Do you know what my favourite Christmas present was growing up? Probably not, that’s a stupid question. Well it would have been a ‘BOP IT’ but my parents couldn’t find me one for love nor money. So my favourite Christmas present that I actually received was a huge Times World Atlas. Doesn’t sound like a kid’s dream present but even as an 10 year I truly loved this thing. Thanks to parents with a passion for travel I naturally grew up dreaming of where I would travel when I was old enough to go solo. I spent my early years watching teletext holidays and reading Thomas Cook brochures.
When I was old enough to realise this probably wasn’t the type of travel I wanted to do I started reading Lonely Planet guides and Bill Bryson books and, of course, I spent hours flicking through my Atlas ‘discovering’ whole countries for the first time. By time I reached University I was deep into planning my first big trip. I had a giant laminated map that I would draw flight routes on and received Lonely Planet guides every birthday and Christmas until my ‘round the world’ trip in 2009.
*Some links included in this guide are affiliate links. This means if you purchase something using these links i may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
LONELY PLANET TRAVEL ATLAS
This year I turned 32 and my love of travel hasn’t faded. I usually try my hardest to travel on or around my birthday whether that’s somewhere abroad or within Portugal. The aim is usually to wake up somewhere new. This year due to COVID-19 I spent my birthday (safe) at home . It turned out to be a great day, I took myself off to Mexico – virtually of course. There was tacos, frozen margaritas, mezcal and mariachi music and it was so much fun. I also allowed myself a mini guilt free online shopping spree and, without a doubt, the gift I was enjoyed opening and using the most was the Lonely Planet Travel Atlas.
I didn’t actually know Lonely planet had an Atlas. I’ve always bought their guides and although I’ve lusted over some of their coffee books I never actually purchased one until now. When it arrived it turned out to be the best birthday present in a long time and I have had my head in it ever since.
WHY YOU SHOULD OWN AN ATLAS
There are so many reasons your home library should include a good Atlas. Here are just a few…
TRIP PLANNING – An atlas is the ultimate way to plan a trip. Essentially you have the whole world in your lap and using detailed and accurate maps can help you plan anything from weekend get aways to holidays to long-term travel.
EDUCATION – Naturally Atlas’ works great as an education tool especially for kids. Whether it is for you or your kids you’ll be able to learn so much more about the world by diving into an Atlas now and again. It is obviously a wonderful tool for anyone interested in Geography.
GREAT COFFEE TABLE BOOK– Yep its true. I always love the idea of coffee table books but for some reason never buy them. This Travel Atlas has made the most perfect coffee table book for our home. We both love to travel so when we are dreaming up our next trip or I want to work out an itinerary I can pick up this book from the coffee table and get inspired.
TRAVEL INSPIRATION – This is exactly why I bought the Lonely Planet Travel Atlas. I had been sucked into instagram and Pinterest for travel inspo for too long. Of course you can (and I do) find some great content on social media but I tend to find the same places keep popping up time and time again. I love getting ideas from these sources but I also love finding my own travel experiences, remote islands and hidden gems. Being able to flick through the whole world with no bias feels like the best way to get inspired for future travels. This is why I love having a travel atlas to turn too.
WHY I LOVE THE LONELY PLANET TRAVEL ATLAS
I have been a Lonely Planet reader for a loooooong time and even though I don’t solely use their guides for my personal trip planning they are always where I start. In short….I trust them! There are a couple of other reasons why I chose this particular Atlas from Lonely Planet.
SUPER EASY TO USE – The Lonely Planet Travel Atlas is extremely easy to use. The layout is satisfying on the eyes and the maps are clear and concise without being over the top.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION – Everything you need to plan a trip is included in this Atlas including climate charts, main transport hubs (this makes it super easy to plan multiple-country trips), top sights and activities and itinerary suggestions.
BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY – Lonely Planet is revered for its travel photography and I love getting a new guide and flicking straight to the top 20 experiences pages to see what beauty they have captured this time. The LP Travel Atlas is no exception.
GREAT VALUE – I would be lying if I said when I chose this Atlas it had nothing to do with price. Some detailed atlas’s reach the £100’s or more which I simply can’t justify at the moment. This may not be considered a ‘comprehensive’ atlas but in my eyes it is the best planning tool and inspirational travel atlas out there. Especially for this price.
If you don’t already own an atlas or yours is ancient hopefully this has encouraged you to dive back into one soon! I pick up my atlas at least once a day and it has turned out to be the best book for travel inspiration!
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON WITHDRAWING YOUR PAY FROM PALFISH (without paying crazy fees)
Ok so I wanted to quickly write this as I have seen SO many people asking the same questions over and over. I hope this helps you avoid having to lose any of your hard earned pay each month.
A little bit of background on me… I have been working for Palfish for about 5months. I live in Portugal but choose to get paid in GBP as I have a British bank account. It took me two months to figure out how I could get paid in to GBP without loosing a tonne of money.
I know how frustrating it is when you work crazy hours on Palfish only to loose 4 lessons (or more)’s worth of pay on poor exchange rates and fees. I lost £20 on my first pay check which prompted me to find a better way. I would also like to point out that it doesn’t cost you anything to set up this method other than your time to set up the accounts.
I want to point out this probably isn’t the only way to do this. in fact I’m sure there are plenty of other methods but this one has worked for me personally which is why I am sharing it. I am from the UK with a UK bank account but live in Portugal. A far as I know this method should also work for people in the US but feel free to contact me if this is not the case so I can edit the blog.
For complete transparency…. some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you sign up to Transferwise or Revolut using one of these links I make a small commission (about £3 a card for Revolut).
It doesn’t cost you anything to use the inks in this post, in fact you will receive free card delivery with Revolut if you sign up using one of the links in this blog. Alternatively you can go directly to the Revolut or Transferwise website from Google if you prefer; in which case I do not make the commission, Google does.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH REVOLUT AND TRANSFERWISE
USING REVOLUT
I have been using Revolut since I moved to Portugal 4 years ago. I regularly exchange between GBP and EUR and I use this card here everyday. It is also great for anyone that travels frequently as you’ll save on ATM. Withdraws, card payment fees and more. I have actually written a whole post on my personal experience using Revolut if it is any help!
USING TRANSFERWISE
I have also been using Transferwise for around 3 years but for business purposes – I have small beach lifestyle brand and often have to send a receive in different currencies.
Basically I have a bit of experience in using these types of cards and accounts which is why I was able to make it work for me and why I am able to tell you about it.
Anyway I am guessing you’re not here for my life story are you?
Firstly I want to say (as far as I know) you can’t avoid any deductions Payoneer makes from withdrawing from Palfish. This is set by Payoneer and is, I guess, their way of making a little bit of money out of you using their services. When I checked this it was only something like a $3 cut so not too much to worry about.
