Lots of holiday villas in Portugal are situated in the ‘Algarve’ region, where they are neatly decorated with whitewashed render and topped with orange coloured pan-tiled roofs. The Algarve Coast is very popular with northern European visitors who are looking for the warmth of the sun in a quieter location than its bordering neighbour, Spain. The warm climate here ensures that Portugal is blessed with almost 230 days of sunshine each year, plus very little rain.

Did you realise that most tourists who visit Portugal will head for the coast? With clean sandy beaches, quaint fishing villages and manicured golf courses, it’s easy to see why the Algarve is often the no1 attraction. The beautiful cultural city of Lisbon is the cosmopolitan capital, situated on the River Tagus. It’s also a favourite city-break for thousands of trippers who flock here each year. Interesting Oporto, has long been the centre for exporting locally grown Port wine and there’s plenty of opportunities to visit a vineyard and sample a drop of the local product. Nearby is the pretty coastal resort of Cascais which is frequented not only by the rich and famous but also many of Portugal’s most glamorous – it’s well worth a visit.

Holiday apartments in Portugal can be rented or booked close to glorious beaches that are ideal for family beach-holidays and offering alternative attractions for the children nearby. The resorts of Tavira, Figueira, Silves, and Vale de Parra are also popular holiday destinations that cater well for groups and families of all ages. Albufeira and Vilamoura, arguably two of the Algarve coast’s most well known resorts, are both an easy drive from Faro Airport, and benefit from superb beaches and plenty of fun facilities for all.

Golf in Portugal: There are many magnificent golf courses that will really test the serious player. The mild climate permits play all year round and, and boasting around 70 courses it’s why Portugal has quite naturally become a golfer’s paradise. You will find the most gorgeous golf villas in Portugal, each having their own private swimming pool, ideal to return to after a game on the fairways.

Contact the writer or visit the Holiday Rental Centre website for more information about self-catering holidays, holiday villas in Portugal or other holiday destinations worldwide.

Stuart Johnston is a UK based travel writer,specialising in reviewing holiday destinations worldwide. Managing the busy Holiday Rental Centre website, he incorporates the ‘Holiday Advice’ section at Holidayrentalcentre.co.uk, where you can view holiday accommodation in Portugal and other forms of holiday rentals worldwide!

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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

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It boasts many of World Heritage sites of UNESCO, excellent cuisine, interesting nightlife, an extensive history, exhilarating nightlife and unique scenery.

The events and festivals in Portugal seems never ending with so many electrifying fiestas all through the year. In addition, the weather is excellent and the hospitality of the Portuguese makes tourists feel so welcome.

Portugal is one of the most popular countries in the world with families staying in holiday rentals. There are many superb holiday villas with swimming pools and self catering holiday apartments that can be rented as holiday accommodation in Portugal.

There are various places in Portugal, which you can visit including Alfama. It is one of the oldest quarters located in the capital of Lisbon. Narrow and winding medieval streets provide exclusive ways of this vicinity. There are some beautiful holiday apartments that can be rented here.

The ancient Alfama is a village within a city with tiny squares, whitewashed homes, wrought-iron balconies overloaded with drying laundry and flowerpots. In addition to Alfama, Douro Valley is the next best worth visiting place. The excellent part about this valley is its picturesque view of rivers and vineyards.

If you are searching for things to do in Portugal and you love beaches you should then head towards south to the extremely appealing Algarve district. Here there are superb beaches such as Praia da Rocha and some fabulous holiday villas.

It comprises three distinct cities and various quaint villages and towns. This region of Portugal skirts the Atlantic’s edge and offers endless entertainment and a good choice of water sports. Other beaches like Estroil coast beach, Madeira and Azores beaches are also very popular with tourists staying in holiday rentals.

When on holiday in Portugal many tourists visit the Tore De Belem, Conimnbriga Ruins, Convent of Christ in Tomar and Igreja de Sao Rouge. Tore De Belem is the UNESCO world heritage site that is situated on banks of the Tagus River.

It is a unique and attractive monument and the distinct shape of tower is defined by sky and water offering a gorgeous vision. On the other hand, Conimnbriga Ruins takes you back to the lives of Romans, as the Greek mythological typescripts are portrayed and are viewable on the old houses and streets along the courtyards packed with vibrant mosaics.

Shopping in Portugal will definitely be a cherished experience. Different types of items are available in Portugal including the traditional handicrafts that can be bought as souvenirs. Better still many of the shops offer shoppers great bargains.

