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Portugal is one of the most affordable European holiday destinations – ranked number five in the world for value in this year’s Post Office Travel Money holiday report.
So it’s a great option for a budget getaway, and one way to keep costs even lower is to book a villa.
While villa prices in Italy and France have skyrocketed, a week’s rental in Portugal can be reasonable, especially in terms of cost per person. Here’s our insider’s guide to 20 of the best spots this summer.
GREAT WALKS IN THE NORTH
In the rural north of Portugal, Casa do Minho in Minho is a small cabin that was originally a mill house, facing a beautiful river.
The interior is simple and there is space for six people in three bedrooms with two bathrooms.
Enjoy great local walks and bird watching, plus there are wineries and Ponte de Lima, one of Portugal’s most charming towns, to explore.
Details: From £1,134, sleeping six people, for seven nights in early September (olivertravels.com)
Price per person per night: £27
ALGARVE FOR LARGE GROUPS
Perfect for a group of friends or a multi-generational family, Villa Luisa in the Algarve is an imposing nine-bedroom house with a large garden full of palm trees, swimming pool and barbecue. It is inland, not far from the ancient Arab capital of Silves, whose castle and cathedral are worth a visit. The nearest beach is four miles away.
Details: From £4,633, sleeping 20 people, for seven nights in early June (premiervillas.net)
Price per person per night: £33
WINE AND GOOD TIMES
Morgado do Quintao, in the Algarve, comprises small cabins spread among the vineyards of an old wine estate. The Bougainvillea Cottage has sage green shutters and spacious interiors, sleeping eight people in three bedrooms, with a pool. The estate hosts wine tastings and rustic lunches.
Details: From £2,659, sleeping eight people, for seven nights in July (morgadodo quintao.pt)
Price per person per night: £47
ELEGANT ALGARVE
Built in the 19th century for a sheep farmer, Casa Um in Estiramantes, in the eastern Algarve, is now a modernist, whitewashed, four-bedroom house. There is a heated pool, laundry facilities and a concierge service to arrange restaurant reservations and massage treatments.
Details: From £2,987, sleeping eight people, for seven nights in June (lasdirections.com)
Price per person per night: £53
SEAFOOD AND SUN
Cascais Petit Bijou is a small but pleasant house in Cascais, once a fishing village but for a long time a meeting point for the greatness and good of Portugal. A small train can take you to Lisbon, but you’ll probably want to spend most of your time on the charming Praia de Rainha beach. There are excellent seafood restaurants nearby.
Details: From £2,612, sleeping six people, for seven nights in July (cadenzalux.com)
Price per person per night: £62
CHARMING ALGARVE
Located in one of the most beautiful towns in the Algarve, Sao Bras de Alportel, Casa Quatro has four en-suite bedrooms, a roof terrace and a beautiful interior courtyard with a heated plunge pool.
There is a fireplace for winter nights, indoor and outdoor dining and an honest wine cellar.
Details: From £3,847, sleeping eight, for seven nights in August (lasdirections.com)
Price per person per night: £69
PERFECT BEACH
Casa 10 at Casas da Quinta de Cima in Cacela is just a short walk from one of the best beaches in the Algarve. Two bedrooms and a spacious living room with kitchenette open onto a private pool. Breakfast is delivered by the hotel within the premises.
Details: From £3,217, sleeping four, for seven nights in June (casadaquintadecima.com)
Price per person per night: £115
DREAM DUERO
The stylish and modern Vila Folgosa overlooks terraced vineyards to the winding banks of the magnificent Douro River and has a large terraced swimming pool. Visit the wine museum in nearby Peso da Regua and book a tasting at a local winery.
Details: From £3,925, sleeping six people, for seven nights in August (olivertravels.com)
Price per person per night: £93
PARADISE FOR CHILDREN
In the wild and windy west of the Algarve, Martinhal Sagres Family Resort sits on cliffs overlooking golden sands with a park behind. This is a paradise for children, with swimming pools, rowing, PlayStations and mini golf.
Details: From £3,442, sleeping six people, for seven nights in a Garden House in July (sagres.martinhal.com)
Price per person per night: £82
WONDERFUL Minho
Known as the cradle of the nation and home to its first capital (Guimaraes), the Minho region still has its roots in tradition.
The stone houses are surrounded by fertile farms and endless greenery. The charming Villa Escusa has a cheerfully decorated interior and a private pool. Explore the local beaches and the fortress town of Caminha.
