Good to see you posting longer videos again. I feel like I may have moved here a bit too late. Before I made the move, everyone was talking about the low prices here. Since I got here: everyone is complaining about things getting pricier, especially rent. Don’t get me wrong, living here is still WAY cheaper than Los Angeles where I moved from. But for any of you fellow retirees moving here: making a budget is absolutely necessary. Can’t say I’m sticking to it 100%, but it’s an evolving process since I’ve only been here three months and I am still figuring things out.
Yes I think we moved at a good time, at least our rent is still quite affordable and will be for at least another 5 years. We feel the rent went up drastically last year but then went down a bit again. There’s always gonna be surprise expenses, but our silver lining is that our health insurance has full coverage. We don’t have to worry about getting medical debt. That’s our “living in Spain” math. Haha!
That's because of all these silly youtubers encouraging people to move to Spain. Then rents double every year and locals are expelled from their own cities. There's a lot of hostility now towards expats and tourists in Valencia, since they are seen as a plague of locusts that destroy communities. Over the last weeks there have been attacks against tourists, AirBnBs and bike rental shops aimed at them in the old quarter. It doesn't look good. Have in mind that being an expat is not ethical, you only exploit places with lower salaries for your own profit, disregarding locals and their culture. No wonder they are angry at having their lives stolen by frivolous foreigners who only think of their cities as if they were a vacationing resort and not a real place. These youtubers even ignore that the local language is not Spanish, but Valencian! The result of all this is that now you get Paris prices even in provincial Spanish towns.
that's what happens when a site becomes fashionable and everyone moves there. The prices get higher and higher. The spaniards are afraid that the whole country is becoming a tourist getho or a huge theme park for people coming from abroad leaving the locals as little npcs like in a videogame. Many neighbourhoods are complaining about touristic apartments and airBnb. There are good people like you or these lovely couple making videos but there are many others making too much noise, getting drunk... coming back late at night waking up everyone. In Spain we work too, and foreigners use to think that this country is a neverending joyful party where everyone has all the time to have fun. Sorry to tell them but, this is far away from truth. Spain is one of the european countries with longer working hours-low salaries and suicide is one of the main causes of death among people from 25 to 35 old. Its a wonderful country, but it has long dark shades like any other.
@@antoniolopezlopez4236 Well, I guess there are also bad eggs among Spaniards living elsewhere in the EU so they can earn much more than if they stayed behind. In any case, I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as what the Spaniards did to it's colonies.
@@solveigsolveig2249 Spaniard UA-camrs encouraging people to move overseas because of economic opportunities, lifestyles, cost of living etc. also exist in other countries. And part of the reason why Spain has recovered from it's economic problems to some extent is due to it's diaspora living elsewhere on the planet especially in the rest of the EU that are earning far more than they could at home. So it works both ways. If you pray for rain you gotta learn to deal with the mud too. In spite of all the negatives that locals perceive about tourists and expats is it anywhere near as bad as the destruction of life, property, culture and exploitation of natural resources that the conquistadors did to the colonies?
Im gonna do it in spanish. Me gusta mucho el canal de ustedes chicos, hablan despacio y claro, no se interrumpen al hablar, no es un canal ruidoso, es fácil de escucharlos y ver sus videos. Gracias por el contenido que hacen es muy interesante y agradable. All the people I met from the Philippines were always very kind, warm and friendly, what good people Filipinos are.
I just wanted to reach out and encourage you guys. Your content is very informative and motivating. I love that you deliver the truths and not just the fantasy of moving. Keep creating the content it is valuable!
Glad both of you are healthy and thank you ever so much for sharing your journey! My wife and I hope to move to Spain in a few years. Your content is so helpful.
Hey Paul and Bea, my wife and I are considering retiring in Spain and we appreciate you sharing your experiences! We are from the California, and pretty fluent in Spanish (at least my wife is LOL), but we're always willing to learn! You two two are like pioneers to us foreigners from the US!
Hello I am from California and we , me and my partner got so interested about Velencia because of you guys ...and we are going to experience it next month. Thinking of moving ...will see😃
Good to know that you are doing well (health) and everything. Thanks for sharing your experiences and scares as well. Wish you the best of luck in your journey 🎉💞
Hello guys. Been watching your videos for a couple of years now. I’m from California. Initially interested in Portugal to retire but Valencia was recommended to me by a Friend’s Co worker who moved there-that’s how I found your videos. Visiting there in November with another 2 couples. Hoping to bump into you guys😊
Tremendous, useful, clear, enlightenment of that reality. Going to Valencia for the second time this May 2024......where is the new brisket restaurant you mentioned.....I'm a fan.....thank you.
Congratulations on your 2-year anniversary! I was researching Valencia as a possible retirement place and your channel came up. Although I've visited other cities in Spain, this coming May will be my first time in Valencia and looking forward to it. Natutuwa ako dahil coming from the same cultural background I find your experience and stories so much more relatable. I'm looking forward to enjoying more of your content. Mabuhay! Praying for more blessings and prosperity for you and continued success of your channel. Saludos, Dante
Thank you, great update! I'm a regular visitor to Valencia and I love keeping up through your videos in between. I especially liked the section on how the city is changing (although I wonder if your arrival was close to Covid times and perhaps things were a little different back then due to that factor?). Have a lovely spring in Valencia!
Thanks for watching the premiere! Could be, post covid was the “revenge travel” for a lot of people… what used to be free entry to tourist attractions are now only free on Sundays. So we definitely think the city is busier.
I appreciate the update my husband and I plan on moving to Spain in approximately 5 years. I have to retire first but knowing the changes that are happening let's me know to just be extra careful of my surroundings when there.
Today is the first time I've seen one of your videos, and I've really enjoyed it! Going to watch the one aboout Health Insurance next!❤ Thank you, and keep up the good work! 🥰
Hola chicos. Love your videos and content. Most appreciated. Can you describe the process on how you filed your Spanish and US taxes and did anything surprise you? I’m close to getting my Spanish citizenship, I currently live in California, and am starting to do my homework on preparing for a tax strategy.
