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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,947
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Just back from a fantastic week in the Algarve and I thought I'd tell everyone (to make you all jealous...).
I've been to the Algarve several times before, played Penina, San Lorenzo, Parque de Floresta, Quinta da Lago, and too be honest I've loved the golf courses but thought the Algarve to be over built, too touristy and uniformly expensive. As a consequence my previous best Portuguese golf holiday was to the Silver Coast north of Lisbon (fantastic courses, great bars, restaurants, countryside and everything at fair prices)
But this time I was talked into going to the Eastern Algarve, the bit running from Tavira to the Spanish border.
Sorted out my holiday accommodation from PackYourClubs.com - I rented a house with a private pool for £430 for the week (very nice indeed, private pool, garden, views of the sea, 200 yards from the most impressive beach I've seen in years, 10 minutes walk to the centre with bars, restaurants, shops etc - lovely).
The golf courses(Benamor, Quinta da Ria, Castro Marim) were excellent and much. much cheaper than courses on the Western side (Monte Rei is superb and a match for anywhere but very expensive)
The area I was is great - fantastic beach running forever, blue sea, hills behind and everything is half the price of the Western Algarve (beer at €2, grilled whole sea bream, chips and salad at €9 - lovely).
So, in summary, while you guys spent last week wishing you'd taken Russell's advice and checked over your wet weather gear I was either on a golf course, lazing by the pool, walking along the beach or sipping a cold beer all in 25c sunshine.
This is an area I will definitely be going back to (anyone want to join me - PackYourClubs.com has holiday accommodation ranging from 1 bed apartments to 10 be villas)
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Ian Mullins
Handicap: 21
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 378
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Hi Pete,
Sounds very good value (and yes, I am slightly jealous) but what you didnt know.....while you were sunning yourself in Portugal, we were enjoying a mini heatwave in Oct (OK, it only lasted one day!) - Friday was 22 degrees here!!
Ian M
:-)
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,947
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Yeah,I too enjoyed the mini heat wave with two other T.S.G members,on Thursday strolling the fairways(tree lined) of Woburn G.C.
Why go abroad to play great courses when there are so many in this country???
ONLY JEALOUS 
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,947
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I would agree that the UK has some of the best golf courses in the world (and I've been lucky enough to play a few of them, but not yet Woburn...) but because we tend to have 'weather' rather than a 'climate' planning anything (golf, BBQ, day out) is a lottery. That, alas, is the reason we love our golf trips to Spain & Portugal (plus the food!).
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Ian Halliwell
Handicap: 25
Lancashire
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 82
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well pete just to get my own back for making me reet jealous.... im off to florida for practice at leadbeatters academy then up to hilton head island south carolina for the ew tour national finals at palmetto dunes oops then back to orlando for a weeks r and r and golf...... playing bay hill and sawgrass and the doral.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,947
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WELL ITS BACK TO THE ABBOTTS FOR ME AGAIN THIS WEEK
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,947
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and me... I won't be off to sunnier climes again now until next year so best I can hope for is local courses in the cold (but not rain!) for a few months unless snow stops play entirely 'til February like last year :(
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Matt Seldon
Handicap: 36
Kent
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Hi Pete. I'm not long back from the Algarve, first time out there playing golf, and it was fantastic. I can't wait to go back. But it was very expensive!! We were around Val Da Lobo and Quinta Da Logo, so I'll definitely check out nearer where you were, sounds alot more reasonable!
Matt.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,947
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Yes, the Vale da Lobo/Vilamoura/Quinta da Lago section is great but verrrry expensive (food, drink, golf, everything is inflated).
Further West (Penina, Parque da Floresta etc) is definitely cheaper and best of the lot (as I found this time) is the area East towards the Spanish border (I'd guess 30%-50% cheaper for golf, food, drink, everything).
PS. Where did you stay around Vale da Lobo?
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Matt Seldon
Handicap: 36
Kent
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I stayed in a friend's villa in Vale Da Lobo, so at least the accommodation was reasonable!
Do you still fly to Faro when in the eastern Algarve, nearer the Spanish border ? Or Malaga ?
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Andy Pope
Handicap: 9
Spain
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Fly into Faro...
The Portugal/Spainborder is about 30/35mins from Faro, Malaga is about 3hrs....
Some very good golf courses around east algarve and just over the bridge into Spain... cheaper and less busier than Vilamoura area....
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Alexandre Barro...
Handicap: 5
Portugal
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Try the North of Portugal. Great fun In the cities Guimarães, or Braga. Vidago, Amarante, 2 Golf courses near Douro Valey. Don't miss the Port Wine Vinyards....
Great food, and beer @ a very low price...
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TSG
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