The beginning of our new life in Spain: the first Airbnb apartment

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(Edited)

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Our first AirBnB - With A View.png

Documenting the process of our journey

As you have noticed, I've been sharing many steps of our process from the planning, the budgeting to the actual departure of our emigration to Spain. But so many things were happening every single day that I wanted to document and share, that I probably have a month's worth of content at least in my folders waiting to be used. I just pick whatever I like to share today and use that in my content. Today I would like to show you the inside of our first Airbnb, remember that one with the great view in the food pictures?

Why didn't I book just 1 AirBnB?

You probably think why it would not be better to just book 1 place for several weeks, which I will explain. At some point during the preparations, I needed to start making final decisions rather than keeping things in the open. While I was reaching out to homeowners as well as real estate brokers for months, I didn't get more than 2 messages back. But you never know if tomorrow someone responds and reserves a place for you or maybe the first day after arrival you find something. In that case, we'd be left with 2 weeks of accommodation and could cancel the ones after that without any charges. Meaning that I could use these funds towards our new home and all the things needed there. I wasn't really thinking we'd find something within two weeks, but in the end, it was the day of departure when the hostess told us that she had something with 1 bedroom, which we checked out just 2 days later and agreed to rent. In the end, I wasn't too far off with my guess regarding the needed time. But we got lucky, I know this very well.

Our first place looked great & had an awesome view

Check out the pictures I took, I'm sorry but I forgot to take a decent picture of the living room, but I can tell you, the ugly couches weren't worth it anyway, lol. The living room was the least interesting place of the home.

Airbnb 1 view and pool (6).jpg

Great bed and lots of closet space!

Airbnb 1 view and pool (7).jpg

Nice kitchen wich most necessities in it

Airbnb 1 view and pool (9).jpg

Living room cabinet, why I only took this, no idea but I guess I was too excited to finally be there haha.

Airbnb 1 view and pool (8).jpg

The bathroom, with a bath!

Airbnb 1 view and pool (4).jpg

Strawberries and they were so delicious!

And now let's focus on the view instead of the strawberries:

Airbnb 1 view and pool (5).jpg

Yes, sea sight, what's not to love?

Airbnb 1 view and pool (1).jpg

Airbnb 1 view and pool (2).jpg

View from the kitchen window

Airbnb 1 view and pool (10).jpg

Airbnb 1 view and pool (3).jpg

I forgot to take a picture of the pool!

Although we were very satisfied arriving at this place, we discovered that the pool would open after we would leave in two weeks. This was a disappointment to us but mostly to our daughter of course. Thankfully, after 1 week (probably due to the heat), they opened it early, so we got to swim a few times after all.

Our stay had some issues from the first day, the air conditioners were broken and the internet was so slow that you could barely open any pages. Thankfully, they tried to fix these issues, even though it took some days, we were super happy when both air conditioners were working and we could sleep in a bedroom with cool air at night. Leaving the window open was not optional as I got bitten by a mosquito on the first day which caused me a huge allergic reaction on my leg and as soon as the evening fell, the mosquitos were happy to enter our apartment.

The best part about this place was sitting on the balcony as soon as the shade arrived on that side of the building. We ate outside every evening, sometimes lunch too but mostly when it was a cloudy day, otherwise, it was a bit too hot to sit there at day time. The ocean breeze was so lovely, Sitting there was very tranquil. I still miss that balcony.

The hosts have several rentals

As I saw them appear on the AirBnB pages a lot, therefore I asked them if they had something to rent long-term. They said they didn't but our wishes were 3 bedrooms when we asked them. When we turned in the key, the landlady told us about this apartment with 1 bedroom (not theirs) and we could check it in a few days. This was when we knew, we'd take it as we didn't want to take the apartment in the big city in the first place, it was only because our time was running out before no long-term rentals would be left that we said yes to that way too expensive place. A few days later, we agreed on renting it, and so we will be forever grateful that these hosts gave us that opportunity as we know people are asking them daily and the demand is huge while the supply is much lower.

What a way to start this journey here in Spain, the first people we met, are those that connected us with our new home!

Thanks for reading!

Previous parts of The Expat Diaries

Are you curious to read the previous parts about our journey? I have most of them linked below:

Credits

  • All pictures used are my own.

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35 comments
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Oh wow, such lovely views from the place. It's good that the pool opened a week earlier and you got to enjoy it before you leave :) Have an amazing adventure in Spain :)

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And now let's focus on the view instead of the strawberries:

NO, the view will still be there later, right now my main focus is on the strawberries, I can feel the smell even from here. yumyum 😆

I heard these are called Italian strawberries, I wonder why! 😜

Voted on ListNerds!

