Portugal
While it's true that Portugal is no longer the Iberian Peninsula's best-kept secret, it's fairly easy to escape the crowds. Even at the busiest resorts in the Algarve, it only takes a short bus ride or a walk across countryside to reveal rarely visited places that still offer the feeling of discovery - a sentiment close to the Portuguese soul. Portugal has an old-fashioned charm, with medieval castles and picture-perfect villages scattered over meandering coastlines and flower-covered hillsides. From the ancient university town of Coimbra to Lord Byron's favourite Portuguese haunt, Sintra, the country's proud history can be felt everywhere.
Sun-kissed beaches like Cascais and Sagres offer enticements of a more hedonistic sort. Indeed, the dramatic, end-of-the-world cliffs, wild dune-covered beaches, protected coves and long, sandy islands of Portugal's coastline have long enchanted visitors and locals alike. Meanwhile, the country's capital, Lisbon, and its northern rival, Porto, are magical places for the wanderer, with riverside views, cobblestone streets and rattling trams framed by looming cathedrals.
Airports & Airlines
Portugal has international airports at Lisbon, Porto and Faro. For more information, see www.ana-aeroportos.pt. Portugal’s flagship international airline is TAP Air Portugal. The main domestic airline – but with a growing menu of European connections – is PGA Portugália Airlines.
Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com), RyanAir (www.ryanair.com, Dublin and Shannon to Faro; Dublin, Liverpool and London Stansted to Porto).
From UK & Ireland
Thanks to the UK and Ireland’s long love affair with Portugal and its ‘bucket-shop’ tradition, bargains are plentiful.
Trailfinders (01-677 7888; www.trailfinders.ie)
Car Hire
To rent a car in Portugal you must be at least 25 years old and have held your driving licence for more than a year (some companies allow younger drivers at higher rates). The widest choice of car-hire companies is at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports. Competition has driven Algarve rates lower than elsewhere.
Some of the best advance-booking rates are offered by internet-based brokers such as ebookers (). Other bargains come as part of ‘fly-drive’ packages. The worst deals tend to be those done with international firms on arrival, though their prepaid promotional rates are competitive. Book at least a few days ahead in high season. For on-the-spot rental, domestic firms such as Auto Jardim (www.auto-jardim.com) have some of the best rates.
Renting the smallest and cheapest available car for a week in the high-season costs as little as €135 (with tax, insurance and unlimited mileage) if booked from abroad, and a similar amount through a Portuguese firm. It can cost up to €400 if you book through Portuguese branches of international firms such as Hertz, Europcar and Avis.
For an additional fee you can get personal insurance through the rental company, unless you’re covered by your home policy. A minimum of third-party coverage is compulsory in the EU.
Rental cars are especially at risk of break-ins or petty theft in larger towns, so don’t leave anything of value visible in the car. If you can unscrew the radio antenna, leave it inside the car at night; and put the wheel covers (hubcaps) in the boot (trunk) for the duration of your trip.
If you hire a car, the rental firm will provide you with registration and insurance papers, plus a rental contract.
Tours
Portugal specialist Destination Portugal (www.destination-portugal.co.uk) will tell you all you need to know and can help with flights, car hire and accommodation, separately or together.
Try the following for special-interest tours:
Arblaster & Clarke (www.arblasterandclarke.com) Offers wine tours in the Douro.
Martin Randall Travel (www.martinrandall.com) Cultural specialist that arranges first-rate escorted art and architecture tours.
Naturetrek (www.naturetrek.co.uk) Specialist in bird-watching and botanical tours, runs an eight-day excursion around southern Portugal.
Weather
Portugal has a warm and sunny climate, with mild winters. Summer temperatures in the Algarve can top 30°C, and the mercury climbs in the Alentejo and Alto Douro too, with temperatures recorded as high as 47°C in the Alentejo. In the northwest weather is milder and damper, so bring an umbrella. Up to 2000mm of rain can fall annually (the national average is 1100mm).
When to go
Portugal’s high season runs from mid-June to mid-September, when temperatures across the country average around 27°C. In July and August it gets hot, particularly in the Algarve, the Alentejo and the upper Douro valley, where the mercury can climb to over 45°C.
If you’d rather skip the crowds (and the heat), consider a trip in spring, when the countryside is at its most verdant, or in autumn, when it’s still warm but the summer crowds have dispersed. During winter (November to March) the rains arrive, falling most heavily in the north and most lightly in the south (the Algarve gets near year-round sunshine), with a handful of places closing down. Travelling then, however, will net you substantial savings at many hotels, and you’ll see the country’s most traditional side.
It’s worth making a beeline for a Portuguese festival, particularly Carnaval in February or March, and Holy Week (the week before Easter) in March or April. Dates vary annually, so check with a turismo (tourist information office).
Costs
Portugal remains excellent value for money, whether you’re travelling on the cheap or trying to spend your inheritance.
Many museums are free on certain days (often Sunday). Purchasing family tickets to attractions usually saves a few euros, and student or senior cards often get you discounts. In restaurants you can sometimes share a main course or order a meia dose (half serving). Drink promotions are prevalent in the Algarve, particularly during happy hour, making for a cheap night out.
Midrange travellers can expect to pay around €40 to €50 per person per day, while a cushier holiday with more-stylish digs and fancier meals and cocktails starts at around €90 per person per day.
Tipping
If you’re satisfied with the service, tip 5% to 10%. Bills at pricier restaurants may already include serviço (service charge). After a snack at a bar or café, some shrapnel is enough. Taxi drivers are not generally tipped, but 10% for good service would be appreciated.
Money
Since 1 January 2002 Portugal has used the euro. Prices jumped, but the easy conversion (100 escudos equalled €0.50) made the changeover less painful than in other countries. Some people still talk in escudos.
Travellers Cheques
These are a safe way to carry money as they will be replaced if lost or stolen, but are less convenient than the card-in-machine method. Amex, Thomas Cook or Visa are most widely recognised. It’s best to get cheques in euros, and keep a record of the ones you’ve cashed in case you do mislay them. However, although travellers cheques are easily exchanged, with better rates than for cash, they are poor value because commission is so high.
Practical Information
Insurance
If you’re an EU citizen, be sure to get the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), which replaces the no-longer valid E111 certificate. The EHIC will not cover you for non-emergencies or emergency repatriation. Book cheap travel insurance here with
Health Care
Good health care is readily available and for minor illnesses pharmacists can give valuable advice and sell over-the-counter medication. Most pharmacists speak some English. They can also advise when more specialised help is required and point you in the right direction.
Places in Portugal on PropertySwap.ie!
PropertySwap.ie have many stunning Portuguese holiday properties for exchange and rent from beautiful destinations such as:
Alvor
Alvor has its origins as a small fishing village, but has grown over the years to include enough amenities to satisfy the tourists who come here. Not a bustling resort by any means, Alvor is a place to relax by the sea, or walk the cobbled streets to the harbour where you can dine at the local restaurants or cafes. The beaches here include both long stretches of sand and secluded coves for those wanting privacy.
The selection of bars in the resort offer animated evening entertainment with live music, and the choice of restaurants is impressive, so eating out is not a problem, but choosing somewhere to stop may be! Transfers from the airport to Alvor take approximately 2 hours.
The Algarve
Love it or hate it, the Algarve is Portugal’s premier holiday destination, with pretty beaches, brash resorts and picturesque whitewashed towns that flood with foreigners when summer arrives. While the party atmosphere isn’t for everyone, the setting is undeniably beautiful: breathtaking cliffs, wide golden sands, natural bays, scalloped beaches and long sandy islands with waves lapping at the shore. Outside the touristy enclaves, there are quiet castle towns, flower-covered hillsides and enchanting stretches of shoreline still untouched by development.
The towns themselves aren’t as varied as the coastline, but still offer a wide range of personalities. Lagos, with its cobbled streets, young crowd and abundant nightlife, is the carnival queen of the Algarve. Monchique is a quaint town with fine views over the steep wooded countryside. Tavira, set along a peaceful river, remains elegant and laid-back, with a history dating back to the Romans. The capital of the region, Faro, has a more Portuguese feel than some, and a fascinating medieval quarter. Out on the rugged west coast, small, charming towns like Sagres and Carrapateira attract a surf-loving crowd, while cliffside Albufeira sees a wider mix of travellers.
