There’s more to Portugal than the Algarve
Tour operators encourage holidaymakers to go to the Algarve region with cheap deals at hotels, holiday apartments and golf centres, and if cost is the only criteria then you are onto a winner. But discerning travellers who don’t like to be herded together, and who want an authentic Portuguese experience should consider renting holiday accommodation in less well known areas.
Try searching the magical ‘castle route’ of Alentejo, the scenic Lisbon coast, or the ancient towns and landscapes of the north for your Portugal villa rental. From Lisbon or Porto airport you can access the real Portugal that most visitors never experience. Any extra effort in reaching these areas is rewarded by cheap holiday villas and apartments, and views to die for. With a little browsing through holiday accommodation websites, you can find stone cottages and holiday villas, surrounded by vineyards and close to glorious empty beaches.
Even the popular Algarve region has some tranquil oases if you avoid the major resorts. Whitewashed Portuguese villas sit high up in the hills and nestle in quiet villages or estates in the countryside, but you will need a car if you want to get out and about. They make a perfect base from which to visit the area’s famous golf courses and sample the hustle and bustle of Vilamoura, Albufeira, Portimao and Lagos. If you head east from Faro airport towards the Spanish border, the coastal town of Tavira is still charming, unspoilt, and blessed with miles of glorious beaches.