Why Staycation When You Can Spend Less By Choosing A Self Catering Algarve Villa Holiday?

Recent research carried out by a UK hotelier cast a rather gloomy cloud over the British summer with the news that 35% of Brits felt that a ‘staycation’ was on the cards thanks to money worries and concerns over the cost of going abroad for a seasonal break. Fortunately, self-catering villa specialists Premier Holidays are giving hope to the millions who had resigned themselves to a rainy few days in the British Isles with assurances that a self catering villa in the Algarve may in fact be a much cheaper alternative.

Ian Fox from Premier Holidays said, “It’s a myth that holidaying in the UK can only be cheaper than an overseas break. With the cost of fuel high, travelling to a destination such as the South Coast from the north of England can run into the hundreds of pounds alone, without factoring in accommodation, entertainment on rainy days and the cost of food and drink.

“In comparison, many airlines posted poor passenger figures last summer as lots of people opted to stay at home and save money rather than go on holiday. This means there are lots of great deals to be had this year to entice holidaymakers back into the air and overseas for their annual getaway.”

Opting to stay in the UK and travel to a British resort for a week or two this summer also makes it difficult to make any savings on the cost of living. Even self-catering can be expensive as it’s still necessary to buy food and drink at just the same sort of costs – if not higher- as doing the weekly shop in a local supermarket. Travel abroad though and the cost of living is much cheaper, allowing savings on the cost of feeding a family for a week that can then go towards flights, spending money and souvenirs.

The annual Post Office service released this week found an Algarve Villa holiday to be one of the top two European holiday destinations for 2011 when it came to value for money and the cost of food and drink. The total price of 16 everyday essentials including milk, eggs, bread, water and vegetables was just £44.36 in the Algarve compared with £63.63 in Brighton. These savings make it much more affordable to find a cheap flight and book a luxury Algarve villa than jump in the car and head to a resort such as Brighton, Torquay or St Ives. 

Mr Fox added, “The Algarve has been named by the Post Office for a number of years running in their annual report as one of the cheapest places in Europe for a holiday, definitely cheaper than Britain as the cost of the standard basket of goods showed and also notably cheaper than places like Cyprus and the Greek Islands. With so many great deals on flights and on other essentials like car hire, it’s possible to enjoy a hot sunny week in Portugal for a much lower total cost than a week in the UK.”

With almost guaranteed sunshine, an Algarve villa with a pool is a must and choosing one close to the beach also means there’s less to spend on attractions and days out as the whole family can just head to the beach. Popular resorts such as Vale do Lobo represent good value for money – larger properties are plentiful so you can even rent a large, luxurious accommodation with five or six bedrooms and split the cost with extended family or friends. Villa Prado, a spacious and attractive four bedroom villa in Quinta dos Alamos in the heart of the Algarve costs as little as £81 per person.

To browse the range of villas in the Algarve from Premier Holidays and to book online, visit http://www.premier-holidays.com. 

Where Are The Best Beaches In The Algarve?

The Algarve, Portugal, is a highly popular holiday region that has huge numbers of visitors flocking to it each year from every corner of the globe, and it's not difficult to see why. For all its fascinating history and picturesque scenery, if there's one thing that the beautiful Algarve is definitely renowned for, it’s the amazing beaches that can be found here. Here, we round up a selection of the best of them for those who are interested in Algarve holiday villas.

Praia da Marinha, Lagoa

The Praia da Marinha beach is situated near Lagoa and is renowned for its rocky outcrops and calm waters. Although neither the largest nor the most remote beach in the Algarve, it is nonetheless the quintessential Portuguese cove, and a great place to come from your Algarve holiday villa if you’re seeking an escape from the tourist throng. It has calm waters that make it a great place to go snorkelling or enjoy a boat trip to the nearby caves. It is less recommended for families with young children, however, due to the steep steps that need to be negotiated to reach it.

This beach’s spirit of seclusion extends to the local amenities, with a mere modestly sized wooden bar-restaurant to be found near the steps – meaning that you are well advised to bring a picnic and your own water.

Praia Da Rocha, Portimão

Portimão is the Algarve’s second city after Faro, so it should be no surprise that it also happens to boast one of the most bustling and best known beaches in the region. Located just south of the town, this beach has expanded considerably in width in recent years as more and more holidaymakers have flocked here, with Portimão itself also having developed into a complete resort. The beach itself is family-friendly and close to a wide range of amenities on the well-developed seafront, making it a great place to check out on your journey from your Algarve villa.

