Bom Novo Ano

Happy New Year to all

Hope all had a great Christmas time. And now onto the New Year, what will everyone be doing? Where will you be? For me, Im not too much of a new year celebrator, what I will be celebrating is the end of a terrible year and hopefully the welcome of a far better year.

What are your new year's resolutions?
Mine are to work and try harder. To be a better person and take every opportunity.

Would love to hear your's?

Dont forget if you are a rental homeowner and concerned about next season, which you probably should with the proposals of the portuguese government, then please look at www.holidayhomerentalsite.com for some great INCOME BOOSTING tips from letting expert Wendy Shand. If you want some further advice please contact me and I can help.

Bom Ano a todos x

Winter daze!

Hi

Well winter has well and truly arrived in Portugal, no snow but alot of rain recently and very cold, especially as the houses are not made for winter (which after 2 winters I still dont understand, its not like it is 20+ degrees ALL year round). Anyway I am furiously trying to finish an english teaching course by monday, something I have been doing for 2 years, inbetween moving and having a baby etc.

Also looking to find my homeowners who are looking to extend their rental seasons, if this applies to you please have a look at www.holidayhomerentalsite.com, which gives great advice and a FREE BOOK from lettings expert Wendy Shand, founder of Award winning www.totstotravel.co.uk. If you require further info, look at the site or contact me for more details at christine.amorim@totstotravel.co.uk

Right now back to the books......

Stay warm

Algarve Autumn

This october and november so far, the weather has been so lovely. Perfect blue skies and warm sunshine. Only a few cloudy days sporadically but otherwise beautiful. Once the sun goes down it gets a little chilly but all you need is a cardigan or fleece. This is the perfect time to bring young children to here, it is warm but not hot so you dont need to worry about sunburn and sunstroke, prices are lower and there are no crowds.

www.totstotravel.co.uk
www.holidayhomerentalsite.com

Holiday rentals

So how was everyone's summer? Mine was ok, got some beach time with family, got some sun, didnt really relax cos life with young children is never relaxing but at least we had a bit of a change of scenery. So now I want to ask how everyone's holiday rentals went, did you find it quiet, busy or as expected? Are you still having bookings, cos my view was as September came everyone disappeared, august was super busy but then everyone seems to disappear overnight. There are a few people around but otherwise it looks like the algarve is going to sleep for the winter. But times are tough, umemployment never stops rising month on month, algarve being one of the hardest hit places as many workers are seasonal. Now the budget is just about to be announced, looking like more austerity measures are coming, times are going to get tougher. But in these tough times, who suffers most, everyone suffers, of course but to my mind those who suffer most are those on low incomes and already struggling cos they cannot afford to lose anymore. Those on higher, more comfy incomes will feel a squeeze but nothing like what the others feel.

Stay well, be wise and strong

WWW.TOTSTOTRAVEL.CO.UK
WWW.HOLIDAYHOMERENTALSITE.COM

Tots to Travel

I have just started working with Tots to Travel, they are an award winning family friendly holiday company who specialise in offering self-catering accommodation to young families. All properties on their site have been vetted and inspected by a mum for its family-friendliness so ensure it is safe and has all the equipment you need,thus giving you a relaxing holiday.

They are currently looking for properties in the Algarve, if you know of anyone who may be looking to enter this niche market or just want some advice on how to market their property more effectively have a look at

www.totstotravel.co.uk or
www.holidayhomerentalsite.com

Thanks,and good luck

Autumn is here

Hi All,

It's been a while but Im back -not sure where I was but time has just flown by. But now summer is over once again. What was surprising was how suddenly it seemed the season changed. August was super busy but come September the streets were quiet again, where did everyone go. It seemed overnight everyone disappeared but september is considered as high season, so I dont know people did this summer in terms of rentals?

The days are still warm but the nights are chilly, time to put the duvet back on the bed, put your socks and pyjamas back on and get cosy.

Survival

So after two years of living here in portugal, I have come to the conclusion that there are three ways that the majority of ex-pats survive here. Either you speak portuguese and work for a portuguese company, you start your own company which makes enough to live on or you make ends meet by doing things here and there. Or for some you are lucky enough to find work for an english speaking company. It is not so easy to come here and start a new life as some may think, things are not easier here, especially in these troubled times of recession, there is much less support from the government, especially for families.

Now some come here and are happy to do this and that and get by. My situation is a bit different, my husband is portuguese and came here after being offered a management job which paid more than his job in England and my plan was to learn portuguese and start working, but not immediately as his job could support us and we had our young daughter to look after. Now things have not worked out according to plan and we are not on the path we expected or ever imagined but one thing remains, I can not be happy just to do anything and get by. My kids are still young but I am at the point where I need more than to be a mother, I want to work again but not just anything, something that challenges me and makes me think.

Today!!

Hi

So today was my baby's first birthday, I cannot believe how fast it has gone, so much faster than my oldest daughter Sophie. A year ago I was pushing her out and she was a tiny baby.

And also I got some good news, the job I really wanted with Totstotravel.co.uk to be a marketing agent in the algarve, Im really happy. JUst need everything else to work out.

I have my in-laws and sisters in law here on holidays, which is nice.

Heat!

Hi

I am writing this as I sit here sweating, it is so hot at the moment and unfortunately we do not have air conditioning and live in a 3 storey house, so our bedroom is like a sauna. Think I will sleep outside if I wouldnt get eaten by the mosquitos.

So hopefully life is turning the corner, things have been unbelievably difficult and I know that at some point we will turn the corner, it just depends how far we have to fall and how much we have to lose before we get to that point. I feel a little hopeful.