EXPAT TIPS

Housing, electricity, water, pensions... everything that goes up and down in price in Spain next yearPensions get 2.7% boost and public transport stays frozen as electricity bills and housing costs continue climbing in Spain As 2025 limps towards the finish line, people in Spain are already eyeing 2026 with a mixture of hope and dread, wondering.. 30/12/2025

Supermarket opening hours across Spain on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day 2025Mercadona, Lidl and Carrefour are all opening on New Year's Eve but with reduced hours across Spain We've all been there. The guests are arriving in a few hours, you've suddenly realised you're short on cava, and panic sets in. Before.. 30/12/2025

A quick guide to Roscón de Reyes and the best supermarket optionsEverything you need to know about Roscón de Reyes, from the hidden surprises and traditional fillings to the best supermarket options this year Every year on Three Kings Day, January 6, families across Spain gather to enjoy Roscón.. 30/12/2025

Here are 16 perfect places to celebrate New Year's Eve in Spain and abroadFrom Madrid's midnight grapes to Sydney Harbour’s fireworks: Your guide to the perfect New Year celebration Let's be honest, if you're still trying to figure out where to spend New Year's Eve, you're cutting it pretty fine.. 29/12/2025

12 grapes for 12 bells: This is how the Spanish celebrate New YearsThe age-old tradition throughout Spain is said to bring good luck for the year to come It’s no secret that Spain is home to many weird and wacky traditions, but one time-honoured New Year’s Eve custom is making a come-back at the most trendy..

Storms batter Andalucía as heavy rain claims two livesSearch continues for missing person as authorities warn of flooding and strong currents Andalucía has been hit hard by heavy rain and storms over the weekend, with at least two fatalities and one person still missing. On Monday morning December.. 29/12/2025

Mandatory January 2 electric scooter insurance shelved in SpainHalf a million scooter riders in Spain get a reprieve as traffic bosses admit the national register won't be ready for January deadline Electric scooter owners across Spain are getting an unexpected break after the government admitted its mandatory.. 29/12/2025

Stormy start and end to the week: Andalucía weather forecast December 29 - January 4Heavy rain and storms hit parts of Andalucía at the start and end of the week, with a few brighter, drier spells in between for New Year celebrations It has been a rainy Christmas and the unsettled weather is set to continue. Eastern Andaluc.. 29/12/2025

2025 Spain news: The year in reviewThe apagón, Torre Pacheco riots… what a year it’s been! These are all the main news stories from around Spain which we’ve reported on over the course of the year As the year draws to a close, it feels like 2025 has packed.. 26/12/2025

Weekend at Bernardos! British family accused of wheeling dead grandmother onto Málaga flightPassengers say the 89-year-old appeared unresponsive as she was wheeled and seated, prompting a return to the stand and a 12-hour flight delay A Málaga to London Gatwick flight over the weekend made headlines after a British family was accused.. 22/12/2025

Spain puts Christmas car decorations on the naughty listDrivers in Spain decking out their vehicles with reindeer antlers face fines of up to €500 At this time of year, the Christmas spirit is everywhere in Spain. Streets are lit up, shops are bustling and some car owners have decided to extend the.. 22/12/2025

Longer waits, growing frustration as confidence in Spain's public healthcare slipsNew national survey shows specialist delays stretching beyond four months, even as most patients still back the public system Patients across Spain are waiting longer than ever to see a medical specialist, and public confidence in the healthcare system.. 22/12/2025

Spain launches €60 monthly travel pass for unlimited rail and bus journeysThe new flat-rate ticket will cover commuter trains and state buses across Spain from mid-January Spain is about to introduce a nationwide travel pass that will allow unlimited journeys on commuter trains, regional rail services and state-run buses for..

Spain fines Airbnb €64 million for advertising illegal rentals, and a big chunk of them are in MurciaSpain’s consumer watchdog found more than 65,000 unlicensed properties on the website, 2,709 of which are in the Region of Murcia It would appear that Airbnb, the leading platform for tourist rentals in Spain, is determined to continue offering illegal..

Spain moves to curb ultra-processed foods far beyond schools and hospitalsNew rules would extend healthy eating standards to universities, museums and other public spaces Spain’s push to reduce the country’s reliance on ultra-processed food is set to widen significantly, with new rules planned for a much broader.. 19/12/2025

Fuel prices in Spain drop just in time for the holidaysDiesel has fallen to €1.421 per litre and petrol has reached €1.470 in pumps across Spain Fuel prices have continued their downward slide this week, dropping by as much as 1.11% and maintaining the decline that began a fortnight ago on the.. 19/12/2025

Flu cases continue to climb in Andalucía as vaccination drive gathers paceHealth officials report a fresh rise in infections while thousands more residents take up jabs across the region Flu levels in Andalucía have continued their upward trend, with new figures showing a clear increase in cases over the past week, just.. 19/12/2025

Christmas gatherings could drive flu cases in Spain even higher, warn expertsWith schools across Spain about to close, flu is expected to increase among older people Flu infections are continuing to climb across the country, although the rate of increase has thankfully slowed over the past week. The outbreak is hitting younger.. 19/12/2025

How much do you really get if you win El Gordo this Christmas?A closer look at what Spain’s famous Christmas Lottery actually pays out once tax is deducted As excitement builds ahead of Spain’s Christmas Lottery draw, many people dream about landing El Gordo, but fewer know exactly how much of that headline.. 18/12/2025

No, the Spanish tax office will not monitor your personal Bizum payments in 2026Both the Tax Agency and Bizum have dismissed social media claims that everyday transfers will be monitored from January A bit of panic has been sweeping across Spanish social media and WhatsApp groups in recent days, with users convinced that from.. 17/12/2025