Ben Taylor

Ben Taylor moved to Portugal with his wife in 2009, after falling in love with the Algarve several years before. He launched a blog, movingtoportugal, to document his experiences, which gained unexpected momentum and evolved into the popular “Moving to Portugal” book. Ben has written about Portugal for several outlets, including A Place in the Sun, Cheapflights.com and TheTrainline.com. That particular job was particularly inspiring as it involved documenting train journeys across the country! Ben is also a keen foodie, and has reviewed restaurants for local magazines and websites. Ben currently lives in south east England with his wife and two young sons, but retains close ties to Portugal, with several family members located in the East Algarve. In 2017 he founded HomeWorkingClub.com, an advice site for aspiring home workers, after learning all about the world of home working from making a freelance living from Portugal. His advice on freelancing and remote working has appeared in many well-known publications, including The Huffington Post, Metro, USA Today and Business Insider.

Building a swimming pool in Portugal

Found the perfect property in Portugal but it lacks a certain something? Like a swimming pool? Don’t worry, if you have the space and the planning permission, installing a swimming pool in your home in Portugal isn’t too difficult. Here is what you need to do.

We swapped a career in the UK for an art studio in Portugal

When Dave and Aly Sheldrake retired from their busy UK careers, the last thing they were looking for was a quiet retirement – so they swapped the UK for a new adventure in the western Algarve, pursuing their dreams as a photographer and artist. Eight years on, they know it was the right decision, saying they’ve ‘never felt happier or more relaxed about life’.

Building your own, part 3: finding a builder

If you’re building your own home in Portugal (or planning to), it’s likely you already know that it’s a complex process. By the time you’ve found the land, drawn up the plans and obtained the necessary permissions, you’re halfway through the prep. But once all that’s done, you need to get started on the next stage: finding a builder in Portugal.

Building your home in Portugal, part 2: architects and planning permission

Once you’ve found your perfect plot of land to build your dream home on – with a sea view, or in the heart of the Alentejo countryside, perhaps – then it’s time to turn your thoughts to how you want that home to look. And, to put that down on paper and into a viable plan, you’ll need an architect.

New rules come in around Airbnb rentals

Many European cities are struggling to contain the rise of Airbnb-style rentals. Their proliferation leaves local residents complaining of a lack of affordable homes. In a move that could have an impact on Airbnb in Portugal, Porto’s city council has decided to temporarily stop issuing licenses for new short-term rental properties in certain areas.