We plan to fly to Spain in January and want to rent a small house in the south near Portugal. Can anyone recommend an area and/or a rental company? Is it best to rent privately or go through an agent? We are hoping to live in a village where we can walk to stores, etc. Any help or suggestions will be very welcome! Thanks in advance, Virginia
For four weeks all you have is holiday rental accommodation. There are plenty of self catering directories available with a Google.
Another popular place in that area would be the Algarve region of Portugal--right on the coast. Modern condos and accommodations are available there.
The big European budget air carriers fly into Farro from London with very low fares. The weather's much better than in the rest of Europe, too.
It's best to rent thru an agent, so you avoid the hassle of dealing with paperwork, etc. moreover if you don't speak Spanish... https://www.idealista.com/news/inmobiliario/vivienda/2012/12/11/552901-el-papeleo-que-debe-realizar-un-inquilino-para-alquilar-una-vivienda-sin-sorpresas Having said this, holiday rentals are easier to rent than long(er) term rentals.
YOu should also expect a substantial break for a month rental. We have generally paid anything from 3 times the weekly rate in places like Paris to 2.5 time the weekly rate in smaller towns or rural areas.