Mary and Ian from Chester were always seeking the ‘authentic’ Portugal for a full-time move. It’s a dream they’ve nurtured for years – they honeymooned there 40 years ago – and Ian, now 68, even began learning Portuguese back in the 1980s.
The couple, who met while working in the theatre and have a son and a daughter, applied to appear on A Place in the Sun TV show to help them find somewhere on the Silver Coast, the scenic region 45 minutes north of Lisbon, famed for its surfing beaches and traditional villages that have retained more of a Portuguese feel than some parts of the Algarve.
A false start – but they didn't give up
Presenter Ben Hillman helped them find a great property within their £200,000 budget near Salgueiro, inland from the coast. But after filming in September 2023, they had to pull out of the purchase.
“We realised that we had an issue with the financing,” says Ian. “We would have paid too much tax on taking the amount out of our pensions we needed. We got it wrong, but we didn’t give up.”
The couple kept going back. “Going on the programme inspired us to explore more behind the coast, which was too busy and expensive,” Ian adds.
Finding their dream home in Bustos
They considered Coimbra – a popular city for overseas buyers – and viewed 18 properties in total. Eventually, they found their dream home in Bustos, a rural town in the Aveiro district. The area is known for the colourful fishing village of Aveiro, with its picturesque canals and boats.
In May 2024, they bought a six-bedroom detached home with a barn and potting shed for £220,000, through RE/MAX. The 30-year-old property has plenty of charm, and they can even walk to one of three local bars in Bustos. “It’s not a rural backwater,” says Mary, also 68, who has just retired as a counsellor.
Settling in – with a few surprises
The couple made the move in August, though they had to wait four months for their furniture to arrive. “The bureaucracy is quite convoluted,” Ian admits, referring to registering with the health service and other parts of the relocation admin. Fortunately, Mary’s Irish passport meant they didn’t need a visa.
Although few locals speak English, they’ve found a friendly welcome – and Ian has finally had to put his Portuguese to the test. “Twice we have been offered a big bowl of fruit or eggs from a neighbour’s chickens. We even got offered a dog.”
Life in Portugal – slower, warmer, and more affordable
They find the cost of living around 30-40% less than the UK so far. Trips back are via Porto airport, 1hr 05 minutes away, and there’s a high-speed train link to the city – when they want a culture fix such as a trip to the theatre - from nearby Oiã.
It also causes confusion that their house has got two addresses, thanks to their street name having a shortened form and a longer variant. “A common problem in Portugal,” says Ian.
They’ve decorated four rooms and bought a log burner. “It gets as much rain as the UK,” he adds. Maybe not always their place in the sun, then.
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