Here’s my new vlog about what it’s really like living in Spain, based on more than 15+ years of living in and exploring this incredible country.

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Living near Valencia: Exploring Local Traditions and Building Our House

My Life in Spain & Travels: The New YouTube Channel

If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you probably know that I usually write about road trips, hidden gems, and travel itineraries across Spain. But this summer, I’m finally starting my YouTube channel! Besides sharing my travels, I thought it would be fun to give you a more personal glimpse into everyday life here – from the products I buy in Spain to the local celebrations I attend with my kids.

I’ve been living in the region of the Valencian Community for 15 years, as my husband comes from a small town in the Castellón province (around 50 minutes away from Valencia, where he also lived for 8 years during his university studies). Since his family is here, it felt completely natural to settle down in the area. While we visit Valencia city quite often, we truly enjoy small-town life in Spain, especially since we built our own house around 3 years ago.

Whether you’re dreaming of moving to Spain, planning a longer stay, or are simply curious about everyday life beyond the tourist attractions, I hope you’ll enjoy following along and joining me on YouTube.

I’m planning to publish one new video every week (every Friday at 6:00 PM CET), with an occasional second upload on Thursdays when I’m not traveling and have a little more time for editing. All the vlogs and tips about moving to Spain can be found on the website under the hashtag #LifeinSpain or on my YouTube channel, At Lifestyle Crossroads.

You can expect a variety of content, from monthly Life in Spain vlogs sharing snippets of everyday life, to cozy cooking moments with my Spanish husband, Carlos, as he prepares traditional Spanish recipes for his blog, Viva Spanish Kitchen. I’ll also be sharing travel vlogs from destinations across Spain and around the world, as well as travel talks where I’ll discuss my honest impressions, favorite discoveries, and practical tips after each trip.

Building a House in Spain: Reality vs Expectations

One of our family’s biggest projects in recent years – one that has completely taken over our lives – is building our family home in Spain. In this first vlog, I share a moment of honest frustration, and how and why I will be doing a DIY wall makeover myself.

Like many construction projects, it has been a mixture of exciting milestones, unexpected challenges, and a need for lots of patience. In Spain, however, the biggest challenge is finding a decent construction company. Everyone wants to overcharge you, as if you can’t just Google market prices these days! But when it comes to quality, the work ethic in Spain is generally quite low. The famous Spanish “mañana” attitude and healthy work-life balance are what we all dream of when we want to slow down our daily lives. But when it comes to local building companies, it’s a different story. With the private housing sector facing a massive crisis since 2008, there is a severe shortage of qualified workers. On top of that, average Spaniards across the country have less and less money to afford building a home from scratch.

Add to this a common attitude in Spain where no one seems to care too much about doing their job well, and it becomes hard to believe this is even possible in the era of Google reviews. But in Spain, it is – especially outside of the heavy tourist areas where the few remaining high-quality companies and workers tend to stay, as theres constant demand.

If you are an expat moving to Spain, my advice – unless you have a building company you absolutely trust (although we thought we did, too) – would be to buy a house that is already built and structurally tested. Also, make sure that your contract leaves the final payment on hold for at least six months after completion so you can test everything over time. Because while building companies give you a 10-year or 30-year guarantee in theory, the reality is very different. Once you pay them, you will most likely have to chase them down or sue them just to get them to come back and redo something. There are definitely good building companies and workers in Spain, but these days, finding one feels more like a stroke of luck than the norm.

In our case, we thought we trusted the company. My husband is Spanish and even knew the company’s owner from a former job. On top of that, this company frequently builds public buildings for the Spanish government, which I thought was an extra sign of reliability. But now, I am secretly terrified. For instance, they also built a local fire station in our region – and God knows what else. It is safe to say I am quite concerned because I now know firsthand how they operate.

So, in this vlog, I am showing you my reading corner, which I will be painting myself this July. I hope that in next month’s vlog, I will be able to show you the final results of a complete makeover.

Self-care moments in Spain

Also in this vlog, I am showing you a new Spanish organic brand from Barcelona that I’m obsessed with – Lisamar. On top of skincare, they also have candles and tea in their self-care sets – both of which have been my ultimate obsessions lately. As I previously collaborated with them on Instagram, they kindly created a 25% discount code, Anna25, for my community on their Spanish website, lisamar.es (Please note that this is not sponsored, nor do I earn a commission from this partnership.)

You can read more about my favorite Spanish and French skincare brands in this post.

The tradition of Valencian almuerzo

One of my favorite moments from this week was enjoying a traditional Valencian almuerzo (also called esmorzaret), a huge mid-morning feast somewhere between breakfast and lunch. I went with my husband – it is honestly our favorite date plan in Spain, which we do once a week. It is extremely traditional here in the Valencian Community. You can read more about the almuerzo culture in this post, and you can expect to see lots of sandwiches and tapas for breakfast in the upcoming Youtube vlogs (since we try to go at least once a week).

Spain in June & The Night of San Juan

June in Spain wouldn’t be complete without celebrating Noche de San Juan, one of the most unique Spanish fiestas. You can get glimpses of it in the June vlog on Youtube as well. This magical night marks the beginning of summer with beach bonfires, fireworks, music, and traditions believed to bring good luck for the months ahead. While the biggest celebration usually takes place in Alicante, most Spanish towns across the Mediterranean hold their own smaller celebrations too – but the atmosphere is always unforgettable.

Watch the full Spain Vlog

If you’d like to see more of our house-building journey, daily life in Spain, and special family moments – as well as experience a traditional Valencian almuerzo, celebrate San Juan with us by the sea, and hear my honest thoughts about life in Spain – you can watch the full June vlog below or on the At Lifestyle Crossroads YouTube Channel.

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• Accommodation: For short stays, I usually book via Agoda and Booking
• Tours&excursions: My favorites for guided tours are GetYourGuide and Viator
• Museums&attractions: Get mobile tickets for attractions via Tiqets (use ATC5 code for a 5% discount via this link)
• Semi-private & private tours: LivTours is my favorite place for unique & crafted experiences in Europe
• For Foodies: Eatwith is a unique platform for finding culinary experiences with locals around the world
• Audio guides: Book audio excursions & tours in 35+ countries via WeGoTrip
• Flights: Find the best deals with Trip, Skyscanner, and Kiwi
• Driving in a new country? – Check out Tripiamo guides (do not miss Tripiamo Driving in Spain Guide)
• Train&bus tickets: Currently, I book via Omio (10% off with code ATC10 for first-time customers)
• Car rental: To find the best deals, I use Discover Cars
• Top E-Sim: To avoid roaming fees, I like Holafly (use ATLIFESTYLECROSSROADS for for a 5% discount)
• Shop My Level8 Suitcase: get 15% off with the code ATC15 here
• Internet Security on the road: Connect safely to public Wi-Fi and bypass censorship with NordVPN
• Transfers: For individual transfer services, I like GetTransfer and Kiwitaxi
• Suitcases&Luggage: Discover where to store your luggage on the go with Radical Storage
• Travel Insurance: Find the best trip insurance plans via VisitorsCoverage and EKTA
• Compensation for delayed/canceled flights: Check out AirHelp and Compensair
• Renting Bikes: To find motorcycles, scooters, quads, and bicycles, I use BikesBooking
• Package Tours: Head to CheapOair and Expedia
• For Bloggers: To monetize my blog, I work with Travelpayouts and Stay22
• Website Owners: For hosting services, I work with and recommend Lyrical Host (get 10% off with my code ATC10)