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Obidos, Portugal

What should I pack when moving to Portugal?

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We asked people living in Portugal to list three things they wish they had brought and three they wish they had left behind. They responded...

"When moving to Portugal, be sure to bring comfortable clothing suitable for all seasons. Depending on your living situation, you may also want to bring a few of your own kitchen and bedroom items. Remember to pack electronics and any necessary adapters for Portuguese outlets. Additionally, you may want to bring some of your favorite items from home that make you feel comfortable and remind you of home. Finally, make sure to bring any necessary documents, such as your passport and other paperwork for any visas you may have," wrote a member who made the move to Portugal.

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Portugal Residency Advisors is a full-service consulting firm dedicated to providing personalized services to individuals and families seeking to relocate to Portugal. With a team of experienced professionals and strategic partnerships, we are well-positioned to assist clients with all aspects of the relocation process.
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"Your question depends, in part, on where you are moving from. The previous answer to your question that I read is a basic, "what to bring when you move anywhere." I'm not sure that was your question. My answer will also be incomplete as I have not moved to Portugal, yet! BUT, I have moved internationally 11 times, to and from 3 different continents. So, I have a little experience. I'm going to assume you are not bringing furniture. If you are, that's up to you. IF you are moving from the US, most beds are a different size than American beds, so don't bother bringing anything but pillow cases, if that's important to you. There are plenty of places to get bed linens there (that actually fit the bed you are going to sleep in). And there's always amazon spain (no duty). From what I've read on other forums, bring your cotton clothing, as that seems to be hard to get ahold of (don't know why), and clothing in general if you are larger than a US 12. I've also read that, unless you are prepared to spend a bit, the quality of the clothing is not what some Americans are used to. I can't attest to this, as I haven't bought clothes there. Also, shoes if you are larger than 39 (US 8.5), I've read. Bring any skin care products to get you through the first few months at least, so that you have time to find an equivalent -- you do NOT want companies from the US to send things to you, as you will not only pay international shipping to the company, you will pay enormous duty costs in Portugal, AND I've read that the mail service is not necessarily terribly reliable. About kitchenware: Unless something has sentimental value, sell what you have, go to IKEA for cutlery and glasses/dishes, once you're in Portugal, or buy some exquisite Portuguese ceramics, and get chef-worthy pans in one of the malls. No need to bring those. Bring rain gear and warm clothing (especially if not in the Algarve), as winter is chilly and damp, and homes are not insulated. Buy a heater and perhaps a dehumidifier when you get there. Unless you have a large and powerful electrical converter, don't bother bringing most electrical appliances (from hair dryers to small kitchen appliances to giant tvs). The small converters (to be differentiated from adapters that are only good for laptops and other appliances that have either automatic or dual electrical voltage (like SOME hair dryers, f.ex.)) won't be able to handle high voltage appliances. I had a big one that worked well, but that weighed about 15 lbs (but, granted, that was back in the 90s. Perhaps they've updated them by now??). Just sell what you have, and buy what you need once you get to Portugal. Other people who live there already can tell you what they miss (and if they say food or drinks (especially soda -- eye roll), just remember you are moving to experience a new culture, NOT bring your culture to a new place). When I move, I bring clothes (paired down because I don't need the slacks I haven't worn for 2 years), hand-blown glasses I got from my dad years ago (because they mean a lot to me -- and they're unique), books, pictures, paintings, and possibly one pillow so I know I have one that I like, until I can find others in the country I move to), skin care and make-up for a few months, a tool kit (simply because I have it -- IKEA!), and my cat and his accessories! Oh, I will be bringing some cat food and litter, so I can ease him over to something new without it being as much of a shock as 17 hours of transit, and a new home. Hope that helps! I hope that helps," explained one expat living in Portugal.

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What should I pack when moving to Portugal?

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About the Author

Betsy Burlingame Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.

Obidos, Portugal

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