The percentage for last year was 83%, so there’s a clear upward trend there, many families choosing to rent holiday homes from private owners which reflect better value than traveling to a foreign country because overall cost was seen as the main factor in the holiday destination decision making.

As one might expect, the most popular destination for Portuguese tourists was the Algarve region, which hosted a solid 69% of the country’s internal holidaymakers.

The Beira Litoral and Minho regions saw large growths in demand of 72% and 45% respectively.

The overall tourist figures were boosted by the availability of cheap flights towards well-known destinations in the Algarve such as Faro, Lisbon and Oporto. The numbers were also helped by the the fact that the prices in the Algarve where less than if the equivalent purchases would’ve been made in northern Europe for instance. This might’ve also been a consideration behind the growth of Spanish and French visitors.

Portugal proved to be the fourth most popular country in Europe as far as people searching for places to rent, this representing 11% of the total number.

Another interesting data point that the study revealed was that the Portuguese holidaymakers are big believers in the idea of last minute booking, with 52% of Portuguese tourists who booked in July and August traveling in those same months.

As we mentioned earlier, renting private homes for vacations is becoming increasingly popular, the current economic climate making it a much more cost-effective way of ensuring accommodation during a holiday stay.

These numbers coordinate with those coming from various Algarve sources which has seen an increase in foreign visitors as well.

You may have heard of Guia, but only if you’re a very big foodie, because the place has become quite famous nowadays thanks to its great chicken piri-piri and its local wine. Back in the 16^th century when Portugal firs discovered the piri-piri pepper, it became a major trading item with other European countries. The Chicken piri-piri is believed to have started somewhere in Angola and Mozambique, but it is today world-known as one of Portugal’s national dishes, which in turn makes Portugal the biggest consumer of chicken in Europe.

The village features a number of windmills which have played a major role in the past of the region, having been a centre for the milling industry. These have been such an important part of the village that the mill is present on Guia’s coat of arms.

A well preserved windmill can be found on the grounds of the vineyards of Adeva da Cantor – the vineyard of the singer – this being the name Sir Cliff Richard gave to his enterprise, which has produced some award-winning wines in a few very short years.

Guia can be a good pit-stop, featuring a good daily covered market for fish and vegetables – for self caterers – as well as quite a large array of restaurants and café/bars.

For those employing some Algarve car rental services, you’ll be glad to know that the place has lots of parking just off the high street and there are also several ATM machines. For a more relaxed stroll you should stroll around the many back streets to gander at the cottages which feature brightly colored frontages and a couple of bigger houses with carved stone door and window surrounds.

Bolt Resources PTY has applied to the Portuguese government to prospect for gold as a result of the discovery of gold particles by University of Algarve scientists, who were studying sediments in the river estuary in the area of Castro Marim.

The company will be prospecting for gold and silver as well as other valuable deposits like copper, zinc, lead, tin, tungsten and antimony.

It’s a known fact that precious minerals have been found in many parts of the Algarve region throughout the ages. During Roman times, various precious metal was mined across the Algarve region and up towards the Alentejo, alongside other useful metals such as tin and copper.

The search will focus on the Alcoutim and castro marim region – covering 576 square kilometers, however it will also focus on the Alentejo district of Mertola.

The scientists also theorized that Monchique might have some hidden reserves of gold and silver as well, but they wanted to emphasize that there is no evidence of large deposits of the metals.

This discovery of small gold particles happened back in 2007, but the company has only decided to explore the possibility this year.

Jose Estevens – the Mayor of Castro Marim – wasn’t aware of the Bold Resources plan so he wasn’t able to comment on the fact, but he did know about it after reading the official government publication and said that the initiative would be a benefit to the region.

The application for prospecting is subject to a 30-day waiting period in which time interested parties will be able to lodge objections or submit preferential rights to the Direção de Serviços de Minas e Pedreiras da Direção-Geral de Energia e Geologia in Lisbon.

The Algarve ports lost their autonomy after the creation of the port and Maritime Transport Institute – MTI – in 2002, in effect taking the decision-making process away from the place that would be most affected, the Algarve region.

