2011 07 - Great deals on villas abound

Friday, 01 July 2011 00:00

Yes, hotels are fine… for a few nights or even a week. But what if you want to live off the land and be like locals, cook the great find in the marketplace, and just sit on the deck and watch the sunset?

Well, for that Portugal has great new product and prices in villas.

Visitors to the idyllic islands of Madeira and the Azores, to the beautiful palaces, country estates and manor houses, by the banks of the Douro River, can all expect a warm welcome.

The light and colors of Portugal also inspire relaxation. There is the shimmering half-light of the sea, the light that filters through the trees in our forests and parks and a variety of shades will make an escape to a villa inspired and unique experience!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. This Month’s Travel Secret: Villas

Recently, the United Kingdom’s Holiday Rental Centre named Portugal to the Top Ten beach holiday rentals list. According to the UK’s Holiday Rental Centre, in a recent survey, holiday villas in Portugal proved to be the most popular destination for self-catering golf accommodation. There were many reasons for this, but predominantly there because is a good choice of budget airlines to Portugal from almost anywhere in Europe. Many visitors focus on the Algarve region, where there are several sandy beaches along the Algarve coast for families to enjoy on their holiday. When you see the sign “Praia” this actually means “beach” in Portuguese. Beaches in Portugal can vary, from small sheltered coves or endless stretches of wide open sandy areas. Main beaches tend to provide Lifeguards in season and offer water sports facilities along with restaurants’ food and snacks.

For those looking for lively resorts look for holiday villas in Albufeira, but generally there are beautiful villas in Algarve and at other areas of Portugal all within close proximity to clean Atlantic, sandy beaches.

Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel Villas (Algarve) - The collection of independently owned luxury villas at Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel is set on the western margin of the resort. The villas have won several prestigious accolades, including the Homes Overseas Award for “Best Portuguese Villa” and “Best Interior Design.” Martinhal Resort opened in April 12, 2010 (inaugurated officially on September 16) in what is being noted as Portugal’s first high-luxury family resort in the Algarve town of Sagres. Located on the rocky, southwestern point of Portugal, Sagres is where the first caravels were launched during the Exploration Age. Today, the town boasts breathtaking views of the Atlantic, many of which can be seen from the Martinhal Resort’s houses, cottages and luxury villas. The theme at this five-star resort is “Barefoot Luxury,” and the staff continually aims to provide a relaxed, yet unparalleled experience. All rooms have private terraces with ocean views. Nature enthusiasts will particularly enjoy the protected lagoon, which is part of the Costa Vincentina Natural Park.

Vale do Lobo (Algarve) - Vale do Lobo has an enviable reputation in offering an extensive range of sporting and leisure facilities, with something for every member of the family to enjoy. Discover two kilometers of golden sand beach, top international cuisine, year-round events and all the services one could ever need, set in a single destination.

L'AND Vineyards Resort (Alentejo) - The L'AND Vineyards Resort villas recently opened in Montemor-o-Novo (Alentejo) on April 30, 2011. The strikingly modern project is a five-star hotel, with wine cellar, spa, restaurant and 22 individual suites. The L'AND Vineyards project is total investment of 44 million euros in two phases, involving a total of 135 luxury residences. The design is modern, and some of the units have roofs that open to reveal the stars. Owners of homes get private vineyards; they also have a place in the winery itself, so that they can produce their own wine, with the assistance of a winemaker. L'AND Vineyards is a project of the Sousa Cunhal Group in partnership with the Lagrimas Group.

Villas at Bom Sucesso (North of Lisbon) - Bom Sucesso-Design Resort, Leisure Golf & Spa is an ambitious luxury tourist resort. Built over an area covering 1,576 square miles, Bom Sucesso contains 601 houses, both villas and townhouses, a hotel with a spa, an 18-hole championship golf course, an unparalleled range of facilities and a large ecological reserve. The Bom Sucesso-Design Resort will be Portugal's first carbon free resort. Right now villas are available for rent. A group of highly qualified architects, both Portuguese and foreign, developed an innovative concept of contemporary architecture blended into the landscape. Most important is that all rooftops should be covered in greenery and any walls should either be covered in greenery or should simply not exist at all.

2. News

Eco-Sightseeing in Lisbon - The Red Tour that recently arrived on the streets of Lisbon is an ecologically friendly alternative to the many gas-guzzling sightseeing options available to tourists. Described in the company brochure as 100% fun, 0% carbon emissions, the guided tour functions as an electric storyteller with a talking GPS commentary that relates the history of Lisbon, one of the world's oldest and most interesting cities. Starting at Rua dos Fanqueiros 18, adjacent to Lisbon's main riverside square, Praça do Comércio, the tours are self-guided and can be completed in as little as one hour for tourists in a bit of a hurry, with prices leading in at seven euros.

Hilton Expands in Algarve - Conrad Algarve, the first luxury “resort” group in Europe, will be inaugurated on September 1, with 134 rooms. Prices are not yet defined, but the presidential suite "should" cost between 3,000 to 3,500 euros per night, while the remaining prices in hotel rooms or suites will vary between 260 euros "to the maximum" of 700 euros. Conrad Algarve, a five star hotel located in Quinta do Lago, will open its doors on September 1, with an investment of 150 million euros. Conrad Hotels & Resorts will open its first resort in Europe, through a management contract for 20 years with the group Imocom. The hotel has 20 suites and ten private residences. The master suite, Roof Garden Suite with 300 square meters, has a swimming pool with a jacuzzi in the room and direct access to the SPA.

3. Packages/Deals

SATA Azores Express offers daily service from Boston to Lisbon, Portugal - On Wednesday June 8th SATA Azores Express will kick off direct and daily flights from Boston Logan Airport to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The airline will expand to two direct flights each week (Wednesday and Sunday), five via the Azores (Ponta Delgada), and one connecting through Terceira in the Azores. SATA is also launching summer air and hotel packages from Boston to discover Lisbon, for around $1,039-$1,249 plus taxes, per person.

4. Events

Events calendar for July and August 2011 - click here.

5. Contact Information

See our news feed at

www.insideportugaltravel.com

http://www.facebook.com/InsidePortugalTravel

Miguel Carvalho
Portuguese National Tourism Office
www.visitportugal.com
V: 646 7230213

Jayme H. Simoes
Louis Karno & Company Communications, LLC
V: 603 2245566 x19