From Vegas to Portugal

Hi, I’m Natasha! Welcome to my blog: From Vegas to Portugal! I moved from Vegas to Portugal, trading the neon desert for European skies. If you’re curious about what it’s like to uproot your life, leave the US behind, and settle in a new country, you’re in the right place. This blog is my honest space to document travel, expat life, culture shock, everyday victories, real-life experience of building a new life abroad, and all the little surprises that come with moving from the US to Portugal.

If you’re dreaming of moving from the US to Portugal and figuring out where to start, this is for you.

I’m 38 years old, I don’t have a job, I haven’t worked in almost a year, and I am living my dream life in a beautiful town in Europe. I’m not rich, but I live comfortably and am figuring out my new path in life, so I figured I would let people come along on my journey. So how did I, a 38-year-old with a regular life, no savings, and some debt, uproot my life and live my dream? Read on for my story.

Why Covid Made Us Rethink Our Futures

Early July 2020, while the whole world was shut down for Covid we had started to re-evaluate our lives. The original scare had begun to die down, but there were still so many unknowns about the state of the world. We also had no idea how long we would be in quarantine. I was working at a casino, a job that made me miserable, for 13 years. I welcomed the break. During that time, we stayed in our little safety bubble, and thanks to unemployment, we were doing okay financially. We managed to avoid getting sick for a while, though that changed shortly after. Along the way, we adopted a dog, Bodhi, and a kitten, Wednesday. Long daily walks, time for our hobbies, and a slower pace helped us make the best of an otherwise awful situation.

I knew that eventually things would have to go back to normal, and I dreaded that. We started talking about how we needed a change and to get out of the rat race. We wanted to live a life we were actually happy with. Since we had met, we had talked about living in a different country, but life had taken over, and in the blink of an eye, 14 years had passed. We decided we didn’t want to blink again, be 70, and regret never doing it.

Wednesday, 8 weeks old, Gotcha Day

Bodhi, choosing his bed, right after adoption

How We Chose Portugal

We started researching countries and asking ourselves where we could actually see life working. The world felt wide open, but we knew what we wanted: warm weather, ideally near the beach, affordable, and safe. I dove into visa requirements and what it would realistically cost to make a move like this happen. I also told my best friend about our plan. We told her some of the places we were considering across Europe, Asia, and South America. With so many options, it felt overwhelming. She suggested Portugal because it checked all our boxes, so I started digging.

Portugal immediately stood out. It was safe, affordable compared to many other options, had beautiful beaches, and a mild climate. The more I researched, the more it made sense. The visa requirements were far more attainable than those of many of the other countries on our list. We would be able to qualify for the D7 visa. Within a few days, the decision felt clear. Portugal won.

Turning a Dream into a Deadline: Moving from the US to Portugal

We researched visas like the D7 visa to make sure we met income and residency requirements, and it quickly became clear that moving to Portugal was actually possible. So we set a two-year timeline, with my 38th birthday in November 2022 as our deadline. We knew it would be hard, just not how hard. The next two years brought Covid and long Covid, job loss, not working, losing loved ones, and saying goodbye to the life we knew. Through a lot of stress, hard work, and more than a few freak-outs, we made it happen! And I’m happy to say, on September 14, 2022, (2 months before our deadline), we arrived in Portugal, sight unseen, with Bodhi and Wednesday in tow, to make a new life. 

What to Expect From This Blog

With this blog, I will delve more into this journey. Everything from how we made this happen to what our lives are like here. I will share about our travels and adventures through this amazing country and Europe. I’ll talk about our experience with trying to assimilate into a new life in this new country and learn a new language. I’ll show the restaurants and bars we visit. I love food and love to try new stuff. I also have celiac disease, so I plan on sharing lots of gluten-free food info. 

On From Vegas to Portugal, you’ll find:
• Visa and relocation tips
• Celiac-friendly food and restaurant guides
• Travel guides across Portugal
• Personal expat lifestyle experience

Key Points from Our Move to Portugal

• Pandemic caused a deep life re-evaluation
• Set a 2-year deadline to make the move
• Researched visas and options
• Arrived in Portugal sight unseen with pets

Thinking of Moving to Portugal?

• Start planning at least 1–2 years ahead
• Research visa options like the D7 or residency pathways
• Think through finances and healthcare plans
• Learn a little Portuguese before you go; locals appreciate it
• Join expat communities for up-to-date tips

From Vegas to Portugal and Beyond

This blog started as a way to share our story of moving from Vegas to Portugal, and it has grown into a place to explore travel, gluten-free dining, daily life abroad, and cultural discovery. Whether you’re thinking about moving here or just curious about expat life, I hope what I share helps make your journey clearer and more inspired

Follow Me

I hope you enjoy my story. Follow along as I explore this new chapter,  and maybe, hopefully, it will inspire you to follow your dreams too. And please follow me on Instagram @vegas.to.portugal and on TikTok @expat.in.portugal

*I have links in my blog for Amazon products. I will earn a small commission with each purchase.