I'm from Coimbra but have lived in Faro for almost two decades. So I know the upfront friendliness (and bluntness) of the North and the cold shoulder of the Algarve. People from the Algarve have a reputation of not trusting strangers, so that might be what you experienced. It comes off as rude but as you spend more time with them it won't feel like that. My guess is that it's because of all the tourism. A lot of the jobs are tourism-related and seasonal. As tourism boomed it became the main source of income for the region and very little industry survived through the years. So for years now every summertime they have to work in the extreme heat, catering to people that a lot of times don't really care for them (like other Portuguese that only remember they exist in July, or British tourists that trash everything). And because everything is now full of outsiders they can't really appreciate their own town the same way. Now, if you get them in a more personal setting, like over dinner or somewhere they are enjoying themselves also, this will change. They will be more friendly. Even if you just come outside of those touristy seasons you might already see a difference in attitude! Honestly, in May most of us are already dreaming of September when everything starts to calm down again. For now, I think you'll see that rudeness lessen when you go to smaller towns. I don't know if this helps anyone but I felt I owed them a bit of explaining on their behalf since I've been here for so long amongst them.
Thanks for the explanation. Also, with respect, we need to include it because, honestly, people might be blind sided by it if they moved here thinking everything is going to be grand in all of Portugal. Tavira and Lagos was much better. Not one of us (4 people) had a negative interaction in either city. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Tavira is in my opinion, the best place to go on holiday in the whole of the Algarve ! Porto is in my heart ❤️ Lisbon is my birthplace 😀
@@ExpatsEverywhere, of course, you should include it, because it clashes with the experience you get in the rest of the country. I just wanted to give context and a way to avoid that. They are fun people, they just don't give much of that away to strangers. And if you're a foreigner here for the summer you will most likely encounter that grumpiness somewhere. I mean, they already have that reputation within the country. But someone that moves here after a while won't be seen as an outsider and will be treated like a neighbor, someone that appreciates the region, instead of someone just using their beaches and going away. If you love the region enough to stick around for the off-season you'll get love back and if you act like a tourist you'll get the tourist treatment from them. And if you stay here for long enough... you'll learn to hate the crowded summers also :D
Thanks again for a very detailed, informative video! I could feel the culture of the place, got a breakdown of living expenses, and necessities!You guys are great!!!👍🏽❤
You're welcome. Thanks, Mo Ward. We've discussed it and we're going to somehow put our 2 week cost of living in our transition vlog where we leave Algarve and go to Alentejo so that should give you more detail. - Josh & Kalie
In Faro starts EN2 (Estrada Nacional 2), a road that crosses Portugal from North to South (and vice-versa), ending in Chaves, as you can see at 4:38, and is the longest road in Portugal, usually refered as "the portuguese Route 66".
We got some fun footage that didn't end up getting used. I had a good chat with a lady at the main touristy shop for the EN2. She started describing Route 66 and I said "Route 66" and she smiled hugely and said "Sim!" - Josh & Kalie
Faro reminded me a bit of Setubal which has the modern and more traditional side of the city. I absolutely love Cia's EE merchandise! In terms of friendliness, you defo don't feel it in Faro and it's a different friendly vibe down south. I would prefer to be in either Luz or Tavira if I live in the Algarve. You guys didn't do your scorecard like you did in Porto. I want the scorecard! 😂 Great share guys 😃👍🏻
Thanks, Sophian! We weren't going to do the scorecard, but maybe we should. We actually were walking today and we did a scorecard of 1-10 for Faro, Tavira, and Lagos. We should start including that huh? - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere I think I got used to the scorecard (I’m not sure about other viewers) you guys did in Porto suburbs and that’s the only reason. Just don’t do a scorecard between Porto and Lisbon! Lisbon rocks! Haha 😂
Thank you both I like the straightforward nature and candor of your videos .. keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing your ideas and opinions on Tavira!! 👍👍👍
Awesome, thank you! We appreciate that feedback. We're still decompressing from our time in Tavira so we can formulate how we would rate it. 😊 - Josh & Kalie
I only spent 24 hours in Faro around 10 years ago on my way from Spain to Porto. I also noticed that I ran into quite a few grumpy people in that brief time.
I think the grumpiness comes from the heat. If you're hot, you're likely to get a headache (from the sun or lack of hydration or just sweating so much). And having a headache is a surefire way to be in a bad mood.
Hi Kalie, Josh, and team =) I've been enjoying your new series and really like the pros and cons. As a side suggestion, what do you all think about adding a map in the video to high light the place that you're covering? I'm new to the geographic of Portugal and have been Google mapping it on the side after watching your videos. Keep up the awesome work and hope you all are well hydrated. Cheers =)
We're going to do that on the vlogs and Live sessions. Not to get too RUclips geeky, but these videos are optimized for people that don't know us or know the tour we're on. The vlogs and Live stuff is 100% for YOU guys. Ami has created a map that will show our progress and give you a sense of geography. Hope you don't mind. Thanks for the feedback. - Josh & Kalie
Thanks for this information. I trust your views of the places in Portugal you’ve posted. I’ve been following your fam just prior to moving to Porto. Your scouting trip and flight from Flo Rida to France. I’m still here but I’ll be making the house journey soon. I had Faro as a possible place for retiring.
Thanks for that great review. I’ve been studying pros and cons of all areas for a move there soon and your channel has been a big help. Leaning towards Bonfim Porto as I can’t do hot. 🥵 You produce great quality videos with lots of value. I’m a fan!
Thank you very much! We're certainly working hard to preparing facts and mixing in our impressions at the end for anyone who sticks around and cares what we think 😂 We appreciate your feedback. - Josh & Kalie
Very helpful to hear your take! It’s like you are taking the tour that I really wanted to take before deciding where to settle in Portugal. I’m currently in Lisboa which is nice BUT there is more to any country than it’s super busy capital city! Thanks so much for the thoughtful content.
