Initially this meant people spreading out from the big tourist destinations to other coastal towns. Over the last 5 years though even these have grown to have much larger numbers of foreigners living there. This isn’t always a bad thing as it means it isn’t a necessity to learn Spanish before moving there and there will be people you can turn to for support if you run in to difficulties.

There are still nice untouched Spanish towns on the coast but they are becoming fewer and fewer. People who are looking for traditional Spain and a more peaceful relaxed lifestyle are now turning to rural areas of inland Spain. If you think this might be right for you there are a number of things you should consider. Rural Spain is mostly untouched by tourism and is very traditional. You would struggle to get by in such an area if you don’t already speak the language. The big advantage though for most is that you aren’t moving to what is basically Blackpool (English Seaside Resort!) with nicer weather.

The other big advantage of rural inland Spanish property is that they are far cheaper than coastal locations. The prices on the coast have been pushed up by people buying them to use as holiday homes. Like anything else, increased demand leads to increased prices. In rural locations you can find habitable homes starting from €30,000 and even stunning villas for less than €100,000. Spain in general doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of England but there is an even greater contrast in inland rural locations. If you are looking for a relaxed lifestyle with a slow pace of life it could be ideal for you.

More and more people buying homes in Spain are now choosing somewhere far less lively and more typical of traditional Spain. There are literally thousands of inland towns and villages which offer a taste of the real Spain. However these too aren’t without their disadvantages, if you are the first foreigners to move in to a town or village you may find it difficult to fit in. This can be particularly hard if you don’t already speak Spanish. Don’t let this put you off however, as there are now lots of towns and villages that have small communities of English and other nationalities that make settling in a lot easier. If you are only planning on using the home for occasional holidays to get away from it all, and have no plans to move there permanently you shouldn’t worry about these factors as much.