In a new series called Moving to Andalucia, the Spanish Eye speaks to locals, expats and property experts to offer the best advice and insights into making the move to Spain’s southernmost region
We’ve all dreamed of buying a village in Spain and turning it into a charming BnB business – but very few of us have the nerve to actually do it.
Enter British expat Julie Ward, 63, who along with her now-late husband Steve, bought a row of cave homes in inland Andalucia at the end of 2020.
The adventurous couple, from Norfolk, sold their successful recruitment company in the UK and took to the road in a campervan to hunt down business opportunities in Europe.
READ MORE: Moving to Andalucia: The best suburban areas of Sevilla
After also selling their home, they were able to obtain a non-lucrative visa (NLV).
‘We were looking at France for a while,’ Julie told the Spanish Eye this week, ‘but my husband was more keen on Spain, and we drove around for a year-and-a-half exploring until we met some friends in Granada who live here.’
Julie said they had been wanting to build a campsite, like many an expat before them, but that they happened upon the caves and ‘the rest is history.’
The now-picturesque accommodation, named Cuevas de la Paz (caves of peace), is situated between Galera and Baza, in the heart of Granada.
‘There had been accommodation before but they certainly weren’t what they are now,’ explains Julie.
‘They had been empty for around 18 months to two years, we came in and renovated and refurnished each cave, then we put in a swimming pool and a garden, which I have worked really hard at to make look lovely.’
The couple signed the deeds in January 2021, but just six months later, Steve was diagnosed with cancer.
The couple then spent a whopping 18 months with a film crew from Channel 4 to film the first series of ‘Help! I bought a village’.
Tragically, Steve lost his battle with the illness a couple of years ago.
After taking some time off, Julie reopened the business full time last Christmas and hasn’t stopped working since.
‘I have had every cave booked every weekend since New Year’s Eve,’ she said.
‘Last Sunday night was my first night alone in months,’ she added, but she’s far from upset about it.
‘I love it, I’m never going back to the UK, even though it is quite hard work on my own, but it’s good, and if I have to sell the business one day, I will definitely stay in the area.’
Julie says she is surrounded by four lakes and on a good day has jaw-dropping views of the Sierra Nevada.
Meanwhile, the local Spanish farmers like to leave oversized fruit and veg on her doorstep.
‘I came home to a foot-long zucchini the other day,’ she said, ‘the busiest it gets is when Antonio the nearby farmer goes past on his tractor.
‘But I get to meet so many people running the hotel, most guests are Spanish but I get Dutch and English people too, especially after the TV series.’
She said there is also a very strong British community in nearby Galera or Baza.
For anyone thinking about following in Julie’s footsteps, she had some key advice.
‘If you are thinking about it just 100% go for it, it’s much cheaper to live here and you get to meet so many great people,’ she said.
‘Don’t worry if someone else is doing the same thing as you already, there’s business for everyone.
‘You need to make sure people can find your business and that there is parking available or at least nearby – and if it’s in Andalucia, you need a swimming pool.’
She added: ‘You really have to learn some Spanish and you need to be friendly with your neighbours, it’s very important.
‘You also must be people facing and friendly and be sure to check in on your guests, but don’t be in their faces!’
Overall, Julie said: ‘I have no regrets, I’m as happy as I can be.’
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
