Mark russell asked:


It is possible to find holiday villas to stay in, in many European countries. Holiday villas can be either leased for a certain period of time, or outrightly bought from their past owners. Some countries that are home to nice holiday villas are Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus and Portugal. People build holiday villas in these countries, particularly in their coastal regions, because the weather is favorable for taking holidays and the holiday villas allow easy access to the water, so tenants or owners of holiday villas can participate in water sports in comfort.

If you are planning to rent one of the many holiday villas available in Europe for you and your family, it would be wise to bear in mind certain things you should arrange for:

1.Access to steady sources of electricity, water and gas in the holiday villa – If the current or former owner has vacated the holiday villa, he might have had the electricity, water and gas turned off. So ask the real estate agent arranging for your stay about this.

2.Bed linen and towels – Ask the agent as well if the owner of your holiday villa will permit use of his clean bed linen and towels, or if you have to purchase or bring your own along with you. Many people overlook this because they assume their rented holiday villa functions like a hotel where clean bed linen and towels come with the room.

3.Laundry and housekeeping services – Again, visitors to holiday villas may assume that the rent for their holiday villa automatically includes laundry and housekeeping services. You may have to arrange for laundry and housekeeping services before you arrive, or ask around at other tenants of surrounding holiday villas if they can recommend providers of such services.

4.Taxes – Since people who rent holiday villas in one country often come from other countries, they might forget that there could be taxes charged on their stay in the host country. The real estate agent can help you figure out what taxes apply to your stay.

5.Airconditioning – There are holiday villas in Europe that do not offer airconditioning because the owners expect you to savor the refreshing breeze from the nearby ocean. If you prefer a holiday villa that has airconditioning, you might have to ask for this from the agent.

6.Extra furniture and bedding – If you have children or are expecting guests, it may be necessary to ask for extra furniture such as a high chair and crib for your toddler, or perhaps folding cot beds with bedsheets and pillows so you can accommodate visitors in your holiday villa.

7.Payments – If you are going to rent a holiday villa, ask the agent how you will be paying for your stay. The owner might ask for a deposit and then installment payments during the term of your stay. One common feature of lease agreements for holiday villas is the returnable breakage deposit.

8.Duration of your stay – Find out when the agreement stipulates you should consider your stay at the holiday villa to have started. For example, if the agreement says it starts at 8 am local time on the Monday of that week, and you arrive at noon, then maybe you can ask for a discount or reduction of the charges for your stay. Of course, you should also be aware when the lease agreement says you should have departed from the holiday villa, to avoid charges for overstaying.

These are just some of the things you should bear in mind when arranging for holiday villas to stay in.

Vikram Kumar asked:


For years, Portugal has seen a huge rise in real estate developments including prestigious housing units, vacation resorts, villas and apartments. Properties within Central Portugal have been developed, in part, for the sake of investors or foreign buyers.  And, while these developments may be catering for the needs of property investors and tourists, there is still lots of affordable property available in cities, charming villages and towns as well as in the rather dramatic and diverse countryside. So when you are looking for a really special place to call home, look for a property along the coastal areas of Portugal but don’t forget to look inland as well. If you’re fond of sunshine and want a home somewhere beautiful, perhaps even near a beach, Portugal is the place to buy your dream home.

 

There are many newly developed properties along coastal Portugal, but there are also many properties available for renovation. Renovated properties are on offer for those buyers searching for affordable real estate as holiday homes, for a change of lifestyle or for a sensible investment. There are many companies that will help you find a Portuguese property in need of renovation. To make your search easier look on the web for online real estate dealers.  These offer different types of properties within each region.  Aquarios.co.uk is one such website where you can find a diverse range of waterfront and coastal, inland and countryside properties in Portugal.

 

Property renovations along the coast of Portugal are amongst the trendiest in the real estate market. The main reason for this is affordability. There are many different kinds of properties within the regions that can be renovated including single family homes you could use for holidays in Portugal.  While you can rent a residential apartment during the summer holidays, why not purchase one to use each year and perhaps rent out when you’re not using it.  Holiday properties are also suitable for families wanting to live in style while traveling within Portugal and Europe.

