Portugal travel warning as UK tourists urged to 'think twice' before flying out

Holidaymakers heading to a European hotspot are being urged to 'think twice' before flying out. Many UK travellers head out to Portugal and even choose it as their new home.

With a cheaper cost of living, sunnier climates, friendly communities and a huge landscape, it is often the place British expats decide to move to. English is also widely spoken in Portugal, with more than 30,000 British citizens choosing to live in Portugal as of April 2021.

Algarve is the most desired spot, while a large community of British nationals are also found in Lisbon and Porto. Global Citizens Solutions said: "Compared to other Western European countries, it’s a budget-friendly option for easier savings.

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"Portugal also boasts a high quality of life, supported by excellent education and healthcare systems." Also, foreign residents can benefit from 'attractive tax incentives when structured correctly'.

But according to one expat, not all is as it seems. They have urged caution to those thinking of moving to Portugal, Express reports.

Victoria had documented her move to Portugal on her TikTok account @Vikaglu. She said: "Do you know that Portuguese activists have protested against evictions and skyrocketing rents caused in part by foreigners?"

She said the minimum wage is very low and that 'renting is extremely high [and] bureaucracy is slow'. A one-bedroom flat for rent in Lisbon averaged £1,675.18 (€2,005) meaning it was more expensive than Reykjavik and Amsterdam, according to a 2023 study.

The study looked at more than 52,000 rental properties on the market, finding that property to rent in the region has become more and more expensive. These issues were highlighted in a previous video which said: "Dear expats, think twice before you’ve moved".

She added: "Locals can’t live in their own towns because of gentrification. What I’m seeing is a huge real estate bubble in Lisbon and Porto, insane prices for rent."