Thank you!!! Ah the trickiest part of living the US! Taxes vary for everyone so we couldn’t really discuss it and also, we’re still trying to figure it out. God bless us all 😂
I look forward to your videos. Especially the ambient lo fi, because they are so relaxing. We will be arriving on October 1st with visa in hand. I would love to see any outdoor markets/craft fairs and to know how to find out where and when they happen. Also, thank you for your days of silence to honor the victims of the fire.
Hello! Thank you so much for your videos… We are moving to Spain from the SF bay in a little over a year. Question for you… How did you get your dog on the plane for the trip out? I refuse to cargo hold my dog, seen too many incidents doing so. Thanks!
Love me these type of videos. You guys rock! I got say, you guys got a 2-year head start on me. I want and will live in Spain. My journey mirrors your journey in life, but from different backgrounds and earth locations. I was born in Tepalcatepec, Mexico 🇲🇽 and lived there until the tender age of 8. Then, my father moved the family to Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico. I, being a little boy, was amazed by the new city, the new friends, and new schools. My father was a banker, so, life was not hard during those years. But, tragedy struck in 1988 and my mother found herself raising all 4 of us on her own. My mother decided that following her family to California was the best option. Arriving illegally in the US was not without its challenges, but, in 1988 it was easier than nowadays. The notion of coming to a new country was exciting and scary at the same time, but I was 15 and didn't know any better. I was able to gain US Citizenship in 2001 and now at 51, I'm looking forward to a new move, a new horizon, a new home: SPAIN 🇪🇸 Gracias!
Regarding whether you can use 1 card to pay for more than one person on the bus, I was on a bus today where a person did that. She simply let the driver know which other person she was paying for.
I wouldn’t say it was easy but it was definitely smoother than how we expected it to be ☺️ How To Fly With Your Dog In The Cabin ua-cam.com/video/nW9BnZTYqhU/v-deo.html
En España estamos hartos de que nos hablen en inglés...se habla español, lo mínimo que debe hacer el que viene a vivir aquí es que hable español....que pasaría si voy a Londres a vivir y no hablara inglés?...pues aquí lo mismo....como pretenden integrarse si no hablan el idioma local?...se está estudiando que para dar la residencia pasen un examen de español..como Francia¡¡
Wahhh sana ma meet ko kayo ,, March 12 andyan nako ,, wala pa rin akong room pero naghahanap na yung amo ko dyan na titrahan ko , so happy na nakapasa kayo sa 2 test nyo for Spanish citizenship,, gusto ko maabutan ang fallas!!
Thanks so much for sharing so much of your incredible Valencia journey with all of us, and for all the useful and practical information ! 😊🙏 I am planning to move to Valencia next year. Have you done a separate video on advice or referrals for tax information and assistance in Valencia ? TIA
There’s a small community in Valencia, so they kind of know who’s who, they all go to the Catholic church. In Madrid and Barcelona there’s a lot of Filipinos for sure. We didn’t have to speak Spanish in Barcelona.
There have been several questions about taxes and I understand that one should talk to a tax professional. However, can you comment on how stressful it is to complete the tax preparation and how much more percentage wise you have to pay Spain as compared to where you were before.
It wasn't stressful at all, we talked to 3 different tax attorneys, chose 1, and filed our tax in Spain. We're not comfortable saying how much more we paid to the Spanish government but it was very reasonable.
Do you recommend some of the smaller towns on the coast or inland as we are more interested to live in a house. It shall be a bit international or at least vivid with restaurants and some culture.
Great video/info. Can you tell me how dog boarding is in Valencia because i noticed y'all didn't have your little friend when visiting the Philippines.
Thank you, guys for the updates and sharing also the not so rosy parts of living in Spain. I hope the locals won't feel intimidated with foreigners moving to Spain. Heard jobless rate increased?
Thanks for watching! All-in-all we think it’s still a great city. I think the locals are still very friendly, and we try to learn as much as we can to not change their way of life. I don’t know much about the job market but it has been a problem for quite some time, I heard.
Spaniards hate expats and tourists to death, they've expelled them from their own cities, so now attacks against foreigners appear often in the news. The feeling is spreading in many places: Canary islands, Barcelona, Balearic islands, Andalusia, Valencia, even in the northern coast of Spain. Last week the town council in Valencia had to forbid opening new tourist rentals in the city, to try and tame the rising wave of anti-tourism anger.
It's great to subscribe to your channel to learn more about living in Spain! Could you pls link the language school that you mentioned, was it Universidad Popular? I'm planning to move to Granada so I want to ck if there is a program there. Thx
We live in Germany and thinking about moving to Spain. We go to there during winter for 2 months every year. The things that "scares" us about spain is the post office and the reliability of delivering mail to your house. Some areas in spain doesn't deliver mail. You have to get it yourself at a nearby store of something. Next is the bureaucracy. The horror stories of german expats are like 😳. And then, online shopping. In Germany, it's very very easy. Also burglars. In Germany, we have glass doors and windows without bars. And we can leave windows open all day. Some spanish friends are shocked when we tell them this 😅 but we do love Spain. Just these things, makes us worry.
