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One morning in September 2015, I packed my belongings into a giant suitcase and said goodbye to California. I moved to Madrid, Spain, fulfilling a long-held dream. With just about $1,000 to live on, I was worried about making ends meet. Despite that, I was determined to make it work because I had amazing memories from studying abroad in the Spanish Basque Country. I was 23 and didn’t have kids or a mortgage so what better time to explore.
With some careful planning, I was able to live in Spain for 11 months, become nearly fluent in Spanish, travel to dozens of countries, and make friends from around the world. I’m not writing this to brag; I just want to show you that you don’t have to be rich to travel long-term. This post is for if you’re considering moving abroad (to Europe particularly) but aren’t sure how to go about it or don’t think you can afford it. I’m going to break down the steps I took to move to Spain and live comfortably with little money. I want to show you how to move abroad when you’re broke. It’s possible!
Step 1: Get a Job as an English Teacher
Teaching English is probably the fastest and easiest way to get a long-term visa to many countries, including Spain. Japan and Korea have some of the must lucrative teaching programs for English teachers, called JET and EPIK, respectively. I was interested in Spain so I applied and was accepted to The North American Language and Culture Assistant Program, a cultural exchange program organized by the Spanish Ministry of Education. The program allows American and Canadian Citizens who have a college degree to teach English at a primary or secondary school in Spain for one academic year. Teachers are known as Auxiliares de Conversación or simply language assistants. At the end of the academic year, they have the option to renew their contract and can do so up to three times.
Click here to read my comprehensive post about English teaching programs around the world.
Language assistants are paid between 700-1000 euros per month, depending on where they are placed. Those in the Community of Madrid are paid 1000 euros because the cost of living is higher there. On the other hand, those in Andalucia, which is cheaper, are paid 700 euros. Language assistants typically work 16 hours a week and get one weekday off. They don’t actually teach a class; they support the English teachers by helping students improve their pronunciation and prepare for standardized tests.
There are several other English-teaching programs in Spain, such as BEDA and Activa. The pay for those programs is lower and they have different work requirements. I compared the programs and chose the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program, which places about 3,000 language assistants every year. I was assigned to C.E.I.P Doctor Severo Ochoa, an elementary school in Madrid. I’m going to go over how to apply to the program in Spain, but you can also learn how to apply to 20 programs around the world.
The procedure for applying to the program is as follows.
Submit an application
You have to submit your application through their online application portal called Profex.It will walk you through each stage of the process. The application opens in January and closes in April. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you apply the day the application opens to increase your chances of getting your first choice location. You get to rank your top three autonomous communities in Spain, not cities. That means if you choose the Community of Madrid, you may get placed in a town outside the city of Madrid.
Completing the application is straightforward. You need to fill out biographical information, write an essay, and obtain one letter of recommendation. I got my letter of recommendation from my former Spanish teacher in college. You may encounter potential headaches in the next step.
Get a visa
You will receive a notification of acceptance sometime between June and August. Once accepted, you can apply for a long-term student visa. The process varies depending on where you live. I had to go through the Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles, and it was a nightmare! I ran around for weeks trying to assemble the long list of requirements, including a notarized translation of my medical history. If I had a question, no one at the consulate seemed to know the answer. It was just so disorganized. Other language assistants that I’ve talked to had a much more pleasant experience.
Prepare for the move
Once you have a visa, you’re almost set. You’ll need to do some research. First, research your assigned location: the neighborhoods, transportation, weather, social etiquette, and so on. From your research, you’ll figure out the neighborhoods where you want to live. Then you can start searching for apartments. There are two websitesthat Spanish people, as well as language assistants, typically recommend: www.pisocompartido.com and www.easypiso.com. You can browse those sites by city and also by neighborhood. For me, I loved the Retiro neighborhood in Madrid so I focused my search on that area, making a list of apartments that would be available in September or October 2015.
Fly off to Spain
Once you arrive in Spain, you will need to stay in a hostel or Airbnb for the first week or so. Then you can email the owners of the apartments on your list and ask to come for a tour. It really helps to speak at least some basic Spanish. Most of the landlords do not speak English. I toured three apartments in the Retiro neighborhood and chose the second. It was one of the best decisions I made while in Madrid! My landlady, Pilar, treated me like her own daughter. Some of my friends, on the other hand, had landlords from hell. One landlord wanted to install cameras in the apartment! Moral of the story: make sure you meet with the landlord and get a sense of what they’re like before you sign the lease.
