Top 5 European Beaches

Looking for some of the best places in the Algarve to vacation this year?

Before I share with you three of the best places in the Algarve region, let me give a quick overview of the Algarve to give you an idea of what to expect from the region.

When to go

The Algarve region is located on the southernmost part of Portugal, and just like places in southern Spain like Seville, and Huelva Spain, the Algarve region boasts sunny weather and lovely temperatures all year round.

During the summer months, you can expect pleasant temperatures hovering on the 30 degrees C mark, which is ideal for beach activities and outdoor activities like tours, day trips, etc.

Even during the autumn, the Algarve region offer an ideal getaway which makes the Algarve one of the most popular warm places in Europe in November.

If you are planning a trip this summer to the Algarve for the first time, you’ll be traveling during the peak season so expect airfare, hotel accommodation and attractions to be much more expensive.

Getting around

For instance, the town of Albufeira has the lovely ‘Giro’ buses that you can use to get around, but if you’re looking to explore other areas in the Algarve, there isn’t really a proper transportation system, apart from private bus tours.

This is why car rental is, without a doubt, the best way of getting around in the Algarve, and with literary hundreds of car rental agencies to choose from, car rental deals are easy to come by.

Another thing to note, it’s that the Algarve is not such as large region at all, and you can actually drive from the western to eastern corners of the Algarve in less than two hours.

Despite the Algarve reputation for luxury hotel resorts and spas, if you are on a budget, there are a couple of things you can do to make a summer vacation in the Algarve more affordable:

Tips

Vacation Packages

If you’ve never considered vacation packages before, most vacation packages normally include things like your flights, car rental, hotel accommodation and tours. During the high season, booking a vacation package is one of the best things you can do for a more cost-effective vacation.

Off-season

Traveling during the low season is an obvious thing to do when looking into an affordable holiday vacation.

If you travel to the Algarve between the last week of August and beginning of September, you’ll find that many holiday operators slash their prices before the new school season.

Best Places in the Algarve: Top 3

From small villages, to towns and small cities, the Algarve region has many vacation spots to suit your needs and activities.

It is true that small villages and towns are great for getting away from large crowds. However, if you are not planning on renting a car, it is worth noting that smaller towns and villages won’t always offer conveniences such as supermarkets and food markets so, it’s important to bear this in mind.

As follows, I put three of the best places in the Algarve that in my opinion offer best of both worlds:

1. Albufeira Portugal

The town of Albufeira is, definitely, one of the liveliest destinations in Portugal and one of the best places in the Algarve.

The town of Albufeira Portugal is, indeed, one of the hot tourist spots in the Algarve, attracting both young and families alike.

Albufeira Portugal has a lovely old quarter with cobblestone streets, which is a joy to stroll along, as well as lovely sandy beaches and a buzzing nightlife that includes bars, pubs, restaurants and discos.

2. Portimao Portugal

If you are planning on enjoying many water activities like jet-skiing, windsurfing, or charter rental, the city of Portimao is one of the hot spots for water enthusiasts.

Portimao Portugal is also popular for the Praia da Rocha beach where you’ll find lovely apartment rentals and hotels right by the beach.

3. Lagos Portugal

If you are looking somewhere in the Algarve a notch-down from Albufeira but with plenty of outdoor opportunities, Lagos Portugal is one of the best places in the Algarve where you’ll find fewer crowds and a more relaxed atmosphere.

Apart from swimming, exploring the nearby grottoes are a popular past time here.

Also, if you consider basing your vacation in Lagos Portugal, the town of Lagos is one of the major towns in the Algarve closest to the beautiful Alentejano National Park where you can do bird spotting, as well as hiking.

4. Faro Portugal

Faro Portugal is the capital city of the Algarve region but it’s interestingly one of the vacation spots in the Algarve less geared towards tourism.

If you want a real taste of region and soak in Portuguese culture, Faro Portugal offers a pace of life, in par with the local population that other vacation spots in the Algarve simply don’t offer.

The main attraction in Faro is its lovely Old Quarter where you can marvel at beautiful Moorish buildings.

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Best Party Beaches in Europe

Planning to getaway this summer but not sure where to go?

If you are looking for cheap summer destinations in Europe to getaway this year or, perhaps, you fancy a late summer vacation, the following Top 5 list of best beaches in the Mediterranean include five of the hottest destinations for a fun beach vacation.

If you intend to travel anywhere in the Mediterranean during the summer, be aware that mid July-mid August are the hottest and busiest months of the year, so expect expensive airfare, higher hotel prices and large crowds.

If you want to avoid the large crowds, travel either the last two weeks of June or the last week of August and early September for a cheap late summer getaway.

