An expat in Spain shares biggest advice to help Britons get a 'real Spanish experience' when moving abroad

Expat and founder of Niveus Travel, Jane Merstedt, moved to Spain three years ago and now has one key piece of advice for other Britons contemplating a move - "think very carefully about which part of the country you choose".

She added: "Yes, the South is beautiful. It's also a giant British enclave, incredibly hot in the summer, and the roads are crowded with tour buses.

"It's an easy part of the country to land, but a hard place to escape your British bubble. This goes for all of those cities on 'most popular places for expats' as well, particularly Valencia and Alicante. These are expat hubs."

Indeed, Alicante was recently named the most expat-friendly city in Spain, particularly for British buyers considering a move overseas.

Britons may want to immerse themselves in these communities, and the holiday hotspots are both beautiful and comforting for this reason.

However, it can take away from having a truly genuine Spanish experience. The alternative? Live in the neighbouring areas.

Hermstedt explained: "My advice is to live near an expat hub so you have access when you want it, but not inside it. I live in the region of Castellón, in a village of about 3,000 people.

"The people are curious, and a little tickled, about why we picked their quiet little village to live in. And Valencia is only an hour away from us.

"Meanwhile, we are surrounded by quiet beaches, crumbling castles on hilltops, unmarked Roman ruins, and we directly experience strong regional traditions."

Luckily, Spain has no shortage of beauty spots, meaning you don't need to be in the main cities to find a gorgeous home.

The expat said: "If your goal is convenience and a quick circle of friends, moving to southern Spain or one of its expat hubs will serve you well.

"But if you want to truly experience Spain, go a little further afield. You may be slightly uncomfortable at first, but that discomfort is where your real Spanish experience will begin."

Need more inspiration? The friendliest cities for British expats have been named, with an idyllic part of Spain taking the crown.