Portugal is the place to be

LONDON, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The weather outside is frightful (rain, rain go away!) which means that now more than ever, the UK has holiday on the brain.

When it comes to booking, everyone knows the buck (or pound) doesn't stop there. You need the clothes to go with the getaway, which is why Monarch's collaboration with Matalan is great news - giving Matalan Reward Card customers the chance to win a pair of flights worth up to £500 with

Monarch just for swiping their card. But, how do you choose a destination? Easy - a Portugal holiday with Monarch. Why? Read on.

Bet on the Weather

There's simply nothing worse than planning (and paying for) a holiday only to show up and be forced inside by unpredictable weather. But Portugal is a done deal when it comes to climate. Thanks to its location, the country enjoys temperate weather year-round and in summer time it's pretty much perfection with an average of about 27°C, and the ocean breeze always offers relief so it's never too hot to handle.

Unbeatable Value

Everyone loves a holiday but returning in the red is never fun, nor is penny-pinching all year to be able to enjoy yourself once you get there. With Portugal this isn't a problem. Food, drink and accommodations in Portugal are a fraction of what they would cost in the UK - and you don't have to worry about sacrificing quality. Walk into any Portuguese restaurant and it's pretty much a guarantee the house white wine will match, if not top, its pricier counterpart here at home. Not to mention the tasty nibbles that come free with every meal like delicious local cheeses and fresh-baked Portuguese bread. Who said man could not exist on bread and wine alone? We most definitely could.

Outstanding attractions

Of course, what's the point of going on holiday to a place where there's nothing to do? Good thing you're in Portugal. From sipping some of that great house wine (ideally a Portuguese vinho verde (green wine), the Portuguese answer to a super fresh white wine) - or Port if you really want to go native - in one of the chic bars around Rua do Prior in Faro, strolling through the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley, lounging on Praia Dona Ana beach in the Algarve or taking in a football match at the Stadium of Light, Portugal has entertainment for every traveler.

Leading scheduled leisure airline, Monarch, provides low cost, high quality flights to over 50 destinations worldwide. Visit http://www.monarch.co.uk now to book a flight to

Portugal from £39.

SOURCE Monarch