Spain. I wonder how Spaniards can take so much nonsense and pay for it. Anyway, since so much has been written already, I don’t want to add too much. Just want to say that it feels good just to know that I ain’t the only one who feels like that and can say it loud too. Thanks for the post.
patricia says
We were thinking of retiring to Nerja but I must say that I have now, after reading varying comments, been really put off!
filipe says
nunca gostei de zonas com muito turismo e do sul de espanha muito menos.
Marc says
Cada pais es como es, con su defectos y sus virtudes pero hablar de esa forma de españa es irrespetuoso y falso en muchos casos. Los britanicos teneis lugares preciosos y ciudades muy interesantes, seguramente habeis conseguido ser un referente en muchos aspectos pero puedo asseguraros que nosotros tambien hemos mejorado mucho y cada dia seguimos mejorando ,no en el tema economico sino como sociedad. Creo que hay lugares maravillosos en españa donde se puede vivir seguramente mejor que en cualquier otra parte del mundo, yo vivo en barcelona, he podido pasar etapas de mi vida en londres, bruselas y amsterdam, tres ciudades maravillosas pero barcelona es especial y como barcelona otras muchas que por desgracia no conozco tan bien en españa. Con esto que quiero decir? pues que yo podria explicar mis malas experiencias en londres(que tambien tuve alguna un poco desagradable)pero prefiero quedarme con todas las cosas buenas que si que disfrute y la gente fantastica que conoci que para nada se parece a algunos de este chat que rozan el racismo y muestran una cara de los britanicos que no hace justicia.Seguramente la gente que solo critica todo lo que encontro en españa es justamente porque debio de tener la misma actitud que en el chat y en españa gente que se crea superior no es bien recibida. entonces el problema no es del pais al que vas sino que lo llevas contigo.un saludo para los colegas britanicos y españoles de este chat!!!!
Nate says
hey i just wanted to add my two cents to the list and give a thumbs up to Nick here, i have been living in spain for almost 8 years in Castellon, and all i can say is Nick hit it spot on I was going though the same problems he had. and like Rachael my biggest problem that i cant stand here is the way they treat you in the shops and streets, there is seriously no common courtesy. i myself am a teacher of English and pretty much that is all we can do out here, everything is taken or there is just no work. And in most jobs in order to get it you have to know someone or you are SoL. i have no reason to list anything differnt from what has already been said, the ones that have commented that there life is a bless and two peas in a pod etc. etc are not the minority, they are just lucky and i hope the best for them. other then that i have no english friends here all my friend are spanish, and there all really good people/open minded which is really important here cuase that is not the minority. if you want to move out of a circle/group good luck with that, spanish people dont socialize out of there circle. they keep the same friends from childhood and its really hard for them to leave that confort zone, i say this cause that is one of the problem for foreigner to meet people cause we arent given a chance but they also dont give there own people a chance. i would also like to add i am not a Brit im actually American. So just to show it isnt only brits that think spain is bad. Also my wife is spanish so unlike the rest here, i will be continuing to live in spain despite how much i hate it, i just learn to turn the other cheek like the rest but the problem continues to be there. but hey Hoy! NO! Manana !
Jarvisey says
Just a little question. If Spain sucks, why it is so crowded by Brits? Well, I have to say I couldn´t say such rude words about any country in the world with such an assertive speech as I have read here above. I have been living in a lot of country and i keep great memories of them. Always tried to inmerse in their culture and “languages” and cannot imagine myself stereotyping a whole country just because i had a bad experience in a tiny place like f.e. Nerja!!!! Try to go to a big city and get into their way of living. It´s like if i write about the States after staying for a while in a town of 22.000 population!!!! hahah this is completely nonsense, and moreover, stupid.
I also had a bad experience in London once, but i don´t hate the UK… I think this is completely childish. I am from Madrid and live in the basque country, and can´t understand your reasons, sorry. We also suffer some british misbehaving here, such as Salou, Mallorca and Benidorm and we don´t say ALL the brits are alcoholics that jump from the balconies, or all the brits are like in Geordie Shore.. can you understand my point? You cannot generalize.
lu says
Well I’m Irish and I will say having lived in the Costa del sol for 6 years, I totally agree with everything that Nick says about the way you are treated by the Spanish people there. I have never felt so much hatred and never even experienced racisim from people until I moved there , couldnt wait to leave. You are treated like a secound class citizen. I was also shouted at on the street and told to go back to my country. Anyone considering going to Spain whatever you do and however clever and business savy you think you may be do not invest in a business, you will lose everything because the spanish change the laws regulary to suit themselves and will not let any foreigner make money there, they will squeeze you any way they can and if they see you making money they will make it as difficult as possible especially the polizia who are totally courupt. That is how they make their money they are crooked and I wish I never set foot in the place and hate spain and the spanish people so now stick that in your hat Manuel.
Oscar says
Lu: After reading your comment I can only take it as a massive compliment to Spain. Having someone as uneducated, rude, racist and fool as you talking bad about a Country and its people make me want to move there!
Rob says
Amazing how someone always pulls out the racist card when there is a genuine complaint based on personal experience!
David barceq says
For a person like me who has lived in several countries, and also UK…it is very funny to read some of the comments here. Some people here is saying that if you don’t know the language if needing a doctor you will be in trouble…hahahaha. Go to UK!!!Let’s see how many people speak Spanish if a spaniard needs help, not even french…so if you are expecting that the whole world must know your language it is your problem, but do not blame others about your fault.
You treat other cultures without any consideration, being disrepectful and showing contempt…what do you expect? This is the typical clasist, racist and stereotypical way to act… And you go to Spain asking for respect? Respect for what? You act in a hypocrite way.Many facts that you expose here are due to your own behaviour, you receive what you give. I can’t believe that you are writing this on internet. Try to find any Spanish publication saying bad things about UK…you will not find any, because Spanish are more respectful than you. Spanish people may have their own opinion about UK, but they respect and they are open minded.
Jaime says
How I stumbled on this website beats me. However, lots of opinions, mostly negative of both UK and Spain. Both countries have good and bad things like everywhere else in the world. Spain’s biggest problema at the moment is political and social but Brits living here haven’t a clue what is going on. They only grumble. As in the UK depends what part of Spain your are talking about. In general, someone mentioned tax and town councils. I live in Spain and agree. The tax man treats everyone as a criminal. Town councils are totally corrupt. Brits also fall into two categories, the lagger louts and the rest. Spaniards into the rich and the por. I’ll stop here as quite frankly living in Bali is probably the best.
Manuel says
AC,
Are you sure that you are not Spanish?. Read this: https://www.antimoon.com/forum/t5443.htm
Manuel says
Oscar,
I understand why AC is angry but perhaps it is not the right moment to spread his anger because we all have enough and really important reasons to be angry,
…And yes, I think you are right: “Always look at the bright side of life,… or Spain…”.
Manuel says
AC,
Maybe you´ve been living here for 25 years but you´ve got a really bad luck because you have come across with all the worst of this country. I am Spanish and I am not the kind of people you discribe and criticise, and neither are my family, friends and the great majority of the people I know.
Of course there are people as that you have discribed, but not all of us are like that.
You should be more respectful with what you say because your statements offend me and many more Spaniards.
ac says
Manuel,
Sorry if you find it offensive but I call a spade a spade, I am married to a Spaniard so I am not making up stories, I have over 25 years experience of Andalucia and how it is, I have nothing against the Spanish, I view them the same as everyone else, I’m not keen on the English here if it makes you feel better, Brits here are an embarrassment especially holiday makers!!!, they are rude, many drunkards, and tradesman who will rip you off more than any Spaniard, I’d employ a Spaniard over any Brit.
But as I say I don’t want to live next door to an Andalucian, I don’t know where you are from in Spain. They are nice friendly people but they are also inconsiderate to anyone but themselves.
I try to make an honest living but our friends in Hacienda and the Agencia Tributeria make life as hard as possible, nothing is easy, the unemployment is high and yet they still make life hard.
I just tell it as I see it, of course there are nice things and there are some lovely people.
Manuel says
AC,
I´ve been visiting many Spanish provinces for many years now, and the way the people are or behave in the North is different from those living in the South; Catalonians have nothing to do with Galicians; even Valencians and “Alicantinos” (I don´t know how to say this in English), whose provinces are close together, are very different, I am generalizing, of course, so if you say: “Spaniards are…”, is risky and you´ll probably not be fair. Maybe your neibourgh is a rude person, but if someone says that everyone living in the your condominium are the same, you wouldn´t like to be included in the that package…
We´ve got many important problems nowadays here in Spain (Education is one of them, I know) and it is not a good idea to create even more problems.
By the way, I was born in Alicante and there is where I live.
Oscar says
Manuel
With all my respect I think you are wasting your time and energy with that AC guy. Someone who “struggle” to say anything positive of a whole country and claim to have live there for 25 years is obviously someone unworthy. You really have to be an extremely unhappy and problematic person not to be able to find positiveness in any country. Even Britain got positive things!
ac says
Like any country España has it’s good things and it’s bad. having lived here for over 25 years I know the place pretty well.
The bad – The houses are rubbish, they are built awfully, no insulation, no sound insulation, damp, leak, horrid things.
Spanish neighbors -arghhhh, they will ruin your life, Spanish in general are OK, but have them for neighbors and your life is ruined, I’ve had three and they’ve been hell. They will build and do their construction work 7 days a week, 8 am in the morning until 10pm at night, kids running around screaming until 2 am, the woman don’t take their shoes of and clunk around until 2am with their high heeled shoes on, the really dont gave a damn about their noise or neighbor until you give some of it back!!
You wont make money here, forget it, no matter what you do you wont make money, Spanish only buy cars, they rest they just want everything as cheap as possible. They will never accept you, never employ you, never buy from you.
The system will drive you nuts, nothing is simple, don’t expect things to be done in a hurry, you will pay for every single thing.
The Police are racist, one even told me this to me face, thought he was a hard nut in his uniform the little creep.
They drive in the same way as they act in their houses, me me me, me first, I do what I want, I’ll stop where I want, it’s my road, you’re wrong!!
Pre service is good, they love you, you are their best friend, they want your babies, post sales, they don’t know you, they’ve never seen you before, take it back to the manufacture we wont help you, they just don’t know the trade laws or just ignore, now they wonder why their economy is the mess it is.
The good – Hmmm, i’m struggling…….
Carlos says
Again, I’m struggling to see how could you could have lived in a country that has so many disadvantages for so long and furthermore “Hmmm, i’m struggling” to find the good ones. I know that is a bit os a sarcastic comment, but still not sure if everything is wrong with the country, or some things are wrong with your approach when you lived in Spain.
Manuel says
It is a pity that many of you think the same about us, Spaniards. You could say that our politicians, our Justice, etc. are not good, and we agree, but the people is good or bad, almost the same as they are in Britain. You are not better or worse than us.
Language is a great barrier to get to know each other. Try to know us and you´ll probably change your mind.
And one more thing… I hate that word: “guiri”, that a few sometimes use.
Oscar says
There are 71,000 Spanish living in UK against 400,000 British living in Spain. This blog is offensive, racist and totally biased. I feel sorry for you guys. You have so much to learn about living life…
pilurini says
I don’t think this blog is racist it’s more about letting off steam! It’s just about experiences of life in Spain, we all have to listen to things about our countries that hurt us, I used to get fed up with the british moaning about the Spanish when i lived in Spain, but really, I feel happy to have come home to the UK, life is more to my liking here- and there are plenty of Spanish here moaning about us!!!
TenerifeAmable says
I’m spanish, live in the Canaries but studied in a British school.
First of all, many of my teachers didn’t know more than “Hola” “menu del día” “una cerveza, por favor”. You can’t expect people to be nice to you if you don’t make an effort and only complain about things. (I don´t want you to ruin my day, thank you).
2.Yes, there’s corruption in Spain, yes, our system is crap. Most of us would love to change it, haven’t you heard of the 15-M?
3. No one has ever stolen something from me or any friend, never did I hear one of my teachers complain about crime.
4.We don’t hate brits or germans, but don’t expect everything to be done for you. We’ll help if we can, but at least remember your manners. It’s extremely irritating to help someone who has lived here for 10+ years and knows hardly any spanish because they refuse to learn (which I find very disrespectful) , demand you to solve their problems and when you’ve finished they completely ignore you and go back to their British pubs as if Spanish people only existed when in need.
For those of you who don’t like it here, no one is forcing you to stay. If you don’t make the effort to be nice to people, people won’t be nice to you in Spain or anywhere.
So, for those of you who would like to come, you are more than welcome to stay here and enjoy, keep in mind that no one wants to be surrounded by snobs, so please try to fit in, we’ll probably accept you and you’ll have a much better time with the locals (we know where the good stuff is) 😉
Blue says
As an American who can speak enough Spanish to get by, I wouldn’t say the Spanish in Madrid or Valencia have been overly friendly (my roommates and friends from Mexico, the UK, and Poland felt the same way). I’ve noticed that the Germans, Italians, and South Americans here have been friendlier to be honest. Valencians seem a little more relaxed with foreigners (and probably more relaxed in general) than Madrilenos, but honestly, if Spanish people were more open to befriending foreigners, I’d learn more Spanish! See how that works? I never speak English when I go out but I’m still a foreigner here 🙂 And by the way, I didn’t visit these cities, I’ve lived in both places.
Carlos says
If you replace the word “Spanish” by Dutch or Swiss, I could tell you is the same case. I have lived in both of those countries and I would say you’d feel exactly the same approach to friendship. So I would not attach that the Spanish culture, but to several/many countries in the world. The reality in my mind is that we all make the best friends in our early stages in life and then afterwards most of the people you meet can be -or not- friendly but not true friends from life, with exceptions, of course. Remember that by the time you moved to a new country, the locals will have their own network and friends, and they technically don’t “need” more people. You, as foreigner, are the one who will need to make the extra effort to integrate within their social network. That is why is always easier to find friendship with other expats than with locals. Again, that happens in all the countries I’ve had the opportunity to live in.
