Slow Mornings & Strong Coffee: The Complete Handbook for Moving to Spain - Spanish Costas 2026 Edition

Daydreaming about a life in Spain is easy. Actually doing it – without losing your patience, your life savings, or your sense of humour – is where many people quietly give up.Moving to Spain in 2026 is entirely achievable. It just takes preparation. This book provides both the knowledge and the tools to make a success of it. In a clear, simple, often humorous way, the author answers all your questions about moving to Spain, plus a few that you didn’t even know you were supposed to ask. If you’re ready to make the move – or even if you're just thinking it over – this guide is worth its weight in gold.This isn’t a travel brochure or a sales pitch dressed up as advice. It’s a proper handbook, written by someone who has lived in Spain for sixteen years, researched every chapter meticulously, and has a clear understanding of the things that can go wrong if you don’t know what you’re doing.As well as lifestyle and immigration advice, it covers the things other guides tend to skip, like what to do if you’re burgled, how to handle a car accident, what squatters’ rights mean for property owners, how Spanish digital identity works, and even what to do when someone dies in Spain.Plus:Every visa route for 2026: Non-Lucrative, Digital Nomad, Self-Employed – plus the rules for Schengen, ETIAS, and the new EES digital tracking system, explained without the legal fog.Residency, step by step: From your NIE number and TIE card to renewal, the Padrón, digital certificates and Spain’s 2026 visa amnesty for expats – including how a Gestor can help you, and when you need one.Healthcare, in full: How to access Spain’s national health service, what’s changed for prescriptions and dental care, when private insurance is a requirement, and a dedicated section for North American readers whose situation differs from UK expats.Taxes and finances: When you become a Spanish tax resident, what Hacienda expects of you, how exchange rates affect your income, and the investment and tax rules that catch people out – including specific guidance for UK, US and Canadian residents.Wills, inheritance and estate planning: Why making two wills is a smart move, how Spanish inheritance tax varies by region, what happens if you die without a will, and what to do if you want to leave property to someone outside the immediate family.Property: buying and renting: A ten-step guide to buying in Spain, all the costs involved, the taxes you’ll pay and when, plus a complete section on renting – from short-term lets to long-term contracts, rent increases and tenant rights.Motoring: Exchanging your UK or North American licence, importing a vehicle, running costs, ITV vehicle testing, insurance, parking rules, electric scooters and motoring accidents.Everyday life in Spain: Cost of living with a realistic monthly budget, mobile phones, internet, utilities, banking, expat communities, outdoor activities, culture, how to get by without speaking Spanish, and even how to order a cup of coffee with style.The things nobody else tells you: Squatters’ rights, CCTV and self-defence law, what happens at a Spanish funeral, how to return to your own country if things don’t work out, and how to bring a foreign spouse home with you if they do.Where UK and North American rules are different, there are dedicated callout sections for US and Canadian residents covering healthcare differences, FATCA, driving licences, apostilles, police checks, tax rules, and spouse sponsorship – fully integrated throughout the book.The book includes an exclusive login code for the forthcoming “Slow Mornings in Spain” companion website – which will offer free live regulatory updates, free downloadable checklists and forms, and a community of fellow expats. Read more