‘I’m a British expat in Spain – the four big things I wish I’d known before moving here’

Tyler Mitchell By Tyler Mitchell Jun24,2024

A British expat has revealed the things she wished she had known before moving to Spain. YouTube content creator Stephanie Saint Remy shared her tips ahead of her move back to Britain.

The expat said her advice didn’t include the red tape which surrounds relocating, but was first about how Spanish people express certain timings.

Due to the language difference, telling a native Spanish speaker you will see them soon doesn’t mean you’ll be together imminently, but suggests you could meet up in a week or so, according to Stephanie.

Spanish speakers will say “Hasta pronto”, meaning “I’ll see you now” in English, to mean imminently whereas Brits would ordinarily use the phrase, “I’ll see you soon”.

Stephanie told viewers of her YouTube channel: “If you are not yet fluent in not just Spanish but also Spanish culture, specify the actual time you’re meeting someone.”

A second tip centred around how famous people with English names can have their names changed in Spain, including the late Queen, Elizabeth II, who Stephanie said is referred to as Isabel.

King Charles is called Rey Carlos while Prince William goes by Príncipe Guillaume in Spain. Stephanie said she was “absolutely mindblown” on discovering how the names of Royal Family members change in the country.

Another tip from the expat is that bank holidays in Spain don’t always fall on Mondays. Stephanie said: “In Spain, it can be any day of the week. So the amount of times I’ve gone to a supermarket on a Wednesday only to find that it was closed is incredible.

“But not only are they not always on a Monday, but they also can be different [depending] on which community you live in.”

Stephanie added bank holidays can also differ according to the region or town where you live, saying: “It can be really complex.”

She advised checking the monthly opening hours advertised in supermarkets to check the dates on which bank holidays fall.

A fourth tip centres around property and knowing exactly what you want from your long-term home compared to what you might expect from a holiday home.

The YouTuber explained how when she bought her flat in Spain she didn’t consider the view she wanted from her balcony. She said the view she has is of her neighbour, and not of the beautiful sites surrounding her home.

Stephanie added that while she initially wanted a home with a pool, that became less of a priority as it wasn’t used quite as often compared to a holiday home.

The expat said: “I would have cut the swimming pool to have a view. So if you’re thinking of moving to Spain and you’re thinking of doing some property hunting, really think in advance of what you want that place to be…

“My thinking was it’s a holiday home and I’m going to be out all the time. Had I thought at some point I would live in it, I would have changed it.”

Tyler Mitchell

By Tyler Mitchell

Tyler is a renowned journalist with years of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, entertainment, and technology. His insightful analysis and compelling storytelling have made him a trusted source for breaking news and expert commentary.

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