@@ExpatsEverywhereLisbon isn’t a great fit for me. I am more interested in smaller, less busy cities. I want a car for frequent day/weekend trips around Portugal and more access to the coast. I am watching your Algarve series for inspiration! I’m also interested in exploring the Silver Coast, Setubal and Alentejo areas. Looking for a small drivable city that is just right for me.
@@MarishaJ30 The Tavira/Lagos video might be interesting to you. There are a lot of smaller towns that seem very interesting down here for those that want a smaller town.
Great Information and thank you for sharing your experience. The heat factor was one of the reasons we chose the Silver Coast. Look forward to your next feature.
We didn't notice it in Tavira or Lagos, granted we were there for just day trips although it's happened often enough here in Faro where we felt like we should say something about it. - Josh & Kalie
Hey you too…. Another nice video, I appreciate the candor on how you feel about the places you visit…. I’m eagerly awaiting all the vids in this Algrave region. As always, I jealous…
Thank you. We're 4 now!! 🤪 We hope you can join us for tonight's Live 9:00 PM local time) and ask questions about Algarve. We've visited Lagos and Tavira now. - Josh & Kalie
Love all your videos and this one is no different. Clear, to the point, on site and relevant! What more can you want? BTW, how hot was it? Didn't see the actual temperature mentioned. Thank you!
These videos make me want to go visit my family over there (near Aveiro). The architecture is beautiful, the food is amazing, and the air just hits different. I’ve been a few times and I love it. A trip may be in order once these travel restrictions are lifted.
I wonder if the friendliness factor is tied to how many tourists a place gets? I would imagine Fado and the Algarve are pretty tired of tourists. I live in a tourist town in the states, and it gets old....Great review. Pretty little town but too hot.
You would like that possibly, but it's been in a variety of place around Faro. It's been in Portuguese and English and when we visited Tavira and Lagos, we didn't get that sense. It's not tragic or anything, but just noticeable. - Josh & Kalie
Portugal as a whole is safe (3rd safest according to one index) and Faro isn't dangerous. It's index scores seem to fall in line with the average. - Josh & Kalie
@@alexgray1905 I have more than 40 years. I was mugged when I was a teenager maybe 15 y.old once in Lisbon in Campolide area by a drug addict but it was more than 20 years ago. The thief only had a knife, take my cash and he wanted only money because he return my wallet without the money. That's the only crime i suffer in my entire life, i dont even consider the one they broken a window of my car to only steal the sun glasses and the small CD case i had in there. In Algarve this year i read there was only one murder (DV crime), the men kill the wife because she wanted a divorce and the other major crime was one rape, they know each other and outside of a bar (maybe both drunk), but he rape her. Both criminals are in jail now. Of course there are some pickpocket in crowded places, and some opportunity thefts if you let your belongs without supervision.
@@arturjcrebelo3275 Thanks for the reply, I very much apreciate your stories. I know Portugal is safe, particularly when compared to Italy or dare I say the US. That is why we are leaving the US and moving to Europe most likely Portugal.
@@ExpatsEverywhere What I mean is that I live in Australia to focus on your videos of Portugal. I am more interested in your life in Portugal, not in Australia.
I am a Southern living in Lisbon. The Algarvians are marafados meaning very often seem to be angry. Faro is full of Algarvians born and raised for generations .... btw I did my last year of high school there before moving to Lisboa for Uni.
Everyone says that the Portuguese are super friendly and welcoming, and I wondered if the areas with heavy tourism and foreign presence would have the same feeling. It sounds like Faro at least is a bit more gruff, as you say. This makes complete sense to me frankly. I would love that heat. It probably is warmer and drier in the Winter, which would be a serious consideration for me personally. Glad that it's not all the old buildings, which is most of what you see in videos. The modern housing looks solid. Thanks as always! Hopefully you all got to rest and enjoy some cool beverages after a long day of walking.
Thanks, John. We definitely did and we're working on things for the Live stream tonight and other videos that we've taken. It's going to be warmer down here than the north, that's for sure. - Josh & Kalie
The hot months really are just July and August when it can be 90 plus. We only had 3 or 4 days this week when the temperatures were in the 80's and that is unusual. If you look at the forecast the next 10 days are in the 70's.
Yea, we've discussed this and we also mean the intensity of the sun as well and obviously this is all in comparison to the rest of the country. We're thankful for 70s for the next week. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
Re: crosswalks, almost none are on corners in Spain either. And curb cuts are hit or miss. Toto, we aren’t in Kansas any more! That’s what I tell myself. It’s just different here.
Hi Dave! We're not sure if Nick will see this on our channel. Have you written him on his? If not, or you haven't gotten answer, I can text him to respond to you. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
Good honest review. Faro looks like a good place to visit (once). Makes me want to replay the Porto videos. Also, I vote to lose the background elevator music, it's just distracting from the narration. Thanks again! BTW, how does Valencia (I think that's your daughter's name) like riding around on all the cobblestones?
Thanks, PeterD. We appreciate the feedback. We discussed it internally. It's tough for us to balance the audio sometimes because it'll playback at different levels on different devices, it's so weird. We can't win but what analytics show us is that our videos do better with a light background music. You know what, Valencia is pretty good on the cobblestone. She doesn't get fussy with it ready and it probably rocks her to sleep a bit, but the big ones will wake her up if she's sleeping because she'll bounce around too much. - Josh & Kalie
Great video-as always. Found your perspective very valuable and surprising. Curious about the ‘friendly factor’ you both picked up compared to Porto. Also surprised to learn heat in early June (?) was already noticeable, particularly by Kalie from FL. Summertime heat is one my concerns about the Algarve. Was it breezy along the water? How was the humidity? Also heard a lot of mosquitos but I guess that could be a location specific issue. Can’t wait for your review on Tavira. Your videos are invaluable! 👍🏻
Thank you!! We'd love to talk about this on our Live if you'd like to come on and ask us. 😁 We can go into more depth than just typing it. - Josh & Kalie
I have been to Faro several times, always in the winter. (And I prefer Pingo Doce to Lidl.) But when I have been in Faro, no one has ever been gruff with me. I have always been welcomed and greeted warmly. I have always been there as a tourist so it may be that people are welcoming because they are paid to be welcoming but it pains me to hear the people of Faro being described as unfriendly. That has never been my experience. I have also been to Porto and I did not find it to be more friendly than the Algarve. You people have lived in Porto so you are much more experienced than I am. But for people who have never been to Faro, I think they are being given the wrong impression.
