Fiona's Trip to the Algarve

By fiona Cluskey

Fionas Trip To Vilamoura


Last year I travelled with my husband to Vilamoura in the Algarve and spent 5 days enjoying this sunny destination. We flew with Aer Lingus directly from Dublin to Faro and from Faro Airport we took a taxi to Vilamoura which took about 25 minutes. Another option is booking a rental car in advance at the airport to enjoy the cities nearby Vilamoura like Faro and Albufeira.

 

Location

Vilamoura is a modern, vibrant and luxurious location in the western part of the Algarve. With its large marina, golf resorts, vibrant nightlife, casino, beautiful beaches, restaurants, shops and plenty of leisure activities and facilities it is a perfect destination to enjoy a sun and sea filled holiday no matter your tastes and ages. We stayed in Vila Gale Ampalius Hotel which is only a 5 minute walk from Praia de Vilamoura, and an 18 minute walk to Praia de Quarteira. This hotel is very comfortable, with modern rooms and an amazing seaview from the superior room. It has 2 outdoor swimming pools, a tennis court, a children's play area, café, restaurant and spa with an indoor pool and gym. This hotel is well located as it is close to bars, restaurants, and shopping areas.

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What I Loved

I loved the Marina area with all its shops, restaurants and bars, which provide the area with a luxurious yet relaxed atmosphere. I also enjoyed going to the various beaches which are blue flag.


Activities & Places to See

  • Walk to Quarteira and have a splash at the Aquashow Park, the biggest water rollercoasters in the world! This is a lot of fun for all ages.
  • Take a day trip to Loule, Tavira, Faro and Albufeira for an authentic Portuguese experience while immersing yourself in their culture.
  • Visit the Roman remains of Cerro de Vila and retrace its ancient history.
  • Explore the Natural Park of Ria Formosa, which is a 35 minute drive from Vilamoura, and be fascinated by its diverse ecosystems with different fauna and numerous species of birds.


Shopping

Vilamoura has plenty of shops where you can find local souvenirs. The Marina is the main shopping area in Vilamoura, with high-end designer shops and boutiques along with stores selling beauty products, accessories and clothes.


Food & Bars

There are so many restaurants to choose from serving all types of food, from traditional Portuguese cuisine to international fare like Italian, Mexican, Indian, and Japanese food. Vilamoura is a great place to enjoy some delicious new foods as well as some tasty cocktails. Plenty of trendy restaurants, bars and clubs can be found around the Marina area. We found some good restaurants like Ostra D’Ouro, a Portuguese restaurant which specialised in meat and fish dishes, Il Trio which served delicious traditional Italian cuisine, Harry’s Bar which had great British food and Rosa’s Cantina with its spicy Mexican dishes.


Beaches

Vilamoura has beautiful beaches which offer many facilities including toilets and lifeguards, golden sands, clear blue waters and beach activities like beach volley, paddleboats, and kayaks. The most famous beaches are Praia de Vilamoura, Praia da Falésia, Praia da Rocha Baixinha, Praia de Quarteira and Vale do Lobo which is about an 18 minute drive from Vilamoura.


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