The combination of good weather, superb food and warm and friendly locals make Portugal a great place for a vacation. Many families come to Portugal on self catering holidays. They are attracted by the superb villas and great value self catering holiday apartments. It is no surprise that there are so many good holiday homes to rent in Portugal.

The combination of good weather, superb food and warm and friendly locals make Portugal a great place for a vacation in holiday rentals. Many families come to Portugal on self catering holidays. They are attracted by the superb villa holidays and great value self catering holiday apartments. It is no surprise that there are so many good holiday homes to rent in Portugal.

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Portugal is a country full of a vibrant culture and proud heritage. Many families come to Portugal on vacation and stay in self catering accommodation and use these holiday homes as a base to explore the local countryside. Many stay in self catering apartments and visit the local museums that are full of art treasures.

Portugal has some of the best luxury holiday villas with swimming pools in Europe. These holiday homes are available to rent direct from their owners. Many nestle in the mountain sides and offer spectacular views of the stunning scenery. Other holiday villas are nearer the coast and it is possible to rent some luxury villas with swimming pools right by the beach.

When taking a vacation to Portugal some families stay in self catering apartments in some of the beach resorts. These self catering holiday homes are very popular with families who are able to sample the local cuisine and wine. By staying in a holiday home in Portugal enables families to sample the local culture and way of life.

Portugal is a relatively small country but is regarded as one of the most rewarding travel destinations in Europe. The coastline stretches some 800km and all along it are some stunning holiday villas and self catering cottages. To the south and west lies the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and east lies Spain.

Lisbon sits on a hilly terrain beside one of the most magnificent harbors in Europe. There are some fabulous holiday homes to rent in this area with luxury holiday villas and self catering apartments looking over the harbor very popular with tourists. The area also has excellent beaches on the Costa do Sol.

The Algarve coastline stretches 161km and has some of the best beaches in Europe. The whole area is popular with tourists taking a family holiday to Portugal. There are many holiday cottages and villas to rent direct from their owners in this part of Portugal. Many tourists also come to this area on golfing holidays or short golfing breaks.

The Algarve has some of the best golf courses in Europe and caters for golfers of all abilities and budgets. For those holiday makers wanting to splash out, they can rent luxury villas with swimming pools. For those golfers on a golfing holiday to Portugal on a tighter budget, there are many self catering apartments available to rent direct from their owners.

Portugal is very popular with lovers of a sun and beach holiday. It is a country blessed with some of the best beaches in Europe. It also has a tremendous selection of self catering accommodation to rent to suite all budgets. The people are extremely friendly and the food is good and cheap. It is little wonder that Portugal is such a popular holiday destination with families staying in self catering holiday homes.

Lisbon sits on a hilly terrain beside one of the most magnificent harbors in Europe. There are some fabulous holiday homes to rent in this area with luxury Portugal holiday villas and self catering apartments looking over the harbor very popular with tourists. The area also has excellent beaches on the Costa do Sol. You should also look at a Spain holiday villa if you like Portugal.

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Spring

Spring is an ideal season to explore Portugal. The days are warm and sunny but there are far less tourists around than in the peak of summer. The landscape comes alive with an abundance of wildflowers which carpet the hills and verges and, as the season continues, the vibrant hues slowly transform into the more muted palette of summer. This mild yet sunny time of the year is arguably the most picturesque season for walking holidays in Portugal. Alentejo in the south central region of Portugal is a wonderful place to visit in spring. The vast tracts of rural farmlands are studded with olive groves and splashed with fields of sunflowers, and the temperatures are ideal for long rambling walks, exploring the hill towns and vineyards for which the region is famous.

Summer

Obviously the peak season for holiday-makers, summer in Portugal is an extremely busy time! Portugal has over 800 kilometres of coastline and the beaches, renowned for their pristine sandy stretches, come alive during the hotter months. The better known beaches in the Algarve area become packed solid, but without too much effort it is still possible to escape and discover your own secluded cove. If the hotter climate feels a little exhausting for a full-on walking holiday, Portugal has many accessible historical sites which you can visit for a day excursion to get your fill of a fascinating culture.