It’s definitely a change of lifestyle. Coming from the US where we get our orders delivered to our homes in 4 hours, it will be different. One time a Christmas card from the US arrived in April. But we set-up all our important mail through a service in the US, and the rest we really don’t miss. Life is more relaxed here, and with that some things are slower and take time. So you lock your doors now, not a big deal. Pick an area that’s safer, a building with a concierge, it’s not a lawless country. It’s not the Wild West. There’s good and bad, and as long as the bad isn’t a dealbreaker for you, why not try? ☺️
" The things that "scares" us about spain is the post office and the reliability of delivering mail to your house. Some areas in spain doesn't deliver mail. You have to get it yourself at a nearby store of something. Next is the bureaucracy. The horror stories of german expats are like . And then, online shopping. In Germany, it's very very easy. " I live in Spain for the last 7 years, Valencia. Absolutely no problem with the post office here. The bureaucracy, yeah... be careful, as an EU citizen, no problemo, anything else, it can cause some real headaches, seems like the most miserable people work in the offices that deal with foreigners, they. don't. give. a. fuck. Funny enough in Valencia it helsp to have contacts to the "Chinese communtiy" their lawyers, miraculously, have some excellent contacts, don't ask why, I think everyone knows how that works. - I've had so many cases of bureaucracy fucking peopel up in Germany, complete neglegiece in some cases up to hardcore pedantic cunt behaviour, both countries suck at "people friendly" bureaucracy, just that Germany is more efficient. :) I don't get the online shoppping part, it's as easy and fast etc. as in Germany (I'm actually German, so I think I can make a fair judgement there)" In Germany, we have glass doors and windows without bars. And we can leave windows open all day. " Where do you live? I'm from Bremen, there are so so so so many burglaries where I grew up, same in Berlin. Valencia and other big cities definitely have the same issues and more casual theft and shit. What do you mean by "keeping" your windows open? We lived on the first floor and we kept them open, central area, no problem. But yeah, you gotta be careful, but as I said, you wouldn't keep your windows open when they face the front, to the street in the areas where I lived in Germany either.... I do think the streets feel a bit less safe here, not dangerous though, just not Japan lvels of "chill". www.reddit.com/r/valencia/comments/1bguvne/are_you_feeling_safe_in_valencia/
Hola Espanya!! I'm here now Bea and Paul,, I live in Carre de Godofredo Ros,, I think for a while,, it's good to settle for a while,, hope to see you someday
Great video, please say more about the citizenship aspect... will you be trading your old citizenship in, and if so, what goes into a decision like that (pros and cons, benefits you gain or give up) -- I'm sure many would be curious.
We’re Filipinos so we don’t have to renounce our citizenship, and we can apply after living in Spain for 2 uninterrupted years as legal residents. It was an easy decision because we (and Ibero Americans and Equatorial Guineans) have a shorter wait time to apply for citizenship by residency.
We’re Filipinos so we don’t have to renounce our citizenship, and we can apply after living in Spain for 2 uninterrupted years as legal residents. It was an easy decision because we (and Ibero Americans and Equatorial Guineans) have a shorter wait time to apply for citizenship by residency.
@@neptunemike no, we’re not dual! Thank goodness. I can tell you the stress that Americans feel about filing taxes twice when we attended tax seminars. All of them had questions!
There’s a lot of good ones, I recommend finding something in the city center or close by. Our friends have stayed at Vincci Valencia Palace and The Valentia and both seem like good hotels. My friend said though that the Vincci didn’t have much counter or storage space for their clothes.
Hi, your posts are reaaaalllly helpful and I would like to thank you for these informative updates ❤ Would you be so kind to share your go-to airline/ portals for cheap domestic (within EU) flight tix? Thanks!!
My husband and i are contemplating retiring to Spain in the next 5 years (we both have great pensions). We're Californians too but worry about job prospects for our child when she grows up. She'd be about 13 years old. I heard Spain has high unemployment and very low wages. Do you worry about that if you ever have a child?
Thanks for watching! Sorry, those are some of the thoughts that never crossed our minds before since we don’t have kids. But I can say for sure, the kids here are nice, sociable, and polite.
Hello my friend. I am a spaniard living in Barcelona , originally from Madrid. Salaries are low and unemployment rate is high. 12%. So they didn't lie to you. What I would strongly recommend to anyone coming to Spain is "encourage your young ones to study technical and qualified professions" so they can find a good job. It is difficult to live here, specially in big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, with the minimum or even a bit higher salary. More difficult for single people because the main problem is housing prices. To enjoy some quality of life here you need to have a more or les well paid job. Some of the people I know who dont struggle too much for paying the bills include Phsychologist, Teachers, Architecs, Civil servants, IT professionals... BUT low qualified profesions or just the ones not so popular nowadays for the market will have super low wages compared to the cost of living and compared specially to the prices of housing and renting in cities. Minimum salary is 1300€ a month (or 1000€ with 14 salaries a year which is the norm in Spain) and the rent for a 80m apartment in Madrid/Barcelona is 900 to 1200€. Do your math. Single people with a low qualified profession will struggle to pay the bills. They wont die of hunger but they wont live what nowadays is considered a rich country good quality of life. They will need to count every euro. I know many people in that situation. In big cities, as I say, because rent and cost of living is quite affordable in small towns, in comparison. So bear that in mind if you decide to move. They didnt lie to you. I am a 42 y.o female with no kids living in Barcelona. Reasonable good salary? Come here. This is a safe, nice country, in general. Good healthcare, good food, open minded mindset, rich culture, good vibes. Low salary, no job and no prospects of getting a good one? Think twice or more. Probably you wont starve but you wont enjoy your life neither.
Been following you since we started our paperwork to move to Spain. We have two kids, age 7 and 9. Could you do a review of American schools in Valencia?
@@EverythingIsBoffo no problem, totally understand. But if you meet any families maybe you could interview them 😅 just a thought. Really like the way you tell your story and experience and with such respect to local people. Thanks for your hard work!
Tuition in Valencia is done in Valencian/Catalan language, both in public and private schools. You should move to Spanish-only speaking regions on Spain, like Madrid, if you don't like that. Never complain about the official use of local language/s anywhere in Spain. It is not your country and you don't belong here, plus expats are not welcome.
The streets are well-lit and the sidewalks are wide. It’s very safe even at night. Depending on where you are, there could still be people out and about at midnight.
CAN YOU SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE IN TAKING THE CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE TEST?? I got my NLV last december and will fly to madrid this May. My spanish is way below basic and that is a concern for me, when it comes to passing the Language test when I eventually get the eligibility. You admitting that you know basic spanish and still passing the language test gives me extra hope that I can pass the language test!!! 😅
Hi! All in all we did about 8 months of Spanish classes so while we say our Spanish is basic, we did have to work on learning the language. We downloaded the CCSE app from Instituto Cervantes and took the sample tests multiple times until we felt we got most of it correct.
Hi Bea and Paul, love your videos! Do you have a video or could you do one regarding taxes for expats in Spain? I’m considering early retirement in Spain from the U.S. but I heard that even if you don’t work in Spain (non lucrative/retirement visa) you still have to pay high taxes. Best Regards!
Hello and thanks for watching! ☺️ sorry we’re not tax professionals so we can’t do a video on that, and each person’s financial status is unique. Best to consult with a professional. All we can tell you is you become a fiscal resident when you live 183 days in Spain in a calendar year.
Thank you so much for all your videos. You are both very adventurous and inspiring. We’d like to explore the idea of moving to Spain. Can you please share your immigration lawyer who helped you with your Spanish citizenship? Thanks again!
We’re going to be in Valencia from June 2 to 5 this year. Would love to meet up with you if available. We are thinking of moving to. Valencia ne t year. My wife, Tere{Philipina😂) and I are using this trip to check everything out. Love your Videos. Great job.
Hi Paul and Bea! How are you? I have a quick question. If you are a Filipino-American citizen, should this person give up / renounce his US-ciitizenship in order to get a Spanish-citizenship? (thanks!)
If you are a natural-born Filipino you can apply for Spanish citizenship after living here for 2 years and do not need to renounce! But in reality though, you don’t lose your US citizenship that way, it’s just that in the eyes of Spain, you are not American. After you become Spaniard you will need to go back to the Philippine embassy and reclaim your Philippine citizenship though. Even if you don’t renounce the law states that you lose it when you acquire another nationality and will need to reclaim.
can you do a video on companies that might hire. my family and i want to move over there but we are scared because we dont know about work and the retirement visa is so so because we are a family of 6
Outside the El Corte Ingles you showed briefly here someone tried to pickpocket my wife's backpack last summer. They couldn't quite get what they were attempting to steal out. Little did they know It was a full pack of feminine hygiene product lol. They just said an embarassed sorry and took off when my wife caught them with their hand in the backpack. Hoping to get back there again this summer.
Yes I think I spotted some pick pockets at the Xativa train station, they were trying to get close to my dad’s backpack. Thankfully they are not very good thieves 😂. I hope they get caught.
Que un seguro médico tenga que aprobar las pruebas o tratamientos que necesite un doctor para curarte me parece una vergüenza, me alegra saber que aquí no pasa, al menos por ahora, veremos qué pasa si se cargan la sanidad pública y tenemos que tener todos seguro privado.
Good to see you posting longer videos again. I feel like I may have moved here a bit too late. Before I made the move, everyone was talking about the low prices here. Since I got here: everyone is complaining about things getting pricier, especially rent. Don’t get me wrong, living here is still WAY cheaper than Los Angeles where I moved from. But for any of you fellow retirees moving here: making a budget is absolutely necessary. Can’t say I’m sticking to it 100%, but it’s an evolving process since I’ve only been here three months and I am still figuring things out.
Yes I think we moved at a good time, at least our rent is still quite affordable and will be for at least another 5 years. We feel the rent went up drastically last year but then went down a bit again. There’s always gonna be surprise expenses, but our silver lining is that our health insurance has full coverage. We don’t have to worry about getting medical debt. That’s our “living in Spain” math. Haha!
That's because of all these silly youtubers encouraging people to move to Spain. Then rents double every year and locals are expelled from their own cities.
There's a lot of hostility now towards expats and tourists in Valencia, since they are seen as a plague of locusts that destroy communities. Over the last weeks there have been attacks against tourists, AirBnBs and bike rental shops aimed at them in the old quarter. It doesn't look good.
Have in mind that being an expat is not ethical, you only exploit places with lower salaries for your own profit, disregarding locals and their culture. No wonder they are angry at having their lives stolen by frivolous foreigners who only think of their cities as if they were a vacationing resort and not a real place. These youtubers even ignore that the local language is not Spanish, but Valencian!
The result of all this is that now you get Paris prices even in provincial Spanish towns.
that's what happens when a site becomes fashionable and everyone moves there. The prices get higher and higher.
The spaniards are afraid that the whole country is becoming a tourist getho or a huge theme park for people coming from abroad leaving the locals as little npcs like in a videogame.
Many neighbourhoods are complaining about touristic apartments and airBnb. There are good people like you or these lovely couple making videos but there are many others making too much noise, getting drunk... coming back late at night waking up everyone.
In Spain we work too, and foreigners use to think that this country is a neverending joyful party where everyone has all the time to have fun. Sorry to tell them but, this is far away from truth. Spain is one of the european countries with longer working hours-low salaries and suicide is one of the main causes of death among people from 25 to 35 old. Its a wonderful country, but it has long dark shades like any other.
@@antoniolopezlopez4236 Well, I guess there are also bad eggs among Spaniards living elsewhere in the EU so they can earn much more than if they stayed behind. In any case, I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as what the Spaniards did to it's colonies.
@@solveigsolveig2249 Spaniard UA-camrs encouraging people to move overseas because of economic opportunities, lifestyles, cost of living etc. also exist in other countries. And part of the reason why Spain has recovered from it's economic problems to some extent is due to it's diaspora living elsewhere on the planet especially in the rest of the EU that are earning far more than they could at home. So it works both ways. If you pray for rain you gotta learn to deal with the mud too. In spite of all the negatives that locals perceive about tourists and expats is it anywhere near as bad as the destruction of life, property, culture and exploitation of natural resources that the conquistadors did to the colonies?
Im gonna do it in spanish. Me gusta mucho el canal de ustedes chicos, hablan despacio y claro, no se interrumpen al hablar, no es un canal ruidoso, es fácil de escucharlos y ver sus videos. Gracias por el contenido que hacen es muy interesante y agradable.
All the people I met from the Philippines were always very kind, warm and friendly, what good people Filipinos are.
Aaaahh que magnífico leerlo! Mil gracias por su comentario y apoyo a nuestro canal. Nos alegramos! ☺️☺️☺️
I just wanted to reach out and encourage you guys. Your content is very informative and motivating. I love
that you deliver the truths and not just the fantasy of moving. Keep creating the content it is valuable!
Thank you so much for the nice comment! :)
Glad both of you are healthy and thank you ever so much for sharing your journey! My wife and I hope to move to Spain in a few years. Your content is so helpful.
You’re very welcome and thanks for watching! Best of luck on your move! 🙏🏼
Don't come, please, expats are not welcome.
Thanks!
Wow thank you! 😊
Hey Paul and Bea, my wife and I are considering retiring in Spain and we appreciate you sharing your experiences! We are from the California, and pretty fluent in Spanish (at least my wife is LOL), but we're always willing to learn! You two two are like pioneers to us foreigners from the US!