2. Create and Stick to a Budget.
My 1000 euro per month salary was enough for me to live comfortably. Groceries and living expenses in Madrid are super affordable. You can buy a gallon of water for 30 euro cents! To travel frequently though, I had to find a way to save more. One popular option among language assistants is the offer private English lessons to kids. These are often arranged through referrals from other language assistants and on expat Facebook groups. You can expect to earn 15-20 euros per hour per child. I considered that option but didn’t like the idea of teaching more kids after work (I don’t enjoy teaching kids.) I also wanted to take advantage of my free time. My solution was to manage my money like a pro. My monthly budget looked something like this:
Rent: 360 euros
Groceries: 80 euros
Metro Card: 20 euros
Entertainment/Miscellaneous: 100 euros
Total: 560 euros
Money left for travel: 440 euros
3. Take Advantage of Ridesharing, Group Trips, and Travel Deals
Transportation
The great thing about Europe is that there are many budget airlines, such as Ryanair, Wow Air, and Easyjet, which offer flights for as low as 10 euros. I would go on Skyscanner regularly, search for flights to anywhere, and look at the best deals. I once found a flight from London to Milan for 14 euros! Hunting for bargain flights became a fun game for me. I set alerts to be notified about price drops.
For travel within and near Spain, I used Alsa, a popular bus service that can take you from Madrid to Lisbon for as low as 5 euros each way! Yes, 5 euros! You have to start your search early and be flexible with dates to snag those deals. There is also Bla Bla Car, a ride-sharing service that can take you from Madrid to Barcelona for just 25 euros. The name is beyond ridiculous, but the prices are unbeatable. Taking Spain’s national train system, Renfe, from Madrid to Barcelona will cost you somewhere around 100 euros round trip. Learn more about 15 easy tips to save money while traveling.
Accommodation
I normally stayed at an Airbnb, hostel, bed and breakfast, or boutique hotel. The highest I ever paid for a place to stay was 65 euros/night. I would start my research about a month in advance because, with hostels especially, prices increase fast the longer you wait.
I’ll use my trip to Budapest to give you an example:
Flight:Ryanair – 85 euros round trip
Accommodation:Wombats City Hostel Budapest – 31 euros for two nights
Activities and Food: 70 euros
Total: 186 euros
I used this same method to plan most of my trips, like my solo adventures to Greece, Italy, and Croatia.
When I didn’t want to do any planning, I would join a group tour organized by travel companies like BeMadrid. These trips cater to study abroad students and young expats. They range from day trips to 2-week Euro trips. Most trips are less than 100 euros, but longer trips may cost as much as 450 euros.
You see: long-term travel doesn’t have to be expensive. You have to sacrifice some comfort to stretch your money, but you still get to see the world! If you don’t have kids or a mortgage, long-term travel is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself. A mentor once told me ‘Your 20s are for learning and your 30s are for earning.’ I wholeheartedly agree! After college, there’s so much pressure on us to get a ‘real job’ and climb the corporate ladder. Screw that! There’s so much more to life than sitting a cubicle. Living abroad will help develop independence, make friends from around the world, and gain a perspective that you can’t get any other way. And the memories will last a lifetime.
Are you thinking about traveling long-term? What are your concerns and/or questions. Leave a comment.
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Somto Ugwueze
Hi! I'm Somto. Two years ago, I stopped making excuses, ditched my indecisive friends, and started booking flights. Today, I'm a full-time solo traveler on a mission to inspire young women to seek new adventures.
Merry Christmas from Oregon!🎄🎁✨Christmas is my favorite time of the year because of all the festivities and the quality time we get to spend with family. This year I’m exploring Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas with the fam.Wishing everyone a wonderful day filled with joy, laughter, and blessings. Cheers 🥂 Somto
3 months ago
1/9
One thing I’ve learned from solo travel👇🏾✨ CONFIDENCE FOLLOWS ACTION ✨I was terrified when I moved to Spain by myself. I was terrified when I went on a solo adventure around Europe for a year. Even today, after traveling to 30 countries solo, I’m still nervous about traveling alone sometimes. But the thing is I would never have built the level of trust and confidence I have in myself today if I hadn’t booked the flight and gone on all those trips DESPITE being scared. You don’t have to be confident to go on your first solo trip. Confidence is a byproduct of going on the trip and showing yourself that you are capable of figuring things out on your own, navigating a foreign place, and being 100% self-reliant. That’s what solo travel helps you achieve…unshaken confidence in yourself and your abilities.Have you traveled solo before? How did it impact your confidence? Comment below👇🏾
5 months ago
2/9
Happy October! ✨Today, we also celebrate Nigerian Independence Day 🇳🇬🎉It was such an honor to attend the @geancofdn Hollywood Gala and see the incredible work the organization is doing to save and transform lives in Nigeria. I want to use my platform to not only share incredible experiences, but also support important causes. Even a small action can make a big difference.
6 months ago
3/9
Today, I celebrated 6 years since I launched my travel blog and began my entrepreneurial journey ✨Six years of commitment to creating a life of unlimited possibilities. I’m so grateful for this journey, all the incredible lessons I’ve learned, and especially the person I’ve become.My humble little blog has allowed me to:📖 Become a published author 📣 Speak at international conferences 🌎 Mentor hundreds of people from 20+ countries I look back at the shy quiet girl from September 2017 who hit publish on her first blog posts and think “who is she?”I was beyond terrified. But I knew that if I didn’t take a chance on myself, I would forever regret it. It hasn't been easy charting my own path.In fact, I’ve failed more times in the past 6 years than in the previous 25 years combined. But I kept going.I kept learning.I kept growing.Despite all the uncertainty and challenges, becoming an entrepreneur has been an incredible gift.There’s so greater feeling than building something from scratch and putting it out into the world. ✨The opportunities ✨The fulfillment ✨The impact It’s all been so worth it! 6 years, 3.5+ million blog readers, 800+ people served.Thank you to every single person who has been a part of this journey. I couldn’t have done this without you! 💕To any way who has a dream, go for it!You never know until you try. Onward ✨
7 months ago
4/9
I’m officially a published author! 🎉So excited to announce that my first travel book, Europe by Train, has been published by the award-winning team at DK Eyewitness @dkeyewitness. This book has been a labor of love, and I’m beyond happy to share it with you all. Experience the ultimate adventure across Europe by train with this detailed guidebook with 50 routes expertly-created from travel insiders, including myself. I contributed a chapter about traveling in Eastern Spain, covering destinations like Barcelona, Valencia, Girona, and Tarragona. In addition to Spain, you'll explore the most amazing attractions that Europe has to offer, from Roman ruins to off-the-beaten-path villages and everything in between. The book includes 50 hand-picked itineraries from every corner of Europe. Get ready for the adventure(s) of a lifetime!Reading through the guidebook, I’ve already discovered so many places that weren’t on my radar before. I can’t wait to go explore as many of the routes as possible. You can check out Europe by Train and grab yourself a copy by heading over to www.somtoseeks.com/europebytrainSafe travels! 💛
7 months ago
5/9
No summer travel plans?No problem. Just be a tourist in your own city/town.That’s what I did all of July, venturing to places around Los Angeles like:📍 Lake Hollywood Park 📍 Beverly Hills 📍 Sofi Stadium 📍 Palos Verdes 📍 Table Rock Beach You don’t have to always get on a flight to discover somewhere new. Anyone else exploring locally this summer?