 

There are many people opting for property suitable for renovation. This is happening not only in Portugal but all around the world, especially in coastal regions. The weather is perfect for many outdoor activities and a slower pace of life gives you the chance to refresh and recharge the batteries.

 

According to real estate trend analysts, the rise in Portugal property sales will carry on over the next ten years. This real estate boom is strong within residential properties especially in rural areas.  Luxury housing is one of the best selling types of real estate, but renovated properties are also gaining considerable attention.

 

Portugal’s coastal areas have always been popular because, with the great weather and beautiful beaches, those regions are great destinations for holidays spent away from the grey skies of London and other European cities.   Its no wonder that tourists and investors are scrambling to buy a Portugal property.  For many years, the waterfront properties of Portugal have been considered amongst the most desirable real estate in Europe.  Demand for such property within Portugal is similar to that in other popular holiday destinations like the French Riviera.

 

If you want to buy property ‘ripe for renovation’ or a previously renovated property, in Portugal you have many different options to choose from - semi-detached or detached property, a lakefront or riverside property, a coastal property, land or a plot on which to build, a terraced property or even an apartment within a town or village. Whatever type of Portugal property you’re interested in, you can make your hunt easier by checking out online real estate companies. With such a convenient method of buying property, the search for your perfect home can be done without ever leaving the comfort of your computer.

 

Laura Latham asked:


Portugal may offer bags of sunshine, more golf courses than you can swing a club on and long, sandy beaches but it has also gained a name for itself as pretty pricey and upmarket. In many of the established resort developments along the south coast now you won’t get much under £350,000 (€505,000), so it seems that finding decent property for less than £80,000 (€115,410) is a tall order.

However, that isn’t necessarily so. According to several agents I spoke to, there are still opportunities to buy at good prices all across the country – not just in beautiful rural locations but along the glitzy Algarve as well.

“People always think the Algarve is more exclusive and expensive than it actually is,” says Connie Vitto of Quadrant Overseas Property. “Some areas are very high end but not all property is like that. If you want lots of facilities and golf courses you will have to pay a high price for them but it’s not necessary. For example, I know of a good studio, large enough to be converted into a one-bedroom flat, for £80,000 (€115,410). It just needs a lick of paint. ”

Vitto says that if you just want a small bolthole and aren’t too fussed about amenities you can buy in many places along the Algarve, even in very central locations, for under £80,000 (€115,410). If you head further west towards Lagos or east towards Tavira, you will find more opportunities at that price. “A lot of people don’t realise that even if you just go a few miles inland you can find lower cost property – the coast adds a 50 to 100 per cent premium.”

Vitto has several value-for-money residences on her books, including apartments in a new block in the central Algarve with lots of great facilities, including a rooftop bar, mini-golf and children’s play area from £74,000 (€106.755). There is also a one-bed townhouse in the centre of bustling Lagos, in the western Algarve, for £60,000 (€86,558) and a one-bedroom apartment in the same town with lovely views for just £45,000 (€64,918). Additionally she has a pretty two-bed villa in the countryside of Raposeira for £68,000 (€98,099).

Another option, if you really want to be on the south coast, is fractional ownership, which allows you use of a property for several weeks per year at a smaller cost than owning outright. You lose the independence of sole ownership but often get a larger, swisher property with all amenities on tap.

Vigia has several fractional schemes at its luxury resorts on the western Algarve. A 12th share in a villa at posh Parque de Floresta golf resort, for example, costs from £25,000 (€36,000). Ownership also allows access to all on-site facilities, such as spa, pools and golf course. Meanwhile, a 12th of a three- or four-bedroom home in the similarly swanky Quinta de Fortaleza costs from £55,500 (€79,300).