The Top 5 list includes a nice mix of destinations so, hopefully it’ll give you a clearer idea of where to go on your next vacation.

Best Beaches in the Mediterranean

1. North Coast of Sardinia

When it comes to visiting southern Italy, the island of Sardinia is not on the radar of most travelers but Sardinia’s north coast is home to some of the most idyllic beaches in the world.

In fact, beaches such as Marina Di Sorso and Eden Beach boast two of the longest beach shoreline in Europe, spanning nearly ten miles.

If you’re wondering where to stay on the north coast of Sardinia, places such as Porto Torres, and the town of Sorso are great town locations.

Having said this, don't overlook the city of Sassari Sardinia as it is just 30 minutes drive away from Sardinia north coast beaches.

2. Dubrovnik Riviera

The second on my list, it’s the Dubrovnik Riviera simply because of its crystal clear waters and mix of sandy and pebble beaches.

For instance beaches such as Banje, located within the City Walls and the cobblestone streets of Dubrovnik’s Old Quarter give the city such as distinctive feel.

Dubrovnik Croatia is certainly more expensive than other Croatian cities such as Split or Zagreb, in terms of accommodations and food costs but none of the other Croatian cities rival Dubrovnik’s rich history, cultural feel and lively atmosphere.

3. Egypt's North Coast

Cairo Egypt is a fairly popular destination in the Middle East (or North Africa) drawing many tourists every year.

Being such as tourist magnet, Egypt's main attractions like the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo Egypt are always busy with tourists, especially during the peak season.

When most people travel to Egypt for the first time, during the busy season they get such a terrible experience, simply because of the large crowds so they come back disappointed.

One thing to remember when visiting Egypt, it's that the country is more than the Great Pyramids. There are many off the beaten path attractions such as lesser known pyramids like Saqqara Pyramid, and desert oasis that you can explore on an excursion.

4. Morocco’s North Coast

If you’re looking a more exotic beach vacation in the Mediterranean, Morocco’s beautiful north coast is the destination for you.

The north coast of Morocco is home to some of best beaches in the Mediterranean and with its unique charming markets and enchanting Old Quarters; you’ll certainly experience an exotic vibe during your vacation here.

Some of the best beach towns along the north coast of Africa include: Al Hoceima, Beni Baroun and Melilla.

5. Palma de Mallorca Island

Palma de Mallorca is one of my favorite destinations in Spain, not only because of the lovely beaches and atmosphere but also for natural attractions such as the caves of Drach.

Best Beaches in Southern Spain  

Apart from the many things to in Palma de Mallorca, it is a bliss to get around as you can travel from one corner of the island to the other in just under two hours, so you can pretty much explore most of the island if you wished.

If you’re visiting Palma de Mallorca, I would suggest locating yourselves in either the city of Palma or the city of Alcudia because both of these cities have ports so, if you fancied visiting mainland Spain, you could take one of the daily departing ferries from either port.

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Are you looking for the best destinations in August?

If you are planning to get away in late summer and are wondering whether late summer is a good or expensive time to travel, you’ll be glad to know that airfare rates, car rental and hotel accommodation is actually cheaper in late summer when compared to traveling in July.

Nicest Beaches in Australia

Ideally, you’d want to book your vacation between the last two weeks of august and first week of September to benefit from discounted rates. The main reason late summer is such as a great time to getaway it’s because holiday operators have to slash their prices to entice travelers before school term starts. As follows are some suggestions on places to travel in August in the US, Canada and the Southern Hemisphere:

United States

If you are looking for top US summer destinations, there are many vacation spots in the Midwest region worth considering for a vacation in late August.

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For instance, places such as Minneapolis MN or Duluth MN offer plenty of urban attractions, as well as opportunities on a nearby state park. If you’re looking for inexpensive family vacations in late summer, you could always camp out in a tent or rent an RV and explore much of the Midwest or Western US regions.

Canada

If you are eying out your first vacation to Canada, late summer is a great time to explore the southwest of Canada. Two of the best destinations in August in Canada are found on the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Vancouver BC Canada and Victoria BC Canada are a joy to visit in late summer as most of the crowds have gone and attractions are less pricey. Also, since Vancouver BC and Victoria BC are located near the border with Washington State, you can always hop on a boat and take the short ferry ride from Seattle WA or Port Angeles WA.

Southern Hemisphere


If you’re not considering a cheap summer destination in Europe nor a getaway in North America, and prefer to travel somewhere exotic to experience a different vibe, the southern Hemisphere is another option. For instance, Australia is a popular getaway in August because the summer months in the Australian continent are low season so you’ll find affordable airfare, less crowds and plenty of hotel accommodation deals.

