Retiring To Portugal? Why Madeira Could Be On TOP Of Your List

[@dianapitt5665]

You perfectly described why Madeira is such a great place to retire; climate , cost of living, nature and low crime and a base to travel to Europe. Great video!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you! We very much look forward how the next year or two - and onwards - plays out! Cheers 😀

[@Rootscogoogleads]

I would love a mini series on what it would be like buying a house outside the cities (villages etc) and what the cost looks like in different cities around the island. We are a family of 4 and I’m so interested in prices in homes in the ‘suburbs’ lol outside main cities and no apartments

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi there! Thank you for the comment and suggestion! We will see what we can do! Cheers! D&M

[@Jess-rj3qd]

Hello again! You guys are making it really difficult for me to keep working lol. Have mercy--I still got 6 more years to qualify for retirement. Based on everything I've learned from you and others, Madeira checks ALL the boxes for the perfect place to live.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Ha ha ha! Sorry about that! 😉. It certainly is worth serious consideration! Hopefully your remaining work years go by quickly enough for you! Cheers! 🍻

[@Kate-jz3op]

I'm in the same boat! Six years until I can retire and move to Madeira. Feels like an eternity!

[@carolinedecastro4171]

You two are very young to retire. I must say I am very happy to have a home in Madeira but only for holidays. Madeira has many homes and apartments for sale it needs foreign tourism to boost its economy. Madeira is a lovely safe haven.

[@Track_Us_Down]

You bet but we started early, so we felt like it was the right time for us to make the most of the 2nd half of our lives 😉. You are so right about it being a safe haven and a tourist destination. We feel incredibly safe here. All the best to you, D & M

[@cleaningtime8156]

Great Video with very important information, thanks for sharing.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thanks for watching! 😀

[@maxbear215]

You both look very healthy. As you age out though, you may depend more on the local healthcare. Can you talk a little bit about what that is like in Madeira.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you very much - we try! You are exactly right about the aging out though. We feel so confident with the Portuguese healthcare, it really seems impressive. If you haven't already seen it, we did an entire video on the Portuguese healthcare system/ health insurance - please check it out! 😀 All the best! Doug & Monique

[@seanburchill5373]

We will be there May 9th-16th to check it out. Can't wait!! Just need to convince my wife that Madeira is the place!

[@Track_Us_Down]

That's great! Your visit here may just put it over the edge! Good luck! 😀

[@skqq3250]

The two of you sound and remind me of Christine and Amon from “Our Rich Journey”. 🎤

[@Track_Us_Down]

Wonderful couple and amazing channel! 👍

[@bobcusolito5206]

Another great video! You’re really helping us out with our decision to retire there. Doing a scouting trip in May and hoping to retire there within a year or so.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you! That's exciting for you too! Let us know what you think of Madeira during your scouting, and all the best to you in your endeavours!

[@michaeldeutch]

I arrived on Thursday!!! Getting settled, can’t wait to explore more.

[@Track_Us_Down]

That's great! Enjoy this paradise!

[@michaeldeutch]

@@Track_Us_Down Oh, I meant to ask, how can I find out about the discounts back to the mainland that you mentioned in the video?

[@Track_Us_Down]

We got the info directly from the postal clerk at the CTT. Requirements are: ~ Flight has to be in Economy and no more than 400€ return. ~ Within 90 days of travel bring in following to CTT post office: 1. Invoice & receipt 2. Boarding pass 3. Portugal ID (proof of Madeira address) 4. A photocopy of that same ID ~ They then issue you the difference between your flight cost, and the 86€.

[@AVTVA]

Are you okay to swim in the sea at February and Match as it's said the the sea temperature is below 20 Celsius since January.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Freeman! Thank you for watching and commenting! We have only been here one year. We swam in January and then February and March were “ the coldest on record” apparently. We do know people who swam at that time. We will keep you posted as we go through another year here. Cheers! M&D

[@carlferreira6905]

Hi Doug & Monique, Bom Dia. Tudo bem? I loved your very informative video. Glad you found Madeira, my birth place (I was born in Funchal), for your retirement. Doug, any airport is hard to land on high crosswinds... Madeira Airport is no exception! Good Thing, Only CERTIFIED pilots are allowed to land on Madeira. So, you are safe. You guys look very young. You did not mentioned here nor in you website where you were from. Just curious. Uma Boa Jornada na vossa aposentadoria (also known as reforma). Have a happy Retirement in Madeira Good job Cheers Saude Forca Carl (Toronto, Canada) Note: have you watched It'll Be Fun (KZbin channel)... He is an American retiring in Madeira too. His videos are excellent and very informative. Take a look.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Boa tarde! Thank you very much for your excellent feedback and kind words. Your Madeira is beautiful and we are excited to start our "Second Half of Life" here! You are right about airports and winds - and what a beautiful airport here. I play tennis now in the gorgeous outdoor sports facility below the runway. What a great, smart use of space! You're in Canada now? Well then you are in our homeland 😉. Cheers and all the very best to you! Doug & Monique

