The Algarve is one destination that has seen rapid growth in the development of villa and apartment complexes. Golf resorts in particular have gained special licensing attention and the investment by established developers such as Oceânico has added bespoke quality to the Algarve holiday rental market and attracted holidaymakers from far flung corners of the earth.

Portugal as a whole is up to 35% cheaper than other European destinations, but with the introduction of a F1 race track in Portimao and numerous award winning golf courses and beaches, Portugal is capable of attracting all sorts of tourists.

Portugal Villa Renters is just one source for holiday villas and apartments. The site has over 300 owner listed properties, many of which start as little as EUR200 per week. Portugal Villa Renters is also Portugal’s most visited vacation rental website as verified by Compete.com. Its little wonder that holiday home owners are choosing Portugal Villa Renters as the authoritative rental advertiser for Portugal. As a niche site for Portugal, there are no confusing destination ideas that spring up and put the site visitor off course. We only advertise vacation rental properties in Portugal and that’s how we’ll keep it.

So, in conclusion, Portugal may surprise you as a destination. You may have visited the Algarve before, but you can be assured that there is more to Portugal than resort style package holidays. Renting a villa with a pool or apartment with a golf fairway view may be cheaper that what you paid on your last package holiday and it may surprise you just how much you get for your money. The economic crises has posed some great holiday rental opportunities for travellers. Not only have airfares dropped by around 12%, but hundreds, if not thousands of holiday property owners are struggling to keep up with their payments. Renting out their holiday property is a great idea to stay financially afloat and perhaps make a decent profit out of the process too. In the end, you gain a fantastic holiday in Portugal for a fraction of what it costs elsewhere.

For more information or to book your next holiday villa in Portugal, please visit Portugal Villa Renters

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Llody

Blessed with stunning natural beauty and year-round sunshine, Portugal offers crystal clear seas and a wealth of activities to suit even the most discerning world traveller.

The Portuguese coastline is a holidaymaker’s dream. Frequently hailed as one of the best golf destinations in the world, high-end resorts and world class courses sit side by side with an abundance of health and wellness spas that make the most of the scenery and tranquility on offer.

For the adventurous, Portugal offers some of Europe’s best deep-sea fishing as well as every kind of water sport an enthusiastic tourist could dream of. But it’s where the ‘rolling plains end in unspoilt beaches’ that’s the real attraction.

The Portuguese coastline boasts nearly 200 Blue Flag beaches, many hidden from the main tourist trails by sheltered coves or decorated by countless colourful boats in picturesque fishing villages like Sesimbra – which also doubles as the fashionable weekend retreat of ‘well to do’ Lisbon families.

Alongside all the sunshine, beaches and activities – not to mention the glorious climate – Portugal’s history and heritage can almost be overlooked. Almost. From its Moorish legacies to modern day Lisbon, Portugal combines the past and the present with a timeless elegance. Whether you’re a history buff or simply in need of some old world culture, you can choose from UNESCO World Heritage sites like the magical cliff top village of Sintra or simply take in the quiet charms of historic towns like Guimarães, Évora or Angra do Heroísmo.

More than anything, it’s the pull of a more sedate and relaxed pace of life that bewitches visitors and keeps bringing them back for more. Perhaps it’s no wonder that over a third of Portugal’s tourists hail from the UK with many choosing the laid back lifestyle of evening strolls on the promenade at Sesimbra or the café terraces of Porto as ideal holiday home destinations.

Given all that Portugal has to offer it’ll come as no surprise to know that tourist figures have risen dramatically over the last decade – extending well beyond the traditional Algarve destinations. So what now for the future?

The world wide economic woes of 2008 have hit tourist figures in Portugal as they have in many other destinations – although gross guest numbers for the first eight months of 2008 are actually up on the same period last year. It’s clear that the hey day of cheap flights and even cheaper properties has gone; but while hotel stays from international tourists have fallen by around 4%, the home grown market has blossomed – attracting almost 4% more overnight stays from Portuguese citizens in 2008. It seems that the Portuguese are increasingly discovering Portugal for themselves and helping to keep tourism as one of the country’s most important industries.

