You can swap the 1,500 hours of sunshine that the UK averages per year for the 3,000 hours that the Costa Blanca gets. You can enjoy the lower living costs, weather in which you can play golf, swim or just sit outside comfortably all year, the emptier roads, the excellent health service, the family oriented lifestyle, the food and the wine and the friendly people. Here is why we think you should make this the year you move to Spain:
1. Sunshine
Being that much further south, Spain not only enjoys twice as much sunshine as the UK, but it’s spread throughout the year much better. So even in the depths of winter Spain has two hours more daylight in the evenings. The effects on one’s health – both physical and mental – are hard to calculate, but it certainly allows for a round of golf after lunch!
2. An outdoor lifestyle
It’s not just because of the weather that people spend more time outdoors in Spain. Whereas in UK highstreets the shops close at 6 and people rush home to their TVs, the evenings in Spain are the time to see and be seen! The paseo is a leisurely evening stroll, with a drink, maybe a bit of shopping, a chat with the neighbours and a chance for the kids to run around in the warm, fresh air. You can head to Jávea is a coastal town in the comarca of Marina Alta, in the province of Alicante, Valencia, Spain. Many people have recently bought properties in the area, especially French and British nationals.
3. Family life
When the OECD compared happiness and well-being in the world’s 34 major industrialised countries, Spain was above average for work-life balance, safety and community. It’s a country where kids tend to be happy and occupied. The latest PISA (The Programme for International Student Assessment) stats show that Spanish kids were significantly happier and less stressed than almost every other country, especially the UK, despite performing generally better at school. 4. Cost of Living You might think that the UK is an expensive place to live, but in global terms, except for property, the UK compares quite well. Countries like France, Italy, Australia and the USA are all more expensive to live than the UK. But not Spain. In Spain your pension goes much further and your holidays are cheaper. Prices undercut those in Britain by around 30% in restaurants and 16% in the supermarket. 5. Flights While seaside areas of countries like Greece virtually shut down for the winter, there are affordable flights to Spain from even the most out of the way airports. You can get to just about every corner of Britain to every corner of Spain with ease, all year. It also offers the chance to drive, take the train or even a ferry once in a while.
4. Cost of Living
You might think that the UK is an expensive place to live, but in global terms, except for property, the UK compares quite well. Countries like France, Italy, Australia and the USA are all more expensive to live than the UK. But not Spain. In Spain your pension goes much further and your holidays are cheaper. Prices undercut those in Britain by around 30% in restaurants and 16% in the supermarket.
5. Flights
While seaside areas of countries like Greece virtually shut down for the winter, there are affordable flights to Spain from even the most out of the way airports. You can get to just about every corner of Britain to every corner of Spain with ease, all year. It also offers the chance to drive, take the train or even a ferry once in a while.