Affordable Portugal: Lisbon Leads the West in Value

Friday, 15 January 2010 18:23

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For the last eight months media around the world have said that Portugal is a good travel value. This month, Lisbon was rated as one of the most affordable places to stay in Europe according to trivago Hotel Price Index (tHPI) which is published monthly by the hotel price comparison site www.trivago.co.uk. With an average nightly rate of just 81 euros, Lisbon is less than half the cost to visit then the most expensive cities in Europe.

This week, the British News of the World did a price check on a cup of coffee, bottle of Heineken, can of Coke, bottle of mineral water, suntan lotion, insect repellent, 20 Marlboros, three-course meal for two with wine, a postcard and a stamp. Portugal came in as the best value euro destination with a total cost of $47.50 versus $79.85 in France.

Last year, Hotels.com released a report that said that the average nightly rate at Portuguese hotels is the lowest in Europe.  Hotels.com said that Portuguese hotels are the most affordable of any major destination in Europe. Hotel prices in Portugal went down by 12 percent during the period from October to December - making Portugal one of the most affordable destinations to stay in hotel in all of Europe. Of the 19 Europe nations studied, Portugal was the least expensive in terms of average nightly rate. Both Lisbon and Porto saw rates drop by 10 percent, and Albufeira was the most affordable city with an average rate of just 50 euros.

“They are right, in Portugal there are lots of good values,” says Jayme Henriques Simões, communications partner to the Portuguese National Tourist Office. “Being Europe's oldest nation state, Portugal offers styles of art, archenteron, music, food, and wine that are totally unique.”

Given its location, Portugal is easy to get to, but it's also an authentic place, according to the Portuguese National Tourist Office. The Portuguese are known for being a warm and welcoming people, and they are proud of their land and its 800 years of history. An added bonus is that it has the mildest climate in Europe, really great beaches on the Atlantic and dozens of new hotels and inns.

Simões says that travelers who have returned to Portugal time and time again have recognized the value for their dollar that this European nation offers.  Today, even as the Euro hovers near new heights, luxury can be affordable in some of Portugal's 5-star hotels, inns and resorts.  “Compared to similar properties elsewhere in Europe… every region of Portugal offers something for a traveler from the U.S.,” he says.