Lidon says
I agree, but extra effort (whatever that means in this context) is pointless when they all have their own lives, as you’ve said. However, in the Canaries I met very friendly Canarians, who had their own lives, but were still more open to meeting foreigners and befriending them. Just my experience.
Joanna says
Yes, I agree with Carlos.
I’m living here for a few months (la linea) on an IT contract, working in Gibraltar. I arrived just over one week ago, and although I’ve never studied Spanish, I already have a larger vocabulary than some people who’ve been here years. I’m also the only one who has chosen not to live in flats which are full of English people.
If you’re going to work and live abroad, then you should throw yourself into the experience. Avoid the little expat ghettos like the plague, and I’ve no doubt you will have a richer experience.
I obviously can’t have a meaningful conversation with people in Spanish, but you work with what you have, and I’m excellent at charades.
Richard Tedeschi says
We were just about to move from UK to Malta but had to postpone until February 2018 due to incredibly high taxes to import our Land Rover Defender and are now looking at moving to Gibraltar working there and living across the border, have been looking at a little further away than La Linea de Concepcion into santa Margarita etc.
It is what someone wants, likes and can do in life, for example I’m born in Brighton UK and lived thirty years in Rome Italy, I love Rome but I don’t like what people have turned it into, I don’t fit into the UK and I don’t understand people, can’t take much more of the rubbish deal with weather and I dislike the food with a passion, plus the high cost of living in Great Britain, can’t wait to get out of here…
Londoner says
We’ve been living in Spain for the last 8 years and on the whole we find the Spanish people to be incredibly friendly and welcoming on the whole. Although I suppose a lot depends on where you live. We live pretty close to Barcelona, so I suppose we be classifed as living in Catalunya as opposed to Spain.
There may be economic and social problems here, but where I live, at least in my town, people on the whole are generally happy, pleasant and relaxed.
FZ100 says
Having lived in an Andalucian village for the last 8 months, I can only say Nick is bang on the money. The best thing about Spain are the planes out of it. Back stabbing natives will do what they can to take your money whilst pretending to be friends. My advice to anyone wanting to come to the south of Europe would be to go to Portugal or Italy, both vastly more civilised and cultured countries. I’ll be out of here as soon as possible, and will not be back.
Luis says
Do it! Its the best thing that you can do… Cause we dont want you here in Spain! We are sick and tired of british people. Honestly… We rather to have german people,french or even americans. They are not white trash, like you and your people. Good luck in Portugal,lol
Purini says
. There are many British who live there and like it ( poor souls!) are you horrible to them too?
Manuel says
Luis,
Tampoco se pueden decir esas cosas tan “fuertes”. Hay muy buena gente entre los Británicos, y lo sé porque conozco a unos cuantos. También los hay “bocazas” y mala gente, pero eso pasa en todas partes. No se pueden juzgar a todos por unos pocos.
Rob says
Germans, French, AMERICANS, Are you mad lol
Mark says
Get the hell out them, the sooner the better! Spain doesn’t need low class trashy people like you! You will be a loser even in China! Don’t let the door hit you on your way out of the country! People like you came to Spain to ruin the country! I would not called British drunks, civilized people!
Steve says
“Even” in China. The average Chinese has a better standard of living than the average Spaniard. Love the defensive expat attitude, we all know the type, bragging about the standard of living’ on facebook, yet whenver anyone goes to visit they\ve got no money, some awful car (i like walking!), awful telly (weather’s too good to watch telly!), can only afford some backstreet restaurant (more authentic!) and always order the shitty house wine (Hey! I lie to integrate), live in some shed (always outdoors!), building work that hasn’t been completed since the last visit 3 years ago (they\re more laid back!) ridiculous amount of security devices on their house (better to be safe than sorry). The awful customer service, the racist locals, the racist police.
Honestly Spain is just the pits.
It’s actually sad, my friends (well not so much anymore) still haven’t come back, still posting fake brags and still living under the bread line ….but hey, at least it’s sunny!
Carlos says
Dear Steve, you are falling into the same generalization mood as Mark with his “even”. I am not sure where you got your figures from, but having traveled extensively in China, I can tell you that you probably need to review your sources.
As said by many people, both countries have indeed a large list of pros and cons, and there are all kind of people in both. My general impression with the people from the UK I know is a good one, and it comes the same with the Spanish crowd. For professional development I believe the UK is a better option (again my personal opinion and generalizing) but for overall quality of life I prefer Spain.
Juan says
Hello, I’m Spanish. I think your comment is really unfair and really rude and honestly I doesnt surprise me at all coming from an arrogant british person. Im gonna write my comment based in my experience in the UK. I have been living in UK almost 5 years of my life, working and living there like any british person, and let me tell you one thing, you cant talk about spanish people and our spanish system but my experience in UK was the worst of my life. In the UK, british people makes you feel like you are a second class person, doing the worst jobs, the worst shifts and really making you feel like you are the last of the world. The quality of life is really sad, talking about food,weather,way of living etc… I was laughing when I read your comment about Spain, cause you guys wish so bad to have a country like our. UK is a country that honestly I would not go back anymore in my life, only I see poverty,low salaries,low people,drunk young people lost without any future and paying taxes like crazy. You can hate my country, but I dont hate your country, I just would say that your country is not for me and I dont want to go back again to live in a really deppressing country. And let me tell you one more thing, The problem of many british people in Spain is, they never try to be part of the country,mixing with our people, or trying to learn our language… So If you never felt welcome in our country probably is because you actitude!
pilurini says
who are you directing your comments to Juan? hopefully not me? I lived there for 30 years and I can assure you “Us guys* do NOT wish for a country like Spain!!!!
I think that British food is great , if well cooked, wages and employment are better, loads to do, good life style? well that is really what you make it, I find it easier to get a good life style here, weather yes our weather is very unreliable, but not quite as hostile as your summers- way too hot.
I agree that lots of foreigners over here get exploited – often by other foreigners, where were you? Because you paint a very different picture of the Uk to how I see it, and if we were rude well that’s bad, because in general I find the English FAR friendlier than the Spanish. Perhaps YOUR attitude was bad over here too, like those British in Spain that you talk about? I did mix with Spanish people for 25 years, some nice , some not – But I do find that the Spanish seem to think that the sun makes up for everything else! It’s weird- sometimes I think they are more weather obsessed than we are.
I prefer the British way of life, the earlier hours , the cups of tea, the gardens, the trees, the wild life, our capital city -London is so upbeat, the more positive attitude of the people the willingness to help, the friendliness, our food, I love our history , our beaches, our music, our sense of humor, our television- the whole lot- so NO, I don’t wish for a country like Spain which I find very desert like- well down south anyway- and a sunny day in England is second to none!!!
I don’t blame you for sticking up for Spain – it is only right – good for you
Manuel says
Los problemas no se arreglan alejándonos de ellos…
Lluvisa says
“The quality of life is really sad, talking about food,weather,way of living etc… I was laughing when I read your comment about Spain, cause you guys wish so bad to have a country like our. UK is a country that honestly I would not go back anymore in my life, only I see poverty,low salaries,low people,drunk young people lost without any future and paying taxes like crazy. ”
¿Estas seguro de que hablas de UK y no de españa? O es eso o no vives en la misma españa que yo, llena de corrupción, recortes, destrucción de los derechos humanos, pobreza, salario por debajo del SMI o directamente donde te dicen que si lo quieres no esperes ser remunerado, paro… ¿quieres que siga?
Sobre los temas de conversación… que quieres que te diga, en comparación por lo que dices son mejores que los de aquí, ya que aquí, lo interesante es saber lo que hizo la Estaban o la choni de turno. Solo para tu información, en todos lados se habla de esos temas que has mencionado, a ver porque no se va a poder hablar de ellos.
P.D.: solo como dato, no he usado la mayúscula en españa ya que mi respeto por este país se ha ido al garete gracias al encantador gobierno que tenemos, mientras las cosas no cambien seguirá siendo españa y nada mas
Alan says
You are right Lluvisa there are many problems in every country and it is all ways to easy to criticise according to your own cultural expected living ways and standards.
As the world is now more travel orientated and experimental, in searching for alternative living styles to perhaps suite our own preferences ,we will all ways have an opinion of good and bad on every country according to our own cultural up bringing and our own likes and dislikes.
The world is learning more about each other and at a much faster pace than ever before,not just in travel but also through the internet. Hopefully we will all learn to appreciate each others way of living and doing things
Realist says
The best way to enjoy Spain and the Canaries is to have a well behaved holiday away from loud resorts and leave it at that.
Lenox says
Ah, the English, ‘we manage’ they say in their lovely country. Cold, expensive, dangerous and class-ridden. ‘Could be worse’, they tell you. Where’s the adventure, the fun, the life? It’s not in Croydon or Bristol or Leeds or Rugby.
I’ve lived here in Spain for most of my life. I have never regretted leaving the UK. Of course you will always be a ‘foreigner’ when you are in a ‘foreign’ country. Didn’t see that coming?
pilurini says
How can the English be described as cold? Or do you mean the weather? I so much prefer it here. Every summer in Spain I turned into a bit of a zombie- that sun was hostile! As for fun and life-after 30 years of living in Spain I have returned to England- a country full of surprises-a can do attitude- people laughing and joking, loads to do, I feel that life knocks on my door every day and invites me out to play! The English are playful, they like a laugh- here in London there is creativity everywhere, loads of fun to be had in any shape or form. And the trees!! They are alive, don’t see that abundance in Spain-I have become fascinated by the trees and the birds and the wildlife and that’s here in the city!!!I don’t particularly like croydon and don’t know about the other three places you mention, but the fun is here!!! I like flamenco and the feria is OK – went to them often but it all meant lots of drinking- the daytime was best- the horses and the dressing up but SO showoffy – here people get into fancy dress- more fun. Spanish can be snobs too by the way- yes life has begun agin for me over here- glad I came back- Spain holds nothing for me at all, I hope not to have to go there too often
Luis says
I hope so to…. Dont come anymore to Spain, My country is too much for you… We dont want you here!!
Purini says
Que v! Vivia en espana durante 30 anos una experiencia queria volver pero tenia dos hijos y no queria abandonarles tampoco queria quitarles de su padre. Pero ahora llevo 3 anos de vuelta aqui en inglaterra – que alegria! Este pais no es feo y hay muchisimas oportunidades, mucho humor, arboles, ayuda, sorpresas y el tiempo no hace frio siempre y no me gusta tanto calor. Que feliz estoy por haber vuelto
Purini says
Your country is NOT too much for me Luis it isn’t enough!
Oscar says
Luis
I think you are wrong. Most British, as most Spanish, are nice people. Do not go down to their level. The fact that a few ones in this forums are just rude, racist and white trash do not mean all British are like that. Obviously these few people are not representative of their country, in fact, its obvious they are just uneducated and low life folks. Do not blame them, feel sorry for them instead.
Tocayo says
Pilurini es una resentida menopausal…decir que Espana es un desierto cultural demuestra el nivel de ese resentimiento…me da lastima…pobrecilla…
pilurini says
quizas!!! es que he vuelto y me da cuenta de lo tanto que he dejado por atras. !!Encuentro la gente aqui en Inglaterra mas dispuesto abrazar nuevas ideas, se preguntan mas, esto es lo que queria decir- asi se crece la cultura, se mueve.. la cultura parece estar mas al mano de la mayoridad. Tocayo- menopausal- no ya he pasado por esto!!
Lo siento por ofendir- pero no sientes lastima- estoy feliz!
Belgian says
Now,maybe it’s my fault but I don’t understand, if you hated Spain that much, why didn’t you just go home? Especially if you have children : you don’t want them to grow up with ‘criminals, flies and in a dessert’ do you?
ps : I totally agree with Naomi.
Purini says
I was married to a spanish man with whom I am still good friends. I didn’t want to remove the children from easy access for him- they are very close to him. I came back once my son was 20 – yes i would have come back sooner otherwise. As i said I wasn’t unhappy there, i put up with the flies and the desert feeling quite happily and just got on with my life. Coming back has opened my eyes , i also said i loved it initially – now i see it as an experience – i remember certain times fondly and I like Flamenco- love it really. But Spain I find in general is much more hoste in every way i cluding the weather
pilurini says
Oh and to all spaniards and i met quite a few- lots are nice just like anywhere = but yes Alexandre- sabemos que nos odian!! que palabra mas fuerte!!!It seems that the spanish dislike their tourists and are not that brilliant with foreign residents either… I agree the brits abroad drink too much- so carry on hating!!!
In general, the Spanish are an unfriendly bunch, – bad image. Especially those that work for the council, the authorities or anywhere like that- they are not THAT helpful towards each other either- a negative feeling all round. I didn’t leave because of the recession, I simply left to come home but it’s great here- the Brits like to moan but it’s more tongue in cheek and there is a can do attitude here and this lovely island is full of surprises and seems playful compared with that desert. I love a few Spaniards and I wasn’t miserable there but so glad to be here in UK
Kelly says
What a load of b******. I have been living in Madrid for 3 years now and the people have been NOTHING but friendly, EXTREMELY helpful to the point where they will slow down their speech to help me better understand what they are saying – without a single sign of frustration – and even open a map for me to help me find my way around, when a simple “this way, that way” would do. I feel blessed to be living in the country, which is a hell of a lot better than the treatment I got as an American in London, when asking for the way to the metro – “um, we do not call it a subway here, we call it the UNDERGROUND.” Not to mention how safe I feel in Madrid, which is always teeming with people – taking a taxi home at 3am is not something I would often consider doing back home. A cultural desert? Are you sure you were living in Spain? Have you been to Toledo, Segovia, etc? I cannot believe what I am reading !
