For beach fans
Quinta dos Cedros
One of the Algarve's original seaside villas, set in three acres of gardens at the end of a private lane. A path leads to the sandy beach, which is only accessible on foot. The villa sleeps up to 14 and, while it may not be luxurious, it has some enticing features, such as a dining room opening straight on to the secluded swimming pool and offering views of the sea. The resort of Santa Eulalia, with its bars and restaurants, is just a few minutes' walk from the villa.
Where to book: The Villa Agency (01273 747811, thevillaagency.co.uk). From £2,129 per week for the whole villa, based on 11-14 sharing.
For families
Casa do Eido da Devesa
Situated 8km from the riverside town of Ponte de Lima, to the north of Porto. The restoration of the 17th-century yellow-painted villa has added a modern extension with huge windows that provide plenty of natural light. The newly expanded house is ideal for several families sharing, and has a spacious sitting room with TV and fireplace, a well-equipped kitchen, lawned garden with swimming pool and table tennis, a sauna and small gym. Eight bedrooms all have en suite shower rooms or bathrooms, and three have whirlpools.
Where to book: Vintage Travel (01954 261431, vintagetravel.co.uk). From £1,095 per week based on eight sharing for two weeks.
For foodies
Quinta da Perdiz
A four-bedroom white villa set in 50 acres of grounds in the foothills of the Monchique mountains, 18km from Lagos, one of the most ancient settlements in the Algarve. The accommodation is arranged on four levels. Local tiles and pottery, along with a wooden beamed ceiling in the sitting room, give the villa rustic character. It comes complete with a chef, and French windows lead to a dining terrace with barbecue. The swimming pool and tennis court are below the house, reached by a flight of steps.
Where to book: Scott Dunn Mediterranean (020-8682 5040, scottdunn.com). From £925pp per week full board based on eight adults sharing and including flights, car hire, a villa host, two nannies and chef.
For golfers
Parque da Floresta Golf & Leisure Resort
Part of a purpose-built golf complex 3.5km from the large and popular Algarve beach resort of Salema. The property offers a choice of three- or four-bed villas, all set within their own gardens with fresh-water swimming pools and barbecue areas. Also offers an 18-hole golf course, tennis, bowls, horse riding, archery, a communal children's pool, as well as Spa Floresta with health and beauty treatments. The resort has a clubhouse containing a bar, restaurant and pro shop.
Where to book: Sovereign (08705 768373, sovereign.com). From £379pp a week based on eight sharing a four-bedroom villa, including flights and daily maid service.
For friends
Casa Colunas
In the resort of Val Verde, near the impressive Hotel Quinta do Lago, set in a landscaped garden. The white exterior has classical columns with steps up to the front door. Inside, a wide staircase sweeps up from the high-ceilinged entrance hall. The master bedroom has a whirlpool, but all four rooms are light with en suite bathrooms. The spacious living room has arched windows with views over the garden. The swimming pool is surrounded by a large paved terrace. The closest restaurant is within a 150m walk, while the beach and shops are 1km away.
Where to book: Villas of Distinction (0870 1664959, villas-of-distinction.co.uk). From £2,525 per week, including car hire and maid service.
For mountain lovers
Casa do Barreiro de Cima
A manor house in the wine-growing area of Terra de Basto, surrounded by mountains and overlooking Rio Tamega, a tributary of the Douro river. The house can be booked as a hotel, or take over the whole villa and cook for yourself. Meals can be provided on request and are payable locally. The five bedrooms are decorated simply with tiled floors, stone walls and local antique furniture. Close to the swimming pool is an additional cottage with two bedrooms.
Where to book: Sunvil Discovery (020-8758 4722, sunvil.co.uk). From £557pp per week based on two sharing, and including car hire.
For style gurus
Casa da Infanta
A three-storey mansion owned by the former Princess of Portugal, looking out to the boats of Portimao from an imposing position on the cliffs. The house is 3km from the village of Ferragudo with its narrow streets, a few bars and good fish restaurant. The property has recently been modernised to include a contemporary kitchen and antique furnishings. There are two sitting rooms - one of which offers a grand piano and doors leading on to the terrace - and two dining rooms. The 10 bedrooms are all en suite; some have fireplaces, dressing rooms and private verandas. The villa has a laundry room, table tennis, TV/games room, swimming pool and its own beach.
Where to book: Chapters by Abercrombie & Kent (0845 0700618, villa-rentals.com). From £1,695 per week for the whole villa, based on 10 sharing, including daily maid service and a housekeeper who will prepare meals at extra cost.
For romantics
Casa Pombal
A former dovecote at the top of a mountain in the remote Montanhas region. The cobbled patio and a circular sitting room with holes in the walls (once used by nesting pigeons) add to a unique feel. The one bedroom has an antique iron bedstead, and the large garden shares a tennis court with other properties on the rural estate.
Where to book: Individual Travellers (08700 773773, indiv-travellers.com). From £402 for the cottage per week, including car hire.
For country lovers
Quinta Casa
Set in large grounds and surrounded by a pine forest, this rustic-style house sleeps eight. It offers a master bedroom with private sitting area, two twin rooms and a bunk room. The kitchen is well equipped and the garden has a swimming pool and terrace with barbecue. The house is 7km from Sintra, summer residence of the kings of Portugal, and just under 3km from the nearest beach of Praia das Macas.