Best places for hiking in South Australia

This is the thing to remember about traveling to the southern Hemisphere, that seasons are inverted so if you happen to travel to Australia between December and February, you’ll be traveling during their summer season. Other places in the southern Hemisphere where you can find some of the best destinations in August include: New Zealand, Cape Town South Africa, Cochabamba Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru, which are two of the best vacation destinations in South America.

If you’re wondering where else to go, there are many great vacation spots in Asia to choose from, but bear in mind that the region of Southeast Asia experiences its rainy season in late summer.

If you’re looking to getaway to Nepal or Tibet, I would suggest traveling to Tibetan regions such as Amdo and Kham (located on southwest of China), rather than the Tibet Autonomous Region. The main reason why I suggest by-passing the Tibet Autonomous Region it’s because travel restrictions and overall expense for similar tours in other parts of Tibet.

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Looking for ideas and suggestions on best destinations in February?

If you've already had a look at warm winter destinations in the US but fancy a trip abroad, consider then, heading to the Southern Hemisphere.

The thing to remember about the Southern Hemisphere (i.e. Australia and Peru) and the Northern Hemisphere (i.e.North America, Europe, China and Japan) is that seasons are inverted so, you'll be vacationing during their low season which means cheaper airfare, fewer crowds and affordable hotel accommodation.

Below, I have for you some of the best destinations in February in the Southern Hemisphere to enjoy a great vacation.

Costa Rica

Tourist Sites in Costa Rica

Top of my list is Costa Rica, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, especially amongst adventure travelers.


Costa Rica offers great opportunities for fun adventurous activities like canopy tours and jungle treks through the jungle, especially during the dry season, which makes Costa Rica one of the best destinations in February to head to.

If you've ever wanted to enjoy a vacation in Costa Rica vacation, February is truly one of the best times to explore this beautiful country.

popular national parks in Costa Rica

A trip to Costa Rica, not only makes for a great honeymoon destination, but it is also a great eco-tourist destination.

In fact, most of the tours in Costa Rica are nature-oriented tours that involve exploring the beautiful rain forest, but you can also take volcano treks and enjoy the ever popular canopy tour.

Apart from nature tours, if you love water sports, the month of February is also a great time to travel to Costa Rica for surfing as coast enjoys strong winds and higher tides this time of the year.

Australia

Best places for hiking in South Australia

Known as the country 'down under', there is no doubt that Australia is one of the best destinations in February in the Southern Hemisphere.

Australia's beautiful beaches are plentiful and amazing, and the coolest thing is that Australia also offers plenty of opportunities for fun and adventurous activities like trekking the Australian outback, or enjoying scuba diving trips. 

In fact, diving and snorkeling are two of the most popular things to do in Australia, and there is no better place for this than along the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns Queensland.

In the other hand, if you want to enjoy a relaxing time at the beach or enjoy city attractions, you have places such as Sydney, which is one of the most stunning and attraction-packed destinations in New South Wales.

New Zealand

A general misconception about New Zealand is that it is the same country as Australia.

There are certainly similarities between the two countries, but New Zealand retains many unique cultural differences and traditions that sets it apart from Australia such as the Maori culture.

Top 10 Sights to See in New Zealand 

If you are traveling to New Zealand for the first time, you'll soon notice the distinct accent New Zealanders have, as well as the unique unspoiled and stunning landscape that makes New Zealand one of the best destinations in February.

New Zealand boasts snow-capped mountains, lakes and forests where you can enjoy white skiing, hiking and canoeing. If you intend to do whale watching in New Zealand, head to the town of Kaikoura, located on the south east coast, as it is an ideal place to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures.

 A New Zealand holiday is not all about outdoors though. For instance, Auckland is a cosmopolitan city where you can enjoy an array of activities that include shopping, dining and night entertainment.

Argentina

Top 5 Tourist Attractions in Argentina

Argentina is one of the best destinations in February, and one of the most popular destinations in south America because of its European-like feel.

If you are planning a trip to Argentina for the first time, you'll soon realise that the country is vast so where to go in Argentina will depend on the activities you intend to do.

Beaches in Argentina near Buenos Aires

For instance, if you love trekking and exploring the outdoors, Salta Argentina is nearby the magnificent Andes Mountains, which are a popular destination for trekkers and adventurous hikers looking to enjoy an excursion of some sort.


If you are fancy a city vacation and are looking to learn more about Argentinean culture, the capital city of Buenos Aires is one of the best places to enjoy city tours to explore the charming Argentinean barrios.

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