Muchas gracias.
pilurini says
Spain sucks! lived there for 30 years = my kids are half spanish – grown up and I find Spain corrupt, full of crime and in the south the climate is almost desertlike! cultural desert too – with lots of flies
Mark says
Don’t like Spain, glad you are gone! We don’t miss ungrateful drunks in the country!
Carlos says
My goodness. How could you have lived for 30 years in a place that “sucks”. In my humble opinion and with all due respect, more that about the country, it says a lot about you….
Belgian says
I’ve been living in the South of Spain and indeed didn’t like it that much. I feel compelled to tell you that once I went to a townhall (in the beginning) and there was an English lady working there. She told me ‘you must always be careful if you do any bussiness here, but I have to tell you, I’m English and I shouldn’t say this, but the English are the worst’. Honest to God!! And lo and behold, she was right.
I now live on the Costa Blanca, and I like it here much better. I do NOT agree with your statement that Spanish people are rude. I find them VERY friendly and helpfull, especially if you take the efffort to try and speak their language. Most English don’t even bother : I read a complaint once in an English paper,from an English person that in the Centro de Salud there should be ‘at least’ an English translation of the messages on the wall (?!?). Why? Do you have translations on your walls in England?
Why is it that everybody has to speak English. You are a GUEST in THEIR COUNTRY : YOU are the one who has to adapt : not them. I personally think THIS is a very rude attitude. Some Spanish do hate the English, but hey : there is a reason for that : just read the above.
I often get irritated when I have to wait long in a bank or a shop, but : that is their way of living. I am a bit jealous of this : they lead a far more relaxed way of living then we do. Good for them! I hope that I will get the hang of it in time….. a lot healthier.
One last thing : if you hate Spain; go back and stop complaining. See how long it takes before you start complaining about the English live again….
Cheers
Alan says
A good comment Belgian i must say that The British education system does not push the learning of languages any where near enough and has not done so for years. Part of this is due to the English language being spoken in a lot of the world, perhaps due to the ease of learning it. But this is not an excuse, but if so many different countries speak English why would you bother to spend a fortune in money and time trying to learn another language , unless there was a specific reason. The french language also has this dominance in many parts of the world. I do not think most British people have a don’t bother attitude but more of a cultural language upbringing that has resulted in their lack of different language learning ability.
I must say i tried to learn french at school and found i was hopeless, until visiting france for an 8 week holiday and wanting to learn some to communicate daily with my host friends. and it was a great. Un fortunately for me i find learning any language impossible by book but much easier when in a practical need situation.
The Spaniard says
Well said…
lindyloo says
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING MOVING TO SPAIN, MY ADVICE IS TO RENT FOR A WHILE, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES BUY A PROPERTY, EVEN NOW, WHEN PRICES HAVE DROPPED, DON’T EVER CONSIDER IT. TOO UNPREDICTABLE, ALSO THE INHERITANCE TAX LAWS ARE FRIGHTENING FOR NON-SPANIARDS. PERSONALLY, I WOULD NOT BUY A RABBIT HUTCH IN SPAIN. THEY ARE A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES, THEY, RIGHTLY SO , LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES, NOT FOREIGNERS. I LIVED THERE FOR 3 YEARS, I CAME HOME TO ENGLAND IN 2010 AND YES, IT HAS PROBLEMS, BUT HOME IS HOME AND YOU KNOW HOW EVERYTHING WORKS. I ALWAYS FELT VULNERABLE IN SPAIN EVEN THOUGH I SPOKE FLUENT SPANISH. I WOULD NOT EVEN GO BACK THERE FOR A HOLIDAY NOW.
Alexandre says
En España os odiamos también. El 90% de los ingleses que vienen por aquí son jóvenes con ganas de emborracharse y destrozar las calles.
Luis says
Pero lo mas fuerte es que creen que su pais es el mejor de la faz de la tierra, cuando es un pais feo,frio,sin oportunidades y depresivo. Se quejan mucho de España, pero no son capaces de darse cuenta que nuestro pais es mejor que el de ellos, CON DIFERENCIA! Un saludo!
Purini says
Que v! Vivia en espana durante 30 anos una experiencia queria volver pero tenia dos hijos y no queria abandonarles tampoco queria quitarles de su padre. Pero ahora llevo 3 anos de vuelta aqui en inglaterra – que alegria! Este pais no es feo y hay muchisimas oportunidades, mucho humor, arboles, ayuda, sorpresas y el tiempo no hace frio siempre y no me gusta tanto calor. Que feliz estoy por haber vuelto
C.A says
Muy bien dicho,Alexandre !!! ej. SALOU, MARBELLA . Se quejan de la educación en españa ,pero estoy segura de que ningún joven español se comporta de la manera en la que se comportan ”los que han recibido una educación superior” cuando están visitando España …
So you say education in Spain is far worst than in England .how do you explain then the behavior of your “‘superior” youth when they visit Salou every year??? just stay where you are and don’t boughter coming !!!!
And you, PURINI, 30 years and you still have problems with the language… I rest my case.
Javier says
Hi, my name is Javier and I am Spanish , the thing is that I lived my childhood is Australia so I an not 100% Spanish in my way of acting and thinking.
I had never been to the Uk and two summers ago I had the chance to visit your country and I was very pleased; one of the biggest differences I experienced is the customers service, to get the service and attention you get in any British establishment, you need to go to a medium to expensive shop or restaurant, I am so unhappy with the way they treat people that I cannot believe that our tourism is doing quite well.
As other people have said any paperwork is hell to get done, and things are getting very expensive for the average worker, really ifmysituation was different I probably think about moving from here, but for me there are more positive things than negative.
One last thing is that after being here for 35 years some people still call me “el inglés” or ” el Australiano”, so I have been considered a foreigner in my country.
martin says
humm after reading the above doubt ill go to spain it sound crap
Rob says
Lol, ditto
Naomi Abrahams says
I’m no expert as I only spent a couple of months in Spain, a few years ago, and gave up when I realised that some people were horrible. Since then I’ve been to Asia where some people were rude and unpleasant, too. But there were lovely ones as well, just as there are in Spain or anywhere else. I’ve lived in Ireland for many years and love it but there are things that drive me crazy.. I used to think that Irish time,( late) wasunique until I was told that there was Vietnam time(even later) as my students would tell me. The point is that there are disadvantages to living anywhere. The longer you live somewhere, the more aware you will be of the place’s faults. You just have to decide if you want to be somewhere and make the best of it. If it doesn’t suit your needs,move on. Don’t expect a perfect place or perfect people, they don’t exist. Right now I would put up with a lot to get the damp out of my bones as I’ve had arthritis since I was in my twenties. It’s all about what you want and need
larkin says
spain is a big beutiful place, listening to the complaints of a guy whose chose to work and live among drunken expats in the least spanish part of spain is a great mistake, travel a little. learn Spanish. you vukgarians just want everything on a platter. And if you hate spain so much just get your dental work done in Englan, where they will REALLy rip you off.
carolvoss says
I lived in Spain for six years. The location on the Costa Blanca was my partners choice as he already owned a property and had interests there.
Apart from rotten customer service and rip offs by the spanish, the real horrors came from the British ex pats. Often seedy, obese, drunks, or con merchants, smug suburbanites, or wicked old witches with pampered pets drinking all day long until they fell over in the street.
At best just plain boring and thick, and most out to make a buck out of anyone they could. There were dreary and mind bogglingly boring ‘entertainments of kareoke bars, bingo and crap ‘English’ food and bars. Whoever said ‘call someplace paradise then kiss it goodbye’ was spot on.
Allow the worst of the British abroad and they’ll quickly turn anywhere into downmarket little Britain, with the lowest standards, tacky shops and the worst of everything they managed to escape from in the first place.
Ex pats ugh!
One thing I noticed, almost all the Spanish took care with their appearance, didn’t drink theselves stupid and had a grasp of culture and arts in their country.
Perhaps I hit the wrong part and found the Brit Sun readers and loud mouths. Britain may be cold, but it sure beats the being near the ex pats abroad, and if the Spanish learned how customer service works in Tesco they might get out of recession.
Regrets at leaving? Not at all and I don’t have to see fat nearly naked people.
natalie cooper says
not sure really somethings are true i am 27 from england but now live in sevilla spain i have just had my first baby here and they was very good with me and looked after me and my baby very well as for the roads yes they are a mess but havent they always been like that ?? as for jobs there are few and far between phone jobs i dont even see bar jobs anymore
ohh well happy days uk or in spain 🙂 main thing keep smiling 🙂 xxx
Marc says
Okay then, let me jump in. I have been living in Spain for the last 10 years, close to Madrid in a very nice village. I am French but worked all my life in the USA, where I still travel a lot for work. My wife is Spanish and we have a son born in Spain.
I think it is very difficult to get things done in Spain and what is mostly wrong here is the system. There is good and bad everywhere.
One thing I know for sure is if I had spent the energy I spent here to get things done in the last 10 years I would be a millionaire in the USA, living in Malibu and have breakfast with the stars. You could tell me: “then go back there” and that is exactly what I am doing.
This country hasn’t given me much and in return taken a lot out of me. Don’t get me wrong I have a GREAT Spanish family and good friends too but this is not going to put food on the table.
I agree with most on this blog, administration is a freaking nightmare in this country, you could hear 15 different opinions from the same administration office.
If you try to be part of the system and open a business you will be hammered real hard before you can even make a return, not really good for business, isn’t it?
I have had a great time in Spain but it is now time to get the hell out of here before it gets worse and believe you me it’s going to get much worse. Unless you have a great opportunity for a job, think twice before you move here.
Now talking about rude and racist people it is quite hard to top the USA for that but I found people over here to be very jealous and envious, so if you’re good at what you do they will try to put you down. Spain is not the land of opportunities.
Do I hate Spain?
No I don’t, I actually love it here and it pains me to leave but this is the right thing to do for me.
Spain is a beautiful country and I can see why a lot of people want to move here but just beware it may not be what you think.
This is my humble opinion now it’s your choice.
Good luck to all… Marc
Rubbish says
You are an idiot to attempt to stereotype Africans who live in Spain.
You cannot lump a group of individuals into one pot and categorise them as having the same behaviour. It is grossly offensive.
Furthermore, we are all human and you there is nothing ‘better’ about you that gives you more of a right to be in Spain than them.
tink says
Section 1. Crime in Spain
Name me a country that does not have crime.
Section 2. Work and Jobs in Spain
What did you think would be better , why did you assume everything, did it never occur to you that it would be different not better
Section 3. The Word Manana /Section 4. Customer Service in Spain
You are in Spain – should have stayed put or gone the the USA for customer service – oops sorry they have a lot of crime
Section 5. Getting Ripped Off in Spain
Mmmmmmmmmmmm ever seen the TV programme Watch Dog people rip off people in the UK as well
Section 6. Poor Roads/Facilities in Spain
Before you arrived were you promised nice roads etc?
FelX says
Your counterarguments were weak and just tried to distract from facts. Your point about Section 6, just sounds as a fallacy, he obviously complaining about something that’s bad and he adds the subject of corruption, which could be the reason for that problem.
It’s clear that any of us have no fun when others are criticizing things we like or love, but if the critic is valid, then it’s better to try to solve that situation. I read a lot of persons defending their countries and even condoning crimes and other bad things, just because they love their countries, if that’s their patriotism, then those nations will have a worst future.
Raquel says
Have just spent the last half an hour reading Nick’s account of living in Spain, and the various and mixed bag of responses which followed… so now for mine! I live in the UK but have owned a property with my parents in a small village on the Eastern Costa del Sol (approx 15 minutes outside of Nerja!) for 6 years. I am a regular visitor, as are my parents – who are retired and visit several times a year for a month or two at a time.
From the age of 5 I had visited Spain many, many times for holidays (and many other wonderful European and non-European destinations too!) I was most familiar with the Western Costa del Sol, more especially Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmadena, etc, and from my late twenties I aspired to have a small home there.
I spent some 5 years or so researching the property market because the property “boom” at that time meant that our budget would not stretch to purchase in the Western Costa del Sol (what an absolute blessing in disguise!). Still keen to fulfill my Spanish Holiday home dream, I invested in Spanish lessons and ventured to different parts of Spain. I took a good look (both internet research and physical visits). My search took in just about every stop from Barcelona to Gibraltar. The area that both I and my parents fell in love with was “La Axarquia” (the Eastern Costa del Sol). It was much less developed. For us, there was, and still is, something magical about the place and many of its people. The welcome and the help that was given to us was quite something. One small example…. the Spanish family who own some of the hotels in our local beach town – where I used to stay during my property search trips – befriended me. Being a very successful, multi-millionaire hotelier and property developer, the Father even took the time out to visit run-down village houses which I had picked out. Not to try to make money from me, but to advise me and protect me and my family from making mistakes or being “ripped off” in any way. I was even invited to their home for lunch. So, just as in England and every other country in the World, there are good people… you just have to use your own judgement and instincts.
After several disappointing experiences (we were gazumped, etc), we finally found our little place in the sun. None too pretty, but it had potential. It suited both our needs (bearing in mind the generation difference between myself and my parents). A village 10 minutes from the coast and 10 minutes from the lake. The village had every-day amenities, yet more modern and large-scale facilities were only a 5 minute drive away. After a very long, stressful and over-budget refurbishment programme which I had the challenge of trying to manage between full time job in UK and flying out for weekends every couple of weeks (undertaken by ENGLISH BUILDERS!!!) – and, YES…. we had to employ a local SPANISH BUILDER to come and put right many aspects of the works which had been undertaken by the English builders!) the dream was finally realised.
