Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Relocation to Spain with kids. Advice please

3 replies

mamaonthemoor · 30/01/2011 17:13

Hi all, we are thinking of relocating to spain and running a guest house/ B & B. We've five kids but three are grown up, one is 12 the other 1 year old. Would welcome advice. Thanks

OP posts:
MrIC · 04/02/2011 07:02

where are you thinking of moving to?
do you speak Spanish?
have you got any experience of running guest houses?

mamaonthemoor · 06/02/2011 20:19

Somewhere not too far from Cadiz we think, a little but are learning more and have more than 10 years experience in the tourist trade.

OP posts:
MrIC · 07/02/2011 18:04

Ok, well I would say that a lot of the tourist trade in Cadiz will be with Spaniards - the Spanish do a lot of internal tourism. That's not to say you wont get other visitors of course, although Cadiz is very popular with Spaniards (more so than, say, Marbella or Ibiza) as a holiday destination.

What else. Well there's a fabulous Catch 22 situation regarding buying property here - you need a NIE (ID number) in order to buy property. This is relatively easy to get - you make an appointment at a police station - except you need an address beforehand. So you'll probably have to move over here and rent short-term to sort out the administrative issues before you buy. You also wont be able to get a resident's Bank Account without an NIE either. We bank with Lloyds Espana which permits free transfers between the UK and Spain, though I don't think there are many Lloyds branches here.

You'll also need a Social Security number in order to pay tax, which again is very straightforward, and an Empadronmiento (Certficate of Residence) which you need before you can register with the health service or to vote.

If this sounds daunting don't let it put you off - it's a wonderful country and the people are very welcoming and friendly, especially you if make an effort to get involved.

Also be warned that the Cadiz accent is reputed to be the hardest to understand in the whole of Spain!

How does your 12 year old feel about the idea of moving?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread