Spainfully Honest

Thinking about bringing a pet to Spain , or already sharing your Spanish adventure with a furry friend? In this episode of Spainfully Honest , Catherine and Paul take a practical look at Spain's animal welfare laws and what they mean for pet owners. From the legal requirements for transporting pets to Spain to everyday responsibilities such as identification, safety, and healthcare, they break...

Thinking about moving to Spain? Before you start browsing property websites, booking flights, or dreaming about life in the sunshine, there are some important questions worth asking yourself. In this week's episode of Spainfully Honest , Catherine and Paul look at five key questions that can help you decide whether moving to Spain is the right move for you. From choosing the right town or city...

This week, Catherine and Paul celebrate a full year of the Spainfully Honest podcast. Over the past 12 months, they've shared honest conversations about the realities of moving to Spain, buying property, the education system, and settling into a new life abroad. Along the way, they've discussed Spanish culture, traditions, local events, and the everyday experiences that make life in Spain...

What is it like to retire, pack up your life in Colorado, and move to the Alicante Province during a pandemic? This week in Spainfully Honest , we talk with Patrick and Carol, an American couple who did exactly that four years ago. Now living in Finestrat, they share what it has really been like to adapt to life on the Costa Blanca . They talk about the practical side of their move, from the diffi...

Over the past few months, we've been asking expats/immigrants across Spain a range of questions about their lives here, from why they decided to move and where they chose to settle, to what they miss most about home. In this special episode of Spainfully Honest , we're sharing their answers. We hear from people living in different parts of Spain, all with their own reasons for making the m...

Summer in Spain is often pictured as endless sunshine, beach days and long, relaxed evenings — but what’s it actually like when you live here day to day? In this episode of Spainfully Honest , hosts Paul and Catherine take a practical and personal look at Spanish summer life, from school routines and changing daily schedules to beach culture, food, and how people adapt to the intense heat. This is...

In this episode of Spainfully Honest , we’re joined once again by returning guest Hamilton, a real estate professional based in Málaga, to break down one of the biggest concerns for anyone moving to Spain — renting. Whether you’re relocating, planning a long-term stay, or already on the ground trying to find somewhere to live, this episode pulls back the curtain on what the rental market is really...

Thinking about becoming self-employed in Spain ? The reality of being an autónomo in Spain is often very different from what people expect. In this episode of Spainfully Honest , we take an honest look at what it’s really like to be self-employed in Spain, beyond the social media version of flexible lifestyles and working in the sun. Drawing from their own experiences after years of being self-emp...

In this week’s episode of the Spainfully Honest podcast, we wrap up our city tour series for now with a wander through one of southern Spain’s most popular and fast-changing cities: Málaga. Paul, who lived and worked here, provides insider tips on how to make the most of a short visit. From top attractions like the Gibralfaro viewpoint and Picasso Museum to local dining spots, discover how to expe...

In this episode of Spainfully Honest , we sit down with a guest originally from Atlanta, USA, who now calls Malaga home. He shares his journey from the States to Spain and how what started as a move abroad turned into building a life in Malaga City! We talk through how he ended up settling in Malaga, what the transition was really like, and how day-to-day life compares to what he left behind in th...

This week on Spainfully Honest we’re talking about Barcelona, a city that always has a bit of everything going on. History, food, beach life, culture… it’s one of those places that can feel overwhelming at first, but once you understand the layout and rhythm of it, it all starts to make sense. This is a guide you can listen to before you go, or while you’re actually there , to help you get your be...

This week on Spainfully Honest , we’re joined again by Paul from Chersun, who lives in Cartagena city. We put together a Cartagena City tour, covering everything from great cafés and restaurants to places to visit, including museums, shopping areas with lots of insider information from someone who has worked and lived in the area for years! We’ve structured the episode so it starts and finishes at...

In this episode of Spainfully Honest , we sat down with Margaret from Camino Collab , who helps people make the move to Europe, mostly Spain, and is based in Barcelona. We talk about what life in Barcelona is actually like once you’re living there, not just the holiday version. Margaret shares her own experience of living and working there, and what she sees from helping others make the move. We g...

If you’re working in Spain or thinking about working in Spain and still not quite sure how the system works, you’re not alone. In this episode of Spainfully Honest, we break down social security in Spain in a clear, straightforward way. We cover everything from how to get your social security number to understanding your nómina (payslip) and what it really means to “cotizar” or pay into the social...

In this week’s episode of Spainfully Honest , Paul and Catherine chat with Sarah, who moved from the U.S. to Santander in northern Spain. She talks us through her move to Spain and why she chose Santander, a place that often gets overlooked compared to other parts of the country. They chat about what living in Santander is really like for her day to day, from the climate and pace of life to school...

This episode of Spainfully Honest looks at what Easter in Spain, or Semana Santa, is really like. Catherine and Paul talk through how it’s celebrated, focusing on the processions you see in towns and cities and how much they can differ depending on where you are. They spend a bit of time explaining the overall feel of the processions, as this is something that often surprises people. Some are quit...

In this episode of Spainfully Honest, Paul and Catherine take a close look at the huge variety of visas you can get to move to Spain. While they cover the familiar ones like work, student, and non-lucrative visas, they also dig into lots of lesser-known options, everything from religious and artistic visas to volunteer and au pair visas. They talk through how to pick the right visa for your situat...

This week on Spainfully Honest, Catherine and Paul look at how Spain celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. From the huge Cabo Roig parade, the biggest in Europe outside of Ireland, to Madrid’s week-long Ireland celebrations, we cover how the Irish community and locals bring Irish culture to life in Spain. They talk about the historical connections between Ireland and Spain, local traditions influenced by...

In this episode of Spainfully Honest, Catherine and Paul chat to Ashley and her family all about their move from the United States to Zaragoza and what settling in has really been like for them. They talk through the practical side of relocating to Spain as well as the emotional side, including schooling in Spain, daily life, cultural differences, and how their expectations compared with reality....

In this week’s episode of Spainfully Honest , Paul and Catherine chat about what it’s like to live on a golf resort in Spain. They had a great conversation with Carl from Roda Golf Resort Paradigm – Properties , and while they started out talking generally about golf resorts, they ended up getting a really detailed look at life at Roda Golf in Murcia, so it naturally became a bit of a spotlight. T...

Thinking about driving in Spain or stressing over Spanish driving license paperwork? This week’s episode is your practical guide to understanding how driving licenses actually work when you live here. We chat through the real steps, real timelines, and real experiences behind getting or renewing a Spanish driving licence, so you know exactly what to expect before you start the process. We break do...

In this episode of Spainfully Honest , we talk about two things that are hard to miss right now: Carnaval and Valentine’s Day . With Carnaval taking over towns and cities across Spain, we look at what it’s all about, how it’s celebrated, and why it’s such a big part of Spanish life. From costumes and parades to the social side of it all, it’s a chance to let go, have fun and spend time with other...

In this episode of Spainfully Honest , Paul and Catherine break down digital certificates and digital signatures in Spain. They cover why they matter, how they work, and why they can feel especially confusing when you’re a foreigner dealing with Spanish bureaucracy. Along the way, there are a few cultural observations, personal stories, and a look ahead to what’s coming next, from finding love in...

In this episode of Spainfully Honest , Paul and Catherine take a look at the Padrón in Spain and why it matters more than many people realise when living in Spain. They talk through what it is, why you need it, and how to register, including the documents you’ll be asked for and what can catch people out. While the process is undeniably bureaucratic, the conversation focuses on how being prepared...

In this episode of Spainfully Honest , Paul and Catherine talk through what renewing your TIE (Tarjeta de Identificación de Extranjero) in Spain actually looks like in real life, especially if you’ve been here five years or more. They break down what you need to have ready, why being organised really matters, and how having your paperwork in order can save you a lot of stress later on. They also c...