Sounds pollution is awful. Dogs, kids, neighbours, traffic. It's hard to shift from fight/flight to rest/digest. When i lived in Portugal I found issues with mold and fleas in Costa da Caparoca.

Hello from CA. Never could understand why u moved to Lisbon. Yes, try Ibiza and fall in love! 😻

Hi Adrian, do you do KZbin for the revenue? Because I am trying to be KZbinr. Please do a video/ reply on revenue earned if possible. Thank you

Hi Adrien, thank you so much for your channel. It has been great help. I’m in the beginning process of applying for the D8 Visa. If Im understanding this correctly I have to rent an apt to apply. It’s a bit difficult to understand Lisbon ‘s neighborhoods to figure out where to live. It seems you found a perfect spot. I found a furnished apt that is in Pena. The real state won’t let us see the apt before hand. They’re UKIO. Have you heard of them and is it common in Lisbon to rent without viewing the apt?

Thanks for being so honest, totally feel you! Please keep up with the updates it's been great to listen to the real side of things.

I think you should definitely do it, I mean, I like Lisbon but I always find myself thinking that if you’re young and foreign, used to far more urban places, Lisbon won’t be your cup of tea for too long, however I still think that you should try, if legally possible, and move to Berlin.

I would check out the tax situation before you move to Spain.

Omggg yeeesss Ibiza is my favorite

Hey darling, go for it, get that shop open, and don’t forget to take us along on the journey.

You can just say Ibiza Bro :). No lisp accent needed. Love you

Hey Adrien, fellow gemini, thanks for all your video's. I was thinking of moving to Portugal and also Bali. I think Portugal I rather just visit and move to Bali. I was there last year. I'm wondering who your agent was in Bali for dealing with all your business and residency and did you think they were really honest and good? On another note write down what you want to manifest and carry it with you everywhere, also demand from the Universe what you want to manifest and make it detailed. I'm thinking your boyfriend in particular and fabulous house! Hope this is helpful. Namaste, don't forget to play!

What a charming guy! You’ve done well. Good on you

I stopped watching half way just because what’s wrong in being British? Just felt like you don’t need to put others down or generalise them. So, maybe let’s bee less judgmental about others and just let them be. All the best!

I think you'd love maison du monde.

Sir, might i strongly mention no 1 action on any proposed purchase is DUE DILIGENCE... Your comments are personal great news......your missing the legal basics which are more important than animals.

I have no pity for nobody here, it’s the Portuguese landlords that got greedy, like my previous ones. Better buy something here. Don’t feel guilty dude.

Which shade did you choose? Thanks a lot for the video

I've lived outside of the US for 20 years in 4 different countries. Yes, there are problems and differences anywhere you go, but the key is to accept this fact, and to hire professionals in that country who will help to navigate and mitigate many of these problems. As for the driver's license exchange. First, go to your local DMV in the US and get a duplicate driver's license. It's that simple. I just told my DMV in Florida that I lost my license and wanted a new one and I just paid the fees and they gave me a 2nd license.

This video is fantastic, and I can completely relate to everything you've mentioned. That realtor really stands out to me; I feel like my Brooklyn side might have come out, and I would have given them something to really get the embassy involved. I've been visiting Portugal since 2006 and bought my place in Lisbon in 2017. During the home-buying process, I encountered so many people with reaching hands out, and yes, some view us as nothing more than dollar or euro signs. Like your landlord when you call them out on it, they often get defensive and never admit their mistakes or apologize. I found your comments about dating in Portugal amusing; I feel like I have a PhD in that area, Portuguese men but even they complain about each other, and it seems like you’re on a similar path! I've gained a lot of knowledge, but I've also learned to protect my finances here. It often feels like a constant battle, and right now, I'm even having issues with my gym over some trivial matters. Anyway, I wish you all the best, and I really hope the higher-ups take notice of this video because if things don’t change, the cash cow will look for greener pastures.

Come to Brazil.. i live in São Paulo, and we could be friends. I'm waiting for you. Feliz Ano Novo!

