'We ditched our life in the UK for Spain - 3 differences were instantly obvious'

A couple ditched the UK for a permanent move to Spain, and it quickly became 'life-changing'.

Against the unpredictable British weather of grey skies and chilly temperatures, a move abroad can be rather appealing. But it was more than a fleeting thought for Jeff Locke-Lavell and his wife, Sarah, as they made the bold decision to uproot their life to the sun-soaked destination of Spain.

"I thought I'd be slowing down," Jeff, 73, said. "Instead, I've started a completely new chapter, and I'm happier than ever."

Jeff and his wife, Sarah, fell in love with Spain after holiday visits to her parents in Nerja, along the Costa del Sol, who had moved there more than a decade ago. "We loved the lifestyle straight away, it was the warmth of the people, the pace of life, and of course the weather," Jeff said.

"We always said we'd move one day, but things sped up and suddenly it became real." The couple purchased a renovation project near Sarah's parents, and Jeff was planning a quieter life during his retirement.

"The idea was simple," he explained. "I'd retire, renovate the house and enjoy a slower pace, but life had other ideas."

Jeff had previously worked in London's fast-paced hospitality scene, so the thought of days spent outdoors was undoubtedly appealing. "I worked in hospitality for around 20 years in various roles and later went on to run pubs," he said.

"It was full-on, long hours, busy environments. I loved it, but it's very different to the life I have now." He added: "In London, it's always go, go, go.

"Cold mornings, long shifts, constantly on the move. Now I wake up to sunshine, spend my days talking to people who are on holiday and helping them enjoy themselves. It's a completely different way of life."

But the Spanish move wasn't the only change for the couple - Jeff also drastically changed his retirement plans.

After his wife, Sarah, secured her dream role as a Kids Club rep for TUI, working across Benidorm, Lapland and Majorca, the couple found themselves spending long periods apart. "It was tough being away from each other," Jeff said, "That's when I thought, why not give it a go myself?"

Encouraged by Sarah, Jeff, who was in his 70s, applied to become a TUI BLUE rep and was delighted when he got the job. "I honestly couldn't believe it," he said.

"At my age, you don't expect someone to say yes, but they did, and it's the best thing that's happened to me.

"I remember being on holiday as a kid in Cornwall, looking at the people working there and thinking, one day I'd love to do that," he reminisced. "I just never imagined I'd actually do it in my seventies."

Today, Jeff is working as a TUI BLUE rep at the TUI BLUE Sensatori Biomar, helping guests during their stay with insider tips and experiences. "Everything is taken care of for guests from the moment they arrive, so they can properly switch off and enjoy themselves," he shared.

From hosting welcome meetings to booking guest experiences, no day is the same for Jeff, but it's a part of his job he loves. "One minute I'm chatting to a family about things to do, the next I'm pointing couples towards hidden gems across the island."

"No two guests are the same," Jeff added. "Some want total relaxation, others want adventure, and my job is to work that out and make it happen."

During this time, Jeff has built up a wealth of expertise on how holidaymakers can really make the most of their Majorca getaway. Including those lesser-known spots that can't go amiss.

"If you want to see the real Majorca, I always suggest heading out to places like the mountains around Sóller or taking a boat trip along the coast," he revealed. "There are some incredible hidden coves, and the island has so much more to offer than people expect.

"For something special, I love recommending a Palma day trip. The old town, the cathedral, the food, it's a brilliant day out.

"And for families, the experiences we offer mean you can really make the most of your time here without the stress. Everything's taken care of.

"The whole experience is about making things easy for people so they can just enjoy their holiday, and that's what I love being part of."

When the couple aren't working for TUI, they spend their days off exploring the island together. "There's always something new to discover. It's a brilliant place to live and work."

Jeff has even started learning to scuba dive. "It's something I've always wanted to do but never had the confidence, and this job has given me that push," he shared.

Having made such a mega move and life change in his 70s, Jeff is encouraging others to 'just go for it.' "People think opportunities like this are only for young people, but that's just not true," he said.

"Life's too short to sit back and wonder what if.

"I thought my best years were behind me, but it turns out they were only just getting started."

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