Monday, August 13, 2007

Sun and beach at its best


THE ALGARVE

The Algarve's 100-mile expanse of shoreline offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Peak months are July and August; bookings at top properties should be made six months in advance.

The Algarve offers play on some of the most challenging and brilliantly designed golf courses in the world. Golfers can tee off on 32 courses in the Algarve, the highest concentration of courses in Portugal. The Algarve garners worldwide attention with its hosting of the Annual TAP Air Portugal Open every November, dating back to 1978. Major resorts offer golf programs that include a choice of courses plus instruction, meals and airport transfers.

Other options for active clients include hiking, cycling (including guided mountain bike trips), tennis, horseback riding, bird-watching and deep-sea fishing excursions. The latter depart in the summer from Alvor, Portimão and Vilamoura.

The Algarve is also one of Portugal’s most popular regions for meetings, conventions and incentives. Five-star resorts, hotels, and villas in every price range make it easy to tailor accommodations to your client’s individual needs.

The hub city of the Algarve is Faro. The preservation of the medieval city wall, several excellent museums, and many traces of Moorish and Gothic architecture pay homage to the past. Faro’s major sites of historic and cultural interest include the Sé, the city’s first Christian church; The City Museum; Maritime Museum; and the Ethnographic Museum. Shopping is best done at Santo António, a street lined with cafés and boutiques.

Access
The International Airport of Faro located right in the middle of the Algarve’s coast and the excellent bus system to and from Lisbon are both guarantee of easy access to this beautiful region. Driving from Lisbon to the Algarve takes only 3 hours and the tourist will be able to cross the beautiful Alentejo region.

No comments: