The beauty of booking villa holidays in the Algarve is that you are free to do little more than lounge around the pool - if you have one - topping up your tan, before cracking open a bottle of wine in the evening and whipping up a quick and delicious meal in the kitchen. You can get up at noon and stay up late into the night admiring the stars that light up the sky.
Of course, you'll want to leave your self-catering villa on occasion, to hit the beach, go sightseeing or pop into town to stock up on food and drink. This is where Benagil could prove to be the perfect destination, as it has a choice of popular restaurants that are perfect if you want to treat yourself to a night out.
Arribas D' Benagil Restaurant is a particularly bustling joint, where you'll be able to sample some traditional Portuguese cooking - and you can expect plenty of seafood. If you're visiting in the summer, grab a table on the sun terrace, while in the winter you can snuggle up in front of the fireplace.
As well as dinner, you can also treat yourself to some light snacks at lunchtime if you've come to the town to visit the beach, with small dishes like mussels in tomato sauce and the house shrimp on the menu.
If you fancy a change from Portuguese flavours, check out Roma Restaurant - an Italian eatery that boasts fine dining and an intimate atmosphere. You can book a table near the pool and unwind as the hot day melts into a balmy evening. The food here is heavily influenced by Italy so you can order minestrone soup, spaghetti bolognese and pesto sauce with gnocchi. Round off your meal with a slice of tiramisu. There are other less-obviously Italian dishes as well that allow you to enjoy some of the local ingredients, like goats' cheese and baked sea bass.
The beach of Praia de Benagil is really worth taking a break from your villa to explore. It is incredibly popular with locals and visitors alike and, thanks to its size, you're certain to find somewhere to lie your towel.
Above the sand on two jutting headlands stands Benagil itself and from here you'll be rewarded with some breathtaking views over the Atlantic. A short distance from the village is the resort of Carvoeiro, where there are a host of things to see and do. You can book a boat trip and set about exploring the grottos that line the coast, or visit the markets to stock up on ingredients for dinner.
If you've hired a car for your trip, travel to Lagoa, where you can make the most of the sun and hot weather at Slide&Splash - an exciting water themepark. There are water slides and river rapids to enjoy and whether you're travelling with friends, family or just your partner, this will be a real highlight of your break.
However, even if you rarely leave your villa, you'll have ample opportunity to enjoy one of Portugal's premier attractions - its sunshine.
