Where is the best place to live in spain when you cant speak the lingo yet,?

Question

im trying to decide where in spain or the islands to move to, i have kids and need a school thats mainly english speaking but where they can learn spanish, we are very keen to go but want to move to the easiest place to break us in gently, lol. where do most ex-pats go? we want to be close to the sea, we want a new start .

Answer 1

Costa del sol, salu, be brave move to proper Spain learn the language, I moved here (Valencia)last year with four kids two of whom started in an all Spanish school and they are practically fluent now my two year old has just started pre-school, they will get on just fine they have brains like sponges me on the other hand is a different kettle of fish I can just about get by but it will improve over time. Try www.kidsinspain.es.

Answer 2

Spain is many countries all rolled into one therefore the culture in Spain is very varied and interesting. Its Atlantic shores and the huge plains of the interior have very distinct characteristics see http://www.spain4uk.co.uk/Spain_culture....

Answer 3

Any of the Costas should be ok, or anywhere there are loads of Brit´s.  There are loads of Enlish schools down here on the Costa del Sol

Answer 4

i live in Benidorm and say Benidorm. I work as a translator because there is so much demand! It´s almost Little Britain!

Answer 5

Learn to speak Spanish.   You'll get so much more enjoyment out of living there and the locals will be more friendly and helpful. Certainly worth the effort.

Answer 6

fuengerola, has alot of english people and its minutes away from malaga airport. It also has good schools and medical

(prob spelt it wrong)

Answer 7

There's an ally where they have the bull run. That's cheap!

Answer 8

benidorm

Answer 9

don't go to the tourist places, learn the lingo, the people will treat you well and you can really enjoy spanish life as opposed to living in an english ghetto which is like blackpool with sun, and your kids will grow up knowing two languages which will always help them for employment later in life. good luck! (buena suerte)

Answer 10

Basically the worst places in spain.  English infested resorts like Lanzarote, Tenerife and Benidorm.

Answer 11

If you go to an ex-pat area you will not integrate with the culture and you probably won't ever learn to speak Spanish.  Go to somewhere where there are few ex-pats and you will learn Spainish very quickly.  There are a few Brits in most towns so you will be able to get a couple of English speaking friends but also fully integrate with the real Spainish way of life.

My dad and uncle co-own a property in the Fuente Del Conde (in the province of Cordoba) miles from anywhere and full of real Spanish enthusiasm and joy for living.  I visit as often as I can and all the locals are so happy to see visitors.  

I am sure you will find a great place to live there.  Goce del sol!

Answer 12

I live in Spain, unfortunately you have to go to a tourist area where most people speak english. This is not real spain, I live  in the mountains, I have lessons and the spanish people help you if you are trying.

Answer 13

Reality Check !!!!!

Dont do it.... unless...

You have a solid business to start up.

or

An offer of a contract job.

or

A Huge wad of money

We have speant 2.5 years in Spain, I have 2 daughters of 13 & 14

and they absolutely 100% hated it. The novelty of swimming, riding the quad in the moutains, hikes, etc all wore off after 6 months.. Then the reality set in when they went to school, and were bullied. Despite several school visits we could not resolve the problem, and the other brits in the area (there are lots) all report similar things... The alternative is an English school, but be prepared for big bills.

We came here with a decent sum, and bought a nice house with a small mortgage.. We are leaving, having made a small profit on the house, after months and months of trying to sell, and are returning with very little. My wife and kids are back in UK already, and my daughters are flourishing in school. They adore the friendships and activity that UK brings. Spain is treated by most as a holiday, and I can assure you, that for every 10 people that move in around here, theres 10 looking to go home.. honest.

So many Brits run into money problems its not funny, and nearly all brits call themselves "builders"... cos there is naff all else to do.. CLoser to the coast its all seasonal stuff, so not much better.

Estate agents are the only ones making money, but PLEASE... if you decide to move, DO NOT ACT KEEN.. use your buying power to get a cracking deal from a desperate English person looking to move home, and help some other poor soul out.

We dropped from 335k euros to 270.... thats hard to swallow, and the lady who bought our house has a genuine 50k equity..

If you buy off plan be prepared for a nightmare, but possibly some profit.. the problem is, for every house they show you, there are another 10,000 being built... its staggering how much developmnet is going on, and economically its a timebomb..

The Valencian region is seriously in debt, so they are pumping development.. in a year or 2 the European support for the Valencian government stops, and then see what happens...

I would seriously advise buying a SMALL holiday home that you can enjoy and earn from, DO not move permanently until you are 10000% sure.

I hope you have found this genuine story informative, and good luck...

To answer your question.... you dont need to speak Spanish unless you come 20K inland... And youll survive on about 20 basic sentances.... honest.

AVOID BENIDORM AND TORRY LIKE THE PLAGUE.

NICE FOR ABOUT 20 MINS THEN IT HITS YOU...

AARRGGHH

Answer 14

Just been to Benidorm and on the Levante Beach side it was totally British. Good Luck

Answer 15

Benidorm

even the Spanish have forgotten how to speak the lingo