Experience Paradise in the Algarve, Portugal: Live the Dream!

Fiona: What a fabulous book! I started reading it while on the plane to the Algarve to decide if I wanted to live there and Alyson helped me make up my mind. It really was like "living the dream".....I couldn't put the book down as the description of life there was so real and alluring with all the ups and downs.....but mostly ups.
I'm moving to Portugal in September - thanks Alyson!

United Kingdom on Apr 10, 2023

BRITS: Though an example of which is,
"One word of advice - wear something sensible on your feet!"
I stopped reading shortly after.

United Kingdom on May 23, 2022

caroljnash: Part memoir, part guide book, with lots of useful, factual information and interesting places to visit. The couple made the brave decision to emigrate and start a new life in Portugal, after spending many enjoyable holidays there. I can empathise with them having to deal with all the bureaucracy surrounding residency etc. The author’s genuine love of Portuguese people, and her adopted country, shines through, and I love that the couple manage to turn their hobbies into successful businesses.
This is a great read, full of humour and anguish, the highs and lows, and is a bible for anyone considering a move to Portugal.

United States on Aug 16, 2021

Gary: Part memoir, part guide for others considering a move to the Algarve and part tourist guide. I enjoyed the book because it is about a part of the world I knew nothing about.

United States on Jan 28, 2021

Holly: We’ve all had that dream! Alyson and Dave Sheldrake actually did it! They left rainy, cold England for a place in the sun that they vacationed in for years and often wondered; what it would be like to live there full-time?

“Living the Dream” is not just a how-to or guidebook including ‘everything you need to know about moving to Portugal.’ It is a memoir of the couple's experiences once the decision was made.

Ms. Sheldrake’s love and enthusiasm for her adopted country is expressed over and over as she writes in her English voice, accent and vocabulary, which I love. She writes with such detail you not only learn the ins and outs of this massive endeavor, you are right their with them experiencing the joys and frustrations, and comedy of the situation. There’s plenty of comedy, and sometimes the joke is on Dave, sometimes Dave plays the joke on an unsuspecting acquaintance. You get to know the couple and they begin to feel like friends.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes adventures. Even if you’re not considering such a move. This book is entertaining and filled with all the information you need to make Portugal your next vacation...

United States on Nov 04, 2020

Steven: This is a first-person account of relocating to Portugal by a mid-life couple, both seeking new pursuits as they embark on an early retirement from England to the southern coast of Portugal. The style is easy to read, and the author writes candidly of the joys and challenges of their adventures in a very personal way. There are also some helpful web links at the end of the book.

I have been to Portugal three times and found the author's descriptions of the Portuguese people -- their warmth and helpfulness -- to align with my own experiences. If you have any interest in learning what it might be like to relocate to Portugal or another country, this book should be on your reading list. Highly recommended!

United States on Sep 17, 2020

Beth Haslam: Ever wondered what it’s like to up sticks and move to a country you’ve fallen in love with? If so, read this book.

The author and her husband take the brave decision to leave successful careers in the UK and settle in the Algarve. Determined to immerse themselves in the local culture, they buy a house on the outskirts of a village, adopt a gorgeous rescue dog and begin a new life.

I know the Algarve well and was charmed by the author’s vivid descriptions of the places they visit, the scenes, sights and customs. I could easily imagine having that daily coffee and delicious pastel de nata in the village café. It’s a delightfully Portuguese tradition.

Throughout the book, Alyson provides terrific advice on different areas and the sometimes tortuous processes involved in becoming a resident in a country hyper-keen on bureaucracy. They manage, though, and often with refreshing ease.

The book is a fun travel memoir with bags of appeal for anyone who enjoys an informative read, and especially those interested in moving to Portugal. The author’s love for their adopted country shines through her writing. So much so, it has inspired the couple to...

United Kingdom on Jul 31, 2020

Amazon Customer: Not the “how to” book I was expecting, although a valuable resource for anyone considering a permanent move to Portugal. However, as well as being informative, it is an delightfully interesting and enjoyable read. I constantly stifle giggles and have been reduced to tears of laughter too, as I follow Alyson's experiences and observations. Her very personal account of the adventures she and her husband encountered are a joy to share, and her writing conjures up wonderful visions of people and places in their chosen home, as Expats. Their view of the world, their relationship with each other and the people they meet, is both refreshing and enchanting. I will be reading it again for sure, while waiting for a sequel. (Do hope there is a sequel). Highly recommended for lighthearted summer reading or an ideal winter read, for those who can’t experience the warmth of the winter sun in Portugal for themselves.

Canada on Jul 30, 2020

PSM: I live half of the year in Portugal so could relate to many parts of this book but for me it didn't have any great depth on the various topics covered. And why so many exclamation remarks?

United Kingdom on Jul 15, 2020

Stephen: I read this book because I had been researching a trip to Portugal and always thought about Lisbon & Porto but her book gave us such a new appreciation for the Algarve and it’s now definitely being put on our itinerary. A lovely memoir of an adventurous couple, the trials tribulations and sometimes humorous Portuguese bureaucracy. This book gives you a feel for the weather, the food, the people and their traditions, the beaches, the language, a little of everything. Well written and funny! So even if you’re not interested in moving overseas or planning to travel there it’s still a great read and I highly recommend.

United States on Apr 24, 2020