Year in Spain 2020-2021, Ásta and Einar, three girls and a dog, Reykjavík, Iceland
It is safe to say that this has not been the easiest year to spend away from your home country. Not to mention the complications of getting to Granada in the first place, driving through covid struck Europe from Denmark all the way to Granada after taking the ferry from Iceland.
What made us stick with our dream was the careful preparation and organising that we had done beforehand, all with the invaluable help of Christine and Bianca. The beautiful house with swimming pool that we longed to live in and were prepared to spend quarantine in if worse came to worst. The schools that the girls were already enrolled in and the University course that Einar was going to attend. Everything was ready. Although it has not all been plain sailing, we have had a wonderful year. The girls have integrated well into their schools, made friends and gotten proficient in a new language. We have been able to travel quite a bit, mainly within the province of Granada however, and enjoy much of what the city has to offer. An unexpected part of our experience was the national park of Sierra de Hüetor, which is around 15 minutes from our house that offers a multitude of hiking routes and a welcome respite from the busy city environment. A covid free year would have been different, but we are very happy with the one we got.
It is safe to say that this has not been the easiest year to spend away from your home country. Not to mention the complications of getting to Granada in the first place, driving through covid struck Europe from Denmark all the way to Granada after taking the ferry from Iceland.
What made us stick with our dream was the careful preparation and organising that we had done beforehand, all with the invaluable help of Christine and Bianca. The beautiful house with swimming pool that we longed to live in and were prepared to spend quarantine in if worse came to worst. The schools that the girls were already enrolled in and the University course that Einar was going to attend. Everything was ready. Although it has not all been plain sailing, we have had a wonderful year. The girls have integrated well into their schools, made friends and gotten proficient in a new language. We have been able to travel quite a bit, mainly within the province of Granada however, and enjoy much of what the city has to offer. An unexpected part of our experience was the national park of Sierra de Hüetor, which is around 15 minutes from our house that offers a multitude of hiking routes and a welcome respite from the busy city environment. A covid free year would have been different, but we are very happy with the one we got.
Year in Spain 2019-2020, Isra and family, Boston, USA
We want to thank you for all that you have done to make this such a seamless, enjoyable experience for us. It was easier to find a home in another country with you, than we have finding right here in our own town! When we decided to make the move to Spain, I was completely overwhelmed and didn't know where to start. It almost seemed impossible to do anything from here. You were so patient with all of our questions about schooling and waiting to find that perfect home...four bedrooms and fruit trees?! Amazing! Thank you again
Year in Spain 2018- 2019, Azra, Marty & Nina, Ireland
We moved to Granada on a whim, based on the magic of an extended weekend break three years previously. We are a family of three with a 10-month-old baby and none of us speak a word of Spanish. Looking for a house, renting one, finding out about how everything works, knowing how to navigate the new social and cultural environment with a baby—all this seemed Herculean tasks we didn’t really have the skills or time to cope with. That changed once we came across Bianca’s website while looking for a house to rent in Granada. She has a collection of homes in the Albaicin she has carefully sourced through her valuable contacts in the neighbourhood. Although we had scoured local websites for a house for months, we didn’t find anything we really liked, until Bianca’s website. About two months later, we are now living in the house we dreamed of — waking up to amazing views of the Alhambra from our windows every morning. Bianca facilitated contact with our landlords, drew up the lease agreement in Spanish, and provided valuable information and contacts necessary for settling into our new life. Moving hasn’t been easy, but without Bianca it probably would have been impossible.
Year in Spain 2018 - 2019, Kim and Kyle, Wyoming, USA
Moving to another country requires a lot of planning, and one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is finding the right home. Hiring Bianca to help us find a place that ticked many of our boxes was one of the best decisions we made. She has been through this process herself and after living in the Albaicin, she’s familiar with the homes, the owners, and the ins/outs of the area. She certainly relieved a lot of the anxiety we were feeling about choosing a long-term rental from a short description and a few photos online. We are very happy with the house we’re renting and we love the neighborhood we’ve decided to live in. I highly recommend Bianca’s service. She’s professional, responsive, and has been a tremendous help to us in making our transition this year.
