International Living Community

Welcome Deb, it’s great to have you!

Remember you can access and search the International Living Magazine Archive and reach out to IL Customer Service about your membership benefits. You’ll find information on books and other products and upcoming events. In this forum you’ll find helpful posts on different countries (and we invite you to post questions you don’t find the answers for).

Again, welcome to the Community… you’re an ILer now. Here’s to thinking… and living… internationally 👏 🎉

My bank's debit card will not work overseas, and even if it did, I would have been subject unfavorable exchange rates. An option that I, and several other expats I know use, is creating an account with Wise. com. Although not exactly a bank, they allow you to hold amounts in several currencies which can be a useful option. Plus, the exchange rates are competitive.

Hi Robert,

Here is the link to access 'The Best Ways to Find Rentals Overseas' report: https://bit.ly/3SAzr5I

Millie, IL Community Moderator

Dennis, take a good look at the northern half of Italy. From Florence or Bologna north to a line that goes through Venice and Milan to the west. If you go farther north most of the time you will love the climate but winters in the Dolomites and north of Lake Como, Lago de Garda, and Maaggiore can be cold and snowy.

Look carefully at the Provinces of Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Lombardia, and Piemonte. Italy is so mountainous that some parts of any mountanous province can be a lot colder but I think those four provinces are a good starting place.

Jess's answer is a good one and considering that Italy taxes by "residency" or those who are there more than 183 days a year, her Idea of going back and forth may be excellent for you!
Chip Stites, Italy Correspondent, International Living Magazine.

IL Moderator said:
Hi @GCOMM Thanks for your question!

We’ve checked in with Glenda Cole, our expert in Portugal to get an answer to your question. This was her response,

In the Algarve, pretty much all private docs speak English. In Lisbon and Porto, it requires a bit of research on their websites to find a doctor that speaks English.

If you are moving to Portugal, you want to research a general practitioner who speaks English. They will then refer you to any specialists you need, keeping in mind that you need an English speaker.

My doctor is South African. She speaks better English than I do.

Thanks for the information about researching a general practitioner.