Just like the Algarve, Portugal’s pretty capital, Lisbon, is also somewhere that might surprise you. One of the cheapest capitals in Europe, Lisbon can even offer those with less money a place of their own. “If you just want a little base in the city you can buy cheap property even here,” says Vitto. She has a tiny but perfectly adequate one-bedroom apartment for £45,500 (€65,000), which she described as “cute and in the heart of the historic centre”.

Raise your budget a little and you could easily winkle out larger one- or two-bedroom places for around the £80,000 (€115,410) mark, but some may not have great views or will be in need of work. Vitto suggests good places to look are the Bairro Alto or Alfama, the centrally located old part of the city where she claims all the tourists want to be.

For those who can’t bear to give up the seaside dream, then there is always the Silver Coast, which is becoming very popular with golfing developers but still has good prices. The region is around 45 minutes from Lisbon and Porto, which are both well served by budget flights and good roads make the driving pretty easy.

You might not be able to afford to buy on one of the big new resorts currently under construction in this area but you may be able to stretch to a local house. You can find cheap property but, again, you need to be prepared to look inland. “You can get renovation projects in the Silver Coast region for around £80,000 (€115,410) to £120,000 (€173,000),” says Vitto, who recently sold a lovely three-bedroom property in this area for just over £80,000 (€115,410).

The only issue with renovations is that you need to be able to budget for the cost of the work involved in making the building habitable. One agent who knows this first hand is Kirstin Honeywill of Portuguese Homes, who works in the Alentejo region. The area is a vast rural part of central Portugal and, as well as selling property in the region, Honeywill is restoring her own ruin on 11 hectares of land.

“With most ruins you will need to spend at least€€50,000 (£35,000) to bring them up to standard,” she says, “but for £80,000 (€115,410) you can easily find ruins with lots of land and if you have at least five hectares it enables you to build a large house. For not much more outlay you can turn the ruin into a nice two- or three-bedroom home.”

Honeywill says that she has seen an increase in people from northern Europe sourcing property in the previously unknown Alentejo. She thinks the interest comes from a combination of increased publicity, good roads and the fact that you get better value than elsewhere. There is also talk of a new airport opening towards the end of 2008 in the town of Beja.

Honeywill has a good selection of property on her books, including rural homes, village houses and seaside apartments for around £60,000 (€86,600) to £80,000 (€115,410). The town of San Luis is one place that seems to be soaking up the influx of foreign ex-pats, mainly because it offers the benefits of small town, rural life with access to a good range of amenities and a close community.

From San Luis, you can be at the sea in 15 minutes. However, if you hanker after salt air and are prepared to go smaller, you can find apartments in the pretty town of Vila Nova de Milfontes for around £80,000 (€115,410) or less. Portuguese Homes has a classic one-bedroom apartment costing €€102,000 (£71,000). “You definitely get less for your money on the coast,” cautions Honeywill, “but you have the advantage of being able to walk to the beach.”

Another agent dealing with country property is Ricardo Rodrigues of Pinhal Rural, which specialises in the Alto Alentejo and Beira Baixa regions with their focal point being Castel Branco, which is around two hours from Lisbon. This is a tranquil spot without any major industry, but people are starting to buy here.

Rodrigues says the majority of clients he has are looking for restoration projects at low prices that they can then spend more time and money doing up to their own specifications. He says that around €50,000 (£35,000) to €100,000 (£70,000) will get a ruin with up to 10,000 square metres of land but it is possible to go cheaper still. On his website there are small farms, country houses and apartments in local towns for as little as €30,000 (£21,000), though most projects are in need of major work.

Like Honeywill, Rodrigues estimates that you would need to spend at least €50,000 (£35,000) to get any of these ruins into a liveable state but then he says you could expect to increase the property value by at least double your initial outlay. “For a rebuilt house with land you’re looking at €150,000 (£105,000) to €250,000 (£175,000) depending on size. There aren’t too many properties in good condition on the market at the moment so prices for them are higher.”

The peace and natural surroundings of rural Portugal certainly make it a special second-home location and with prices in some areas still so low we may see more Brits heading there soon.

