If you’re thinking about moving to Europe then one of the best places to choose for sun, beaches culture and a great exchange rate would be Portugal. Since the national average salary and hence the price of living in Portugal is slightly lower than many of the countries in the European Union that means that your Pound does even better against the Portuguese than in many other nations in Europe.

If you choose to buy property, either with a mortgage in Portugal or one from home in the UK you’ll find that many properties that would be out of your price range at home are opened up to you while the weather in Lisbon, Porto and on the Riviera will make you wonder why you never thought about moving before.

Investment choices that exist in Portugal are not limited to time shares and holiday lets. If you start banking in Portugal you can buy land and property either to let or to live in yourself permanently or semi permanently. Don’t forget that as well as the fine beaches there are also mountains, cities and wine regions where investment can mean setting up a second home or an entirely new way of life.

When you need to transfer money Portugal is just as easy to send to as any other country in the European Economic Union, you can send funds from your pre existing British held current account to your Portuguese one by internet or phone, just the way you would do with any other transaction. Having your own Portuguese bank account will also help you avoid paying the commissions that Bureau De Change charge, and, as the Portuguese economy is a little weaker than the average in Europe your Sterling will do better here than in most other European Union Member states.