can anyone recommend a villa in Portugal that might be still available?

[mckenzie]

I'm getting swamped by all the different websites! I'd love a Mumsnet recommendation .

Needs to sleep 4, have a pool and be walking distance to the beach.

TIA

Have a look at the www.ownersdirect.co.uk website - they have a good selection and are very good value.

Villa plus have some very nice ones too. They are quite pricey though.

thanks very much. That's the second recommendation I've had for Owners Direct so I'll try that first.

I've booked various apartments and villas with Owners Direct in Portugal, Greece and Spain and they have all been great!

Just come back from a 10 day stay in London, Barcelona and Playa Miami down in Costa Dorado which we used all Owner Direct accommodation and I couldn't have faulted any of them.

Where about are you hoping to stay in Portugal and apart from accommodation what would you like to get out of holiday?

Faro and anywhere within an hours drive is great for a beach based holiday, if you want a bit more 'culture' then head to Lisbon - sea is colder than might expect as it is the Atlantic (hope you dont think i'm being arsey mentioning that but got me the first time!)

thanks MazB. We'd like a villa with a pool ( a shared one would be great, some company for the children hopefully). I definitely would like to have very easy access to the beach - if it's a slog to get there we just wont bother.

DH would love there to be a gym (I'm happy to just take my running shoes) and we'd all like to play some tennis. DCs are 9 and 5. Water sports would be grand as DS just managed to get up and stay up water skiing last summer so he's quite keen to try that again.

We hired an apartment (they are semi-detached villas) at Balaia Golf Village which is on the outskirts of Albuferia (30-45 mins or so from Faro airport)- there are masses on the Owners Direct website.

On the complex there are 6 pools, a gym and indoor pool (which does cost extra), tennis courts, golf course and a couple of restaurants - the nearest beach is about a 10-15min walk away but you can drive and park there - really nice restaurant on the beach too!

My partner ran most mornings and i would do an early morning swim.

The complex is lovely, clean and safe.

Water sports are available at most of the Albuferia beaches.

Hope this helps!

thanks very much MazB. DH told me last night though that he cant take any holiday now until October! So it will be just the DCs and me and so I'm not so sure i want a villa now. I need to have a think.

There are also apartments available on the complex - crikey you would think i'm on a commission from them!

Hope you manage to get something sorted, shame your DH can't manage it tho

thanks MazB. I've plumped for Cornwall instead. DH would never have agreed to a summer holiday in Cornwall as he likes guaranteed sunshine so it's ideal really. Thanks for all your help - sorry i now cant use it