Respectfully, we feel it might be the wrong impression if we said that everyone is sweet. We have even had a few Portuguese people chime in on noticing this too. Portuguese people as a WHOLE are nice. Really nice. But down here, in Faro compared to even Lagos and Tavira, it's been different. Thanks for input. We do shop at Pingo Doce more to be honest. The closest grocery store to where we are right now is Pingo Doce. 😁 Plus they have cute little stuffed animals that Cia loves. - Josh & Kalie
I would like to visit Faro, but it does not seem to be the place for me to live. Do they have nice parks/gardens? Are there any people of color in Faro?
Homeschooling? Have you checked Portuguese laws pertaining to school enrollments and residency? In Spain if your children aren’t enrolled in school up to age 16, your residency renewal can be denied.
Yep. When the child is at age 6, (from 6-18 in PT) they need to be schooled (legally). Homeschooling is okay, but there needs to be proof. There are international schools that have homeschooling "sections" that you can look into. So basically, proof of an approved curriculum. - Josh & Kalie
from Maui where weather was nice but insane $ to live now in PHX AZ looks at temp 106f and thinks not so hot out yet :) so what is hot :) Oh next week 115f all week !!!! hahah good vid do not like grumpy people :)
Intense sun here but not like PHX for sure. It been 80s or so but the sun has been intense and it's been dry. Thanks. We don't either, but it is what it is. We just have had too many episodes to not mention it. It's been all 4 of us noticing it. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere being from Maui where local folks in tourist areas have this outside gruff ? kinda how it is sometimes kinda like thorns on a rose bush ? (silly analogy but all I could think of) will be fun to see what happens going forward with your adventures if that becomes less or they are just grumpy :) ahahhahahaa turns out going to be 117 all week :) yeah I lived in the Caribbean for a year love it looking serious in a few years getting to Portugal :)
Josh, "syrupy friendly" love that! I'm looking for a syrupy friendly "community" vibe but still big enough to have all the social scenes, ethnic foods, etc. So definitely will check out Porto soon. How do you feel Porto compares to Lisbon? I feel that people are very closed in Lisbon and not as community oriented/ considerate of each other. Not sure if it's because it's a big city.
Yes, more info please. I'm moving to Portugal and I'm worried about the heat! The weather forecasts always look reasonable -- but is it the strong sunlight, humidity, lack of wind that makes it hotter, or what...?
Beyond the temperature, the sun is literally hotter 😅. You can feel it hard on the skin. Average highs of mid 80s during the day in the summer and mid 60s during the day in the winter.
@@ExpatsEverywhere Good info. Mid-80s average is not bad when one is from Florida/West Texas/Arizona/Dubai/etc. Low humidity is a plus, but being on the Atlantic I doubt the humidity is too low unless the breeze is from land to sea. It’s all a matter of perspective. For example, I would consider mid-60s too cold.
@@cryptoboomr3302 It is breezy if you are by the sea and the winds usually come from the land - from the North - in the evenings. Western Algarve is probably cooler than Faro because of the breeze and the wind. You would certainly have a minimum of 30 C during the day in the summer months. We love the summers in Western Algarve and the heat has never put us off. There is so much more to the Algarve than just hot weather. I hope this helps.
Thanks. We catching a little heat for it in the comment section (and we're not talking about the sun) 🤣 Sun intensity feels like South Florida but it's drier. - Josh & Kalie
"Hot" means different things to different people. I'm happy outside in 90*F with 80% humidity but most people I know stay inside on days like that. You should give actual measurements instead of just saying it's really hot. Glad to have found the channel (through Nick Robinson's channel - Algarve Addicts) and will be watching more!
The problem in the Algarve is that a lot of expats from different, mainly English-speaking, "crown" countries, came to that area decades ago and immediately started leeching off the healthcare system. Point number two, is that many of these same expats don't bother to learn Portuguese and always approach a native speaking English, even though they have had more than enough time to learn some Portuguese. I can agree 100% with the Algarvians, you have to respect a culture, not take it over, and then use the system, that you are not even paying into, for your benefit. A lot of drunk tourists in the city center also get annoying after a while....
The points you make are fair. We would say that we've spoken to Portuguese outside of the region that either live here or visit here on a yearly basis and they have the same impression of the Algarvians, which would lead us to believe it might not be the foreigner vs Portuguese problem down here. Who knows? - Josh & Kalie
You surely met the wrong people in Faro. I live in Faro and don't think we are grumpy at all haha Maybe the excessive tourism may cause a bit of tension in some people. Older people specially. Nonetheless, you should give it a second try ;)
Thanks for the comment. We're still here. It's not been across just one day but one week of some awkward interactions. It's all good though. We're not worried. We appreciate your message, Ricardo. - Josh & Kalie
You are right Faro most hot part of algarve and you right Porto people more friendly I am a canadian long in algarve no w full time now for over 13 years
Thanks for sharing. We had a funny incident where we were ordering ice cream downtown Faro and the lady working there was really nice and complimented us on our Portuguese. We said, thank you, and asked if she was from Faro (to see if we could get more info about Faro). She said, "I'm from Porto." 😂 😅 - Josh & Kalie
I don't care much for Faro because of very personal reasons. We traveled to Faro regularly fir medical treatment, then my brother was hospitalized and died. I found people in Faro less friendly than in Albufeira or Vilamoura. Why is it that foreigners living in Portugal are called "ex-pats" (although they are immigrants), and foreigners living in the USA are called immigrants?