Thank you! It’s always so scary to start something new but definitely worth it ☺️ Best of luck! 🙏🏼
Hello I am from California and we , me and my partner got so interested about Velencia because of you guys ...and we are going to experience it next month. Thinking of moving ...will see😃
Thanks for watching, hope you enjoy the city!
I love seeing grandma just smile when she sees you, man. Heartwarming.
Thank you! When we left for the US in 2008 we knew it was a long time before we could see her again, didn’t think it would be 14 years later!
@@EverythingIsBoffo oh wow! I'm glad y'all were able to see each other again.
Good to know that you are doing well (health) and everything. Thanks
for sharing your experiences and scares as well. Wish you the best of luck in your journey 🎉💞
Thank you for watching!
Hello guys. Been watching your videos for a couple of years now. I’m from California. Initially interested in Portugal to retire but Valencia was recommended to me by a Friend’s Co worker who moved there-that’s how I found your videos. Visiting there in November with another 2 couples. Hoping to bump into you guys😊
Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoy your visit. It’s a wonderful city.
I would love to see a day in the life video of your life in Spain and then comparing that to what it was in like in the US before you moved!
Ah, great idea for a video, thank you! ☺️
Tremendous, useful, clear, enlightenment of that reality. Going to Valencia for the second time this May 2024......where is the new brisket restaurant you mentioned.....I'm a fan.....thank you.
It’s by Gran Via, along the side of the Turia. Thanks for watching!
Thank you po, this is very helpful. We love the montages and the lo-fi music. ♥
Thank you very much din!
Congratulations on your 2-year anniversary! I was researching Valencia as a possible retirement place and your channel came up. Although I've visited other cities in Spain, this coming May will be my first time in Valencia and looking forward to it. Natutuwa ako dahil coming from the same cultural background I find your experience and stories so much more relatable. I'm looking forward to enjoying more of your content. Mabuhay! Praying for more blessings and prosperity for you and continued success of your channel.
Saludos,
Dante
Maraming salamat! We hope you enjoy this beautiful city, we feel so lucky to see it everyday. ☺️
Great to see you are adapting to Valencia and Spanish life.
@@user-pt-67066G thank you! We feel very fortunate to be here. ☺️
Thank you guys. You're doing great reviews and share useful information. Wish you all the best. You're a great, cheerful couple. 🔥🙏❤
Aww thanks so much! ☺️
Very informative video about living in Spain. Thank you for sharing. Subscribed ❤
@@wrx2457 thank you for watching! ☺️
Helpful info, with your fun personalities. Thanks!
Thank you, you are too kind! ☺️
Thank you, great update! I'm a regular visitor to Valencia and I love keeping up through your videos in between. I especially liked the section on how the city is changing (although I wonder if your arrival was close to Covid times and perhaps things were a little different back then due to that factor?). Have a lovely spring in Valencia!
Thanks for watching the premiere! Could be, post covid was the “revenge travel” for a lot of people… what used to be free entry to tourist attractions are now only free on Sundays. So we definitely think the city is busier.
It's the flock of expats that have ruined the city for locals.
Love the videos of the lifestyle 😃thanks !.. I am curious as to what time you are shooting some of the content.. 😊
We always carry a camera with us so it definitely varies ☺️
Congratulations on your 2 years 🎉
Thank you! 😊
good luck both of you!!enjoy life to the fullest!! God bless!! im looking forward to get to there after 2 years!!lol
Thank you! Good luck to you as well, on your move. ☺️
I appreciate the update my husband and I plan on moving to Spain in approximately 5 years. I have to retire first but knowing the changes that are happening let's me know to just be extra careful of my surroundings when there.
@@idalehmann4874 like in any big city, best practice is to always be alert. Thanks for watching!
When we visited in February, we went to Barbaros smoke house bbq and it was amazing! We will make sure to go again and again!
Sounds awesome, we’ll have to try it!
Today is the first time I've seen one of your videos, and I've really enjoyed it! Going to watch the one aboout Health Insurance next!❤ Thank you, and keep up the good work! 🥰
Thank you for watching! ☺️
Thanks dudes. My wife and I wish to move to Spain 🇪🇸. Great stories.
@@simonheffernan1767 thank you! ☺️
so glad t found ur videos! subscribed!! xxx keep making great contents x
Thanks for subscribing! ☺️
Thanks for the great information! 😊
I just moved here with my husband so looking forward to getting to know the city more 😊
Thank you very much for these info.
You’re welcome. ☺️
Hola chicos. Love your videos and content. Most appreciated. Can you describe the process on how you filed your Spanish and US taxes and did anything surprise you? I’m close to getting my Spanish citizenship, I currently live in California, and am starting to do my homework on preparing for a tax strategy.
Thank you!!! Ah the trickiest part of living the US! Taxes vary for everyone so we couldn’t really discuss it and also, we’re still trying to figure it out. God bless us all 😂
I look forward to your videos. Especially the ambient lo fi, because they are so relaxing. We will be arriving on October 1st with visa in hand. I would love to see any outdoor markets/craft fairs and to know how to find out where and when they happen. Also, thank you for your days of silence to honor the victims of the fire.
Glad you liked those videos! The market video is actually coming out soon! ☺️
Hello! Thank you so much for your videos… We are moving to Spain from the SF bay in a little over a year. Question for you… How did you get your dog on the plane for the trip out? I refuse to cargo hold my dog, seen too many incidents doing so.
Thanks!
Hello! Here's how we did it: ua-cam.com/video/nW9BnZTYqhU/v-deo.html
Love me these type of videos. You guys rock!
I got say, you guys got a 2-year head start on me.
I want and will live in Spain.
My journey mirrors your journey in life, but from different backgrounds and earth locations.
I was born in Tepalcatepec, Mexico 🇲🇽 and lived there until the tender age of 8.
Then, my father moved the family to Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico.
I, being a little boy, was amazed by the new city, the new friends, and new schools.
My father was a banker, so, life was not hard during those years.
But, tragedy struck in 1988 and my mother found herself raising all 4 of us on her own.
