A short break to the Algarve

Regular flights from Bournemouth and Southampton airports to Faro mean that it is possible to fly to the Algarve for short or longer durations. I flew there recently from Bournemouth for five nights. I stayed in Quarteira which is about 20 minutes from Faro Airport. Quarteira has managed to retain its Portuguese character and is a very popular destination for Portuguese particularly from the north of the country. It has a lovely pedestrianised promenade where you can spend time relaxing with lovely walks along the seafront and enjoying the outdoor terraces of the bars and restaurants in the sunshine. Quarteira has a beautiful sandy beach and sunbeds are available for hire.

If you don’t wish to hire a car there is a bus station and you can easily visit places such as Albufeira and Faro. Faro has a lovely old town and some great restaurants, it is well worth a visit.

I stayed in the Dom Jose Beach Hotel in Quarteira which is in a great location on the promenade with direct access to the beach. It has 154 rooms and an outdoor pool. It also has a lovely terrace overlooking the sea which is an ideal place for a relaxing drink and to watch the world go by. I recommend the sea view rooms at the front of the hotel as they have great views and a balcony. The hotel offers a substantial buffet breakfast and you can also dine in the hotel at night if you wish. The food there is great! If you prefer to eat out, there is an excellent selection of restaurants in the town.

There is a fish market at one end of the resort where the catches are sold early in the morning and will be on the menu at the local restaurants the same day. As you might expect from a coastal region, the cuisine of the Algarve is heavily influenced by an expansive range of fresh fish and seafood. Caught daily by the local fishermen, all types of fish are the mainstay of most menus in hotels and restaurants in the area.

Vilamoura is around 30 minutes away on foot. It has the largest marina in Portugal along with more beautiful sandy beaches. It also has world-renowned golf courses and has become one of the best-known destinations on the Algarve.

This area is great to explore by bike, you can rent one from the Dom Jose Beach Hotel. There are plenty of cycle tracks and you can see things which you miss when travelling by car. It also means you can enjoy a glass of wine at one of the beach restaurants along the way!