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Destination Portugal   by Lee Dennis

Portugal is a European nation whose origins go back to the Early Middle Ages.  It's a democratic republic ruled by the constitution of 1976 with Lisbon, the nation's largest city, as its capital. It is a founding member of NATO (1949), OECD and EFTA; it left the former in 1986 to join the European Union. It's also part of the world's oldest active alliance through its treaty with the United Kingdom.  It's a nation situated on the west of the Iberian Peninsula, being bounded on the north and east by Spain and on the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean.

Climate

As for climate with an average mainland temperature of 55 °F in the north, and 64 °F in the south it is one of the warmest countries in Europe.

Also notable is the fact that Portugal is rich in metal deposits, including antimony, copper, manganese, uranium, lead, tin and iron.

Portugal is very rarely visited by thunderstorms; but shocks of earthquake are frequently felt, and recall the great earthquake of Lisbon. It's almost entirely dependent on imported energy, but is developing large wave and solar power projects and building wind farms to supply energy to some 750,000 homes. Portugal is poised to open what will be the world's first commercial wave farm, and while the coastline's formidable surf will be a source of electricity, the engineers need a decent "weather window" to be able to get their machinery out to sea.

Capital City Lisbon

Lisbon regained its status as the capital of Portugal when Brazil declared its independence from Portugal in 1822. It is a city known as the headquarters of the ship-building trade. It is a widely held belief that Lisbon is one of Europe's most beautiful cities, with a lively and international feel and more than eight centuries of history. The city was founded by the Phoenicians, and became a Roman town, and later was an important trade center under the Moors. It is the birthplace of one of Portugal's most common styles of song: the Fado. Lisbon's geographical position makes it a stopover point for many foreign airlines at airports all over the country.

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Without doubt the best sellers on Search Travel Online are holidays to mainland Spain. This is no surprise, and there are plenty of reasonably priced escapes in the sun to be had around Spain, but I do think people are missing out by not choosing to take a cheap holiday in the Algarve with us. Portugal's south coast is easily the equal of mainland Spain in many respects, and even nicer in others.

So here, without further ado is 6 reasons you should consider a bargain holiday in the Algarve the next time you head abroad:

As you might expect from Southern Europe, the weather is excellent all year round, but to my mind the Algarve even manages to eclipse mainland Spain. Never too hot, with a pleasant ocean breeze, the Algarve is at it's hottest in July and August where it averages 28 degrees centigrade, but even at its coldest in January it is still 15 degrees, with over 6 hours of sunshine per day! Whether you're planning on heading in the peak of summer, or escaping the miserable British winter for warmer climes, cheap package holidays in the Algarve are bound to provide ample serotonin.

Brilliant Beaches

With more than 30 beaches in the Algarve region, it's fair to say you should easily manage to find at least a handful that you love! The variety also means there are beaches for all occasions - family friendly, shallow beaches, some ideal for windsurfing and water sports, some romantic secluded beaches ideal for couples to walk hand-in-hand along - but all of them drenched in the sunshine, relaxation and good times: The spirit of Algarve package holidays!

Great Golf

What's the perfect relaxed game to compliment the cheap Algarve holiday staple of lounging lazily on the beach in splendid weather? Golf of course! There are 19 golf courses in the Algarve meaning that, like the beaches, you're sure to find a couple to your tastes. The most famous is undoubtedly the world renowned Royal Course known for its famous Par 3 hole that requires a shot of more than 200 metres over 3 breathtaking cliffs! The other courses are all entertaining though, and the sheer density of quality venues means you're never far from a swift round if the mood takes you on a cheap package holiday in the Algarve!

Fantastic Food

One of the simple pleasures of a bargain holiday in the Algarve is dining in the local restaurants - and this usually comes an a very reasonable price, explaining perhaps why eating out is far more common in the region than it is in the UK. It's quite normal to get a quality meal for £8-£10 per person, including wine. The food is mostly prepared using local ingredients, so expect quality seafood on the coast, and spiced chicken and pork dishes as you move more inland. For those who refuse to indulge in the local cuisine (you're missing out) there are a handful of places selling English food for the tourists, so you needn't feel homesick for long on your cheap holiday in the Algarve!

Captivating Culture

Okay, bullfighting may not be everyone's idea of culture, but there are plenty of other reasons to leave the beach on your Algarve holiday. There are seasonal music, art and drink festivals throughout the year, and you are never far away from a fascinating local art gallery or museum to get a greater feel for the region's history during your bargain Algarve holiday.

Noteworthy Nightlife

The nightlife of the Algarve is certainly varied, and for once it's fair to say there really is something for everyone, with a clear divide between the club scene and local cultural, relaxed evenings under the Portuguese stars. Starting with the club scene, the best bet is Albufeira, where you can party into the early hours at a wide selection of nightclubs and bars, particularly popular with English and German tourists. It may not be as well known as Ibiza or Majorca, but the Algarve is something of a nightlife gem.

The alternative to this is enjoying a night of Algarve culture. If your idea of a pleasant evening is a quiet dinner of seafood, followed by some live fado folk music or dancing in a bar, ending with a pleasant promenade under the stars, then maybe the Algarve alternative nightlife is ideal for you afterall!

This is all just scraping the surface of what makes cheap Algarve holidays such a fantastic choice for British tourists, but the best way to discover the magic of the region is to go there. If you've been on the fence about booking a cheap package holiday to the Algarve, delay no longer - you won't regret it!

About the Author
Daniel Eyre is the Product Manager of Search Travel Online. Search Travel Online is part of the Co-operative Group, specialising in cheap holidays: Algarve, Majorca, Costa Brava, Tenerife, Costa Dorada, Costa del Sol, Andorra, Egypt, Malta and the Canaries are all available.