Portugal 2010: summer holiday booking guide
But the country does offer some of the best value in the eurozone, especially outside the Algarve. The farther north you go, the more the cost of living tumbles as hotels, restaurants and shops cater to locals rather than overseas tourists. Here are a few ways to make the euro go further this summer.
Hidden away on vineyards, down long private drives and in remote valleys in central and northern Portugal are some intriguing manor houses known as solares ( www.solaresdeportugal.pt ), where double rooms average £70 a night. Many are grand 17th-century houses still in the care of descendants of the founding family. They are inspected by the tourist board to ensure they meet minimum standards and are divided into three categories of comfort: manors, farmhouses and rustic cottages. This is a great way to meet local people and eat home-cooked regional dishes. Destination Portugal ( www.destination-portugal.co.uk ) can advise on individual solares as its staff have visited most.
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