1. Living And Working Overseas : British Family Techniques To Spain
As Well As Opens An Adventure Journey Company
I connected with Mel and Marie recently , from one webmaster to another , through working on the
mutual websites. I discovered that the couple experienced just recently moved to spain from Britain
and hang up an adventure journey company that after one only year running a business is already
doing pretty much.
Many of you understand already that spain is one of my favourite nations , so I absolutely needed to
find out how these northern Europeans made the actual transition into the hot south of Andalucia and
how there were modifying personally, socially and with their new business in this brand new lifestyle.
Here's what they had to say:
1. Please tell us a bit about your history. Where are you from , what is your work history ?
Mel: I'm from Bedworth, Warwickshire, england. Formerly a fossil fuel miner and policeman.
Marie: I'm from Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, as well as am a nurse.
Prior to shifting to Spain, all of us lived in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. We have three children; Stuart (19
), Niall (15) as well as Stephanie (14).
2. How did you come up with the idea of opening a journey holiday company vacation ?
Marie: For all of their adult life, Mel has been a keen trail runner , cyclist and cross-country skier; the
children as well as myself are also lovers of the great outdoors. As a family we had holidayed all over
Europe, including a number of cycling breaks in Spain. Having skilled the local climate, the actual
stunning scenery and the apparently limitless monitors and incredibly quiet roads , moving to spain to
establish our own exercise holiday business appeared the perfect choice.
3. How did you select your location? What type of home did you choose as well as why? Please
speak with us about the real estate purchasing process vacation.
Andalucia is the most stunning part of Spain. All of us wanted to avoid the mayhem of the coast, but
didn't want to be a lot more than an hour away from Malaga airport, in order to reduce the traveling
time with regard to guests. It was after that just a question of drawing a line on a map as well as
visiting available qualities within that circle.
We did a lot of browsing on the internet, after that made appointments along with estate agents to
view the actual properties that appeared right. We eventually chose this home because of the
stunning views , the excellent road entry and because, with only a little work, we were able to convert
an outbuilding into a self-contained visitor apartment.
The purchasing process was relatively simple for us. We given power of attorney to a local solicitor ,
who then dealt with everything on the behalf. All we had to do was move over the money anytime it
was required. The only real aspect of the process that people would caution individuals about is the
tactics of some of the auctions. Not all of the qualities listed on websites had been actually for sale
and some of those that were available were only available at a much higher price than advertised or
were not at all like their explanations !
4. Did you have to do any renovations to the property you bought? if so , what was it prefer to deal

2. with Spanish companies and construction employees ?
We had to transform a building along with 2 very basic rooms and 2 shed kind rooms into the visitor
accommodation. However, i was able to do a large amount of the work ourselves and only employed
builders for that more skilled duties. We have learned that there are good and bad builders amongst
the Spanish and the british builders working in your area , but only a correctly registered firm does
work with any sort of guarantee. And that is an important consideration.
5. Please speak with us about Rio-Frio, the adventure holiday organization that you founded. When
did you start this ?
We founded Rio Frio Holidays in the summertime of 2004, with the intention of offering exercise
holidays and holiday accommodation specifically customized to the requirements in our guests,
whether they are individual travellers, families or groups.
6. What does your company provide ? How is it different from other adventure holiday operations?
What type of individuals vacation with your company?
We offer holiday lodging , activity holidays as well as training camps with regard to families, single
travelers , corporate groups as well as groups of sports individuals. Mel is the primary
guide/coordinator for walking , mountain biking, road cycling and running ; other activities, such as
canoeing, rock climbing, abseiling as well as archery and supplied by local Spanish companies.
We have had visits from keen bike riders and runners, as well as families wanting the multi-activity
break the ones who wanted to do nothing more than relax in the garden between visits to Granada,
Seville along with other sightseeing highlights.
7. What was it such as opening a business vacation ? What processes did you have to go through?
Our first step was to hire a good accountant ("Gestoria") who took all of us through the process of
registering with the Spanish authorities as self-employed as well as helped us with the bureaucracy of
registering the business with the nearby tourist authorities. He or she also handles the regular tax
returns as well as ensures that we adhere to all of the relevant tax and other legislation.
8. Please tell us how the first year has gone for you with your start up business. What has been your
biggest challenge of operating a business in a new country? what have been your finest rewards of
working this business?
The first year has been fantastic ! We have had nothing but positive feedback from all of our guests
as well as their comments, to their friends and in the online guestbook, happen to be our best form of
advertising.
The biggest challenge continues to be identifying where to invest our marketing spending budget. We
are constantly getting calls from sales reps trying to sell all of us advertising space and it is very
difficult to tell which publications are likely to have the finest impact. We are still learning!
The finest reward is the thanks of the guests as well as knowing that we have assisted someone to
have a great holiday or assisted to put them on the right track to achieving their health or workout
goals.
9. How great was your knowledge of Spanish when you moved there? How offers it improved since
that time ?

3. We barely spoke a word of the spanish language between us -- and even less Andaluz (the local
dialect!) however , after many hours of effort , we are all well in route to learning the actual language
now.
10. Please tell us regarding your interaction with the locals. How much get in touch with do you have
with local people ? What about the social adjustment process, adjusting to Spanish culture,
originating from England for her and your children?
The children went straight into the local Spanish secondary school. Unfortunately, the actual recent
influx of British children leaves the school struggling to deal.
Outside of school, situations are much better. Our the spanish language neighbours and buddies are
terrific; there's a real sense of community in our village and, through Mel's membership of the local
cycling club , we have developed a wide network of the spanish language friends.
Until a person relax and accept that the Spanish -- especially the bureaucrats -- do not work to
deadlines in the same way that the british do, life vacation can be quite stressful for that average Brit.
However , there is little about the way of life that doesn't emerge favourably in comparison with british
culture.
11. What advice would give a person someone who would like to relocate to Spain and begin a
business there?
Do it! And don't hesitate to drop us the line if you have any kind of specific questions.
Thanks, Mel and marie , for sharing around how you achieved the ideal of living in the actual South of
spain and good luck with your business. It's great to hear that you were able to fit in in your new
environment therefore quickly and have managed such a smooth transition. It's true, sometimes you
just gotta get it done....
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