The increased stress of modern life has more and more people suffering from stress overload. The world financial crisis that arose from the bursting of the real estate bubble in the U.S. has put scores of people in a fix. One financial adviser even went so far as to fake his own death by parachuting off a plane just to escape it all.

Indeed, most of us need some form of escape from the rat race and lounging around in some exotic, sun-soaked beach of a far-off tropical country is one of the best ways to enjoy life. The crashing of website looking for people interested in "the greatest job in the world" is evidence of this.

The site is searching for an individual willing to spend 6 months on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef basically like a beach bum, feeding turtles, whale watching and blogging about his daily activities. The website crashed a short while after they posted the job offering apparently because of too many applicants.

Since the folks that posted the job position are only looking for one guy, you might as well forget about leaving your job to apply for the post. What you can do however is do the next best thing which is taking a vacation and renting one of the luxury villas in the Algarve located in the southern paradise-like coast of Portugal in South America’s Iberian Peninsula.

The Algarve has over 100 miles of seashore, an ample space for you to frolic and laze around in. With an average of 3,000 hours of tropical sunlight, it also has ample rays for your pale, airconditioner-kissed complexion. Although a popular spot for seasoned vacationers, it’s still relatively untouched by modernization and hence still retains the breathtaking scenery it’s had since primeval times.

The landscape in the formerly Moor-occupied region (its name comes from the word Al-Gharb, meaning the West) is full of hills and valleys which provide the awesome panoramic view from any of the private villas in Algarve. Not exactly small at 5,412 square kilometers, 16 municipalities can be found there and tourism related activities comprise most of its economy during vacation season.

There’s no shortage of things to do in Algarve. Checking out the caves and grottos made of limestone most of which are accessible only by boat is an experience to be had. Don’t forget to charge your cameras before stepping out of your villa because there’s also a 170 square-kilometer nature reserve and a lagoon that is home to hundreds of exotic tropical birds and a number of islands and inlets. If you’re an avid golfer, bringing along your clubs won’t be such a bad idea as there are a number of world-class golf courses on the Algarve also.

Luxury villa rental in the Algarve is not as pricy as it seems. It may actually be the more sensible thing to do if you’re travelling in a fairly sized group as occupying multiple rooms in a hotel will come out more expensive. Also, rates for private villa rental vary by size and amenities. The ones that come with servants and pools are more expensive, of course. The cheapest ones go for a little over $600 a week and the most luxurious ones for a cool grand for a week’s stay.

The time of the year you’re renting them is also going to affect how much you’re going to shell out staying in one. The off months of March and September will yield the lowest rates compared to the summer months of June, July and August. Careful planning and making the right choice that goes with your needs will ensure an awesome and worry-free vacation.