Portugal is almost uniquely blessed by the perfect climate and stunning natural beauty but it offers much more than just golf resorts and beach holidays. Even the government’s plans for the promotion of tourism in Portugal realise what makes ‘Europe’s west coast’ so special. They are promoting four things: ‘climate and light,’ ‘history, culture and tradition,’ ‘hospitality’ and ‘diversity.’

Four great reasons to visit any country.

For information on buy to let hotel room developments and the tourist market in Portugal visit >> Owner Invest [http://ownerinvest.com/]: Buy Hotel Rooms and Invest in Tourism.

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With many fishing fleets operating along the coast, fish is a major part of Portuguese cuisine. The country has the highest fish consumption per capita of any country in Europe and is one of the top four fish-eating nations in the world. As a result, Portugal is a mecca for lovers of fishy food, with a huge selection of fish dishes from soups through to stews and boiled or fried recipes. Sardines and Atlantic tuna are the most popular ingredients in many fish dishes, although dried and salted cod is still an important part of the cuisine. Shellfish also features heavily on the menu, and one of the most basic forms of Portuguese cuisine is a fish stew that allows visitors to sample a wide selection of flavours in one simple meal.

Self-catering holidays rather than hotel stays make trying different cuisines easier.

Portugal’s villas can be very luxurious, offering visitors premier quality accommodation whilst still retaining a real ‘feel’ for the true Portugal. Portugal’s clement climate allows villas to be designed with an airy layout, making them light, airy and luxurious, with all modern conveniences. This includes the cooking arrangements, so for visitors who prefer to do their own catering the opportunities to explore the markets of the local towns and fishing ports and combine the best local ingredients into their own dishes are well catered for.

Meat lovers are well looked after too and although traditionally eating meat on a daily basis was the privilege of the upper classes, it is now universally found on restaurant menus across Portugal. Whereas many Mediterranean menus major on poultry and even goat, the Portuguese favour their beef and pork, such as the Algarve speciality of fried pork with clams. Red wine is used extensively in Portuguese cooking, giving meat dishes a rich, full flavour that is complemented by the use of herbs and spices such as onion and coriander.

Getting to Portugal is amazingly cheap these days. Portugal holidays offer food lovers the chance to try a totally different cuisine, and only a couple of hours from home. Links to Portugal are convenient, with modern, efficient transport systems and plenty of international flights to the main centres such as Faro. A combination of fantastic sporting facilities, luxury villas and a rich and varied culture make Portugal a popular destination for those seeking a more exotic holiday experience without travelling out of Europe. In the major resorts many people speak English, but for a real taste of Portugal, try visiting the local markets with a travel guide book and a willingness to try out new flavours, new ingredients and a warm, Portuguese welcome.

To experience all this wonderful food villas in Portugal are one option of taking holidays in Portugal this summer. Mark advises travellers to read up about the various destinations before booking their break.

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The climate in Portugal is ideal for holidays. There are many golf courses to choose from and a glorious blue sky and sandy beaches to enhance your experience in Portugal.

Golf Holidays in Portugal – Where to stay in Portugal:

First you must decide on location. You can plan to stay in:

a.    Lisbon
b.    Silver Coast
c.    Algarve

i.      West
ii.     Central
iii.    East

Where you choose to spend your holiday and play golf in Portugal will depend on what type of leisure pleases you most.

Lisbon:  Is a busy city, but has plenty of monumental sightseeing locations and fabulous hotels. Great for a more “cosmopolitan” experience .

Silver Coast: Quiet region west of Portugal. The coastline is long and unspoilt, quiet close to Lisbon. There are a handful of golf courses in a quiet rural surrounding. Best place for a tranquil  holiday in Portugal.

Algarve: The most popular destination for golf in Portugal. There are over 30 golf courses, including the best in southern Europe. Beautiful warm sandy beaches make the Algarve an ideal destination for golfers.

