Robin and his wife moved from the UK to the Spanish coastal town of Moraira. Once a fishing village, it’s now an upmarket tourist town, and the Wheelers are running a successful pub.
Robin says they found the move easy and straightforward – and reckons the best way to meet people in Spain is to head down to your local bar.
About Robin
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: London, UK
Q: Where are you living now?
A: Moraira, Alicante, Spain
Q: When did you move to Spain?
A: May 2013
Q: Did you move here alone or with family?
A: I moved with my wife
Q: Why did you move?
A: I had three pubs in London that were only just surviving. I felt we could do better in Spain. We saw a bar that had been closed and bought it the same day. We opened four weeks later.
Living in Spain
Q: What do you enjoy most about Spain?
A: Moraira is a very friendly little town. The quality of life far exceeds the UK as it’s a lot cheaper to run a business here, and house prices are low compared to London.
Q: What do you miss most about home?
A: The nightlife in London. We enjoyed the concerts, Chinatown and the cinema, all of which are lacking here.
Q: What are the biggest adjustments you had to make when settling into expat life in Spain?
A: The biggest changes are the tax system and employment laws, but I recommend getting a very good accountant. Also, if you move to a city, you must speak Spanish. In the main touristy places, you don’t need to be that fluent.
Q: What’s the cost of living compared to home?
A: It’s a lot cheaper here. Business rates are killing UK businesses and are almost non-existent here.
Q: How would you rate the public transport?
A: A car is useful, although public transport is very good. Taxis tend to be expensive.
Q: How would you rate the healthcare in Moraira?
A: I have not needed healthcare yet, but I’ve heard Hospital de Denia is very good. There are no GP waiting times here; you get seen straight away, as opposed to up to three weeks in the UK.
Q: How do you rate the standard of housing?
A: House prices vary greatly, but generally, rental prices are a lot cheaper than in the UK, and a decent three-bedroom villa is around 750 euros a month.
Q: Any areas/suburbs you’d recommend for expats to live in?
A: The Costa Blanca coast is lovely, but stay away from Benidorm.
Meeting people and making friends
Q: How tolerant are the locals of foreigners?
A: Moraira is very cosmopolitan, and there’s no discrimination against foreigners. I think there is more resistance in the large cities.
Q: Was it easy making friends?
A: It was very easy to meet new people – although, of course, it helped running a bar. However, there are loads of ways of meeting people through groups and expat websites. I’d also recommend going to your local English pub or a Spanish bar if you want to meet locals.
About working in Spain
Q: Did you have a problem getting a visa or work permit?
A: I didn’t need a visa, and all the paperwork was handled by my solicitor, who did an excellent job at a reasonable price.
Q: What’s the economic climate like in Moraira?
A: The economy here is tough, as it is in all of Spain. Finding a job is hard. It is easier in the summer as this is a tourist destination, but jobs don’t pay much and will probably only be on a short-term contract.
Q: How does the work culture differ from home?
A: Work in Spain tends to be slower than in the UK, and you have to be tolerant of local customs such as siesta times.
Family and children
Q: Did your spouse or partner have problems adjusting to their new home?
A: We fit in straight away – just be nice to people, and they will do everything to help you.
Q: Did your children settle in easily?
A: We didn’t bring our kids. They are grown up and moved out.
And finally…
Q: Is there any other advice you would like to offer new expat arrivals?
A: If you are friendly and try to speak at least a little Spanish, you will be accepted straight away. Accept the slower way of life in Spain and fit into the way they do things here.
~ Interviewed in December 2014