In these tough economic times its nice to know that we can still travel abroad for a reasonable amount. Portugal has always been a firm favourite destination for Britons holidaying and moving abroad. Portugal has always been a great place to invest and if you are thinking of buying property in Portugal you will no doubt want to spend a few weeks over there to find your dream home. This is where costs can start to add up.

It can be very cheap however to go to Portugal, whether for a few days or for a bit longer. Booked in advance, there are some very cheap flights to be found, and going self catering means that you are in total control of the money you spend on food. Touristy areas are always more expensive but chances are, if you are looking to invest in property for yourself then you won’t be in the touristy areas anyway.

The Algarve is always popular, safe and well-equipped for all family types, but why not consider staying a little further away for a cheaper alternative – Vale de Lobo and Quinta do Lago are both great alternatives and have great facilities for all the family.

You may choose to rent your own private villa whilst house hunting in Portugal as this will give you a feel for what it will be like to live there as opposed to staying in a hotel.

For details of property for sale in Portugal, visit the Portugal listings on Rightmove Overseas. One way to save money when buying in Portugal is to use a currency specialist when transferring your pounds into Euros to complete the purchase of your property. For more information on this, contact Smart Currency Exchange.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in Portugal, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘Portugal Property Buying Guide’