It is almost like going back in time entering the village. We love its simplicity and, for the most part, the people (there will always be the odd one or two that your instincts will warn you against). There are around 700 inhabitants (when we first arrived, of that 700, there were probably around 20 ex-pats in and around the village – now there are less than half and those ex-pats that are still living there are on pensions and not reliant or solely reliant on income earned in Spain. Yes, it’s tough times). We have the most amazing Spanish vecinos/neighbours. Despite being part-time residents (and my parents’ very limited knowledge of Spanish), we integrate very much with the Spanish people, but also have ex-pat friends too. For example, on her annual visit last year, my 6 year old niece (who speaks about 5 words of Spanish!) attended the birthday party of a little Spanish girl in the village. The young kids took my niece’s hand and she was accepted and “invited” to join in as one of them – despite the fact that they had never met her before. That’s very much how it’s been during the last 6 years. We are always looked after (avocados, mangos, every fruit and vegetable, lifts into town, watering our plants, etc, etc) and we are always INCLUDED and INVITED to join in with the people and the goings on in the village. Of course, just as here in England (I live in the South and my parents live in West Wales) there is crime … a wheelbarrow which we had left on the front terrace “disappeared”. Our neighbour advised us that a house in the village had been burgled during the light of day. Their opinion was that it was not a local offender.. rather an immigrant from Northern or Eastern Europe, and was a new experience for the village. Me, I have been burgled twice in the last 20 years in the UK… different houses… but both while I was asleep in bed. When I speak to my Spanish friends on the telephone they too raise the same concerns/moans about the goings on in Spain as I do about the goings on in England…. unemployment, rising cost of living, crime rate… even the poor weather. So, yes, I can completely understand Nick’s frustration but to have stayed for 5 years…. it surely can’t have all been bad? I think that the little “irritations” that one can overlook when all is going well can quite easily grow out of all proportion when situations change. Good luck on your return to the UK… hope it lives up to expectations..
Globalcitizen2012 says
I am south asian and have lived in usa, uk and france and visited spain many times. For some people the us and uk are good countries because they need jobs to support themselves….However besides giving a job these countries – us and uk offer little else in return.UK in my opinion is the worst of all, there is way more crime in uk than spain or france and uk’s government is much worse than anywhere else. UK is a racist, corrupt, over regulated and over suspicious country now where survival has become very difficult especially for genuine foreigners. I am wealthy enough so dont need a job to sustain myself and for people like me i think spain is much better…..i found spanish people mostly kind, sweet and friendly compared to the british who mostly have a huge issue with south asians….not saying all brits are that way but a large anount are….they are very condascending deceitful people too. The spaniards arent so hard working but they have more integrity…they have much better family values and are happier people. The sadness of grey britain with the ugliness everywhere just makes me sick,,,and there is too much harassment in uk now….too much policing and an over suspicious environment. Spain is not for people looking to build careers but for someone independant its a great place to spend at least half a year….
pilurini says
glad to hear tht you are wealthy enough to not need a job, I don’t see how you can say that there is more crime in the UK, or that we are more racist or corrupt!
Our country is not ugly it is beautiful! green, trees everywhere, sea never far away, vibrant capital and friendly people, positive attitude, sense of humor always at the forefront, You have had a bad experience of our country.
Boyd says
Some of what you say rings true but to make a case for the UK being more Racist then Spain is a delusional lie.
How many Asian or Black people in Spain do you see as Doctors , Lawyers , TV presenters , Newsreaders , MP’s Artists writers. I’ll tell you what I do see everyday in Spain Black migrants selling cheap tat on street corners the only time you see black man ( not a tourist) in a neighbourhood bar is when he is selling bits and bobs table to table., chinese working all the hours and more to eak out a living in corner shops basically the only time you see immigrants colour in a work place is the poorest paid jobs.
Also bare in mind civil liberties are very different in Scotland and England the Uk is not one place in effect it is two places with their own legal system and strong parliaments.
Spain is a much more racist country then the UK as a whole ever was and ever will be , we have racial discrimination laws in the UK Spain has non. We have a diverse Police force in comparison to Spain.
The UK has a chicken kurma as its national dish despite its problems in comparison it thrives on change it does not stop second generation immigrants from prospering in mixed society as for Spain don’t make me laugh.
Pepehola says
As an expat, who has been living in Spain for neigh on thirty years, I can honestly say that if you are well off ( as many retired brits are) Spain is probably one of the best countries to live in, at least in Europe. If you have the dough third world countries are the best place to take advantage of poorer locals. If you don’t have the dosh and end up in currupt Spain, I feel sorry for you.
Spain may have its good points but when ex president José Maria Aznar buys a flat which has been built without the proper planning permission then something is really wrong.
To tell people not to complain or go home or that you shouldn’t have come here in the first place, is like telling anyone in a high unemployment area with no skills to move out, easier said than done when you have no means of making a fresh start.
I would just like to add that the majority of Spaniards are not happy with their own country and everything I complain about (like a typical wynging Brit that I am) my Spanish counterparts also find annoying to say the least.
I wonder how many people who made comments on this post went to mass to commemorate Franco’s death on November the twentieth? Spain just hasn’t moved on and if you don’t beleive me take a look at the aggressions on Gibraltar of late.
r2schris says
Not wishing to add to the argument but. Nick has made some honest comments and unfortunately he doesnt like it and has decided its not for him. I think his comments are one view and i am glad to read his views especially if i was going to live in Spain. The other comments are also good and anyone reading for the first time can draw their own conclusions. For me. i have properties in Poland, spain, france and italy. I get frustrated by the incompetence of italians and spanish. France hasnt caused me too many issues. You can get ripped off and cheated especially when you least expect it. Crime is evident everywhere but i do find the desire to follow up and detect is worst in italy. The Italians say there are always 2 police men together because; one to read and one to write. Each country has good and bad things. But at the end of the day a home is what you want to make it. Adjusting your lifestyle to fit the environment. I always do my research before buying but all the research in the world doesnt identify lawyers or professionals who cheat you etc. I find lots of my tenants especially in France come and rent for 3-6 months to see if they like the area and place etc before deciding to buy. I dont get that in Spain of Italy. I do confess that i am shocked at the number of Brits who romantically move to another country with very little cash or knowledge and then end up coming back to the uk with little cash. But hey ho its a life experience and they had the courage to have a go.
Thanks for the note nick you clearly set off a hornets nest. I always think its wonderful to read the comments of some of the people here. You can see the anger and emotion running through the keys as they type. Castigating others and making silly immature comments. The must be quite sad individuals if they cannot respond without getting over emotive.
Well ive added my comments and hopefully anyone else reading this thinking of buying in spain will be able to make up their own minds.
c
david Smith says
Why are most of the brits with sour grapes posting here talking about ??? , my wife and myself have been coming to the NORTH ! notice NORTH costa blanca for many years and bought our property on la sella near pedreguer 6 years ago we will be coming to stay next year to live and work , we have spent the past 4 years researching our business plan. We dont go to english or irish bars or the well known english so called restaurant at the far end of the arenal, yes you know the one! .what the hell is the point coming to this beatifull part of spain and eating crap food and drinking a bottle of cats pee ( free with your meal ) if you dont like spanish culture customs food ect go to Nerja, Torrevieja ect where the rest of the brits are eating fish and chips with a lager watching sky sports , my personal opinion is that most people moaning about spain are the ones who are not prepared to accept this is spain and if you dont like it tough !!!! . As for corruption have a look at england ,a close look at barclays bank, mp expenses ect !!!!
neil metcalf says
Well said David.
Steve says
I think it’s what you make it whatever country you move to. IDE love to live in Spain. And get out of the rat race in uk.
Manuel says
You are more than welcome to my province (of Alicante), David!. We need more people like you here. That´s the way, a good attitude.
Phil says
The first time my wife and I went to Spain, we stayed at a small villa belonging to a friend. She told us that a neighbour would meet us at Alicante airport and take us the 25 miles to T. This same neighbour took us to a “brit bar” and we found out he looked after our friends villa. He charged us a full taxi fare from the airport , in the brit bar he only drank shorts to my beers (twice as many) and we subsequently found out he was letting our friends villa and keeping the money without telling her. No wonder when she went out her gas cylinders were always empty. I found the Brits were greedy and always looking out to cheat you. The Spanish were mostly nice.
Peter says
I have to agree with all of the comments the writer has made about Spain. Spain is great for vacation but for living its quite horrible. I speak spanish fluently so a lack of the language is not the problem for me. The majority of people are rude and the corruption on all levels is sickening. The justice system is slow if your lucky becuase most crimes don´t get punished. The only good thing i can say about spain is that it has made me appreciate my home(u.s.) a lot more. Just go to ibiza in the summer….
Mark says
You are the typical ugly American! I have lived in the U.S., and there’s no comparison between Spain and the U.S.! Talking about rude people, crime (mass killings all the time, shootings in every city on a daily basis) ,trash on the streets, high taxes, materialistic society, and racism? Go back to the states and stay there, you give Americans a bad name!
John says
Mark you’re a sad, jealous, hater. Peter said nothing offensive, but you go on a rude pitiful rant. Glad to not know you. I feel sorry for whatever country has to put up with your hatefulness.
Matthew Hirtes says
I live in Canaries which is considerably closer to the “poor African countries” that the writer mentions than Nerja. At no time do I worry about the threat to my property or myself from people who have relocated from Africa. Good luck in multicultural Britain, Nick.
peter jenkins says
I’ve lived in Catalunya on and off for 20 years and on the whole have enjoyed it. There are problems as with anywhere, but you have to learn to adapt to your environment. If you want to live in an ex-pat community with your full English and Daily Mail then expect the locals not to take a shine to you. I’ve experienced very little crime, have been ripped off by a few builders/electricians /satellite installers, but put that down to my bad judgement in choosing the wrong person for the job. Yes there is corruption at every level, and before long if it all comes out Spain will be worse off than Greece, I know many people, both locals and foreigners, who don’t pay all their taxes because if they did they’d go out of business, but if there were one reason for moving for me it would have to be the education system. I have 3 children, one at university and the other 2 in an International school, but even though they get a much better quality education it is still arcane compared to the UK . I’m a teacher, have worked in state and private schools here and a state school in Luton, and am totally convinced that the kids I taught in Luton left school better prepared for life and with a better education in general than I see kids getting here. So the future for Spain is not bright and will be more expensive for all of us. I’m not a “whingeing Pom” but what I do see is that we have a choice- we have another country or countries to go to and experience a new life and culture and I embrace that option. There are far too many young people here and in the UK who don’t have that chance and won’t for a long time until we sort out the global economy and stop all the greedy egocentric politicians and big businesses from ripping us all off. And it doesn’t matter where you live for them to do that – just ask starbucks or vodafone in the UK – it’s not a Spanish monopoly to rip you off- it’s just business!
Andrew says
I agree with what Peter Jenkins is saying. Very well said.
I want to live in Spain. But I have noticed loads of Spanish people moving to London for work. Especially work that they wouldn’t do in Spain. Ever since 2007/2008 the global economy has affected everyone in some sort of way. I feel that since 07/08 a lot of companies globally and locally have been trying to rip us of more than before. So we need to be careful when handing money over. And read the small print because it seems everyone is getting ripped of by everyone.
My dream of moving to Spain may have to be put on hold for however many years. There is some sort of hope as I have some Spanish friends that have moved back to Spain and started a family. I’ll have to wait and see if it will just remain a dream.
It’s been interesting reading a lot of the comments on here. Not really surprised with the comments on here to be honest.
The same problems that are in Spain are the same in the UK. In every country. It’s also interesting to know that most of the problems are in the costal del sol. Seems to be a lot of friction between the locals and large amount of ex-pats in that area. I wonder if there’ll be less friction in Barcelona?
It does amaze me that SOME people go to Spain thinking that they don’t need to learn Spanish or don’t want to learn Spanish or can’t be bothered to learn Spanish. And if some people have been living in Spain for many years or decades and still can’t speak Spanish, then that is shocking. Awful.
I wouldn’t be surprised if those same people had a problem with foreigners living in England or the UK that can’t speak English. I’ve been in certain places in Spain and its so funny when I’m in a shop or anywhere. And the person in front of me speaks loudly, nearly shouting in English and expects the Spanish person to understand. We are in their country for goodness sake.
Anyway it’s been great reading some of these comments so far. I’m glad that I’ve learnt from other people’s experiences. It’s given me a better understanding.
Magdalena says
Totally agree with you Peter.
Disappointed says
Thank you for sharing. I actually feel the same way right now. I have just moved from USA to UK and cannot believe how disappointing UK is. So I guess Spain must be even worse? Really? I actually discovered many easter European countries to be better than UK in many aspects. You can’t make nice leaving in UK unless you are a doctor or lawyer or successful business owner. Customer service ? please, don’t make me laugh. Flats small and without walking closets (or any wardrobes), even those recently built! and be careful not to bump your head on ceilings, they are pretty low in new flats! Now I understand why UK doesn’t ever make it to the top 10 for quality of living. Reach country?? For real?
Annoyed at Didappointed says
I am half british, half american, but I was born in England and have lived here my entire life. One thing I hate is when americans who don’t even own a passport think that the streets are paved with gold in England. If you go somewhere thinking that it’ll be your shangri-la, then of course you’ll be let down! Okay, you say that you can’t make a nice living in the UK unless you are a doctor, lawyer, or successful business owner. What? You must have a very strange social group and general area, if that is what you think. I have never heard anyone ever say something even hinting at that. If you can’t get a job, it’s because of your own incompetence, and from your post I can guess, arrogance. No customer service; again, where are you in the UK? The only thing I can guess that made you feel this way is that in England, salespeople don’t treat customers like the sun shines out of their behinds. You probably just had a bad experience in a couple of stores, though, but still, labelling the entire country as not having customer service? Narrow minded, aloof, arrogant, clueless … Walk in closets? How can you judge a country on its walk-in closets, and flat height? You must be trying to find a house in a densely populated city; the thing is, England and its cities are much more compact due to lack of space – america was built as people travelled west, so everything is generally bigger, more spread out. And finally, as I said before, ENGLAND IS NOT PAVED WITH GOLD. No-one ever says that all of England is rich, of course there are poor people and poor places. Your friends back in the US and online must have propogated a myth that England is a perfect, wealthy country, and the best in Europe (Sweden probably is). Well we didn’t advertise it like that, you did. So do some research before you come, in a real book, read the british newspapers, and generally have more common sense. Sorry for the long post, but it felt good writing it.
enric says
I am spaniard, was born in Barcelona. The main problem I see here is the region: costa blanca, costa del sol..Try to do the same in Barcelona or Madrid metropolitan areas and you realize very fast that the things are different. Less corruption and more opportunities, generally speaking, of course.
I have never understand why british people are so absolutely fascinated with the weather and the coast, overall all the souteastern coast having in mind that there are more in the nort.
I am planning anyway moving back to London after eight years, because we finally hit the bottom and some andaluzas provinces are up to 30% unemployment.
Regards,
Pablo says
Come to Zaragoza! We don’t have sea but every Brit I know here is happy.
Carlos says
No beach Pablo – let’s keep it that way! 😉
les says
I was very surprised to read the above, although I do believe that when you move to another country you should try and integrate, we moved to the isle of lewis in scotland and loved it, we lived there 13years and integrated, ok the 1st language was english but a lot of the locals spoke gaelic, especially when english were around but i accepted this and they changed to us when we started helping at local carnivals etc – unfortunately we had to move back due to parents illness, although we would love to move back we do like the thought of moving to a warmer climate with having arthritis. All countries have there downsides and it helps to know what they are, friends of ours moved back from bulgaria and told us of big problems with crime, its difficult to get a balanced view wherever you move to – one thing for sure though wherever we end up we will rent for 6 months rather than jump in and buy.
Jeco says
Im Portuguese and have to live next to those self obsessed proud for no reason kings of their own belly buttons. Spanish are in no way like any other mediterranean country. Even though italians are proud they do not dis their equals. Traveling through their country is a struggle and having them in my country is a pain in the butt. They assume all the planet speaks spanish and that their views should be seen as mainstream! Paris is a North American cliché. South of Spain is a Northern European cliché. It is dirty, overpopulated and extremely touristic. Both suck and are not as glamorous as people think. Before moving somewhere you should do a thorough research! For example Croatia is much nicer than Italy when it comes to beach culture and people still prefer Italy. Portugal is much better than Spain and people still prefer to go to Spain. We thank you for that! This is the only way to keep our country in a good condition when it comes to preserving our country’s natural riches.
Alan says
Well said Jeco well said. A little intelligence goes a long way.
Vanessa says
Oh, yes, they assume everyone speaks Spanish, completely the opposite as British, who are so well known for speaking the local language everywhere they go.
And btw, Paris is amazing.
Carlos says
Feeling a bit inferior to others, Jeco?
🙂
I think generalizations are “always” bad.
Weirdeuropean says
It is so amazingly unbelievable how some people with no criteria judge other countries. Look, I’m Catalan, from Barcelona. Catalonia might ring a bell due to the separatist movement which is taking place nowadays in the region. And if you had never heard about that yes, we do want to become a new country. I do. Nevertheless I do not like people to talk about Spain in shuch dismissive way. Absolutely everyone (whoever who has a minimum common sense at least) knows this country doesn’t work. We have been hit by a terrible recession and there are 4 million unemployed people and 13 million people with economic problems. The fact is that what the foreigners like Nick should do before moving out here is to get some minimum information, which is absolutely basic. And even if they didn’t, who on Earth hasn’t heard about our economic trouble? What you can’t pretend is to imagine Spain as a sunny, warm paradise with perfect houses, perfect people, a number of labour opportunities and good wages. Haven’t you thought maybe people here would maybe live in mansions by the beach then?
When it comes to being self-obsessed, I totally disagree with that. In every single country there are nationalist and not nationalist people. In Catalonia I have heard very very few people saying “Viva España”, because it is bad seen. And you will go to Madrid and many people will still think this country struggles in millions of aspects. And if what you complain about is Spanish tourists speaking Spanish in Portugal is because -maybe you had not heard about that- both Portuguese and Spanish come from Latin, very related languages and we can understand each other very well. I don’t know about you but I do understand a Portuguese speaking, even though it sounds as if they had a potato in their throat (and not willing to offend anyone, just a feature). When people I know have visited Portugal, they have often spoken Spanish or even Catalan and they said they didn’t have any problems, they were attended in Portuguese and responded in Spanish or Catalan. So I don’t think there is a real reason for calling the Spanish self-obsessed. Notice I don’t like Spanish people either since I am Catalan and I can’t stand Spain in general, I think it is a joke country. But anyway, I have met many many nice Spanish people which respect even Catalonia, so why not Portugal?
To conclude, I would like to remark a specific aspect you cited. “Spain is not like any other Mediterranian country”. Well, yes, it fails in many things, but first go check out the GDP per capita or the average personal income in Portugal. We’ll discuss later who fails the most here.
Kind regards
eric says
portugal better then spain? hahaha you only have algarve ivebeen all around portugal and its nothing like spain Spanish people are much nicer and their country is much nice I’ve been places like seville malaga you will never compareshitty portugal tot hem even italy is nicer then portugal lol
loles says
hi,
im a spaniard leaving in the uk since 5 years ago. and no, i dont work in a spanish restaurant or struggle wit the language. i came here to get work experience in a good company and then decided to stay because of personal reasons.
i do agree there are lots of things which can improve in spain, which i dislike… but let’s be honest… the uk is far from being perfect.
i suggest people do a bit more research before moving out and choose less touristic places to live in… spain has plenty of lovely places, dont focus just on costa del sol (which in my opinion is just full of clueless tourist looking for sun and cheap booze) or other touristic resources. spain is more than sun, sangria, flamenco and bullfighters…
LINDA VINGIANO says
APART FROM ALL THE OTHER REASONS PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY DON’T LIKE SPAIN, I.E. RUDENESS, RED TAPE ETC, THE SPANISH ARE ALSO INCREDIBLY CRUEL TO THEIR ANIMALS, BULLFIGHTING IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
Andrew says
Linda, are you a vegetarian?
In case you are, I respect what you say. Otherwise, it’s sheer hippocrisy. Any farm animal whose meat everyone gladly eats is treated with far more cruelty than Spanish bulls. In fact, these animals live like kings as the owners invest a lot of money in keeping them fit and good-looking. Sure, they eventually get killed, but at least they have a chance to fight (some are even forgiven). Farm animals don’t get this chance.
Spanish bulls would probably extinct by now if it weren’t for bullfighting. They are delicate animals and not at all cheap to breed.
colin cambell says
i visit nerja dn malaga twice yearly these past 4 yeasr and have only ever encounterer good ness and good will form all the spanish i ever met . All went out of their way to help if they could and all service i found to be generous and most civilized . A country where they even put a stamp in a little bag and give it to you with a smile is a winner in my book . in the UK we have the worst service anywhere and do not know what folks are talking about re it being good . Spanish culture in what i have seen seems to embrace all ages of the family and enjoy food and wine and gatherings in fresh air – as opposed to being hidden in different rooms watching tv .. I may be wrong but they seem to life well sussed and live life at the correct speed with out the need for excess alcohol or a good fight to have a good time !
Hamish says
Firstly, Andrew, I am not a vegetarian.
Secondly, I tend to agree with LINDA VINGIANO that the Spanish can be cruel to their animals. And I am not talking about bull fighting, as I actually have no problem with it. It is part of the history of Spain, just as fox hunting is part of the UKs history.
You say of bull fights, “they have a chance to fight (some are even forgiven)”. By forgiven I take it you mean the bulls life is spared. Yes it can happen, but rarely, I’ve seen it only once. And if it does the bull will never fight again, for it knows what will happen in the ring and is therefore very dangerous.
As for them having “a chance to fight” it is not a fair one. Many a time I have seen a matador get into trouble (with the possibility of being seriously injured or killed). Yet his banderilleros will come to his aid, draw the bull away allowing said matador to regroup and go on to kill the bull. Yet by default the bull had already ‘won’ the fight!
Thirdly, you talk of farm animals and the cruel treatment they receive. Have you ever been on a farm Andrew?
My grandfather, many uncles, friends and others in my extended family are/ were farmers and each and every one treats the animals with respect.
Fourthly, you class fighting bulls as “delicate”. Do you not realise they are bred to be strong, aggressive with good stamina and energy? Hardly delicate!
Lucia says
Linda your opinion is far away to matter someone. Lol you are stupid. Im Spain and I know that are people in Spain who trate wrong animals but you cant say that we are all the same. I have one dog, two birds and one fish I LOVE animals and I dont know anybody here that dont treat well animals. Of course it might be, like in all the countries. So first get information about what are you talking about because this comment is to al the spanish people and I think that if anyone of the people I know see this comment they will answer you and not woth good lamguage. Huhh I hate people like you seriously. Bullfithing or here “los toros” is a “sport” that the majority of the people hate it. I dont understand why they do that, but trust me spanish people lees that 50 years domt like it.
Lyndsey says
I agree with Loles, England is far from perfect especially Wigan where I am from – jesus, people provoke you all the time there and interfere in your business, cause trouble the men are just plain rude and arrogant and full of kids having kids. England has a lot of drunken violence, lazy scroungers, benefit cheats, peados. So let’s talk about the PROBLEMS now…. yes, Spain pfff my little finger is more professional at times but then I guess that’s in most of these Latino islands but then maybe we are probably too prof because we in england have to deal with idiots complaining all the time and do you for a tiny scratch on your bloody car knocking all your no claims off, you don’t see that in Spain. So good and bad! Yes, can be annoying when you don’t get things on time or say money just goes out of your bank account and they didnt explain this to you about some kinda service charge grrr!
The person who said something about the South of Spain being more dangerous because it’s close to Africa what a load of s***! I have lived in Costa Blanca and I was attacked twice by different by South Americans and ended up putting one in prison, never had any problems in Granada. Just like England you get good and bad everywhere at least I have never seen people kicking or stamping on each others head like you do in England or fat ugly slappers hitting a man with a hi-heel shoe.
There’s good and bad but you can’t have everything remember that. You can have the beach and the sun and sit out at night with a sangria and look at the sexy men walking past or you can go back to your TV lifestyle and eat heart attack food, stare at all the cave men and listen to everyone moaning about ho s*** their life is. Spain is just lacking in professionalism that’s all, once that’s sorted then it will be a better place to live but the Spanish arent as business minded as us brits.
paul7 says
They can be awful to their dogs, too. Pets abandoned? We’ve all seen one at the roadside, I’m sure.
Used to go to the greyhound stadium in Barcelona in the 90s- the canodromo at Plaza D’Espanya – you’d go in there and see the awful conditions the racing dogs were kept in. Disgusting really. I don’t think it’s still there. I had a look on street view and it seems to be shops now.
paul7 says
Sorry, posted that ^ in the wrong place
never seen people kicking or stamping on each others head like you do in England or fat ugly slappers hitting a man with a hi-heel shoe.
true.
Paul says
Can only agree with Neil Metcalf and Maureen O’Donoghue about living in Spain: it’s a fantastic place to be. However, you have to make an effort with the language(s) if you really want to fit in. I often visit Minorca and my Minorcan friends frequently comment on British expats who have lived there for years but can’t beyond ‘hola’. A lot of them seem to spend most of their time in British pubs and bars and have little interest in mixing. Social services in Mercadal have to deal with quite a few cases of Spanish born teenagers of British parents who have a totally negative attitude to the locals and live in ghettos on the coast. The whole environment that they live in is negative and rotten. You can’t just turn up in a foreign country and expect everything to be handed to you on a plate; you have to work at settling in and have a positive attitude. If the Spanish government ever introduced a citizenship test like the one in the UK, the majority of Spain’s second biggest immigrant community, the Brits, would fail miserably.
ian bonnick says
i see that all the comments here are from people living in the south, we live in galicia and although the crime is less the other things go on.there are good and bad people everywhere and thats just the way it is.we have had a hard time of it same as others and more so as my wife is from another part of galicia so take heart they dont just pick on the brits they do it to their own oh and south americans
paul7 says
The other things being that Galicia owes half its wealth to south American imports, and what else?
Brian says
All I can say is that Nick is bang on the money. There is no work ethic amongst the Spanish and they can be incredibly rude and ignorant. The beaurocracy is unbelievably bad. The Guardia/Police/Town Hall all seem to be on a mission to scam Brits out of every penny they can, whilst allowing the Spanish to break laws with impunity. Just go into any Spanish bar and see how many are still smoking inside or look on any road to see a Spaniard with the 4 ways flashing where he has simply pulled up and caused chaos with the traffic. I was fined 100€ for parking off road by a roundabout, but the attractive young Spanish woman who was parked 20 meters in front of me did not get a fine!
In order to try to make a living, we bought an existing shop. Just changing it over cost us over €2000 – unbelievable!
