Is Spain Still The Place To Be!

Why For Very Many Expats Spain Is Still The Place To Be!

Sure there has a been a big recession globally, with UK and Spain still battling through it for what will be some while to come, in some areas. However, despite the doom and gloom of the economy, the sun still shines in southern Spain, and for every negaitve there are positives. Many of the people with whom I have had conversations recently, and yes some of them have been hard hit by the downturn in currency fluctuations, remain very positive about their continued lives in Spain.

As one retiree put it recently, "Where in the UK can you find a place as beautiful as the Andalusia province, with 2 bedroom apartments for as little as €70,000, where there are no traffic lights, little or no road works, no traffic queues, no CCTV, no TV licences, the sun shines for 320 days a year on average (which translates into cheaper fuel bills), a great health system with little or no queues, healthy food and good wine at€ €1.45 per bottle?"

When it's put like that it's a very convincing case for leaving the grey skies of the UK behind. But of course it does have some down sides too as the interviewee, pointed out. "Sure there are expats here struggling to make a living but no-one ever promoted Spain as the land of golden business opportunity". If you move abroad and it doesn't matter where you go, there are always cultural differences that one has to get used to e.g. the language, the siestas, the local manyana approach to life and some think the shopping...but none of this is surrmountable. If you are an enterprising type of person, then there is a host of different business opportunities, outside of the usual bar and restaurant route, in which one could become involved.

As for the shopping...online shopping makes everything possible. With sites like UK Shopping in Spain, expats can readily get any of their favourite brands delivered directly to their door, and as my interviewee confirmed, "...anything is possible including Coronation Street on TV! Reduced income? We've just got to get used to it!"

See what the Daily Mail has to say about the Spanish property market here