A British fashion and celebrity stylist who swapped her London home for a remote farmhouse in Majorca has said she misses some British staples but has no intention of returning. Gayle Rinkoff moved to the Balearic island in 2023 with her husband and youngest daughter, seeking a slower pace of life away from the social media pressures her children faced during lockdown.
Speaking to i newspaper, Rinkoff explained that the coronavirus pandemic was the catalyst for the move, as her three daughters became 'glued to their phones'. While her two older daughters remained in the UK to attend university, 14-year-old Leni has become a 'through-and-through island girl' who often forgets about her phone and is nearly fluent in Spanish after less than two years.
Despite her enthusiasm for island life, Rinkoff admits there are things she misses from the UK, including Marks & Spencer and ManiLife peanut butter. Above all, she misses her older daughters, though she acknowledges they are busy with their own lives. 'I thought they would fly out more,' she said.
Living in Majorca comes with its challenges, including high costs. 'You're on an island, so everything has to be imported,' Rinkoff noted, adding that restaurant prices in Palma match those in London. Her daughter's school fees are about a third of what they would be in London, but the education quality is lower, so they supplement with tutors. She considers the trade-off worthwhile for the quality of life.
Rinkoff and her husband were able to relocate thanks to Spain's Digital Nomad Visa, which allows remote workers to live in the country. She said they 'never looked back' since moving, though the process required proof of financial security, private healthcare, and a clean criminal record. 'I wasn't ready to give up my work, but I was ready to slow down,' she said.
