CLUB WITH BAGS OF CLASS
There’s a lot more to this Algarve resort than the magnificent golf courses.. and it’s a great place from which to explore all the sun-kissed area has to offer
BY RAJ GILL THE Algarve, which is situated in the southernmost part of continental Portugal, boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year, with clear blue skies and hardly any rain.
This goes a long way to explaining why it is such a popular holiday spot.
While it’s long been a firm favourite with Brits, we had not ventured there ourselves before.
Things got off to a good start thanks to a direct flight from Edinburgh to Faro, which took little more than three hours.
We were whisked away from the airport and arrived at the Robinson Club Quinta da Ria less than an hour later.
Nestled in between two golf courses, deep in the heart of the unspoiled Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, the resort is located on the beautiful eastern coast of the Algarve.
From the main resort area, you can walk to the beach in approximately 10 minutes.
Alternatively, you can hop on one of the shuttles, which do regular runs.
The walk is worth it for the spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean.
The fantastic beach bar, where no request is too much of a task for the fantastic bar tenders, is a bonus.
The sunbathing area is another perfect spot from which to take in the stunning, ever-changing landscape of the nature reserve.
The reserve is a sight to behold and has been named one of the seven wonders of Portugal.
Being a food lover, I was very pleased to learn about Robinson’s WellFood programme, where the focus is on everything fresh and local.
The unique quality of the programme is that all the food has zero additives.
One downfall of many of the family resorts we have visited in the past is that the cuisine can get monotonous after a few days.
Well, there’s no danger of that happening at Robinson Club.
Each and every day, going to breakfast, lunch and dinner was an absolute delight, anticipating what the superbly talented chefs had whipped up.
The resort is also a golf lover’s paradise with not one but two amazing courses – the Quinta da Ria and the Quinta de Cima.
The Quinta da Ria was designed by the architect Rocky Roquemore.
We were lucky enough to get a booking with one of the resort’s top professionals, who spent the afternoon putting us through our paces – which is no mean feat.
Whether you are a golf pro or beginner, it is well worth enjoying
a round at both of the courses. The Quinta da Ria boasts five lakes and stunning sea views, making for a most pleasant way to while away an afternoon.
For children, the resort features three specialised clubs – the ROBY Baby Set, catering for children up to three, the ROBY Kids Club for children aged three to 12, and the teenagers have their own club, the ROBY Youth Club.
All the clubs are managed by fully qualified staff, called the Robins, who cater to the children’s every whim, leaving the adults to relax. And if that isn’t enough, there is also a baby-sitting service available.
For fitness fanatics, there is a well-equipped gym with plenty of fitness classes available.
There are also four tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, a football pitch and badminton and squash courts. And for those wishing to unwind, the WellFit spa offers a great selection of treatments.
There are 78 rooms, of which six are suites with hot-tubs on the terrace. The standard rooms are pretty basic, so if you are planning to spend more time in your room and less using the resort facilities, then I would definitely recommend upgrading – it’s worth it for the sea views alone.
There is absolutely no reason to leave the resort but should you feel the need to go exploring, Tavira – the nearest town – is 15 minutes away by car.
Or if you fancy being a tourist for the day, pop over to Lagos and visit what is billed as the No1 attraction, the Ponta da Piedade. It is a breath-taking coastline with 60ft high cliffs, caves and grottos.
What makes this Robinson Club stand out in a rapidly growing market of family resorts is their staff.
They will go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that you have an outstanding holiday.
For example, chatting with the barman Luis one evening, I mentioned that I lacked a particular football skill.
Assuring me that it was as easy as crushing grapes, he kindly arranged to come in a wee bit earlier the following day to help me work on it.
In my book, that’s what you call a result.