[@surysatha26]

I will retired at the of 39, 3 more years to go, madeira will be one of my spot

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Sury! Wow that’s awesome! Congratulations on having a plan! 3 years will fly by!! Madeira will be waiting for you! Cheers! M&D

[@Larry-jh8gf]

Thanks for answering my question. 👍🙂 You guys certainly put Madeira on my list of places in Portugal to retire to.

[@Track_Us_Down]

That's great!

[@tljohnson9028]

I just subscribed! I absolutely love your enthusiasm about Madeira. I’m turning 65 next month and intend to retire on that beautiful island. Watching your videos only further motivate me and reinforce my decision. I intend to visit the island soon and invest in some real estate (Golden Visa). I believe I will be making the best decision of my life. Thanks for spreading your love of that paradise!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you! And thanks for reaching out! We're glad you like our videos and that's great that you are coming here to check things out. We feel like we made the best decision of our new retirement lives too 😀. You'll love it here we're sure. However, check back for our next video where we talk about some reasons that Madeira may not be for everyone - just to be fair! (but nothing that has changed our minds - we're staying! 😉). All the very best to you in your endeavours! D & M

[@PPPAnnArbor]

Yes. You articulated perfectly so many of the reasons why my wife and I think it will be perfect for us, at least for part of the year. That said, I think you might want to go into the topographical challenges of Madeira and how important it is to be in the right place - particularly when you have a wife (like mine) who has difficulty walking. I found that particularly true during my March scouting trip.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you 🙂 ... and you read my mind. That is something (re: topographical challenges) that has been on our minds a lot when promoting this island, and we definitely should, and will be, going into that further in the near future! Cheers! D & M

[@Mr.S65]

I have never thought about Madeira for retirement until I found your channel. The island looks very beautiful and appealing to live there. We have nonstop flights to the Azores and Lisbon from Boston. Madeira is also very close to Morocco and Morocco close to Spain. Under the D7 I believe you must remain within the Schengen to qualify for permanent residency/citizenship in Portugal?

[@tinglestingles]

Stay requirements... first two years - 16 months provided no absences exceed 6 consecutive months. Subsequent temporary permits - At least 28 months per 3 year period, provided no absence exceeds 6 consecutive months. Lastly, permanent residency at least 30 months per 5 year period providing no absences exceeds 24 consecutive months. I suspect SEF (Border force) will want to see proof of minimum stay at each renewal.

[@tinglestingles]

I understand maximum absences can be exceeded due to professional, health, social reasons or force majeure.

[@Mr.S65]

@@tinglestingles Thank you for the information. In a nutshell it’s 30 months or 6 months per year during 5 years. Now, if you travel through Schengen, is that still considered part of living in Portugal? Let’s say traveling to Spain and France since both countries are EU and Schengen?

[@tinglestingles]

@@Mr.S65 Portugal is part of Schengen BUT SEF officials would not be happy if you were found not to be living in Portugal. There is no border as such. So, if you want to try and break the rules on minimum stay requirements - that's your decision.

[@tinglestingles]

absence 8 months - total first, two years | absence 8 months - total second, three years - so the first five years total absence maximum 16 months.

[@paulrumohr]

Wow, I had no idea about Madeira. I was looking at Porto, the Silver Coast and the Algarve, but what an excellent option!! 😎

[@Track_Us_Down]

It sure is... it lures you in!

[@varditpeer7188]

I'm curious, did you stay in Madeira for any length of time before you decided take the plunge? My husband has been trying to convince me to move to Madeira ever since we visited in October of last year. After binge watching your videos today, I am beginning to think it could be the right move for us. You explain everything so clearly, you're a pleasure to watch. Keep up the excellent work. We will be in Madeira again in June for a 2 week visit. I will be looking at everything from a whole new angle after today.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi! Thanks for the great question, and for the encouraging feedback! Our initial plan was to rent for a year on Madeira, then relocate to the mainland to rent year to year, moving around. Very surprisingly (for us) we hadn't been on Madeira for very long before our thoughts changed and the island won us over. So within 2-3 months of living here, we unanimously and whole-heartedly agreed that this was going to be our base and, for us, buying would financially be the right move. We wish you all the very best on your journey - how exiting for you both! Cheers! D & M

[@briant3404]

i have watched a lot of expat vids and you guys have the most practical and appropriate videos, also the pace is really good,, excellent job! keep up the good work .. bom trabalho, !

