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The blog
Everything we write comes from days we have actually had — no press trips, no invented itineraries.
Featured · Costa Blanca
Six months after moving from Manchester to Orihuela Costa: the paperwork, the costs, the school run, the homesickness and the mornings that make it all worth it.
Sylvia Santamaria-Downey · 11 min read
Series · 8 articles
The honest, in-order story of how a family of four left Manchester for Orihuela Costa — the reasons, the paperwork, the schools, the money and everything that surprised us.
Costa Blanca
We went to Calpe to see past the beaches — and found painted streets, the Spanish Steps, the Peñón de Ifach and the turquoise viewpoints of Morro de Toix.
8 min read
Costa Brava
Five days, six villages and the route we would drive again tomorrow.
8 min read
Costa Brava
The short, spectacular stretch from Calella de Palafrugell to Llafranc — and how it went with two children.
6 min read
Costa Blanca
Even arriving half-Spanish, some things caught us completely off guard.
5 min read
Costa Blanca
The eight days out we have already repeated, all within an hour of home.
6 min read
Costa Blanca
An honest look at our own town — who it suits, who it does not, and why we stayed.
7 min read
Costa Blanca
What we actually spend as a family of four, six months in — with the surprises.
8 min read
Costa Blanca
How we chose, what each option actually costs, and how our children have settled in.
8 min read
Costa Blanca
Twelve things that would have saved us time, money and at least two arguments.
7 min read
Costa Blanca
Six months after moving from Manchester to Orihuela Costa: the paperwork, the costs, the school run, the homesickness and the mornings that make it all worth it.
11 min read
Costa Blanca
The conversation that started it, the reasons that mattered and the ones that turned out not to.
6 min read