Spanish Living – Euro Weekly News https://euroweeklynews.com News and views in English since 1998 Tue, 27 Oct 2026 22:20:14 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://euroweeklynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-EuroWeeklyNews-Favicon-2-60x60.png Spanish Living – Euro Weekly News https://euroweeklynews.com 32 32 Spain orders replacement of eight million gas meters: New rules, costs and deadlines https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/27/spain-orders-replacement-of-eight-million-gas-meters-new-rules-costs-and-deadlines/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/27/spain-orders-replacement-of-eight-million-gas-meters-new-rules-costs-and-deadlines/#respond Tue, 27 Oct 2026 22:20:14 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=582452 If you have a gas meter at home, you could soon be getting a new one, and the change could affect how you track your bills. Spain is introducing smart gas meters that will record your daily consumption remotely, helping you see how much gas you use and potentially avoid bills based on estimates. The rollout starts in earnest in 2029 and will continue until 2036, with around eight million homes and…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/27/spain-orders-replacement-of-eight-million-gas-meters-new-rules-costs-and-deadlines/feed/ 0 Spain’s DGT urges drivers to check dashboard brightness as clocks go back https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/24/spains-dgt-urges-drivers-to-check-dashboard-brightness-as-clocks-go-back/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/24/spains-dgt-urges-drivers-to-check-dashboard-brightness-as-clocks-go-back/#respond Sat, 24 Oct 2026 21:40:37 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=582222 Drivers in Spain are being urged to check their dashboard brightness as the clocks go back this weekend, with the DGT warning that bright interior screens can make it harder to adjust to darkness outside. In advice published on October 23, the DGT recommends dimming dashboard and infotainment displays to a level that still allows drivers to read the speedometer clearly. The reminder comes as…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/24/spains-dgt-urges-drivers-to-check-dashboard-brightness-as-clocks-go-back/feed/ 0 Spain set for a burst of Indian summer heat as temperatures climb above 25C https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/24/spain-set-for-a-burst-of-indian-summer-heat-as-temperatures-climb-above-25c/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/24/spain-set-for-a-burst-of-indian-summer-heat-as-temperatures-climb-above-25c/#respond Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:38:58 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=582214 Spain is set for another taste of summer this Sunday and Monday, October 25 and 26, with temperatures expected to climb above 25°C in several parts of the country. From the Costa Blanca to the Costa del Sol, residents and holidaymakers could enjoy a return to warmer weather just days before November. The warmer conditions follow a brief spell of cooler weather across parts of Spain.

