Holiday on the edge of Europe

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Portugal was foremost in the exploration of the rest of the world because its position on the extreme western edge of the European landmass gave it an excellent advantage when it came to being a world beating, sea faring nation. Today it carries on the traditions gained by the unique combination of coastlines that run along both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

The southern coast of Portugal is more familiar to many holidaymakers under its name of 'The Algarve' and is the most popular tourist destination in Portugal. It is also one of the busiest holiday destinations in the whole of Europe – competing admirably against the high volume of Spain villa rentals.

The spectacular interior mountains of the country contain a wealth of different experiences. From the rural farmlands of traditional cultural heritage to the more recent developments of certain towns as international winter sports resorts, it is the more familiar surroundings of unspoilt sandy beaches and wonderful golf courses that spring to mind when contemplating a holiday in Portugal.

Renting cheap villas in Portugal is a fantastic, cost efficient way of enjoying all that the country has to offer; whatever you preference on location might be.

If you are drawn to the sun blessed delights that The Algarve has to offer, you could start with Albufeira. As the region’s biggest and best-known resort, it is a long standing favourite with Portuguese holidaymakers. The history of what began as a classic fishing village can be seen in the cobbled streets of the Old Town where the day's fishing catch still provides some of the fantastic traditional restaurants with menus based around local produce.

The area around Vilamoura is known across the world as the location of some of the very best golf courses on the planet. Although the seafront has been subjected to major building initiatives which have taken away some of the charm, the major hotel developments mean there is a wealth of different accommodation options to chose from, with reputable companies such as Villas4You offering plenty of diversity.

The Western Algarve's biggest resort is Lagos – even though it is still a working town with a great deal of history where tourism plays a smaller role in the local economy. Meia Beach is a five mile stretch of perfect sand that is rightly lauded as one of the best on the whole coast and is only a fifteen minute walk from the town.

The resort of Sagres is essentially not much more than a main road with a cobbled square at the end, and is as far from the hustle and bustle of the major developments as you could wish to be.

Imposing red cliffs dominate a beach framed by breaking waves, the quality of which make it an extremely popular choice for surfers of advanced skill levels. Sagres has a 15th century fort where it was thought the actual end of the world could be seen at the horizon far off in the distance – perfect for those with a love of history.

Ultimately, renting villas in Portugal is the perfect way to explore all that the amazing country has to offer, both in terms of historical culture and natural beauty.