Returning back to Europe

Hi!

What are you looking for exactly? Advice on locations in Alentejo or where to look for property rentals?

Regards.

Hi,

I'd suggest you should spend some time here before deciding where to stay for longer. It is a very diverse country and though you say you are not "beach people" the Atlantic coast is rugged and has the occasional accessible sandy beach (mobbed only at holiday times)  and stretches the length of Portugal. As for rural - a country of 10 million people with 25% of these in greater Lisbon and 23% in greater Oporto the rest are spread thinly about in old cities/towns/villages so mainly a rural population.

Things here are generally done at a personal level, many letting agents/estate agents are local and deal with local properties, many will not respond to email or call back unless they have met you in person, many do not have an current listing of propertied on the interweb so the way to do it is go visit as many as possible and talk to them otherwise they will not take your seriously. To be honest if you contact 30 agencies they have to invest time/money in dealing with you and 29 wont get paid so it makes sense.  Rental places are often not advertised via agents as it costs money but local agents usually know if some where may be available and often contact owners directly if they have a serious client. Rental agreements vary but generally you'll need a NIF/tax number (first) and bank account  (second) both of which are straight forward to set up but bring a few bits of paperwork.

Go visit as many areas as possible before deciding where to stay longer as somewhere I think is nice you may think is revolting. I'd out a few vids here but can't at the moment so do a search on the idilic town of Góis laying on a meandering river then look at video  of Gois in August https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTpb9Rhsas0