My mother decided that following her family to California was the best option.
Arriving illegally in the US was not without its challenges, but, in 1988 it was easier than nowadays.
The notion of coming to a new country was exciting and scary at the same time, but I was 15 and didn't know any better.
I was able to gain US Citizenship in 2001 and now at 51, I'm looking forward to a new move, a new horizon, a new home: SPAIN 🇪🇸
Gracias!
It’s so exciting and scary, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. 😌 Thank you for sharing your story!
@@EverythingIsBoffo thank you for sharing yours 🥹
Regarding whether you can use 1 card to pay for more than one person on the bus, I was on a bus today where a person did that. She simply let the driver know which other person she was paying for.
Yup, that’s what we do too. ☺️
I see your dog travelled with you on the plane, was it easy bringing your dog from the US into Spain?
I wouldn’t say it was easy but it was definitely smoother than how we expected it to be ☺️ How To Fly With Your Dog In The Cabin
ua-cam.com/video/nW9BnZTYqhU/v-deo.html
En España estamos hartos de que nos hablen en inglés...se habla español, lo mínimo que debe hacer el que viene a vivir aquí es que hable español....que pasaría si voy a Londres a vivir y no hablara inglés?...pues aquí lo mismo....como pretenden integrarse si no hablan el idioma local?...se está estudiando que para dar la residencia pasen un examen de español..como Francia¡¡
Wahhh sana ma meet ko kayo ,, March 12 andyan nako ,, wala pa rin akong room pero naghahanap na yung amo ko dyan na titrahan ko , so happy na nakapasa kayo sa 2 test nyo for Spanish citizenship,, gusto ko maabutan ang fallas!!
Best of luck sayo! Sobrang saya ng fallas 🥳
Thanks so much for sharing so much of your incredible Valencia journey with all of us, and for all the useful and practical information ! 😊🙏 I am planning to move to Valencia next year. Have you done a separate video on advice or referrals for tax information and assistance in Valencia ? TIA
Hi! Good luck on the move! We’re not tax professionals so no video on taxes. ☺️ thanks for watching!
Please, don't come.
Is there a large Filipino community in Valencia or in Spain in general at all?
There’s a small community in Valencia, so they kind of know who’s who, they all go to the Catholic church. In Madrid and Barcelona there’s a lot of Filipinos for sure. We didn’t have to speak Spanish in Barcelona.
There have been several questions about taxes and I understand that one should talk to a tax professional. However, can you comment on how stressful it is to complete the tax preparation and how much more percentage wise you have to pay Spain as compared to where you were before.
It wasn't stressful at all, we talked to 3 different tax attorneys, chose 1, and filed our tax in Spain. We're not comfortable saying how much more we paid to the Spanish government but it was very reasonable.
Do you recommend some of the smaller towns on the coast or inland as we are more interested to live in a house. It shall be a bit international or at least vivid with restaurants and some culture.
Yes especially since the cities are getting more expensive, the houses by the coast are a better option for someone looking to live in a house. ☺️
Thanks for the video. How did you sign up for the Spanish Classes. I would like to sign up asap.
They announce the enrolment period on their website. There’s a few different schools you will need to choose from.
can you do part of your video in spanish with subtitles? just for fun!
Stay tuned! ;)
Great video/info. Can you tell me how dog boarding is in Valencia because i noticed y'all didn't have your little friend when visiting the Philippines.
Hi, there’s the Rover app or pet sitting groups on Facebook. I think there’s a doggy daycare in the city but not sure because our dog passed away.
@@EverythingIsBoffo Im so sorry to hear, Condolences. Thank y'all for reaching out
@@gailhanks2065 thank you
is there any chance you could start incorporating some words in valencià like "Bon dia", or "el Compte per favor"???
I would love to, but all we know are Bon Dia, nit de foc, moltes gracies, quan arriba tu autobus, not nearly enough for a conversation. Hahaha!
Expats hate Valencian language, since they don't belong, nor will never integrate here.
what airline lets you fly with your dog out of the crate?
Thank you, guys for the updates and sharing also the not so rosy parts of living in Spain. I hope the locals won't feel intimidated with foreigners moving to Spain. Heard jobless rate increased?
Thanks for watching! All-in-all we think it’s still a great city. I think the locals are still very friendly, and we try to learn as much as we can to not change their way of life. I don’t know much about the job market but it has been a problem for quite some time, I heard.
Spaniards hate expats and tourists to death, they've expelled them from their own cities, so now attacks against foreigners appear often in the news.
The feeling is spreading in many places: Canary islands, Barcelona, Balearic islands, Andalusia, Valencia, even in the northern coast of Spain.
Last week the town council in Valencia had to forbid opening new tourist rentals in the city, to try and tame the rising wave of anti-tourism anger.
It's great to subscribe to your channel to learn more about living in Spain! Could you pls link the language school that you mentioned, was it Universidad Popular? I'm planning to move to Granada so I want to ck if there is a program there. Thx
Thanks for watching! The Universitat Popular is in Valencia. But there’s a lot of language schools around.
We live in Germany and thinking about moving to Spain. We go to there during winter for 2 months every year. The things that "scares" us about spain is the post office and the reliability of delivering mail to your house. Some areas in spain doesn't deliver mail. You have to get it yourself at a nearby store of something. Next is the bureaucracy. The horror stories of german expats are like 😳. And then, online shopping. In Germany, it's very very easy. Also burglars. In Germany, we have glass doors and windows without bars. And we can leave windows open all day. Some spanish friends are shocked when we tell them this 😅 but we do love Spain. Just these things, makes us worry.
