Living in Portugal

"I live in Albufeira. We have a lot of tourists in the summer. There are certain areas I don't frequent because of the tourists. The strip, to a lesser degree Old Town. Go down some of the side streets and eat in restaurants the locals do. The food is great, inexpensive and they will even help you with your Portuguese. There are closures in the winter months but enough stays open that you don't suffer. The beaches are great, instead of going to Marinha where you can spend an hour looking for a parking spot, head to Sao Raphael in Sesmarias by Albufeira. Beautiful beach with a nice restaurant and good parking. I am a 25 minute walk from the beach and west of the strip and old town. Go closer to the beach.... you get more tourists. Come in the summer and spend two weeks, you will get a good feel and see if it is for you. If you come to Albufeira drop me a line and I will give you a tour," said one expat who made the move to Albufeira.

"If there is any area in Portugal where English IS widely spoken, it's the Algarve, because of all the tourists. We have lived here for a year and as yet speak very little Portuguese but have never had any problems communicating with anyone. In fact if you try in your broken Portuguese they often reply to you in English, as their English is probably going to be a lot better than your Portuguese! Translation apps help also," explained one expat living in The Algarve, Portugal.

"Before retiring in Portugal, expats should research the cost of living, health care and pension systems, local taxes, and available banking services. Expats should also examine the type and standard of housing available and understand any possible cultural differences. Additionally, it is recommended that expats obtain local legal advice, familiarize themselves with the relevant immigration regulations, and check for any visas or permits which may be required. Finally, it is wise for expats to learn some Portuguese as English may not be spoken in more remote areas," mentioned one in Portugal.

"Grab a Portugese phrase book, and spend time focusing on learning crucial phrases that will help you in conversing with the locals," explained one expat who made the move to Lisbon.