Golf Holidays in Portugal – What to do (when not golfing):

I always make an effort to understand what type of leisure activities interest my golfers before booking a golf holiday in Portugal. Leisure facilities play a fundamental role in planning your holiday.

People often make the mistake of staying in the wrong places and end up unsatisfied with their golf holiday in Portugal. This is where I come in to help! There are many leisure activities to spend your extra time in Portugal. I can’t list all of them, but here are a few:

* Yacht & boat Cruises
* Fishing
* Wine tasting
* Tennis, golf lessons, bowling, squash and many other sport activities
* Jet skiing
* Horse riding
* Day trips to Spain
* Cycling
* Sightseeing
* Local markets & shopping
* Off road buggy and quad bike trekking
* Hot air balloon rides

There are plenty of other activities available. If you book through the right services, you can get some very good and affordable golf holidays in Portugal!

Portugal Golf Holidays and packages – Advice and help for booking your golf holiday or weekend break in Portugal.

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Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west & south and by Spain to the north & east, Portugal is known for a wide variety of sports activities, such as football, Golf, tennis, bullfighting, basketball, swimming, futsal, rink hockey, handball, volleyball, rugby, and water sports. You can find numerous sporting sites and venues in Portugal.

FOOTBALL is the most popular sport in Portugal. If you are footballer or football fan, you can plan your holidays in Lisbon or Porto. Lisbon is home to football clubs as S.L. Benfica (Sport Lisboa e Benfica) and Sporting (Sporting Clube de Portugal). Porto is known for F.C. Porto (Futebol Clube do Porto or FCP). FUTSAL, an indoor version of football (soccer), is also very popular in Portugal. You can find many futsal venues in Lisbon, and other cities of Portugal.

GOLF is also very popular among Portuguese. Portugal certainly is a great place for golfing. If you want of enjoy golf, Algarve and the Estoril coast are places with fine golf courses. You can also a find nice golf course near Espinho, south of Porto. Madeira Island has two terrific golf courses located within 29 Kms from Funchal. Some of top golf courses in Portugal are – San Lorenzo Golf Club (Algrave), Praia d’El Rey Golf & Country Club (Obidos, Lisbon), Troia Golf Club -Portugal (Lisbon), Penha Longa Golf & Resort (near the Estoril coast), Oitavos Golfe (Lisbon), and Vilamoura Golf Club (Old course).

MOTOR SPORTS are also popular in Portugal. The Autódromo Fernanda Pires da Silva in the Estoril, near Lisbon, is the main Portuguese race track where many motorsport competitions, such as the World Motorcycling Championship, A1 Grand Prix and formerly F1, are held. Portugal is also famous for rallying, and Rally of Portugal and, Rally Madeira are one of the most famous rally races in the world.

PORTUGUESE BULLFIGHT is different from the Spanish Bullfighting. It is not as popular as the latter. In the Portuguese bullfight, the bullfighters are on horseback, and bull is not killed inside the ring. The bullfight centre is Santarém in the Ribatejo province. The most famous bullfights are held in Vila Franca da Xira, a suburb of Lisbon.

RINK HOCKEY is also pretty popular in Portugal. You can enjoy playing rink hockey in Lisbon, Porto, and Barcelos. Lisbon is home to the S.L. Benfica, and Sporting CP, the two of most successful Portuguese rink hockey clubs. Porto is home to F.C. Porto, a successful rink hockey club, and Barcelos is home to Óquei de Barcelos, a famous rink hockey club.

WATER SPORTS are everyone’s favorite. You can enjoy playing a wide variety of water sports in Portugal. Algarve beaches, and popular northern and Lisbon coast resorts are best known for a number of water sports activities including surfing and windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking and sailing. Windsurf boards are available for rent on most of the places. Guincho, north of Lisbon, is the most famous spot for windsurfing and surfing. Additionally, you can also enjoy fishing at various places. In the north, you need a fishing license that is available from local town halls in Portugal.

