AS the autumn days become shorter many Brits dream of escaping to a new life in sunnier climes – but is it really as good as it sounds?
Lynette Bednall, 70, took the plunge when she moved from Derby to Portugal 20 years ago, along with two of her four children and her then-husband.
Olivia WestLynette Bednall ditched the UK for Portugal two decades ago[/caption]
After they split he moved back to the UK, but Lynette tells The Sun she couldn’t imagine swapping fun in the sun for rainy Blighty.
The retired carer – who has written children’s books and is also a keen artist – makes a comfortable living as a part-time Airbnb host in the hillside resort of Benafim in the Algarve.
Here she shares five things the Portuguese do better.
Cost of living
When I first moved here I couldn’t get over how much cheaper it was – especially when it comes to utility bills.
I wasn’t even on the mains water supply until about six years ago, so it was actually free before then. Now it costs me about 20 euros a month.
Rates are much cheaper – they charge based on how many people live in a property.
My electricity costs around 20 euros a month, and I use gas bottles – my cooker is half gas, half electric.
One bottle lasts me way over a month and costs around 30 euros – it’s just gone up.
Olivia WestSince moving to Portugal, Lynette’s bills are much less[/caption]
Olivia WestLynette says getting around is much cheaper, especially on trains and buses[/caption]
When it comes to going out, the cinemas and facilities like swimming pools are so much cheaper than in the UK – and don’t get me started on the trains.
Here they’re a fraction of the price and offer fantastic discounts for pensioners.
I can travel from the Algarve to Lisbon for 9 euros 50 cents.
And the buses, which are more like luxury coaches, take you anywhere for reasonable prices.
Long hot summers
In England our summers are so short-lived. I remember looking out at my garden come the end of September and it was finished.
It was too cold to use it by then, too.
Every year I used to say I want to emigrate somewhere where we have longer summers.
To be honest I’d never considered Portugal until one of my neighbours recommended it, having visited Albufeira.
Now living here, I’d say our worst months are January and February, where it does get cold and a bit damp. But it’s still nothing like England.
People are on the beach on Christmas Day – my children swim in the sea.
You never see frost and we don’t get snow, but I do fire up my wood burners to keep cosy.
Cheap wine
One of the best things about Portugal is how cheap the food – and drink – is.
Not only that, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get a good meal wherever you go.
The wine is to die for for, and I still can’t believe how cheap it is – just a few euros a bottle.
I usually shop for my food in the open markets – you’re often buying local so everything is fresh.
On Saturdays I sometimes go down to Loule – there’s a big chicken restaurant which is really delicious and very reasonable.
Natural beauty
GettyLynette says she loves going to the beach in winter[/caption]
Portugal is very picturesque and brimming with culture.
There’s a Tibetan monastery 15 minutes away, which is my favourite place, and they’ve got a big stupa, which is a monument to the light.
I love to go up there and watch the sun go down and all the twinkly lights of the town come on.
The view is fantastic. It has an amazing energy – you feel like you’re on top of the world.
There’s a little cafe up there where you get really cheap wine. It’s just a beautiful place to be.
There are some lovely walks, and if you go down into the valleys there’s Monchic, which is a famous mountain village and very pretty.
Of course, you’ve got all the beaches, which are absolutely beautiful.
I live 30 minutes from the beach and I swim there regularly, even in the winter – it’s less crowded with tourists and I can bring my dog Scampi.
Civilised culture – no lager louts
I really like the Portuguese people, I’ve found them very friendly.
What I like about the culture here is it’s nothing like England’s drinking culture.
You get the lager lads in Albufeira and Lagos on the strip, but I avoid that.
The young people here tend to go out for a meal and have a drink, and it’s very civilised.
I don’t see them fighting and brawling or shouting and swearing. It’s just not like that.
People take their kids out with them at night. It’s very family-centric.
GettyLynette says young people are more ‘civilised’ in Portugal[/caption]