Details: From £2,346, sleeping six people, for seven nights in August (olivertravels.com)
Price per person per night: £56
GOLDEN SANDS
The beaches on the west coast of the Algarve are magnificent, with stretches of golden sand lapped by the strong Atlantic Ocean. Casa Almargens in Carrapateira is an old town house with a simple and elegant interior. A 20-minute walk will take you to the stunning Praia do Amado beach.
Details: From £3,079, sleeping six people, for seven nights in August (design-escapes.com)
Price per person per night: £73
GREAT FIELD
Mountain Arrabida Lodge in Arrábida is a charming three-bedroom cottage in beautiful countryside, a 40-minute drive from Lisbon.
It has its own pool, however the coast is close by. The Arrábida Natural Park is also just around the corner, as well as Palmela Castle and the town of Azeitao, home of fantastic cheeses.
Details: From £4,028, sleeping six people, for seven nights in July (cadenzalux.com)
Price per person per night: £96
TOWER OF POWER
Villa Charlota in the Algarve is close to Gale Beach, with its water sports, restaurants and lively cafes.
The villa has a fun tower and, although it is surrounded by other properties, the high hedges in the garden provide privacy. There is a barbecue and outdoor dining area, a swimming pool and a table tennis table.
Details: From £4,565, sleeping eight, for seven nights in August (villas solmar.com)
Price per person per night: £82
BEACHES AND NIGHTLIFE
Villa Natura, a four-bedroom house with a pool near Varandas do Lago in the Algarve, is located between the golf resorts of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, and is just a few minutes’ drive from Praia do Ancao beach.
Its elegant interiors and new pool area are perfect for a couple of families with teenagers.
Excellent restaurants and lively nightlife are nearby.
Details: From £4,731, sleeping eight people, for seven nights in August (sun-hat-villas.com)
Price per person per night: £84
FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE
Within the prestigious Quinta do Lago in the Algarve, Four Seasons Fairways has a friendly atmosphere.
It is close to Quinta do Lago beach, which offers activities such as golf, tennis and a variety of water sports.
There are also swimming pools, a wellness area, plenty of restaurants (don’t miss the piri-piri chicken at Vivo Bistro), and a kids’ club.
Details: From £3,960, sleeping eight, for seven nights in August (fourseasonsfairways.com)
Price per person per night: £71
ALGARVE IN STYLE
Within walking distance of some of the Algarve’s most beautiful beaches, Quinta do Paraiso is an elegant whitewashed single-storey house with three bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen and a spacious living room.
There is a terrace for outdoor dining, a barbecue and a swimming pool. Nearby Caneiros Beach is home to some of the best fish restaurants in the region.
Details: From £3,441, sleeping five people, for seven nights in August (stayone.com)
Price per person per night: £98
FRESH IN COMPORTA
Located in the center of Carvalhal, a village near Comporta and close to the magnificent beaches of Carvalhal and Pego, Carvalhal Village House is reasonably priced in a normally expensive area.
There’s a hot tub (but no pool), shaded outdoor dining, and a sleek, modern interior.
Details: From £3,291, sleeping six people, for seven nights in August (stayone.com)
Price per person per night: £78
NATURAL BEAUTY
Design Villa, as its name suggests, looks straight out of an interior design magazine with its minimalism and contemporary art.
Within a nature reserve surrounded by cork and olive trees in the Algarve, it is very quiet. The market town of Loule is nearby and the beaches are a 20-minute drive away.
Details: From £4,692, sleeping six people, for seven nights in August (stayone.com)
Price per person per night: £112
IN THE FARM
With quiet privacy and hotel facilities, Craveiral is a two-bedroom house located in the grounds of a rural hotel in the Alentejo region, where children can roam. The beach is a few minutes away. There is also a spa and a beautiful pool.
Details: From £4,148, sleeping four, for seven nights in June (craveiral.pt)
Price per person per night: £148
ACTIVE IN ALENTEJO
Stargazing, pottery making and traveling to the Roman temple in nearby Évora are among the highlights of a stay at Octant Hotels Evora in the Alentejo, which offers a pair of elegant villas, each with its own pool.
Horseback riding and cycling can also be arranged.
Details: From £4,732, sleeping four, for seven nights in July (evora.octanthotels.com)
Price per person per night: £169
