Perfect vacation spot? The Algarve has it all -- top golf included  Golf International, Inc. Find any destination where the weather is year round delightful, the scenery eye catchingly handsome, the atmosphere laid back and easy going and the likelihood is there will be golf nearby. Portugal's Algarve region is such a place and it's a golfer's heaven where the Royal & Ancient game reigns supreme and this is not ordinary golf, but a collection of some of the finest layouts to be found in all of Europe.  The Algarve Coast -- one of Europe's most handsome. Enjoying one of the most attractive shorelines to be found anywhere in Europe, The Algarve is 150 miles of small coves, bays and inlets, all with pristine, golden sand beaches, constantly washed by the surf of a crystal clear Atlantic Ocean. The setting is idyllic and the more than 30 quality golf courses that call The Algarve home, fit perfectly into the picture. But today's golf travelers are looking for even more -- world-class courses and pretty scenery may have been enough to satisfy the golfers of yesteryear, but 21st century travelers have grown accustomed to being spoiled and demand the best of everything. We expect an equally high standard of hotel accommodations, whether luxurious palaces, first class beachfront hotels or more modest, local accommodations, filled with charm and personality.  Henry Cotton's Penina still ranked as one of the best. We enjoy good food and wine and need a selection of restaurants to be conveniently located nearby. We want some off-course diversions including shopping possibilities, some historic and cultural interest and sightseeing; perhaps including visits to a museum or two We want to capture the local color, not in a Disneyesque, tourist style, but the genuine article. The Algarve has it all and it's not only in bountiful supply, but all conveniently located, close to the very best golf. In The Algarve, there is no need to spend valuable vacation time checking into and out of different hotels, packing and unpacking as you move from one golfing area to the next. Choose one well located hotel and many of Portugal's top golf courses will be within a 15-minute drive; restaurants and nightlife, even casinos, will be just as close and fascinating sightseeing, shopping and museums, only a few minutes further.  The ancient Moorish capital of Silves. The selection of hotels is more than enough to impress even the most seasoned world traveler. From plush golf resorts boasting their own top ranked golf courses, some listed among the best in Europe, with state of art, health and beauty spas and a multitude of other facilities, to more modest accommodation choices, but always, golf, restaurant choices, night-life and everything else is close by. But don't think of The Algarve as merely a modern day golf resort area with none of the charm we Americans yearn for. Quite the contrary, with a history reaching back more than 2,000 years, the region literally oozes with history, culture and an irresistible charm, making it thoroughly unique among the world's premiere golf destinations. You should visit The Algarve for her golf, but what you will take away will be far more - an Algarvean experience, guaranteed to live in your memory for many years to come.  Palmares Golf Club was designed by Frank Pennink. Explore the westernmost tip of The Algarve, visiting Sagres and Cabo San Vicente where 15th century, Portuguese explorers including Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan set off on their voyages of discovery. This is where Prince Henry the Navigator established his school of navigation and great advances in mastering the world's oceans were made. Christopher Columbus owes much to Prince Henry's school, as this is where the revolutionary Caravel sailing vessel was designed and later used by Columbus in his discovery of The Americas. Travel inland just a few miles away from the coast, to the cool green hills of the Monchique mountain range and experience a completely different side of The Algarve. Visit the spa village of Caldas de Monchique, which has existed since Roman times and has been noted for the curative powers of its waters ever since. Nearby, the ancient Moorish capital of Silves is well worth visiting, with its dramatic 1,000-year-old castle and well preserved city walls. Silves was the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting between the Moors, the Portuguese and British Crusaders and the town still retains a distinctly medieval flavor.  Outdoor cafe at Caldas de Monchique. For a shopping excursion to purchase some of Portugal's famous folk art, there is no better place than the town of Loule, a thriving crafts center, where you can watch craftspeople at work carving wood, weaving baskets and making lace. The best time to come here is for the busy Saturday market, which takes place each week around the Moorish market hall. Save some time to visit the elegant riverside town of Tavira, said to be the most beautiful on The Algarve. Filled with handsome 18th century mansions, shady gardens and some 30 churches, this is a town filled with architectural beauty that simply demands exploration. But don't be distracted from the golf. You shouldn't miss playing the two magnificent courses at Quinta do Lago and at least a couple of Vilamoura's five championship layouts. Make the pilgrimage to Penina to experience the brilliance of Henry Cotton's masterly design that first brought golf to The Algarve. There's the stunning Frank Pennink course at Palmares, a pair of eye-catching beauties at Vale do Lobo and another top ranked layout at San Lorenzo and this is still only the tip of the iceberg.  Stunning Vale do Lobo's Royal Course.
Nobody can dispute either the quantity or the consistently high quality of golf on The Algarve and the year round idyllic climate is legendary. Add in the selection of excellent hotels, the delicious food and wines, the history, culture and other attractions readily available and this might be one of the world's best vacation spots, whether you play golf or not. For a few ideas on how to get the most out of a golf vacation to Portugal's Algarve Coast, click here. © 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988. |
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