Ilha da Barreta, Faro

Hardcore sun worshippers will particularly love this pristine 10km long beach, which is also one of the most remote to be found anywhere in the region, despite being accessible a mere boat ride away from the happening city of Faro. The beach is surrounded by marshland and the area is also home to many birds, including terns and flamingoes, meaning that it is also a very popular beach with nature lovers. Speaking of nature, it’s also something of an unofficial naturist spot.

Other than during the summer season there are seriously few people to be found here, although a restaurant and toilets are nearby. But for those interested in Algarve holiday villas designed for serious relaxation, or even snorkelling in the nearby waters, there are few better beaches around.

Praia Ilha De Tavira, Faro

Another popular beach for those with naturist inclinations (or at least, an especially reserved area), this is one of the most highly rated beaches on the eastern side of Faro, and is also a big hit with water sports enthusiasts. This elongated sandbar beach is accessible by boat from the jetty of Tavira.

Praia da Bordeira, Carrapateira

This is certainly an impressive looking beach, with its mighty sand dunes and rugged cliffs of limestone, and it offers plenty of sand, too, stretching for three kilometres. Its exposed location and often considerable wind make it especially popular with surfers and anybody else who appreciates a rugged beach experience.

Despite the stunning scenery, this beach is not frequently visited, although it is close to the Praia do Amado beach, which with its surfing and bodyboarding schools, does see slightly more visitors from villas in the Algarve. Phoenicians,Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians

To find out more about Premier Holidays’ range of villas in the Algarve and to book online, visit http://www.premier-holidays.com. 

Resort in Focus: Carvoeiro

If you’re looking for an Algarve destination with a difference, Carvoeiro is a great resort to visit from any of a wide range of Algarve villas, making finding accommodation easy and the experience unique. A civil parish in the Lagoa Municipality, Carvoeiro is about 5km south of Lagoa city, but has no shortage of attractions of its own. It is a picturesque fishing village that, having been described by a foreign visitor in 1965 as a place where “the mode of living remains essentially medieval”, has now grown to become the main tourist area of the municipality.

Carvoeiro Algarve villas give you access to many of the same selling points of resorts elsewhere in the Algarve, such as highly picturesque scenery, an excellent sandy beach and a climate that produces average maximum temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius in July and August.

Of particular interest to visitors, however, will be the many family friendly activities in the area. The pretty Carvoeiro Beach, for example, is located in a sheltered sandy cove and is an excellent place to relax in the sun or swim in the sea. For a change of scenery or for even greater seclusion, pay a visit to some of the nearby beaches such as Marinha, Carvalho and Benagil.

Once you’ve tired of all that, before heading back to your Algarve holiday villa, how about a visit to the area’s theme parks? There are some excellent water parks in the area that will be of delight to both children and adults. These include the thrilling Slide and Splash water park and Zoomarine, the latter actually allowing you to swim with dolphins.

There’s plenty more going on in and around Carvoeiro than just that, however. If you like the idea of taking a break in Carvoeiro at this time of year as the weather heats up, you may be interested in the many concerts, sports tournaments and ferias that are taking place locally. How about the concert by the Orquestra do Algarve in nearby Lagoa Auditorium on 14^th May? or the Festa da Nossa Senhora da Encarnação, which takes place in Carvoeiro on the last Sunday of every August?

To enjoy all of these events and more, you’ll need to find a local villa. The three-bedroom Casa Alaris is set just a few minutes’ drive away from the centre of Carvoeiro in the popular Vale de Milho community, and features secluded pools, terraces and outdoor dining areas with built-in barbecues. Its first floor terrace also allows for lovely country views. It’s simply the perfect place to base a Carvoeiro holiday. 

For those who need a greater amount of space, other great Carvoeiro and Algarve villas include Casa Francesca. This beautiful family villa sleeps 11 people across its five bedrooms, and is mere walking distance away from the shops, restaurants and bars in Monte Carvoeiro, which is itself just a few minutes from Carvoeiro centre. Or how about booking the superior and modern Villa Oliveiras? This villa, just 2.5km from Carvoeiro centre, is very spacious and attractive and features sea views and a private optional heated pool.

For more information on Premier Holidays’ range of Carvoeiro villas and to book online, visit http://www.premier-holidays.com.