8 months ago
6/9
If you’re a remote worker or digital nomad, you have to sign up for a membership with @outsiteco!I’ve been a member of this co-living community since 2018 and can’t recommend it enough.You get to make amazing friends from around the world while staying at beautiful properties in places like: ✨ San Juan, Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 ✨ Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹 ✨ Ibiza, Spain 🇪🇸 ✨ Santa Teresa, Costa Rica 🇨🇷 ✨ Honolulu, Hawaii 🇺🇸As a solo traveler, being a member of this community had been a godsend. It means you have a built-in group of friends already waiting for you when you arrive at a destination. How awesome is that? Most recently, I stayed at Outsite San Juan and decided to create this house tour for you guys. At each property, you get your own room and there’s also a common area to get work done, often with a view. Check out @outsiteco to learn more about becoming a member today.Questions? Send me a DM or drop them below👇🏾
8 months ago
7/9
Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans) 📌[Save and Share] ⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow signOn my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off. If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss. And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located. But don’t do it.These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees. You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends. If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates. Do your research.Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money. Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾
8 months ago
8/9
👉🏾 Get the perfect 10-day Croatia itinerary 🇭🇷I spent 10 days in Croatia with the travel experts at @girlslovetravel. Here’s a day-by-day break down of what I did during the trip to help you plan your visit. 1️⃣ Day 1: Arrive in Split, get settled, walk down the Riva promenade, and do a mini-tour of the Old Town of Split, exploring Diocletian’s Palace. 2️⃣ Day 2: Sail to Hvar, climb to the Spanish Fortress, spend time at the Hvar Beach Club, and enjoy delicious seafood by the marina. Also shop for lavender goods. 3️⃣ Day 3: Sail to Mljet, go kayaking and swimming at a Mljet National Park, and visit the Benedictine Monastery. 4️⃣ Day 4: Head to Dubrovnik, walk the famous city walls, go cliff jumping at Buza Bar (if you dare), and do a Game of Thrones tour.5️⃣ Day 5: Head to Korčula, explore the Old Town, and go wine tasting in the Lumbarda region. I recommend Vitis Winery and Popič Winery. 6️⃣ Day 6: Sail to Makarska, get a massage on the beach, go shopping and clubbing. You can also hike the Biokovo Mountains. 7️⃣ Day 7: Sail to Brač and relax at the famous Zlatni Rat Beach. You can explore the Old Town. 8️⃣ Day 8: Head inland to Krka National Park, explore the waterfalls, and hike the trails. 9️⃣ Day 9: Drive up to Plitvice National Park to view even bigger waterfalls and hike more trails. 🔟 Day 10: Return to Split, explore more of Diocletian’s Palace, and get a photo at the Split sign. If you have extra time, I would add Zagreb, the capital city, to your itinerary. Safe travels!
8 months ago
9/9
Merry Christmas from Oregon!🎄🎁✨Christmas is my favorite time of the year because of all the festivities and the quality time we get to spend with family. This year I’m exploring Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas with the fam.Wishing everyone a wonderful day filled with joy, laughter, and blessings. Cheers 🥂 Somto
3 months ago
1/9
One thing I’ve learned from solo travel👇🏾✨ CONFIDENCE FOLLOWS ACTION ✨I was terrified when I moved to Spain by myself. I was terrified when I went on a solo adventure around Europe for a year. Even today, after traveling to 30 countries solo, I’m still nervous about traveling alone sometimes. But the thing is I would never have built the level of trust and confidence I have in myself today if I hadn’t booked the flight and gone on all those trips DESPITE being scared. You don’t have to be confident to go on your first solo trip. Confidence is a byproduct of going on the trip and showing yourself that you are capable of figuring things out on your own, navigating a foreign place, and being 100% self-reliant. That’s what solo travel helps you achieve…unshaken confidence in yourself and your abilities.Have you traveled solo before? How did it impact your confidence? Comment below👇🏾
5 months ago
2/9
Happy October! ✨Today, we also celebrate Nigerian Independence Day 🇳🇬🎉It was such an honor to attend the @geancofdn Hollywood Gala and see the incredible work the organization is doing to save and transform lives in Nigeria. I want to use my platform to not only share incredible experiences, but also support important causes. Even a small action can make a big difference.