Moving to another country requires a lot of planning, and one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is finding the right home. Hiring Bianca to help us find a place that ticked many of our boxes was one of the best decisions we made. She has been through this process herself and after living in the Albaicin, she’s familiar with the homes, the owners, and the ins/outs of the area. She certainly relieved a lot of the anxiety we were feeling about choosing a long-term rental from a short description and a few photos online. We are very happy with the house we’re renting and we love the neighborhood we’ve decided to live in. I highly recommend Bianca’s service. She’s professional, responsive, and has been a tremendous help to us in making our transition this year.
Year in Spain 2017 - 2018
Eileen, Greg and boys, Wyoming, USA
We found Bianca online and enjoyed her blog posts about life in Granada. She helped us narrow down our city, neighborhood and home allowing us to make living abroad a reality. Once we secured a house that would allow our dog to join us, we looked at schools. We chose to put our boys in a concertado (a former Catholic school now funded by the government) called Ave Maria Casa Madre in the Albaicin. Since our boys spoke a little Spanish and all three aged 4, 6, and 8 could attend (including our youngest who has Down Syndrome) it made walking the 5 minutes to and from school each day a family excursion. The boys made easy transitions and lots of friends which in turn helped our family find a community of locals. The Albaicin is like a little pueblo attached to the city. It sits on a hill opposite the Alhambra where locals and expats mix seamlessly. Our boys love to race through the maze of streets and play in the plazas. We moved here to find a slower, simpler life but we take every opportunity to travel around Spain and Europe. We do not have a car but find walking everywhere is fun and interesting. When we need a ride the taxies, buses and rental cars are easy and inexpensive. The swing in temperatures is extreme but the proximity to the Mediterranean and Sierra Nevada provide great opportunities to ski and hit the beach. Perhaps Bianca’s greatest gift to us was introducing us to other expats making similar transitions. Together we have enjoyed this beautiful city and the adventures that lie in wait. My husband likes to say Granada is a pretty lady with a dirty face. There is beauty everywhere you look and opportunities for a family to be together in a café, a park or just wandering through the labyrinth of undulating streets. Bianca can provide a great picture of life in the Albaicin that will help you decide whether the city and lifestyle is right for you. The expat community is vibrant and welcoming. Bianca’s ties to it will benefit all who hire her to help with their move.
Eileen, Greg and boys, Wyoming, USA
We found Bianca online and enjoyed her blog posts about life in Granada. She helped us narrow down our city, neighborhood and home allowing us to make living abroad a reality. Once we secured a house that would allow our dog to join us, we looked at schools. We chose to put our boys in a concertado (a former Catholic school now funded by the government) called Ave Maria Casa Madre in the Albaicin. Since our boys spoke a little Spanish and all three aged 4, 6, and 8 could attend (including our youngest who has Down Syndrome) it made walking the 5 minutes to and from school each day a family excursion. The boys made easy transitions and lots of friends which in turn helped our family find a community of locals. The Albaicin is like a little pueblo attached to the city. It sits on a hill opposite the Alhambra where locals and expats mix seamlessly. Our boys love to race through the maze of streets and play in the plazas. We moved here to find a slower, simpler life but we take every opportunity to travel around Spain and Europe. We do not have a car but find walking everywhere is fun and interesting. When we need a ride the taxies, buses and rental cars are easy and inexpensive. The swing in temperatures is extreme but the proximity to the Mediterranean and Sierra Nevada provide great opportunities to ski and hit the beach. Perhaps Bianca’s greatest gift to us was introducing us to other expats making similar transitions. Together we have enjoyed this beautiful city and the adventures that lie in wait. My husband likes to say Granada is a pretty lady with a dirty face. There is beauty everywhere you look and opportunities for a family to be together in a café, a park or just wandering through the labyrinth of undulating streets. Bianca can provide a great picture of life in the Albaicin that will help you decide whether the city and lifestyle is right for you. The expat community is vibrant and welcoming. Bianca’s ties to it will benefit all who hire her to help with their move.
Year in Spain: 2016 - 2017
Wilma and Martin, Sydney, Australia
"Bianca’s blog inspired us to move to Granada when we were looking where to spend a year in Spain, and then with her assistance the dream became reality. Bianca helped us find our beautiful apartment in the centre of Granada which was set up when we arrived. Everything went without a hitch and we liked Granada right from the start. She also recommended a terrific Spanish language school which is really good for those who like an intensive, fast paced but fun classroom environment. Bianca knows Granada well and those who come here will understand why there is such an attraction for this city."
