Portugal’s widely applauded handling of the Covid crisis has meant that it has remained a popular tourist destination throughout the summer of 2020. It’s just a short hop by plane from the U.K. and with some of the best beaches in Europe, tremendous food and wine, a rich architectural heritage and a great variety of stunning natural landscapes, it’s not hard to see why it is so popular. The Covid crisis has of course made a significant impact on the way in which the Portuguese tourist industry operates, but the government has been at great pains to ensure the safety of all visitors to the country. One of the ways in which you can increase the safety of your visit is by choosing to stay in a villa rather than a hotel. All inclusive hotel deals are always attractive, but a stay in a hotel necessarily entails contact with large numbers of people from diverse locations and in these times that is something to be avoided. Hiring a villa means that you can maintain your own ‘bubble’ safely and you can even avoid eating at restaurants if you wish. There are great villas to had throughout Portugal and Imovirtual can help you find your ideal villa because you can filter options to suit your requirements before searching for villas on their website.
Where to stay
Most visitors to Portugal head for the beautiful beaches of the Algarve but there is so much more to see in this diverse country. The hilly coastal capital of Lisbon is a fascinating city to explore and it also makes a great base for exploring the country north of the Algarve. Fearless surfers head for the beaches of Navare where, in wintertime, you can enjoy some of the biggest waves in the world, even if it is from the safety of the beach. Further north you will find Aveiro, famed for its canals and Art Nouveau architecture and not too far away is the gorgeous northern city of Porto, home of port wine. Inland there are ancient university cities such as Evora and Braga with their grand castles and beautiful churches. Perhaps you should consider booking two villas and having a week here and a week there.
What sort of holiday do you want?
If you are travelling with children and want to enjoy some family time together, then you will probably want a quiet location with plenty of garden and a pool. If of course if you are heading to Portugal as part of a stag or hen group, then you will want somewhere near bars and clubs.
How practical is the location?
It is no good finding a cheap deal on a villa only to discover that every time you want to go somewhere, you need to take a taxi. Look at what amenities are available locally and if you are planning on spending a lot of time at the beach be clear about just how far away those golden sands are. Hiring a car will of course make a more remote location less of a problem.