6 months ago
3/9
Today, I celebrated 6 years since I launched my travel blog and began my entrepreneurial journey ✨Six years of commitment to creating a life of unlimited possibilities. I’m so grateful for this journey, all the incredible lessons I’ve learned, and especially the person I’ve become.My humble little blog has allowed me to:📖 Become a published author 📣 Speak at international conferences 🌎 Mentor hundreds of people from 20+ countries I look back at the shy quiet girl from September 2017 who hit publish on her first blog posts and think “who is she?”I was beyond terrified. But I knew that if I didn’t take a chance on myself, I would forever regret it. It hasn't been easy charting my own path.In fact, I’ve failed more times in the past 6 years than in the previous 25 years combined. But I kept going.I kept learning.I kept growing.Despite all the uncertainty and challenges, becoming an entrepreneur has been an incredible gift.There’s so greater feeling than building something from scratch and putting it out into the world. ✨The opportunities ✨The fulfillment ✨The impact It’s all been so worth it! 6 years, 3.5+ million blog readers, 800+ people served.Thank you to every single person who has been a part of this journey. I couldn’t have done this without you! 💕To any way who has a dream, go for it!You never know until you try. Onward ✨
7 months ago
4/9
I’m officially a published author! 🎉So excited to announce that my first travel book, Europe by Train, has been published by the award-winning team at DK Eyewitness @dkeyewitness. This book has been a labor of love, and I’m beyond happy to share it with you all. Experience the ultimate adventure across Europe by train with this detailed guidebook with 50 routes expertly-created from travel insiders, including myself. I contributed a chapter about traveling in Eastern Spain, covering destinations like Barcelona, Valencia, Girona, and Tarragona. In addition to Spain, you'll explore the most amazing attractions that Europe has to offer, from Roman ruins to off-the-beaten-path villages and everything in between. The book includes 50 hand-picked itineraries from every corner of Europe. Get ready for the adventure(s) of a lifetime!Reading through the guidebook, I’ve already discovered so many places that weren’t on my radar before. I can’t wait to go explore as many of the routes as possible. You can check out Europe by Train and grab yourself a copy by heading over to www.somtoseeks.com/europebytrainSafe travels! 💛
7 months ago
5/9
No summer travel plans?No problem. Just be a tourist in your own city/town.That’s what I did all of July, venturing to places around Los Angeles like:📍 Lake Hollywood Park 📍 Beverly Hills 📍 Sofi Stadium 📍 Palos Verdes 📍 Table Rock Beach You don’t have to always get on a flight to discover somewhere new. Anyone else exploring locally this summer?
8 months ago
6/9
If you’re a remote worker or digital nomad, you have to sign up for a membership with @outsiteco!I’ve been a member of this co-living community since 2018 and can’t recommend it enough.You get to make amazing friends from around the world while staying at beautiful properties in places like: ✨ San Juan, Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 ✨ Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹 ✨ Ibiza, Spain 🇪🇸 ✨ Santa Teresa, Costa Rica 🇨🇷 ✨ Honolulu, Hawaii 🇺🇸As a solo traveler, being a member of this community had been a godsend. It means you have a built-in group of friends already waiting for you when you arrive at a destination. How awesome is that? Most recently, I stayed at Outsite San Juan and decided to create this house tour for you guys. At each property, you get your own room and there’s also a common area to get work done, often with a view. Check out @outsiteco to learn more about becoming a member today.Questions? Send me a DM or drop them below👇🏾
8 months ago
7/9
Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans) 📌[Save and Share] ⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow signOn my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off. If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss. And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located. But don’t do it.These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees. You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends. If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates. Do your research.Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money. Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾
8 months ago
8/9
👉🏾 Get the perfect 10-day Croatia itinerary 🇭🇷I spent 10 days in Croatia with the travel experts at @girlslovetravel. Here’s a day-by-day break down of what I did during the trip to help you plan your visit. 1️⃣ Day 1: Arrive in Split, get settled, walk down the Riva promenade, and do a mini-tour of the Old Town of Split, exploring Diocletian’s Palace. 2️⃣ Day 2: Sail to Hvar, climb to the Spanish Fortress, spend time at the Hvar Beach Club, and enjoy delicious seafood by the marina. Also shop for lavender goods. 3️⃣ Day 3: Sail to Mljet, go kayaking and swimming at a Mljet National Park, and visit the Benedictine Monastery. 4️⃣ Day 4: Head to Dubrovnik, walk the famous city walls, go cliff jumping at Buza Bar (if you dare), and do a Game of Thrones tour.5️⃣ Day 5: Head to Korčula, explore the Old Town, and go wine tasting in the Lumbarda region. I recommend Vitis Winery and Popič Winery. 6️⃣ Day 6: Sail to Makarska, get a massage on the beach, go shopping and clubbing. You can also hike the Biokovo Mountains. 7️⃣ Day 7: Sail to Brač and relax at the famous Zlatni Rat Beach. You can explore the Old Town. 8️⃣ Day 8: Head inland to Krka National Park, explore the waterfalls, and hike the trails. 9️⃣ Day 9: Drive up to Plitvice National Park to view even bigger waterfalls and hike more trails. 🔟 Day 10: Return to Split, explore more of Diocletian’s Palace, and get a photo at the Split sign. If you have extra time, I would add Zagreb, the capital city, to your itinerary. Safe travels!
8 months ago
9/9
Reader Interactions
Comments
I will be actually leaving for SEA next month. I have been thinking about it lately to maybe try a teach English in Indonesia or Thailand so your post has definitely been helpfull.
