Avoiding UK winter by living abroad

sand_hun

In winter 2024 my retired parents have decided they'd like to explore the option of living abroad - somewhere in Europe but with a warmer climate than the UK. I have been tasked with helping them. Has anyone here done a similar thing or have knowledge / tips on the best way to go about this. I'm open to suggestions on the best countries do this as well as more practical things to consider such as arranging accommodation.  Anyway, if you can offer advice on this topic, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

elsien

Do you mean a permanent move? Or for a certain number of weeks or months at a time? Because obviously Brexit will have put paid to a lot of long-termoptions.

eskbanker

Have they visited any/many southern European countries on holiday or are they literally starting with a blank sheet of paper?  Do they speak any languages other than English?

sand_hun

It's not a permanent move, it would be for 3 months from December 2024 to the end of February 2025. 

They're in their 70's so over the years they have visited numerous countries in southern Europe e.g., Spain, Italy, Greece on holiday. But this will be the first time they'll ever have done an extended trip. My mother likes the idea of southern Spain.  As well as English they're fluent in Punjabi - not that that will be much use in Europe

400ixl

Southern Portugal is worth considering.

subjecttocontract

We have a place in southern Spain and it comes as a surprise to some that they can have quite cold winters. We've been there many times in January & February when the temperature is at or around freezing. Even 5 or 6 degrees is unpleasant enough outside. If you want year round good temperatures then I'd suggest the Canary Islands e.g. Tenerife. I think there is a 90 day limit for British visitors to the EU since Brexit.

maman

Are they thinking of perhaps renting a villa/apartment and doing their own thing? Or are they looking for something more organised? 🤔

I'm asking because, some years ago, we had neighbours who went to Spain in the winter and stayed in hotels where they enjoyed ballroom dancing and other entertainments. No idea whether such arrangements still exist. 

MikeJXE

I lived in Gran Canaria for 18 months and it's warm/hot all year

You can rent 3/6 at a time but you need to book early 

Voyager2002

For really warm weather they need to go to the Canary Islands (or possibly Madeira). With British passports, their stay is limited to 90 days in any 180-day period (although there are fairly easy ways to get residence in Portugal, including Madeira).

If they might want to do this regularly they might find that buying a time-share would suit them: otherwise perhaps they could hire someone else's time-share for the required period.

sheramber

Are they in receipt of any benefits? 

 If so, they need to check how long they can stay abroad without losing them. 

bagand96

The 90 in 180 days rule for UK Citizens in the European Schengen Area : https://www.gov.uk/travel-to-eu-schengen-area

Note it's a rolling 180 days so not just a case of being able to stay for 90 days straight. Any other visits to an EU/Schengen country in the 180 days before planned leaving date would count.