Are you looking for your next destination as a digital nomad but are not sure where to go? Albufeira might be the place for you, especially out of peak season.
I have just finished my second stint working from home in Albufeira, and I really recommend it to those who are looking for a beautiful place whilst maintaining a quality of life (and now and again enjoying the nightlife!). Most people picture Albufeira as Brits abroad, with it being crowded with tourists everywhere you go. Those people might not be completely wrong in the summer; however, between autumn and spring, it’s like a completely different place. If you want to give Albufeira a go, here are a few tips I’d give from my time I’ve spent there.
Albufeira is like a whole new place out of season (I was there from February to April) without the tourist crowds. The town runs at a slower pace, making it easier to settle in as a digital nomad. I was able to get myself into a great routine really quickly when I moved there for the first time to establish a healthy work-life balance. Just small things like being able to take a peaceful walk along the beach between meetings, I was able to be super productive in my work blocks. Another benefit of Albufeira out of season is the great deals you can get on accommodation. This time round, I managed to save almost 50% on accommodation compared to the price I would have paid in peak season.
I stayed in a two-bedroom apartment, sharing with another girl, and we paid just over £550 each per month. The cost of living was also very affordable. I roughly spent around €400 a month on food, to be transparent, I did cook at home most of the time and tended to eat out once on the weekend, usually every other weekend. This helped keep my trip on a budget, but I still enjoyed some local restaurants. Finally, even out of season, the weather is a lot milder than in the UK, and there are still plenty of sunny days to enjoy the outdoors.
One of the most important things to get right as a digital nomad is to choose where you stay. I found my apartment on Airbnb, which worked perfectly. A top tip that worked well for me was testing how reliable the wifi was on my laptop when I was viewing the potential accommodation to stay in. The wifi connection was one of the most important factors for me, and I am sure it is for you too, so I’d definitely recommend testing it out during the viewing. I stayed in Olhos de Água, which was perfect as I was able to walk to most places I wanted to go to, saving money on transport.
As I mentioned before, the prices are considerably lower out of season, but not only that, there is a lot more availability, whether you’re looking for a nice apartment or larger Algarve villas. Committing to stay in one place throughout your stay in Albueira, rather than hopping around accommodations, will save you money and help you to settle into the area.
A productive remote working routine will look different for everyone; what works for me might not work for you. However, I will share what works for me when I’m working abroad, and hopefully you can take some helpful tips. The main thing to consider is adapting your working day to fit within the lifestyle you want to build, rather than the other way around. The last thing you want to be doing is spending 9-5 indoors on your own. My most productive hours are in the morning, so I would do my main chunk of work in the morning. I started my working day at 6 for a couple of hours, had a break between 10 and 11 to go for a morning walk, then I would come back for a couple more hours before lunch. I would then spend a few hours having lunch and socialising or exercising.
I finished the working day later on, and would swap out the afternoon if I had evening plans. Allowing flexibility worked really well for me to be productive, but also to make the most of living in Albufeira. Having small breaks to get outside makes the world of difference to a working day, allowing your work blocks to be more productive. However, it is important to properly switch off and not log on here and there by having productive work blocks.
Something I worried about when moving to Portugal is the ability to build a social life as a digital nomad. Most people are able to socialise within their work group when moving to a new place; however, it isn’t as simple as that for us digital nomads. One of the main positives about Albufeira out of season is that most of the people there are for the long term and not just there on holiday, so you’re able to make some lasting friendships. I met most of my friends at the gym, especially in exercise classes.
My favourite gym to go to was crossfit, which only cost €30 a month for a membership. Not all your plans have to be something great; some can be as simple as working from a local cafe with another friend. I had one favourite cafe to go to in particular, called Sweet Break, the staff there were really friendly, and by the end of the three months we were on a first-name basis.
As I came from the UK, I was only allowed to stay for 90 days unless I got a visa, so this was what I did both times I stayed for just under 90 days a year apart. However, if you’re planning on staying longer than 90 days, you will need an appropriate visa before you travel. Fortunately, Portugal offers a Digital Nomad Visa (D8 Visa) for remote workers who meet the eligibility requirements, allowing them to live and work in the country for longer than the standard visa-free period.
Before living in Albufeira, I was very conscious of what it would be like due to its stereotypical view; however, after reading someone else’s experience, I was sold, and I was so glad I was! Especially out of season, without the heavy tourists, it is a great place for digital nomads to live a balanced life. If you’re considering your next remote working location, I’d definitely recommend giving Albufeira a go outside the busy summer months.
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