Living in Spain
How To Effectively Choose a School In Spain the 1st Time
Six steps for choosing a school in Spain the first time: public, concertado or private, enrollment data, reviews, word of mouth, visits and flexibility.
By Ashley Burgos ·
Family Travel & Life Abroad in Spain
Moving to Spain and traveling Europe as a family
First-hand lessons from moving abroad as a family, building a life in Zaragoza, and exploring Spain and Europe with children.
- Left the United States
- 2018
- Living in Mexico
- 2½ yrs
- Moved to Spain
- 2021
- Where we live now
- Zaragoza
32 first-hand guidesWritten from Zaragoza, Spain
Where are you in the journey?
Pick the stage you are at. Each path starts with the guides other families found most useful.
Thinking about leaving the US
Why we left, how we prepared financially, and why Spain won.
- Why & How We Left the United States & Our Current Plans (From a Mixed Status Family)
- How We Prepared Financially in Advance to be Able to Leave the United States (& the Passports We Have Since Obtained)
- Why we Chose to Move to Spain & Our Journey to Zaragoza
Moving to Spain
Visas, paperwork, renting and the checklist we used.
- The Moving To Zaragoza Spain Checklist (Including DIY TIE & Padron)
- From the NLV in Spain (Non-Lucrative Visa) to Citizenship via the IberoAmerican Pathway
- Our Real-Life Rental Process for our Four Leases in Spain: What Happens When You Rent in Spain?
School in Spain
How the system works, enrolling, and what our kids think.
- How Does Education Work in Spain?
- The Schooling Process in Spain – How To
- How To Effectively Choose a School In Spain the 1st Time
Life in Zaragoza
Real costs, neighborhoods, doctors and things to do.
- Our Real Cost Of Living in Zaragoza Spain for a Family of Four 2025 vs 2026
- What Are the Good Neighborhoods in Zaragoza, Spain?
- Things to do in Zaragoza Spain- At Anytime
Latest from our family
Cost of Living
Our Back-to-School Cost in Spain
Living in Zaragoza
The Ultimate Guide to Finding Good Books in English in Zaragoza, Spain
School in Spain
The Schooling Process in Spain – How To
Things to Do in Zaragoza
Things to do in Zaragoza in February
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School in Spain
School in SpainThings We Did That Helped With The First Year of Spanish School & What My Kids Think About Life Here
What helped our two kids through their first year in Spanish school after Montessori, democratic and British schools, and what they now like about Spain.
Living in SpainWhy we Chose to Move to Spain & Our Journey to Zaragoza
Why we left Mexico for Spain in 2021, how we chose a city, and our moves from Zaragoza to Murcia, Madrid and back to Zaragoza, the city we recommend.
School in SpainSome Things that are Different in Schools in Spain than in the USA (IMO)
Differences we've noticed between schools in Spain and the US: security, book bags and stairs, old buildings, school hours, languages, recess and food.
Living in Zaragoza
Things to Do in ZaragozaThings to Do in Zaragoza Spain in January
Things to do in Zaragoza in January: the Three Kings parade, churros and chocolate, roasted chestnuts, San Valero, museums and films in Spanish.
Things to Do in ZaragozaThings to do in Zaragoza Spain- At Anytime
Our year-round list of things to do in Zaragoza, Spain: CaixaForum, free museums, the Goya Museum, El Tubo, Mercado Central, the Roman route and more.
Living in ZaragozaHow I Successfully Got My 1st Spanish Driver’s License in Spain & Made My Own Test Appointment
How I got a Spanish driver's license as an American with no license exchange: failing twice in Murcia, passing in Spanish in Zaragoza, and DGT tips.
Our Travels
Living in ZaragozaSummer Roadtrips From Zaragoza, Spain
Two summer road trips from Zaragoza by rental car: the beach at Tarragona's Playa Gorda, and Cinco Villas for a honey museum and a mountain swimming hole.
Leaving the USAWhy & How We Left the United States & Our Current Plans (From a Mixed Status Family)
Okay guys, or VALE as the Spaniards say, I am about to go down a very personal road here, so buckle up!
Our TravelsMorocco: Tangier & Casablanca: April/May 2023
Our four-day family trip to Morocco in spring 2023: flying from Madrid to Tangier, the train to Casablanca and back, and what we did each day with kids.
Like the guides? Help us keep writing them.
Everything here is free to read. If a guide saved you time or money, you can buy us a coffee. Planning your own move? Book a call as a future client, or listen to the blog on Spotify.
Who writes this
A family from the Americas, living in Spain
Hi there, we are a family who lives in Spain and travels in our free time, collectively known as The Burgos Experience. I used this blog to document our life in Spain- all the nitty gritty details can be found within these posts. Take a look around, and be inspired!