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/24/spain-set-for-a-burst-of-indian-summer-heat-as-temperatures-climb-above-25c/feed/ 0 Renfe scraps seat reservations and cuts extra charges for pets and bicycles https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/23/renfe-scraps-seat-reservations-and-cuts-extra-charges-for-pets-and-bicycles/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/23/renfe-scraps-seat-reservations-and-cuts-extra-charges-for-pets-and-bicycles/#respond Fri, 23 Oct 2026 21:34:23 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=582164 If you use Spain’s regional trains for work, appointments or travel, you may soon have one less thing to organise before travelling. Renfe is removing the requirement to reserve a numbered seat in advance on selected Media Distancia and Regional services from December 12 this year, allowing passengers to buy a ticket without choosing a specific seat beforehand. The change will not cover every…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/23/renfe-scraps-seat-reservations-and-cuts-extra-charges-for-pets-and-bicycles/feed/ 0 Spain’s olive oil prices approach €3 a kilo: what it means for your supermarket bill https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/22/spains-olive-oil-prices-approach-e3-a-kilo-what-it-means-for-your-supermarket-bill/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/22/spains-olive-oil-prices-approach-e3-a-kilo-what-it-means-for-your-supermarket-bill/#respond Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:10:18 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=582066 Shoppers in Spain are typically still paying more than €4 for a litre of olive oil, even though the price at the source has sunk to its lowest in five years. Farmers say many are now selling at a loss and want the government to step in. Extra virgin olive oil is changing hands at around €3.10 a kilo at source, the lowest in five years and well down on the €4.50 it started the harvest year on…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/22/spains-olive-oil-prices-approach-e3-a-kilo-what-it-means-for-your-supermarket-bill/feed/ 0 Before you turn the heating on in Spain, there’s one cleaning job you shouldn’t skip https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/21/before-you-turn-the-heating-on-in-spain-theres-one-cleaning-job-you-shouldnt-skip/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/21/before-you-turn-the-heating-on-in-spain-theres-one-cleaning-job-you-shouldnt-skip/#respond Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:08:15 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=582013 Households across Spain are about to switch on radiators that have sat unused since spring, and any dust that’s built up between the fins can get in the way of the heat. Clearing it can take as little as 10 minutes, though it’s a different job from bleeding the radiator. Dust that settles inside and behind a radiator over the warmer months doesn’t just sit there. On convector radiators (the…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/21/before-you-turn-the-heating-on-in-spain-theres-one-cleaning-job-you-shouldnt-skip/feed/ 0 Is your rubbish bill one of Spain’s most expensive? Check the list of cities, from €47 to €292 a year https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/21/is-your-rubbish-bill-one-of-spains-most-expensive-check-the-list-of-cities-from-e47-to-e292-a-year/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/21/is-your-rubbish-bill-one-of-spains-most-expensive-check-the-list-of-cities-from-e47-to-e292-a-year/#respond Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:09:27 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=582002 Two households in near-identical flats can get rubbish bills more than six times apart just by living in different Spanish cities. A new nationwide comparison puts the charge at about €47 a year in Soria and €292 in Valencia, all because each town hall sets its own rules. A couple in a 75 square metre flat in Valencia are charged €292.48 a year for rubbish collection (the tasa de basuras)…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/21/is-your-rubbish-bill-one-of-spains-most-expensive-check-the-list-of-cities-from-e47-to-e292-a-year/feed/ 0 Car broken into in Spain? Don’t touch a thing yet: here’s what to do https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/21/car-broken-into-in-spain-dont-touch-a-thing-yet-heres-what-to-do/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/21/car-broken-into-in-spain-dont-touch-a-thing-yet-heres-what-to-do/#respond Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:16:28 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=581925 You’ve come back to your car to find glass across the seat, a missing bag and a window that’s no longer there, and every instinct says to start tidying up, get in your car and drive away from there as quickly as possible. Well, Police advice points the other way, and the next few minutes can shape both the investigation and any insurance claim. It’s an easy instinct to follow.

