Algarve Sunshine holidays is pleased to announce, a bumper 2010 holiday season in the Algarve, for all the apartments and villas they have for holiday rentals. However we do have a couple of holiday rental properties in the Algarve,  still with availability for Septemebr and are offering a 25% discount on our property ID No 69

Be quick as we have already starting making further bookings

Top Safety Tips When Traveling to the Algarve With Children

Traveling to the Algarve is a great experience and you will love it, but here are 10 tips to help keep your family safe, and ensure everyone has a great time.

1. Fill out all emergency information on your passports. Make sure everybody in the party has their passport or at least a copy of their passport on them at all times. Children should carry the phone number and address of at least one trusted adult back home or at least the accommodation, in which they are staying in the Algarve

2. Generally the Algarve is as safe as it gets, but remember, there is always a bad apple in a bag, be vigilant at all times. Read the guide book in your accommodation and be careful after dark, unfortunately in Summer, the heat tends to make people misjudge the amount of alcohol they are drinking.

3 .Make a copy of the passport id page for all of your party and keep it in your possession at all times. In Portugal, it is law to show ID to the police if requested.

4. Always carry current photos of your children with you, should they wander off or disappear from your site, then it is always easier to find them quickly by showing photos to people around you. You will find the Portuguese particularly helpful in such an occasion, very family orientated and caring

5. Leave a copy of your travel plans with family or friends at home. Include hotel names and phone numbers. Have your children carry a copy of travel plans with them, as well.

6. Learn a little of the Portuguese language before you arrive.  please ( por favor ), thank you (obrigado (to a male) obrigada (to a female). most Portuguese in the tourist areas love to speak English, but a little courtesy goes along way.

7. In airports, bus depots and train stations, never leave your luggage unattended. Instruct your children not to touch other people’s luggage, or pick anything up from the floor.

8. If you will be in a foreign country for more than two weeks, contact the embassy or consulate in that country. This will make it easier for officials to find you in case of emergency back home.

9. Do not wear expensive jewelry, or clothing that stands out. Don’t carry more money than you will need. Consider credit cards or travelers checks.

10. Make sure you exchange money at authorized places. If you have any questions or get in trouble, contact the closest embassy.

Holiday forecast on the Euro,

Last year 2009 saw many UK tourists leave the traditional holiday destinations like the Algarve, Spain and Greece and travel further afield looking for the sun in countries outside the Eurozone like Turkey, and Egypt. However we enter the season for planning you holiday in 2010 do not think these countries offer better value for you Pound. Upon reading many currency and economy articles, it seems that the Governmental issues in so many Eurozone countries, like Portugal, Greece and Spain will allow the good old British Pound to hopefully commence recovery early in 2010 and by Summer 2010, may well be on its way back to 1.20 to 1.25 to the pound. The fact is as much as the British have lots to worry about, the Bank of England still decides its own interest rate, not the Eurozone and with so many Governments in Europe now at critical levels of debt, this may lead to a recovery in Sterling.

The best advice is buy your holiday in Sterling and watch the exchange markets with great interest. Set up the homepage on www.bbc.co.uk to show the up to date Euro exchange rate and try and buy when it seems Sterling is recovering.

The country of Portugal is economically in hardship, but the tourist industry is still booming, with meals from €4 a person to canecas ( as close to a pint as you can get) costing €2 and a bottle of red wine from €1 in the supermarkets, who needs to go too far afield and remember while Britain swam in puddles of rain all last summer the Algarve had nearly 4 months of blue skies and average daytime temperatures of 28º.

Book your holiday now with www.holidayhomes-algarve.com in Sterling and come to the algarve sunshine and enjoy the people and beaches of Portugal.