Portugal in many ways is still like a hidden gem. Whereas many will think of buying a place in Spain or elsewhere to live, Portugal can offer so much more. It's a country full of character and beauty, from the Atlantic coast inwards, from the far north to the far south. It's no wonder so many are now discovering and choosing to live in this country which has wonderful scenery, wonderful weather and wonderful people.
If you're moving to Portugal here's some packing tips to help you on your way. First of all, think ahead. Once you have your date confirmed for moving and have notified your removal company of that date then you can start preparing straight away. No matter if it's six weeks or eight weeks ahead. You'll be amazed at just how fast the time will fly as your removal day approaches. In addition, there's a good chance other things in your everyday life will interrupt your future plans, so when you have the chance to get things done do them and don't put it off.
For instance, think about the clothes you'll need for your removal day. If it's summer, you can pack away your scarves and gloves and other winter clothes. If you have three or four radios, keep one and pack away the others. See what other appliances you can pack away in advance.
Look at the foodstuffs you have in your kitchen. You want to be taking as little as possible so for the next few weeks till moving day don't buy any bulk buy items and use what's in your kitchen already. This is especially the case with liquid foodstuffs and those in glass bottles or jars. These can break and cause spillages and are best avoided for your long journey to Portugal.
This also applies to cleaning supplies. Washing up liquid, detergent and so forth. You will be needing these items until very near your removal day. Yet you do not want to take them with you on your journey when they can take up vital space as well as spill. So ideally you want to be able to discard them or use them up. You can do this by planning ahead, using little by little in the time before you move. When it comes to acidic, flammable or corrosive items don't even think about taking them to Portugal with you. Dispose of them in a safe manner well before you leave.
Kitchen utensils can also be pared down. Keep the minimum of what you need and pack away the rest. This applies to bathroom items as well. Those bottles of aftershave or perfume you never use you can pack away. Wrap them carefully and place them in sealed plastic bags. Otherwise you could be arriving in Portugal with the best smelling removal van in town but also one where other items will be smelling of your favourite scent for weeks on end afterwards.
One other way to avoid a last minute packing panic is to go round your attic, cupboards, garage and garden shed and pack away those other items which you rarely use but are still taking to Portugal. If you have personal items such as photographs, you may want to take them with you personally. These are the kind of things you'll be needing to do in the build up to your removal day. Think ahead, keep ahead and your move to Portugal will be all the better for it.