Regional administrations were created in 2008 for the ports of Figueira da Foz and Viana do Casteloe in order to free the MTI – the Douro/Leixoes, Aveiro, Lisbon, Setubal/Sesimbra and Sines ports were already managed independently.

But even so, the Algarve had nothing to say in regards to these independent administrations which made it the only region not in control of any of its own twelve fishing ports, three commercial ports, four marinas and six recreational ports.

For a while now there have been various individuals who have said that the MTI hasn’t been giving enough importance to the regional port management which in turn has prevented the Algarve ports to receive much-needed investments. This has also lead to a lack of improvements in terms of maritime accessibility and the connections with other means of transport have also been neglected.

The workers of the Algarve ports have issue a document stating their views on the subject as well, saying that it is quite incomprehensible how the region of the Algarve, with the maritime capabilities at its disposal, doesn’t have any say in how those affairs are conducted.

They also emphasized that the ports are an important part of the Algarve’s economy and a sector which can still see growth for a long time.

It remains to be seen whether or not some measures will be taken as a direct result of the various official channels that have been used to solve this conundrum.

The Autoridade de Seguranca Alimetnar e Economica – ASEA – has said in a statement that they’ve started inspecting holiday accommodations in the Algarve region, with the aim of clamping down on privately owned apartments and villas that are being let for holidaying purposes without them being licensed under the Alojamento Local – Local Lodging – regime.

According to Decree-Law nr.39/2008 of March 7, you have to obtain a license to rent a private property on a temporary basis and be considered an ‘Alojamento Local’ unit. The ASAE’s mission is to inspect private properties that are being used for such purposes to make sure that they comply with this law.

The law also stipulates a list of requirements, which this type of establishments must comply with, like hygiene and safety standards.

This move has the double purpose of both protecting unknowing tourists from renting sub-par accommodations and then not having a great Algarve experience, as well as a source of extra and much-needed income to the government.

Ever since the 2008 legislation, the procedure for registering and licensing a property for temporary/holiday rentals has been considerably simplified, but there is still an issue with people’s awareness of this fact. The process itself is a rather easy and straightforward one, according to lawyers, but there might be some confusion in regards to it because of ‘hearsay culture’.

Property owners  in the Algarve can expect to be visited by council technicians following an application for their ‘Alojamento Local’ status; non-compliance with the legislation will result in the cancellation of the application and heavy fines starting at 2,500 euros and going up to 45,000.

We have talked about what makes Algarve wines special when compared to others, but today we’ll look at how the winemaking industry in Algarve evolved throughout the centuries to the award-winning industry that it is today.

It’s difficult to mark the beginnings of winemaking in the Algarve, however the first official documentation of the industry comes from 1272 when Afonso III granted particular rights to several towns and cities in the region – including Tavira – in regards to their wines.

Algarve really came into its own as a wine producing region during the Middle Ages when its wines became a large part of the commercial exchange that was taking place. It is interesting to note that even though Port wine stems from the Algarve region it posed and still poses serious competition to the other types of wines that the region produces. This competition started in the 16^th century and pretty much carries on to this day.

Algarve wines have stayed in the shadows mostly, nothing particularly notable taking place in recent times, even though they were highly satisfactory table wines, however that has changed quite drastically in the past decade or so.

The last ten years or so have seen a number of new and award-winning boutique vineyards establishing themselves thanks to a bunch of entrepreneurs who believed in their products’ capability of returning on the international agenda.

We’ll talk more about how the modern winemaking landscape of the Algarve looks in future articles, till then consider our Algarve car rental services if you’re planning a trip to the sunny region.

Most people will know by now that the Algarve is quite well known both in the Europe as well as all around the world for being a great tourist destination for those looking for sun, sand and wonderful weather all year-round.

That is still true however recently it appears that the Algarve will start being promoted as a health and wellbeing destination as well.

