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 click on these links and buy something Lonely planet will pay me a small commission for sending you there way (at no cost to you). As with all of my guides and posts I only ever recommend places and products I personally love and use. Lonely Planet have also kindly offered Soi 55 readers a 10% discount – scroll down the page to grab it! My love for Lonely Planet has been around pretty much my whole life so I am super happy to be able to work with them in this way.
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.
10% OFF LONELY PLANET BOOKS
Lonely Planet have kindly offered Soi 55 readers 10% OFF all orders. Just enter code ‘SOI55’ at checkout.
Lonely Planet also have a great 3 for 2 offer on books and guides. If you are looking to stock up on travel guides now is a great time. There are also a few amazing coffee table style books that you could add in with the Travel Atlas on the 3 for 2 and you’d have a bargain.
The 3 for 2 is also valid on e-books which are so handy for traveling! I actually keep the Portugal and Spain one on my ipad so I can reference it when I’m on weekend breaks.
**Please note you cannot used the 10% off code on top of the 3 for 2 offer.
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.
This was written on 27th Feb 2020 and the links provided are up to date as of this date.
Firstly I want to start by saying I am not a health professional (in any way shape or form) and I have no background in medicine or science.
What I am is a 30 year old women who lives in Portugal and travels regularly, especially within Europe. I have an upcoming trip to Italy which has prompted many, many hours of online research looking for an answer to the following questions : –
Can I still travel in Europe
Is it safe to travel in Europe.
What is COVID-19?
According to the WHO (World Health Organisation) ‘COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019’.
*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.
CORONAVIRUS IN EUROPE
The threat of this particular coronavirus (COVID-19) has been on everyone’s mind since it was first announced by China in December. For those in Asia (particularly China but also in Thailand, South Korea and Japan) it has been at the forefront of daily life since the beginning. But for most people in Europe it has been of little worry until recent weeks when what was just a handful of cases on the continent turned into 1000+ almost overnight. After people heard of the sudden development of 600+ coronavirus cases in Italy the virus became much more of an obvious threat to people in this part of the world.
Like many, I am a member of many travel related Facebook groups and in the last week the amount of Coronavirus related questions that have been rolling in are huge. Those who weren’t panicked are suddenly feeling a twinge of anxiety about upcoming travel plans.
WHERE CAN I FIND RELIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS IN EUROPE?
When I turned to the internet for answers about the Coronavirus in Europe I was shocked at the amount of contradicting information available for us to consume.
Like many people interested in traveling in Europe, I am a member of a large number of travel related Facebook groups. Regular posts about COVID-19 have been present for weeks but In the last week they have ramped up hugely. Probably 9 out of 10 posts submitted are in relation to Coronavirus and whether or not it is safe to travel. Understandably people want the answers to the same questions I do. Unfortunately much of what is shared in response to these questions is unhelpful to say the least. At the very best answers are assumptions and at the very worse are downright lies. I found it very hard to find information from reliable sources so I started to do my own research.
Here is the most reliable and unbiased information about COVID-19 and traveling I have found.
WHO (World Health Organisation)
Unsurprisingly this is the best website to collect information about COVID-19. It also has a very useful Q&A section.
THE CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
For me this has been the most useful for planning travel. The website offers very clear and precise information on which countries you can and cannot travel to at this time. They also use an easy to read 3 level system which can help you decide on the best course of action when it come to planning (or canceling) your upcoming travel. This is a government website designed to provide you with factual information.
This is a live map of current COVID-19 cases around the world including Europe. The map has been created by Channel News Asia so bare that in mind but it is a very good way to see which countries have and haven’t been affected by this Coronavirus.
Perhaps not where you would automatically look for information about COVID-19 but I found this article provided a very good summary especially when I was asking the question ‘Should I cancel my upcoming trip?”
I wanted to provide a small section on Italy in particular as my upcoming trip to the country is what prompted me to research and write this blog. I have a short trip planned to Palermo in Sicily and Naples in Campania in about 4 week’s time. As where I am traveling is not directly affected by COVID-19 at the moment I haven’t canceled yet. I have however been keeping a very close eye on both the CDC website and gov.uk website for Italy travel updates. If suddenly travel is not advised for the areas I am visiting I will obviously cancel. For anyone who has an upcoming trip to Italy and is worried about the virus make sure you keep up to date here :
The FCO advise against all but essential travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy (Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano) and one in Veneto (Vo’ Euganeo), which have been isolated by the Italian authorities due to an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The government of Italy has introduced extraordinary measures that allow regions to implement civil protection measures in response to coronavirus, including the isolation of these towns.
If CDC or GOV.UK advise against all but essential travel, cancel and come back another time. It is really is not with the risk and your insurance will not cover you in any case.
SHOULD I STILL TRAVEL IN EUROPE?