Autumn

As temperatures fall and the slow burn of summer slips into autumn, Portugal seems to exhale a warm sigh and again take on a quieter, softer edge. Like spring, the climate is wonderfully mild; still warm enough to enjoy sunbathing and water sports, but cool enough to be able to do some serious hiking. During autumn, the north of Portugal can receive quite a bit of rain, but on the sunny southern coast it remains mostly fine, with only a few wet days a month. The highlight of an autumnal visit is the opportunity to combine some fantastic bird watching with your walking holiday. Portugal is home to many spectacular species of birds of prey which are a magnificent sight as they move down the coast along with other colourful migrating communities.

Winter

Even in winter, the spectacular Algarve region is popular with the Euro-tourist in search of some much-needed winter sun. As much of Europe puts its head down and settles in for the big freeze, the sun is still shining in Portugal! A warm current and temperate breeze ensures that, even though the evenings are cool, blue skies and plenty of sunshine during the day makes for a wonderful holiday respite. With cooler temperatures, some walking aficionados say that in fact, winter is the best time for a walking holiday in Portugal.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, they now offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in more than 90 different countries. On walking holidays in Portugal with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, you can walk the most scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices.

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Since Portugal is a country whose national language is not English, it was not until recently that tourists have actually begun to discover Portugal and see it’s rich history. Portugal actually offers so much to every kind of tourist, whether you are traveling alone, with your family, if you want to be on a resort, or even if you are adventurous.

Portugal also has a lot of medieval influences, and is also surrounded on the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean, which naturally offers breath taking scenery, as well as gorgeous sandy beaches. Of course, there are also delicious cuisines, most predominantly seafood based, alongside a rich array of fine wines.

Naturally, since Portugal is widely becoming a popular tourists’ destination in the recent years, it would only be natural now to check out the Portugal holiday reviews to help you make your choice. Since reviews are most often first hand ones, you can get a well researched and experienced opinion of a certain location or spot before you even go there.

So, before you go, you can easily get an impression of what to expect and know if its even worth the time and effort to spend your money and resources on, which is important, especially when traveling abroad or simply traveling outside of your own country.

Portugal holidays are also good for letting you know what there is to do. Often times you can find rare and unique (and even cheaper things) from reviews, which you would not normally be told from travel companies or other sources. Reviews can also tell you the best places to visit as well as the best activities to do, as people have tried them out.

Recently, reviews with videos and pictures have become increasingly popular, so you know that you won’t get a doctored up photograph, but rather a picture of the real thing, and also people often take photographs of the activities and cuisines and place them up with the review as well, which in turn gives you a first hand look at everything. This is also great for cost comparison, especially when you can really see what everything looks like, and the reviews will often tell you the prices of things.

It’s great to know beforehand what you are going to be getting yourself into so that way you can be comfortable when you are actually on your Portugal holidays, and not only this but you can also know a lot about the hospitality and ambiance of a place before you even stay there. This is especially important if you are going to be traveling with children, because not all places are overly friendly to children.

Therefore, your Portugal holidays can be great as long as you do your research and make sure that you choose places that do not have bad reviews (of the staff, prices, accommodation, services etc…) so that way your holiday can be the best one and you can have the most fantastic time.

We recommend a visit to Portugal Holidays website, where you will find excellent tips and updated road maps for some beautiful holidays in southern Europe.

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Recently, the development of the northern side of Portugal has skyrocketed, making the region one of the best places to be, with its modernized twist, and medieval as well as other historic influences. The developments are especially prevalent for accommodation, as many self catering Portugal holidays are now available. This means that you can have a wide choice of holiday accommodation ranging from apartments, cottages, villas, and even farmhouses, which can be rented out as your holiday home.

This in turn can add to your experience, and of course will give you a much more authentic feel of Portugal itself during your holidays. Of course, the best experience naturally comes from how you tour the country, and therefore its often recommended that any tourist op to try out some adventurous sports, sightseeing tours, water sports, and of course have a taste of the culinary culture, more specifically the wine.

Some popular water sports are snorkeling, kayaking, and canoeing which can be done in the northernmost beaches of Portugal, but you can also try more vigorous sports, such as wind surfing, and of course skiing and wind surfing in the winter. Of course, if you really want to take in the scenery, there are plenty of opportunities to try out trailing, biking or walking.

The night life is also vibrant with various restaurants and clubs to choose from, as they are common in this region. You can also find a wide arrangement of music ranging from jazz to rock, and hip-hop styles. As mentioned, wine tasting is most definitely something you should consider during your Portugal holiday, and northern Portugal has a wide variety of bars which have world class wines, and beers.

