About Us: Real Life Experience of Raising a Family in Spain

(And Why That Makes All the Difference)

We are a British family — born and raised in the UK — who made the decision to build our life in Spain.

Not a holiday home. Not a gap year. A proper, full-time life.

We have lived in Mijas Pueblo in the hills above the Costa del Sol, and since 2022 we have been based in La Barrosa in Cádiz — a beautiful beach town we fell in love with long before we were ready to move there.

If you're researching what family life in Spain is really like, you're in the right place.

This is not a travel blog. This is not a glossy, sun-drenched version of expat life.

This is real, lived experience — combined with over 15 years of helping families just like yours relocate, settle, and build a life here that actually works.

Who Are Family in Spain?

We are Lisa and family — and we have been exactly where you are now.

Before we moved, we had questions. Concerns. Expectations. A lot of "but what about...?" moments.

We did the research, we weighed up the options, and we made the leap.

Since then, we have lived through every part of what family life in Spain actually involves:

• Navigating the Spanish school system from the inside
• Building friendships and community beyond the expat bubble
• Understanding how daily life — and bureaucracy — really works
• Adapting as a family to a different culture, a different pace, and a different way of thinking

We haven't just visited Spain. We have raised children here.

And over time, what started as our own journey grew into something bigger: a trusted resource for hundreds of families thinking about doing the same.

Why We Built Family Life in Spain

When we moved, the information available online fell into two camps.

On one side: dreamy lifestyle content that made Spain sound like a permanent holiday. On the other: dense legal and visa information that told you nothing about what daily life would actually feel like.

Neither was particularly helpful.

What was missing was honest, practical, real-world guidance about what it means to be a family in Spain — not just an expat, not just a tourist, but a family with children in school, routines to establish, and a life to build.

That's exactly why this platform exists.

We share:

• What works — and why
• What catches families out — and how to avoid it
• What decisions matter most before you move
• What you should think about that nobody else is telling you

So you can make informed decisions. Not expensive mistakes.

Our Experience: 15+ Years Helping Families Relocate

We have worked with families from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and beyond — all at different stages of planning their move to Spain.

Some come to us with a fully formed plan they just want to sanity-check. Others come with a dream and very little else.

We help with both.

Over the years, we have supported families through:

• Deciding whether Spain is genuinely the right move for their situation
• Choosing the right area based on lifestyle, budget, and schooling needs
• Understanding the real cost of living — not the optimistic version
• Navigating school options for children of all ages and backgrounds
• Avoiding the common mistakes that derail otherwise well-planned moves

Every family is different. There is no one-size-fits-all answer — and anyone who tells you otherwise hasn't done this long enough.

That's why experience matters. And why generic online advice only gets you so far.

The Book: Moving to Spain with Children

In November 2014, we published our first book — Moving to Spain with Children — an essential guide for any family seriously considering the move.

It covers the things that matter and the things most people don't think to ask until it's too late.

It is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats.

"This book has been a tremendous help. It made us think of many things well in advance that we just wouldn't have considered." — Amazon reader review

View it on Amazon →

As Seen In

Over the years, our insights into family life in Spain have been featured in international publications and expat platforms. These aren't just mentions — they reflect the trust that both media and families have placed in our experience and advice.

• The Telegraph — Twitter helped us make friends when we moved to Spain
• Expat Arrivals — Interview on living and working in Spain
• Expats Blog — Featured interview on family life abroad
• EU Startups — Is Spain a good place for foreign entrepreneurs to launch start-ups?
• Entrepreneurial Expat — It's not just about the sangria, siesta and sun
• The Telegraph 2026: What happens when you make a summer holiday your reality
• Euroweekly 2026: The Biggest Mistakes Families Moving to Spain Make

What Makes Us Different

There is no shortage of information about Spain online.

What is much harder to find is clear, honest guidance from someone who understands both sides: the reality of raising a family here, and the expectations of families moving from abroad.

We don't offer generic guidance. We don't tell you what you want to hear.

We tell you:

• What is realistic for your specific situation
• What is not — and why
• What you need to change, reconsider, or plan more carefully

Sometimes that means confirming your plans are solid. Sometimes it means challenging assumptions you didn't know you had.

But it always means you move forward with clarity — not wishful thinking.

The Reality: What Successful Families in Spain Have in Common

Spain can offer an exceptional lifestyle for families.

But it works best when the foundations are right.

From our experience, families who thrive here tend to:

• Plan their move carefully and realistically
• Choose their location and school strategically — not just by what looks nice on Instagram
• Have a clear financial picture before they arrive
• Stay genuinely open to adapting

Those who struggle usually:

• Underestimate the true cost of living
• Choose the wrong area for their lifestyle
• Expect Spain to work the way home does
• Make big decisions too quickly, without enough information

Our job is to help you be a success story — not a cautionary tale.

Hello — I'm Lisa Sadleir

I'm the voice behind Family Life in Spain, an experienced relocation consultant and property finder, and — most importantly — a mum who has lived every part of this journey.

I have spent over 15 years helping families navigate the move to Spain, and I still find it one of the most rewarding things I do.

I don't sell a dream. I help you build a life that works — in the real world, with real children, real budgets, and real expectations.

If you want to find out more about the relocation services I offer, you can also visit our Move to Malaga relocation and property finder site.

You can also find me on Twitter/X as @FamilyInSpain, on our Facebook page, and on our YouTube channel where we share videos on moving to Spain, living here, and making the most of it.

Start With a Conversation

If you are seriously considering becoming a family in Spain, the most valuable first step is a focused, honest conversation.

We'll look at:

• Your goals and timeline
• Your budget and financial plan
• Your children's ages and schooling needs
• Your concerns — the ones keeping you up at night

And we'll give you a clear, experienced view of what is realistic, what needs adjusting, and what your next steps should be.

This is not a sales call. It is a chance to get real clarity before making one of the biggest decisions of your family's life.

Request a private consultation with Lisa →

All information on this website is free to read and share, but should not replace legal or professional advice where required. Our relocation services are fee-paying. We are legally self-employed in Spain, operating as Family in Spain SL.