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/21/car-broken-into-in-spain-dont-touch-a-thing-yet-heres-what-to-do/feed/ 0 These little-known Spanish supermarkets could save you hundreds on your weekly shop https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/20/these-little-known-spanish-supermarkets-could-save-you-hundreds-on-your-weekly-shop/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/20/these-little-known-spanish-supermarkets-could-save-you-hundreds-on-your-weekly-shop/#respond Tue, 20 Oct 2026 20:51:03 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=581892 Your weekly supermarket shop could be costing you more than it needs to, and the cheaper alternative might be a chain you’ve never heard of. Across Spain, regional supermarkets are competing for customers, with some offering prices that compare favourably with the country’s biggest household names. For shoppers trying to stretch their budgets, knowing which chains operate locally could make a…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/20/these-little-known-spanish-supermarkets-could-save-you-hundreds-on-your-weekly-shop/feed/ 0 Homeowners in Spain urged to check shared energy bills as consumer group finds costly contracts https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/20/homeowners-in-spain-urged-to-check-shared-energy-bills-as-consumer-group-finds-costly-contracts/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/20/homeowners-in-spain-urged-to-check-shared-energy-bills-as-consumer-group-finds-costly-contracts/#respond Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:24:27 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=581847 Owners in Spanish apartment blocks and urbanisations could be paying more in community fees than they need to, simply because nobody’s checked the energy contracts behind the lift, garage and communal lights. Consumer group OCU’s look at 100 shared bills found plenty of room to cut, although any saving would belong to the whole community. Owners who’ve already hunted down a better deal for…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/20/homeowners-in-spain-urged-to-check-shared-energy-bills-as-consumer-group-finds-costly-contracts/feed/ 0 Expat Steve says: Don’t leave it too late to make your will https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/20/expat-steve-says-dont-leave-it-too-late-to-make-your-will/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/20/expat-steve-says-dont-leave-it-too-late-to-make-your-will/#respond Tue, 20 Oct 2026 17:10:01 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=581879 Making a will and arranging power of attorney are easy tasks to put off. But long-time Costa del Sol expat Steve Marshall is urging residents to stop delaying and get their affairs in order while they still can. Procedures in time of stress are very different in Spain, and there are lawyers just waiting for your partner’s worst moment. “As we get older this is something we know we should do but…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/20/expat-steve-says-dont-leave-it-too-late-to-make-your-will/feed/ 0 Spain issues red weather alert as up to 300mm of rain threatens Valencia and Alicante https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/17/spain-issues-red-weather-alert-as-up-to-300mm-of-rain-threatens-valencia-and-alicante/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/17/spain-issues-red-weather-alert-as-up-to-300mm-of-rain-threatens-valencia-and-alicante/#respond Sat, 17 Oct 2026 11:09:53 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=581515 Spain’s meteorological agency has issued a red alert for some parts of Valencia and Alicante as a powerful storm system could bring torrential rain and flash flooding and dangerous weather conditions across the Mediterranean coast. The red alert was issued on Saturday, October 17, as forecasters warn that some areas could receive more than 200 litres per square metre within 12 hours.

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/17/spain-issues-red-weather-alert-as-up-to-300mm-of-rain-threatens-valencia-and-alicante/feed/ 0 OCU reveals the biggest price changes in Spain: What costs more and what costs less https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/15/ocu-reveals-the-biggest-price-changes-in-spain-what-costs-more-and-what-costs-less/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/15/ocu-reveals-the-biggest-price-changes-in-spain-what-costs-more-and-what-costs-less/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2026 20:21:32 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=581417 Spain’s shopping basket has some surprising price changes hidden among the weekly essentials. Fresh berries have soared by 47.4 per cent in a year, eggs are up 12.3 per cent and citrus fruit costs 15.1 per cent more. Yet train fares have fallen by 11.2 per cent, making the latest inflation figures a mixed picture of steep increases and a few welcome reductions. The latest figures…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/15/ocu-reveals-the-biggest-price-changes-in-spain-what-costs-more-and-what-costs-less/feed/ 1 Compare Funerals launches new app to modernise funeral planning in Spain https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/15/compare-funerals-launches-new-app-to-modernise-funeral-planning-in-spain/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:30:50 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=581353 Compare Funerals, the Sotogrande-based company that helped popularise direct cremation in Spain, has launched a mobile app designed to make managing a prepaid funeral plan simpler, and more personal. Developed over around 18 months, the app lets clients access documents, book appointments, update personal details, check payments and balances, change payment methods and refer friends for rewards…

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]]> The foods older shoppers in Spain buy more than everyone else https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/14/the-foods-older-shoppers-in-spain-buy-more-than-everyone-else/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:53:21 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=581280 Older households in Spain are still filling their trolleys the same way they always have: with wine, tinned fish and jamón. Yet the snacks and ready meals that would usually crowd the average younger person’s fridge barely get a look in. Data from 12,000 homes suggests those habits were established decades ago, and they aren’t changing with the times. Think back to what went into the trolley…