I obviously cannot give you that answer to this question but I hope some of the reliable websites above can help you make a decision about whether or not you should travel during this Coronavirus outbreak. Here are a few tips that may help you plan at this time.
USE THE WEBSITES PROVIDED
Once you have consulted these websites you will be armed with factual information and the tools you need to plan your travel accordingly.
AVOID MISINFORMATION/ SCAREMONGERING
There are a lot of clickbait articles out there right now. Try to avoid overconsumption of this type of press as it will only help cause panic.
PREPARE TO CHANGE LAST MINUTE
The COVID-19 outbreak is developing quickly so you should not be surprised if situations change when it comes to travel guidance within Europe. Now would be a good time to find comprehensive travel insurance and check if you are covered in the event quarantine, cancellation etc. Don’t forget to choose refundable hotels and flights for any upcoming trips too.
TRUST YOUR GUT
If all but essential travel is recommended don’t go. If there are no travel restrictions put in place you can obviously still travel but if your instincts are kicking in and making you feel uneasy or you feel like traveling during this time would not be enjoyable cancel and re-book another time.
As I mentioned at the beginning I am not qualified to give you advice on Coronavirus and travel in Europe but hopefully the information provided by the websites I have offered above will give you the information you actually need.
If anyone has any other reliable and useful websites you think would be beneficial to add to this post please feel free to email me – hello@soi55lifestyle.com
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.
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. So . . .
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 Revolut since we moved to Portugal and I have saved hundreds (if not thousands) of £’s over the last 3 years compared to using my UK bank account. Revolut is a prepaid card and app that you can hold and transfer multiple currencies on. You can use the contactless Revolut card abroad and at home with no exchange fees whatsoever. Simply top up using the app and transfer between currencies whenever you like. You can also transfer money to friends with Revolut in one tap; super handy when you need to split the bill! is no set-up fee or running costs (it is completely free) and you will also receive a free card when you sign up below. I’ve also written up a post on the Best Travel Money Card if you want to read more about Revolut.
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?
Are you fed up of getting charged a small fortune in exchange fees and bank charges when you are traveling? Are you totally confused when it comes to exchange rates, taking money out and using your card abroad? When you travel do you use your card willy nilly (yes, I just said willy nilly) and just accept that you’ll pay your bank a fee every time you do anything?
If you’re anything like I was then you will have answered yes to all of the above. The good news is that it is 2019. Times are changing and we DO NOT need to pay our bank every time we take a trip outside of our own country. Can I get a YEHAAAA?!
Keep on reading to find out how Revolut has changed my travel/money life for the better or skip the chat and get signed up for free right away.
*Some links included in this post are affiliate links. This means if you sign up to Revolut 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.
When I moved to Portugal 3 years ago I literally had no idea about using my money abroad. I’d already spent 7 years traveling for 4 months every winter but had always resigned myself to the fact that my UK bank would charge me to use my card and withdraw money abroad regardless. When I finally accepted that I would soon be living in a country with a different currency to my current bank account I forced myself to do some proper research. Back then every time I was using my bank card in a country other than the UK I was being charged around £3 to take cash out from an ATM. Not just that but I was being charged some crazy percentage somewhere between 1-5% transaction fee (plus exchange fees) on every single card payment. That is not even funny.
When I started researching I was looking at best UK bank accounts to use my card abroad but I soon realised I was looking for the wrong thing. I soon came across the prepaid app and card REVOLUT and was intrigued to find out more. To be honest I only signed up because it was totally free so worth a shot. It was only once I received it and actually started using it I realised how much of a game-changer it was and still is today.
Want to find out more? I’ll answer some common questions below.
SO, WHAT IS REVOLUT?
Revolut is an ‘electronic money institution’. I know what you’re probably thinking…what *on earth* is that?! Basically, Revolut it is a prepaid card and app-based account where you can hold and transfer multiple currencies with no fees whatsoever. Yep, using your card to pay and transfer between currencies is totally free. Your Revolut card will be a contactless VISA or MASTERCARD.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The Revolut app and account is absolutely free to use. There are no hidden set up costs, fees or monthly payments. The Revolut card usually costs £4.99 postage but you can get it for FREE when you sign-up here.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING REVOLUT?
Absolutely zero exchange fees . No poor currency rates. You pay the exact exchange rate that the banks use.
You can use your Revolut card for card payments in over 140 countries for FREE. This means you’ll avoid the usual bank fees of 2.75 – 3% on every transaction.
Switch money between 29 currencies easily and instantly for FREE. Use your app to switch money between currencies and hold multiple currencies at a time.
£200 FREE monthly withdrawals in 140+ countries and only a 2% fee thereafter. The free limit rises to £400 with the Premium account and £600 with the metal account.
