How to be happy as an expat in Portugal

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModerator26 May 2021 10:57:33

15321

Hi everyone,

Being happy is surely our common goal, whether we are living in Portugal as an expat or somewhere else.
We would love to know your tips and tricks to be fully fulfilled and happy as an expat in your host country.

New environment may require new habits. Which habits did you have to implement to live a good life in Portugal?

How do you keep stress in check? Which activities or mantras help you in that regard?

How to form meaningful connections and create a support system in Portugal on which you can rely on?

How to track your goals and achieve them without feeling overwhelmed?

What did you learn from Portuguese about the notion of happiness and how does it inspire you?

Thanks for your contribution!

Cheryl,
Expat.com team

See also

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Associations for expatriates in Portugal - Business
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How to adapt to the expat challenges of everyday life in Portugal - 3 Replies
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Loïs TOURET Active member

Member since 13 February 2020

Loïs TOURETActive member31 May 2021 17:02:52

Dans mon cas je suis au Portugal depuis 2 ans. J'ai constaté les nombreuses tracasseries administratives sur lesquelles j'ai du abandonner : homologation de ma voiture au Portugal, et vaccination contre le covid (j'ai 66 ans et n'ai toujours pas été convoqué).
La couverture sociale n'est également pas claire. Le cout de la vie s'est très nettement rapproché du cout de la vie Français (en particulier les terrains à construire, et l'immobilier en général). Le bénéfice lié au cout de la vie au Portugal comparé à la France, est aujourd'hui bien moindre qu'il y a 10 ans. Seule l'alimentation et les tabacs sont 30% moins chers. Les restaurant également , à condition de ne pas fréquenter des lieux touristiques qui sont proches des prix français.
Les poissons au marché sont nettement moins chers tout comme les légumes , très frais et savoureux (sauf les tomates).
Pour les relations sociales il est très dur de se faire des relations avec les portugais qui sont très famille, et qui n'invitent pratiquement jamais un étranger à domicile. La langue est bien sur une barrière très importante, mais l'apprentissage de cette langue est très complexe, surtout l'accent et peu d'expatriés s'y mettent.
La vraie différence est le climat dit méditerranéen , moins froid l'hiver, plus régulièrement ensoleillé au printemps, le calme, le silence des lieux, la propreté , la qualité de la nourriture, les bons vin portugais très économiques (moins de 3€), les poissons à des prix raisonnables..

JohnnyPT Portugal Expert

Member since 23 May 2020

JohnnyPTPortugal Expert31 May 2021 17:27:27

5167

Hello Lois, some of those topics you post here in an English forum, you have also posted them in the French forum, where there you have also gotten answers from some forum members (in French) ...

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =2#5133856
(Posts #41 up to #49)

You can write here, but please in English.

Loïs TOURET Active member

Member since 13 February 2020

Loïs TOURETActive member31 May 2021 19:25:14

OK sorry, I did not realize.
Thanks .

JohnnyPT Portugal Expert

Member since 23 May 2020

JohnnyPTPortugal Expert31 May 2021 20:05:22

5167

You're Welcome

Regarding the vaccination, please send an email to:
arslvt@arslvt.min-saude.pt
or one of the emails below, with the following text:

Bom dia,
Sou cidadão francês a residir em Portugal há 2 anos. Tenho 66 anos e ainda não fui vacinado contra o Covid19.

Não tenho número de utente do Serviço Nacional de Saúde. Já tentei o agendamento na plataforma de auto-agendamento (na opção: sem número de utente) , por 6 vezes, sem ter obtido qualquer resposta.

Por favor, digam-me o que tenho de fazer.

O meu nome completo é: ............
Os meus contactos são (email e telefone): ......

Muito obrigado

_____________________

Administração Regional de Saúde Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, IP
arslvt@arslvt.min-saude.pt

ADR Comunidade Cascais
Telf.961093874

Unidade de Saúde Familiar Costa do Estoril / São João do Estoril
usf.cestoril@arslvt.min-saude.pt

Unidade de Saúde Familiar Carcavelos / Parede
usf.carcavelos@arslvt.min-saude.pt

Unidade de Saúde Familiar Fonte de Água/ Alcabideche (CS Cascais)
usf.fontedeagua@arslvt.min-saude.pt

Unidade de Saúde Familiar Marginal / São João do Estoril
usf.marginal@arslvt.min-saude.pt

_____________________

https://www.sns.gov.pt/sns/pesquisa-prestadores/
Distrito = Lisboa, Concelho = Cascais

Kind Regards

Loïs TOURET Active member

Member since 13 February 2020

Loïs TOURETActive member01 June 2021 09:57:32

Thanks for your details, but it is too late for us now to be vaccinated in Portugal as we plan to go back to France beginning of July, and I am convinced that even if I write this mail today , the answer will not arrive before .. many days, and that we would not be able to be vaccinated before end of june for the first vaccine. Also the astra zeneca vaccine is still used in Portugal while we would like Pfizer or Astra Zeneca.
Thanks anyway for all and help. I will come back to you with many other adminitrative problems we have here in Portugal. I wander why it is so difficult, as Portugal and France are in UE !! Europe is not real today !!!

almirantereis Active member

Member since 17 August 2016

almirantereisActive member30 June 2021 07:59:40

I kind of agree..............Things have got much much worse price wise for houses and flats, and not only in the obvious tourist swamped areas. There is a knock on effect in surrounding areas.

I first knew Portugal 50 ( !! ) years ago, as a student..............Imagine............! Lisbon was still more or less how it is described in Saramago's Ano da Morte de Ricardo Reis.......... Saudades indeed......... LOL