| Portugal lies between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. | | | | could land yourself a heavy fine or even jail time. The |
| While small in land mass, the country is growing in | | | | speed limits in Portugal are 60km (37mph) in a built-up |
| terms of popularity since joining the EU in 1986, and | | | | residential area, 90km (56mph) on open roads and |
| is now a much-loved holiday destination for the | | | | 120km (75mph) on motorways. Speed traps in |
| British. The Algarve region has probably the best | | | | Portugal, unlike in this country, don't need to show |
| climate for sun-seekers, with the majority of the | | | | prior warning; cameras and radar traps could be |
| year averaging around 20 degrees C and higher. | | | | hidden and you wouldn't know you'd passed one until |
| There are many ways to get around the Algarve, | | | | it's too late. |
| each mode of transport having its own benefits. Like | | | | The capital city of the Algarve is Faro, near to the |
| most European countries, the two-wheeled method | | | | Ria Formosa Natural Park. Faro is well-known not only |
| – mountain bikes, mopeds and motorbikes – | | | | for its animated nightlife and the annual Motorcycle |
| are popular with locals and tourists and provide a | | | | Rally, but also for its Bone Chapel, Nossa Senhora do |
| good way of getting around the towns. Public | | | | Carmo; a place of worship made from the bones of |
| transport is in abundance, and gives ample | | | | 1,245 former monks. Faro is also the location of |
| opportunity to visit places further afield. But the best | | | | Portugal's main airport, so it's an ideal place to stay if |
| way to see the Algarve is by car. Taking off on your | | | | you don't fancy travelling too far after your flight. |
| own in a hire car is often the only way to explore | | | | Holidays to the Algarve are quite cheap and easy to |
| the countryside and villages so often unvisited by | | | | book, with most major UK airports flying to Portugal. |
| tourists. | | | | Accommodation types range from youth hostels, |
| To hire a car you have to be over 21 and have a | | | | called Pousada de Juventude, to Albergaria, or 4 star |
| valid licence and passport. Portugal drives on the | | | | luxury hotels. Self-catering accommodation is plentiful |
| right-hand side of the road and operates a very strict | | | | too, from holiday apartments to villas. Camping is also |
| policing system – the police have a zero tolerance | | | | popular in the Algarve, with several campsites |
| approach to speeding, drink driving and dangerous | | | | scattered along the coast. |
| driving. The police can pull drivers over at random for | | | | Find cheap car hire in The Algarve and see the best |
| breath tests and document checks, for no reason | | | | of Portugal. |
| other than the fact they're driving. The legal alcohol | | | | Book with a car hire company before you travel, and |
| limit for a driver is 0.5 g/l – a very small beer. If | | | | get cheap car hire anywhere. |
| you're found in breach of any of the road laws you | | | | |