Portugal voted the best place to live in Europe

Portugal has just been voted the best place to live in Europe and 3rd best in the world in a recent survey carried out by Natwest Bank. The NatWest Quality of Life Index put Portugal in the top three behind Canada and New Zealand respectively. Increasing numbers of UK workers are spending time working abroad tempted by career opportunities and a better lifestyle. Equally the number of people retiring abroad is also rising and is set to reach 3.3 million by 2050.
 
Escaping pressured jobs and stressful life styles and a desire for a better way of life has led to more British Citizens moving abroad than ever before. Thirty seven percent of expats surveyed put quality of life as the top factor influencing their decision. The survey sample comprised 1,114 British expats permanently living abroad and looked at key criteria including: healthcare, public transport, weather, housing, food, entertainment, education, security, natural environment, leisure and culture, public services, law enforcement, availability of consumer goods, sanitation, retirement facilities and banking services.
 
 
The survey reveals that British expatriates are healthier, wealthier and happier wherever they move to, so why did Portugal come out on top? Britain and Portugal have long enjoyed good relations, dating back to the 1373 when the two countries signed the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, the oldest alliance in the world still in force. This long standing good relationship may be one of the reasons Britons feel at home in Portugal. Another contributing factor could be space, with the population of Portugal at only 10.9 million, less than the population of London, there is a slower more relaxed pace of life with fewer traffic jams and queues and more space to move about.
 
The Algarve is the most popular destination for expats and the weather is most definitely a factor with more than 300 days of sunshine per year, and temperatures ranging from the high 30Cs in summer and rarely dropping below 10C in the winter. The 200km Algarve coastline is home to over 50 beaches a third of which fly the coveted blue flag indicating pristine beaches with extremely clear water. Spectacular cliffs to the west and endless sandy beaches to the east make it one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Portugal's stable economy and quality housing also make it a great place to invest in property whether for life style or holiday rentals.
 
The newly constructed properties are in general built to a high standard and noticeably spacious. The implementation of strict building regulations designed to control growth and manage development will ensure that the Algarve retains its charm and desirability for generations to come. For these and numerous other factors Channel 4's A Place in the Sun chose the Algarve as its number one destination for buying property abroad.

Source Algarvedir.com