Nick Snelling

I am a journalist and author of four books (three of which are about Spain) and I live permanently in Spain with my family. Indeed, I have lived in the Valencian mountains of Spain (not far from Gandia) since 2003, although I have known Spain well since the mid 1970s. During my time here, I have worked within the real estate industry, whilst also undertaking investigative journalism on a wide range of matters concerning Spain. This has included tackling subjects as diverse as: corruption, the economy, divorce and domestic violence, drugs, the Spanish property crash, immigration and even the Spanish culture of brothel use! This work has provided me with a uniquely privileged insight into the realities of Spanish culture and day to day life in Spain (see www.nicholassnelling.com). Obviously, living in Spain with my family has meant that I have also had direct personal experience of the Spanish police, the Spanish banks, Spanish health care and the vagaries of work in Spain – amongst so much else. My children have gone to Spanish schools (both state and private) and my son is now studying at a Spanish university. Meanwhile, both my wife and I have struggled (with some success!) to learn Spanish. All of this has provided us with a wealth of practical, day to day knowledge - which has been complemented by the detailed research necessary to write my books... The aim of my Blog is to provide authoritative facts about Spain that are practical and based upon genuine experience. These should be applicable whether you already live in Spain or you are thinking of moving to Spain. Certainly, if you are thinking of moving to Spain then it is vital to know the true facts about Spain and to possess all possible information about Spain before you come here. If you do - then you will easily avoid the pitfalls that exist and move to a country that can provide a wonderfully fulfilling and joyful way of life. It has for us - and there is no reason why it should not do the same for you! However, it would be disingenuous to suggest that Spain is without faults. Buying Spanish property, for example, is not for the faint hearted - with villas in Spain being particularly notorious (on the whole justifiably!) for their potential problems. Certainly, many matters critical to normal life operate very differently in Spain and this follows for work in Spain, health care, tax and inheritance issues, schooling, property law and so on... If you know what you are doing and how things work in Spain then everything functions admirably. However, blunder around carelessly, naively or in ignorance and Spain can ruin you! This is an unnecessary tragedy - that can be so easily avoided, if you have the right know-how'! Indeed, having the correct information about Spain is not just about knowing about Spanish property – it is about understanding what living in Spain is like, given the daily reality of contemporary Spanish culture. It is this that interests me - and what I try hard to convey objectively. Hopefully, my Blog will help answer some of your questions about Spain - whether they are about Spanish culture, villas in Spain, learning Spanish, day to day living in Spain, work in Spain or simply - how to move to Spain safely! For more information about Spain, feel to free contact me. Alternatively, do look at my books - as they encapsulate many hard learned lessons...

Working in Spain and the new labour reforms

Last weekend saw huge demonstrations in Spain against the labour reforms in Spain that the ruling PP (‘Conservative’ ) party have fast tracked through Spain’s legislature. The protests were predictable, as furious private sector employees throughout the country saw their employment rights changed for the worse. In short, the changes are as follows: Before the new measures, if you were [...]