GBN expat secrets – Spain: ‘How Spanish coast provides paradise for retirees UK just can’t compete with’

According to the expat, Estepona is the perfect place for nature lovers. Gerard said: “They call it the ‘Garden of Costa del Sol’ because there are lots of flowers and trees and all sorts of things – it’s a green, flowery place.”

It was the ideal choice for Gerard and Anne’s retirement because “everything is geared towards the elderly” – something many people may not realise.

The expat said that although they are far from their children and grandchildren, they feel very well looked after by their community. Gerard said: “They go out of their way to make things easy for us.”

The health of the elderly is prioritised in Estepona too. The couple live near a clinic, where they can have their blood pressure taken, their weight checked and any concerns they may have examined.

Gerard added: “They’ve just built a walkway from the coast in front of our house that goes for miles and miles. The idea is to keep people healthy so they don’t get ill – it’s very innovative.”

The unique initiative – known as the Senda Litoral – connects Manilva and Nerja by means of a “magnificent walkway” over 160km long. Those who live along the path can enjoy a stroll or a bike ride along the stunning coastline.

While relocating to an entirely new country could potentially be rather lonely, Gerard and his wife have found themselves booked and busy. The pair play Petanque (which falls into the category of boules sports), so have made plenty of friends with fellow players.

The expat said: “We’ve met a lot of British expats here in Estepona as well as other nationalities. We’ve integrated with the Spanish as well.”

Despite a conception of locals being unfriendly to expats in many countries, Gerard revealed that the Spaniards have been nothing but friendly towards him and his wife. He said: “I’ve never heard a cross word in the 20 years I’ve been here.”

Having travelled all around Spain, he can confirm that it’s not just Estepona that welcomes expats. “I’ve never come across any part of Spain that felt anti-British,” he reassured those who are considering relocating.

Despite making friends with the Spaniards, the expat found that speaking Spanish isn’t a necessity – although, of course, it makes your experience in Spain better if you do.

As English is one of the most spoken languages in the world, Britons who move abroad are often very lucky.

Gerard and Anne found their experience of relocating very smooth sailing, their only tip for other British expats being that they should invest in a good Spanish lawyer to handle the bureaucracy of moving to Spain.

Aside from this, they settled into life in Spain pretty seamlessly. However, Gerard and Anne did have to learn to adjust to one lifestyle difference that some Britons may find challenging and he shared his advice.

He said: “There is no such thing as a deadline here. Everything takes longer, so the first thing you need is tolerance. You need that in abundance because if you’re expecting something to be done today or tomorrow, you might as well forget it. They’ll do it when they’re ready to do it.”

But if you can get past this, and forgo your need to have tasks completed there and then, Spain’s laidback attitude towards the clock can be refreshing.

According to the Spain super fan, the relaxed outlook isn’t an annoying aspect of living there – “as long as you don’t let it get to you”.

But he did warn a particular kind of Briton: “If you are someone who is pedantic and wants things done on the spot, you will suffer from frustration.”

Gerard loves the leisurely pace, however, and told GB News he would certainly not swap his life there for his former life back home.

It’s important for expats who are looking to retire to think about what kind of post-work life their chosen destination will provide them.

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