What I can (and do) do is avoid withdrawal fees and terrible exchange rates that my UK bank (HSBC) imposes on me. I do this by using a combination of Transferwise and Revolut to withdraw money from Payoneer.
WHAT DO I NEED?
SIGN UP FOR A PAYONEER ACCOUNT – THEN SELECT THIS FOR YOUR BANK ACCOUNT ON PALFISH. If you use the link below to sign up to Payoneer we BOTH receive 25USD – winning!
Sign up for a Revolut card and account. You should have access to the account almost right away through the app but you will have to wait for your actual card to be delivered. You can get a card for FREE when you sign up using one of my links. Or pay £4.95.
STEP 1 : WITHDRAWING FROM PAYONEER TO TRANSFERWISE USD ACCOUNT
Set your withdrawal bank account to your USD Transferwise account. Make sure you enter the account number, BIC and routing number from your Transferwise USD account. If you enter GBP account details you will be charged.
From experience this usually gets confirmed the same day but takes 2 days to land in my Transferwise account.
STEP 2 : WITHDRAWING TO REVOLUT FROM TRANSFERWISE
Once the money is in your Transferwise USD account KEEP IT IN USD.
Once in Revolut add your Transferwise card details to your account.
Go to your USD account in the Revolut app and click ‘add money’. Select Transferwise card. Make sure USD is selected and choose amount. Click ‘Add Money’
A pop up box will appear saying ‘you should always add money in the card’s currency’. This is because thinks your Transferwise is in GBP. Click Yes, Continue.
Along as your Transferwise account is in USD it will work fine. If you want to test it try it out with 20USD first for peace of mind. I have used this method for the last three months with no problem.
Your Revolut card will usually top up almost immediately.
STEP 3 : USE REVOLUT TO EXCHANGE CURRENCY
Use Revolut app to exchange your currency. Revolut uses Forex rates (the best possible exchange rates you can get) so you will never get a bad deal. Revolut adds a 0.5% fee on exchanges during the weekend so only exchange your currency on a weekday.
Once you have your pay in your chosen currency on Revolut you can either
-Keep it there – its a great card to have whilst travelling or for everyday use
Or
– ‘Make a payment’ to your bank account. This works like a normal bank transfer and along as you are sending the same currency as your bank there is no fee. It is usually in your account the same day!
The initial setting up is a little bit of hassle because you have to sign up for the accounts but after that everything is made much easier and cheaper. Follow this method and you won’t pay any fees or loose out to bad exchange rates when withdrawing your money.
I hope this helps! If you have any questions feel free to email me but I am super busy with lessons right now so it may take a little bit of time to get back to you.
I hope this has been a useful guide on how to avoid fees when getting paid by Palfish.
In all honesty I never thought I would be teaching English online (or anywhere) as a job. I have been running my own online business for over 3 years now and although it has been a bumpy ride I have never wanted to do anything else in all that time. However 2019 has been a tough year for the business and I needed to find a way to supplement my income. Since I have been working from home in Portugal (or on the road) for the last 4 years the notion of having to go to a physical place of work made me very anxious so I started looking up other options. I threw myself into SEO and affiliate marketing but I also needed a way I could make money right away…. Introducing online teaching with Palfish! I wanted to write this blog so I can share my honest opinion and experience of this journey so far. At time of publishing I am seven weeks in.
*Some links included in this post are affiliate/referral links. This means if you sign up using one of these links I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only include links for products and services I love and use regularly. Using these links helps me to build my small business and maintain this travel blog. Thank you.
Teaching English online makes perfect sense to me at this time in my life because it gives me the ability to work from anywhere. I live in Portugal and finding work that offers even half decent pay can be difficult especially as I can’t always commit long term. Those closest to me know my fear of not being able to travel is real. As strange as that might sound to some I thrive on new experiences and get pretty antsy when I don’t have future travel plans. With Palfish I can work from anywhere that has a good internet connection (which lets face it is almost everywhere on the planet these days) meaning I can still combine work and travel if I need/want to.
The other reason I decided to go down the online teaching route is the money. I had read that it pays good although I didn’t actually believe it until I started earning from it myself. I have been working for Palfish for about 7 weeks and I am just about to hit £15.40 an hour (£7.70 a lesson). I’ll talk more about the kind of pay you can expect in the ‘Pro’s’ list below.
Deciding to go down this route has given me extra security and money whilst still offering me freedom to work from anywhere. At the moment I have chosen to throw myself fully into the teaching but when I need to focus on my business again I know I can switch up my schedule and keep teaching in the background.
06/12/2019 UPDATE : I have now reached level 5 and making £8.30 a lessons so almost £17 an hour!
Palfish is an app to help non-native English speakers learn the English language. The majority of its learner users are based in China but the native English speaking teachers are based all over the world. The app essentially brings students and teachers together. There are several ways in which you can teach on the app including the Official Kid’s Course, Free Talk and by creating your own lessons and packages. You can choose just one of these or do a mixture of all three.
OFFICIAL KID’S COURSE (OKC) – This is probably the most popular and easy way to make money through the app and at the moment I solely do OKC. Kids are offered a free trial lesson on Palfish in the hope that they (or rather their parents) will pay for a package of lessons off the back of it. Although the kids do not pay for their trial lesson you get paid as normal. When you start out you’ll mainly be teaching trial lessons and you’ll get to know the slides pretty quickly. After a while you will hopefully start attracting regular students who have bought a package (either from you or someone else). When the buy a package the join the Official Kid’s Course. On both trials and courses you are provided with teaching materials to follow. When teaching these classes you are expected to be in a ‘classroom’ setting. This means a quiet room or space with good light and a backdrop featuring the Palfish logo.
FREE TALK – Free talk is a way for learners to call teachers and discuss certain topics, prepare for exams or just improve their English overall. You can choose your own rates for Freetalk and Palfish take a 20% cut. Free talk can be with kids but also adults too. The bonus is you do not need your video on for Freetalk which means you don’t need to be sat in your ‘classroom’ to take a call. If you’re not really keen on working with kids this could be a great option as there are plenty of adults who are desperate to improve their conversational English skills or practice for their IELTS exam. I have only taken a few freetalk sessions as I focus mainly on OKC but check out this guy to learn more…
CREATE YOUR OWN – You can also create your own lessons and slides to teach. You can create seminars and packages and choose your own price. If you have a teaching background this could be a great route to go down but you will still need to build up your students first. Palfish will need to approve all your lessons before you can sell them. This is also a great way to start making passive income from teaching online. Again I haven’t ventured down this route but there are plenty of teachers on Palfish who are successful going down this route.
