Algarve

The post-lockdown period is starting to show up the tensions between supply and demand in traditional tourist markets. This short article explores how important it is for smaller countries such as Portugal to resist deflationary pressures and the tendency to deep discount. How can a nation so in need of income get its tourists to show solidarity by paying fair price for accommodation? Coronavirus, as...

The World’s Most Stable Climate World Weather Online states that the “Algarve enjoys one of the most stable climates in the world” with its moderate weather influenced by both the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas and its proximity to North Africa. Portugal has 3,300 hours of sunshine per year, one of the highest in Europe. The Algarve has a temperate climate and although bathed by the Atlantic,...

The Tortoise and the Hare: Rambling or racing from Lisbon to the Algarve Portugal has just been voted the winner in the best European destination for American tourists, as voted by readers of 10Best Readers’ Choice and USA Today: www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-european-country. As the country’s capital, many intercontinental flights stop over in the Portuguese capital. While this may be an...

Viva Culture!   Empty streets, closed cafés and restaurants, hotels which give their staff a long winter off, and even beach bars which are disassembled, only to miraculously reappear in the spring, are well-recognised signs of life in a summer tourist destination. Walkers are in their element as they have trails to themselves. Cyclists find that the only traffic are the few locals who also venture...

Art in Algarve Emulates Multicultural Community   It’s not quite Miami, or the melting pot that is São Paulo, or Paris with its quartiers, or even London with its myriad Tube stops, many of which represent gateways to miniature international communities. But art in Algarve has its own ‘identity’ influenced by the vast range of nationalities represented in such a small area: Portuguese, German,...

The Algarve: Best Place in the World to Retire! Finally it is official! It has been coming for some time, it must be said. Europe’s leading beach destination – World Travel Awards. 2nd best place to retire overseas – The Telegraph. 7thfriendliest nation in the world (among 140 surveyed) – CNN. World’s leading Golf Destination – WTA. And now: Algarve, Portugal: Best Place in the World to Retire...

We hear it all the time. Went on holiday but there was nothing to do. Great beaches, plenty of sunshine, but how can we otherwise occupy our time? The other day, I even had to convince a Portuguese person that he was falling into the trap of paying lip service to that ill-gotten, and much maligned, it must be said, reputation which places like the Algarve have earned, for being, dare we say it:...

The Next Big Thing It’s all about retirement. Portugal and the Algarve have been through major infrastructural investment such as highways— the country has Europe’s fifth best roads—and airports— Faro has already receives over 5 million passengers a year, equivalent to half the country’s population. The Algarve is set to be the next big thing and already is a world-recognized tourist and golf...

Europe’s Best Kept Secret Europe’s best kept secret. That’s how this part of the world is often described. Why? Because it has Europe’s best beaches, Europe’s best golf courses, one of Europe’s friendliest folk, it’s the chosen retirement destination for over 100,000 resident expatriates, and, added to all that, it’s Europe’s newest tax haven. Several international publications have...

The Next Big Thing It’s all about retirement. Portugal and the Algarve have been through major infrastructural investment such as highways— the country has Europe’s fifth best roads—and airports— Faro has already receives over 5 million passengers a year, equivalent to half the country’s population. The Algarve is set to be the next big thing and already is a world-recognized tourist and golf...