It’s definitely a change of lifestyle. Coming from the US where we get our orders delivered to our homes in 4 hours, it will be different. One time a Christmas card from the US arrived in April. But we set-up all our important mail through a service in the US, and the rest we really don’t miss. Life is more relaxed here, and with that some things are slower and take time. So you lock your doors now, not a big deal. Pick an area that’s safer, a building with a concierge, it’s not a lawless country. It’s not the Wild West. There’s good and bad, and as long as the bad isn’t a dealbreaker for you, why not try? ☺️
" The things that "scares" us about spain is the post office and the reliability of delivering mail to your house. Some areas in spain doesn't deliver mail. You have to get it yourself at a nearby store of something. Next is the bureaucracy. The horror stories of german expats are like . And then, online shopping. In Germany, it's very very easy. " I live in Spain for the last 7 years, Valencia. Absolutely no problem with the post office here. The bureaucracy, yeah... be careful, as an EU citizen, no problemo, anything else, it can cause some real headaches, seems like the most miserable people work in the offices that deal with foreigners, they. don't. give. a. fuck. Funny enough in Valencia it helsp to have contacts to the "Chinese communtiy" their lawyers, miraculously, have some excellent contacts, don't ask why, I think everyone knows how that works. - I've had so many cases of bureaucracy fucking peopel up in Germany, complete neglegiece in some cases up to hardcore pedantic cunt behaviour, both countries suck at "people friendly" bureaucracy, just that Germany is more efficient. :) I don't get the online shoppping part, it's as easy and fast etc. as in Germany (I'm actually German, so I think I can make a fair judgement there)" In Germany, we have glass doors and windows without bars. And we can leave windows open all day. " Where do you live? I'm from Bremen, there are so so so so many burglaries where I grew up, same in Berlin. Valencia and other big cities definitely have the same issues and more casual theft and shit.
What do you mean by "keeping" your windows open? We lived on the first floor and we kept them open, central area, no problem. But yeah, you gotta be careful, but as I said, you wouldn't keep your windows open when they face the front, to the street in the areas where I lived in Germany either....
I do think the streets feel a bit less safe here, not dangerous though, just not Japan lvels of "chill".
www.reddit.com/r/valencia/comments/1bguvne/are_you_feeling_safe_in_valencia/
Hola Espanya!! I'm here now Bea and Paul,, I live in Carre de Godofredo Ros,, I think for a while,, it's good to settle for a while,, hope to see you someday
Hola! How wonderful, we are happy for you. We’ll be back in Valencia soon. Say hi if you see us in the street! ☺️
Great video, please say more about the citizenship aspect... will you be trading your old citizenship in, and if so, what goes into a decision like that (pros and cons, benefits you gain or give up) -- I'm sure many would be curious.
We’re Filipinos so we don’t have to renounce our citizenship, and we can apply after living in Spain for 2 uninterrupted years as legal residents. It was an easy decision because we (and Ibero Americans and Equatorial Guineans) have a shorter wait time to apply for citizenship by residency.
We’re Filipinos so we don’t have to renounce our citizenship, and we can apply after living in Spain for 2 uninterrupted years as legal residents. It was an easy decision because we (and Ibero Americans and Equatorial Guineans) have a shorter wait time to apply for citizenship by residency.
@@EverythingIsBoffowould you renounce your US citizenship in the future though? aren’t you guys dual? thanks for the video 😊
@@neptunemike no, we’re not dual! Thank goodness. I can tell you the stress that Americans feel about filing taxes twice when we attended tax seminars. All of them had questions!
Great video thank you. What hotel do you recommend when you have family over? Or what hotel would you recommend? Thank you
There’s a lot of good ones, I recommend finding something in the city center or close by. Our friends have stayed at Vincci Valencia Palace and The Valentia and both seem like good hotels. My friend said though that the Vincci didn’t have much counter or storage space for their clothes.
Thank you.
If one resides in the US and has dual citizenship (US-Phils), which passport is best to submit with the application?
@@teresal5174 if you had a choice Philippines but in theory it doesn’t matter.
Hi, your posts are reaaaalllly helpful and I would like to thank you for these informative updates ❤
Would you be so kind to share your go-to airline/ portals for cheap domestic (within EU) flight tix? Thanks!!
We go with whoever is cheapest at that time. No problems so far with Air France, Vueling, and RyanAir. Soon we will try Volotea.
My husband and i are contemplating retiring to Spain in the next 5 years (we both have great pensions). We're Californians too but worry about job prospects for our child when she grows up. She'd be about 13 years old. I heard Spain has high unemployment and very low wages. Do you worry about that if you ever have a child?
Thanks for watching! Sorry, those are some of the thoughts that never crossed our minds before since we don’t have kids. But I can say for sure, the kids here are nice, sociable, and polite.
Hello my friend. I am a spaniard living in Barcelona , originally from Madrid.
Salaries are low and unemployment rate is high. 12%. So they didn't lie to you.
What I would strongly recommend to anyone coming to Spain is "encourage your young ones to study technical and qualified professions" so they can find a good job.
It is difficult to live here, specially in big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, with the minimum or even a bit higher salary.
More difficult for single people because the main problem is housing prices.
To enjoy some quality of life here you need to have a more or les well paid job.
Some of the people I know who dont struggle too much for paying the bills include Phsychologist, Teachers, Architecs, Civil servants, IT professionals...
BUT low qualified profesions or just the ones not so popular nowadays for the market will have super low wages compared to the cost of living and compared specially to the prices of housing and renting in cities.
Minimum salary is 1300€ a month (or 1000€ with 14 salaries a year which is the norm in Spain) and the rent for a 80m apartment in Madrid/Barcelona is 900 to 1200€. Do your math.
Single people with a low qualified profession will struggle to pay the bills. They wont die of hunger but they wont live what nowadays is considered a rich country good quality of life. They will need to count every euro.
I know many people in that situation.
In big cities, as I say, because rent and cost of living is quite affordable in small towns, in comparison.
So bear that in mind if you decide to move. They didnt lie to you. I am a 42 y.o female with no kids living in Barcelona.
Reasonable good salary? Come here. This is a safe, nice country, in general. Good healthcare, good food, open minded mindset, rich culture, good vibes.
Low salary, no job and no prospects of getting a good one? Think twice or more. Probably you wont starve but you wont enjoy your life neither.
@@Neramy thank you so much for taking the time to answer! You explained things beautifully. Buena suerte! ☺️
Been following you since we started our paperwork to move to Spain. We have two kids, age 7 and 9. Could you do a review of American schools in Valencia?
Hello! Sorry we don’t have kids! ☺️ we are the least qualified to do a review, haha! Thanks for watching though, and good luck on your application!