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you very much for that feedback - we really do appreciate it!

[@mohammedsharif2651]

Great and informative video. 🙏😀👏👏🥂

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you!

[@DDG58]

Thank you very much glad I came across this video.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello David! Thank you for watching and for your kind words! Hope you continue to find value in our videos. We would love to have you subscribe. Cheers! M&D

[@tinglestingles]

Residents of Madeira receive a refund for travelling to Lisbon? Nice bonus!

[@Track_Us_Down]

It sure is! 😀 👍

[@luisvasconcelos1053]

The amount we pay is 80€ after the refund, so 40€ each direction, to travel to mainland. Travelling in low season can get you even lower fares.

[@ingridhamilton7746]

Could someone with mobility issues retire here?? Are there areas where you can ride your mobility scooter to have an outing and do they have handicap sidewalk ramps??

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello - excellent question! That's a tough call. We see people driving mobility scooters in the hotel zone / Estrada Monumental / downtown / marina where it is all fairly flat and accessible - and all those areas are big areas. But once you start moving up the hill further up the bowl of Funchal, it gets quite steep and we believe mobility would be an issue. Many if not most buildings do have very nice ramps in addition to the stairs, so that's good. We talked about mobility issues further in our "Why Madeira May Not Be For You" video, if you want to check that out for further info. Cheers! Doug & Monique.

[@Rootscogoogleads]

Silly question maybe but do you get Amazon delivery there

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello! We sure do! We have ordered several times from Amazon Spain and delivery was fast! Cheers! D&M

[@mariusgrobler4235]

Awesome video with great content thanks guys!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you very much for the feedback!!

[@stephenjarzombek2903]

Another great video! If you answered these in a previous one, I apologize, but here goes. How many scouting trips did you make to Madeira, and for how long? What tipped the scales in favor of Madeira over the Algarve? Thanks!

[@Track_Us_Down]

No apologies required - thanks for reaching out! Lol, we had not made any prior IN PERSON scouting trips to Madeira, although we researched it thoroughly online 😉. We should say that, initially, we had only planned to live here for the first year and start our retirement here before moving to the mainland. But we absolutely fell in love with Madeira and want it to be our base. We have talked to many others here who have done scouting pre-trips - which is great and smart if you are able - but in the end most ended up same as us - staying in Madeira! 😆 We have been to Portugal before, including the Algarve - we drove a motorhome across it from one end to the other - and while we really liked the Algarve (it is gorgeous!) we found it cooler in the winter, and somewhat quiet/closed down. Funchal is a vibrant city with everything to do! But not just that, we just really like the idea right now of being on this big, amazing island, far enough from it all, but SO close to other amazing destinations, and the mainland as well. That's us! Take care - D & M

[@stephenjarzombek2903]

@@Track_Us_Down Thanks for the detailed answer! I also subscribe to a channel from some Ontarians who love Portugal ("This Is Our Retirement") who have traveled a lot through the mainland, the Azores, and Madeira. They also commented on the winter being quite slow in the smaller coastal towns in the Algarve, to the point that many restaurants close. We have yet to travel much through Europe, so the ability to just hop on a train without first flying to the mainland would be a plus for us--at least for a while. A former coworker and his wife just returned from a trip to the mainland and Madeira and they were very impressed with Funchal, too.

[@Track_Us_Down]

We have seen @This Is Our Retirement... lovely couple! I hear you on the "hop on the train" mindset - that is certainly something we thought long and hard about too!

[@stephenjarzombek2903]

@@Track_Us_Down @Jumping Places is actually the channel that first got me interested in the Algarve. If you've not seen that one, he is from the UK, she is from Brazil. His parents retired from the UK to Portimao, so it's a frequent stop for them as they are full-time travelers.

[@PPPAnnArbor]

Let me just base this on our own experience. We spent three weeks in mainland Portugal last September, touring all over the country and staying in areas that most interested us - including the Algarve. A few months later, we started considering Madeira. And quickly realized how ideal it might be. One downside of the Algarve is that it is very tourist dependent. To stay in a community that is lively year round, you have to move away from the beaches. Madeira is very tourist heavy, but not overly so. During my scouting trip in March (not tourist season), Funchal and all the surrounding areas were full of life. Nothing was curtailed or closed down. Walking through downtown, you were just as likely to come across a hardware store or locksmith as a souvenir store. I want to live in a community that doesn't just come to life 4-5 months a year and is true community that exists both for locals and the visitors. Secondly, we now live in Michigan and can't wait to escape its winters. Madeira, with its year-round climate, is more of an escape from the miseries of winter than anything on the mainland.

