Portugal Resident: The natural choice for a better life

Our new riches are time, wellness, home life with family and a connection to nature; a feeling of safety, active living and self-fulfilment. Now, more people than ever are searching for a place in the world that gives them all of that. As we’ll reveal in our next two articles, they need look no further than the Algarve and its exclusive beachfront resort, Vale do Lobo.

Where you live defines how well you live

If there’s one thing the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, is that health and home are our greatest personal assets. It’s no surprise then that respected bodies like the Global Wellness Institute have identified ‘wellness lifestyle real estate’ as an upward trend. They say there is a growing awareness of the fact that where we reside affects our daily behaviours, which, in turn, can impact our health.

A better home life, community and surrounding environment can encourage social interactions, an active lifestyle, and healthier living. The knock-on rewards, such as improved sleep and reduced stress, can be life-changing. But where on earth can we find such a paradise? The truth is it’s been here forever! The Algarve has long been worshipped as one of the happiest and healthiest places to call home. Our culture is warm and welcoming. Our climate inspires outdoor living. Our air is one of the cleanest in the world. And the health benefits from our Mediterranean-style cuisine are well proven.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, “since our homes are typically our most important personal investment and expenditure, it’s only logical they should also be an investment in our health and wellbeing”.

Your outdoor oasis in alfresco Algarve

If 2020 did us one favour, it was focusing our minds on the important things. High up on the list was the need for more time outside in the fresh air. For urban inhabitants, that meant leaving the city for the respite of rural areas. And for some, it was more than a quick fix, and led to them putting down roots in less polluted and less costly countryside locations. The great outdoors is at the very heart of Vale do Lobo’s effortless resort lifestyle. Dining, socialising, playing, exercising and working, all happen in our 300 days of sunshine. And don’t forget all those balmy evenings. It explains why golf, tennis, cycling and other sports are more than pastimes here – they’re part of the culture.

Of all the healthy outdoor lifestyles, beach living must be one of the most uplifting and invigorating. Those who buy in the Algarve tend to choose locations near the coast for that reason. And it might motivate any would-be residents to know that our beaches are unrivalled globally. In 2020, the region was voted World’s Leading Beach Destination in the World Travel Awards. With a kilometre of natural golden sand on Vale do Lobo’s doorstep, it’s a well-known fact that the quality of their beaches is world-class.

Treasuring nature and environment

It will be heartening for those with sights set on Portugal to hear that our country invests heavily in protecting the natural world. The Algarve is renowned for its breath-taking landscapes of which our neighbouring Ria Formosa Nature Reserve is the jewel. Getting out and enjoying these wide-open spaces and their abundant wildlife is a joy for those living here and profoundly nourishing for both heart and soul.

Of course, relocating abroad is an expensive enterprise. But, again, choosing Portugal has some very attractive advantages. Join us next week for the second part of this article and we’ll tell you all about it, to reveal how the Algarve and Vale do Lobo will allow you to live your best life.