WHAT DO I NEED TO GET STARTED
You need to be a native English speaker, that is have English as your first language. You also need a TEFL/TESOL certificate– you can get this Groupon – just check the course is ‘accredited’ before you dive in. You don’t need a degree but if you do have one you can include this on your profile too. Of course a teaching background is very helpful but also not essential to join Palfish. You need a decent phone or tablet, preferably with IOS (Apple) or Android (Samsung) operating system. I teach on my iPad most of the time as it is kinder on the eyes than my phone. If you have one of these I would highly recommend it. If not your phone will work just fine.
Once you pass the interview you’ll be given 200RMB (about £25) to spend on ‘props’. I made my own backdrop and cut and paste my own props but if you want to save time there are some great Palfish friendly props on Etsy. I’m actually really impressed with how good some of these look.
Palfish ask you to wear blue when teaching. It doesn’t have to be a shirt (but it can if you want it to be) I mostly wear t-shirts and jumpers that I already had in my wardrobe. If you want to look super pro to potential students go for a Palfish branded tee or hoody.
There are several reasons why I chose Palfsh but the biggest being they accept native English speakers from the UK. Some of the larger companies such as VIPkid only take teachers from USA and Canada. Despite the amount of information available online about different types of online English teaching platforms I still found it rather confusing trying to figure it all out. As a British national I didn’t have as much choice as someone from the US when it came to platforms but I am so glad I chose Palfish. I know some people work for two companies but I would strongly suggest just putting your time into one especially at the beginning. Palfish has been amazing so far. Sure there have been a few downfalls to this app but mainly I have been reaping the benefits of the platform. Mainly that I am about to start earning more than I ever have per hour after less than two months of work. Here are my pro’s and con’s after seven weeks of working with Palfish teaching English online.
THE PROS OF TEACHING ENGLISH WITH PALFISH
VERY DECENT PAY
The starting rate for Palfish is 50yuan per lesson (25minutes) plus a bonus 5yuan incentive if you arrive on time. 55yuan is the equivalent of around £6 so a very acceptable £12 per hour to get you started. The good news is you are then able to jump up to new pay levels super quickly through a points system.
You receive 5 points for every lesson you teach plus bonus points for achievements such as selling packages, perfect attendance and teaching at peak times. Within 3 weeks I had made it to level2 which means in my second month I am being paid £6.50 per lesson (£13 an hour).
I have now been working around 7 weeks in and I am set to make level 5 by the end of the month taking it up to £8.30 a lesson. This means in December I will make an impressive £16.60 an hour working for Palfish! The points reset each month so you have to continually reach that level to receive that amount of pay. When I first started I pictured level 3 being a long way off but within 6 weeks I’m almost at level 5.
FLEXIBLE HOURS
Of course this is a huge bonus. If you have another job or you need to take your kids to school you can work your Palfish hours around this. To get the most out of the app and get the best chance of being allocated a good amount of lessons you should have your schedule open 530-9pm Bejing time which is when you will get most of your lessons. I would start off by opening as many of these as possible and once you start getting students you can tweak your hours to fit in with you.
WORK FROM ANYWHERE (WITH WIFI!)
As mentioned in my intro – this is imperative to me. When I started my business my goal was to work from anywhere so when I started looking for additional work It was important it could compliment this. You do need a good internet connection so make sure wherever you are has strong wifi and make sure you have data on your phone as a back up incase you need it. I’m about to embark on a six week trip to Thailand so I will be able to update you on my experiences of teaching while I am traveling soon.
VERY LITTLE START UP COSTS
There are little or no start up costs with Palfish. You can teach directly from your phone or tablet (just check that your model is suitable for using the app). The only other expense is your TEFL/TESOL certificate which you’ll need to pick up regardless of if you have a teaching degree/ experience or not. I picked a 40hour one as I wanted to get started right away. I would recommend taking a 120 hour one if you have the time. There are usually cheap deals for this on Groupon and at the moment you can take your 120 hour course for £29 .
I have to be honest and say I’m not naturally a ‘kid person’. I don’t have my own kids yet and although I did love teaching kids to surf the idea of teaching in in a classroom setting gave me the hebee jibes. So I was a little apprehensive about spending a chunk of my day doing this. I needn’t have worried as I love teaching these kids. They are (mostly) well behaved and eager to learn and it is genuinely heart warming seeing them improve through the lesson. Your teaching style will attract some kids and push away others but that’s ok. Its all about finding the right teacher for the right student and that’s why Palfish is so good.
AMAZING TEACHING MATERIAL PROVIDED (NO NEED TO CREATE LESSON PLANS!)
When you are accepted to be a OKC teacher on Palfish you are provided with all of the teaching materials and lesson plans. You literally do not have to plan anything yourself. You can access the slides beforehand to get a gist of the lesson and there are prompts throughout to help. It really is super easy.
THE PALFISH COMMUNITY
Once you have passed your interview you’ll be entered into two support groups which are designed to help you get started and answer any questions about lessons etc. There are around 300 members in each group and they are essentially a huge group chat. When I joined I had no intention of really using them as it just seemed like another way to waste time on the app BUT they have actually proved invaluable. The mentors have been helpful in answering any questions but the biggest benefit has been chatting with others going through the same process as you or those who’ve already come out the other side. When I’ve been worried about how a lesson went, am not sure how to teach a specific slide or just need a morale boost these groups have been brilliant. I even feel like I’ve made some penpals! The groups are optional so you don’t need to be involved if you don’t want to/don’t have time but keep them open incase you do need to call on them at some point. You can also mute conversations if you don’t want constant notifications.
THE CONS OF WORKING WITH PALFISH/ ANY ONLINE TEACHING PLATFORM
As with any Job in the world there are some downsides to teaching English online. These are a few that cropped up in my first few months working with Palfish.
SELF-PROMOTION/ MARKETING AT THE BEGINNING
Palfish requires you to find and attract students to book with you. After reading several blogs and watching a few YouTube videos I must admit I was under the impression I would be plied with loads of lessons straight off the bat. Although Palfish does help you out for your first few days by giving you trails the rest is up to you. You need to put time and effort in right at the beginning to be able to build up bookings. This involves self promotion – something I was hoping to get away from after spending three years trying to build my business solely through social media. However in contrast to growing an IG following finding students and bookings on Palfish takes a lot less time and energy. The benefit of the self-promotion aspect is that you can market yourself to your ideal student when you get going. Maybe you want to work with solely younger kids? Or maybe you want to work with teenagers? You can curate your profile to attract these types of students if you wish.
Hello, World!
MY BIGGEST TIP : Open as many hours ‘weekly’ as possible (especially for peak hours 5pm-8pm BJT) and take as many pop-ups as you can in those first few weeks. I worked (and still do work) throughout the night during the weekend to gain more trials and therefore more lessons, money and regular students. Don’t sign up until you know you have a week or two with a bit of extra time on your hands so you can spend a good chunk of time on the app working out what works for you. You’ll learn to post moments, join the reading app and compose your own lives which will all help bring students in. Like anything in life you have to work for it. Don’t expect (like I did) to just pass the interview and be handed dozens of students. The good news is that once you get rolling the snowball effect will come into play and you’ll be as busy as you wish in no time at all. Above all – practice patience! If you master it please tell me how!