You can top up your account by linking to your regular bank account. The minimum top-up amount is £10 and you can top up as little or often as you like. Topped up too much and don’t need to use it? You can send it back to your usual bank account via a transfer; for free of course!
Excellent fraud protection. Each time you use your card Revolut sends a notification to your app so you’ll be able to spot any dodgy activity quickly. Lost your card while traveling? You can block it on the app to stop anyone using it.
Transfer money between friends for FREE. Traveling with friends and need to split the bill? You can select the split bill feature and share the cost. Or simply pay a friend back by sending money through the app instantly.
Send international payments for FREE. Need to pay for that boat hire in Greece next month? Send them the exact amount in Euros via the app with zero fees.
Free budgeting tools. Track and cap your spending directly from the app.
Customer trust. The Revolut app is used by 4.5m customers across Europe and Australia.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Ready to get started? Sign up here and get your Revolut card for free, saving you £4.99 on postage fees.
Sign up
Enter your phone number
Download the app.
Order your FREE Revolut card.
WHY DO YOU LOVE REVOLUT SO MUCH?
Quite simply because it has made my life abroad much (much, much, much) easier. Not only that but it has saved me hundreds if not thousands of £’s in fees in the last 3 years.
Since moving to Portugal I have used my Revolut card every single day without fail.
I don’t just use it in Portugal but the UK and whilst traveling too. You can use your Revolut app and card in over 140 countries such as USA, Australia Thailand and Indonesia. Whether you are on a weekend getaway to Paris or a 3 month trek through Asia you can save money using your Revolut card.
I also use my Revolut account for business and make the most of fee-free international payments to countries such as Thailand and USA.
SOME THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Revolut is doing everything right for the user and offers free services and no fees. However many banks and ATM’s will try to find sneaky ways to charge you extra. Always follow these steps when using your card abroad.
If a bank asks you if you want to convert with or without a conversion always choose ‘without a conversion’ which will default to your Revolut conversion rate (FREE).
Always opt to be charged in the local currency. If you are in Europe use Euros, if you are in Thailand use Thai Bhat and so on. This will stop the bank charging you poor exchange rates.
Some ATM machines will try and charge you a fee to use the machine. To avoid this look for local banks to withdraw money rather than ATM’s set up for tourists. Avoid using Tavelex ATM’s as these often charge a exchange fee regardless.
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. This is made using speciality or single origin beans by a trained barista; often using special or particular methods. This is coffee I personally can’t make at home. Often found in independent coffee shops and hipster cafes around the world. Speciality coffee variations include Flat white, Piccolo and Cortado – oooh faaaaancy!
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.
A NOTE : All of these spots are regular haunts for me and all serve good coffee. The coffee shops featuring SPECIALITY next to their name serve not only good but EXCELLENT coffee. These places have good coffee knowledge, use only the best quality beans and use specific methods; without a doubt these three are my favourite spots in Lagos to get my caffeine fix. Ok let’s get to it….
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.
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 booking.com. 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.
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.
Straw, reed, palm and rattan; all names of materials that appear at that first hint of summer. That first day trip to the beach or afternoon bbq and suddenly you have an urge to shop everything natural! With an overwhelming number of straw bags on the market and a responsibility we all have to choose sustainably how can you pick the perfect bag for summer?
DO YOUR RESEARCH
There are so many different styles of straw summer bags out there. From simple handwoven baskets to coconut smoked rattan to big throw-it-all-in baskets. Try mentally styling each style with your summer/holiday wardrobe and imagine all the places you’ll be taking it in the sunshine. Create a Pinterest board of all your favourites and enjoy the process of picking the perfect bag for you. Once you have one in mind it’s time to learn about the story behind it. Who made your bag and where was it made? It is taking time to learn these important but beautiful details that will make you love your choice even more.
CHOOSE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
When picking a ‘straw’ bag look for sustainable materials that have been sourced responsibly. When talking about a ‘straw’ bag it may seem like it is a silly question to ask but check that it has actually been made from a natural material and not plastic.
SUPPORT TRADITIONAL CRAFT
Due to a rise in fast fashion consumption many traditional crafts are being replicated using machine-led manufacturing so that thousands can be made quickly and more often that not are a much poorer quality. When you choose to support traditional craft not only are you keeping a valuable and customary skill alive but you are also helping artisans to support themselves and their families.
INVEST IN A PIECE YOU WILL TREASURE IN 10 YEARS TIME
Quality over quantity always. With so many cheap options available it can be tempting to ‘stock up’ on bags every summer season. But rather than owning several, cheaply made items that won’t last you the season ahead why not invest in a timeless piece that excites you year after year?
A PORTUGUESE BASKET STORY
Our beautiful straw basket bags have been handmade by talented artisans in the north of Portugal. The summer baskets have been woven from natural ceira reed local to Portugal. Read the Artisan Story on the Portuguese basket page to find out more.