Britton says buying her Portuguese home was the best move she ever made. “It changed my life. I’d recommend anyone to try Portugal.”

Erik Willis asked:


The internet is the main source most people use for making travel arrangements. The internet has opened up the possibilities for finding accommodations. Still, many people have been disappointed when they have secured Algarve villa rentals through the internet. They have arrived to Portugal only to find that the property was not the same as was promised to them when they reserved it through the internet. This can be avoided for travelers, though.

Travelers must keep in mind that when advertising on the internet, companies are free to say virtually anything they want. They can advertise a service in ways that are not honest, only to get people to spend their money on their product. That often leads the purchaser to feel taken advantage of, and for the vacation to be disappointing. Travelers must avoid this type of misleading advertising.

Many travelers have found that by using a local company, they can eliminate the problems associated with internet booking. When a local company is used, travelers are able to find a company that offers a service that is tailored to the area they are serving. That means they are able to focus all of their attention on that one area, which makes their service much better than the bigger companies.

Smaller, independent companies are often also more trustworthy for booking Algarve villa rentals. They depend more on repeat business from their customers, so they do more to offer a satisfying customer experience than many of their larger counterparts. They know they have to satisfy every customer in order to get him or her to come back, so they are willing to do everything they can to make their customers happy.

Many people fall into the trap of going with a larger business, only to be disappointed. Often, large businesses do not have to offer specialized service to their clients because they are worried about the bigger picture. They are not worried about just one person. If one person does not come back, it will not cause their business to falter.

The satisfaction of previous clients should also be researched before booking Algarve villa rentals through a company. A lot can be realized by checking testimonials of previous clients. If people have been happy in the past, that is a good indication that the company offers a great service. If clients have not had anything positive to say about the company, that shows that the company does not go above and beyond to ensure the happiness and satisfaction of clients.

Star Villa Holidays offers all of this and more. They are a local company that offers Algarve villa rentals. As a small independently run company, they are able to give the special attention to customers that clients need when traveling to a new place. They have a history of satisfying their customers, to the point that many customers have purchased their own property in the area and then allowed the company to place their clients in that property. For more information, please visit them online at www.starvilla.com.

John Sallieri asked:


With a 2,400% surge in traffic and an average of 1,000 visitors per day, Portugal Villa Renters this week announced that its advertising and PR campaign in partnership with EssenceMedia has produced some startling results.  Compete.com, the analytics provider compared Portugal Villa Renters with their competitors and found that Portugal Villa Renters had established itself as the largest villa rental site by far.

Registrations Increase

Sign ups are on the increase as well.  Having started as a free webiste, a company spokesman stated that they have had to start charging €49 - €59 per annum due to increased hosting costs and partnership commitments.

The site has all of its listings on the LA Times travel section as well as AOL Travel, two of the most visited travel sites.  

The site now has 370 registered properties.

TV Travel Guide Launched

The company launched an online video and TV travel guide which will showcase Portugal  and the countless destinations on offer.  The TV guide also has the listings in the area hyperlinked so that potential visitors can compare lodging options which range from studio apartments to grand villas.  The TV site is a first for Portugal and it will be interesting to see when they launch the much anticipated second version which will allow villa owners to offer virtual tours.

Affordable Advertising

Portugal Villa Renters is also the first to offer unlimited picture uploads at no extra cost.  They are running a promotion at the moment at €49 which will cover your advertising for 14 months.  The price also includes free listings on the partner sites listed above.

With over 1,000 visitors per day it is also the most cost effective form of advertising.  Featured Property listings can be bought for €99, but some of them have received over 4,000 visits in less than a month.  One advertiser has even posted a message “Fully Booked for Summer 2009″ to deter enquiries.



Technology

The company cancelled the tradition of posting long and complicated reference numbers and instead installed an option that enables potential renters to save their options for up to 60 days.  This easy to use functionality has seen enquiries and conversions increase.

