Our Top Amazon picks - Spring 2026

Things We Wish We Bought in the US Before Moving to Spain (And What Saved Us Once We Got Here)

When we packed up our lives into six suitcases and left California for Valencia, we thought we were prepared. We were not.

There are things we had to figure out the hard way — stuff that's either way more expensive here, impossible to find in the same format, or just… doesn't exist in Spain the way it does back home. So if you're planning a move, consider this your cheat sheet from two people who learned the expensive way.

Stock up on these BEFORE you leave the US

Euro plug adapters (USB-C / USB-A) — Your American plugs won't work here. Get one for your phones and small devices before you land with a dead laptop.

Euro plug adapter for your workstation — If you work from home like us, this one's non-negotiable.

Wireless US QWERTY keyboard — Spanish keyboards are laid out differently (the ñ takes up where your semicolon used to live). If you type in English all day, grab one before you go.

MacBook Air — American keyboard — You can get Macs here but they come in Spanish layout. Get yours stateside.

Foldable duffel bag — You will accumulate things. You will not expect to accumulate things. You will need this bag.

Level 8 trunk luggage — We brought cameras, hard drives, things that mattered. This trunk held up through every airport.

Luggage scale — Airlines here will charge you without blinking if you're even 200 grams over. This paid for itself on the first flight.

Anker power bank — You're going to be out all day. El paseo, the markets, the terrazas. Your phone will die. Don't let it.

DJI Osmo Pocket — We documented everything from day one and we're so glad we did. Compact, easy, and makes everything look cinematic.

DJI Osmo 360 (waterproof) — For beach days and travel.

Kindle Paperwhite / Colorsoft — Books in English are hard to find here and when you do find them, they're pricey. Load up before you go.

Noise cancelling headphones — Flights, trains, working from cafés. Non-negotiable.

Packing cubes — Moving with six suitcases is chaos without them.

AirTags — We were not about to lose our luggage somewhere between LAX and Madrid.

Macbook charger euro converter - this was my favorite find, as I didn't have to buy a completely new charger for my laptop.

Now — what we bought IN Spain that became instant lifesavers

Some things you only figure out after living here a while. Spain has hard water. Like, really hard water. Your skin, your hair, and your appliances will feel it.

Showerhead filter — First thing we installed. The water here is heavy with minerals and your hair and skin will thank you immediately.

Brita pitcher + filter refills — The tap is technically safe in Valencia but the taste takes getting used to. This fixed it.

Dyson vacuum — Spanish floors are mostly tile. Beautiful tile. That shows every single crumb. Worth every euro.

Robot vacuum — A luxury purchase that became a necessity. We run it every morning while we have coffee. Life is better now.

Tapo webcam — For peace of mind when we travel. Knowing we can check on the apartment (especially when we start missing home) helps us actually relax.

Tapo multicolor bulbs — Setting the lighting mood in your new home helps it feel like yours. Especially in those early months when everything still feels foreign.

Motion-activated night lights — Spanish apartments don't always have great hallway lighting. These are quiet little lifesavers at 3am.

Clothes drying rack — Most apartments here don't have dryers. That's just Spain. You air dry.

Heated drying rack — For the rainy months. Clothes dry overnight even when it's damp outside. A revelation.

Dehumidifier — This one's especially for those of you eyeing Mallorca or other coastal areas. Some homes there deal with serious humidity and without one, mold becomes a real problem fast. Don't wait until you see it on the walls.

Airline approved personal item backpack — Once you're living here, you'll be hopping budget flights constantly. Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia Express — they are strict about that free personal item size. This backpack fits under the seat and fits a surprising amount. It's how we travel carry-on only and still pack for a week.

Foldable eco bag

The timing is actually good right now — Amazon's Spring Sale is running and a lot of these items are discounted. If you're in the planning stages of a move, this is a solid window to grab the tech and travel gear before you go.