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(Edited)

How convenient. I'm running into issues with an English visa and would you believe my wife is a British National? Long story... Mind catching me up right quick? Where are the two of you from and what part of Spain are you in?

I ask because I can get a visa in EU and then just apply for a frequent traveler pass to UK. No guarantees though. Long story.... My wife's utilizes NHS so unless something works out, we'll just go back to the states, Spain is on our radar cuz of the short plane ride to England.

Curious where you chose to park. We'll be going there in October to venture a couple parts for a couple months, hopefully an excellent first impression makes us wanna stay.

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If you take a look at the Mar Menor region (Murcia) you will see that's the healthiest region of Europe to live. I moved here for medical reasons. It all depends on your wishes. I want to be in a semi-quiet place. Not abandoned, but also not in touristic area like Benidorm or so. The prices in the touristic area are also skyrocking high. Good advise to keep an eye on the map with the regions for the temperatures in summer. The southmost part of Andalusia is the hottest part of Spain.

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Hey thanks!

We've looked around the map in the Murcia area. We try to avoid touristy also, we've been expatting long enough, we're over that.

Would you mind me asking which level of private insurance you have? My embassy has told me it ranges between $150-$350/month, does that sound accurate?

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I don't know what you mean by private insurance. I'm Belgian and all my insurances are from Belgium (except the car insurance).

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Fair enough. I was thinking you were expatting from somewhere other than Europe.

For me, I would have to purchase private insurance as part of my non-lucrative visa. Not until I've resided there 2 years would I qualify for something similar to yours.

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(Edited)

Sorry I couldn't help you. It's always complicated moving to another country. That's one of the reasons why I decided to stay within Europe this time. My previous location was the Philippines and it was a nightmare to find the right information and knowing al the rules. My advise it to inform yourself very well as you will hear different stories and prices. I got a lot of information on a Facebook group especially for Belgians in Spain. Maybe there's also one for you? You are from the UK I think?
Good luck and welcome to Spain!

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(Edited)

Negative. I'm American. My wife is British, I'm currently writing this from England. But they won't let me stay so we're shopping for a new spot. Clear as mud? =}


Philippines. I just read your dive article actually, I'm impressed. Congrats overcoming that chair.

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I got it! All that sh*t with those visa's, permits, ... I was lucky that my hubby supported me.

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We just signed up for a private health insurance and we will pay 200 / month for all three of us it's actually a bit cheaper but they charged extra for one of us and excluded some things, pretty shit but it is what it is. You can have more expensive insurance and cheaper as well, it depends on your needs. If you want to be covered in Spain + 1 other EU country it's more expensive as well as with world coverage (I think these go even higher than 350)

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sorry I'm just catching up on comments, send me a DM, you can find my discord ID in the comedyopenmic server ;)

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Damn not a bad way to start the journey honestly. The place looks really nice and with awesome views!

lekkkkerrrrr

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No it was a good way to start the new life here.. the view made up for the flaws haha..

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That condo looked awesome. Too bad they are stupid expensive to rent.

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Yes, that's indeed a downside. I was looking to rent something for a few nights next month because of a pool, as ours will not open for a few more years, but 500 bucks for just 2 nights is normal, that's almost our month's rent :)

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as ours will not open for a few more years,

That is crazy, what are they doing? Digging it by hand?

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LOL, no it's even worse! The pool is all there, all done, cleaning and adding water should be all it takes to get it into use, BUT here in Spain there's always a lot of hassle going on with permits so my suspicion is that this is what's going on. I was super surprised when I went up to the other floors and looked down on a completely down pool area and "inner garden". So strange, and what a shame that a pool is so close but yet so far.

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You are on a wild adventure. It looks like a lot of fun in spite of some challenges along the way. I enjoyed reading about your first AirBnB!

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Yes, we are on a true adventure but it looks like the settling down can beging now.. I will share more along the way, so much content haha..

thanks for stopping by!

!CTP

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What a beautiful place and the view is so enjoyable! Sadly you had the discomfort with the aircons the first days.

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Oh yes that was a pain but overall the experience was very good, even with the very hot days, glad it was June, not July :D

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I do like the views over the Danube but you cant beat a bit of Spain! lol

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True! I have enjoyed these views as well but nothing like here indeed :)

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What a lovely view of the water from the apartment. Sometimes the best results from last minute inquiries fall into place after long term planning.

So happy all ended well. Thanks for sharing.

Read from LN

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I'd adore a view of the ocean, imagining the sailing ships sailing back and forth with their traded goods and of distant adventures over the centuries of Spanish history.

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