GLITCHES / APP PROBLEMS
The only other downside (which is probably true of most apps like this) is the glitches. I have heard varying degrees of problems when it comes to the app not playing ball; mostly this involves slides lagging or freezing completely. I have experienced this myself on a few lessons but managed to scrape by without it effecting me too much. The general concencus is that the problems are caused when the operating system on your phone is updated (IOS, ANDROID etc) and clashes with Palfish. My best advise is to try and log off the app in-between lessons and turn your device off and back on when you can. Even better have another device you can use. Try to hold off any operating system updates until any potential problems have been sorted with Palfish. Contact admin when you get a problem but do not be surprised if you do not get a reply right away. I’d advise asking for advice in your mentor group.
MY HONEST OPINION AFTER FIRST SIX WEEKS (NOVEMBER 2019)
Ok so I am seven weeks in and I can honestly say it was a rollercoaster ride at the beginning. Before joining Palfish I watched loads of YouTube videos and read a sea of blogs that told me I would be inundated with lessons once I signed up. This simply was not the case for me. After the initially flurry of trial bookings Palfish provided I definitely felt like I was out on my own fighting for bookings. I found comfort in other teachers who told me it would be tough the first few weeks/months and to stick at it and it would pick up. This is completely true. Do as many hours as you can, spend lots of time on the app and you WILL get busy. This is what I did and on week six I turned a corner. Now I consistently have have 100+ bookings in my schedule for the following 2 weeks and next month I will be making over £15 an hour. That’s more money than any other job has paid me before AND I can do it from anywhere. I am about to travel to Thailand for six weeks and I am beyond excited to be able to make *good* money while I’m traveling doing this. I guess all that’s left to say is I am still very new to this so who knows what challenges this will bring up over the next few months. Overall I have been massively impressed with Palfish and I am genuinely looking forward to seeing where the next few months take me.
FAQ’S
As I am still at the beginning of my Palfish journey and I am learning new things everyday. If you have any questions please let me know and I’ll try my best to answer them and add them to a FAQ section below.
LIVING IN PORTUGAL | THE PROS, THE CONS & THE HONEST TRUTH
Its been a while since I’ve written a personal post but last week marked 3 years since we made the move from Cornwall, UK to Algarve, Portugal and I have been reflecting over the process and journey we have been on.
Firstly I just want to say I was really naive when I moved to Portugal. I genuinely expected it to be easy especially because the country is in Europe and is so close to the UK. I wasn’t scared or apprehensive in any way – just majorly excited. The decision to move to Portugal wasn’t a particularly hard one and for the first year it did feel very easy. However when we actually moved into a house and started to settle the challenging aspects became much more obvious.
I often get asked questions such as :
Why did you choose Portugal?
What is the hardest thing about living in Portugal?
Is it easy to meet people?
I’ll try my best to answer these questions from a personal perspective throughout this post.
Although this is a personal account of moving to Portugal and some parts of this journey are unique to me I hope it may help others who are thinking of making the move too. There is loads of information online about the physical process of moving abroad but it is pretty difficult to find personal experiences that take into account emotional factors too.
If you have any questions on the physical process of moving to Portugal I am probably not the best person to help but i’ll give it a crack. E-mail me at hello@soi55lifestyle.com if you have any specific questions.
Warning… i’m about to give a bit (a lot) of background story on how I ended up living in Portugal. This is not particularly relevant to ‘moving to and living in Portugal’ but it does give a bit of insight into how I make decisions- mainly that I follow my heart and not my head.
If you want to get straight to the Pros + Cons of living in Portugal just scroll down.
A little background story…
I grew up in south Wales and went to Uni in Swansea. In the middle of my second year studying graphic design I suddenly had a niggle, I needed a new challenge. I can’t describe the feeling other than the need to be somewhere else pursuing something different.
After a bit of research I found a surf lifesaving course that would potentially enable me to work on the beach as a lifeguard in the future. I grew up competitive swimming and had recently learnt to surf so this seemed like a fitting challenge. Before I took this course I had no real idea of what it entailed and absolutely no idea exactly what went into training to be a lifeguard – I just wanted to do it.
My lack of knowledge was confirmed when I booked the course for the coldest time of year and rocked up in a summer wetsuit. I was totally unprepared. That course was one of the toughest physical things I’ve ever done but when I passed the course at the end of the week my life path took a whole new direction.
It sounds dramatic but it was this single event that skyrocketed me into the future I’m living now.
When I got back to Wales I broke up with my long term boyfriend and the day I passed my driving test I moved to Cornwall. I spent the summer working as a pool lifeguard and volunteering on the beach as much as humanly possible. I had a taste of the beach lifestyle and loved it.
When September came I was devastated I had to go back to Uni but I knew I couldn’t throw my degree away after two years of hard work. I begrudgingly powered on through and managed to pass. The same day I completed my end of year exhibition I drove to Cornwall. I always describe this day as the first day of the rest of my life.
I passed my lifeguard interview and fitness test and spent the next 7 years working as a lifeguard and surf coach. Every year in-between April and October I worked on the beach 5 days a week and fit in as many other jobs as I could on the side. I worked all summer so that I could surf in the tropics all winter.
It was a dream life for a few years and without a doubt and some of my best memories ever are from this time.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO LEAVE CORNWALL?
But when 2015 came some familiar feelings bubbled up. I started feeling the need for a change. I wasn’t unhappy but I wasn’t bursting with life either. I wasn’t progressing and I knew I had to find a new direction.
My boyfriend could already work remotely and I wanted to find a way I could do the same.
I took a ‘happiness mission’ to Thailand and Indonesia which is where and when Soi 55 was born. After that trip I quit my job and started Soi 55 full time. At the time I still worked part time as a surf coach and was able to live with family in Cornwall while I built the business. This was key to getting me off the ground.
In 2016 my boyfriend and I decided to try living and working abroad.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE PORTUGAL?
Before we moved we spent my 27th birthday in Algarve. We spent 4 days wild camping, surfing and drinking cheap beer in the sunshine. The blue sky, warmth and simple living filled me with happiness and I wanted more. We had also both visited Portugal before this trip and loved it. My 27th birthday trip confirmed the fact we were ready for a change and that Portugal might be just the change we were looking for.
We decided on the Algarve region because (like most people) one of the biggest reasons we wanted to move to Portugal was the weather. The summers are hot, the winters are warm and vitamin D is available in abundance. Something I cannot live without.
We chose Lagos to base ourselves as we wanted to be close to a town with enough going on to keep us busy whilst remaining close to some of the surf beaches.
