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So, you’ve fallen in love with Portugal and are ready to take the plunge into expat life. This can be a life-changing and rewarding experience if you prepare adequately and approach it with an open mind. Portugal contributor Terry Coles shares five key mistakes to avoid when moving to Portugal.
The sun glistened against the snowy white villas that sat precariously on the hillside, seemingly stacked one upon the other. An alluring, idyllic, fairy tale setting of ivory villas overshadowed by the Moorish castle above. This is the magical hilltop village of Olvera, one of the famous “pueblos blancos,” or white villages of Andalusia Spain.
Although small in size compared to other countries in Europe, Portugal packs plenty into its borders. From bustling cities like Lisbon in the heart of the country and Porto in the north, to coastal gems in the southern Algarve region like Albufeira, the country has something for everyone. But not to be missed are the tiny towns...
Although compact in size, Portugal offers something for almost every budget. With such diversity among its expat population, there are those who relocate from expensive areas of North America like New York City, Los Angeles, or Montreal, and others who migrate from simple, small-town life.
We signed up on our first house-sitting website and created a profile that included our experience with animals, home ownership, photos, ages, occupation, and more. Literally, within a few weeks, we were offered our first sit in Ajijic, Mexico where we spent one month with a cat. The next month we were off to Ambato, Ecuador where we lived in the shadow...
Priscilla found a spacious, one-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with a large terrace overlooking Vilamoura Marina. The complex features a large swimming pool, garden, underground parking space, and storage facility and is within walking distance of everything. “My rent is €1200 per month ($1,300) which I think is a real bargain,” she added.
Rhonda took a solo trip to Portugal to explore the country on a real estate tour offered by Ronan McMahon's Real Estate Trend Alert and Ideal Homes. It was love at first sight when she laid eyes on Tavira, in Portugal's sunny Algarve region. "Tavira ticked all of my boxes," Rhonda says. "I wanted a large, well-established expat community so that I...
The lively coastal city of Benalmádena is situated on Spain’s Costa del Sol, sandwiched between Torremolinos and Fuengirola, just seven miles from the well-known city of Malaga. With a population of more than 61,000, visitors flock to its beaches that can easily be accessed by the tiled promenade lined with shops and restaurants.
The Estrada Nacional 2, or just N2, is the longest national road in Portugal at 739 kilometers. One of the longest national roads in the world, it is outdistanced only by Route 66 in the U.S. and Route 40 in Argentina. It begins in the far north, below the Spanish border in the city of Chaves, and ends at the city of Faro in the Algarve.
The coastline in Quarteira is stunning with crystal-clear, calm water, golden sandy beaches, and year-round sunshine. A flat, tiled promenade runs parallel to the waterfront and offers an array of restaurants, shops, and bars. Green spaces, exercise parks, and playgrounds lead to rows of high-rise condos overlooking the sea.