All good on the Algarve
Our writer can’t wait to get back to his favourite spot, while memories from his last trip are still fresh – for all the family
■ Algarve Visit Cape St Vincent, the south-west edge of mainland Europe, which is particularly spectacular at sunset. Heading north from here you can enjoy a scenic drive or walk up the Vicentine Coast, considered Portugal’s greatest coastal paradise and part of a protected natural park.
■ Take a ferry from Olhão to Armona Island or from Faro to the least developed and inhabited Deserta Island, for an authentic Algarve experience.
■ Enjoy an alfresco lunch of sardines or fresh seafood in Portimão, at one of the many riverside restaurants, or in Olhão, next to Ria Formosa promenade. Heading inland try the stews and dishes of rich game and meat with strong, aromatic flavours. O Enjoy a day relaxing on the beach. From sandy beaches to deserted islands, and award-winning beaches like Dona Ana, Camillo, Meia, Marinha and Falésia beach, there is plenty of choice to suit every taste. A trip to explore the impressive Benagil Cave is also a must.
In order to get a few of those ticked off, we divided our time between Faro and the Pine Cliffs Resort, which is closer to Albufeira — about a 30-minute drive from the airport if you’re heading there when you land.
It’s a luxury resort that you may never want to leave so the option of heading straight there and settling in is very tempting and negates the need for an expensive car. As you can gauge from the name, there are many cliffs in the vicinity and one of them has to be accessed via a lift. It is these things that the little people in our entourage remember over two years later.
The huge resort — which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year — boasts the biggest children’s club in the region, several options of accommodation, from main hotel to ocean suites.
There are also a wide range of dining options with no less than 11 restaurants from O Pescador seafood specialities to the Piri Piri Steakhouse, to the Yakuza Algarve by Olivier, a Japanese restaurant with food served in an outdoor garden setting. Endless choice in very relaxed settings.
To work off that lovely food the following morning, you have the Annabel Croft tennis academy, a choice of nine swimming pools and, of course, there is also a ninehole golf course in the middle of the property as well as mini-golf within the huge children’s play area.
For those families who may not all play golf, but some do, the resort offers plenty of variety so that there is something for everyone. Golfing absences are far more palatable when there are real alternatives for the rest of the family. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
If you do have a car — and, speaking from experience, Google Maps on your phone to find your way back — a trip inland is always worth it; away from the buzz of the tourist hotspots and always likely to come across an authentic local restaurant where you’ll pay a fraction of the prices you may have been paying all week. And just in case we ever have to lock ourselves down for a couple of years again, enjoy every luxurious moment.
TRAVEL FACTS
How to get there: Aer Lingus (aerlingus.ie) has regular services, from €100 return. VDL Car Hire provides a good service at Faro airport, with prices from €630 for seven days. Where to stay: Two nights at Hotel Faro in June costs from €390 per night for 2 adults and 2 children in a family room including breakfast, hotelfaro.pt. Three nights at Pine Cliffs Resort costs from €445 per night for 2 adults and 2 children in a two-bedroom Ocean suite, pinecliffs.com.
What to do: For boat tour and lunch at Estamine, visit ilha-deserta.com. See also visitalgarve.pt