Reply
sugwuezeThat’s sounds like a lot of fun! SE Asia is high on my list. I’m glad you found the post helpful.
Reply
This is so cool. I am thinking about going to Spain, also because I want to learn the language. One positive thing is that I don’t need a Vise since I am European.
Reply
- sugwueze
I sometimes wish I had EU citizenship! Lol. Would love to travel Europe for longer than 3 months without needing a visa.
Reply
This is such an amazing post! I love that you were able to see so much and spend so little! LOVE!
Reply
- sugwueze
Thank you, Tabitha! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Reply
This is a wonderful post! I wish I could travel for a year, but I don’t think I could leave my dog for that long! Maybe a month or two at a time? I wonder what the costs of travelling for small tidbits compare to a year?
Reply
- sugwueze
Hi SamiJoie! Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. With regards to your question, there shouldn’t much of a difference in the cost of traveling a month versus traveling a year. If you start ahead and look for travel deals, you can travel cheaply a month or two at a time. I would love to get a Corgi, but I think it would be too sad to leave her behind for a long time.
Reply
- Kylie
This is a wonderful post! I am leaving for spain in a couple of months and plain on spending 2 months there.
How was your experience finding long term rentals for housing? Did you rent an apartment for the entire time?
Reply
- sugwueze
Hi Kylie. Thanks! I’m glad you liked the post. I rented an apartment for the entire time I was there. During my first week, I stayed at an Airbnb while I went to view apartments. I did some research and figured out that I wanted to live in the Retiro neighborhood so that’s where I focused my search. If you go on easypiso.com and pisocompartido.com, you can find both short-term and long-term rentals. Do you speak Spanish? It really helps to speak at least some basic Spanish because most of the landlords don’t speak English. Hope this helps!
Reply
- Kylie
Hi Somto. Thank you for your reply!! I do speak some Spanish fortunately, although I have a porteno (Buenos Aires) accent so hopefully I don’t get mocked too badly ;). One more question for you… Do you have any advice on smaller towns that you really liked and could see yourself staying for awhile? I’m hoping to settle down somwhere fairly low key for the first few weeks of my trip, ideally renting a place for 3-4 weeks. But as I’ve never been to been to Spain I’m having hard time picking a good spot!
Reply
- sugwueze
No need to worry about your accent! It’s only snobs who mock Latin American accents. I’ve only done day trips to small towns so I can’t comment on living there. Here are a couple of good options: Cuenca, Ronda, Salamanca, Caceres, and Jaen. There are also some cities with a small-town feel: Bilbao, A Coruna, Santander, Cordoba, and Vitoria to name a few. Hope that helps!
Reply
- Grace
I am going to be a Language Assistant during the 2018-2019 school year in Andalucia! Thank you so much for all of your helpful advice and resources. I am worried about finding an apartment and how to pack everything I need for 9 months. Any advice on how to pack? Did you ship things from home once you were settled in your apartment? Thank you in advance!
Reply
- sugwueze
Hi Grace. How exciting! Andalucia is my absolute favorite part of Spain. I was just there two weeks ago. Beautiful place!
When I moved to Madrid, I took one giant suitcase and a carry-on bag with me. I didn’t ship things from home. I would actually try to avoid that because the Spanish postal service can be unreliable – they’ve been known to lose packages. Just pack the basics – electronics, toiletries, shoes, several pairs of pants, shirts, etc. It’s better to pack light with only the essentials and then buy any additional things you need when you arrive in Spain.
Finding an apartment can be a challenge, but it helps if you do research early and figure out which areas you’d like to live in. Then check Craigslist, easypiso.com, and pisocompartido.com everyday for listings. Do you speak Spanish? It’s useful to know at least the basics. Hope that helps!
Reply
- Zara
Hello Somoto,
Thank you so much for this post! It was super helpful and made my desire of moving to Spain more feasible. How did you figure out which neighbourhood to live in? I’m 23 and would like a place that’s culturally rich with a nice balance of nightlife and young people (if this is possible)- any recommendations?
Love from London,
Z XReply
- sugwueze
Hi Zara. I’m glad you found the post helpful! If you’re looking for culture and great nightlife, Madrid is a good option. Also look at Sevilla, Salamanca (lots of college students), and Valencia. When are you planning to move?