Other technological firsts include a personal statistics counter for advertisers and the TV travel guide.

More Information

For more information, please visit http://www.portugalvillarenters.com

 

 

 

 

 

Bert Snijder asked:


Portugal Real Estate is at premium currently especially in the Alentejo region between Lisbon and the Algarve. Peace and quiet seekers worldwide discover this new tourism area.

Trendy magazines write about it in their holiday specials and also more and more articles are written about people who bought a second house in this area. Many of them consider Portugal as their second home. This is not strange; if you have a look at the Portuguese and their warm hospitality, they will make you feel at home in every way they can. The number of people who move to Portugal permanently is growing each year. This area between Lisbon and the Algarve is a good one to invest in.

The rich cultural heritage of Portugal and in this area in specific makes it even more interesting to invest in property here. There is more to offer than just the seaside and beautiful scenery. Places as Evora, (on Unesco world heritage list) and Beja are worthwhile a visit to discover their ancient history. Places as Setubal, Sesimbra and Sines are old fishermans villages with all its charmes and of course good places to eat fresh fish. Almograve and Vila Nova de Milfontes are the best-known beach villages of this area, but there are many more lovely beaches and trendy beach bars/ restaurants that serve good food.

More inland you will find the wine quintas, a visit there and of course some wine tasting is a lovely introduction in the world of Portuguese wines. Many of them are prize-winning wines, Esperao being one of the most famous ones. Portugal has many wonderful Pousadas, hotels partially owned by the State, located in old castles, monasteries and other historical places.

Discovering this part of Portugal you might stay in one of these luxurious hotels or choose from the cheaper ones. There are plenty. Of course you will find hotels or B&Bs owned by foreigners who started a new life in Portugal and with that life a new business. This number is still increasing and welcomed by the Portuguese.

There are many reasons to invest in properties here; one of them is of course the price difference with the rest of Europe. Whether you are looking just for land, a villa, an apartment near the sea or a house in the countryside for sale, we can find what you are looking for and guide you all the way.

Alentejo Home is known for its level of care and attention to detail and their knowledge of the property market. Their relationship with local real estate agents in the Alentejo is perfect. Alentejo Home has the best properties. If you are looking for land for sale, villas, houses, apartments or a quinta, Alentejo Home can guide you all the way.

If you are looking to buy or sell property in Portugal then Alentejo Home is at your service.

Nicholas Marr asked:


Property buyers who love Portugal should take a good hard look at one region slightly off the tourist beaten track this area is the Alentejo region.

A recent visit to this region with its historic towns, miles and miles of olive tree clad hills impressed me so much I wondered why more overseas buyers had not sought a home in the area.

Portugal’s Algarve region has been the country’s major summer hotspot for years, and it continues to attract visitors from near and far. New developments and infrastructure improvements are drawing more interest from tourists and investors as the region looks to continue as the most popular destination in the country for the future.

Alentejo occupies the south central part of the country and stretches from the Tagus River in the north to just above the Algarve in the south. It borders Spain on the east, the Lisbon metro area in the west and has a stretch of mostly pristine beaches along the southwest of the region. There are only a couple of cities of any major size: Ever is the region’s capital in the north central part of the region, Beja in the middle and Sines along the coast.

The climate of this region is the warmest in the country. It is nearly as far south as the Algarve, but doesn’t have much of the moderating coastal weather. The small stretch along the coast is one of the most pristine areas of the country, thought there are a couple of resorts there. Towards the northeast the gently rolling countryside turns into granite hills and valleys as you approach the Spanish border, which is a bit cooler than the rest of the region.

The regions economy is based mostly on farming and agriculture. Sines, which is technically in the Setubal region, is at the border of the Costa Verde and Alentejo. It is a largely industrial town, with oil refineries and a busy port. Tourism is minimal in this part of the country, but the ancient ruins do bring visitors. There are plenty of Roman era structures, castles and ancient megaliths throughout the region. Ever, the capital of Alentejo, has a population of 55,000 and is the largest city in the region. It is considered one of the most liveable cities in the country, with a major university, historical sites and a laid back lifestyle. It is 130 kilometers to the east of Lisbon and has a small airport, as well as train and bus service to the capital.