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]]> Spain’s new €150,000 investment account promises tax breaks, but there is a catch https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/12/spains-new-e150000-investment-account-promises-tax-breaks-but-there-is-a-catch/ Mon, 12 Oct 2026 11:41:42 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=581053 Spain has given the go-ahead to a new savings plan which, in theory, allows its residents to invest up to €150,000, with considerable tax advantages. British expatriates may thus find a means of increasing their savings, without having to pay tax every time they sell an investment at a profit. However, despite receiving government approval, the account is not yet available to open…

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]]> Spain’s new TIE appointment system could end a major headache for expats https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/12/spains-new-tie-appointment-system-could-end-a-major-headache-for-expats/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 22:20:15 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=581038 Anyone who has tried to book a fingerprint appointment in Spain knows how frustrating the process can be. Even after receiving approval for a residency application, foreign nationals may still face another hurdle: securing an appointment to obtain their TIE card. Now, a new system introduced by the Policía Nacional could make that final step easier for some applicants. On October 9, 2026…

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]]> Forget gazpacho: These are the autumn dishes residents in Spain crave https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/10/forget-gazpacho-these-are-the-autumn-dishes-residents-in-spain-crave/ Sat, 10 Oct 2026 21:02:30 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580957 For those of us who have lived in Spain for a while, it’s almost inevitable that we fall into the rhythm of the seasons. We start looking forward to different foods, pick up local traditions and find ourselves craving meals we might never have considered before moving here. Suddenly, the arrival of autumn isn’t just about cooler evenings and digging out a jumper; it’s about what goes on the dinner…

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]]> Spain police warn parents over WhatsApp scam that uses their children’s real accounts https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/10/spain-police-warn-parents-over-whatsapp-scam-that-uses-their-childrens-real-accounts/ Sat, 10 Oct 2026 20:32:32 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580956 A WhatsApp message from your son or daughter requesting money might not be real, even if it is from their regular number. Spain’s National Police have alerted families about a highly convincing scam in which criminals masquerade as children to trick parents into wiring hundreds of euros. The new scam is a version of the well-known hijo en apuros or child in trouble scam that has been circulating…

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]]> Spain launches new rent calculator: Check how much your landlord can charge https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/09/spain-launches-new-rent-calculator-check-how-much-your-landlord-can-charge/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:30:16 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580876 If you are a tenant in Spain and your landlord is looking to raise your monthly payment, there is now a way to check how much the increase might be. The Ministry of Housing in Spain has updated its online rent calculator to help tenants calculate the maximum increase they can expect under the new housing laws. The calculator, available on the ministry’s website since Friday, October 9…

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]]> Spain motorway speed limit could drop to just 40km/h under new traffic system https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/09/spain-motorway-speed-limit-could-drop-to-just-40km-h-under-new-traffic-system/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 22:28:49 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580843 Rides running on the most frequented highways in Spain may no longer feel certain that a 120km/h speed limit set at the beginning of their journey will remain in force. Since 1 October 2026, a trial is under way of variable limits on the AP-7 and AP-2 sections of Catalonia. This means that the speed at which you can drive is going to be different according to what’s happening on the road.

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]]> Spain supermarket closures on October 12 could disrupt your weekly shop https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/08/need-groceries-on-october-12-heres-which-supermarkets-open-in-spain/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:18:53 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580809 Your usual supermarket in Spain could be closed when you need it on Monday, October 12. With some chains expected to shut most branches for the national holiday and others opening selected stores, checking your local shop’s timetable could save you a wasted journey. The national day of Spain, known as the Dia de la Hispanidad, falls on a Monday this year, allowing many people to enjoy a long…

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]]> You could be paying up to 30% more for energy in Spain than your supplier’s other customers https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/08/you-could-be-paying-up-to-30-more-for-energy-in-spain-than-your-suppliers-other-customers/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:08:05 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580801 Two households with the same energy company in Spain can end up with very different bills, with some customers paying up to 30 per cent more than others. Yet most haven’t switched in years, and almost a third of those staying put believe it wouldn’t make any difference. Households that signed up with an energy company years ago and never looked back could be paying well over the odds.

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]]> Why people across Spain are putting a toilet roll in their fridge https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/08/why-people-across-spain-are-putting-a-toilet-roll-in-their-fridge/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:38:06 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580793 If you happen to be round a friends house and they ask you to grab the salad from the fridge, don’t be alarmed if you spot a roll of toilet paper nestled in between the milk and tomatoes. This isn’t an oversight, it’s a cheap life hack that households across Spain are using to tackle dampness and lingering odours. Anyone who is living or staying in Spain for any amount of time knows the fridge…

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]]> Pilar weekend weather takes a turn in Spain : Here’s where storms and heavy rain will hit https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/07/pilar-weekend-weather-takes-a-turn-in-spain-heres-where-storms-and-heavy-rain-will-hit/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:31:10 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580695 Strictly speaking, Spain is on a holiday, but when it’s storming, and there’s a sudden drop in temperature, there’ll be trouble. At the upcoming Pilar holiday, you may have to keep an umbrella handy and bring some warmer clothes, because of heavy rain, thunderstorms and a noticeable drop in temperatures, which will determine the weather for several areas of the country and travel plans. Spain’…

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]]> 90% of Spaniards say this dish can help you reconcile after a row https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/02/90-of-spaniards-say-this-dish-can-help-you-reconcile-after-a-row/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 21:38:51 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580376 One of the last things you want to do after a heated argument is sit down and have a meal with the person you’ve just fallen out with. But Spain may have found a surprisingly tasty way around that awkwardness, and it seems the answer could be sitting right in the middle of the table. A new study has found that 90 per cent of people in Spain believe one particular meal can help bring people back…

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]]> Where are Spain’s richest and poorest towns? See how your municipality compares https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/01/where-are-spains-richest-and-poorest-towns-see-how-your-municipality-compares/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:08:53 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580319 If you have ever wondered whether the place you call home is actually as well-off as it feels, Spain’s latest income figures offer a way to check. The numbers vary dramatically from one municipality to another, with the average declared gross income in the richest town more than six times that of the lowest-ranked municipality. The latest figures from Spain’s Tax Agency were published on…

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]]> EU unemployment shake-up for foreign workers in Spain as 22-week rule arrives https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/30/eu-unemployment-shake-up-for-foreign-workers-in-spain-as-22-week-rule-arrives/ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:47:31 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580242 If you have ever worked in Spain while living elsewhere in Europe, or crossed a border for work and assumed your unemployment contributions would follow you if the job disappeared, the rules around who actually pays your unemployment benefit are about to change. A new EU agreement means that, in certain cross-border cases, the country where you worked and paid into the social security system for…

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]]> Could your Spanish health centre lose its reception desk? Galicia is already testing the change https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/28/could-your-spanish-health-centre-lose-its-reception-desk-galicia-is-already-testing-the-change/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/28/could-your-spanish-health-centre-lose-its-reception-desk-galicia-is-already-testing-the-change/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:33:53 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=579986 If you have ever stood at a health-centre reception trying to explain something personal while people wait behind you, you probably know the uncomfortable feeling. You lower your voice, glance around and hope nobody is listening, but there is often nowhere else to go. That could be about to change, at least in some parts of Spain. Galicia is testing a new approach that replaces the traditional…

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]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/28/could-your-spanish-health-centre-lose-its-reception-desk-galicia-is-already-testing-the-change/feed/ 1 OCU reveals the cheapest and most expensive places in Spain to do your shopping in 2026 https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/28/ocu-reveals-the-cheapest-and-most-expensive-places-in-spain-to-do-your-shopping-in-2026/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:57:36 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=579974 If you live in Spain, you probably have a rough idea of what your weekly food shop costs. You know which items have become painfully expensive, which ones you try to buy on offer and roughly what you expect to see when you reach the till. But move to another part of the country and that same shopping trip can look rather different. A new OCU comparison of food prices across Spain has found some…

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