Reply
Very informative post! You made me want to fly over to Madrid for long-term stay. Unfortunately, I don’t speak Spanish. :0)
Reply
- sugwueze
Hi Nicole,
It would be harder to live in Madrid without speaking Spanish, but it’s doable. I met quite a few people who didn’t speak Spanish. You would probably need to find a Spanish speaker to help you find housing and get a phone plan though.
Reply
These are fantastic tips! We are looking at a move overseas – a little different from yours because we have 2 kiddos to haul along – but I really think in this day and age it’s possible for almost everyone to do this – there are so many careers that can either be done overseas, or online work that lets you work from anywhere!
Reply
- sugwueze
Hi Kate,
You’re right! It’s easier than ever to work remotely and travel. There are plenty of opportunities online or you could create your own opportunities. I know a few couples who travel with their kids and love it.
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I am interested on moving to spain to teach english.
However, I will be married when we go.
Do you know how it will work ( getting my husband’s visa, etc.) With the school I end up teaching for.Reply
- sugwueze
Hi Amanda,
That is a good question. I’m not entirely sure how the visa process works for married couples. What is your nationality? If you’re from some countries (like the US), your husband can stay in Spain without a visa for 3 months. In that time, you could go to the immigration office to see what the procedure is. Another option would be for your husband to find a job in Spain as well.
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- Ish*ta Sharma
Hi, I am from India ,I want to explore Europe . I know German language and English as well . Can u help me ? Thanks in advance
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- sugwueze
Hi Ish*ta,
I can definitely help. It depends on what you’re looking for. Do you want to explore architecture, history, food, nightlife, a bit of everything? The great thing is that flights between countries in Europe are generally affordable. Maybe you can start your exploration in London because flights from here to other parts of Europe are especially cheap. You don’t need to have a fixed itinerary because you can book accommodation as you go. I use booking.com to find affordable hotels and apartments. If you’re looking for hostels, I’d recommend hostelworld.com. I hope that helps!
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- Katelyn Gabrielle Beardshear
Loved this blog! When I came across it, I was shocked because I have been planning to move to France in August of this year. But I am only going to have a certain amount of funds, employment is uncertain and unfortunately France is a lot more difficult to get a travel visa. I was a little discouraged reading( in your additional blog about Teaching Abroad companies) that all of the countries I want to move to require a Bachelors Degree. Which unfortunately I do not have.
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- sugwueze
Hi Katelyn
I’m glad you like my blog! Unfortunately, a lot of English teaching programs require a Bachelors degree. But there are also programs that just require a TEFL certification. These are normally independent English-teaching programs, not those sponsored by the government. You can look into those. Hope that helps!
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I would love to move to Spain or south Korea. I’m a Kenyan. Please advise. I enjoyed reading this blog but I’m not sure if teaching can also apply to me from non native English speaking country
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- sugwueze
Hi Marygoyet, if you’re from Kenya, then I’m guessing you’re a native English speaker? I think the best path for you is to go through the International TEFL Academy. The TEFL certification is a credential that helps you find a job as an ESL teacher. You can speak with an admissions advisor, who will give you better insight into the countries where you can land an English-teaching job. Here’s their website: https://www.internationalteflacademy.com/registration-procedure-tefl-classes
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- Janessa
Hello,
I am about to start my last year of college in new jersey, and I really do want to move to Spain! I found your blog recently and it’s been really insightful especially the one on The Truth About Racism in Spain. I was hoping I could email you because I do have a lot of questions! If not I can make another comment that has my questions.Reply
- sugwueze
Hi Janessa, I’m glad you found my posts helpful. Due to COVID-19, moving to Spain right now would be trickier. You can email me your questions at hello@somtoseeks.com.
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Hey Somoto,
Thank you so much for this. Maria and I actually used this guide when planning our own full time travel late last year before covid kicked in.We actually link to you quit often on our own blog 🙂
Keep up the amazing work <3
Ciaran and Maria – Maptrekking.com
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- sugwueze
Hi Ciaran and Maria,
You’re welcome! I appreciate your feedback, and I’m happy I was able to help you plan your full-time travels.
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- Susan
Oh my goodness! To be young again…..sigh…. This is such an inspiring story. Great post!
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- Somto Ugwueze
Thanks, Susan, for liking the post. I hope to hear about your same experience in more posts.
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