Inside the latest IL issue: Save $100,000 on healthcare...four Italian towns where you can buy a €1 home right now...and more!
Read the latest IL issue here about subscribing to International Living Magazine
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.
We have traveled through much of Portugal, visiting castles in medieval villages, exploring the bustling city of Lisbon on foot, and strolling along the Atlantic coastline’s golden beaches. Never have we felt unsafe in any way. But everyone knows that there is no perfect place to live so let’s take a realistic look at Portugal with regards to safety.
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 could communicate...
Often, I get asked why we left Panama and which country is better. Comparing two, totally different countries is like comparing night and day, but I will attempt to give a brief rundown of each, according to my opinion…
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...
A career as an electrical engineer in the oil industry whisked Rafael Ferreira, age 67, and his wife Claudia, 63, around the world. But when it came time to settle down and find a happy ever after, this adventurous two-some chose Portugal. “We have been expats for 40 years," Claudia explains.
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.
The couple's home is a six-bedroom, three-bathroom townhome in Old Town Albufeira, in the central Algarve. It features double kitchens, two terraces, and is less than 100 yards from the beach. They paid $333,775. With a home so big, they have room to spare. In fact, the house features an upstairs apartment that they rent out on Airbnb...
Portugal is a country rich in fruits and vegetables grown locally in the fertile farmland throughout the country. Orchards, vineyards, and crops of healthy delights like kale, cabbage, and chard are abundant and make it easy to eat healthily. Local markets offer a platform for farmers to sell their wares at discounted prices, putting a smile on the faces of those who buy them.
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.