Besides, you can enjoy playing rugby at various venues in Portugal. You can enjoy playing tennis at tennis courts at your resort hotels. You can also learn traditional sports and games – “jogos populares” or “jogos tradicionais” in Portugal. These include “jogo da malha”, “jogo do pau” and the “petanca” (pétanque), which are played for fun.

James writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for Hotels, Villas, Sporting holiday apartments in Portugal, and for Travel stays – Barcelona, Rome & Europe.

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An evening in the bars of Bairro Alto dancing on the hip music and Portuguese blues- fado gives you many interesting memories to write in your travel journal. Nicely restored towns and well-preserved architectures in different cities of the country have wonderful traits to give you a lasting impression. Numerous stunning architectures in the city of Evora, Batalha and Alcobaca leave you with wonderful memories. Do see some incredibly wonderful monuments in Evora and Coimbra. These assets are now listed in UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Minho, Limba and Douro Valley are perfect places for natural areas. The verdant beauty and rural customs of Minho Valley are something great to be explored. Do have a look on the spectacular gorges of Douro Valley.

South of Portugal feature splendid natural reserves where you come across the fantastic beauty of nature. The Natural Park of the southwest of Alentejo and Vicentine Coast comprises of two mountain ranges and wonderful coastlines adorned with idyllic beaches and secluded coves. You must head for the Algarve coast if you are fond of incredibly wonderful beaches.

Tisen Thomas is an associate editor of http://www.stayresportugal.com The website offers exclusive information of Portugal and Cheap Hotels in Portugal. We also provide online hotel reservation of hotels in Portugal. We appreciate your feedback and queries at info@stayresportugal.com

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There are several ways of traveling to Portugal. Several cities in Portugal are connected by air routes. Travelers may choose a travel plan depending upon the first city they choose to visit. There are numerous trains that travel between Portugal and other parts of Europe. It is possible to visit Portugal via the sea route too. During such foreign travels, it is advisable for tourists to carry all necessary documents and to renew visas as required.

Within Portugal, people may choose to travel via buses, trams, cabs, and underground tubes. It is possible to drive yourself if you have the appropriate driving licenses. Travelers can also employ a car and driver, if their budgets allow it. It is also advisable to enquire about airport shuttles and travel options provided by hotels and resorts.

Tourists may inquire about various tourist destinations and prevalent weather conditions. Tourists also need to be aware of various local cuisines and food preparations. Fish is considered to be a diet staple of locals and tourists alike. However, the consumption of vegetables and other meat is not eliminated. People also need to be aware about currency conversion and other Portuguese travel tips.

When traveling to Portugal, it is advisable to inquire about cultural hotspots and historic landmarks. Travel tips regarding commercial hours, disabled facilities, electrical current, emergency numbers, national holidays, mail services, tariffs, taxation, and museums and art galleries are widely available.

Portugal provides detailed information on Portugal, Map of Portugal, History Of Portugal, Real Estate In Portugal and more. Portugal is affiliated with Peru Tours [http://www.z-Peru.com].

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Portugal is the most westerly country on the European mainland, so the nearest to the USA after Ireland and the UK. Your flight destination will be the capital, Lisbon, sitting on the River Tagus. Portugal is historically the closest country to Britain with regard to political alliances (their 1373 alliance is the oldest standing in the world). It supported Britain during the Peninsular and Napoleonic wars, and they still regard themselves as being closer to Britain than to Spain.

So much for the history lesson: now for the vacation. The oldest part of Lisbon is the Alfama district, at one time actually comprising the whole city when it was ruled by the Moors, and now a labyrinth of small squares and narrow streets. It contains Lisbon cathedral, and many excellent restaurants that you must try.

Portuguese cuisine is centered on fish, although they also offer many fine meat dishes including piglet sandwiches. Portuguese pastry is renowned the world over, and their wines have been associated with Bacchus since the days of ancient Rome. The main wine area is Douro, although the country is probably most associated with the fortified port wine.

As Jerez in Spain is associated with sherry, so Oporto in Portugal is associated with port, and no Portugal vacations would be complete without a taste of a fine vintage port. Incidentally, the crusted port is not the best, and is generally known as the ‘poor man’s vintage’ port.