One resort of note in the Alentejo region is The Gizo Estate situated in Cuba a stunning countryside resort with designer style villas sitting on the hills of Cuba in Alentejo. The Gizo Estate has a riding centre where the owners and “horse lovers” can make use of the riding school or just go for a ride within the 114 ha of the estate

There are country homes, seaside resorts and villas of all sizes for those who want to live in this part of Portugal. There is also plenty of property, ranging from small building lots to ruins that can be built upon or large tracts. Whatever you want, this part of the country has something to offer.

Travel to this area of Portugal can be quick and easy, or it can take a little more time. It just depends where you are going. For the northern parts of the region, Lisbon is the closest airport, but in the southern area the airport at Faro is closer. From Lisbon, the A6 auto route goes east to Ever and over to the Spanish border. The A2 heads out of Lisbon south, paralleling the coast and down to the Algarve.

All in all Alentejo region feels like the real Portugal and just ripe for investment

Martin Thompson asked:


Holiday villas and apartments have become a popular alternative to Hotels and B&BS for tourists going on holiday. Advantages include greater privacy, the opportunity to cater for oneself, a more homely feel, more space and better value for money for groups and families. With so many opportunities to rent holiday accommodation in location like Majorca, Florida and the Algarve how do you choose just one property and get the most bang for your buck?

The first step is choosing a destination. If price is important then opt for a destination where rental accommodation is more affordable. Such destinations include Turkey, India and Nicaragua. In Europe there are often better deals in the north of Portugal and Spain than in the south and even cheaper properties in nearby Morocco.

Consider renting accommodation in an inland location. Often one can book larger villas with their own swimming pool at a lower price by avoiding the most high demand locations by the beach. Benefits can include a quieter, more rural location and with a hire car many beaches can still be reached after a short drive. As always location is everything when it comes to property so if you are prepared to compromise you can often get a better deal.

Renting in the shoulder seasons, in the spring or autumn is another excellent way to save money. With less demand for holiday villas and apartments during these periods you will be able to choose from a wider selection of properties and rates are usually a good 30% less then they are in the peak season. Furthermore it is often possible to get considerably better deals on hire cars and flights during the shoulder season so your total savings can add up.

Keep an eye out for accommodation rented directly by the property owners! Many rental properties are advertised by agencies who will take a proportion of the rent as their fee. Renting with the owners direct can save you money as some of these savings may be passed on to you. Property owners can often offer added value by providing you with insiders knowledge on the best places to eat out, places of special interest nearby, the best local beaches etc. and it can be reassuring to form a relationship with the owner and to have their contact details should any problems arise during your trip.

Book your flights early. By booking your airline tickets well in advance you should be able to secure a good deal. Research which low cost airlines (e.g. Easyjet and Ryanair) fly to your preferred destination and sign up with their mailing lists so they can notify you when flights go on sale. As a general rule it is always best to book flights at least two weeks in advance and midweek flights are often more affordable then those on the weekends or during holiday periods.

Use long tail search phrases. Search the internet using detailed search phrases rather than simple short terms. Try using quotation marks to force the inclusion of important attributes such as ?internet access?, ?a swimming pool? or a ?garden? in your search. Also, try including words like ?affordable?, ?value?, ?owner? and ?discount? in your search.

Prepare an email in notepad or your word processor with details of your holiday plans, the dates you would like to book and any important requirements. It never hurts to ask if it is possible to get a discount especially if you intend to stay for 2 or more weeks in the low or shoulder season and you could ask about feedback from previous guests. When you see a property you are interested in paste your email into the web form or your email program and send out plenty of emails. You should then receive further details about properties that are available and get a feeling for which renters are most responsive and helpful.

The next step is to telephone the owners of properties on your short list. Find out as much as you can about each property and get to know the people renting the property. Often you will find someone who you get on well with and feel comfortable doing business with.

Follow your instincts. If you feel good about a certain property and trust the person you have spoken with you should be confident to book with them. Once you know in your heart that you are working with trustworthy people and are happy with the offer you have been made you should be ready to reserve your rental villa or apartment and enjoy the final preparations for your holidays.

Do plenty of reading on the destination you intend to holiday at. There is a wealth of information online that will help you make plans for your holidays. Consider what you are going to do with your time and decide on some things you would like to do. Print out or jot down notes so that when you are on holiday you are prepared to make the most of your holidays. Finally when you set off on your vacation sit back and relax with the positive intention to enjoy your entire trip as much as possible.

jamesllody asked:


Villa rentals are becoming a growing phenomenon in most European destinations owing to the huge inventory of stunning cottages and holiday homes on offer for a rock bottom price.  As hotels continue to offer discounts to attract customers, families in particular are finding villa rentals a more cost effective option, primarily due to self catering facilities and the sheer space which cannot be found in most hotel rooms.  In fact families are finding villas placed in some of the Algarve’s most prestigious resorts are cheaper than staying in a hotel in that same resort.

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 earh.

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 €200 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.

Michael Hehn asked:


Vilamoura is the name given to an area rather than to any actual town.

It is outstanding in that it is one of the largest single tourist complexes in Europe and covers some 2.000 hectares of land. The land is variable in its vegetation, some parts covered in pine forests whilst others open recovered marshland.

The company that owns this complex is extremely environmentally conscious and has made every effort is being made to protect nature within its continued planned development.

Due to the size of the resort area it offers the visitor nearly every form of sport and entertainment. On the southern border is a long sandy beach swept by the Atlantic Ocean.

Amongst the many attractions and facilities there are six different Golf Courses, a large Marina, a Lawn Bowling Club with two grass Rinks, a Tennis Centre, a Sports Club, a Shooting Club, 5 Star and 4 Star Hotels, Tourist Apartments, self-catering Villas, Night Clubs, an International Casino with glamorous shows, a Cinema, and an excellent Riding School.

Within the centre of Vilamoura there is a preserved Roman Site and Museum of Cerro da Vila providing an interesting glimpse into the past of the area. In Roman times this location was important in producing a fish paste known as Garum. The ruins also include the baths in which the mariners used to bathe.

As a location specifically designed for tourism it has proved to be a very successful holiday destination for all ages due to the variety of facilities that it provides holidaymakers.

Facilities include:

Restaurants

Cafes / Pubs

Post office

Banks

Petrol station

Supermarkets (with international products)

Railway station

Beautiful Marina

A large variety of Golf Courses

Vale do Lobo

In 1962, was born the famous Vale do Lobo, the first tourist enterprise of Algarve, in south of Portugal. The project became real after the partnership of two multinationals: Trusthouse Fort plc and Costain plc.

When it was built, the area of Algarve was devoted fundamentally to the fishing and to the agriculture. With the arrival of the Vale do Lobo, the area met its first five stars hotel “Le Meridien D. Filipa” and its first golf course.

During the seventies, Sander van Gelder, the Dutch entrepreneur linked to the industry of the jewellery store and diamonds with some stories in Holland, discovered the Vale do Lobo. The enormous tourist potential of the resort attracted the entrepreneur, who acquired the company in 1977, moving with his family to Portugal.

In that moment, Vale do Lobo won a new future, becoming a luxury tourist resort.

Nowadays, Vale do Lobo possesses about 400 hectares, attracting residents and visitors because of its self-sufficiency, quality of the homes and for the excellent infrastructures and services that please all. Vale do Lobo is known by being one of the most important luxury enterprises of Europe, being the largest one in Portugal.

In the end of 2006, the resort was sold to a group of Portuguese and international investors, as well as to the largest Portuguese bank, Caixa Geral de Depositos. For now, Vale do Lobo is commanded by Diogo Gaspar Ferreira, the new Executive President.