Many Spanish blame their problems on the British expats without realising that if all the expats left and took the money that they pour into the economy with them, the problems for the Spanish would get a lot worse. Unlike all the scrounging immigrants in the UK, British expats either have an income or they go home! No social housing or juicy benefits for Brits in Spain.
Maureen O'Donoghue says
Nick’s article and the comments of those who agree with him illustrate exactly why the ‘English’ are known as ‘whingeing poms’ round the world. They move to a new country without any research or preparation regarding language, jobs, or lifestyle. Arriving in Spain, they left their brains behind when buying a property, signed up for mortgages they couldn’t afford, arrived without enough money to support themselves for more than six months, didn’t try to fit in with the Spanish community, complained if they had to take work like cleaning villas, or pools in order to get started, and made absolutely no attempt to appreciate the culture of this country. They created little ghettos of Brits along the coasts where they gossiped maliciously in the bars and ripped each other off whenever possible. They brought their chav habits of drunkenness, brawling and loutish behaviour with them – and then they are surprised that the Spanish don’t like them.
I have lived here for 12 years in an inland Spanish village, I have at least learnt castillano, my Valencian neighbours are friendly, helpful, nice people, the health service is magnificent, rail transport is incredible cheap, local ayuntamiento taxes are minimal, villages can close their streets and have a little fiesta without restriction from ‘elf and safety, petty officials and police; and the ability of the Spanish to have these celebrations, despite the suffering and poverty they are experiencing, is a lesson to all you moaning Brits on how to face life’s problems with guts. You get rudeness,, inefficiency and crime in all countries – especially in the big cities – and those of you returning to the UK are in for a lot more of that than happens here. So good riddance! None of you will be a loss to Spain.
Iain Renfrew says
I have lived in Spain since 2005 and at first I really enjoyed it. I live in a rural pueblo with all Spanish neighbours who are very helpful. I work all over the world , so the job situation never really affected me, however I am a radiographer with 20+ years of experience and 2 years ago I handed in my CV to my local hospital and health board. I never received as much as an acknowledgement. Early last year, my wife started getting pain in her right side, she was diagnosed with gastritis(wrong side), Biliary colic, gallstones and then finally the true diagnosis, stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She died 16 days after diagnosis. My beautiful wife was 54 years old. I felt that as far as the doctors were concerned we were no more than an inconvenience. She was not given morphine until 4 days before she died, despite repeated pleas. I then had to identify my wife in the mortuary and this was nothing short of disgraceful. My wife had been a nurse for 25 years and had been a senior mortuary technician for 15 years and never would she have shown a relative a body in that condition. To make matters worse, if that is possible, our insurance company,Mapfre, say she was not covered and I have today received a bill for just short of 9000 euros. It has now been 7 months since my wife died and they have still not paid her life insurance, despite me being named as her beneficiary. They say I need to go through probate in the UK first. Would a Spaniard be treated like this, think not. All in all I feel we were treated as if we didnt really matter as we were just foreigners, and it breaks my heart to say so as I never thought I would feel this way about Spain. When all this is settled, I will leave this country and never come back, in fact I wish I had never come here in the first place. You will always be an outsider here and no matter how hard you try to fit in, it will never work. You will always be overcharged, jumped in the queue and generally be a second class citizen. To all you people who think this country is wonderful, well just wait.
Iain Renfrew says
Sorry, my wife had been a nurse for 20 years.
Ann Waters says
How heartbreaking for you. Can’t imagine how alone you must have felt during your wife’s treatment. My deepest sympathies to you Iain . I’m in my 50’s and my husband is trying to get me to sell the house and relocate to Spain but I am afraid to take the plunge.
Magdalena says
I am so very very sorry to hear that. That must have been heart breaking for you. Thoughts are with you.
donna marie jose says
sadly allot of what nick said is true about living in Spain and especially since the property “boom ” is no more and x pats are no longer spending the same amount of money any more, there are hundreds of pensioners here too who are literally trapped in poverty, do not get proper care ,perhaps live on their own, and are isolated, and lonely and poor,as to younger x pats with families i just don’t know how they are managing and most have to return to uk, speaking fluent Spanish makes little difference in getting a job/position, a Spanish applicant will always be preferred, though its always nice to be able to speak the language for social reasons, but to get on and progress in work, forget it.most Spanish do try and make us welcome but are not prepared ,or perhaps do not know what to do when we need help of any kind, it would appear that they think we are all loaded and therefore are self-sufficient, they are friendly but if one does not have a very substantial income /pension, usually from uk then there is no help for an x pat, legal work apart from cleaning , time share, or bar work is non existent and even these mentioned are fraught with the most dodgy characters.trying to keep to the same principals/rules and directives as a law abiding citizen would want to keep to and has always done in uk is very difficult in Spain as one is continually told one thing today but tomorrow this is most likely to have changed.even if one does all the pre research, has insurance, etc etc its very difficult to get what one is entitled to by right of having paid for it.Animal welfare is also non existent in Spain and the cruelty to animals is heartbreaking, though there are some good souls who do there very best to help the creatures.to some x pats living in Spain mentioning any of the above is classed as moaning brits , but this is not the case, its just stating the facts, there are some wonderful positives living in Spain but make sure you have plenty money , have a lawyer living under your bed and you will be ok a great majority of x pats pay a high pricefor their sunshine.
Tom Roberts says
I’ve lived & worked in almost 20 countries around the world because my profession has been an international one. Now I live in Spain and this is where I intend to stay. We love it here, but we’ve loved it where ever we’ve been.
People here are writing as if Spain and the UK are the only two places in the world.
There are 195 independent sovereign states in the world. Stop moaning (like a Brit) and go find your happiness in one of them. Best not pick the UK because you were probably moaning like an old woman about the UK when you first left there for “a better life in Spain”.
The same people moaning here will probably be moaning about the next country they live in after a few years there, whether it’s the UK or otherwise.
Make your own happiness and stop expecting one place or society to make you happy. Otherwise you will go to your grave in search of the happiness you never found …because you didn’t realise that you make your own happiness in this life.
Pat Hanoman says
I totally agree with Tom Roberts that you have to make your own happiness. I have been living and working (teaching English) in Gran Canaria off and on over the last 4 years and I love it ! I feel much safer there than I ever feel in Britain, and the islanders are polite and cheerful people, in spite of the recession. No doubt the permanently good weather does help !
Yes, the bureaucracy is horrendous, as I found out when I had to register for work, but once done it was quickly forgotten and I got down to the business of enjoying life on this paradise island.
Sarah Ennis says
Well said Tom! As someone considering leaving the U.K for ‘somewhere in Europe’, this was the best answer on here by far!
neil metcalf says
Derek,
I am glad that at least someone else had the common sense
to do proper research as you and I did and not come to Spain
with an idea that they would get jobs/money/etc. thrown at
them as the English governments do to foreigners.
Derek Shields says
I can only assume that the folk who don’t like Spain are living in the wrong place, didn’t do adequate research before coming, haven’t made enough effort to integrate, or are just expat minded. I have been in Spain for a number of years and find it a pleasant and friendly country. I have Spanish, British and Irish friends with a smattering of folk from other countries and by and large we get on well. It would appear from the mails already in this column that most of the folk having a bad time are on the Costa del Sol, we certainly don’t appear to have the same problems on the Costa Blanca. I find the Spanish people courteous, friendly, hard working, efficient and honest and the only folk I’ve had problems with have been Brits. Go back to UK? Not bloody likely, thanks!
Dr David Ashby says
My brother lives in a small village in Valencia we learnt spanish little by little with the help of the villagers we were treated as equals not as guerras to put it in perspective why are the poles ect so successful in uk they integrate fellow expats on the costas speak little spanish and want fish and cups or egg and bacon ect why emigrate 2000 miles to eat English food we have people here who refuse to speak spanish or to adapt what would happen to them in uk yes you’ve got it , if you want to emigrate a, learn the language b,learn to adapt its there country not yours yet c, research there is no jobs here and if a vacancy comes up who would you employ ? D this is a loving country adapt and you have a new home
Lucy says
Neil Metcalf,what on earth are you talking about??? The crime in Spain is Absolutley awful. Muggings,buglaries and fraud are hot at the moment. I live in Madrid and its awful. It’s dirty,sweaty,poorly maintained and just down in the dumps. My 18 daughter is going to in the U.K and I don’t blame her. The education system here is awful. I hope to go back to Durham ASAP,moving to Spain was the worst move I’ve ever made and I think people who slate the U.K purely because of weather need to open their eyes and look at countries like Canada for coldness but perfection!!!!
neil metcalf says
It obviously has not occurred to you that Spain is a hot country!!
you are bound to sweat!!
By the way I did not leave England because of the weather,
it was because of the very high rate of crime also the amount
of rubbish thrown down in the streets and elsewhere,you do
not find rubbish lying around in Spain except when the boozed
up brits are here,when they have gone it gets a deep clean and
stays that way until the next year.
Hamish says
neil metcalf, what planet (or part of Spain) are you on? You say that one of the reasons you left England was the amount of rubbish. You also say that you do not find rubbish in Spain, except that which is caused by drunken Brits.
I take it that you have not seen much of Spain then. The country is, endemically, full of litterbugs. A Spaniard could be stood next to a litter bin yet their litter, 99 times out of a hundred, goes on the floor. This is true of both adults and children and happens both in the street and inside bars, restaurants, etc.
Fly tipping is a major problem and for anybody living in Spain not to have witnessed it they must be either blind or stupid.
Many villages and towns move their large communal bins every now and then. Sort of shares it about a bit. I have witnessed Spaniards going to where the bin used to be, prior to being moved (possibly only across the road or 15 yards further up the road), and just dump their rubbish on the road/ pavement. All because they cant be bothered to walk that tiny bit further!
As for the boozed up Brits you talk of. The Spanish can be far, far worse. Where I live, and in many other parts of Spain, I have seen far more pee, poo and vomit deposited in the street by drunks, both male and female, (Spaniards) than I ever have in a similar sized town/ village (approx 4500 population) in the UK. As for drugs, dont even get me started on that one. Suffice to say, I have never witnessed such ‘open’ drug use by both young and old.
Lucia says
So in what part of spain have you been? Im from Madrid and is very clean, i’ve been in Murcia, Cuenca, Sevilla, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Zaragoza, Malaga, Cordoba, Granada, Toledo, Salamanca, San Sebastian, Alicante, Ovideo, Gijon, Pamplona, Valladoliz, Segovia and Cartagena and none of tis places are like you are saying so, are you sure you are talking of Spain? I dont think so.
Syd t says
Hi I can vouch for the comment about litter in Spanish towns I live in a town 30 Km from Alicante.The litter left in the street and parks is beyond belief The Spanish youth’s just dump all there rubbish wherever they are, takeaway boxes drink container’s, beer bottles anything they have. I take my dogs out every day and it is impossible to walk in a straight line without rubbish being in the way. Madrid and many other places you mention are probably much better but smaller towns like Aspe Novelder Monforte ARE the Pitts for rubbish dumping. All of these have only a small ex-pat community no British bars only Spanish, so NOT the Drunken British Slobs then!!!!
paul7 says
You’re right about the fly-tipping. The Spanish countryside generally is horrendous though.
You’re wrong about the Spanish bad behaviour. You will never see the Spanish get in this state publicly.
As for drugs, in Spain they’re better and cheaper. The same with the wine.
DaveC says
I have recently been chased off an expat forum because I don’t own a property in Spain, my enemies were in the main ‘reservation’ dwellers who couldn’t help from continually bragging about their €40K flea tips on the Southern Costa Blanca and places such as Camposol. My wife and I have been visiting Spain for over 40 years and have noticed that the Spanish are not as friendly as they used to be, hardly surprising really having to put up with the worst of the British.
We very nearly bought a holiday home circa 10 years ago, in a sea front resort that we still visit, however the estate agent was only interested in obtaining a €4K deposit, and made Del Boy Trotter look like Mother Theresa.
We have actually witnessed Eastern Europeans attempting to break into apartments, my wife even had a swimming costume stolen whilst in the showers of the five star complex that we stay at, she told me that the only other shower users were a couple of Spanish women. Just to put this into perspective, I was attacked in a UK shop by a young guy who accused me of queue jumping, the whole world has lost respect, John Lennon must be spinning in his grave, I’m actually pleased to be reaching the final furlong.
DaveC says
Is it just me or do UK expats in Spain make living in Spain their holy grail? What with income taxes, local taxes, capital gains taxes, inheritance taxes etc, they spend all of their waking hours attempting to comply. I have a far more complicated taxation status here in the UK than they could imagine, but I manage. I owned 5 properties up to a couple of years ago, without encountering any great difficulties, these guys crap themselves every time an official envelope hits their door mat, I reckon that most of them are skint members who have sold their right to buys on UK sink housing estates and moved on to a similar housing reservations in Spain.
They can’t even insure a house or car without putting the practice to music and trust everything that Johnny Spaniard tells them, where I find many of them to be a duplicitous lot of money grabbing morons, until they very occasionally prove me to be wrong, the car hire cheats have not so far managed this. We rent on a private complex with 24 hours security and very friendly respectful staff, we treat them as they treat us.
It wasn’t always so, and I reckon a lot of it is the fault of UK wannabes buying up areas of Spain that no self respecting Spaniard would urinate on and then demanding UK pubs, karaoke and fish & chips. We don’t bother hiring a car anymore, we stay beach front, use our legs and public transport and eat in far more than we eat out, it’s ironic that my wife’s tapas is better than the local offerings. All is not lost as the beach is natural with Spanish fishermen barbecuing their catch and sharing it with their families, we take a bottle and two glasses and sit on a rock watching whales wave hopping and cormorants fishing and then drying their wings. Strangely enough whilst the hunt for the ‘real Spain’ aficionados are driving further and further inland in their quest, we might just have found it on our doorstep.