The National Palace of Portugal sits atop a hill on Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site due its architecture of the 19th century. It offers fabulous views of the Sintra-cascais Natural Park that includes the Serra de Sintra mountain range and the most westerly point of continental Europe, Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca), also known to the Romans. You will find some craft and antique shops at Sintra, well worth a visit for some Portuguese souvenirs. The Palace itself is also worth visiting, and contains rooms with strange names such as the Room of the Sirens and the Magpie Room. If you like a flutter on the tables, the casinos of Estoril are on the return journey to Lisbon.

Oporto is also known as Porto, and as already mentioned, is the home of port. It is made from red Douro wine which is then fortified with brandy. The brandy stops the fermentation, leaving unfermented sugar in the wine, giving it its sweetish taste. The port is then stored, mainly in barrels, and aged in cellars. Tawny port must be aged at least 7 years, and after that the label can state the wine to be 10, 20, 30 or over 40 years old. Vintage port is the flagship port, being produced from grapes grown in a declared ‘vintage’ year when conditions are favorable for good wines. Crusted port is of lower quality than vintage.

Under European Union guidelines, only port made in Portugal can be labeled ‘Port’, though for reasons of their own (probably due to their own ‘port’ industry, the USA has stated that port from Portugal must be labeled ‘Porto’ or ‘Vinho do Porto’. You must pay Porto a visit, although here, as elsewhere in Europe, you will find only wine made in Portugal to be labeled ‘Port’.

Apart from the wine, Porto offers the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange Palace and many traditional bars and restaurants in the narrow streets close to the waterfront. If you like fish, then this is for you because the fish dishes here are fresh and delicious. There are several port companies in Porto, although one of the better ones is Taylor-Fladgate who market the Dow, Croft’s and Sandeman brands among others. Taylor-Fladgate will offer you a tasting, and they also operate a fine restaurant that is well worth a visit for lunch or dinner. Their cellars are cross the River Douro at Vila Nova de Gaia. Just ask – everybody knows it.

Another excellent wine region is the Minho region, famous for its Vinho Verde, named after the fresh green color of the vine, not the wine (I have never seen green wine!). Like many Portuguese wines, it is excellent to drink with fish, although it is a very young wine, without any significant aging. The albarino grape is ideal for this type of wine, and has a slight sparkle to it a bit like the Franken wines of Germany.

In fact you are not far from Sesimbra here, a small fishing village where you can enjoy some deliciously fresh seafood along with a glass of vinho verde. What a fabulous way to spend a hot summer afternoon! Some perfect squid and fish stew and a glass of chilled wine. Or perhaps the cuttlefish or fresh tuna – that might be even better!

Close to Sesimbra is Coimbra that used to be Portugal’s capital, at least until 1256, and the Duke of Wellington stayed here during the Iberian campaign against Napoleon’s forces. It also boasts one of the oldest universities in Europe, dating back to 1290. This part of Portugal is really beautiful, and the entire country is small enough for you to drive around – particularly if you are not doing the driving! It’s around 350 miles x 135 miles, and you can drive the length of it in around 7 hours at an average of 50 MPH – the speed limits are much higher here than in the USA. However, the rail system is also very good.

That’s Portugal, and Portugal vacations are available in all shapes and sizes, ranging from wine tours to sightseeing. However, by far the best idea is to combine both, and the best way to travel is a combination of rail and road. Particularly if you have somebody to do the driving or have first class rail travel.

If you are seeking a luxury Portugal vacation, you can’t beat the personal service offered by Ultitude with business class flights and first class rail travel. You have no need to drive: Ultitude provides the car and the driver for a fabulous Portugal vacation. Also be sure to visit Ultitude-Travel.com,

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_Winfrey

2. Strong Tourist Demand
Portugal is among the top 20 most visited destinations in the world and it is incredibly popular with the Brits. Eleven million visitors travelled to Portugal last year (figures taken from the World Travel and Tourism Council), and the tourism based growth will be in the region of at least 3% annually from now until 2017 which means anyone buying hotel rooms in Portugal on a buy to let scheme will see their ROI (return on investment) come to fruition very quickly.