If you’re not keen on crowds and high-season prices, avoid coming from July to mid-September. This is when most Portuguese and other Europeans take their holidays: spring and autumn are lovely alternatives (though the water will be a bit nippy).
Lagos
Although it’s undeniably touristy, Lagos (lah-goosh) is an attractive town with many charms. It lies along the bank of the Rio Bensafrim, with 14th-century walls enclosing the pretty, cobbled streets of the old town. Tiny plazas and picturesque churches add to the allure, although most visitors are more interested in what lies outside the city walls, namely a good range of beaches, from long sweeping sands on the scenery side to secluded coastal coves. Nightlife here is among the best in the Algarve, with an eclectic mix of lounges, bars and restaurants catering to young backpackers, surfers, not-so-spendthrifty couples and various other sorts who pass through Lagos’ gates.
Aside from its hedonistic appeal, Lagos has historical clout, having launched many naval excursions during Portugal’s extraordinary Age of Discoveries.
Silver Coast
Stretching from Lisbon to Fiqueira da Foz, Portugal’s Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) is a gem of largely undiscovered beauty and gets its name from the effect of the sun on the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike its more famous and populous cousin in the south of the country here you can discover pretty villages and a real Portuguese way-of-life amongst stunning coastal scenery fringed with the best beaches in Europe. Because much of this area of Portugal remains undiscovered by the mass tourism market you can guarantee a beach to yourself even in the height of the season if you are prepared to drive and walk a little way.
The Praia d’el Rey championship golf course and its luxurious accommodation and superb beach happily nestle side-by-side with the ancient, picturesque charm of medieval Óbidos whilst Foz do Arelho offers access to the beauty of the Óbidos lagoon and the lively bars and restaurants around its shores.
Like most of Portugal the Silver Coast comprises mainly small towns and villages; 3 million of Portugal’s population are in the two major cities of Lisbon and Porto with the remainder spread across the country. Consequently overcrowded roads and oppressive cities are not to be found. Small town and village life may move at a different pace to that which you are used to at home and adjusting to this healthy pace is part of the pleasure of being on holiday.
Visits to the fascinating towns and villages of this region are made on uncrowded roads and offer rich rewards. Fátima is an easy drive as are Alcobaça and Tomar.
Eating out is both affordable and satisfying; there are top-class restaurants to sample as well as very reasonably priced eating-out. Tempting sea-food is a speciality and can be enjoyed with a chilled bottle of white from the region.
Tavira
Set on either side of the meandering Rio Gilão, Tavira is a charming town that makes good use of its pretty river setting. The ruins of a hilltop castle, an old Roman bridge and a smattering of Gothic and Renaissance churches are among the attractions, and its enticing assortment of restaurants and guesthouses can make it difficult to leave.
As elsewhere in the old Algarvian towns, Tavira is ideal for strolling: its warren of cobblestone streets hide shady plazas and patisseries, and despite the growing number of tourists, there’s still a small, active fishing port. The town lies 3km from the coast, near the beautiful and unspoilt beaches of Ilha de Tavira.
Vilamoura
Vilamoura is the place to be if you want to check out million-dollar boats and their glamorous owners sipping drinks at the 615 berth marina. The marina is, without a doubt, the resort's focal point with a collection of cafes, bars, restaurants and discos.
There are plenty of amenities on-hand in Vilamoura, including a weekly market at Quarteira selling handmade lace, pottery, linen and copper. There's also a good selection of boutiques and supermarkets. For entertainment, the marina is home to many bars and discos, and the resort also boasts a casino if you fancy trying your luck while on holiday! For the children there's a 16-hole minigolf course by the marina and a waterpark just eight kilometres away on the road to Faro.
The beach is long and sandy, ideal for relaxing under the Portuguese sunshine, taking a refreshing dip in the clean waters, or trying your hand at some watersports. The transfer time from the airport is approximately 35 minutes.
You can browse Portuguese properties for swap on PropertySwap.ie here or for rental here
