The Portuguese coastline is a holidaymaker’s dream. Frequently hailed as one of the best golf destinations in the globe, high-end resorts and top class courses sit side by side with an abundance of health and wellness spas that make the most of the scenery and tranquility all around..

For the adventurous, Portugal offers some of Europe’s greatest deep-sea fishing as well as each kind of water sport an enthusiastic tourist could dream of. But it is where the ‘rolling plains end in unspoilt beaches’ that’s the real attraction. The Portuguese coastline boasts nearly two hundred Blue Flag beaches, numerous hidden from the primary tourist trails by sheltered coves or decorated by countless colourful boats in picturesque fishing villages like Sesimbra – which also doubles as the fashionable weekend retreat of ‘well to do’ Lisbon families.

Alongside all the sunshine, beaches and activities – not to mention the glorious climate – Portugal’s history and heritage can nearly be overlooked. Almost. From its Moorish legacies to modern day Lisbon, Portugal combines the past and also the present with a timeless elegance. Whether you’re a history buff or simply in need of some old world culture, you are able to choose from UNESCO Globe Heritage sites like the magical cliff best village of Sintra or merely take in the quiet charms of historic towns like Guimarães, Évora or Angra do Heroísmo.

More than anything, it’s the pull of a more sedate and relaxed pace of life that bewitches visitors and keeps bringing them back for a lot more. Perhaps it is no wonder that over a third of Portugal’s tourists hail from the UK with numerous people choosing the laid back lifestyle of evening strolls on the promenade at Sesimbra or the café terraces of Porto as ideal holiday house destinations.

Given all that Portugal has to provide it’ll come as no surprise to know that tourist figures have risen dramatically more than the last decade – extending well beyond the conventional Algarve destinations. Portugal is almost uniquely blessed by the perfect climate and stunning natural beauty but it provides  a lot more than just golf resorts and beach holidays. Even the government’s plans for the promotion of tourism in Portugal realise what makes ‘Europe’s west coast’ so special.

It’s not too long to the school half term break now so many families may be looking for a nice cheap getaway to the sun. Portugal may work out ideally as long as bookings are made quickly. Demand is obviously high once it hits the half term week so if you leave it until the last minute to book you may end up paying over the odds.

Most people will probably want to visit the Algarve so will opt for our car hire Faro Airport service. Some will prefer the city life and opt for our car hire Lisbon or car hire Porto service. We can guarantee extremely competitive pricing due to the large amount of suppliers we deal with.

Our price comparison service takes the hard work out of finding a suitable car hire Portugal deal.

Say for example you are staying in Lisbon city and decide you don’t need as much time as you thought in the city and would like to get out and explore the surrounding areas more. When you search for a car hire in Lisbon in a downtown location you may sometimes find that there are no cars available.

This is because many car hire pick up areas have varying opening hours. So sometimes if you wanted to pick up a car after 6pm or on a Sunday it may not be possible in certain locations. The opening hours are often centered around busy periods which is one of the reasons why ninety five percent of cars are rented at the airport.

The airport is where the vast majority of people will be in need of a Portugal car hire service. It is not commercially viable for downtown locations to stay open long hours.

If the airport is close to the city then you are much better off heading out there to hire a car for a few reasons. There should be a much bigger choice of rental cars at the airport depending on how big a location it is. Of course if you book in advance you can be sure the car hire type you booked will be available at whatever pick up location you have chosen.

Many car hire locations also offer a drop box for keys should they be closed when you arrive back. The downside of this is that you don’t get to sign papers stating that you returned the car in perfect condition. If you have a camera with you then take a few pictures of the rental car so you can prove the condition you left it in (no harm in being overly careful is there?)

So in conclusion Airport car hire is a lot easier however don’t rule out getting a Portugal rental car at a downtown location or other locations should you need to.

We offer many car hire types to suit all needs. We have budget and economy hire cars at very low prices as well as value for money people carriers. We also offer premium rental cars for those of you with slightly deeper pockets that may be visiting Portugal on a business trip and looking to impress potential clients.

Portugal is a country which offers great value for money when it comes to eating out and accommodation. It’s an excellent choice for a family holiday with over 300 days of sunshine a year in the Algarve region.

Search for a low cost car hire Portugal quote now using our cost comparison booking engine.