Thanks for the input and very sorry to hear about your brother. Some expats might call themselves that but shouldn't. Some people that call themselves immigrants don't know they're expats. Generally, an expat moves somewhere with an intention of it being on a short-term or medium term basis. An immigrant is with a long term or permanent intention. Why might an American call someone that's actually an expat living in the US an immigrant? Probably because they don't know the term "expat" because they're not "in that world". We have examples of non-native English speakers (that speak fluent English) on our channel. Hope that helps. - Josh & Kalie
Thanks. The word "expat" is used because it tells those that know it that we're talking about a short-term move or temporary move because that's our target audience. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Yeah, but expat means long term or permanent move... If you want to avoid immigrant or migrant then you could use Nomad instead. Has better ring to it than Expat....
@@aquathereum664 The problem with "nomad "is the connotation is that a nomad hasn't gone through the legal channels to live beyond a tourist visa or allowance. Some sites make no difference between expat and immigrant while others say that expat is short-term or temporary, which is our accepted definition. Anyway, it's all good. Take care.
I am sorry Faro sucked. I hate to think that people are grumpy there...what a bummer! Now that you have 5 people, and a dog...I think we need to seriously talk about my awesome driving program. Let's get driving!
It doesn't suck per se, but it's just not AMAZING. Yea, we have had some weird interactions with people that we haven't experienced anywhere else in PT. Rich, if you aren't in PT right now, we can't get driving. 😂 - Josh & Kalie
Hi Luis, check out more in the comment section. Some people explain why they think it happens and others are sharing there experience. Comparing Faro to Tavira and Lagos, it's a noticeable difference. - Josh & Kalie
Nice content, guys! In a technical level maybe you could see if your new video tech people could help balance out the quality of the audio. When you are talking on camera it sounds quite different from when you are playing voiced over content over the video. Sometimes you sound like you are in a different environment. I’m sure you will figure that out!
People in Porto are like Southerners? “Syrupy friendly”? Hmmmm. That’s a concerning comment. You mentioned that people in Porto might not be sincere, but that’s what I thought when I lived in the southern USA (seven years). But then again I can understand why people would be concerned about tourists.
Southern Americans have the reputation of being nice to your face or being polite and overly courteous in small talk but that they don't REALLY care. I'm not 100% if I agree with that because that's in the individuals heart, just like we're not sure if people down here that haven't been "nice" have something in their heart or it's just a cultural thing like Northern Americans from cities are known to be rougher and more aggressive with their language and demeanor. These are the stereotype obviously. We're not sure about the sincerity of people in Porto. It seems very genuine and we have no indication it's not, but it's in the individuals heart. - Josh & Kalie
Algarvians are known for using less formality in the first approach, for instance using "you" (tu) instead of Sir/Mam...the non algarvian Portuguese take that for grumpy and unrespectful as much as the dirty words the Northerns use in every sentence
That's fine. To counter that, Kalie and I have never met someone that got mugged or has had a gun pulled on them. Also, the comparison isn't safety between Faro and the US. All of Portugal is VERY SAFE relative to the US. - Josh & Kalie
I'm from Coimbra but have lived in Faro for almost two decades. So I know the upfront friendliness (and bluntness) of the North and the cold shoulder of the Algarve. People from the Algarve have a reputation of not trusting strangers, so that might be what you experienced. It comes off as rude but as you spend more time with them it won't feel like that.
My guess is that it's because of all the tourism. A lot of the jobs are tourism-related and seasonal. As tourism boomed it became the main source of income for the region and very little industry survived through the years. So for years now every summertime they have to work in the extreme heat, catering to people that a lot of times don't really care for them (like other Portuguese that only remember they exist in July, or British tourists that trash everything). And because everything is now full of outsiders they can't really appreciate their own town the same way.
Now, if you get them in a more personal setting, like over dinner or somewhere they are enjoying themselves also, this will change. They will be more friendly. Even if you just come outside of those touristy seasons you might already see a difference in attitude! Honestly, in May most of us are already dreaming of September when everything starts to calm down again.
For now, I think you'll see that rudeness lessen when you go to smaller towns.
I don't know if this helps anyone but I felt I owed them a bit of explaining on their behalf since I've been here for so long amongst them.
Spot on 👌
Thanks for the context!
Thanks for the explanation.
Also, with respect, we need to include it because, honestly, people might be blind sided by it if they moved here thinking everything is going to be grand in all of Portugal. Tavira and Lagos was much better. Not one of us (4 people) had a negative interaction in either city. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Tavira is in my opinion, the best place to go on holiday in the whole of the Algarve ! Porto is in my heart ❤️ Lisbon is my birthplace 😀
@@ExpatsEverywhere, of course, you should include it, because it clashes with the experience you get in the rest of the country. I just wanted to give context and a way to avoid that. They are fun people, they just don't give much of that away to strangers. And if you're a foreigner here for the summer you will most likely encounter that grumpiness somewhere. I mean, they already have that reputation within the country. But someone that moves here after a while won't be seen as an outsider and will be treated like a neighbor, someone that appreciates the region, instead of someone just using their beaches and going away. If you love the region enough to stick around for the off-season you'll get love back and if you act like a tourist you'll get the tourist treatment from them. And if you stay here for long enough... you'll learn to hate the crowded summers also :D
Thanks again for a very detailed, informative video! I could feel the culture of the place, got a breakdown of living expenses, and necessities!You guys are great!!!👍🏽❤
You're welcome. Thanks, Mo Ward. We've discussed it and we're going to somehow put our 2 week cost of living in our transition vlog where we leave Algarve and go to Alentejo so that should give you more detail. - Josh & Kalie
In Faro starts EN2 (Estrada Nacional 2), a road that crosses Portugal from North to South (and vice-versa), ending in Chaves, as you can see at 4:38, and is the longest road in Portugal, usually refered as "the portuguese Route 66".
