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Moving to Spain… advice from those who have done it?

MickP, some great advice & info there. Much appreciated. Most of it confirms our thoughts.
The uk bolt hole may well be the sticking point, as if we follow the advice of you (& many others) we may not have the total budget to buy 2 places that we are happy with.
Wacko, yes the UK bolt- hole for our “dribble years” question, you raise the same query that I have… ie if we have good private health care in Spain which is a must, it’s likely to be better than getting back to the UK for NHS care. Again I agree that location close to a decent hospital is prudent & in our chosen location we have more several decent options.
Definitely food for thought & the replies here are appreciated.
 
Private Health Care in Spain may well deal with medical issues - but very old age raises questions about basic non-medical care, which is a different situation.
Back in the UK you might have younger family to help and eventually a care home if that runs out - but in Spain? without your family there?

eg - both my Mother and Mother in Law are 86 years old and are both single. Family is helping them navigate things like pensions / money / shopping / checking that they are actually eating etc etc. How would that work out in Spain for a single elderly lady? What happens when they can't drive? - all points to getting back to the UK at some point - probably around 80 yrs old or so. My wife's father is long gone, but his widow lives in Spain, on her own (but with 10 dogs) in a rural area. Her kids are trying to make her see sense -
 
I'd definitely be working on the basis that I'd want to return to the UK at a point where access to healthcare (and having family closer) was a key factor. It's quite possible we will move to the continent (although most likely France) for part of our retirement (especially if Scotland were to get back into the EU!) but we'd definitely be keeping a place in the UK (even if we rented it out when we didn't need it).
 
RJohan said:
If all Brits moves to Spain, it gives me plenty of room to move to GB. Preferably Devon or Cornwall.

So, please, carry on!
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I grew up and have a place in Cornwall. Don’t think I’ll live there in old age, the weather is crap most of the time and there is only 1 hospital. Southern Spain sounds a better option.
 
I’d say go for it, can definitely see the appeal. I’m thinking Greece myself (probably Lefkas or Corfu). Would definitely keep a UK place though.
 
I could live on Lefkas.
I love it.
Never will now though.
Private medical insurance, a requirement in the EU now for post brexit retirees, is just too expensive.
 
Bob McC said:
I could live on Lefkas.
I love it.
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Yeah, it’s bliss. I’d probably live in Sivota. I like sailing (supposed to be going out there next month). Sailing in the UK is generally bloody miserable. In the Ionian, it’s generally bloody marvellous.
 
I might have to think about moving to Italy. Signora was spitting blood this morning about the latest bollocks from our political leaders. I can't in conscience ask her to put up with much more.
 
Ponty said:
I’d say go for it, can definitely see the appeal. I’m thinking Greece myself (probably Lefkas or Corfu). Would definitely keep a UK place though.
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My aunt moved to Corfu in the early noughties. I think she's regretting it now she's out there on her own; keeping an escape route back to the UK was never an option though. :(
 
Nero said:
I might have to think about moving to Italy. Signora was spitting blood this morning about the latest bollocks from our political leaders. I can't in conscience ask her to put up with much more.
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Given how Italian politics is, that's quite damning.
 
Seeker_UK said:
My aunt moved to Corfu in the early noughties. I think she's regretting it now she's out there on her own; keeping an escape route back to the UK was never an option though. :(
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That’s a shame. I think many folk as they get older reach a point where they want to return to family and roots. My mother returned to the UK from Canada for this reason, despite having a wonderful life there.
 
Ponty said:
That’s a shame. I think many folk as they get older reach a point where they want to return to family and roots. My mother returned to the UK from Canada for this reason, despite having a wonderful life there.
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The big issue for her at the moment would be that AIUI the Greek Government would not allow her to sell her house and move it out of the country. That may be wrong but it is something I haven't looked into and won't until the time comes.
 
I remembered something - cautionary tale about being far from family.....my wife's paternal grandmother and her second husband moved to a nice Cyprus villa, leaving Jersey behind. Apparently some stuff went into storage in Jersey and has never been seen again.

In Cyprus, grandma was eventually all alone and when she died, by the time news had reached the UK and anyone got out there, the maids (presumably - no one knows for sure) had gone off with all the jewellery and various other items. A few choice bits had been left in the UK - the spectacular engagement ring (that my wife now wears, most days) and about 1/2 dozen other bits.
 
Ponty said:
Yeah, it’s bliss. I’d probably live in Sivota. I like sailing (supposed to be going out there next month). Sailing in the UK is generally bloody miserable. In the Ionian, it’s generally bloody marvellous.
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I’m no sailor sadly but we always hire Charlie boats and bob around the islands.
As you say - bliss!
 
JensenHealey said:
I remembered something - cautionary tale about being far from family.....my wife's paternal grandmother and her second husband moved to a nice Cyprus villa, leaving Jersey behind. Apparently some stuff went into storage in Jersey and has never been seen again.

In Cyprus, grandma was eventually all alone and when she died, by the time news had reached the UK and anyone got out there, the maids (presumably - no one knows for sure) had gone off with all the jewellery and various other items. A few choice bits had been left in the UK - the spectacular engagement ring (that my wife now wears, most days) and about 1/2 dozen other bits.
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In rural UK my mother's house was done a few days after she went into hospital; it's not just those nasty foreigners!

A friend of the family loved Spain and lived there until she died, had a full NI record so some security and health care for emergencies plus a basic UK pension.

Had a bit of dementia in the end but found a local carer; a lot cheaper than being in a home here.

She did a well timed equity release before property crashed which helped but there wasn't much left by the end.
 
Yes, I can see how we may need family/friends around us at some point in the future, not just doctors & a good hospital. Fair point.
It seems on balance that the people strongly suggesting we will need a U.K. home even if we don’t intend on living in it for the foreseeable future may well have a very good point.
We knew the advice from friends in Spain was likely to be biased, hence why I asked here.
Glad I did.
 
A word of warning.
Entitlement to NHS treatment is based on residence only.
Absolutely nothing else.
This govt is quite capable of making things difficult for people returning to reduce pressure on the NHS especially as expats have no vote.
 
First of all, I have my S1 form as a pensioner that entitled me to Spanish health care, I have been in Spain a long time and have full residency and no UK bolt hole apart from offspring. Their public system is way ahead of their private system and is also better than NHS. I have had successful treatment twice and that confirms my opinion that their specialist doctors are really good, GPs might need a push but that is not a problem as many speak English.

I know Competa it is OKish but would not recommend it for permanent living. Antequera or Alora (even Pizarra) are much better and have good rail connections which could be very important. The cost of living is a lot lower than UK and weather obviously is better.

PM me if you need more information.

FF
 
I've been up to Alora a few times, it is very pleasant but no idea on living there. It was one of the areas we looked at when planning our move to Spain.
 
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