Plus flights from Portugal are around 2.5-3 hours to the UK and usually very cheap. Portugal just made sense.
We booked an apartment for 7 months to test the waters but within a few weeks I knew we would stay for years. When we first moved it didn’t feel like a big deal for me at all. The first 7months felt like a holiday even though I was working on Soi 55 full time. I loved discovering a new culture, new food, new beaches. It was my first real experience of working from home and I loved it. I felt very free and I was absolutely buzzing.
When we moved into the house the time had come to settle into actually living in Portugal. The first year was extremely busy and hectic. We adopted a stray (crazy) german shepherd and had builders around us 12 hours a day. During this time I applied for a start up business loan and started trying to grow Soi 55. To be honest that year was a massive blur and I was pretty dishevelled at the end of it.
This past year (year 3) has been much more settled but probably the hardest for me personally.
House work slowed down and Zavi (the crazy German shepherd) became less crazy but my work became tougher. Alongside this my boyfriend had to start traveling away for work regularly meaning I was suddenly on my own a lot more than usual. This was when the realisation of what it really means to live abroad came into play fully.
WHATS IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT MOVING TO PORTUGAL?
This took me almost three years to realise but the hardest thing about moving to Portugal (especially when working from home) is making friends. I’m an only child so have always been comfortable to spend time and do things my own. I grew up able to move between many different friendship groups but when it came to close friends I only kept a few close by.
For the first few years not knowing many people here didn’t matter; everything was new and exciting and I was lucky to be able to share it all with my partner. As we started to settle into life here the lack of additional personal relationships became an obvious problem.
The fact that I work for myself from home has been the biggest reason why meeting people and making friends has been difficult but there are a few other factors involved too. We live in a seasonal location so finding people who are here for a long time not just a good time can be difficult. Algarve is also a popular place for retirees which means it can be difficult to meet people our own age.
What I am learning is you have to put yourself out there and make an effort to meet people; when you do this more opportunities are presented. It has taken three years but we are now starting to form friendship groups and find our groove here in the Algarve. Some days are still tough but I do feel like we’re overcoming this challenge.
At the risk of sounding like over negative I want to share some other downsides of moving to Portugal now so that I can end with all the amazing benefits of living here.
CONS OF LIVING IN PORTUGAL
BUREAUCRACY EVERYWHERE – One thing I wasn’t prepared for was the bureaucracy in Portugal. In fact as bad as it sounds I didn’t really understand what bureaucracy actually meant until we moved here. Well now I know. Basically to do even the simplest of tasks here can take many steps. There is A LOT of paperwork and your patience will be tested.
THE POSTAL SYSTEM – The postal system (and couriers) in Portugal has/have many flaws. It is super expensive to bring anything in from outside the EU and post goes missing far too regularly for a developed country. Since we have been here I have noticed some things improving but it is still far from the standard of the UK.
LEARNING THE LANGUAGEIS HARD – As much as a love learning a new language and have enjoyed the challenge of learning Portuguese some situations are still incredibly difficult. Scenarios like taking cars to local garages, dealing with police and talking with couriers have caused more than a few headaches and tears. Over the past few years I have nailed basic sentences, can order anything in a restaurant and chat all day about our pet chickens but ask me to name car parts in Portuguese? Not a clue, sorry.
Before learning some basic but essential phrases my boyfriend somehow negotiated the sale of our car for €400 and 4 ducks. We’ve found ourselves in scenarios like this on more than one occasion due to the language barrier. The real truth is that is is our responsibility to learn the language of the country we have moved to and it is that fact that has me motivated to keep learning. When I actually manage to have a simple conversation with a local I am ecstatic.
HOUSES ARE COLD – Portugal, especially Algarve is hot (or at least) warm most of the year so it is easy to spend lots of time outdoors. What you don’t hear about is how cold the houses get in the winter. I’ll give you a clue . . . it starts with FREE and ends in ZING. The houses here are built for hot weather so they are designed to stay cool. This means in those few cold months during the winter it can be colder inside the house than out. We’ve learnt that when a cold snap does come you need to get the fire on all day everyday.
PORTUGAL IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN YOU THINK – If you are anything like I was you believe that Portugal is one of the cheapest places in Western Europe. Nope not the case. In many ways Portugal is cheap. Local produce (fruit, veggies, meat, dairy etc) here is cheap and very good. Eating out at local restaurants in cheap, you can get a lunch with soup, wine, dessert and coffee for €7 or €8. Beer and wine is also very cheap; a very decent bottle for €3-4? hell yes!
However even some of the most basic household items are expensive here. White goods can be crazy pricey and electricity bills in the winter are sky high. Cars are amongst the most expensive necessities in Portugal and you can expect to pay 4 times or more than you would in the UK. Want to import a car from another country? That’ll be a couple of grand please.
So these are a few niggles we have come up against since moving to Portugal but the reality is I love living here. I enjoy the fact that many aspects are different from the UK – thats why we moved in the first place. Once you get your head around some of the differences I mentioned above there is a tonne of benefits to living in Portugal.
PROS OF LIVING IN PORTUGAL?
BLUE SKIES (ALMOST) EVERY DAY – I mentioned it earlier but I can’t explain enough about how much of a difference sun makes to my mental health. I often forget how good it makes me feel until I go back to the UK and realise the air and light is completely different over there. We wake up to blue skies for more than 3/4 of the year and we can plan a BBQ weeks in advance without having to worry what the weather might be doing. For me this is the biggest benefit of living in Algarve.
NEW EXPERIENCES – I love discovering culture and taking part in new experiences and even after three years I am still able to do this in Portugal. Although we live in Algarve (which is notorious for being touristy) we chose to live in a rural village that has very little outside influence. There is a local market selling fruit, veggies and fresh fish; traditional snack bars and an old windmill. I’m sure many who live in central Portugal may disagree with me but the streets here feel very Portuguese and I enjoy soaking it all up.
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES ON YOUR DOORSTEP – Living in continental Europe has its benefits when it comes to travel. Flights, trains and buses are generally cheap and easy. Since living in Portugal I have ticked off Lisbon,Porto, Douro Valley, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Sierra Nevada plus Fes and Marrakesh in Morocco. Our proximity to Lisbon in particular means we can pop up for a day or two and come back feeling like we have has a mini break. We are also just a 2-3 hour flight from UK making the hop home to friends and family much easier.
SEASONAL PRODUCE – Imported food can be more expensive in Portugal but the local produce is cheap, fresh and tasty. Farmer’s markets are a regular thing in most towns/villages and you can pick up fresh fruit, veg, bread and eggs that have potentially traveled from less than a couple of km away.