Where to book: Magic of Portugal (0870 8880222, magictravelgroup.co.uk). From £380pp per week for the villa, including flights, transfers, and maid service three times per week.
For city lovers
Quinta da Marinha
This collection of villas and a hotel lies a couple of miles from the town of Cascais. The surfing beach of Guincho is 2km away, and Lisbon airport 40km. The villas are set in pine trees surrounding an 18-hole golf course, and share two swimming pools and six tennis courts. A one-bedroom townhouse contains a galleried bedroom with en suite bathroom, kitchen and living room with satellite TV and sofa bed. A children's entertainment programme is included in the price.
Where to book: Villa Connections (01625 858158, algarveconnections.co.uk). A one-bedroomed townhouse costs from £340pp including breakfast.
Where to book a Portuguese villa
Operators with villa holidays
Affinity Villas (01428 727277, affinityvillas.com).
Algarve Select (01625 588430, algarveselect.com).
Ashfield Golf & Leisure (01789 262977, ashfield-golf.co.uk).
Bill Goff Golf Tours (0191-427 5003, billgoff.com).
Caravela Tours (020-7630 9223, caravela.co.uk).
Casas Cantabricas (01223 328721, casacantab.co.uk).
Chapters by Abercrombie & Kent (0845 0700618, villa-rentals.com).
Cosmosair (0800 0159521, cosmos-holidays.co.uk).
CV Travel (01249 721711, cvtravel.net).
Design Holidays (0870 7273755, designholidays.co.uk).
Direct Holidays (0870 2422404, direct-holidays.co.uk).
EHS Travel (0870 7440007, ehstravel.co.uk).
Eclectic Leisure (0161-477 2011, eclecticleisure.com).
Elegant Resorts (01244 897444, elegantresorts.co.uk).
Exclusive Holidays (01202 591890, pci-holidays.com).
Extra Holidays & Travel (020-8251 0970, extra-holidays.co.uk).
Fairways and Holidays (02897 511493, chakatravel.com).
First Choice Villas (0870 7500001, firstchoice.co.uk).
Golf and Leisure Breaks (01491 576861, golferbreaks.com).
Golf Holidays International (01268 493001, leisurelinkgolf.com).
Holiday Villas (01858 828140, holiday-villas.com).
Individual Travellers (08700 773773, indiv-travellers.com).
James Villa Holidays (0845 3453345, jamesvillas.com).
JMC Holidays (0870 5550440, jmc.com).
Jonathan Markson Tennis (020-7603 2422, marksontennis.com).
Leisure Estates International (0870 0507015, holiday-villas.com).
Leisure Link (01268 493001, leisurelinkgolf.com).
Leisure Pursuits Group (01252 848420, golftravelclub.com).
Light Blue Travel (01223 568904, lightbluetravel.co.uk).
Longmere Travel (020-8655 2075, atlgolf.demon.co.uk).
Longshot Golf Holidays (01730 230277, longshotgolf.co.uk).
Lotus Supertravel Golf (020-7962 9494, supertravel.co.uk).
Maclaine Holidays (08700 134379, maclaine.co.uk).
Magic of Portugal (0870 8880222, magictravelgroup.co.uk).
Manos Holidays (01273 427333, manos.co.uk).
Meon Villa Holidays (01730 230200, meontravel.co.uk).
North Portugal Travel (01242 679867, northportugal.com).
OSL (0870 1652607, osl-villas.co.uk).
The Owners Syndicate (020-7801 9804, ownerssyndicate.com).
Palmer & Parker Holidays (01494 815411, palmerparker.com).
Panorama Holidays (0870 7595595, panorama.co.uk).
The Portuguese Portfolio (01747 861381, portuguese-portfolio.com).
Premier Iberian (01327 350394, golfinthesun.co.uk).
Scott Dunn Mediterranean (020-8682 5040, scottdunn.com).
Solmar Villas (0870 3813000, solmarvillas.com).
Secret Portugal (01527 559000, travellersway.co.uk).
Sporting Breaks (01709 513851, traveltalkgroup.com).
Style Holidays (0870 4444414, style-holidays.co.uk).
Travel Club of Upminster (01708 225000, travelclub.org.uk).
Travillas (01737 222322, travillas.com).
Uma Casa Portuguesa (020-7923 3264, ucp-tours.demon.co.uk).
The Villa Agency (01273 747811, thevillaagency.co.uk).
Villa Connections (01625 858158, algarveconnections.co.uk).
Villa Plus (01727 836686, villaplus.com).
Villa World (01223 506554, villaworld.co.uk).
Villas of Distinction (0870 1664959, villas-of-distinction.co.uk).
Vintage Travel (01954 261431, vintagetravel.co.uk).
Villa agencies
Bond Travel (01617 474007, bondtravel.co.uk).
Carrick Travel (01926 858434, carricktravel.com).
Delta Travel (0121-471 2282, deltatravel.co.uk).
Eastgate Travel (01964 536191, eastgatetravel.com).
Holiday Villas (01858 828140, holiday-villas.com).
JML Property Services (01494 488190, euro-rentals.com).
Latitude Forty (020-7581 3104, latitude40travel.com).
Light Blue Travel (01223 568904, lightbluetravel.co.uk).
Peltours (020-8958 5636, peltours.com).
The Travel House (01792 483333, thetravelhouse.co.uk).
Villa Retreats (01625 586586, villaretreats.com).
World Sky Travel (0121-764 3550, worldsky.co.uk).
