Festivals
Traditional festivals with dancing, drinking and feasting occur throughout the year, including Lisbon's festival of St Anthony in June and the Madeira Flower Festival at Easter.
Beaches
With an enviably mild year-round climate, The Algarve is the perfect place for a family holiday. For tranquil seas perfect for all ages, head for the Sotavento region. And if celebrity spotting and stylish sunbathing is your thing then the beach of Ancão, between Quinto do Lago and Vale de Lobo is the place to visit. The beaches of the Ria Formosa are also supremely popular, dotted with islands and lagoons, this picturesque nature park is home to miles and miles of sandy beaches. Choose Armona beach for the awe-inspiring sunsets.
Culture
Portugal's heritage is fascinating, its history and culture can be seen everywhere, still influencing its landscapes, cities and people. Moorish legends, traditional houses, castles and roman ruins all vie for your attention whilst local handicrafts, artworks and cuisine still retain much of their historical significance.
Golf
As well as being a superb holiday destination for all the family, Portugal is also renowned for being a golfer's paradise and the Algarve stands out as a highlight due to its thirty or so high-class courses. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice to the great game, there’s a course that’s just right for you, many of them designed by legends such as Henry Cotton, Rocky Roquemore and Arnold Palmer. Many are also home to International competitions, so if practicing your swing where the professional’s play is your thing, then head to courses such as San Lorenzo or the Old Course at Vilamoura.
Cuisine & Fine Wine
Excellent cuisine is at the heart of any Portuguese holiday. Plentiful delights caught fresh from the sea will grace many a table, whether it be simple grilled fish, succulent and mouth watering, or a more elaborate seafood dish awash with juicy shellfish. While port is naturally associated with the country, it also boasts some very fine wine such as Douro and Alentejo reds.
Islands
Madeira has to be one of the most beautiful islands in the whole of Europe, noted for its stunning gardens filled with dazzlingly beautiful and exotic flowers, it’s a must for all nature lovers. It also boasts a spectacular New Years Eve firework display ranked as the biggest in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. Be sure to sample some of the delicious Madeira wine – the perfect end to any meal. And the best place to stay while on the island has to be the classic Belmond Reid's Palace.
Travel Planning
Our Travel Consultants can advise on, arrange and pre-book many things to enhance your holiday. This includes everything from spa reservations and dinner reservations, to a range of special experiences available in our featured resorts that you may not know about
Sir Cliff Richard's Vineyard
For a very special treat, why not arrange a tour of the vineyard Adega do Cantor in the Quinta do Miradouro region? This is home to the wines created by Sir Cliff Richard. Sir Cliff has been visiting The Algarve for over 40 years and when there, can often be seen getting his hands dirty in the vineyard helping cultivate the precious vines. Our Travel Concierge would be delighted to arrange everything for you so click here to speak to them in more details.
Flight Information
British Airways from London Gatwick and London Heathrow to Faro and from London Heathrow to Lisbon. easyjet from London Gatwick to Faro. UK departures and charter flights are also available.
Flight Time
From London Heathrow to Faro: 2 hours, 30 minutes. London Heathrow to Lisbon: 2 hours, 40 minutes.
Travelling With Children or Without an Adult
Children travelling without both parents should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Please contact the relevant Embassy for the county you are travelling to for further information.
Visa and Advance Passenger Information
All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information or Visa applications may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country. Please check with the relevant Embassy regarding visa requirements well in advance of your travel date. Charges may apply for some visas.
Passengers not travelling on a British Passport are advised to contact their relevant Foreign & Commonwealth office for individual Visa requirements.
For up-to-date resort information, visit www.fco.gov.uk
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel. Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya), Lyme Disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit Insect and tick bite avoidance.
In addition, we highly recommend that you seek specialist advice from your doctor and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel. Travellers may also be required to show Yellow Fever Certificates on arrival in certain destinations i.e, some African countries. Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. We would also like to draw your attention to the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and recommend that you consult with your doctor before travelling.
Visit the FCDO website and select your destination country for the very latest travel advice: Foreign Travel Advice. Additional sources of information include: Public Health England, The National Travel Health And Network Centre, Foreign And Commonwealth Office and your General Practitioner or a specialised clinic.