Life in Portugal – My one hassle has an easy fix!

My life in Portugal is generally idyllic but, as weird as it may seem, my biggest bugbears are understanding my actual address and receiving online deliveries!

The problem is that neither the street address or the postal code indicate our exact physical location.

• Entering our street address in Google Maps leads to shop about 90 metres away from our apartment!
• And our postal code covers an area of about 1 000 square metres. As area which includes a multitude of houses, churches, businesses, and apartment blocks!

So what's the solution?

I understand that these problems are a legacy of the past, but with available technology, there is a cheap and easy solution. 

Adopt what3words as the address standard in Portugal.

However, before considering what3words is as a solution, let's look at some examples of our address and location problems.

Postal Code and Address problems

Below in the Google Maps picture of our postcode (3840-411) shown in the light-shaded section. It is about fifty metres wide and two hundred metres long and covers many properties along both sides of the N109 road. So as a direct delivery location the post code is useless.

In addition many buildings have no displayed numbers or names.

And to add to the confusion, as can be seen from the following picture from Google Maps, street numbers appear random or non-existent.

Faced with these issues, trying to make sense of our address, and then explaining it to a delivery driver is time-consuming, inefficient, and frustrating.

So, what is what3words?

what3words is a system that has divided the world into fifty-seven trillion 3-meter squares, each with a unique three-word address. 

So, with this address, you can locate any 3-metre by 3-metre position anywhere in the world – even in the middle of the Arctic or the sea!

This system is invaluable for countries with remote areas and sizeable postal code areas because it provides an accurate and reliable way to identify a precise location.

In remote areas, traditional street addresses may not exist. In urban areas, postal codes may be too imprecise to be helpful.

Why use what3words?

what3words provides a simple and easy-to-use alternative to help people in these areas to receive mail, get emergency services, and receive deliveries. For example: 

In addition to being useful in remote areas, what3words is also helpful in urban areas where the traditional street addresses are non-existent or meaningless. 

Finally it can be used for simply finding a friend or family on a crowded beach, in a large park, recreation area or stadium. Where the what3words address leads to the exact location.

In Conclusion

The technology is being built into the official postal system in countries like Mongolia, Ivory Coast and Nigeria to overcome their inherent address and postal code problems. 

In the UK, what3words is accepted by over 80% of UK emergency services. While some services in other countries use it, use is not widespread outside of the UK.

Mercedes, an investor, is incorporating what3words navigation into its cars. Recently, what3words announced a new investment from SAIC Motor, China's largest carmaker, and Alpine Electronics, which makes car radios and navigation systems.

Other earlier investors include German train operator Deutsche Bahn, Dubai-based shipping firm Aramex, and Intel Capital. Navigation companies like TomTom and Sygic are customers.

Shouldn't Portugal be the next country?

Or France, where I've recently heard that is certain areas they are going through the process of naming streets, then they will have to number them. This seems to be a total waste of time and money when there is a readily available solution!! 

I now include my what3 words address in my email signature and use it with all of my online purchase deliveries

In the comments below, have your say on any hassles you have with your address and whether you think Portugal should be one of the next countries to adopt what3words for emergency services and postal deliveries.