Don't think people are taking advantage of you because you're American. Lots of landlords do the things you're describing - it doesn't matter if you're American, Chinese, rich, poor, tall or short. Most of my Portuguese family members have been through similar situations. It's bad. Spain is still an option right? As a Portuguese person I often think about moving there myself - however, I don't have fantasies about how much greater it'll be. Grass is always greener and all that.

I am looking into moving to Portugal (as well as a couple other countries), but I know that Lisbon is out of my price range. Have you seen/heard of similar problems in other cities?

Dude. I love listening to you. I think we would be best friends lol.

Adrian you were so happy in Bali. i missed that!

You've paid for first 3 months upfront (because as a fresh immigrant you didn't have a portuguese guarantor and IRS for last 3 months), plus 1 rent for the December 2024 and a refundable deposit for any potential damage equal to 2 rental fees). So you didn't pay your rent on Dec.1st '24, as it was already paid 2 years ago, right? After renewal you're gonna pay only for the first and the last month of the contract. Damage deposit is already paid, and will be refunded once you leave the place with no major damages. I don't see where it's unfair. I have the same situation every 2 years.

If you don't want to be confused with an ATM don't act like one. Don't tip over 1€ in restaurants, don't pay the cleaning lady 14 € an hour just because you can, because the fair price is € 10 /hour. For those who can choose Portuguese law for renters is simple _at maximum you have too pay 2 rents and 2 deposits in advance, not six or seven. And if you know nothing of Portuguese contracts you should hire an international lawyer so there is no doubts left for any of those situations. There is a bunch of agreements between US and Portugal including drivers licence and that you can ask on your embassy. Towards beaureacracy, it's part of our charm and fortunately it tests the ones who realy like this country to " forever" stay. We are here since 1143 and we are a secullar country so, everything is slower. So if you don't like it, there is a whole wordl wayting for you.

PIRATES ☠️ ☠️ ☠️, WATCH OUT

Thank you Adrien for this information and a reminder of our human fragility. I will be looking into insurance when I spend 90 days in Bali soon. Much appreciated.

Hi Adrian, while I love your honesty, you do seem to have a pattern. You get so excited about the new location then after a few years find faults and move on somewhere else. I am not judging, I am the same, I find its loneliness and also, no one place can make certain people happy. Maybe have your base and travel more? you could still be doing 3 months a year in Bali or Mexico etc to break it up.

this is discourse is completely ridiculous. please stop. rich north americans, please, spend you money somewhere else.

this makes me sick! I've been warning friends fros the US and Canada to be very careful when moving to Portugal, cause they'll take advantage of you.

so move go back to the U.S.

you are right! and more places in europe will take atvantage of usa visitors! good video, i understand also the bali situation compare with portugal! stay strong, if someone tries to misuse you say no! happy new year hugs from amsterdam nl!

That is insane man

You can drive anywhere in Europe with the paper temporary driver's license and your old license.

I know how you feel about noise. I used to live in the center of HK in NYC and I often wore earplugs at night - one gets used to it after a while though

Same in Mexico.

Contracts in Portugal are binding and onerous. You would have been better moving to the new apartment and trying to make it work once you signed. It’s not just because you are American and they are taking advantage. Bureaucracy is heavy and slow in Portugal, but it’s not a secret.

The bureaucracy in Portugal is not dificult enough as the flow of immigrants or expacts doesn't stop. I which it was 10 times harder.

You treat country's as commodities they will dissapoint you. If people were just honest they chose Portugal due to financial reasons, they wouldn't have to resent it for the other stuff.

"Entrepreneur" ( rich kid funded by mommy and daddy. 😂

I am truly sorry for what you have been through however there is no need to generalize and insult an entire country and culture over your experience. Some of the comments here imply that Portugal exists to serve up wealthy Americans their dream life in an easy and effortless way. This is so out of touch and disrespectful. And the way you categorize all Portuguese people as poor people who are trying to take your money is absolutely a huge generalization and untrue stereotype. There are bad landlords in every country. I truly wish you well and hope you get things resolved. I've been through a ton of bad situations after living here 10 years and I disagree with you that we get to demand whatever we want from people and expect that things will work the way we want them to. I see that you are in the middle of a tough situation and extremely frustrated. I hope you are able to get it worked out. Wishing you all the best.