Because of this new investment, the structure receives enough financial support to be able to carry forward the actual plan of service and the future expansion. There are in development some of the most important projects, like the Oceano Clube (Vale do Lobo II) and Vale Real (Vale do Lobo III).

Vale do Lobo is located in the coastal area of the centre of Algarve, in a rich area in history where the sun appears during the whole year. One of the attractive thing that justify the choice of the Vale do Lobo to live and to visit is their approximation to the Faro International Airport in about 20 minutes.

The Vale do Lobo Golf and Beach Resort is only three hours of flight of most of the European capitals. The enterprise is still about two and a half hours of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and of Seville, in Spain.

Loule, the happiness of the Carnival

The council of Loule is known by their traditions and beaches, but also by its famous Carnival party that looks like the brazilian. Nowadays, the Carnival of Loule has several themes, as the society, the political system and the most important events of the year. All those ingredients are mixed with a good critic dose full of good mood and diversion, but in the summer the council gets hotter.

The visitors seek Loule with the intention of taking advantage of their beaches, dispersed in a beautiful coast. The beaches of Vilamoura, Quarteira, Vale do Lobo, Garrao, Ancao, Quinta do Lago, and Falesia are authentic natural paradises and in the waters of Loule you can enjoy nautical sports.

The golf is also a sport very practiced in Loule, with countless fields. It might be for that reason that the council is known by being a demarcated area of the golf.

The golf courses extend from the Vila Sol to the Quinta do Logo, passing through Vilamoura, Quarteira, Vale Garrao, Ancao, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Sao Lourenco, all in a natural gorgeous scenery.

Loule receives during the year great names of the world golf, and also intellectuals and politicians, artists and soccer professionals, musicians and people of businesses that come from everywhere to play golf.

The town promotes several sport and cultural events along the year, as Vale do Lobo Grand Champions and Algarve Summer Festival, one of the most important summer festivals of Portugal.

Loule also has a vast historical and cultural patrimony, like the Roman Bridge, Castles of Loule and of Salir, Mother church of Sao Clemente, Mother church of Sao Lourenco of Almancil, Small chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceicao, Church of Sao Pedro do Mar, Mother church of Alte, Igreja Matiz of Nossa Senhora da Assuncao, Small chapel of Nossa Senhora das Portas do Ceu, Mother church of Sao Sebastiao, Church of Nossa Senhora da Gloria, besides the natural beauty of the gardens of Amuados and of Comunidades.

Other places of interest are the Archeological Station of Cerro da Vila and the historical area of Loule. In spite of having a vast history and a great dimension, the municipal district includes only two cities: Loule and Quarteira.

For the ones who tries to pass a very good night, Vilamoura is the centre of the nightlife of the council of Loule. Besides the famous dispersed bars along the sea area, as the Bar Seven, the soccer player’s Luis Figo property, El Salero, Irish Pub, among others.

Another attraction is the Casino of Vilamoura, a reference for the thousands of tourists that visit Algarve. Besides the room of the machines and of the roulette, the visitors can see beautiful shows. The Casino still concentrates one of the most popular discos of that area, Black Jack.

It is also in Vilamoura that is located another reference disco for all lovers of the nightlife, the Kadoc.

The city of Loule still has several bars, as well as the Campus, Joker and Breath, used by the academicals students. The Bar Satori is part of the itinerary of alternative bars of the country, there you can enjoy several rock shows and art exhibitions.

Quinta do Lago and the Square of Vale do Lobo are also other alternatives for the national and foreign tourists that prefer hotter nights of summer.

For who seeks an outdoor atmosphere, it is possible to visit the Municipal Park of Loule, where you can exercise yourself.

Loule is composed by the freguesias of Almancil, Alte, Ameixial, Benafim, Boliqueime, Quarteira, Querenca, Salir, Sao Clemente and Sao Sebastiao.

I hope to meet you soon in the Golden Triangle of Portugal!