RESOURCES FOR TRAVELERS, STUDENTS, & NEW EXPATS
One of the most special things about living in Spain is the people! Generally, people here are very open and friendly and the tourism & expat community is no different. It doesn’t matter what your story is… traveler, student, or new expat… chances are there are women here just like you. And, there are a ton of resources that you can dip into & take advantage of!
Below are just a handful of places you can start. These sites/forums and communities were built for you. So, use them. I have. And, trust me, it’s been so helpful!
Facebook Groups
- She Hit Refresh
She Hit Refresh is a community of women over the age of 30 who have decided to “break free from routine and start a life of travel.” The group offers its members support in many ways, including travel tips & information on working remotely. Co-founder Cepee Tabibian even wrote a book I’m Outta Here: An Americans Ultimate Visa Guide to Living in Europe. The book digs into all the different viable visa options in Europe, making it a lot easier for future expats to begin their dream life living abroad. - Girl Gone International
Girl Gone International is the world’s largest female expat community and network. Connecting globally-minded women online and face-to-face, they have communities throughout the world. In Spain, the groups in Barcelona and Madrid most active, but there are also small communities in Valencia and Granada. - Costa Women
These ladies make it their business to connect women living in or moving to Spain. They host a variety of consistent events and are a great resource for women like us! First, you must register for free on their website, then you can join their various groups on Facebook, such as Costa Women Madrid.
Travel Sites That Provide Resources & Build Community
- Spain Less Traveled
This beautiful site is great for all lovers of Spain. Its founder Karen Rosenblum is a travel planner & consultant, but even now during Covid, the Facebook group continues to be active. Members share their pictures and travel recommendations. It seems when this travel ban is listed, this group will be the first crew to hit the road again! - Devour Tours
Devour is a food tour company based in Madrid. Due to the obvious challenges of running a food tour business at this time, they’ve pivoted and started cooking classes online. They also launched a new Facebook Spain Travel & Food Community. Members share recipes and their favorite food and travel recommendations.
Residency & Legal Questions
- Spain Guru
If you have any kind of residency or legal question, I 100% guarantee it’s been asked before. Spain Guru is a great resource. Many people share their experiences navigating Spain’s crazy bureaucracy in Spain Guru’s Facebook group. If you need a little more help, Spain Guru also offers private consultations and events for the expat community.
Help for Students
- Citylife
With locations in Madrid and Barcelona, City Life provides one-stop shopping for young people making the move to Spain. They offer a variety of services like helping students find housing or buy metro cards. They even help with the dreaded NIE paperwork! - Studentfy
For those lucky students in Barcelona, this organization is also a one-stop-shop. Studentfy organizes trips and events and offers their members discounts to places around town. They also have a network of legal and banking services available to students.
Mental Health Resources
- SINEWS
SINEWS is a large therapy center based in Madrid that offers services both in-person and online. With a large team of therapists and coaches from around the world, they support both adults and children. - Counselling Madrid
Counselling Madrid is another multinational center based in Madrid that offers sessions both in-person and online. Geared specifically to the expat community, Counselling Madrid offers discounts to English teachers or to those who earn less than a specific amount each month. - Therapy in Barcelona
This international team is really helpful; they really do their best to pair you with the perfect therapist for your needs. Their large team is equipped to help you manage any kind of problem you may be experiencing.
