Hi, we’re Rebecca and Zach, parents to two young daughters who left our six-figure careers to slow travel as a family while searching for our next home.

We’re not on vacation. We’re evaluating.

Over the next year (or maybe longer or shorter), we’re living in different countries for months at a time to understand what daily life actually feels like, schools, playgrounds, grocery stores, public transit, community vibes, and whether we can imagine building a long-term life there.

We’re not digital nomads chasing aesthetics. We’re parents trying to make a thoughtful, data-informed, heart-led decision about where our family will thrive.

This is the kind of article I wish I had found when we were researching the Costa del Sol, not a 4-day travel guide, but a real look at everyday life with young kids.

What follows is our honest experience living in Fuengirola and exploring Málaga and surrounding cities. What we’ve loved, what’s given us pause, and why Spain is currently a “maybe” for us.

Reflections from Fuengirola and the Costa del Sol

Spain is not a “no.”

But it isn’t a clear “yes” either.

After spending meaningful time in Fuengirola and exploring Málaga, Córdoba, and Granada, we’ve been asking ourselves the big question: Could this be home?

Right now, Spain feels like a strong maybe.

And for now, we’re going to keep traveling.

We absolutely want to return and explore more of the country, like Galicia, Valencia, Alicante, even Tarragona near Barcelona. Spain is vast, culturally layered, and deeply regional. What we’ve experienced so far is just one slice: the Costa del Sol.

Before making any permanent decisions, we plan to continue our search. Starting with the Netherlands and Greece in the coming months, and later Montenegro, Albania, Malta, France, and Italy.

But here’s what we’ve learned so far about Spain.

One of the most beautiful things about Fuengirola has been the sheer number of playgrounds.

Within about a mile radius, there are easily a dozen. Some are tucked into plazas. Some sit directly on the beach. And honestly, the beach itself is a playground.

This matters more than I expected.

Kids here live outside.

In Málaga, we loved the pedestrianized streets of Centro Histórico. Being able to let kids walk freely without cars constantly passing changes everything about daily life.

One of our favorite setups has been Parque Infantil Plaza Enrique García-Herrera — a plaza surrounded by restaurants and cafés where kids can run while adults enjoy a coffee or meal. That design feels like civilization working properly.

In the plaza we have tried and enjoyed:

And in Fuengirola specifically, Kiddo Lounge has been a lifesaver, an indoor play area with comfortable adult seating and a full menu. On stormy days, it’s exactly what you hope a city offers families.

This is the kind of lifestyle that makes you want to move to Spain.

When we zoom out and look at data (for example, OECD PISA assessments often cited in Pew Research summaries), Spain’s public education system tends to perform below the UK and somewhat below the U.S. average in reading, math, and science.

Spain has a strong public system that is:

There are private and international schools, but standards vary widely and tuition can add up quickly.

If we lived here, we would likely choose public school so the girls could integrate and learn Spanish fluently. They are young — this would be the ideal time.

But long term? We might consider transitioning to the UK or another country later, depending on opportunities and academic direction.

Spain might be an incredible early-childhood chapter. Whether it’s the right long-term academic environment is something we’re still evaluating.

This surprised us.

In the UK, we thrived in the food culture. It was international, accessible, and incredibly kid-friendly. Pubs had toys and activity stacks. Sunday roasts worked for everyone. English breakfasts were reliable. The pies at The Victoria in Oxford? Elite.

In Spain, restaurants have felt less intentionally kid-centered. That doesn’t mean unfriendly, just different. Instead we opt to bring our own activities. We have found these amazing sticker books at ALE-HOP, that can keep the girls happy the whole meal.

Tapas culture helps because we can order multiple small plates and hope something sticks. Our kids have been brave about trying new foods, which we’re proud of.

We haven’t fallen in love with Spanish cuisine personally, but we’ve found plenty of Italian, Japanese, and other options. Restaurant prices are similar to the UK and U.S., so we don’t eat out constantly.

Where Spain shines?

Groceries.

The produce quality is exceptional. Markets are affordable. Mercadona has been a treasure trove. I’ve made some of the best salads of my life here, at half the cost of U.S. groceries.

And yes, the frozen aisle deserves a shoutout. Coconut ice cream, mini nata bars, indulgent but reasonably portioned.

Cooking at home in Spain is a joy.

Living without a car is doable here.

Buses in Fuengirola cost €1.20 per ride, or €10 for a 10-trip pass. Regional buses to Málaga are around €3–5, Marbella €5–7.

But reliability has been inconsistent. Buses can be crowded even in the off season.

Taxis, however, are affordable. We’ve used Uber, FreeNow, and sometimes PideTaxi (not our favorite app, but occasionally necessary).

Compared to the U.S., the car-free lifestyle is refreshing. Compared to the UK, transit feels less predictable in this specific area.

Let’s be honest.

Two things have consistently bothered me:

Outdoor dining is beautiful but smoking is common, even near children. It’s not necessarily worse than other European countries, but it’s noticeable.

Not everyone picks up after their dog. I’ve become hyper-vigilant scanning sidewalks to avoid landmines. It’s not universal, many dog owners are responsible, but it’s enough to change how you walk.

This part is sensitive, but I want to speak honestly.

In multiple playground settings here, our girls have experienced rough physical behavior from boys their age, pushing, tackling, climbing on top of them, wrestling without consent.

Often, parents watched and did not intervene.

I want to be careful: this is our limited experience in specific playgrounds in Fuengirola and Málaga province. It is not a sweeping judgment of Spain.

But it has happened enough that I cannot ignore it.

In contrast, in the UK we consistently observed children (of all genders and backgrounds):

We watched older kids gently guide our daughters up climbing frames or help them onto swings.

Could language barriers explain some of this? Maybe partially. But physical boundaries and safety should transcend language.

It has given me pause.

Is it regional? Cultural? Just playground variance? I don’t know.

But as parents of girls, it matters to us. If this is acceptable at this age what is excused and ignored as these boys get older?

Fuengirola is diverse. We’ve met wonderful people from Ireland, Sweden, Finland, and beyond.

But it feels transient.

Many residents are seasonal. The energy is coastal, rotating, temporary.

Málaga city feels more grounded. Córdoba and Granada felt more charming and significantly more affordable, though summers there are reportedly intense.

We like charm and community. Rootedness.

Right now, Fuengirola doesn’t feel like where we would build a 10-year life.

Spain is not off the table.

We absolutely want to return and explore:

Spain could be an incredible chapter, maybe even a multi-year one.

But for long-term settlement, the UK still feels more aligned for us at this stage.

That doesn’t mean we’re done searching.

Over the next few months, we’ll explore the Netherlands and Greece and eventually Montenegro, Albania, Malta, France, and Italy.

We’re not done with Spain. It’s not off the table.

We’re honoring the process.

Because this isn’t about finding the cheapest place or the prettiest beach.

It’s about finding where our daughters can thrive, academically, socially, emotionally, and where we feel deeply aligned with the culture around us.

Spain is a maybe.

And maybes deserve exploration.

If you're planning a trip or considering moving abroad, these are the services we personally use and trust:

✈️ Flights & Hotels:
Expedia → https://expedia.tp.st/AfCenXQ5

🚗 Car Rentals:
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SafetyWing (long stays) → https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26447901&utm_source=26447901&utm_medium=Ambassador

📱 International Data (eSIM):
Yesim → https://yesim.tp.st/obVjzUwE

💳 Banking & Money Transfers:
Wise → https://wise.com/invite/irhc/zacharymaxwellthomasl

🎒 Our Travel Essentials:
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