@@EverythingIsBoffo no problem, totally understand. But if you meet any families maybe you could interview them 😅 just a thought. Really like the way you tell your story and experience and with such respect to local people. Thanks for your hard work!
@@asylpilipenko4736 thank you for the kind words! ☺️
Tuition in Valencia is done in Valencian/Catalan language, both in public and private schools. You should move to Spanish-only speaking regions on Spain, like Madrid, if you don't like that. Never complain about the official use of local language/s anywhere in Spain. It is not your country and you don't belong here, plus expats are not welcome.
Hi po a resident person specifically non eu citizen can also get their non eu wife. Under FRV visa po ba iyon? Thank you po
Are there a lot of Filipinos there in Valencia?
Congratulations on the 2 year mark!
Not too many, but there’s a small community that gathers on Sundays for church. I think because of the smaller size they are more close knit. ☺️
Is Valencia safe in the evening? Are there always people on the streets ?
The streets are well-lit and the sidewalks are wide. It’s very safe even at night. Depending on where you are, there could still be people out and about at midnight.
CAN YOU SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE IN TAKING THE CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE TEST??
I got my NLV last december and will fly to madrid this May. My spanish is way below basic and that is a concern for me, when it comes to passing the Language test when I eventually get the eligibility. You admitting that you know basic spanish and still passing the language test gives me extra hope that I can pass the language test!!! 😅
Hi! All in all we did about 8 months of Spanish classes so while we say our Spanish is basic, we did have to work on learning the language. We downloaded the CCSE app from Instituto Cervantes and took the sample tests multiple times until we felt we got most of it correct.
@@EverythingIsBoffo yup that's the plan, to really study spanish extensively when I land, thanks and congrats!
Hi Bea and Paul, love your videos! Do you have a video or could you do one regarding taxes for expats in Spain? I’m considering early retirement in Spain from the U.S. but I heard that even if you don’t work in Spain (non lucrative/retirement visa) you still have to pay high taxes. Best Regards!
Hello and thanks for watching! ☺️ sorry we’re not tax professionals so we can’t do a video on that, and each person’s financial status is unique. Best to consult with a professional. All we can tell you is you become a fiscal resident when you live 183 days in Spain in a calendar year.
@@EverythingIsBoffo thank you for your reply, your videos are very informative! Best!
@@richardtortora9530 thanks for watching! Will come out with more soon!
How is the heat in the summer?
Unbearably hot for about 2 weeks. The rest is hot.
Thank you so much for all your videos. You are both very adventurous and inspiring. We’d like to explore the idea of moving to Spain. Can you please share your immigration lawyer who helped you with your Spanish citizenship? Thanks again!
Hello! You can contact her using the link Bureaucracy.es/everythingisboffo and scroll down to immigration lawyer. Her name is Atty Douaa ☺️
We’re going to be in Valencia from June 2 to 5 this year. Would love to meet up with you if available. We are thinking of moving to. Valencia ne t year. My wife, Tere{Philipina😂) and I are using this trip to check everything out. Love your Videos. Great job.
Thanks for watching! Message us on FB or Insta, if we’re available maybe we can meet! ☺️
Thank You!
Thanks for watching! ☺️
Would a translation app be helpful though?
We use Google Translate and DeepL sometimes, especially when Paul was in hospital.
Hi Paul and Bea! How are you? I have a quick question. If you are a Filipino-American citizen, should this person give up / renounce his US-ciitizenship in order to get a Spanish-citizenship? (thanks!)
If you are a natural-born Filipino you can apply for Spanish citizenship after living here for 2 years and do not need to renounce! But in reality though, you don’t lose your US citizenship that way, it’s just that in the eyes of Spain, you are not American. After you become Spaniard you will need to go back to the Philippine embassy and reclaim your Philippine citizenship though. Even if you don’t renounce the law states that you lose it when you acquire another nationality and will need to reclaim.
@@EverythingIsBoffo , hello Paul and Bea! Thanks a bunch for this piece of information. It helps!
@@TonyFalconX44 you’re welcome! To truly lose your US citizenship, you will have to go through a process with the government and pay exit tax.
@@EverythingIsBoffo , wow, seems like counter intuitive, but I guess its because of US citizens pay taxes anywhere income is generated.
You have really good videos, very helpful and informative! Thanks a lot!
THANK YOU!
You're welcome!☺️
can you do a video on companies that might hire. my family and i want to move over there but we are scared because we dont know about work and the retirement visa is so so because we are a family of 6
Hello! Unfortunately we’re not well versed in the job market here, so we can’t endorse any company.
What do you guys do jobwise?
Hello! We own a wedding video company in the US and our partners are running it while we are away! Check us out - Boffo Video! ☺️
Outside the El Corte Ingles you showed briefly here someone tried to pickpocket my wife's backpack last summer. They couldn't quite get what they were attempting to steal out. Little did they know It was a full pack of feminine hygiene product lol. They just said an embarassed sorry and took off when my wife caught them with their hand in the backpack. Hoping to get back there again this summer.
Yes I think I spotted some pick pockets at the Xativa train station, they were trying to get close to my dad’s backpack. Thankfully they are not very good thieves 😂. I hope they get caught.
can you make a video on your experience in filing taxes
Hello! Unfortunately we believe that taxes are super important and we cannot advice anything except to talk to a tax professional!
We are moving to abastos in May of 2025, would love buy you guys drinks. Love your videos. I m Peruvian and my wife is Ukrainian.
Thanks for watching, send us a PM when you get to Valencia!
Que un seguro médico tenga que aprobar las pruebas o tratamientos que necesite un doctor para curarte me parece una vergüenza, me alegra saber que aquí no pasa, al menos por ahora, veremos qué pasa si se cargan la sanidad pública y tenemos que tener todos seguro privado.
salamat po!
Walang anuman!
Pa-shout out po sa next video.
Good morning to Eldon “El Tí” Alberto! 😂
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Thanks for watching!
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Thank you for watching! I love seeing all the hearts 🥰
😏 *Promo sm*
Looks like you are settled I want to learn more in details I’m living Los Angeles for 30 years born in Manila do you do consultations
Hi! Send us a PM on instagram, we can set up a consult. ☺️