After a whirlwind weekend celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, I finally got to put my remote job to use. I’d been invited to stay with a group of friends at a small beach town in Portugal. It was time to attempt being a digital nomad!
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What is a Digital Nomad?
A digital nomad uses remote work to live a location-independent lifestyle. Covid has made remote work more accessible than ever, and people are taking advantage of it in droves. It all sounds quite glamorous–wake up, drink your morning coffee on a beach, work a little, go for a swim, repeat. I gained some freedom while I was freelancing in Budapest, but it wasn’t until I landed a remote job for an American marketing company that I realized going full digital nomad was possible!
But, here’s the thing. I’ve become a bit of a homebody over the years, so I wasn’t sure if full-time work and travel would be right for me. This trip to Portugal was the best way to dip my toe in the water.
So, as a newly minted remote worker, I wanted to keep a diary of sorts of my experiences. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Maybe you’re thinking of making this transition too. Maybe we have the same questions, like:
- Is being a digital nomad all it’s cracked up to be?
- What’s the right balance of home and away?
- Is it possible to keep healthy relationships when you’re moving around constantly?
- What are the digital nomad advantages and disadvantages?
I’m sure the answers to these questions are different for everyone. But I’m going to let you know what I find out for myself along the way. The first piece of research? A week in Portugal.
Xx Denae
Exploring Lisbon
I’ve found a new workout regimen: reside in Lisbon. Those hilly streets had me huffing and puffing, but it was worth it! Staying exclusively in the Bica district, I had everything I needed to get work done in style.
Stay: Casinha Das Flores–These beautifully converted apartments are decorated to perfection. They’re truly atmospheric, from the record machine playing fado in the kitchen to the crown molded ceiling. It’s close to the Baixa-Chiado metro, so you don’t have to drag your bags far (except up the three flights of stairs). They provided complimentary cake and cucumber water was each day, adding a fun morning bonus. It also had a study, which was very convenient for getting work done.
Working cafe: Comobá
When I wanted to get out of the accommodation, Comobá was my chosen spot for remote work in Lisbon!
Airy and bright, this Lisbon cafe had a varied menu with lots of healthy items, vegan included. Go for any of their smoothies, and don’t you dare skip the blueberry muffin. The menu is a little pricey, but portion sizes are large and the food is flavorful–not to mention the friendliest staff.
Bonus tip: Just two minutes down the street is Farès Lisboa, which is full of character and has vegan menu options as well. I’d definitely recommend it for an evening cocktail.
Exploring Baleal
After our Lisbon stopover, we were off to the main event: the beach. I know the Algarve is a popular Portuguese beach destination, but Peniche is a much closer option.
How to get to Peniche
Peniche is a 90-minute, ~€12 bus ride from Sete Rios station. A 10-minute taxi ride from there will get you to the even smaller town of Baleal, known as a surfer’s paradise.
This tiny town has more surf schools than grocery stores. With a modest handful of cafes and a few bars, the main focus is the beach. It was a sleepy town during offseason, but I can imagine how it swells to bursting with surfers and beach-lovers during the summer.
Stay: I’ll link the Airbnb here. It was perfect for a group of remote workers in Portugal It was
- Cost-effective: Split between the 4 of us we each paid €142.65 for a 5-night stay. We did a grocery run at the large supermarket in Peniche (I spent ~€35) before splitting the 10-minute taxi to Baleal.
- Spacious: With five bedrooms, we each had our own space, and then some. The living room had a large table we could simultaneously cowork from and lots of natural light.
- Updated: Not only were the decorations modern, but the property had a fully equipped kitchen, washing machine, and steady wifi.
The time difference worked in my favor. I could wake up, work a little, take a surf lesson, then get back online in time to chat with coworkers.
Selina Hostel: I loved Baleal so much that I ended up extending my trip, and got to stay at the Selina hostel. Keep this hostel chain in mind if you intend to travel as a remote worker!
Selina is made with digital nomads in mind, with dedicated coworking spaces and programming for community building. I loved how colorful it was and that they offered lots of programming (i.e. morning yoga, welcome drinks). We took our surf lessons through them (€35/person for a group lesson).
Selina actually has a network of hostels around the world targeted toward those who want to work remotely and still have a community. With locations all over South America, Australia, and more, there’s ample opportunity to check out other Selinas in the future.
Surf: Surfing was at the top of my bucket list for 2022, and this was the perfect time to try! There’s no shortage of surf schools in Baleal, but I’m really happy with our choice of the Selina Surf School. It was €35 each for a group lesson, and the price included a wetsuit and board. The enthusiastic instructors made an otherwise daunting experience unforgettable.
Is Baleal, Portugal Good for Remote Work?
I would return here for short-term remote work.
Wifi:
- Both the AirBnb and hostel had steady wifi, so no problems there. There was an town-wide power outage, however it was resolved in an hour or so.
Community:
- Even for shoulder season, there were quite a few travelers. People were all friendly and welcoming. It was easy to strike up a conversation with others and make connections. The hostel had a mix of students and remote workers.
Cost of Living:
- During our 5 day stay, I found prices to be reasonable. Some breakdowns:
- €35 bought me groceries for the week.
- A classic beer/sandwich combo from a seaside cafe was ~€6.
- A sit-down lunch was ~€12
- Group Surf lesson: €35
Accessibility:
- Easy to Peniche from Lisbon, but it takes about 3 hours altogether (From the Lisbon airport to our house in Baleal)
- Baleal is very small and thus easily walkable
- Getting between Baleal and Peniche is a 10-minute taxi ride or an hour’s walk along the beach
So, would I return for more remote work in Baleal? Although I can appreciate the peace of the seaside, I enjoy the excitement of the city. I think it would start to feel too small if I stayed too long.
Feelings so far?
This was the perfect introduction to remote work and being a digital nomad in Europe. I learned that I prefer a balance of city and small town and that having good company is essential to a pleasant experience.
I ended the trip full of hope. Is this really what life could be like? Sharing accommodation around the world with friends, splitting the rent in beautiful destinations, while building a career at the same time? I think we’re onto something here.
But of course, more research is needed. Where to next? I have a couple ideas…
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