About orkneytoportugal

Status:

Expatriate  

Currently Lives:

Gois, Coimbra, Portugal

Citizen Of:

United Kingdom

My Website:

http://http://www.goisproperty.com

HR/Relo
Professional:

Provider of Expat-Related Services & Products

Some Forum Posts:

Portugal: 10 Tips for Living in Portugal:

Hi - my top tips would be: 1) Make sure that if you are buying a house, you are working with a legal agent, licensed with INCI (the professional licensing body of estate agents). All legal agents must work from an office. Always check that the AMI (license) number is valid. This can save you a lot of heartache and money! 2) Don't expect everyone to speak English! Outside the Algarve, you can on most occasions find yourself having to use your phrasebook and some good miming skills. Portuguese people are usually very helpful and accommodating to 'estrangeiros', but it is a good idea to make a commitment to learning the language - and very satisfying when you can communicate. 3) Use the services of a translator to help get yourself installed. There are a number of formalities to be got through, especially when buying a house, and also just mundane things like getting your phone-line put in. A good translator is worth their weight in gold. 4) If you are coming with children, do your research. Small children will adapt to almost anything - not so teenagers, who might find the culture shock very difficult to cope with! The education system in Portugal is not the most enlightened - lots of emphasis on copying, learning by rote, and testing. You may be lucky and have a good local primary school nearby - or you may want to be in reach of an International School. 5) Consider your car. Importing a car into Portugal is very expensive, and if you don't import it, you risk having it impounded. It may be cheaper to buy out here (though cars are expensive). 6) Don't expect things to happen quickly. They wont. 7) Do expect to have to pay a tax/fee for everything. You will. 8) Be prepared for EVERYTHING to come to a full stop for the month of August. 9) Try and cultivate a liking, or at least a tolerance for, dried cod (bacalhau) and soup. 10) Be prepared to encounter some of the most warm-hearted and generous, genuine people you are ever likely to meet.

Date Joined:

1/26/2009

Total Posts:

1

Posts/Day:

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