When I was in junior high, I had a family history project. I didn’t know it then, but that project would spark a lifelong interest in my heritage.
In 2018, my wife (who is Cuban with Spanish ancestry) and I took a road trip through snow-capped Spanish mountains, meeting new family members that I never knew existed. When we met these relatives, we all grew close.
My wife and I then wanted to reconnect with our Spanish heritage in a whole new way. We decided that the best way to do so would be to travel to Spain for long stretches, with our toddlers.
For the past three years, we’ve spent two-month stints in Europe as a growing family.
At first, we thought long-term travel sounded impractical — and expensive
When my daughter was 2 years old, she had a 45-minute meltdown at the Miami International Airport. While we were resolving a ticketing issue for our baby boy, our daughter was throwing a loud tantrum. We endured many side-eyes from soon-to-be passengers (one of them snapped at us), and eventually, an airline employee frantically asked us to make it stop.
I thought we would never travel again, but the idea of an extended trip kept lingering in our minds.
On shorter trips, we pushed through and learned tricks that made travel easier, like using inflatable beds that rest on plane seats, small trinkets to play with, and plenty of snacks. With time, we knew we had a shot.
Courtesy of John Paul Hernandez
We now stay in Spain for 2 months at a time
Thanks to the flexibility of freelancing and some practice in penny pinching, we learned we could travel to Spain for two months for about the cost of a typical family Disney trip.
A trip to Disney for a family of four can cost $6,000 to $10,000 a week. An extended trip to Spain, I quickly learned, ranged from $4,220 to $4,900 for an apartment in the central parts of major cities.
When we book an apartment for a month or two in Spain, for example, we get rates much lower than for a shorter trip because Airbnb offers discounts on longer stays.
To get the family to Europe, we collect airline miles from credit card offers and fly mostly for free.
While on the trip, we rely on public transportation and shift our stay from a “tourist” experience to living like a local to continue saving money.
This worked for our trips in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
We lived like locals in Spain
When we transitioned from visiting to living in Spain, we focused on the town we were in and the people around us. We didn’t eat out for every meal, but cooked traditional dishes with local ingredients.
Our neighbors became friends, and our kids played at parks with familiar faces. Eventually, these friends invited us to their homes, and we stayed in touch after our trips.
To explore the country, we focused on different regions. For example, in year one we stayed in the Comunidad Valenciana, then on other trips in the País Vasco and Andalucía.
Once we were in these regions, we focused mainly on our home base and explored the nearby cities on weekend trips.
Our kids have gained a lot so far
Our toddlers are now willing to try different foods without hesitation, no matter where we are. They understand and use words they normally wouldn’t hear at home in the US.
As they get older in school, some of the places and events they learn about will be personal because they’ve been there and touched the stones.
My son learned to walk in Spain and has had all of his birthdays there. Spain also became a base for exploring other countries thanks to cheap, short flights.
More families can do this than you’d think
Our experiences in Spain have inspired many of our friends and family. I’m helping a cousin and a neighbor plan similar trips with their children.
With budgeting and smart planning, it’s much more affordable than two-week vacations in many parts of the US.
I’m not sure how long we’ll be able to do extended stays like this, but I do know these memories will be ingrained in our family.
They’ve helped shape my kids’ lives (our third child is on the way), and they continue to inspire us even at home in the US — by cooking Spanish meals, enjoying the present through walks, and lingering over late-night, hourslong dinners.
John Paul Hernandez is a marketing writer for tech companies. He’s based in Florida’s Treasure Coast. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