3. Property Prices
The Algarve has seen prices double in the last ten years and the latest statistics suggest that prices increased by 6% in 2006 and up to 10% in 2007/2008. This is proving that Portugal properties still have a high buy to let demand. This is good to know as anyone joining the market can exit the market smoothly and efficiently.

4. British Tourism & Expatriates Lifestyle
Portugal has been a British favourite for years, it is only a two and a half hour journey by plane and almost a quarter of the tourism into Portugal comes from the UK. Portugal boasts excitement, passion and a history that is a fundamental part of the Portuguese way of life. Similar to the Spanish, the Portuguese have a slower pace of life, a sunny climate, excellent food and wine and with over three hundred days of sunshine a year – imagine that! Despite all the golf courses and the tourist attractions, Portugal also has wonderful beaches and for the more country folk – mountains for great walks, wildlife and natural beauty. All of these reasons are an advantage to why buy to let investments are rife in Portugal right now, making it cheaper to buy property in Portugal than it is in the UK.

5. Buy to Let
Portugal is a popular destination offering fantastic weather, stunning beaches, tourist attractions, activities for entertainment, sporting activities, great food, wine and a diverse way of life. The appeal of Portugal is huge and growing annually, making buy to let Portuguese property in very high demand. Buy to let offers the buyer a few weeks a year where you get to enjoy your purchase while the rest of the time you gain an instant income from holidaymakers, golfers, family and friends.

Buying a hotel room in a country like Portugal is a fantastic opportunity as you are almost guaranteed returns on your investment instantly! The majority of the buy to let properties you buy will offer you some form of a management service or letting service so you can kick back, relax and generate your retirement income.

Buy to let mortgages are available from UK banks for Britons, this process is well documented making it easy for Britons to invest in buy to let apartments.

6. Portugal is easily accessible and affordable
EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Monarch, Jet2 are among some of the regular airlines that offer cheap, direct flights into Portugal from the UK.

7. Portugal Politics
Portugal was admitted to the European Economic Community (now EU) on January 1st, 1986 and on February 16th, 1986, Mario Soares became the country’s first civilian president in 60 years. Elected in 2005 under a strong reform mandate, Prime Minister Jose Socrates is undertaking ambitious measures to lower Portugal’s deficit and strengthen the economy, improve general conditions for population and they have been accepted internationally for having a strong and intelligent police force. As part of the country’s economic plan, Portugal will invest 10 billion Euros in infrastructure in the next 5 years, making use of the European Union’s structural and cohesion funds that are still available to them.

8. High Level of Investment into Infrastructure Projects
Portugal’s government is literally pouring billions of euros into the country’s infrastructure. This was not only because of the economic improvement due to the European integration, but also because the country received support in financing its infrastructure projects from the union’s funds. The expansion of additional roads, dams, ports, new international airport, new metro system, modernisation of the country’s railroad system and an upgrade of the natural gas pipeline systems are all part of Portugal’s attempt to improve their infrastructure. As a result, the country has a well developed transportation network with 59,100 Kilometres of paved roads. This is good news for anyone thinking of investing into buy to let schemes in Portugal.

9. Tax Purposes
Portugal has the lowest corporation tax in the whole of Western Europe, thus making it a popular destination for buy to let property. Portugal has policies in place that attract foreign investment such as offering attractive finance grants and additional tax breaks. Since the mid-1980s the country had become especially competitive in attracting foreign investment. These attractions included political stability and a hospitable investment climate that included EC investment subsidies, the lowest wage scale among the EC-12, and programs of economic deregulation and privatisation, as well as robust national economic and export growth.

10. A Decent and Robust Economy
Under the new leadership, Portugal’s economy has improved and is tipping around 1.6%. Over 200,000 of UK residents have already bought a property in Portugal for investment purposes, giving us another reason why buy to let property in Portugal is the investment of 2008.

3 Bedroom Townhouse for Rent – Spain

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