Wilma and Martin, Sydney, Australia
"Bianca’s blog inspired us to move to Granada when we were looking where to spend a year in Spain, and then with her assistance the dream became reality. Bianca helped us find our beautiful apartment in the centre of Granada which was set up when we arrived. Everything went without a hitch and we liked Granada right from the start. She also recommended a terrific Spanish language school which is really good for those who like an intensive, fast paced but fun classroom environment. Bianca knows Granada well and those who come here will understand why there is such an attraction for this city."
Year in Spain 2015 - 2018
Jane, Dan and family, Northern Territory, Australia
"Bianca provided us with clear and concise information regarding our move to Spain. We are delighted with the house she arranged for us, and have followed many of her recommendations regarding restaurants and cultural activities now that we're here. Thank you!"
Jane, Dan and family, Northern Territory, Australia
"Bianca provided us with clear and concise information regarding our move to Spain. We are delighted with the house she arranged for us, and have followed many of her recommendations regarding restaurants and cultural activities now that we're here. Thank you!"
Year in Spain 2015 - 2016
Meredith, Diana and family, Los Angeles, USA
"Bianca helped our family tremendously in putting the pieces of the puzzle in order for our year-long move to Spain. In addition to helping us find a lovely home to rent and enrol our kids in the local school, she has also been available to answer questions about mobile phone use, packing and shipping, and Spanish classes. She has helped us make connections with locals and other ex-pat families who are taking the plunge. Thank you, Bianca!"
Meredith, Diana and family, Los Angeles, USA
"Bianca helped our family tremendously in putting the pieces of the puzzle in order for our year-long move to Spain. In addition to helping us find a lovely home to rent and enrol our kids in the local school, she has also been available to answer questions about mobile phone use, packing and shipping, and Spanish classes. She has helped us make connections with locals and other ex-pat families who are taking the plunge. Thank you, Bianca!"
Year in Spain: 2014 - 2015
Natalie, John and family, Sydney, Australia
"Bianca provided us with an enormous amount of support in the lead up to our year in Granada. Not only did she find us our wonderful house to rent, she also assisted with enrolling our children into school and provided advice on activities in the area. Bianca is a passionate and energetic person with a fantastic understanding of what foreigners are looking for and a great ability to research and synthesize local information. She will be an asset to anyone looking to experience time in Spain and we highly recommend her services."
Natalie, John and family, Sydney, Australia
"Bianca provided us with an enormous amount of support in the lead up to our year in Granada. Not only did she find us our wonderful house to rent, she also assisted with enrolling our children into school and provided advice on activities in the area. Bianca is a passionate and energetic person with a fantastic understanding of what foreigners are looking for and a great ability to research and synthesize local information. She will be an asset to anyone looking to experience time in Spain and we highly recommend her services."
Years in Spain: 2014 - 2016
Jed and family, Wisconsin, USA
"Bianca helped our family realize our dream of living Spain for our year adventure. She helped coordinate our furnished rental house and enrolment in the local school for our children. She is extremely thorough and organized and I felt like we could ask her any question and get a candid response. She is also well connected with locals in the region that can help her get answers or follow-up on some of the more specific requests. Thank you for all of your help!"
Watch Jed & Radhika looking for their home in Granada as featured on International House Hunters
Jed and family, Wisconsin, USA
"Bianca helped our family realize our dream of living Spain for our year adventure. She helped coordinate our furnished rental house and enrolment in the local school for our children. She is extremely thorough and organized and I felt like we could ask her any question and get a candid response. She is also well connected with locals in the region that can help her get answers or follow-up on some of the more specific requests. Thank you for all of your help!"
Watch Jed & Radhika looking for their home in Granada as featured on International House Hunters
Year in Spain: 2014 - 2015
Eduardo, Rebecca and family, Montana, USA
“Truly, our landing in Granada would not have been this idyllic had it not been for you. Your help got us this marvellous house overlooking the Alhambra, our kids in a wonderful school, and our family surrounded by a friendly and helpful community of locals and expats. Thank you!”
