Most holiday villas and apartments in Portugal have tiled floors that may seem cold and unwelcoming, but they are perfect for staying cool in the heat of summer, and are easy to clean.

As in any warm climate, you should keep the kitchen of your rented accommodation spotlessly clean and the food stored in sealed containers if you don’t want to see a colony of ants tucking into it. Portuguese double beds are usually made up of two singles pushed together, with separate bedclothes for each person. It does have the advantage of stopping your partner from stealing the duvet.

You may be surprised to see dogs running and barking in the streets but most of these animals have homes and are usually not strays – the Portuguese like to give their pet dogs lots of freedom. There’s no need to worry about Rabies either, as Portugal has been free of the disease since 1960.

When eating out, remember that whatever food comes to your table must be paid for, so if you don’t want the bread, olives and other nibbles that often arrive un-ordered, then it isn’t rude to turn them away, or to ask the cost. Secondly, if you are vegetarian, you will find there aren’t many alternatives to meat and fish dishes, and this is when Portugal villas and apartments with their own cooking facilities are ideal. Lastly, don’t plan to visit museums on a Monday as most of them will be closed.