However, one of the best parts of these bars, is that you can easily taste exotic port wine. As well you may enjoy the fresh local food which is served alongside the wine in many restaurants. Northern Portugal is predominantly proud of their local seafood dishes, which means you can easily melt palate into a mouthwatering dish each and every time.

The northernmost side of the country is also home to many brilliant museums, such as the Museu da Ceramica (ceramics museum), and the region itself is very vibrant with rich architecture as well as history. You can also find many religious sites, such as Braga town, wherein you will instantly notice many beautiful churches. More specifically, the Bom Jesus and Sameiro Sanctuary are two of the most interesting religious sites.

Chaves is also a region which is home of a 14th century castle, and a Roman bridge over the Tamega river, as well as a Romanesque church.

If you are interested in collectibles or unique items, northern Portugal also has many tourist shopping regions where you can find cork, wood and horn objects as well as local port which you can purchase to take home. Ceramics are also popular, and the northern side is also known for having some of the world’s best ceramics and hand painted tiles, called azulejos.

Most definitely, this region is easily a great place to visit and be in during your Portugal holidays, because of its friendly charm and vast variety of activities for tourists of all ages.

We recommend a visit to Portugal Holidays website, where you will find excellent tips and updated road maps for some beautiful holidays in southern Europe.

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I’ve been traveling most of my life and Portugal is definitely one of my favorite destinations, not only because of the rich historical background but also because of the beauty of the country itself. Portugal is located in Eastern Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and also surrounded at the north and east by Spain. Having been able to interact with other countries make up for its diverse culture which can be seen in their cuisines, music, and literature.

If you want to experience more extreme activities in Portugal other than its music and literature, you might be interested with their sports. Because it’s bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, water sports like surfing, kayaking and sailing are popular forms of recreational activities in Portugal. Major sporting events such as football and hockey also dominate the athletics field in Portugal so if you want to be part of a major crowd, watch out for the opening of the football or hockey season.

After immersing yourself with music, literature and athletics during your visit to Portugal, it’s imperative that you try the wine and the local cuisines. Portugal is one of the biggest manufacturers of wine and is one of the leading consumers of olive oil, two of the best combinations of product ever. Your visit to Portugal won’t be complete if you don’t try their best wine, plus their national dishes lathered by pine nuts and olive oil.

I’ve also discovered that after an extensive visit to Portugal, the best thing to do is shop for their local products which are simply exceptional. They are known to have one of the best embroidery in the world, since they believe that embroidery is an absolute product of love and art and is a manifestation of their culture.

Visiting Portugal is definitely one of the most satisfying trips you’ll have in your life. It has been for me. Whether you visit Portugal for the wine or the sports or something else, don’t forget to check out online sources so you won’t be clueless about Portugal during your trip.

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Whilst the climate in Portugal has both Atlantic and Mediterranean influences, the coastline is formed entirely by the Atlantic ocean, a fact that some visitors are surprised to learn because we tend to think of Portugal as Mediterranean. This may be due to the bright colours, long days of sunshine and influences from cultures that have also become a vital part of the culture in Spain and along the south coast of France for example. The Mediterranean influence is particularly evident in the southern parts of Portugal. The River Tagus (Rio Tejo) divides Portugal into its distinctly different northern and southern halves. In the north the population has Celtic and Germanic origins, more traditional farming methods and a cooler climate. South of the Rio Tejo people have darker skin as this area was Roman and then Moorish territory, and farming tends towards figs, cork and oranges rather than the potatoes and corn of the north. In fact, Portugal produces more than 50% of the world’s wine corks, around 15 thousand million each year.

The main cities in Portugal are the capital Lisbon, with its diverse selection of Portuguese culture; the second-largest city of Porto, which is also Portugal’s economic capital; and university towns such as Coimbra and Évora, and the ancient capital of Guimarães. There are few really large cities in Portugal but a plethora of small, provincial towns that are worth visiting. Essentially, the beaches in Portugal are the main draw for tourists, especially in the Algarve. There are beaches all the way up the west coast, but the sea tends to be cooler and even cold as far north as Viana do Castelo.

Apart from the mainland, Portugal consists of Madeira and the Azores, islands colonized in the 15th century. Madeira is 900km southwest of Portugal off the west coast of Africa, and the Azores archipelago consists of nine islands 1440km west of Lisbon. Both are too far away to form part of a trip to Portugal but are popular tourist destinations in their own right.

Jeanie Leigh is a freelance writer and has contributed to a number of publications, both on and offline. Most recently she has written articles for The Pink Fridge and IndigoGuide.com

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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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