Affiliate Disclosure
Transparency matters. Here is exactly how we make money, who we partner with, and why we chose them.
How This Works
Some of the links on Settle in Barcelona are affiliate links. This means that if you click through and make a purchase or sign up for a service, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
We only recommend products and services we have used ourselves or thoroughly vetted. Our recommendations are based on our real experience relocating from Copenhagen to Barcelona in 2024 with two kids. If something is not good enough for our family, it is not good enough for yours.
Affiliate income helps us keep the guides free, the site ad-free, and the content up to date. It does not influence our editorial opinions. We will always tell you when a link is an affiliate link, and we will never recommend something just because it pays us.
This disclosure is provided in accordance with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines on endorsements and testimonials (16 CFR Part 255), the EU Directive 2005/29/EC on unfair commercial practices, and Spain's Ley General de Publicidad.
Our Partners
These are the 10 companies we partner with. We use most of them ourselves and recommend the rest based on community feedback.
Money & Banking
Wise
wise.comMulti-currency account with the real exchange rate. We use Wise daily for receiving salary in EUR, paying bills back in Denmark, and avoiding markup fees. It is the first thing we set up when we moved.
Commission: Up to GBP 75 per referral who completes a transfer
Housing
Spotahome
spotahome.comVerified apartment listings with HD photos and virtual tours so you can sign a lease before you land. We used Spotahome to shortlist apartments from Copenhagen before our move.
Commission: Commission per confirmed booking
Insurance
SafetyWing
safetywing.comHealth and travel insurance built for people living abroad. Covers you globally from USD 42/month with no long-term commitment. Essential before your Spanish public healthcare kicks in.
Commission: 10% recurring commission on referred subscriptions
Feather
feather-insurance.comExpat insurance designed for EU relocations. Lets you bundle liability, household, and health insurance in one place, all in English and fully paperless.
Commission: Commission per insurance policy sold
Privacy & Security
NordVPN
nordvpn.comAccess your home country streaming, banking, and news sites from Barcelona. Also keeps you safe on cafe Wi-Fi and coworking networks. We have used NordVPN for years.
Commission: 40-100% of first payment, 30% on renewals
Connectivity
Holafly
holafly.comeSIM with unlimited data for Spain. Get connected the moment you land, no SIM card swap needed. Perfect for the first weeks before you set up a Spanish phone contract.
Commission: Commission per eSIM purchase
Temporary Accommodation
Booking.com
booking.comBook a short-term stay while you apartment hunt in person. Filter by free cancellation so you can leave as soon as you sign a lease. We stayed in an Airbnb for 3 weeks before finding our place.
Commission: 25-40% of Booking.com's commission per completed stay
Language Learning
Preply
preply.com1-on-1 Spanish lessons with native tutors, on your schedule. Pick a Barcelona-based tutor who can teach you the local Catalan phrases you actually need. We use Preply weekly.
Commission: Commission per new student signup
Lingoda
lingoda.comStructured group Spanish courses with certified teachers. Progress through CEFR levels (A1-C1) in small classes. Good if you prefer a curriculum over freestyle tutoring.
Commission: EUR 20-40 per new student registration
italki
italki.comBudget-friendly Spanish tutoring marketplace with community tutors starting at USD 5/hour. Great for daily practice sessions without breaking the bank.
Commission: USD 10 per referred student who completes a lesson
From Our Experience
When we moved to Barcelona, we had to figure everything out from scratch. Which bank would let us open an account without a NIE? Which insurance would cover us while we waited for the seguridad social? Where could we find a verified apartment from abroad?
The services listed above are the ones that actually solved those problems for us. Wise handles our money. Spotahome helped us find our apartment. SafetyWing covered our family for the first six months. These are not random picks from an affiliate network.
If you have questions about any of these services or want a personal recommendation, reach out at hello@settleinbarcelona.com. We are happy to help.
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