Three of Portugal's best destinations for inexpensive accommodation

Being Britain's longest standing allies; Portugal is a particularly popular choice of holiday destination for many Britons – almost matching the popularity of Spain villas. If you are looking for villas in Portugal that combine quality, nearby entertainment and value for money, then you may want to consider heading to the following Portuguese regions.

Porto

Since the Northern city of Porto was deservedly given the title of 'European Capital of Culture' in 2001, this vivacious city has welcomed an influx of visitors on to its charming streets. Given its rapid surge in popularity as being a top European travel destination, Porto and its surroundings are full of villas and self-catering accommodation set in the most stunning scenery.

Porto owes much of its beauty to its location at the mouth of the River Douro. Asides rambling alongside the riverbanks that weave in and out of the ancient city, visiting the Ribeira Bairro part of the city, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is bursting with bars, clubs, cafes and restaurants, promises to be a particularly enjoyable night out.

The Algarve

If you are looking for cheap villas in Portugal, then look no further than the Algarve. What is without question Portugal's most famous holiday region, this southern area of Portugal is a fascinating combination of beautiful, sandy beaches that seem to stretch on eternally, rustic towns with mighty rivers rushing through, great tasting and affordable food, and some of the best golf courses in the world.

Being such a popular holiday destination, the Algarve and its 200km-long stretch of coast and inland areas of rural utopia are brimming with quality villas. Due to the high volume of competition, many of these are affordably priced, with their inexpensiveness certainly not compromising their quality. Reputable companies such as Villas4You offer

Lisbon

Lisbon has been cited as being one of Portugal's 'best kept secrets'. This historical and cultural Portuguese city has a plethora of traditional quarters, quaint squares, fine architecture, vibrant and colourful city gardens and a waterfront that beckons you to sit and gaze out across the exhilarating Atlantic Ocean.

Being such a lively and cosmopolitan city where barely a week goes by without some kind of Portuguese fiesta taking place, you may expect renting accommodation in Lisbon to be on the more expensive side. On the contrary, villas in Lisbon and its surrounding areas are reasonably priced and as there is a huge selection of quality villas providing first-class accommodation, it will not be difficult to find one that caters for your particular tastes and requirements.

Steeped in history, scenic beauty, delicious authentic cuisine and animated, cosmopolitan towns and cities, fused together by affordable villas, restaurants, activities and shopping, it's not difficult to understand why Portugal is one of Europe's leading travel destinations.