We got some fun footage that didn't end up getting used. I had a good chat with a lady at the main touristy shop for the EN2. She started describing Route 66 and I said "Route 66" and she smiled hugely and said "Sim!" - Josh & Kalie
Faro reminded me a bit of Setubal which has the modern and more traditional side of the city. I absolutely love Cia's EE merchandise! In terms of friendliness, you defo don't feel it in Faro and it's a different friendly vibe down south. I would prefer to be in either Luz or Tavira if I live in the Algarve. You guys didn't do your scorecard like you did in Porto. I want the scorecard! 😂 Great share guys 😃👍🏻
Thanks, Sophian! We weren't going to do the scorecard, but maybe we should. We actually were walking today and we did a scorecard of 1-10 for Faro, Tavira, and Lagos. We should start including that huh? - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere yes, please include! PS I also really appreciate the value of friendliness. And, Thank you for being candid. 🤗
@@ExpatsEverywhere I think I got used to the scorecard (I’m not sure about other viewers) you guys did in Porto suburbs and that’s the only reason. Just don’t do a scorecard between Porto and Lisbon! Lisbon rocks! Haha 😂
Thank you both I like the straightforward nature and candor of your videos .. keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing your ideas and opinions on Tavira!! 👍👍👍
Awesome, thank you! We appreciate that feedback. We're still decompressing from our time in Tavira so we can formulate how we would rate it. 😊 - Josh & Kalie
Very helpful video, thanks! I have come to respect the information you both provide through your videos. Thanks for all your work!
I only spent 24 hours in Faro around 10 years ago on my way from Spain to Porto. I also noticed that I ran into quite a few grumpy people in that brief time.
Thanks for sharing. We're getting mixed comments on this "grumpy people" thing. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
I think the grumpiness comes from the heat.
If you're hot, you're likely to get a headache (from the sun or lack of hydration or just sweating so much). And having a headache is a surefire way to be in a bad mood.
Coming from So FL ,USA., it's normal to the locals to be grumpy! Say good morning and they will be offended. Faro=So. FL ! :)
😁 These people were mainly working in air conditioning. - Josh & Kalie
Hi Kalie, Josh, and team =) I've been enjoying your new series and really like the pros and cons. As a side suggestion, what do you all think about adding a map in the video to high light the place that you're covering? I'm new to the geographic of Portugal and have been Google mapping it on the side after watching your videos. Keep up the awesome work and hope you all are well hydrated. Cheers =)
Great idea...might give a sense of the size and distances covered as well.
We're going to do that on the vlogs and Live sessions. Not to get too RUclips geeky, but these videos are optimized for people that don't know us or know the tour we're on. The vlogs and Live stuff is 100% for YOU guys. Ami has created a map that will show our progress and give you a sense of geography. Hope you don't mind. Thanks for the feedback. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere the progress map created by Ami sounds awesome! Looking forward to the live =) cheers
Thanks for this information. I trust your views of the places in Portugal you’ve posted. I’ve been following your fam just prior to moving to Porto. Your scouting trip and flight from Flo Rida to France. I’m still here but I’ll be making the house journey soon. I had Faro as a possible place for retiring.
Thanks for this wonderful video. Thanks for showing Faro.
You're welcome, Yasin. Hope you liked it. Would you move there? - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Hehehe. I would move to anywhere wonderful in Europe when d opportunity arises. 😀
Thanks for that great review. I’ve been studying pros and cons of all areas for a move there soon and your channel has been a big help. Leaning towards Bonfim Porto as I can’t do hot. 🥵 You produce great quality videos with lots of value. I’m a fan!
Thanks! We love fans. 😁Don't you get a place in Bonfim before we do! 🤪 Thanks for the encouragement. We really appreciate it. - Josh & Kalie
Love the way you prepare and structure the info you portray in your videos...one can tell there's lots of work , intention and dedication behind.
Thank you very much! We're certainly working hard to preparing facts and mixing in our impressions at the end for anyone who sticks around and cares what we think 😂 We appreciate your feedback. - Josh & Kalie
Thanks for the very helpful info and comments.
I am from Sintra but Love, Love, LOVE Faro! What a city!
Love the honest review! Great job!
Glad you liked it! Thank you very much. - Josh & Kalie
Love the smooth shave (don't worry, I am 67). Interesting synopsis. Thank you for the series.
Glad you enjoyed it! Both compliments 😁 - Josh & Kalie
Very helpful to hear your take! It’s like you are taking the tour that I really wanted to take before deciding where to settle in Portugal. I’m currently in Lisboa which is nice BUT there is more to any country than it’s super busy capital city! Thanks so much for the thoughtful content.
Thank you. So are you going to stay in Lisbon? We appreciate your support. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhereLisbon isn’t a great fit for me. I am more interested in smaller, less busy cities. I want a car for frequent day/weekend trips around Portugal and more access to the coast. I am watching your Algarve series for inspiration! I’m also interested in exploring the Silver Coast, Setubal and Alentejo areas. Looking for a small drivable city that is just right for me.
@@MarishaJ30 The Tavira/Lagos video might be interesting to you. There are a lot of smaller towns that seem very interesting down here for those that want a smaller town.
Great Information and thank you for sharing your experience. The heat factor was one of the reasons we chose the Silver Coast. Look forward to your next feature.
It is not that hot, silver coast is defenitely colder
Thank you!! Come join us live tonight at 9:00 PM local. - Josh & Kalie
Good to know that! Not the first time I hear that about Algarve :(
We didn't notice it in Tavira or Lagos, granted we were there for just day trips although it's happened often enough here in Faro where we felt like we should say something about it. - Josh & Kalie
I will visit Portugal May 23. Faro is on my wish list.
I like your reviews when it comes to measuring hot weather.
On vacation it may be nice but prolonged everyday hot weather can be hard to deal with
Thanks. - Josh & Kalie
Hey you too…. Another nice video, I appreciate the candor on how you feel about the places you visit…. I’m eagerly awaiting all the vids in this Algrave region. As always, I jealous…
Thank you. We're 4 now!! 🤪 We hope you can join us for tonight's Live 9:00 PM local time) and ask questions about Algarve. We've visited Lagos and Tavira now. - Josh & Kalie
Good job guys!! You covered a lot of information. Thanks for including rent prices!!
Thanks, Tami. You're welcome. We're trying to pack it with info and keep it engaging. - Josh & Kalie
It was awesome. Can't wait to see more!!
If you think Faro is hot in summer, you should try and go inland. It's scorching!