I really don’t understand all this Portugal hype… very overstated country.

It's the same in Italy I am joint EU/Australian but have finally given up with the battles particularly the awful bureaucracy, it's sad because even Italians realise they are treated with contempt especially by the government but are so brow beaten they don't bother complaining so nothing ever changes.

Thank you for making this video! Although it doesn't deter me from still wanting to move to Portugal one day, it's good to see videos like this that talk about the pitfalls of moving to Portugal as an American and not just the videos with rose tinted glasses about Portugal. However I do have to push back on your statement at 14:00 that the US bureaucracy is not so bad - as someone who has family & friends across the income spectrum, when you're close to/in poverty in the US, bureaucracy becomes infinitely worse and it's something that most Americans with money don't often have to think about. Not to discount the frustrating experiences you've had with Portuguese bureaucracy with your taxes and driver's license, but just a note that in the US wealth really does shield you from a lot of the "inefficiencies" of the US. For what it's worth I think it still seems like it was worth moving to Portugal. Sure you lived in luxury in Bali, but if you felt like you couldn't be your authentic self outside of your home then it sounds like living in a gilded cage more than anything.

I'm surprised at the hoops Americans jump through to live in Portugal. Six months in advance? I think that's against the law. I lived in Portugal some years back. Some Americans absolutely love it. For me, it was just the opposite. You seem like a nice guy. I hope things work out for you. If you don't like Portugal... move on. The world is big.

I have to laugh because these are valid issues but for young people who are working. We bought multiple homes and live better than we could in the USA but we are happy to pay lawyers and accountants to help us. At our point in life, it is paradise. We are older and wealthier. Your experience is typical of all young immigrants. Btw we lived in Spain too and you made the right choice in Portugal ❤😊

First, let me say that your happiness and peace of mind is first and foremost. I really want you to happy Adrien you deserve it no matter where you go. Although, I will say I loved your life when you lived in Bali!😍🥰😉

Videos like yours are very important. Too much of the Portugal propaganda - on YT and elsewhere - presents an overly rosy picture and glosses over the very real challenges, if it even touches on them at all. In most Portugal FB groups, you will be crucified if you dare to suggest that the place is not Nirvana and in the rare instances where someone does discuss the challenges, you are criticized for asking questions to try to get more information to understand the heart of the problems. So, it's very hard for people trying to do their due diligence before moving to get this perspective. I spent several years convinced that I was going to move to PT after retirement. I spent less time researching my graduate thesis than I did Portugal and visited in 2023. After traveling all over the country and finally connecting with people who had experiences very similar to yours, I decided that while there were many lovely things about the country, I didn't love it enough to risk the time, money and inevitable headaches it would take to relocate there. Plus, it left a bad taste in my mouth when immigrants were being blamed for driving up the prices when so many Portuguese had their hands in those same immigrants' pockets and were taking advantage at every turn. I may or may not try a different country in the future, but as others have said, no place is perfect. No matter where you go, you need to figure out what level of dysfunction you're willing to put up with.

I am happy to see that the myth of Portugal being a "great place to be an expat" is fading away. Not because I don't like Portugal or because of any negativity towards Portugal, but because I see that the Portuguese people who have a regular job are getting pushed out of their own country by all the foreigners coming to the country. In one hand you have the low wage worker migrants from India, Brazil and Pakistan crowding the few "cheap" rooms that were avaliable for rent in "pensões" (sort of hostels or motels), where a lot of single poorer portuguese people used to live and on the other hand you have the "expats" buying up and over bidding the Portuguese who want to buy a house. The Portuguese are fed up with the negative effects of overimigration. People then have the nerve to talk about "xenophobia" or racism, when they are literally destroying the country for "an adventure abroad" or "to get the European passport"... It is notting more than opportunism. Foreigners are now complaining about the bureaucracy, the high prices, the lack of houses... Those issues have been made worse by the excessive presence of foreigners, the country can't cope. Mass tourism was a mistake, Portugal needs to go back to the old development model of mixed economy, local services, manufacturing, commodities/agriculture and construction. It worked for us in the 90's and we were happier. Good luck to all of you, and I hope you all can find a better place to live, where you can feel happy.