The first Congress on Health and Wellbeing Tourism took place in Faro on 9 November and it spawned the idea of promoting the Algarve region as an ideal destination for health and wellbeing as a way of attracting more tourists to the region and as a way of fighting growing unemployment.

The event consisted of the first general assembly of the Portuguese Association for health and Wellbeing Tourism, during which its commission for this new organization was also formed.

The  association was built on a national level and it will include members from throughout the country, including the islands of Madeira and the Azores, and also take into consideration the various sub-products related to health and wellbeing tourism.

The goal of the association is to improve the position of the region’s tourist appeal as a way of attracting more tourists to the region. By doing this they wish to boost profits for the partners that join the association and at the same time stimulate employment.

The thinking behind it is that as unemployment rises, so does criminality, and an increase in criminality will then have a negative effect on the tourism which would then spiral continuously downward.

Now this might be a bit odd considering how the concept of health and wellbeing tourism is linked with the private sector however the public sector has a very important role to carry out as well by guaranteeing the safety of the destination.

This is expected to have an effect on all the businesses in the region, including the Algarve car rental one.

This year’s Portugal masters is taking place at the Oceanico Victoria Course, located in Vilamoura and has a total prize fund of 2.25 million Euros.

Plenty of well-known European golfers will be taking part in the golfing tournament with names such as Francesco Molinari from Italy, Martin Kaymer from Germany joining other golfing greats like Colin Montgomerie and Ross Fisher.

However much of the attention will be focused on a young English golfer, Tom Lewis, who won the competition last year and is hoping to retain his title this year.

Six of the eight Portuguese nationals that will be taking place in the contest are professional golfers and they include Filipe Lima who had previously declined to take part in the Masters, but has since reconsidered.

The attendance is expected to be rather high because many people have watched the European golfers stage one of the biggest sports come-backs in history to beat the USA team in the Ryder Cup.

The Portugal Masters will not only be a great event for both golfers and golf lovers, but it should also bring some much-needed money to the Algarve, because according to a survey published in 2011, the Portugal Masters brought in 6.7 million Euros.

That same study went on to state that the media coverage created as a result of the Portugal Masters, created an extra eighty million Euros, thanks to it promoting Portugal and the Algarve region to golfers specifically but also tourists in general.

Actually, about half the visitors to the Portugal Masters that were polled in the same survey said that they were there exclusively because of the tournament, and fifty-nine percent of those asked said that they would strongly consider returning to the Algarve because of the tournament.

But of course you can visit the great Algarve golf courses on any day of the year, and with the help of some Algarve car rental services and Faro golf club hire services you can have a very smooth vacation.

Many holidaymakers return to Albufeira city Portugal when they’re looking for a specific type of atmosphere which mixes great climate, lovely beaches and a plethora of eating establishments.

There are some who call Albufeira the St. Tropez of Portugal, while one must maintain the proportions in mind when making such a comparison, one also has to acknowledge that there are some similarities between the two. Our Albufeira city guide won’t talk about all of them however we will focus on a general outlook of the city.

The ex-fishing village is situated in the central part of the Algarve region, at about a thirty minute drive from Faro Airport, thankfully there are many Albufeira transfers from Faro Airport available for those interested in getting there quickly and in safe comfort.

Albufeira city

For those who have visited a bit of North Africa, coming here will offer a very interesting experience seeing as how Albufeira looks quite a bit like a village from that region. The city is home to one of the greatest beach-side tourist developments in the entire country, not only the region, however you don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to, the nearby locations of Quarteira and Almancilalso offer some great accommodation options.

On the other hand you could have a wonderful vacation and never leave the town or its surroundings, in such a case considering some Albufeira car hire services might prove to be a great idea, especially if you’re planning on cooking your own meals and if you wish to have the same flexibility of movement that you have at home.

Being the largest resort in the Algarve, Albufeira didn’t get that reputation for nothing, the wide variety of attractions, sights and activities that the place offers is appealing to a wide range of travellers, of all ages.