We're headed there next. In fairness, last week was unseasonably hot and the sun was very intense. - Josh & Kalie
Love all your videos and this one is no different. Clear, to the point, on site and relevant! What more can you want?
BTW, how hot was it? Didn't see the actual temperature mentioned. Thank you!
Thank you! We appreciate the feedback. It was upper 80s but the sun felt intense on the skin. You know? - Josh & Kalie
Great Video! Planning on heading out there late July.
Thanks, David! Keep us posted on your arrival. - Josh & Kalie
These videos make me want to go visit my family over there (near Aveiro). The architecture is beautiful, the food is amazing, and the air just hits different. I’ve been a few times and I love it. A trip may be in order once these travel restrictions are lifted.
Nice! That's great to hear, Daniel. Hope you get to do it. - Josh & Kalie
Great video of pros and cons!
Thanks, Melinda. What do you think of Faro? - Josh & Kalie
Guys, how do you find the rain up in the North? We're looking hard at Coimbra but worry the rain might be a deal breaker. Cheers!
I wonder if the friendliness factor is tied to how many tourists a place gets? I would imagine Fado and the Algarve are pretty tired of tourists. I live in a tourist town in the states, and it gets old....Great review. Pretty little town but too hot.
You would like that possibly, but it's been in a variety of place around Faro. It's been in Portuguese and English and when we visited Tavira and Lagos, we didn't get that sense. It's not tragic or anything, but just noticeable. - Josh & Kalie
Please explain "relatively safe" ... please!
Portugal as a whole is safe (3rd safest according to one index) and Faro isn't dangerous. It's index scores seem to fall in line with the average. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere We are moving to Europe and we are considering Algarve so your comment had quite an impact ... hmmmm.
@@alexgray1905 I have more than 40 years. I was mugged when I was a teenager maybe 15 y.old once in Lisbon in Campolide area by a drug addict but it was more than 20 years ago. The thief only had a knife, take my cash and he wanted only money because he return my wallet without the money. That's the only crime i suffer in my entire life, i dont even consider the one they broken a window of my car to only steal the sun glasses and the small CD case i had in there.
In Algarve this year i read there was only one murder (DV crime), the men kill the wife because she wanted a divorce and the other major crime was one rape, they know each other and outside of a bar (maybe both drunk), but he rape her. Both criminals are in jail now.
Of course there are some pickpocket in crowded places, and some opportunity thefts if you let your belongs without supervision.
@@arturjcrebelo3275 Thanks for the reply, I very much apreciate your stories. I know Portugal is safe, particularly when compared to Italy or dare I say the US. That is why we are leaving the US and moving to Europe most likely Portugal.
Awsome Vlog, thanks guys !
Thanks for watching!
I focus on your videos in Australia. It is great to see FARO via your story.
Wow, thank you. Which Australia videos have you seen?! We unfortunately don't have too many of them. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere What I mean is that I live in Australia to focus on your videos of Portugal. I am more interested in your life in Portugal, not in Australia.
Ahhh okay! We've got you. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
I lived in and around faro for 1 year... And this information is as accurate as it gets...
Good work guys👍😉
Woah! Awesome compliment. Thank you. 🙏 - Josh & Kalie
I am a Southern living in Lisbon. The Algarvians are marafados meaning very often seem to be angry. Faro is full of Algarvians born and raised for generations .... btw I did my last year of high school there before moving to Lisboa for Uni.
So, it's not just us but it's a thing? Like a legit cultural thing? Thanks for the comment and explanation. - Josh & Kalie
Being Irish I think I would spontaneously combust there. The north would be more my scene I think.
🤣 The north is all good, Gomey! - Josh & Kalie
Everyone says that the Portuguese are super friendly and welcoming, and I wondered if the areas with heavy tourism and foreign presence would have the same feeling. It sounds like Faro at least is a bit more gruff, as you say. This makes complete sense to me frankly.
I would love that heat. It probably is warmer and drier in the Winter, which would be a serious consideration for me personally.
Glad that it's not all the old buildings, which is most of what you see in videos. The modern housing looks solid. Thanks as always! Hopefully you all got to rest and enjoy some cool beverages after a long day of walking.
Winters are bitter cold and gor 500 euros you find a dump
You said it. - Josh & Kalie
Thanks, John. We definitely did and we're working on things for the Live stream tonight and other videos that we've taken. It's going to be warmer down here than the north, that's for sure. - Josh & Kalie
I like this town. Faro is dream of my life.
Cool! Enjoy it. - Josh & Kalie
I like our vlogs and I will be waite other videos about the Portugal 🇵🇹
The hot months really are just July and August when it can be 90 plus. We only had 3 or 4 days this week when the temperatures were in the 80's and that is unusual. If you look at the forecast the next 10 days are in the 70's.
Yea, we've discussed this and we also mean the intensity of the sun as well and obviously this is all in comparison to the rest of the country. We're thankful for 70s for the next week. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
Re: crosswalks, almost none are on corners in Spain either. And curb cuts are hit or miss. Toto, we aren’t in Kansas any more! That’s what I tell myself. It’s just different here.
Hi Dave! We're not sure if Nick will see this on our channel. Have you written him on his? If not, or you haven't gotten answer, I can text him to respond to you. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
I love the feedback you Guys are providing. I’m very serious about moving to Portugal or Spain. And your videos provide honest insight. Thank you.
Thanks, Bruno! We appreciate it. Stay in touch. - Josh & Kalie
Good honest review. Faro looks like a good place to visit (once). Makes me want to replay the Porto videos. Also, I vote to lose the background elevator music, it's just distracting from the narration. Thanks again! BTW, how does Valencia (I think that's your daughter's name) like riding around on all the cobblestones?