Some particularly good things to look out for in Portugal are
Figos (Figs) – During a good fig year pick up a kilo for a couple of euros in July/August Laranjas (Oranges) – Very good year round but especially during first few months on the year Melancia (Melons )- Best in summer when they are sweet, juicy and less than €2 a pop Quejo Mistura (Sheep and goats cheese) – Creamy and delicious. I had never eaten sheep’s cheese before moving to Portugal and now i love it. Sardinhas (sardines) – Ok I still haven’t got my head around these yet but I’m trying. If Portugal has a ‘smell’ it would be sardines cooking on a BBQ. These aren’t available year round because of fishing restrictions so best to get them in summer. Tomates (Tomatoes obvs) – Don’t even try and entertain me with your perfectly round and shiny tomatoes in the UK because they don’t have a touch on Portugal’s wonky but ridiculously tasty tomates. Pasteis de Natas – It feels like these custard tarts are currently basking in worldwide fame but let me tell you this. Unless you have eaten one fresh from a Pastelaria in Portugal you’ve haven’t eaten one.
Oh and did I mention the wine?
NATURE ALL AROUND – Portugal is a wildly diverse country but what is overwhelming is the amount of natural spaces there are across all it’s regions. Even here in the Algarve you have remote stretches of beaches, thick forests and sprawling countryside. I moved to Cornwall for the beach life and priorities didn’t change when we moved to Portugal. I love having this huge coast to explore.
MONEY: Although some bar, restaurants and shops do take card many of the smaller places do not so it is wise to carry cash on you. There are plenty of ATM’s in Lagos and at the Marina.
I‘ve been using WISE since we moved to Portugal and I have saved hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds over the last 5 years compared to using my UK bank account.
So there we have it. A list of pros and cons of living in Portugal that are linked with my personal experiences.
There has been a whole range of highs and lows over the last three years. Some of them I was expecting and some creeped up on me out of nowhere. It certainly hasn’t been easy moving to Portugal but I have grown in a huge way and most importantly – I have no regrets.
Would you live in a different country? If so where would you go?
Did you also make the move to a new place? What did you find the hardest?
Until a year ago it was almost impossible to find good coffee in the Algarve, let alone Lagos. Yes there was one or two spots where good coffee was served but apart from Casa Mãe, Lagos was pretty barren. I regularly found myself dreaming of trips to Lisbon and Porto (where the speciality coffee business is booming by the way) just to get my hands on the stuff.
Luckily for me my flat white prayers were answered when several new stylish and cool coffee spots opened up over the past 12 months. Scroll down to THE RUN DOWN to start making notes.
SO . . . WHAT IS ‘GOOD COFFEE’ ?
Of course this question is hugely personal depending on what you look for in your cup of jo. For me good coffee is made from high quality, 100% arabica beans, roasted professionally and made by to a high quality.
And for me the next step up from good coffee is speciality coffee. Excellent quality coffe made with high quality beans and put together by a trained barista; using special methods. This is coffee I can’t personally make at home. Speciality coffee variations include Flat white, Piccolo and Cortado.
The popularity of good coffee and in particular, speciality coffee, has skyrocketed in the last 5-10 years. Many people have favourite coffee shops that serve excellent quality coffee in their hometown. But as its popularity increases more and more people are now searching for good coffee when they travel too. When I start my trip planning one of the first things I research is coffee shops so naturally I have been impatiently waiting for good coffee to arrive in Lagos where we are based.
THE RUN DOWN
In the last year Lagos has cottoned on to the need for good coffee and a number of stylish and cool coffee joints have been popping up all over town. Here is a run down of my favourites.
Orta restaurant is part of the stunning boutique hotel Casa Mãe located in central Lagos. If you are staying in Casa Mãe (lucky you!) you’ll likely dine at Orta during your stay and I have no doubt you’ll be impressed by its seasonal and delicious menu. Luckily for the rest of us, Orta is open to the public and serves an epic brunch complete with excellent speciality coffee. Orta sources it’s coffee beans from Fabrica Coffee Roasters and you’re guaranteed a good cup!
A NOTE : Orta is part of the hotel and although the restaurant openly welcomes non-guests this is more of a breakfast or brunch spot as opposed to a coffee hangout. By all means indulge in their satisfying menu but check out some of the other coffee shops we’ve listed below for a more relaxed vibe.
Open daily in the summer from 9am -3pm. Winter times may vary – check their instagram page.
A small but friendly coffee shop with a laid back vibe, excellent coffee and tasty loaded toasts. The staff regularly take part in coffee training and are genuinely passionate about what they do. Warning : this place can get super busy but take-away coffees are just as good. Get 25p off when you grab your coffee in a keep cup.
The newest coffee spot in town but Black + White are already making a name for themselves in the good coffee department. What to expect? Minimal design with all the cliché coffee shop trimmings (I spy Kinfolk and Cereal) but more importantly, superior coffee. These guys source their beans from The Roasting Party and are promising smoothie bowls and all day brunch in the very near future. In all honestly? I’m probably going to be clocking up some hours and caffeine hits in here!
The sweetest hangout with plenty of seating and gorgeous Lagos views. Abigail’s offers all the usual favourites including cappuccinos and flat whites using Lavazza beans. Their juices and smoothies are top notch and their breakfast menu is well worth shouting about; think breakfast burrito and red velvet beetroot velvet pancakes. Are you drooling yet?
A ‘surf cafe bar in the heart of Lagos’ Twin Fin’s breezy set-up features plenty of leafy green plants and pleasing decor. There is a wide range of good coffees to choose from including my personal favourite on a hot day; iced coffee with coconut milk. Hungry? Twin Fin specialises in topped waffles – sweet or savoury you decide!
PORTUGUESE COFFEE CULTURE
The Portuguese have a prominent coffee culture. The locals here drink coffee at all times of day from first thing in the morning to last thing at night. It can sometimes be accompanied by the local spirit Medronho or at the end of a long lunch. The drink of choice is usually an espresso with sugar and it is rare to see milky drinks served anytime except morning. The majority of coffee drunk In Portugal is a dark and bitter blend made from mostly Robusta beans. Its bitter nature means sugar is a necessary sweetener. In fact the word for espresso in the central and southern regions of Portugal is ‘Bica’ an acronym for ‘beba isto com acucar’ which literally means ‘drink this with sugar.’
If you want to live like a local and try some Portuguese coffee for yourself use our language guide below.
HOW TO ORDER COFFEE IN PORTUGAL
Uma Bica (central/south) or Um Café – Espresso.
Café Duplo – Double espresso.
Meia de Leite – Half coffee (espresso), half milk. The closest thing you’ll find to a flat white.
Galão– Milky coffee. The closest thing you’ll find to a latte.
Café pingado – Espresso with a touch of milk (Macchiato).
Abatanado – Large black coffee (Americano).
Save this blog to Pinterest for later using the red pin it button on the image below. Why not check out our Coffee Shops Around The World board for more coffee travel inspiration.
