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Flamenco guitar at a birthday dinner, a DJ at a villa party, a string duo for a wedding, a mural in the kids’ room… Spain has a lot of creative talent.

A few things to agree in advance: set times and breaks, equipment and power, a rain plan for outdoor events, and cancellation terms. Check local noise rules too. Neighbours in urbanisations do…Read More

Arriving at 1 a.m. with two kids, a dog and five suitcases is a different trip from arriving alone with hand luggage. In Spain, official taxis wait at the rank, while VTC (private hire, including app rides) must always be booked in advance. Pre-booked transfers with meet-and-greet are handy for families, visitors and rural villas.

Our guide to…Read More

A calima can leave your car orange overnight. Salt air and strong sun don’t help either. Tip: never wipe dry dust off, because it scratches like sandpaper. Rinse first.

Also good to know: many town halls don’t allow washing cars on the public street, and drought rules can limit hosing down at home, so check your local rules or use a mobile…Read More

Heat, sun, dust and leaves make Spanish pools hungry for care. The basics: skim, empty the baskets, brush, vacuum, test the water and keep an eye on filter pressure, at least weekly in summer. Most pools aren’t drained in winter. They’re cleaned, treated and covered.

If you’re in a community with a shared pool, national rules (Real Decreto…Read More

Gardening in Spain is a different game: hot, dry summers, sudden autumn downpours and, in many areas, water restrictions. Drip irrigation, mulch and tough plants like rosemary, lavender, olive, oleander and succulents make life easier.

Also watch out for pine processionary caterpillars in late winter and spring. Their hairs are dangerous for dogs…Read More

Water heaters (termos) full of limescale, persianas that get stuck, leaking terraces, AC units that give up in August… Spanish homes have their own set of usual suspects.

A tip if you live in a flat: work out what’s yours and what belongs to the owners’ community. Pipes between floors, the façade and the roof are often community…Read More

Birth certificates, criminal records, diplomas, powers of attorney… Many Spanish offices want a traducción jurada, signed and stamped by a translator appointed by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You can check a translator on the ministry’s official search tool.

Two tips that save time: get the apostille first (if your document needs one),…Read More

Planning a new kitchen, an extension, a café or a holiday let? In Spain, the paperwork depends on your region and town hall. It might be a declaración responsable, a works licence, an activity licence, or for tourist rentals a regional registration plus the national short-term rental number that online platforms have required since July 2025. In a…Read More

Spanish admin is a rite of passage. Getting an appointment (cita previa) can be the hardest part, and every office seems to ask for something slightly different.

Quick reminders: the NIE uses form EX-15 and model 790-012. EU citizens staying more than three months register with form EX-18. Most local procedures ask for your padrón certificate…Read More

Rental contracts, builder’s quotes, arras contracts, powers of attorney… We all end up signing documents in Spanish sooner or later.

Some things worth checking every time: who is really signing for the other side, deadlines and penalty clauses, automatic renewals, and which language version prevails. For long-term rentals, remember that tenants…Read More

In Spain, a building survey isn’t a standard step. The bank’s valuation (tasación) is for the bank, not a check of the building. So many buyers skip the inspection, and some regret it when the first winter rain finds the terrace.

A technical architect (arquitecto técnico) can check structure, damp, the roof, installations and whether that pool o…Read More

The notary, the arras contract, the nota simple, ITP that changes from region to region… Buying a home in Spain has its own logic, and most of us learned something the hard way.

A few things worth knowing early: get your NIE sorted before you find “the one”, check the nota simple for charges before you pay a deposit, and read the arras contract…Read More

Welcome to the Expats group, a place to swap tips, ask questions and help each other settle in Spain, wherever you are.

A quick note on what Lapdrop does: if you need something done, like paperwork, a sworn translation, a property inspection, a gardener, pool care, an airport pick-up or a musician for a party, you can send us a request and…Read More