Tbomas says
Sure. Eastern Europeans as usual. So which Countries are taken as a part of Eastern Europe?
Did you call the police?
My Polish mates bought 3 rentals in Murcia. Theh are from North of Poland where the garages are bigger than UK houses abd standard of living is way higher. I can’t imagine them stealing anything. The last time i visited Spain my mobile phone was stolen by some English slu*.
pilurini says
totally agree there on the weather, for a northern european country it’s not THAT cold! Spanish don’t integrate well here either- on the whole they start whingeing- shame because they have to come as there is nothing for them in the desert.
I did love Spain, then thought it was -ok good enough , then since being back have to put it all down to 30 years experience. It’s not that good at all in my opinion, I stsrted to fall out of love with it way back when my children started school- the most BORING system in the world- and regimented
Mark says
Don’t like your host country, go back to the U.K., no one is holding anyone back! I have lived in many parts of the world, and when I didn’t like a place, or got tired of where I lived, I simply left. There’s no need to bad mouth a country which let you in and open it’s arms to you. Only an ungrateful person would do that!
Boyd says
Dont you read ? some people simply can not afford to go back to the UK as they have sold up lock stock and barrel and ploughed everything into making a new life for themselves.
Whether or not they were naive or not prepared is another debate. But don’t make it they are being hosted as if the Spanish have invited them to a part for free Spain has never opened its arms to anyone or anything more then a dictator every couple of centuries .
UK citizens have no need to be grateful to Spain its actually the Spanish that should be grateful to rich hard working countries like the UK , Netherlands and Germany for ploughing decades worth of cash via the EU to keep Spain from being the third world country it would have been without foreign investments .
If anyone is ungrateful it is of course the Spanish with the mouth of money north Europeans plough into the country in tourism alone.
Andrew Moore says
The crime rate in Spain is currently the lowest in the European Union. I live on the Costa Blanca. The crime that exists here comes from three groups (a) Romanian gangs preying on drunk and drug- laden tourists; (b) British expats cheating and ripping each other off and (c) bureaucratic corruption.
Jed says
What really gets on my nerves about British expats is just how fixated they are on the weather. To them if it’s sunny it’s better. That’s a bit like say ‘well South Africa may have the highest murder rate in the world and whites are discrimnated against and young women are more likely to be raped than get an education but it’s sunny so it must be better than the Lake District. I’m sorry but it just doesn’t work like that. Scandanavia has cold weather but their countries work like clockwork while Africa has hot weather but it’s the complete opposite,it’s just irrelevant. Spain may be hot but the jobs are scarce,the shopping is terrible,young people have no hope,the education system us awful,it’s expensive,it’s overdeveloped and Its corrupt. After
Irving in Murcia for 5 years we hope to relocate to Northumberland. Yes it’s cold but it’s beautiful,unspoilt and peaceful,I’ll leave you snobs to Spain!!!
loulou says
I have lived in spain for 10 years and loved it. I am however going back to Uk purely because there is no work for me here (yes I speak Spanish). I am and have been willing to do anything, roofing, tiling, bar work, cleaning, you name it I have had a go but this year there is a real drought on work.
You think Spain is hard with paperwork etc, try UK!!! because I have been away for 10 years, trying to rent a house is nigh on impossible, e.g. Can’t get a bank account unless I can give 5+ years of addresses, can’t rent without my life history and about £2000 to line the pockets of agents. Need proof of every breathe I take in 3 times over at a huge cost per breath, then double it. Can’t get a job without history of every move I make. Get the picture? I have worked hard, paid my rent and bills on time for 10 years but it counts for nothing in Uk, It’s like being punished for having the cheek to leave in the first place!!!!
CRIS says
Nick is so right & everything he said about Spain is true, I could say so much more about living in this S++t hole place. I would move back (GB) this minute if my children were not here. No one hates living here more than me. The Spanish are rude, unreliable, selfish people & as for the driving, I would feel safer if it was monkeys driving the cars.
William Dulford says
You obviously are a thickie (I use this word so as not to use a more accurate, but embarrasing, one).
The Spanish are NOT rude, not like the arrogant Brits who come to live here. I bet you haven’t even tried to integrate with them, or even to learn their language. I have lived in Spain for the past forty years and if I need a plumber, electrician, carpenter, etc, I always choose a Spanish one, never a Brit, because the Spanish are not out for a quick buck like the Brits who live here. Yes, go back to Britain. It’s Brits like you who get the British here a bad name.
Mark says
You are not Spanish, you are an impostor! No Spanish would speak of their country and people in that manner unless he is an ungrateful SOB! Go back to the U.K. and stay there, Spain is a much better place without likes of you. You are one of those that will sell their mother for a handful of pounds! Shame on YOU!
Lluvisa says
Then you are the one not living in spain (I don’t respect this country enough to use capitals). Have you seen how are things nowadays? I think no.
I’m spanish, one that like many others is trying to find a job, far away from home. That said, I have to say something in favor, not only for this country, but for all of them. You are the one who need to get use to how things are done instead of the other way aorund.
It is true that we have many good cualities, but the downside is we have many more that gives us a bad name, and we have history books that proof our stupidity time and time again.
Sincerely, a spaniard that wants to get out of here.
Michael says
Would agree with Mark. Regresa a Inglaterra si estás más contento allá, sin embargo no reniegues de tu país :-/
Carrie says
Totally agree . I completely fail to see the attraction of Spain. Too cold in winter, too hot in summer, rip-off place and full of old pensioners. Can’t wait to get out.
Michael says
i’m looking out of my window and see many young people. You just made bad choices by surrounding yourself with expat pensioners 😛
¡Hasta nunca!
Lucia says
Oh my god too cold? Too hot? Now in 17 of January we are at 9 grades at Madrid, the middle of Spain. Now in Ny is 3 and in London 4 so you don’t know anything about your country and neither about Spain. And in the summer we normally have 20 grades but almost all te houses have pool so… You cant give your opinion of this
Neil says
Goodbye Carrie.
Adrian Porter says
Chris, you are so right! Mr Dulford has had a blessed existance here in Spain and I wish him well, but he should know that he is in the minority amungst ex-pats. I know two families that have been forced, through corruption, lies and pure stubborness of the Spanish they ‘trusted’, to run home. Both a lot poorer, both of a similar opinion to many on this site. These are just two of many, many more I know, hear and read about. It is a social disease and there is no will to correct it in Spain.
It is interesting, is it not, that when you call up ‘I Love Spain’ on the web searches, no one has generated a blog page to that.
Mr Metcalf obviously does not notice the back-handers, the two tear pricing structure for Spanish against ex-pats, the Police doing jobs other than serve and protect to keep the ex-pats in there place and if there crime figures weren’t massaged beyond recognition, then the story would be very different.
neil metcalf says
Regarding Nick Anders article,the sooner he goes back to GB the better off Spain will be!!.
He says that he did not know about many simple! things that anyone with half a brain would
have known,I myself researched all aspects of living in Spain over a five year period,took the
trouble to learn the basics of the spanish language before I moved,and being able to get by
in spanish I have found the spanish people to be nothing but kind and courteous in my dealings
with them.No doubt Mr Anders will be no different when back in GB, he is obviously a person who
wants everything his way or it will not suit him.Living on the Costa Blanca is great.
Neil.
As for Adrian Porters comment re. crime is everywhere has he not read the GB crime figures over
the last ten or so years?.
mary says
so true neil
real man says
you seem to have read a different post to the one by Nick?!?!??!
what Nick says is so true. I suspect it is you who gets drunk everynight with other expats – never bothering to ‘integrate’, never actually living here in spain, never having to deal with the corruption, the dishoest, the gossiping and general medival attitude of the locals… The spanish are all gypsies – constantly trying to scam others – expats AND spanish alike.
Boyd says
Actually you are just as bad with your patronising statement about the Spanish being kind blah blah look mate I have heard these sweeping statements all before. It really depends on which Spanish Spain must be one of the most diverse nations in the EU a Catalan and a person from Madrid are virtually as different as chalk and cheese then you have the people of the Basque country and the Galicians too mention a few.
In general I found the people in the Murica region to be the least friendly or decent on any level at all
The Catalans some were cold and angry others were very friendly and gentle
People from Madrid mixed and from Asturias I found the most friendly people.
For being such a cultured man as you purport to be I thought you would have got out the Costa del whatever and seen the country there is no one Spain regions even neighbouring cities have some weird and distinctive laws that effect daily things such as accommodation no amount of research will prepare anyone for it.
And how do you know Nick will be the same back in the UK I doubt we are a civilised society in the UK mate
we have the rule of law our coopers by law convey reasons for stop and searches , Tescos beats Diaz any day of the week both in terms of its staff and product
At present Spain is still without a formed government the last election was months ago
In the UK if you get terrible service in a shop chances are a manger will respond in a meaningful way to you
in Spain managers in hotels or shops act like gods there for their greatness.
The only reason Brits come to Spain is for the weather if the UK and other parts of Northern Europe people would only come to Spain like the same way they would Poland.
Adrian Porter says
I have just read ‘I hate Spain’ and what a breath of fresh air to see that someone with guts has placed this in the public domain. I wish Nick Anders all the luck in the world for the future and I am certain that he is doing the right thing by trying to get ‘home’. Spain, to the ex-pat, will never be home. It will be the sentence until we all wake up and realise that the Spanish will do everything it their power to relieve you of all your money, possessions and in my case, my health as well. There is crime everywhere, especially the ones you try to employ. I know of so many people broken and running home with a lot less, or absolutely nothing at all!! I ask that people who read Nicks comments believe them and tell everyone who thinks a place in Spain would be a good idea, then beg them not to do it.
Kris says
I don’t blame them for hating Spain. We moved to Spain in 1970 when the people were innocent, friendly, happy, humble, & genuine. Their humility was due to their poverty.
We have seen the gradual change so much so it is hardly believable. Their wealth has made them arrogant, uncaring, & greedy.
We speak the language fluently & hear ‘different prices’ for the Spanish & the English on markets/bars/offices/restaurants & have pointed it out many times to the owners/sellers/officials who just laugh & think it a joke.
It got so annoying we spoke to our long-term friend the Mayor and asked why the Spanish were obviously turning against the British. He said they hold a grudge against them, how they bought property for next to nothing when Spain was nothing & now feel they should try & get some of it back however they can.
Spain is also totally unpredictable. They can & will do anything to ‘your’ property any time they want – but not to the Spanish! And if you don’t speak the language if needing the doctors or hospital, some can almost despise you, depending on who it is, which can be scary if you are about to be put into their hands!
I now don’t even trust the restuarants anymore who prepare a meal so I choose only to eat at home now. If you didn’t leave a big enough tip last time, they will remember!
Don’t think you have close Spanish friends. You are never in their own clique and if you think you are and want to be, they will want to own you as they are possessive and will not want you to have a close friendship with another Spaniard. If it goes wrong you can be ostracised.
Everybody has cultural traits & the Spanish trait is slyness. Even when they were poor & liked the English, they were still sly… and admitted this to us; also, saying how the British think we are their friend, but that really are just nosey for something to gossip about (their other trait – gossip), or want to come to UK.
If you want to come to Spain come with the intention of living within an English infastructure and forget trying to ‘integrate’ like they all say when coming to Spain. The English are far better to live with in Spain. You know your own culture.
Come to Spain by all means, but please don’t let another person come & tell us they only want to come (an illusion) to be one of them, and then come to us a year later to say how hurt & disppointed they are. They may be kind and courtious to your face, but it is false. If you have money to spend there is no attention and kindness like it!
Sad, but now true.
Even the many Spanish ‘friends’ we have in Spain, (having been here for so long), would say how correct all this is. We have been been told by a very influencial person in Spain when we asked why are they demolishing expat houses causing them to live in fear, not dealing with crime gangs, that they simply don’t want us here anymore, and are glad we are going back to UK.
And it isn’t because the English have misbehaved. There are nice, kind, polite retirees, so confused why they are being teated so badly, when a good trait of the Spaniard is to treat their elderly with much dignity & respect.
The expats are not moaners like people say they are – we see full well how there is one rule for them & one for the Spanish. They simply do not care one tiny bit for a British expat – unless they have money to spend that is. British expats have had their lives completely ruined through no fault of their own.
andrew moore says
In response to Kris’s comments about life in Spain… It seems to me that the Spanish treat their foreigners in the the same way as the British treat theirs!! Fair play to them!!
Rich says
Spot on! I can just imagine the sort of comments some of the contributors on here would make about immigrants in the UK, who are demonised daily in our newspapes and in the streets for apparently causing all the crime and economic hardship, etc. in the UK.
Pablo says
Hi! I’m Pablo and I’m Spanish. Let me tell you that you will find all kind of people either in Spain and in England. I travel to Ireland and UK every single summer to practice English and I’ve been cheated as well and I’ve found many things I didn’t like, but the things I did like paid off. There’s obviously a matter of culture differences but there are good and bad people everywhere. Just think people are living their lives and they’re not going to welcome you with “pancartas”.
Greetings.
Magdalena says
I agree with you Pablo.
I take everyone as I find them, and I have very good Spanish and British friends. I do not judge a person on where they are from !
I have generally a very positive experience of living in Spain, in my case The Canary Islands.
Lenny says
I love to travel, and meet new people. I think that if you cultivate a haughty distain for a culture, there is no way you can hide it. I think that the Spanish see the enormous migration of British as a soft form of colonialism, this time achieved with money rather than cannon. They tolerate it because they need the dough. I know from personal experience, that most of the Spaniards are quite friendly and very helpful when they are regarded with respect and see that you are interested in who they are and how they live. I have read some very impressive collections of injustices on this page. Having a nice 400 euro apartment steps away from an impossibly beautiful beach seems worth raising one’s tolerance for frustration.
