Family Finds Affordable Way to Live in Spain for Months at a Time

Couple travels to Spain for 2-month stints with toddlers, finding it cheaper than Disney trips.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The author and his wife, who have Spanish heritage, decided to travel to Spain for extended 2-month stays with their toddlers over the past 3 years. At first, they thought long-term travel with young kids would be impractical and expensive, but they found ways to make it affordable, such as booking longer Airbnb stays, using airline miles, and living like locals. They've found the experience enriching for their family, allowing their kids to gain new cultural experiences and connections.

Why it matters

This story highlights how families can find creative ways to travel and immerse themselves in other cultures long-term, even with young children, in a more affordable manner than traditional vacations. It challenges the perception that extensive travel with toddlers is impossible and shows the benefits such experiences can provide for families.

The details

The author and his wife, who have Spanish and Cuban ancestry, decided to travel to Spain for 2-month stints over the past 3 years with their toddlers. At first, they thought long-term travel with young kids would be too difficult and costly, but they found ways to make it work. They booked longer Airbnb stays to get discounted rates, used airline miles to fly for free, and focused on living like locals to save money on food and activities. This allowed them to spend 2 months in Spain for around $4,000-$5,000, which is less than a typical 1-week Disney trip for their family. The kids have gained new cultural experiences, language skills, and connections with the local community.

  • The author and his family have taken 2-month trips to Spain for the past 3 years (2023, 2024, 2025).
  • Their third child is on the way.

The players

John Paul Hernandez

The author, a marketing writer for tech companies based in Florida's Treasure Coast, who has traveled to Spain with his wife and toddlers.

The author's wife

The author's wife, who has Cuban and Spanish ancestry, and has traveled with him and their toddlers to Spain.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— John Paul Hernandez (Business Insider)

“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.”

— John Paul Hernandez (Business Insider)

What’s next

The author plans to continue taking his growing family on extended trips to Spain, though he's unsure how long they'll be able to maintain the practice.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates that long-term, immersive travel with young children is more achievable than many might think, and can provide valuable cultural experiences and family memories at a lower cost than traditional vacations. It challenges the perception that extensive travel with toddlers is impossible and highlights the benefits such experiences can offer.