The Algarve: Holiday in Portugal

Many of us have – with varying degrees of patience – been waiting for the travel restrictions to lift. As beautiful as Wales can be, at some point, your wanderlust takes over, and you’d rather want to turn your staycation into a proper holiday.

Portugal and its sunny beaches call out to us. Its southernmost region is home to fantastic weather, a great infrastructure, and beautiful coastlines.

The Perfect Portugal Holiday: To Plan or Let Plan?

While international travel restrictions are slowly being lifted, Welsh travel agencies see an increase in interest in their services. By leaving the planning to others, customers feel more at ease with travelling during COVID-19. The travel agencies are not only professionals when it comes to planning a trip, they are also very familiar with the ever-changing travel rules and what you must do to maintain compliance with them.

However, the all-inclusive service many travel agencies offer is too cost-intensive for most Welsh families. It might be more favourable to do some planning yourself. Since crossing borders is the trickiest part of travelling in a pandemic, it is best to leave the actual travel preparations to the agencies. They can find the best deals, transportation, and secure your trip to and from your destination.

Choosing Holiday rentals in the Algarve (Portugal) is the best choice during COVID-19, since it greatly reduces your contact with other people, like hotel guests and staff.

Research COVID-19 Rules and Opening Hours

What is left for you to do is to research the local rules, e.g. where wearing a mask is mandatory or whether you have to be vaccinated. It is also important to check if the restaurants you’d want to visit or the attractions you want to see are open at all or have any sort of visitor restriction.

Some places might require you to reserve a space, others might have reduced opening hours or are closed entirely.

The Three Best Holiday Destinations in the Algarve

The Algarve is the southernmost part of continental Portugal and its second-most favoured holiday destination next to Lisbon. Over 3000 hours of sunshine per year and the mild to hot weather attract numerous people every year. Since it is a popular spot for tourists and retirees to move to, it is a wealthy area with a high standard of living and a massive selection of amenities and accommodations. Three cities are especially popular:

Albufeira

Albufeira is a popular travel destination. It is the largest and liveliest resort town on the Algarve coast. You can spend time in the old town with its cobblestone roads, restaurants, and cosy atmosphere. There are many family-friendly beaches and activities like snorkelling or dolphin watching. Or you can live it up – The town is full of nightlife attractions and one of the biggest party locations on the coast.

Lagos

Lagos is the most traditional Portuguese town in this selection. While the other cities are established as tourist and resort towns, Lagos has kept more of the local character. Its biggest selling points are the historic town centre, restaurants with authentic Portuguese cuisine, and beautiful beaches.

Vilamoura

If you are looking for a high-class holiday, Vilamoura is the destination for you. It is part of the so-called Golden Triangle, which spans between Vilamoura, Almancil, and Quinta do Lago/Vale do Lobos.

• Almancil is a relatively small village that is famous for being home to three Michelin Star restaurants.
• Quinta do Lago & Vale do Lobos are two gated communities. Next to their luxury housing, they are famous for being hosts to golf tournaments, including the Portuguese Open.
• Vilamoura is a high-class resort town. People nickname it the Monaco of Portugal, because of its luxury marina and the many yachts being docked there. Naturally, many wealthy tourists and locals spending their time here and the infrastructure and amenities reflect that, especially the restaurants, cafés, and shops close to the marina.