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Although there are many excellent holiday locations in Portugal
the Algarve is an outstanding and unique area to visit and enjoy
an unforgettable holiday - whatever your interests you can
always find an answer in the Algarve!
Family are well provided for with a large variety of things to
do and see. The Portuguese love children and know how to make
them smile! On this Page are listed a few of the many ideas for
your family visit.
BEACHES - There are so many
sandy beaches to choose from. They vary in size from small rocky
coves to long open stretches of sea washed sand. Most of them
are located on the south coastline but there are several on the
west coast that attract fewer visitors. All the popular beaches
are attended by at least one trained Life Saver and they display
flags to indicate the local sea conditions for swimming. When
one of their flags is flying they are in attendance.
Many beaches have competent Sea Sport Centres that provide
equipment and facilities to enjoy a variety of sports including:
Body boarding, Jet skiing, Para-skiing, Sailing, Scuba-Diving,
Surfing, Water-skiing, Windsurfing
Even the less popular beaches have normally a Café/Restaurant in
which to enjoy a memorable meal of freshly caught fish or
shellfish prepared and served in its local manner.
CHILDREN - Children of all
ages are well catered for with several interesting places and
things to do. Firstly, there are a number of Water Parks with
full facilities to spend the whole day sliding down water chutes
or daredevil slides! There are four other Parks also deserving
a visit, Zoomarine, Crazy World, Roma Mini-Golf Park and the
Algarve Zoo. Or perhaps something different - join the grownups
and others in a Safari Jeep trip up into the hills! Just in case
the weather is not sunny enough there are Cinemas along the
coast showing the latest film releases, or perhaps a game of
Ten-Pin Bowling.
Many of the Hotels have organised daily events for children and
some have specially built play areas for the younger ones that
are staffed by experienced personnel.
HEALTH & BEAUTY - Besides
the beneficial soaking up the wonderful sunshine, the ladies in
the family can take the opportunity to visit one of the Health
Spas and the many Beauty Salons. They are scattered along the
Algarve and they offer a variety of treatments and services. The
Beauty Salons are nearly all run and staffed by persons whose
mother tongue is English - so communication is easy. For the men
in the family, many salons offer a variety of treatments from
massage, reflexology to the more pampering indulgencies of
facials and grooming techniques. The Health Spas are specialized
and offer a selection of treatments associated with beneficial
effects of the sea and its natural by-products. Many people
travel to the Algarve just to treat themselves to one of these
pleasing and relaxing beneficial Spa courses.
This holiday could be just that opportunity to treat the body
to a moment of smoothing relaxation and beautification - and
its after-effect of reborn energy and self-ability!
RELIGION - Listed below
are the major sought after faiths that are practiced in the
Algarve. There are also a large number of other active faiths
to be found throughout the region.
Catholic Church - Mass - 12.00 & 18.00
Erev Shabbat - 282 416 710
International Christian Fellowship - 282 495 243
International Evangelical Church of the Algarve - 289 328 635
Pentecostal Church - 282 764 040
St Vincents Anglican (C of E) - 289 366 720
SPORT - The Algarve is a
home for sport whether it is indoor or outdoor. Throughout the
year there are organised numerous international and national
sport events. These are to be found listed in the printed
brochures that are well distributed by the Algarve Tourist
Board. As there are so many different activities that take
place along the coast we have listed below most of the major
ones.
Archery, Badminton, Ballooning, Bird Watching, Body Building,
Cycling, Fishing, Football, Golf, Horse Riding, Karting, Lawn
Bowling, Mini-golf, Organised Walking, Rugby, Skate Shooting,
Squash, Ten-Pin Bowling, Tennis, Track Athletics
TOURS - There are several
Tours from which to choose. A choice could be a trip along the
Algarve, perhaps one to Lisbon, or even to Seville and Gibraltar.
In another section of this Site there are interesting details
about each Town to visit in the Algarve. Many of these have
fascinating historical backgrounds and are well worth visiting.
For the archeologically inclined there are a number of Roman
sites. One of the popular attractive events is the local monthly
market. As these are spread throughout each month in the
different Towns along the coast they can be visited individually
either by car or by an organised coach tour.
Another recommended way to see a different Algarve is to take
one of the several Boat Tours along the coast. In all the Towns
with ports there are a selection of companies with organised sea
trips along the coast that can vary from a few hours to an
all-day event. Perhaps you will choose a trip that includes a
visit to one of the more secluded beaches, then ferried ashore
to enjoy a sardine lunch grilled by the crew and washed down
with local wine!
YOUR OWN THING - The Algarve
lends itself to personal enjoyment. Counting the number of
different wild orchids growing around Sagres; walking backwards
in time when visiting the rustic hidden villages in the hills
behind the coast; driving back from an unforgettable lunch in a
local tavern having had a little too much good food and wine
with your ever-friendly host Manuel; strolling along a beautiful
beach wondering why nature is so strong and yet insensitively
variable; basking by your pool trying to forget that all too
soon it must come to an end. What ever you choose to do there is
still this special sense of freedom in the Algarve style of
living. Everything is here to be enjoyed today so indulge
yourself and your family!
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