Thanks, PeterD. We appreciate the feedback. We discussed it internally. It's tough for us to balance the audio sometimes because it'll playback at different levels on different devices, it's so weird. We can't win but what analytics show us is that our videos do better with a light background music. You know what, Valencia is pretty good on the cobblestone. She doesn't get fussy with it ready and it probably rocks her to sleep a bit, but the big ones will wake her up if she's sleeping because she'll bounce around too much. - Josh & Kalie
Great video-as always. Found your perspective very valuable and surprising. Curious about the ‘friendly factor’ you both picked up compared to Porto. Also surprised to learn heat in early June (?) was already noticeable, particularly by Kalie from FL. Summertime heat is one my concerns about the Algarve. Was it breezy along the water? How was the humidity? Also heard a lot of mosquitos but I guess that could be a location specific issue. Can’t wait for your review on Tavira. Your videos are invaluable! 👍🏻
Thank you!! We'd love to talk about this on our Live if you'd like to come on and ask us. 😁 We can go into more depth than just typing it. - Josh & Kalie
I have been to Faro several times, always in the winter. (And I prefer Pingo Doce to Lidl.) But when I have been in Faro, no one has ever been gruff with me. I have always been welcomed and greeted warmly. I have always been there as a tourist so it may be that people are welcoming because they are paid to be welcoming but it pains me to hear the people of Faro being described as unfriendly. That has never been my experience. I have also been to Porto and I did not find it to be more friendly than the Algarve. You people have lived in Porto so you are much more experienced than I am. But for people who have never been to Faro, I think they are being given the wrong impression.
I lived there@ they is nothing to do and people are desperate poor poor
Respectfully, we feel it might be the wrong impression if we said that everyone is sweet. We have even had a few Portuguese people chime in on noticing this too. Portuguese people as a WHOLE are nice. Really nice. But down here, in Faro compared to even Lagos and Tavira, it's been different. Thanks for input. We do shop at Pingo Doce more to be honest. The closest grocery store to where we are right now is Pingo Doce. 😁 Plus they have cute little stuffed animals that Cia loves. - Josh & Kalie
@@capassoluigi7387I am getting that impression after only 3 days here
I would like to visit Faro, but it does not seem to be the place for me to live. Do they have nice parks/gardens? Are there any people of color in Faro?
Homeschooling? Have you checked Portuguese laws pertaining to school enrollments and residency? In Spain if your children aren’t enrolled in school up to age 16, your residency renewal can be denied.
Yep. When the child is at age 6, (from 6-18 in PT) they need to be schooled (legally). Homeschooling is okay, but there needs to be proof. There are international schools that have homeschooling "sections" that you can look into. So basically, proof of an approved curriculum. - Josh & Kalie
from Maui where weather was nice but insane $ to live now in PHX AZ looks at temp 106f and thinks not so hot out yet :) so what is hot :) Oh next week 115f all week !!!!
hahah good vid do not like grumpy people :)
Intense sun here but not like PHX for sure. It been 80s or so but the sun has been intense and it's been dry. Thanks. We don't either, but it is what it is. We just have had too many episodes to not mention it. It's been all 4 of us noticing it. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere being from Maui where local folks in tourist areas have this outside gruff ?
kinda how it is sometimes kinda like thorns on a rose bush ? (silly analogy but all I could think of)
will be fun to see what happens going forward with your adventures if that becomes less or they are just grumpy :) ahahhahahaa
turns out going to be 117 all week :) yeah I lived in the Caribbean for a year love it looking serious in a few years getting to Portugal :)
Come today friends to our home always together and friends. Greetings to all from Algarve, Portugal 💯👍🍀💐🗺️😘
4:47 what ??? Where ? 🤷🏻♂️
Josh, "syrupy friendly" love that! I'm looking for a syrupy friendly "community" vibe but still big enough to have all the social scenes, ethnic foods, etc. So definitely will check out Porto soon. How do you feel Porto compares to Lisbon? I feel that people are very closed in Lisbon and not as community oriented/ considerate of each other. Not sure if it's because it's a big city.
😁 We will see you in Porto then. 😉 People seem to be comparatively too busy for others there in Lisbon. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere I'm happy to hear that about Porto... I'll check it out during winter and see how cold/ rainy it is hehe Hope to see you guys!
Can you please do a video on Setúbal on your way up?
You'll be sending us there on the vote. We would like to go there. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere where can we vote?
@@rutecatarino3120 on our channel page, you’ll see tabs at the top. Video, playlist, community. Click community and you’ll see it there. 😊
Please define "hot". Be specific. Is it 85 F (29 C), 95 F (35 C), what? Thanks.
Yes, more info please. I'm moving to Portugal and I'm worried about the heat! The weather forecasts always look reasonable -- but is it the strong sunlight, humidity, lack of wind that makes it hotter, or what...?
Beyond the temperature, the sun is literally hotter 😅. You can feel it hard on the skin. Average highs of mid 80s during the day in the summer and mid 60s during the day in the winter.
Very strong sunlight!! Lack of wind and dryness doesn't help. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Good info. Mid-80s average is not bad when one is from Florida/West Texas/Arizona/Dubai/etc. Low humidity is a plus, but being on the Atlantic I doubt the humidity is too low unless the breeze is from land to sea. It’s all a matter of perspective. For example, I would consider mid-60s too cold.
@@cryptoboomr3302 It is breezy if you are by the sea and the winds usually come from the land - from the North - in the evenings. Western Algarve is probably cooler than Faro because of the breeze and the wind. You would certainly have a minimum of 30 C during the day in the summer months. We love the summers in Western Algarve and the heat has never put us off. There is so much more to the Algarve than just hot weather. I hope this helps.
Come back to Porto :D Just to cleanse the bad impression, of course :P
Enjoy the trips.
😁 It's not a bad impression per se but just our impression. Porto is just that good. 😊 - Josh & Kalie
Tavira is the place you should go next 😊👌
Thanks, Mar Sol. We were there yesterday. - Josh & Kalie
Well, at least the sun looks good on you.
Thanks, Eric! We were getting pale in Porto. - Josh & Kalie
Wow, great hearing truth about places, thank you. Ok, I know 🥵 growing up in Tallahassee, FL, bleh, and if you say it’s hot … that’s too hot for me!
Thanks. We catching a little heat for it in the comment section (and we're not talking about the sun) 🤣 Sun intensity feels like South Florida but it's drier. - Josh & Kalie
"Hot" means different things to different people. I'm happy outside in 90*F with 80% humidity but most people I know stay inside on days like that. You should give actual measurements instead of just saying it's really hot. Glad to have found the channel (through Nick Robinson's channel - Algarve Addicts) and will be watching more!