Karl says
Hola Pablo,
You are right but 3 of my best friends are Spanish. I think you make of the country the best you can, and yes there is good and bad everywhere. I have to say, even one of my best Spanish friends who is a lawyer said his boss would not invest in Spain, he is a multi-millionaire businessman but the Spanish banks tried repeatedly to rip him off, and in the end he said the UK is the best place for business in Europe. Period because its got clear, standard business rules and legal boundaries.
I see this week that Spain continues to violate the whole Gibraltar thing, and even the US has threatened Spain this week because their subs were put at risk when docking. A British minister was blocked from flying into Gibraltar on normal business arrangements also this week which is a shocking state of Nato alliance affairs. This headline will probably cost the Spanish economy millions this year in lost trade. I know several people who have changed their mind even over this incident. So for those in Spain thinking they are clever you are costing your economy jobs and money. What a lot of people do not know is that Madrid lost the last Olympics because of Gibraltar. This is the PPP government under Rajoy. A annual motion put forward by the commonwealth (2.2. billion market more than the EU combined) led to the switching over votes away due to its disgusting behaviour towards to the UK. The Madrid vote collapsed.
I would say to the Spanish (and yes i love lots of your culture and festivals) you must learn to work more alongside the British. They could actually help you a lot more in Europe and the world. I have wonderful Spanish friends and the more they really get to know about the UK mindset, and our culture the more they realize who silly and living in the past the Spanish mindset has been.
In Spain the British do not come to take jobs, they invest in the economy, they create jobs. You may moan about Gibraltar but the treaty and 300 years on its clear. What many Spaniards do not realise its it brings in a lot of business internationally, this helps a lot of Spanish get work in the poorer regions plus the British honour pensions to all those Spanish who have retired. The Spanish media and some idiots there just do not get it.
Spain does need to simplify and clear up its laws, its backward in many ways and it is still seen as a backward country in the EU. In Europe where we are supposed to be all equal the Spanish and the French are the biggest culprits for discrimination of all and they need to clear up their act.
So love Spain but corruption is on the TV EVERYDAY ALMOST, even Spanish friends are sick of it. I watched as the local Catalan Council or Mayor leader and his family were all up to their necks. Taking money across to one of the Spanish islands in the back of their cars. Oh and the wife had shops in the local airport creaming it in, and it was ONLY THE GIRLFRIEND of the son who let the cat out of the bag, after he dumped her and she suspected or knew. They had squirrel millions away. How this could ever have happened in the UK unlikely but never say never but its a daily SOAP OPERA in Spain.
Spain needs a revolution and stop behaving like a spoilt franco child.
Several corrections. Spain has good dishes and more diversity but it does not beat the UK on deserts. British deserts are better and one Spanish friend who had lived here 10 years told a group of other Spanish in London, do not argue the case, UK deserts are better, we are behind he said.
Lets correct another myth. UK wines and Champagnes are now beating French and Spanish internationally. This years global competitions verify this.
Spain’s infrastructure has benefited from UK and German money and Spanish should show respect. One reason the Spanish economy survives is the amount of money the British pump into the Spanish economy, property, holidays, money, investments and more. If the British were to withdraw on a reasonable scale the Spanish economy would collapse, it’s GDP would drop dramatically. These are facts.
So Love Spain but it has to change its behaviour and way it works with the UK and stop living in the its franco colonial past. The British are trying to move on, and so much Spain!
Vince says
Karl
Everytime we have worked with you it has ended badly for us, so no, if anything we should block any cooperation with the UK, and hopefully after you get the guts to enforce article 50, we will.
False, Brits specifically don’t want spaniards to work in their companies, those are the Germans, which is why German expats tend to be better received here. The “Spanish need no apply” in job offers given by British citizens ammount to close to the 87% of them.
Spanish laws are clear to people who care to know them, and that’s how they should be, same with British laws. If you’ve found Spanish boureaucracy opaque, and think British law is any different, I have bad news for you…
Say that to Blair. Corruption is corruption everywhere, one country exposing the rotteness of it’s own politicians doesn’t mean it’s more corrupt than the one which infamously never talks about theirs. If you really think UK’s political caste isn’t corrupted to the brim, again, I have bad news for you…
The day you stop pretending to still own half of the planet we may give some consideration to what you have to say about a country and culture you clearly know nothing about.
What deserts? The ones you copied from France or the ones you copied from Germany? That being said, Spanish cuisine is not more diverse than British, look at the stuff you fit on pastries.
LOL that is why Brits consume mostly Chilean, Spanish and French wine right?
And both Germany and the UK had already been paid their investments by trade deals that brutally harmed our economy. Honestly, I would rather you didn’t help Felipe Gonzalez build his second mansion on Argel, and we could still keep our northern foundries and steel production or Nuclear powerplants…You vadtly overestimate the impact of British economy on the country. Hell Luxembourgh, the Netherlands and France invest vastly more money than you and the Germans, and you are at best a tertiary trade partner. So much for facts.
With this I agree, but I think we should go the other way. Maybe start looking for visas and make harder for foreigners that aren’t in the EU (except Russians and Chinese who invest a ton) to buy property here. We’ll see whenever your government grows some balls and does what it’s people asked it to do.
Mark says
It’s sad to read some of this comments by some misfits, complainers on here. I have never had any bad experiences in the 8 years I have been living in Spain. Don’t expect for the country to accommodate to you, but you need to accommodate to the country. We come from a different culture, language and can’t expect for a smooth transition. Try to learn Spanish, enough at least to get by (it’s their country), go out there and try to make new friends, try get to know their culture and customs, Spanish people are very friendly and welcoming! When in Rome do like the Romans!
Janice says
Great comment. I lived in Spain for 30 years, 13 in Mallorca, 13 in Menorca and 4 in Nerja but am back in Ireland again as mum is ill, i loved it and found all the Spanish to be very friendly more so in Andalucia, i plan to retire out there in another 7 years time. Yes there are good and bad in every country, i seem to have been very lucky with the people i met and have no regrets. As you said, when in Rome do as the romans do.
Alex says
Hi British people!
I was so dismayed when I read (past tense) about how badly the Spanish are treating you despite your efforts to assimilate. I do not live in Spain (thank god) or the UK. I live in Florida. We have a lot of Cubans here who think they are Spanish (despite the fact the Spanish dislike all Hispanics). They act *exactly the same* as how you all have described the Spanish. They are loud, sly and gossipy and try to keep everything to themselves. They also refuse to speak English. If they aren’t going to be an American, why did they come?
Please, if you are looking for someplace warm and tropical to live, please come to Miami. We badly need more English-speakers here and we don’t mind your British Pounds (stronger than our American dollar). PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE COME!
Michael says
You GOT to be kidding me. Miami is a humid stink hole – plus the entire state of Florida is whacky shoot first ask questions later lala-land. Spain is brilliant and if you’ve got problems with the Spaniards then it’s your own fault – they are some of the coolest people I’ve met in my life.
Lynda says
I’m surprised at “Alex’s” post above and would like to comment in response. Alex does not actually say if he/she is American or English, but in any event Miami is definitely NOT the place to be. I am English and have lived in the USA for almost 35 years (including 12 years in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area) and I am busy right now packing up my belongings and selling my home to finally move back to Europe (as I said in my earlier post.) I cannot wait. I have literally worked my fingers to the bone in this country (work is ALL Americans care about), I have been pushed from pillar-to-post in my work-life, had to tolerate lying, cheating, conniving, dishonest managers and higher-ups, the cost of home-buying and rentals is outlandish at best, the traffic in the Miami area is out-of-control and getting worse on a daily basis, people here are shallow, self-centered and arrogant, no such thing as “community spirit”, you’d better have millions in the bank to pay for any healthcare you may need because the government doesn’t give two hoots about the health of its people, there are NO social programs whatsoever for those truly in need (other than for those who are slick enough to MILK what little “system” there is in place), and to top it all off, you never know when some fool is going to pull a gun out of his pocket and shoot you to death. This country (America) is a DISGRACE all round. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT COME TO MIAMI – the streets are NOT paved with gold here, life is NOT “a beach” here, and at least I’m clued in as to what I’m dealing with with the Cubans – it’s the AMERICANS you have to watch out for in Miami, NOT the CUBANS!!!!
Michael says
Exactly – Lynda and I share a similar past (20 years in California for me – which is by far a better place than Florida/Miami). Not a day goes by that I am ecstatic about having moved back to Europe, especially here in Spain. I’m paying €1200 for full coverage healthcare over here – combined for my wife and I and we are in our late 40s. In L.A. I paid $400/month for a crap insurance which didn’t cover anything and I had a $2000 copay. I can’t even begin to list the reasons of why the U.S. is completely broken socially as well as economically.
And we make friends here – real people with a real life. Not shysters and con-artists like in the U.S. who just care about what you can do for them and drop you at a moment’s notice. People who respect their elders instead of stuffing them into retirement homes post 70.
I’ll be happy to visit the U.S. – their natural parks and beautiful coastlines. But no way am I ever moving back there and I wouldn’t recommend that anyone consider moving there unless they’ve spent at least a year in the U.S. and know what they are facing.
Lynda – look me up when you get to Spain – I’m in Valencia and both my wife and I would be happy to meet up and buy you una caña o dos 🙂
Michael says
Oh by the way – it’s €1200 A YEAR for the two of us – didn’t make that clear in my previous post.
Ray says
I am a Brit but have now lived more of my life in the US than the UK, over 30 years.
Live in Houston very hot humid climate, this July I was in Costa Del Sol for me the weather was amazing.
US is a great place to work & make money.
Taxes are low compared to the EU & UK.
I want to retire in Spain for the reason Michael talks about above.
The average retiree spends e800 a month on health care in the US.
I got an upset stomach, needed IV fluid the bill was E400.
The first guy who posted he hates Spain.
He came to Spain with no job & 15k.
Thats not moving with a plan, that coming with hope & a prayer.
+
.
Lucia says
Wooo you are an idiot! Im from Madrid and all of you that are saying things like this are unlearned. Is clear that you dont know anything about Spain or spanish people, we don’t hate hispanics, Iove their culture, is you the one that is hating them. I love America but I dont think that the people is best that in Spain. You, for example, are racist and think that you can said what you think of who you want just because you live in America. Best that you dont live in Spain because here we not respect people like you. I’m so sorry to said this but you can stay in Florida. And for the people that were thinking of coming here, the country that this person is describing is not Spain. Yes is true that we are not in our best moment and there are not many work, but if you want it you find it ( is clear that with that attitude anyone would contract you). One think is true, if you dont talk spanish is hard to get a work here but is like the rest of the countries. Soain is so good and people here are very respectfull, funy, inteligent… And we take care of animals, not like you said. I’m true cause I live in Spain and I’m not like many of you that had comment bad things of my country and you have never come. And you probably want to know that in Spain actually are 600000 britanics so I think your opinion dont matter. Sorry for my bad english.
MARTIN WARD says
Lucia, Please do not take any notice of the stupid comments made by some people about the Spanish people and your beautiful country. I have lived on and off in Spain for 6yrs now and i can honestly say that. I have found the Spanish people to be very friendly and helpful. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR COUNTRY AND CANNOT WAIT TO COME BACK IN A FEW WEEKS… Lucia BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR NATIONALITY AND YOUR COUNTRY.
Martin
Peperoni says
I’m Spanish and i like Hispanic(only if they deserve cause i dont like bad people if you know what i mean) since they’re humans as well… I dont really mind the country where they came from. Sorry my bad english i tried my best.
lovelygirl says
Dear friends.
I am Italian-Argentine and I don’t agree about a previous comment that Spaniards hating hispanic. They love us, they want to be near us and be our friends. I also have Spanish blood and the Spaniards know that Argentina is full of Italians and Spanish descendent.We don’t forget our roots. Un saludos a todos los Espanoles, tienen un hermoso pais.
ana ruiz says
HI lovelygirl, i agree with you , the affinity between Spanish / iberoamericans ( not Hispanic,sounds horrific) is often forgotten. I also think we share our ” passion ” for life with English people, our only barrier is language. Lots of learning needed on both sides.
Michael says
@lovelygirl & ana_ruiz: Quisiera que estuvierais en lo correcto, pero por desgracia no lo estáis, lo siento. En mi vida he conocido a muchos latinos y a nadie les gustaban los Españoles. No sé por qué, pero las cosas son como son.
I wish you guys were right but unfortunately you are not. In my life I have run into many latinos and when pushed a little all professed that they don’t like the Spaniards very much. I am not sure why but it is what it is.
Jay says
Sammy, its good you share how schooling was for you, I am just sorry it was so difficult for you and your brother…
Look at it like this, its their loss, and they could of learned some English from you if been more accepting, my heart really dropped reading this, my kids are grown up now thank goodness. I am near Malaga in Spain now, 20 mins from Marbella, not sure what schooling is like for English kids in this area, be good to know if anyone wants to share like you have, all the best to you all.
peneope says
you r so wrong
Mary says
Well ,if don’t like Spain leave . I live in the UK and it is not perfect either. Maybe the problem is you attitude no Spain. British people are never happy. Usually you don’t adapt to the country or the language so that is the price to pay .
Dan says
You got this right. Why is that 90% of British people move to mediterranean coast areas? How many of them make an actual effort to learn the language? How many of them mix with locals? All they do is complain about things not being the same as in the UK. Give me a break!
Enrique says
Dan, I completely agree with you. I think is the concept of the world… what they teach them in school… what they tell them on the news. Many of them still live in the time of the colonies.
By the way, I’m Spanish and my girlfriend is English and I lived in England.