Article by Thom Sanders
Villa, Villa on the Mediterranean, who’s the fairest of them all…? Sounds like something from a fairy tale, but to you and me it is most definitely a reality for the holiday season.
Choosing a Villa Holiday as a holiday accommodation makes good sense and good value for many reasons. Especially if you are looking for something a little bit different or a unique style of accommodation whilst staying away on a well earned break. What better place to spend some quality time away from your busy daily routine than the beautiful Mediterranean.
There are many destinations to consider in the Mediterranean region for renting a villa for your holiday, the notable places being; Mallorca, Portugal, Cyprus, Menorca, Kefalonia, Ibiza, Crete, Zante and Lanzarote for the ideal villa location.
For me I guess it would have to be Portugal as an early first choice for having a villa holiday, as it’s always been a great place to visit. The people are very welcoming; generally the Portuguese population have good understanding of spoken English, so language is never really much of an issue, as it’s almost a second language for the natives.
Another good thing I like about Portugal for villa holidays and if you planning to stay in the southern region of Faro is that rain is very rare between the months of June and September, as most of the rain falls in the winter months. So can expect a good, hot sunny summer holiday and if you are near the coast you can expect a cooling influence from sea breezes.
Even if you are not planning your stay in the summer season, or you are maybe planning to bag an out of season deal or bargain offer for your villa holiday? Either way you can find some great locations and holiday villas at very competitive prices. If you have the flexibility on timing and maybe a last minute option or a late deal and still get some sun in a warm climate. Just keep an eye out for offers.
My preference for staying in a villa on my holiday is generally down to flexibility, the self catering style of holidaying, added to the fact it really takes the stress out of time spent on holiday. Its also private, you don’t have to compete with other guests for amenities, it’s a good option for touring and seeing the sights, as I can come and go when I want.
For meals I can eat in or eat out at a local restaurant if I prefer, and sample some of the seafood and fish dishes available from this part of the world, including the must eat or must try “Bacalhau” the famed national Portuguese dish. Bacalhau is historically made from dried cod, mainly because about 300 years or so ago when it was first developed as a dish, there were no refrigerators to keep food for any length of time, hence Bacalhau.
It is said by the Portuguese that there is over 1001 ways to cook & serve the cod Bacalhau, I’m not sure about that, but in my experience I have probably had over 30 different interpretations of this dish, and when you go to a local restaurant there is always a selection of Bacalhau dishes available, so you will have no problem finding a dish that suits your taste.
I’ve had it in many forms, some like the French style of “fruits de mer” translated as Fruits of the Sea, normally a selection of local fish, shell fish and crustaceans, like crab, prawns, sardines and crayfish, all of which are simply divine.
Seafood in Portugal is especially enjoyed best when accompanied with a glass or two of Portuguese “Vinho Verde”, simply translated as meaning “green wine”. Vinho verde is best drunk young in vintage, so find a bottle with a maximum age of 2 years old, and serve chilled.
I’m looking forward to my next holiday already and I can almost taste the grilled Portuguese sardines and chilled vinho verde, simply a piece of heaven.
About the Author
Thom Sanders writes on behalf of Villa Parade the best choice for Holiday Villas when seeking Villas In Majorca