The city is split into two entities, the ‘old’ and the ‘new’, the first offering history and tranquillity while the other a constantly humming nightlife. Add to this some of the finest beaches on the continent, and couple it with the great weather, plus the local culture, one can understand why the atmosphere here is much sought after by travellers and holidaymakers of different ages and backgrounds.

Of course, considering the resort’s size and the plethora of offerings it has, one cannot think that it does not cater to those who love to shop while they’re on vacation. For those looking for some ‘retail therapy’ after a few days of lounging on the beach, rest assured that Albufeira’s main shopping street of Rua 5 de Outubro has pretty much anything that you may want or need, from a new outfit that you can wear on a night out in Albufeira to presents for your family and friends back home.

The resort doesn’t only offer great beaches, and wonderful eateries, golfing enthusiasts will also have a chance to play a solid number of holes at the Pine Cliffs or again, can take a ride to one of the top notch courses around Quarteira, like the Vila Sol and Vilamoura Old Course.

Albufeira guide – Albufeira beach Art

As far as the more traditional idea of an attraction goes, Albufeira has a few interesting places that will be ideal for a large percentage of visitors. For instance those who are traveling with their children will surely have to visit the Zoo Marine and the variety of water parks which can be found in and around the city.

More adventurous adults may want to visit Monchique and Foia, which are the highest points in the region, the views from here amaze every time, without fail. While on this trip make sure to check out a few local specialties, such as Medronho – a traditional alcoholic beverage – and Honey Cake, both of which are worth trying.

This has been just a quick look at what Albufeira has to offer its visitors, rest assured that once you’re there, you will surely find many more things to see and do.

One of the main reasons why Portugal is such a popular holiday destination is its absolutely wonderful climate. The average summer temperature hovers around thirty degrees Centigrade and while that may not sound like anything special since in the summertime it’s hot in most temperate zones and most of Europe.

The great weather is just part of Portugal’s popularity

There are so many other factors which make it a great holiday destination

Portugal Beach

It deserves mention that in those regions the average temperature might jump well over thirty and that makes for a solid amount of discomfort so an average summer temperature of thirty is great. Also coupled with this is the average winter temperature in Portugal which never falls below fifteen degrees Centigrade very often, and while that may not sound like anything special, one has to consider the average temperature in the rest of Europe during the winter months in order to truly appreciate it.

Now the great weather would be enough of a pull to visit a foreign country but that’s hardly the only thing that attracts people to Portugal, its other great feature is its eight hundred and fifty kilometers of coastline which offer some of the best beaches and resorts on the globe.

While the entire country has many attractions and interesting sights, when it comes to the best combination of weather and geography, that would be the Algarve region, which is situated in the southernmost part of the country.

The Algarve itself is possibly the most visited region in Europe, if not the world, and for good reasons because it features the most spectacular beaches possibly on the entire Mediterranean coast.

There are several places where you can start your Portugal adventure, however some of the more popular arrival destinations are Lisbon, Faro and Madeira. Their airports are very accessible from pretty much anywhere else in Europe or the rest of the world so that is part of why they are popular. The other part has to do with the fact that they themselves are interesting places to visit on their own, Faro for instance being used as something of a gateway to the Algarve for many tourists but it is also an attraction on its own.

The whitewashed buildings and cobbled streets coupled with plenty of museums make for a great introduction to the country as well as a good stepping-off point for other destinations in the Algarve region.

Portugal offers a lot of holidaying option to its visitors and it has something for everyone, it all depends on what it is that you are looking for when traveling to a foreign country. If you’re interested in lounging on a beach, soaking in the sun and enjoying some water sports then surely you can find it here; if you’re interested in having a more family-oriented relaxing trip in which you can explore the country’s culture, traditions and history, Portugal has that as well; if you happen to be a golfer, the Algarve region especially has over thirty world-class golf courses which await your swing.

Whether it’s summer or winter in your home country you can rest assured that the weather in Portugal will be at least fair and depending on what your goals and preferences are you can surely find a region or a particular place in the country that satisfies them, so make sure to strongly consider Portugal as the destination for your next holiday.

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