Whether you are moving permanently to Spain or looking for a home overseas in which to spend your holidays, there are ways to get more from your experience and settle into your new Spanish life more easily.

Lighthouse understands the areas that leave many expats and holidaymakers guessing. So, we've compiled all the crucial facts to help you settle in or suggested how to go about your research before you head into the sun.

2. Learning Spanish: although many people manage in Spain without knowledge of the language, you will have a far happier and more satisfying experience if you are able to interact and integrate with the local Spanish population. Whether you are a total beginner or looking to refresh some Spanish learnt years ago, there are numerous options for Spanish classes, courses or social language exchange sessions. More...

3. Understanding the healthcare system: as an EU resident, you are entitled to benefit from Spain's public healthcare system. However, the rules are different for retired Brits who draw a UK pension. Follow our guide to Spain's public and private health provision. More...

4. Banks and finance: you may be dealing with Euros, as in most other European countries, but Spanish banks are simple to use and will accept British credit cards in their ATMs. You can also find branches of Barclays and other familiar names in Spain. More...

6. Schooling options: Your main debate will be whether to send your child to a Spanish school (whether state or private), which guarantees they will leave fluent in Spanish but may pose problems with integration at first - or whether to opt for a fee-paying international school, where they can follow the British curriculum but will miss out on being immersed in a fully Spanish environment. More...