[virtualwhys]

Spent 3 winters in the Algarve, near Sagres, waves vary between epic and chop/slop depending on where you go.

Great thing about living on the tip of southern Portugal is that when it's onshore on the west coast, hop in the car and you get cross/offshore on the south coast and vice versa ;-)

Weather's of course great in the winter, tons of sun, dry and 16-20 degree daytime temps. Internet's decent enough, and housing can be quite cheap if you manage to avoid Airbnb (may it go down in flames). Rented a beautiful, modern apartment with 15 foot high ceilings for 500 euros per month.

[andy_ppp]

Gah, makes me wonder why on Earth I'm escaping to rainy super expensive Japan...

[virtualwhys]

Looking to do a far east trip starting later this spring. Have heard Japan is indeed expensive, but don't want to skip it -- life is short.

As for cheap, have been in Mexico this winter staying at a boat-only accessible village near Puerto Vallarta, $275 per month. Of course, since I've been here the power has gone out (for hours at a time), and the 4G connection is more like 3G+, which is better than the village internet that can't stay connected for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

Price of paradise I guess (dry, has rained once, no mosquitos here in a mountain river fed jungle on the Pacific).