Sun, Sea and Fun with our Portugal Holidays

A Portugal holiday is one that is guaranteed to provide a great time for all the family. There is an overabundance of long, sandy beaches that span all resorts on the Algarve (south coast); great for the kids to go swimming, build sandcastles or whatever their imagination conjures up. Meanwhile, parents will no doubt be happy just relaxing and taking in a bit of the sun, the heat of which is at its peak from July through to September.

By night, it is more than easy to find restaurants that can cater for all ages, both in terms of cuisine and hospitality. Traditional Portuguese dishes not being all that popular, most restaurants are geared towards a mix of international foods such as Italian, Mexican and some traditional British dishes. For a family getaway that is failsafe for glorious weather and relaxation, a Portugal holiday will satisfy those of all ages.

Our Holiday Destinations in Portugal

We have lots of great deals for several different resorts in the Algarve, very popular with families and couples looking to escape the crowded day-to-day city atmosphere.

Currency

Portugal is a member of the European Union and its official currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents.  Banking hours are generally 8.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday.  Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques.

Time

Local time is GMT +1
(GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).

Language

Portuguese is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood.

Electricty

Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz.  
Round two-pin plugs are used.

Portugal Climate

The climate in mainland Portugal varies considerably from north to south and from coast to mountain.  The Algarve, in the south, experiences Mediterranean weather with particularly mild winters and hot summers.  Further north, the coast is warmed by the Gulf Stream, winters are still mild and summers delightfully warm.  Away from the coast the summers are hotter but the winter temperature drops and skiers and snowboarders should find snow at Portugal’s only ski resort in the Serra da Estrela.

Tipping

Service charges are usually added to hotel and restaurant bills, otherwise it is customary to leave a 10% tip. Bar staff and taxi drivers also expect tips, which usually entails rounding up of the bill to the nearest Euro.

Communications

The international access code for Portugal is +351. There are no area or city codes required.  The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom).