Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 62
Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
If my memory serves me well there are less than 40 thousand Brits in Portugal and about one million in Spain. Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
OK, Portugal is smaller in area and population than Spain, but not 25 times smaller.
OK, Portugal is smaller in area and population than Spain, but not 25 times smaller.
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 569
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
Maybe get a better response from the Spain forum?
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2017
Location: Algarve
Posts: 569
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
There is a huge price difference when you want to buy a house at walking distance from the beach. Spain is cheap.
An independant villa with private pool at 500 meters from the Mediterranean will cost in Spain around 200.000 / 250.000 EUR.
What do you get for that price in the Algarve?
For the rest prices in the supermarket, alcohol and petrol is really cheaper in Spain. So I understand.
We own a house in Spain and in Portugal and we notice these differences.
An independant villa with private pool at 500 meters from the Mediterranean will cost in Spain around 200.000 / 250.000 EUR.
What do you get for that price in the Algarve?
For the rest prices in the supermarket, alcohol and petrol is really cheaper in Spain. So I understand.
We own a house in Spain and in Portugal and we notice these differences.
#4
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 62
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
Hm... Wages in Portugal are weaker than in Spain, less expats arrive there than to Spain yet properties and food are more expensive. What are the reasons for that?
#5
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
Looking on the bright side though, that does bring certain advantages for those of us who made the right decision.
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 263
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
If you go into the stats deeper the areas with the biggest concentration that Brits infest are the "resorts" in both countries and the numbers per area are . probably similar in both countries. The rest of both countries is a vastness of fewer Brits. Given that the "resort" areas of Spain are possibly 20 times that of the concentrated spots of the Algave and as the majority of cheepo flights and package hotels were traditionally Spain's costas and the wide boys in the resorts started enticing customers since the 60s it's not that surprising.
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
If you go into the stats deeper the areas with the biggest concentration that Brits infest are the "resorts" in both countries and the numbers per area are . probably similar in both countries. The rest of both countries is a vastness of fewer Brits. Given that the "resort" areas of Spain are possibly 20 times that of the concentrated spots of the Algave and as the majority of cheepo flights and package hotels were traditionally Spain's costas and the wide boys in the resorts started enticing customers since the 60s it's not that surprising.
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2019
Location: Porches, Algarve
Posts: 75
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
If you go into the stats deeper the areas with the biggest concentration that Brits infest are the "resorts" in both countries and the numbers per area are . probably similar in both countries. The rest of both countries is a vastness of fewer Brits. Given that the "resort" areas of Spain are possibly 20 times that of the concentrated spots of the Algave and as the majority of cheepo flights and package hotels were traditionally Spain's costas and the wide boys in the resorts started enticing customers since the 60s it's not that surprising.
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 657
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
I would really like to think that you've made a typo in this post and you meant 'invest' rather than 'infest' .If not I think you should really question your motivation for being on this Forum as it's meant for assisting British Expats to settle and live nicely in a new country.
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 263
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
I would really like to think that you've made a typo in this post and you meant 'invest' rather than 'infest' .If not I think you should really question your motivation for being on this Forum as it's meant for assisting British Expats to settle and live nicely in a new country.
Sorry GOD i didn't realise I was not permitted to express an opinion without your permission. I'll not post on this forum again.
Goodbye
Last edited by coleio; Jun 13th 2020 at 7:58 pm.
#12
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
OK folks, enough is enough. Either it was a simple typo or it was an opinion it does not matter.
I am happy to leave this thread open for sensible communication but if it continues down this route I will be forced to close it.
Rosemary
I am happy to leave this thread open for sensible communication but if it continues down this route I will be forced to close it.
Rosemary
#13
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 750
Re: Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
I suspect the higher proportion of Brits in Spain than Portugal might also be that for quite some time, Spain had much more relaxed planning laws.