Good coffee is always on our travel agenda. Some of the coffee experiences we’ve written about include 5 best coffee hangouts in Bangkok , Where to eat and drink in Nusa Lembongan and Lisbon Eats Guide.
Does anything beat the endless blue skies of the Algarve? The light is so crisp here that colours are so much more vibrant and welcoming. Recently I have been taking more time to discover the backstreets of Lagos, exploring a new part of the neighbourhood and getting lost in its charm. This week I have fallen in love with shades of lemon yellow, washed out turquoise and Portuguese blue. Here is some recent colour inspiration….
Vejer de la Frontera was one of those places I had been wanting to visit for years and years but for some reason (despite several trips to Andalusia) it kept getting pushed to the bottom of the list. This month I was finally able to squeeze in a solo road trip to Cádiz and I made sure Vejer was a non-negotiable stop on my 48 hour itinerary. You’ll be pleased to know Vejer did not disappoint and I have since been coming up with a whole number of reasons why I should be returning to this magical town sooner rather than later. If you have holiday or travel plans in Cádiz, Seville or Malaga I absolutely recommend (at least) a day trip to Vejer de la Frontera. Here is a complete guide for a short trip to one of the prettiest towns in Spain.
*Some links included in this guide are affiliate links. This means if you book through this link I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only include links for products and services I love and use regularly. Using these links helps me to build my small business and maintain this travel blog.
W H E R E I S V E J E R D E L A F R O N T E R A ?
Located in the Province of Cádiz, south west Andalusia just 10km inland from the Costa de la Luz.
H O W T O G E T T H E R E ?
Vejer is a beautiful 50 minute drive from Cádiz, 1.5 hours from Gibraltar and approximately 2 hours from both Malaga and Seville airports. The hilltop town can also be reached by bus from Cádiz city which runs 5-7 times a day and takes approximately 1.5 hours
W H E R E T O S T A Y
As I visited Vejer as part of a road trip I stayed an hour away in Puerto de Santa Maria but there a lots of options in the town itself. I spotted some cute and quirky apartments alongside some great guest houses and boutique hotels at BookingCom. There are plenty of different options in Vejer de la Frontera but to get the most out of staying look for accommodation close to the central square.
Expect a busy yet delightful vibe at this small, beautiful square. Despite the many tourists snapping away there are still pockets of local life to be seen amongst the crowds – you only have to look for it. It is true what the guidebooks say it really is one of the most wonderful plazas in Spain.
TOP TIP : The Spanish are not known for being early birds. Arrive here first thing and you’ll enjoy the picturesque scene in peace and quiet.
WEAVE IN + OUT OF THE CITY WALLS
Vejer is one of the funnest towns to walk around (as long as you don’t mind getting lost!). The old city walls blend into the surroundings so unless you are paying close attention is is impossible to tell if you are actually in or out. A series of arches and alleyways will lead you through impossibly white streets with unique views at every turn. Give yourself plenty of time to explore.
FIND YOUR OWN UNIQUE VIEW
There are some seriously impressive views in Vejer and believe me that white town backdrop never gets old. Whilst your exploring look out for secret terraces and tiny streets and you might just find the perfect picture!
SHOP FOR MOROCCAN WARES
With its close proximity to Morocco there is an obvious African influence across much of this region of Spain. Amongst the usual ramble of tourist souvenir shops Vejer has some spectacular hidden gems to be found including clothing, jewellery and homewares you’ll definitely want a bigger suitcase for.
WHERE TO EAT + DRINK
I was pleasantly surprised at how wide a range of bars and restaurants there is in Vejer and the fact there is so many cool spots around every corner is the main reason I want to return and spend a few days. You can expect a mix of cute coffee shops with decent coffee, upmarket tapas restaurants, Moroccan cuisine and most importantly, an impressive number of local-experience bars. There is nothing I love more when traveling than stumbling upon a little bar or cafe filled with locals. It is usually in these spots you will get the most authentic experience of a place and Vejer has lots of these to discover.
TRAFALGAR TAPAS
What better way to enjoy the Plaza de España vibe than people watching with a tapa and an ice cold beer. Trafalgar has a prominent spot right on the square and has plenty of shady tables to enjoy a light lunch from. I choose the Pimientos asados con ventresca (Roasted peppers with red tuna belly) and Hummus de calabaza (Pumpkin hummus) and both were delicious, washed down with a Cruzcampo of course.
LA PICCOLINA
Just before you reach Plaza de España is the lovely La Piccolina with a sprinkling of outdoor seating and super friendly staff. As I arrived in the morning this was my first stop in Vejer and an alfresco coffee and granola was the perfect start to my day. La Piccolina is also open from 10am-4pm and again for dinner/drinks at 8pm.
EL CLAUSTRO
I accidentally stumbled across El Claustro as I was leaving town and I am so glad I did. The spacious garden restaurant is decorated in the perfect fusion of Andalusian and Moroccan and has the best views over Vejer from the chilled out terrace. I only stopped in for a coffee but I would 100% go back for food.
BAR MORILLO
A typical Spanish bar despite being located in a popular tourist area. With wooden stools on both sides of the road all you need to do is decide on whether you want to sip your beverage in the sun or the shade. Pop you head inside and you’ll find locals enjoying a football game on tv or chatting over a beer in a dark but atmospheric den.
NOW . . . . GO GET LOST!
You know us by now. We love finding these places and writing guides for you to enjoy but don’t forget to venture off on your own too. There are literally dozens of streets to get lost in and a maze of sights and sounds to discover. Let us know what you find!
Have you visited Andalusia before? What were your highlights?
All photos taken by Candice Tomkins and are subject to copyright. Please e-mail us at hello@soi55lifestyle.com if you would like to use any of the images in this guide.
Part of the joy of living in Portugal is discovering the diversity between each region. Last week we left Algarve behind for a few days and ventured to a region rich with culture and character – The Alentejo. With the majority of the region heavily relying on agriculture, livestock and forestry it is here you will find many authentic towns showcasing real Portugal . Having previously visited Vila Nova de Milfontes we wanted to experience a smaller, more traditional town on the coast and Porto Covo ticked all our boxes.
Porto Covo, although a popular tourist destination during the summer months, is still very much a fishing village with traditional architecture and a local feel. Located almost halfway between Lisbon and Faro it is around a two hour drive from either airport.
CENTRO
Praça Marques de Pombal (town centre) is a picturesque square of neatly painted cafes and restaurants with blue facades and a traditional church. You will find the majority of restaurants, bars and shops here along with Rua Vasco da Gama. The main square is an ideal spot so spend a few hours chatting with friends, drinking cold beers and soaking up the sun in one of the pretty corner cafes.
THE COAST
One of the most inviting aspects of Porto Covo (translated as Port of the fishing nets) is its string of coves and beaches that stretch almost as far as SInes. Even if you only have a short time in the area go for a stroll along at least some of the stunning coastal path.
