If you’ve got time after your golf, take a visit to the salt pans (a great spot for bird watching too) near Ria Formosa, the gardens of the Moorish castle or a boat ride to the Ilha de Tavira with its beachside bars and restaurants. The island of Madeira is characterised by deep green valleys in the interior and a rugged coastline. It lies about 370 miles off the African coastline in the Atlantic Ocean, enjoying mild winters and very pleasant summers. Visitors return regularly to play the scenic golf courses and to relax with the Madeiran hospitality and pace of life. Here’s an idea! Vale do Lobo Golf Club (page 189).
Portugal
friendly and the food, particularly the fish, is delicious. Apres-golf features casinos and bars and fantastic Atlantic Ocean views.
Portugal is still the Number 1 destination for holiday golfers looking for short-sleeve golf.
Vilamoura is one of the largest holiday destinations on the Algarve. The smart marina hosts a variety of boats and all types of restaurants. With year-round sunshine, the accent is on sport with five golf courses, a tennis club and a horse-riding school to keep you busy during the day before an afternoon siesta and an evening out “on the tiles”, perhaps finishing at the international casino.
With a massive choice of hotels and golf courses available, we’ve cherry-picked the best so you’re assured of staying in the nicest hotels and playing the finest courses. From the up-and-coming Eastern Algarve, through the classics of Vilamoura up to and beyond the much-respected Lisbon Coast, our choice is sensational. Obviously, getting to Portugal by air is easy with regular flights from throughout the UK to Faro and Lisbon. Your hire car will be waiting for you and, once at your hotel, there are plenty of courses within 20 minutes drive so you can start relaxing immediately. The Portuguese are
If you want the quality of golf without the quantity of nightlife, then Tavira will be spoton. This elegant town, with its wrought-iron balconies and tiled facades, offers a true Portuguese feel and miles of golden beaches. For food and drink, the best thing to do is go out late, eat, and then stroll through the town, stopping off at any of the scores of tiny bars or classy bakeries and ice-cream parlours.
The drive from Lisbon to Faro is only two-and-ahalf hours on the direct motorway so it’s very feasible to play the best courses on the Lisbon Coast and then compare these to the Algarve’s finest!
What to see and do Parties ■ Cascais and Vilamoura are great party resorts for groups Explorers ■ Ancient towns and castles ■ Discover Lisbon by train Romantics ■ Promenade walks and balloon ride in Madeira ■ Cocktails and dinner around the Vilamoura marina Foodies ■ Superb sardines and excellent seafood restaurants ■ Excellent wines from the Dao region ■ We send a Recommended Restaurant list with your Holiday Information Pack
Amazing choice of resorts…Glorious coastline…Year-round sunshine…Great selection of courses… 182 Portugal: Classic sunshine golf GolfPlanet Holidays
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