Hi All, I am first timer and my name is Babybadger, I started drinking in ......(sounds like an AA meeting)

Seriously, I am planning the move this summer after we have sold the flat (currently under offer) . I have 2 ?under 5 girls? who will be attending State Schools (how do I find out about which schools are near to Piles/Oliva?, and yes they are learning Spanish already with help from ?Dora the explorer?!) , we are not worried about them learning Valenciano either.

We are planning on renting at first until we ?home? in on the right location, after looking around a bit! (any advice on this would be helpful!) I have already posted on the NIE application front on another thread.

This is very much a lifestyle change and we are not planning on returning to the UK. The wife and I want to integrate into Spanish society as much as possible and she is fluent in German and Italian , good at French and good at Spanish and has been told already she will not have a problem fitting in and working. My Spanish isnt the best, but I have the background to French and German as well, and a tiny amount of Catalan I learnt 15 years ago. I will be teaching myself and lessons here and there, but I think throwing yourself in to it has always worked for me!

I am planning on ?Euro-commuting? back to the UK until the funds are steady and we are settled in Spain (has anyone else done this? Any Pitfalls?). My job in the UK involves using AutoCAD to draw Traffic/Highway plans, I don?t know what the market is like regarding this, Expatriator can you comment?

Hopefully I will be joining some of you soon in sunny Spain!

We are moving very near to the area you mentioned, to Villalonga, the whole area is really lovely, we just got back from a quick trip to sort the mortgage, and hated coming back here!
Our son will be going to the school just outside the village, but I’m sure there are schools in practically every other Village. I know the school that we have chosen has children traveling in from a way as its so good, luckily we are in the catchment area. Have you already visited the area? Try http://www.plumproperties.es, they are the agents we’ve used, they’re excellent and I know they have a few rentals available.
We had an afternoon on Oliva beach, its so lovely!! We are moving in October I can’t wait!!

HI

Just wondering if you made the move and if so, how did it go.

We are planning to move out with our 3 children aged 12, 13 and 16 in Aug.

We dont speak Spanish as yet but will be sending the kids to the state schools - their idea!

We will also be trying to remain with our current employer which is a global FM organisation and maybe commute like you.  How did this work for you?

Would be lovely to hear how you got on!

Hi Brady Bunch,

Unfortunately we sold the flat in December, but the reason being the mother-in-law was diagnosed with Cancer in August 2007, and died very quickly after in September. So we have been left caring for the father-in-law who has a form of dementia.

So we have the position of being ready to do the move, just circumstance doesn’t permit yet.

I am happy for you guys if get there just watch the exchange rate, good planning and timing should do it…...

We were going to rent first, because like the UK you could buy a place because its cheap only to find out you should be living 3 miles down the road becuase the school is better or the community is less chavy!

I was also pushing London City Airport to make Valencia a destination, as it only has 15 minute checkin policy ...... They fly to Barcelona at the moment, so fingers crossed.

Good luck and maybe soon we will be third time lucky…...