This is my three day whistle stop tour to the Algarve to experience the area, new and current villas along with excursions and activities.

LUCY’S  ALGARVE BLOG – 15^TH November 2011

I have just returned from an educational trip to The Algarve.  In fact it really surprised me how suitable The Algarve can be for a winter destination...my weather was mixed but due to the representative Bijou over in The Algarve, taking me all around, I managed to be shown exactly how much there is to do there even if it's not hot sunshine.  Ironically the day before I travelled it was beautiful sunshine and perfect golfing weather!! The day I left also the case...

The main reason I managed to absorb the golf info, was due to our representative Bijou’s partner, ‘John Wood’ who is a British PGA qualified Golf Pro and therefore always happy to assist on golf information and golf lessons for our clients, plus competitive rates to pre book.

The Algarve is renowned for its super golf courses, which are plentiful.  There are some fabulous purpose built resorts which offer everything and anything for most if not all golf players.  The links course at  Salgados was my favourite, located on the edge of the beach and home to a variety of water fowl and migrating birds and with fantastic coastal views.

The other sports and entertainment, that are readily on offer in The Algarve are, the numerous tennis courts, tennis courts, spa centres, swimming pools, fitness clubs, riding schools, zoo marine where you can swim with dolphins, 9 screen cinema, bowling Alley and over 150 boutiques at Algarve Shopping in Guia, catamarans, pedaloes, canoeing, kite surf dolphin watching, jet skis and fishing trips and further along on the wild waves of the west Atlantic coast, windsurfing and surfing are popular with annual championships now being held.

If all of this sounds a little to energetic, then you certainly will be spoilt for choice in the shopping centres...which are indoor and have the most amazing choice of shops,  from boutiques to designer labels,  to the famous high street names of ZARA, BODY SHOP, MANGO, H&M, NIKE, SHOE WORLD, VODAFONE to name just a few.  The shopping centres are designed in a modern style with great eateries all about and coffee/cake shops in abundance.  All with free parking too.

The Algarve also hosts many live events, concerts and shows...and apparently RHIANNA is performing in Lisbon, which is just 2 hours north of The Algarve!!

There is no doubt the rugged coastline of The Algarve is amazingly picturesque, with perfect yellow sand and the crashing of the waves through the rocks is the ideal setting for lunch at my favourite restaurant – PEDRAS AMARELAS in Gale.  It was pretty mesmerising sat in this glass conservatory practically on the beach and being served very good local cuisine.  This could also be a very romantic place, maybe for honeymooners or couples celebrating an anniversary?

Visiting all of the villas that we feature in the programme, not only helps me to appreciate what we have but to be able to happily and confidently recommend the right villas for our clients.  There really is something for everyone from a pretty 3 bedroomed villa in Guia (villa ALFARROBEIRA) with its white washed walls, pretty shutters on windows, open fireplace in the centre of the villa and its comfortable styling both inside and out, enabling  you to totally relax and enjoy the luxury of a ‘private villa’ holiday but still be close enough to the resort of Guia to wonder into. 

Or maybe you would prefer a mountain positioned villa up in Monchique (villa VIDA NOVA)- WOW what a fabulous view, position and total luxury hideaway.  My first tour of the house downstairs was sheer amazement and the high quality and homely comfortable feel this villa has with picture windows in almost every room out to the magnificent view down to the valley.  Then up the grand staircase in the centre of the house, I couldn’t get over how beautifully designed the bedrooms and tiled mosaic bathrooms were.  It definitely felt an interior designer owned this property.  We then managed to stop off for a quick coffee and locally made honey cake on our way down in the village of Monchique.  This was a real gem of a village with its local spring, honey making and craft shops not to mention a few lovely local restaurants.

I also very much enjoyed visiting an old Villa Select favourite from many years ago – (villa GIRASSOL), this 4 bedroomed traditional house, is always such a pleasure to see.  As its typical Portuguese in its style, decor and feel.  The totally private pretty garden is a delight for families or just couples as it has a grassy area for kids, a large swimming pool and a perfect terraced area for sitting and relaxing.  Not to mention the beautiful ‘umbrella pine tree’ right in the centre of the garden which offers such a natural shade in the mid day sun. The house is quirky inside, with slight split level downstairs, a domed ceiling in the summer lounge room with comfy seating and then the master bedroom affording lovely views out to the countryside of  Vale d Parra. The villa has also proven popular with people wanting to hire bikes as it's a lovely countryside bike route around the Gale area and into Guia. (approx 10 mins)

To finish off my trip, we had a drink in the prettiest restaurant in the town of Silves, where they had a roaring log burner (again ideal for winter breaks) this restaurant was built on the edge of the famous sandstone coloured Moorish castle, once the capital of the Algarve - bear in mind I was here at 8pm and this village was lit up with fairy lights in trees and lanterns in windows so you could see the cobbled streets and old Portuguese buildings.  It was all quite stunning.  Again as I had throughout my trip, great hospitality from the local people, who are only too happy to serve there fantastic local cuisine, which is definitely  a must in The Algarve!!!

My over all thoughts of The Algarve, would be something along the lines of...stunning scenery, interesting history of the moors and Christians, superb coastline,  plenty to do all seasons and for all age groups and tastes.  With a good choice of villas to suit you're every need.  It makes the two and half hour flight into Faro a perfect holiday destination....