Portugal's Algarve: Europe's best vacation buy

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Traditional fishing boats on The Algarve - a golf Mecca in the sun.

Renowned for its wonderful beaches and beautiful coastline, The Algarve is a paradise for all, golfers or not.

Palmares Course is only one of the over 30 top class layouts, calling The Algarve home.

With more than 3,000 years of history, Tavira is only one of many ancient Algarve towns worth exploring.

The Algarve's lively night life includes a number of casinos for those who feel lucky.

From fresh sardines grilled on the beach to an array of wonderful restaurants, The Algarve is a constant gastonomic experience.

horse-back riding along the Atlantic surf is an Algarve specialty.

But don't forget the over 30, top quality courses, they all call out to be played.

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It's the back-end of February and we are all sick and tired of a winter that started almost a month early, has been heartlessly severe and is still showing no signs of coming to an end. According to the calendar, Old Man Winter is supposed to out of here in a few weeks time, but don't count on it. If he maintains his erratic behavior, he's unfortunately, likely to stick around longer than usual. This is a winter we are all eager to forget, but we won't, because it's going down in the record books as one of the worst in recent memory.

We may not be able to change the season's insensitive ways, but we can fight the resulting winter blues it so generously showers us with. The antidote? -- Take a break from it all and escape to some place where you can relax and be pampered under warm sunny skies. It's a scientific fact that even a week in the sunshine, away from the harsh realities of this bone-chilling time of year, acts like a tonic for the body, mind and spirit - it revitalizes and refreshes better than anything else known to science or medicine.

It's an opportunity to treat the entire family to a break and if you choose the right winter or spring sunshine destination, it will be genuinely appreciated by one and all. Think just a little outside of the usual box and you may be surprised to learn that one of the most delightful of winter sunshine destinations, might also be the most reasonably priced of all.

Forget following the crowds to the over Americanized Caribbean or Mexico, where worsening security issues have become a major concern over the past year and High season prices are spelled with a capital "H". Instead, look to Europe and the peaceful, south coast of Portugal, one of the most charming corners of Continental Europe. Vacation here and you will be experiencing Europe at its very best and enjoy a real International escape, no matter what time of year.

This is The Algarve, a relaxed, laid back region of the country where the sun shines year round, balmy temperatures are the rule of the day (regardless of the season) - the living is easy and life is good, very good, for locals and visitors alike. Here summer temperatures seldom struggle much above the mid 80's and even at the depths of "winter's chill", the low 70's are quite normal. Winter, spring, summer or fall, there are few parts of the world that can compare.

The Algarve coast stretches little more than 90 miles from east to west, but what a gorgeously beautiful coastline it is. A necklace of small coves, bays, grottoes and peaceful lagoons, all laced with golden sand beaches, washed by the surf of the crystal clear, Atlantic Ocean, glistening in The Algarve sun. There are dramatic sandstone cliff formations and pristine beaches that reach as far as the eye can see. But this is only the beginning of The Algarve's story.

The region is filled with history and culture, art and architecture and for the golfers among us, one of the most impressive collections of some 30 truly outstanding golf courses. They include not only some of the top-ranked Portuguese layouts, but also several listed among the best in all of Europe.

If you are one of the many who have put thoughts of golf out of your head in order to keep the rest of the family happy on vacation, take hope -- The Algarve fits the bill rather well, you just need to think like a non-golfer. What are the most important things the non-golfers on this trip will be looking for? If it's something as simple as beaches and sunshine, there are a myriad of options out there to choose from that will suit just fine, but these days, most vacationers are looking for a lot more.

History, culture, shopping, health spas, sightseeing, new experiences, meeting people, festivals, fine food and wines, nightlife, big cities, as well as those beaches and sunshine, all figure into the equation. The Algarve has it all, with world-class golf thrown into the bargain. This southern coast of friendly Portugal is a paradise found and one of the world's most perfect vacation spots -- just ask anyone who has been there.

Making a wonderful thing even better are the values to be found in Portugal. Anytime of the year the value for money is excellent and among the best to be found in Europe, but during the winter months Portugal becomes a downright bargain. Unlike so many winter escapes, where 80% of the annual profits are made during a few winter months and the appropriately named high season, The Algarve's high season is during July and August. This is the traditional summer holiday season for Europeans when sun worshippers from all over The Continent, flock to Portugal's beautiful beaches. Winter in The Algarve is the low season, when the very lowest prices are charged for everything. This year is even better if you have US dollars to spend.

During the past year our good old Yankee greenback has been growing in value by leaps and bounds and today is worth an amazing 20% more against Portugal's currency, the euro, than only one year ago. That's the equivalent to getting an additional 20% discount off of anything and everything -- hotels, restaurants, green fees, car rentals, spa treatments, even shopping extravagances! And unlike those traditional winter sunshine destinations to our south, the winter airfares to Portugal are also at the lowest levels of the year -- It's a deal too good to refuse

Perfection is a hard thing to find these days, no matter what it is you are looking for, but when it comes to vacations, finding the perfect holiday spot, good enough to make everyone happy, could be the most difficult challenge of all - Portugal's Algarve Coast just might be the answer. What have you got to lose? Take advantage of the bargain basement values and give it a try, but be warned, once tasted, you're likely to make Portugal's very special Algarve Coast, a regular, annual trip.

For more ideas and suggestions on how to get the most out of your first trip to one of Europe's most charming countries, click here.

©2009 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988.