Marbella Travel Forum

Hello,

I really like foreign languages (I'm German and am fluent at English and French), but right now I'm in college and don't really have much time to learn a new language if I dont want to risk dropping out (or not havin any free-time!) ;-(.

However, I'm really interested in Spain. I've been to Valencia before, which I loved and Marbella seems like a great place, too.

I just read that people who move to Marbella usually don't have to rush to learn Spanish, because there are so many English-speaking expatriates around and most Spanish people there can speak some English, too (though people like if you at least make the attempt to speak their language).

Is the grasp of English really quite good in Marbella or was that an exaggeration? Does the average person in Marbella speak some basic English?

There are a lot of foreigners in Marbella but you will not find the average person speaking english there and for that reason practically throghout Spain. You will not have problems in hotels and tourist attractions ( normally )

Just in case you wanted to take a creash course and learn a little bit of Spanish ( or any other major language ) here is a link to free language lessons.

http://fsi-language-courses.com/default.aspx

Have a nice time
Best regards from Valencia
Mahesh

Yes would be the straight answer, but there are exceptions. If your dealing with money issues, and we are talking your money, every Spanish person speaks English, but if your looking for help and advice, you will find no Spaniards speak English. There are a lot of expats in Marbella, most of them also you will find very arrogant as they have in there tiny brains that they are bigger and better than most others.

Marbella has some great Bars and the Restaurants are some of the best on The Costa Del sol. I would reccomed jumping in a taxi and going to Puerto Banus, a little more expensive than Marbella as a rule, but much nicer.

Maybe as a German you will find the Spanish more welcoming, but even as an English man who speaks fluent Spanish i found them overall to be very arrogant. The Germans & the English have made the Spain what it is today with 40 years of investment, but they like to forget this small detail.

I would stick to the Ports, Banus, Cabopino, Estepona, Du Quesa and Sotogrande, i would reccomend all of these over Marbella everyday of the week.

Hope this helps

I think the last post is not as accurate as it could be. The Costa Del Sol from Malaga down to Estepona relies on the tourist trade, especially from the UK & Denmark ( nearly all Danes speak good English). The Spanish people are great, it only needs a word or two in Spanish and they react with a smile and will try to help you. Most restaurants and cafe/bars will have their menus in Spanish & English. Marbella and Banus are expensive compared with the resorts such as Torremolinos, Benalmadena & Fuengirola, but are great for celeb spotting. I am sure you will have few language problems, the pace of life in Andalucia is slower than most of the other areas of Spain, very relaxing.

I disagree with Benalmadena man, completely. English & Danish tourists?? There are more Dutch, Germans and Russians not to mention Ukrainians and Morrocans than Danish, 10 fold

I agree a lot of the Costa Del sol relies on tourists, these areas are Benalmadena, Torremolinos and Fuengirola, they are designed for British tourists. But you are wrong regarding the rest. From Marbella upto Sotogrande. These areas are designed and rely on Brits, Germans DANES to name a few, who have property there, live there 6 months of the year, obviously theres many tourists that go to these places, but its a complete difference to the 3 Blackpools in the Sun(benalmadena, Torremolinos, Fuengirola) avoid these places like the PLAGUE. 1 exception down that way, Mijas Pueblo, beatiful and La Cala is ok, has a big German, English and i think Swedish expat community.

Any sensible person who knows the Costa Del Sol will tell you full well theres a major diference between Malaga to Marbella and Marbella to Sotogrande.

And the only Danish i know there sits in the freezer at Supersol and its called BACON.

Good luck on your travels, try both sides and you will see for yourself.

I don't know much this area, but I would say it does not really mater from where the tourists come. If there are tourists, most people working on tourist services will speak English (at least some), but if not, the "average person" in Spain does NOT speak english, specially the "average person" over 35 yo.

So, I find the comment about Spaniards only being able to speak English if taking money from the tourist is involved, truly OFFENSIVE.

Most of my friends do not speak English at all, so they would not be able to help anyone who i.e. ask for and address, they just will not understand. I wonder how many people around the world will help if asked in a different language that their native language!

I totally disagree with the comments made by Tonythomas. To say that the Spanish are arrogant is completely untrue. I have always found the Spanish to be very welcoming to tourists, and it is certainly not because they want to take your money! And I do see some Danes along the Costa Del Sol.

I think that you will find plenty of English speakers in Marbella. I spent vacation in Almeria Costa last summer and I had to wander around a lot to find a Spanish speaker! Most everyone was English or German But I was relieved to find some Spaniards still around!

In the 80's used to travel Costa del Sol when I was a student studying Spanish in Granada and my Spanish boyfriend and I went to Marbella for a romantic weekend getaway and the first restaurante we went into, the waiters and everyone spoke English to him and he got really perturbed because he didn't know English! So he's Spanish, the waiters are Spanish and they couldn't stop the habit of speaking English to him! It was strange back then - kind of a culture shock like if you are American and go to New York and people talk to you only in some other language you feel like "What the heck is going on? Am I still in America?".

But that was 20 years ago and now I am sure there's 10 x's more English spoken on the Costa del Sol! I am about to find out because I am daring myself to go back and see for myself as part of my next Spain trip!

Hi,

I'd like to talk about the comments on arrogant Spanish people. I spent two weeks there a year ago and overall, I had a good experience. It's true that the Spaniards in the south seem a bit weary of tourists. Personally, I found the people in the center (Segovia, Madrid) to be easier to deal with. I dunno. I think they're used to rich tourists going to the beaches and not being interested in their culture so when they see another blue-eyed, fair-haired man like me, they think, "Great, just keep packin' 'em on in." Plus, I learned Spanish in Mexico so you should see their reaction when I say "boleto" instead of "billete." The lady at the counter was like WTF LOL!!!

In any case, they're not as arrogant as the French for sure.