The problem in the Algarve is that a lot of expats from different, mainly English-speaking, "crown" countries, came to that area decades ago and immediately started leeching off the healthcare system. Point number two, is that many of these same expats don't bother to learn Portuguese and always approach a native speaking English, even though they have had more than enough time to learn some Portuguese. I can agree 100% with the Algarvians, you have to respect a culture, not take it over, and then use the system, that you are not even paying into, for your benefit. A lot of drunk tourists in the city center also get annoying after a while....
The points you make are fair. We would say that we've spoken to Portuguese outside of the region that either live here or visit here on a yearly basis and they have the same impression of the Algarvians, which would lead us to believe it might not be the foreigner vs Portuguese problem down here. Who knows? - Josh & Kalie
You surely met the wrong people in Faro.
I live in Faro and don't think we are grumpy at all haha
Maybe the excessive tourism may cause a bit of tension in some people. Older people specially.
Nonetheless, you should give it a second try ;)
Thanks for the comment. We're still here. It's not been across just one day but one week of some awkward interactions. It's all good though. We're not worried. We appreciate your message, Ricardo. - Josh & Kalie
You are right Faro most hot part of algarve and you right Porto people more friendly I am a canadian long in algarve no w full time now for over 13 years
Thanks for sharing. We had a funny incident where we were ordering ice cream downtown Faro and the lady working there was really nice and complimented us on our Portuguese. We said, thank you, and asked if she was from Faro (to see if we could get more info about Faro). She said, "I'm from Porto." 😂 😅 - Josh & Kalie
I don't care much for Faro because of very personal reasons. We traveled to Faro regularly fir medical treatment, then my brother was hospitalized and died. I found people in Faro less friendly than in Albufeira or Vilamoura.
Why is it that foreigners living in Portugal are called "ex-pats" (although they are immigrants), and foreigners living in the USA are called immigrants?
Thanks for the input and very sorry to hear about your brother.
Some expats might call themselves that but shouldn't. Some people that call themselves immigrants don't know they're expats. Generally, an expat moves somewhere with an intention of it being on a short-term or medium term basis. An immigrant is with a long term or permanent intention. Why might an American call someone that's actually an expat living in the US an immigrant? Probably because they don't know the term "expat" because they're not "in that world". We have examples of non-native English speakers (that speak fluent English) on our channel. Hope that helps. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere thank you so much for your reply. I enjoy your videos.
Had to google what "expat" means, why dont just use immigrant? But all in all good video
Thanks. The word "expat" is used because it tells those that know it that we're talking about a short-term move or temporary move because that's our target audience. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Yeah, but expat means long term or permanent move...
If you want to avoid immigrant or migrant then you could use Nomad instead. Has better ring to it than Expat....
@@aquathereum664 The problem with "nomad "is the connotation is that a nomad hasn't gone through the legal channels to live beyond a tourist visa or allowance.
Some sites make no difference between expat and immigrant while others say that expat is short-term or temporary, which is our accepted definition.
Anyway, it's all good. Take care.
It's kind of a turnoff. I don't want to see highrises, lol.
I am sorry Faro sucked. I hate to think that people are grumpy there...what a bummer! Now that you have 5 people, and a dog...I think we need to seriously talk about my awesome driving program. Let's get driving!
It doesn't suck per se, but it's just not AMAZING. Yea, we have had some weird interactions with people that we haven't experienced anywhere else in PT. Rich, if you aren't in PT right now, we can't get driving. 😂 - Josh & Kalie
I dont get that grumpyness factor, i found hard to believe...
Hi Luis, check out more in the comment section. Some people explain why they think it happens and others are sharing there experience. Comparing Faro to Tavira and Lagos, it's a noticeable difference. - Josh & Kalie
Nice content, guys! In a technical level maybe you could see if your new video tech people could help balance out the quality of the audio. When you are talking on camera it sounds quite different from when you are playing voiced over content over the video. Sometimes you sound like you are in a different environment. I’m sure you will figure that out!
We heard it too. We've shared the comment and we'll work on it. Thanks for watching, giving feedback and the compliment. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
People in Porto are like Southerners? “Syrupy friendly”? Hmmmm. That’s a concerning comment. You mentioned that people in Porto might not be sincere, but that’s what I thought when I lived in the southern USA (seven years). But then again I can understand why people would be concerned about tourists.
Southern Americans have the reputation of being nice to your face or being polite and overly courteous in small talk but that they don't REALLY care. I'm not 100% if I agree with that because that's in the individuals heart, just like we're not sure if people down here that haven't been "nice" have something in their heart or it's just a cultural thing like Northern Americans from cities are known to be rougher and more aggressive with their language and demeanor. These are the stereotype obviously. We're not sure about the sincerity of people in Porto. It seems very genuine and we have no indication it's not, but it's in the individuals heart. - Josh & Kalie
Algarvians are known for using less formality in the first approach, for instance using "you" (tu) instead of Sir/Mam...the non algarvian Portuguese take that for grumpy and unrespectful as much as the dirty words the Northerns use in every sentence
HAHA, those dirty words in the north. 😂 They've got a serious reputation for foul mouths up there. - Josh & Kalie
Yeap... people in the Algarve can be “special” 😏
😅 Great way to put it! 😅 - Josh & Kalie
Safe! Give me a US. City who is more safe than FARO ! When i lived in US.my perants got muged 3,4 times with guns!
Here i can go where ever i whant ❤
That's fine. To counter that, Kalie and I have never met someone that got mugged or has had a gun pulled on them. Also, the comparison isn't safety between Faro and the US. All of Portugal is VERY SAFE relative to the US. - Josh & Kalie
mo ts calado
Turkey is more beautiful and amazing country than portugal,i am surprised
Hi, sorry, we don't understand. This video isn't about Turkey.
Not really
I'm in Turkey right now and can't wait to leave and move to Portugal!