North Portugal and the Minho region in particular are extremely popular with British holidaymakers seeking self-accommodation holiday. Commonly referred to as holiday villa vacation it involves the practice of renting a luxury property for the entire duration of your stay. The term ‘self-accommodation’ refers to your ability to manage the property on your own as opposed to other forms of managed accommodation such as hotels. If you are consider renting a holiday villa in Portugal, here are some tips to help ensure you get the most of your holiday.

Transport – Part of being your own boss for the duration of your residency in the property means that commuting and in particular getting to the holiday home is your responsibility. Of course you may use public transport which is fine in most areas, however if you are traveling with little ones and or many bags, this form of commuting is less than idle.  Consider hiring a car or pre-arranging a shuttle to the property.

Local language – If you are considering using a translation book, be sure to buy one for Portuguese. It is a common misconception amongst newbies in Portugal that the local language is Spanish.

Travel documents – Being part of the EU, you only require to bring a valid passport. However, you are strongly encouraged to bring another form of identity document in the form of your UK driving license. It is both easier (and safer) to carry and essential should you decide to hire a car to explore the lovely countryside.

Prior to booking list included vs. not included – The level of luxury between holiday villas in Portugal will vary from region to region and will of course depend on the type of property (villas, cottages or flats). It is handy to note down what the precise property comes with vs. items that are nice to have. Either negotiate with the owner to supply these or bring your own when possible. Standard inclusions are linen, bedclothes, small towels, electricity and gas, and of course cleaning prior to your arrival. From here on, it varies.

If you are considering self-accommodation holiday in Europe make sure to put Portugal on your list. The country offers affordable holiday and beautiful un-spoilt scenery such as in the case of the Minho region. Minho is an area that offers sandy beaches on one side and stunning vineyards on the other.