18 November, 2015

By VIVA Team

Moving-To-Spain-Pic

Spain is Europe’s most popular destination for Brits looking to ship their belongings abroad.

Brits love Spain’s property market – as evidenced by the fact that they have accounted for one-in-five of all transactions to foreign buyers this year – and they are also in thrall with its variety of resorts, with Spain once again the leading holiday destination for sun-starved folk from the UK.

So it should come as no surprise that a new survey by international shipping company Pack Send has revealed that Spain is their most popular destination in Europe among Brits when it comes to sending and shipping their belongings overseas.

Interestingly, both the USA and Australia are more popular than Spain in actual real terms, but Pack Send admit that Brits who are moving to Spain might not always turn to a professional remover to get the job done, such is the comparatively short distance between the UK and Spain…

But in Europe, where most of the continent is drivable in a couple of days, Spain is undoubtedly king, said Pack Send. According to their data, many of their clients are retired or approaching retirement, and as a result Spain, Italy and France are the most popular destinations for Brits seeking the warmth of these sunnier, more southern climes.

The lower cost of living in these destinations is also cited as a reason to move, as is the more relaxed pace of life, particularly in Spain, where the climate, diet and famously chilled lifestyle combine to offer the longest average life expectancies on the continent, and the second-longest in the world, after Japan.

Pack Send’s data put Portugal a lowly 17th place in terms of popularity, with the poor Portuguese economy cited as a reason why Brits are turning away from this traditional favourite. Other popular destinations in Europe include Germany – which is becoming more popular with professionals and retirees – and Ireland, where Brits have always, if not flocked, then headed to in steady numbers over the past few decades.