[@brianmagazu]

Are there any websites you'd recommend to explore real estate-- rentals and sales-- in Madeira?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello! We'd definitely recommend Idealista.pt to start - it gives you a feel for how they do their listings and what's available, either currently or being built. We used Madeira Legacy for our rental, but not sure how much inventory they currently have. There's also Facebook Marketplace for sales and rentals, and all the local real estate agency sites - and there are quite a few of those. You really have to do a "deep dive" into it, but in person, place to place, is still the best. Hope that helps! Cheers!

[@zeroflaghu]

Sounds great, but how about taxes on investments? Such as capital gains and dividends?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello there! Thank you so much for watching and excellent questions! We will be talking about taxes and investments in upcoming videos. Please consider subscribing 😀 We appreciate your support! Cheers! M&D

[@freeriderhappy]

How long did you guys actively started to plan towards an early retirement: learning about investments, downsizing, frugal spending?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Another great question - thank you! While it was increasingly on our minds for the last 5 years, we only really got serious about it about 2 years before we actually pulled it off. The downsizing and more frugal spending started about a 1.5 years before we retired. Looking back and knowing what we know now, we wish we would have started it years sooner! That's Life - live and learn. Take care, D &M

[@freeriderhappy]

How long have you been actively watching your finances, learning about it and multiplying your finances?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Great question. We were admittedly rather ignorant to that up until about 3 years ago, but soon realized it was never too late. The outcome has been incredible for us. Cheers!

[@lucillebruff4041]

👍❤️

[@Track_Us_Down]

😀

[@dovygoodguy1296]

How is Madeira for snowbirds from Canada (prior to residency)? With all the necessary infrastructure and amenities even though it's in the middle of the ocean? Are there any issues of hurricanes and tsunamis? Is there any impact from the anxieties from the war in Ukraine affecting the EU countries??

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Dovy! Thabks for watching! We have many videos that talk about all of this. Please check them out!! But the short answer is- yes all the infrastructure and amenities, no issues with hurricanes and tsunami…. That we are aware of, no impact from the war on Ukraine 🇺🇦 at this time. Cheers! M&D

[@johnbruenn8755]

You know, after watching this video I Google searched “safest countries ranked”. I was disgusted, but not surprised my native US was ranked #129. Greatest country in the world my ass. They cited political division and wealth disparity as reasons for this pathetic ranking. I would add cultural degradation to that list. The difference between the US I grew up in compared to the cesspool it has become is striking. My wife and I are considering becoming ex pats for a multitude of reasons. Maybe I need to start learning Portuguese?? Great video. Madeira will definitely be a consideration.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello John! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights. We are happy to share our experience moving here and it does feel in a sense like a step back in time, to a safer, more wholesome existence. We are loving it! We hope you subscribe to our channel and check out our other videos. Cheers! M&D

[@PhoenixwayNet]

You guys are really too young to call yourself retirees, lol...but I suppose you're making a point, too.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello! Yes after 25 years of working hard in Education and Law Enforcement- we retired at 50. Yes it’s on the young side to retire! We are happily relocated here in Madeira and share our retirement on this channel. Thanks for watching! Cheers! M&D

[@PhoenixwayNet]

@@Track_Us_Down unfortunately, D7 visa has been radically changed this year to discourage retirees from going to Portugal, esp. from the USA. 1) pension/SS tax break for 10 years eliminated, exposing retirement income to up to 48% tax and visa requiring that you become a tax resident, 2) no access to country's medical system until permanent residency after 5 years of living there and need to pay for private insurance, 3) sharp increases to both rent and home prices countrywide but esp. in retiree and tourist areas, like Madeira. So sad!!!

[@marcocastro6868]

[@Track_Us_Down]

💙

[@kyledunham1388]

Thank you for all of your amazing videos - it has helped us tremendously with our research of Madeira. We are traveling to Madeira from the US for a scouting trip in July with hopes of moving there shortly thereafter! We’d love to pick your brains sometime if you are willing. Do you have an email address? Thank you!!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thanks so much for the feedback - we really appreciate it! Very smart of you to be doing a scouting trip - you're sure to love it here. And please feel free to email us at [e-mail]. Cheers!