There are many secluded spots to be found along the coast here but if you do go searching for the nooks and crannies make sure you know if the tide is on its way in or out so you don’t get caught out. We walked from the 3.5km from the harbour to Praia do Burrinho and back again which gave us plenty of time to pick our favourite beaches (Praia do Serra Aguia and Praia da Samoqueira). If walking is not your thing and you are coming by car or camper there are dedicated parking spots above most of the larger beaches.
SEAFOOD AND EAT IT
If seafood is your thing you’re going to love it here. We only had two days and nights to sample restaurants so we followed our usual rule (eat where the locals eat) and were handsomely rewarded with traditional, tasty food on all occasions.
For a fresh seafood lunch stop off at O Pescador on R. Vasca da Gama. Choose your fresh fish from the counter and it will be served to you perfectly cooked with a delicious bbq taste. Or eat like a local and indulge in a typical dish such as Polvo (Octopus). Wash it down with a cheap (€3.50 a litre) yet tasty jug of white wine and pat yourself on the back for choosing so wisely.
For a cosy and traditional affair head to Restaurante O Torreão located on the main square and sit inside. If we could give you only one suggestion it would be the mussels – they are huge! The dessert list here is as long as your arm and a slab of cheesecake will set you back only €2.70 so get stuck in!
There are lots of places to choose from when it comes to food but if you have a few nights in Porto Covo I would definitely recommend choosing a local spot for at least one of them. A few other restaurants we have added to our bucket list for next time should you want to try something different…. Zé Inácio, Restaurant Miramar and Marquês.
CAFE CULTURE
Portuguese coffee will never be my favourite, It is far too bitter for me personally. However of there is one thing the Portuguese are extremely good at its sweet treats. I mean the greatest tart in the world has to be a pastel de nata right? Whether its clever pastry technique, local ingredients (almonds, oranges, figs – yum!) or a whole load of sugar there is nothing that livens up my coffee moments in Portugal than one of the countries sweet treats. So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered the Pastel Marquês at the cafe Gelataria Marquês. – a perfect combination of almond, orange, egg, sugar and pumpkin. This pastel is a speciality of Porto Covo and a must while you are in town.
FORGET-ME-NOT
Porto Covo, like most towns with a tourist influx during the summer, has the usual array of souvenir shops where you can buy pretty ceramics, sardine ornaments and retro postcards. This particular shop (opposite restaurant O Pescador) caught my eye so I wandered in and found a cave of eclectic array of home wears from ceramics jugs to bamboo mirrors to metal roosters. If you’re the type of person who likes to take a reminder of their travels home with them (like me) then check out a few of the shops on the R Vasco da Gama. There is also a few gorgeous clothing boutiques full to the brim with beautiful holiday pieces. My favourite was Hipiie Chic who stocks the most stunning summer dresses.
WHERE TO STAY
We decided to camp for our recent trip to Porto Covo and stayed in the central campsite Camping Porto Covo. The campsite offered plenty of space, a pool (summer), bar and bbq area and is just a 5 minute stroll from the centre.
Since moving to Algarve almost 3 years ago we have been exploring Portugal. Looking for some more inspirational destinations in Portugal. Have a peek at our travel guides and start planning your Portugal itinerary.
This weekend marks Soi 55’s 3rd birthday. Three whole years since I took a leap of faith and pressed launch on our website wwww.soi55lifestye.com. For those of you who don’t already know our story I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to share it with you.
I owe much of my motivation for starting my own business to my years spent surfing and traveling in my twenties. Before I started Soi 55 I spent my summers working as a RNLI lifeguard and surf instructor in Cornwall and my winters traveling to surf spots around the world. I traveled on chicken buses, rented £5 a night accommodation and lived off rice and coconuts so that I could travel on a budget for as long as possible. Basically I did everything I could to make sure I was on the beach as much as humanly possible!
I started Soi 55 whilst on a happiness mission traveling and surfing in Thailand + Indonesia in 2015. This photo was taken at Bangkok airport at the end of our 10 week trip as we were about to fly home. In my suitcases are a bunch of our first samples and two days after this I quit my job and started Soi 55.
After setting up the business on the road Soi 55 spent its first year of trading in beautiful Cornwall before moving to the sunnier coastline of the Algarve in Portugal where we are now based. Although we don’t travel for months at a time anymore travel is still a regular part of both my personal and work life. The goal has always been to be able to work from anywhere.
OPENING UP ABOUT THE LAST 12 MONTHS….
Soi 55 has been one of the best things I have ever done but also, without a doubt, the hardest too. I have learnt so much about running a business, communication, travel, fashion and more but as Soi 55 grows I am quickly realising how much I still have to master.
This year there has been lots of amazing moments for Soi 55; Launching our recycled plastic beach bag collection in April last year, working with a fulfilment agent in the UK and launching in Wolf & Badger’s flagship store in London are some of the achievements I am super proud of.
But the truth is in the past 12 months Soi 55 has faced some of the hardest challenges so far and I have experienced more low points personally than I would like to admit. Dealing with some of the problems Soi 55 has faced this year has caused stress and worry to seep into everyday life meaning I have been consumed by the business 24/7. Over the last few months I have tried to take some time to re-evaluate and, thanks to some incredibly supportive people, been able to start moving forward with a more positive outlook.
Soi 55’s 3rd birthday has been the perfect time to reflect over the adventure that is running your own business. I never could have imagined what the journey would be like up until this point, like how utterly amazing the highs are or how scary some of the lows can be. I also can’t imagine doing anything else than this exact rollercoaster ride so I am happy to say I am super excited about what the future has in store.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for following our journey and supporting us along the way! I hope we can continue to send you all the beach and travel good vibes as we continue to grow.
Our recycled plastic beach bags, totes and pouches have a fascinating story behind them – one that we are excited to share with you.
Our beach bags, totes and pouches, like many plastic baskets from this area of México, are handwoven by prisoners in the Oaxaca region. On joining the prison the inmates choose a job that enables them to make money to support their family. Many of the inmates choose to learn the traditional craft of plastic basket weaving.
The inmates spend many weeks perfecting their craft to eventually become ‘artisans’ of their trade. This type of basket weaving is unique to the Oaxaca region and thanks to the continued practice of this technique the traditional craft is kept alive. The prisoners take much pride in their work as it allows them to take control of their time, perfect their skill and make money independently. Thanks to an increasing demand for this type of basket the prisoners are able to choose how much they sell each item for and generally increase their prices each year. This ensures they remain in control and are paid fairly for their time and skill. We pair our artisans upfront for every single bag which means even if we don’t sell everything they still get paid.
We also work directly with the local community in the region who have a close relationship with the artisans in the prison. The community help the artisans earn continuously by marketing their crafts around the world. Needless to say we feel extremely honoured to be able to work with such a talented and inspiring community in México.
