The shores of southern Spain have always held an attraction for the British. The promise of cloudless days, golden beaches and a relaxing lifestyle has tempted many expats and holidaymakers alike to leave behind their home country and head to the sun. But whereas many people simply go to Spain to take a much-needed break, some end up deciding that it is simply too good to return to Britain, and as a result they end up moving there permanently.

Despite the fantastic weather and wonderful standard of living that British expats can expect when they move to Spain, living in another country always has its problems, and there will always be lots of things that new arrivals will have to get used to if they are to get the most from their new home. Learning the language is one thing that will make living in a different country more enjoyable, but this is often a long, slow process that requires time and dedication. On top of that, the cultural differences can take a long time to get used to, which means that new arrivals can often feel frustrated and homesick.

One of the most frustrating things for a lot of British expats living in Spain is that they cannot watch all of their favourite television channels in their new home. Channels that they have grown up with, including BBC 1 and 2, ITV and Channel 4, channel 5 are suddenly unavailable, which can be frustrating.

Many do not understand enough Spanish to watch local television, and as a result it can prove incredibly frustrating and also very isolating. Watching television in Spanish requires a certain degree of fluency, and this is simply not the case for a lot of people. And it has to be said that watching films does not make for great viewing when you cannot understand a word of what is being said.

And the Spanish satellite providers really only transmits BBC world and some movie channels with subtitles, which isn't really enough.

However, there is a solution. Although many British expats do not realise it, there is a way in which they can watch all of their favorite channels from the UK absolutely free whilst they are living in the Costa del Sol. And what's more, it is not through a subscription service such as Sky, which would ask for monthly fees, unless of course that is what you wanted and that can be easily arranged, so you don't miss any of your sports or movies, even in brilliant high definition! As we know sky, sky plus or sky plus HD is an excellent system!

There are many satellite installation companies that are run by expats along the Costa del Sol and all around the country, who can install free-to-view or sky television in the Costa del Sol within an hour for very little cost. It is incredibly easy to do and can make a vast improvement to the lives of British expats who do not want to miss out on all their favorite channels from back home.

All it consists of is the installation of a satellite dish and a digital set top box, allowing the channels to be viewed on free to view or Sky. There are no added fees, unless you have a subscription and as soon as it has been set up there is nothing else to pay. Expats can simply start watching their favorite programmes again. All that is required is that there is a small amount of space in which to erect the dish and that it points in the direction of the satellite. Once that has been arranged, it will be up and running.

As for the box, it is often referred to as a digibox, and simply sits below the television set. The cable from the satellite then comes through to the box, connecting it to the television and video equipment. They are not hard to install, and often they will be provided by the free to view or Sky provider or whoever sets up the satellite.

The best thing of all is that with the free to view service once it has been installed there are no more fees to pay. Unlike Sky, you will not have to pay a monthly fee in order to watch all your favorite channels, but it will simply work like a normal television with all of the things that you enjoyed back in the UK.

Moving to Spain is a big decision, but it is rarely one that people live to regret. There are so many benefits to be had in the Costa del Sol and throughout the country that you will want to make the move as successful as possible. By making sure that you are comfortable and enjoying all the things that you enjoyed back at home, including watching the channels that you are familiar with, you will be able to make the process of moving that little bit easier.