Portugal is becoming increasingly popular for international students as the country has tonnes to offer. It’s a great place to find accommodation for students no matter their budget. However, if this is your first time looking for student accommodation, or if it’s your first time abroad, then this might be a challenge. In this article, we’re going to give you a few tips for finding the best accommodation for you.
Have a Clear Budget in Mind
While the cost of living in Portugal can be pretty low, don’t make the mistake of not drafting a strict budget before you leave. You have to consider everything from food, transportation, daily essentials, and a little extra for entertainment in addition to your monthly rent. This will ultimately allow you to avoid any unpleasant surprises and see what you can actually afford for accommodation. And if your accommodation is far out, you can always consider car rental in Portugal. 
Research, Research, Research
So, you’ve set your sights on which university and city you’re eventually going to call home for the next semester. But how much do you know about the city in general? How safe is it? And if it isn’t the safest, which neighbourhoods are safe and which ones should you avoid? Is the place you’re going to move in to actually student friendly? And how affordable or upscale is the neighbourhood you’re going to live?
If budget is not an issue, then you could opt for high-end student accommodation Portugal like that offered by Collegiate AC. Their luxury apartments are in good locations and in safe and upscale neighbourhoods, usually near the town’s centre and close to all amenities. But if you’re tighter on your budget, you’ll have to do further research. Sites like Quora, City-Data or even YouTube are great ways to get information about a city. Get as much information as you can about where you’ll be staying so you can hit the floor running and not be too confused once you get there.
Start Early
Good spots will be gone fast, so you should start looking for accommodation as soon as you know which university you’ll be attending. While in some cases it’s better to go in person, in popular student towns, it’s often better to trust listings and the seller’s reputation. There are tonnes of services for international students that will allow you to check the kind of feedback the seller has, so try to find someone with a solid track record and ask for as much footage and detail on the place as you can before you book.
You should also have a set of questions for the seller. How will the rent be paid? What is the subletting policy if there is one? What exactly is included with the bill? Are there any non-refundable fees or deposits that need to be made? Is the contract renewable? Are any guests allowed to stay and are there any specific rules you need to be aware of? These are all crucial questions that need to be answered before you make any agreement.
Choosing the right student accommodation will have a huge impact on your studying experience when abroad. Make sure that you follow the tips in this article if you want to find something that will fit your needs and make you feel right at home.
