After a couple of years in lovely Barcelona, we’re getting tired of landlords who see foreigners as walking cash machines—always ready to shell out more for less.  There isn’t a Catalan living in our entire street in downtown BCN.

Can anyone with personal experience suggest some places to investigate around Spain to live year-round, where:

A)  Rents are geared to human beings rather than the Golden Goose.
B)  A climate with seasons, where there is at least more sun than rain
C)  City, town, village or province, where there are hospitable natives who can see more to a relationship with a spanish-speaking foreigner than “You Give; We Take.”

Thanks very much
Alexander

Hi there, we moved from Barcelona last October, loved it there by the way, and had a great time, but needed larger property for expanding family and moved to Granada Province…...and love it.  If by chance you have had the misfortune to read other threads aboout the area…..then only believe what you want.  We love it here, have great Spanish neighbours (had a few drinks with), very helpful and and very nice, we speak Spanish, have two younger children, one who attens local guarderia and again loves it…..this was the best move ever and as I type, I over look the lovely city of Granada and the beautiful Sierra Nevada.  Lucky or what???

Alicia

Hi there i’am moving to spain with my wife when house sell’s in uk, her family moved to spain
4 year’s ago. It’s about 1hr 40 min from you, on the east coast we have been going there for nearly
ten years off and on. The town’s called Empuria brava on the bay of Roses, 30 min to the boader
of France and about 40 min to Gerona it’s made up of French, English, German, and Spanish great
place to try? :coolsmile:

After having live viturally everywhere in spain, I believe without a doubt Valencia is the best.  And best downtown valencia.  It has everything decent rents, beach, weather, cultural, etc.

Like aligran I would recommend the province of Granada, if you can find something to do to earn a living.  We have a place in the Alpujarra and the area is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen anywhere, and I’m pretty well travelled.  People are lovely - they take a bit of getting used to as they are real country folk, but they are welcoming and tolerant.  You can rent village houses for next to nothing, and you don’t need much money to live on, but in these tiny communities there isn’t much in the way of employment.  It’s a good place to start a business associated with green tourism though; horse-riding, guided walking, biking etc.

MartCross - 10 August 2007 04:44 PM

Like aligran I would recommend the province of Granada, if you can find something to do to earn a living.  We have a place in the Alpujarra and the area is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen anywhere, and I’m pretty well travelled.  People are lovely - they take a bit of getting used to as they are real country folk, but they are welcoming and tolerant.  You can rent village houses for next to nothing, and you don’t need much money to live on, but in these tiny communities there isn’t much in the way of employment.  It’s a good place to start a business associated with green tourism though; horse-riding, guided walking, biking etc.

Granada is great, I lived there for about a year.  It?s just one day you wake up and realize that there is nothing really there.  it is very beautiful, but no way to make money.  I think it is best to consider as an extend holiday kind of place.  No more than 2 weeks.