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Home At First’s
Independent
PORTUGAL
From Your Vacation Apartment or Cottage
Discover Portugal — explore Portugal freely at your own pace by car or rail from your Home At First vacation cottage or apartment. Choose from vacation weeks at any of 3 Portugese regions: The North (Porto & the Douro River), West Central (Lisbon & its Atlantic beaches at Cascais), and The South (south coast of the Algarve).
The above photo pictures the western approach into Cascais, one of the upscale resort towns that are satellites of Lisbon, Portugal’s capital and largest city. Beaches surround Cascais, and several golf courses are close by. Originally home to the summer residences of royalty, historic homes still grace Cascais, including the prominent Palace of the Dukes of Pamela in the foreground, above. Boutiques and café restaurants line the maze of alleys in Cascais’s lively, historic central core. Home At First‘s Cascais apartments offer convenient access to all of Cascais, and are 35-45 minutes by train or car from the city of Lisbon.
PORTUGAL — A FORMER WORLD POWER HAS BECOME A BOUTIQUE SOCIETY WITH A LAID-BACK LIFESTYLE
Discover Portugal: Independent Travel Using
Quality Vacation Cottages & Apartments
Portugal: Azenhas do Mar, one of continental Europe’s westernmost habitations. This photogenic village sits on a promontory above the wild Atlantic Ocean 35 minutes drive time north of Cascais. Photo Credit Paulo Magalhães © VisitPortugal.
HOME AT FIRST’s PORTUGAL — WHY, WHERE, & HOW TO GO
Discover Portugal on your terms — your pace, your interests, your budget.
Discover Portugal’s dramatic scenery, its unique architecture, its friendly people, its delicious food, its special music, all experienced in its pleasant Mediterranean maritime climate. Enjoy all of these discoveries day-tripping from your comfortable Portugese apartment or cottage in one (or more) of three captivating regions: Porto, Lisbon, and the Algarve. Discover why Portugal appears near the top of quality-of-life lists, and why it has become a haven for retirees, digital nomads, and expats from around the world.
HOME AT FIRST’s MAP OF PORTUGAL
Showing Home At First’s Lodging Regions in Red
Travel in Portugal is easy by rental car on the well-maintained road network, or by safe, frequent, reliable public transportation. Getting to Portugal is easy, too: non-stop transatlantic flights operate frequently to Lisbon and Porto from a growing number of North American airports.
A Little History: During the first millennium of the Christian Era Celts, Romans, Goths, and Moors occupied the Iberian Peninsula. In the second millennium Portugal evolved as an independent nation in the western Iberia. Portugal’s nationhood pre-dates that of neighboring Spain, and most European nations. During the great Age of Conquest, when Portugal sent explorers south and east around Africa to the Orient and west to the Americas, Portugal established a colonial empire that rivaled the largest and richest of the late Middle Ages. During that time Portugese became widespread. Today, thanks to its dominance in Brazil and its legacy in parts of Africa and Asia, Portugese is the third most widely spoken European language, after English and Spanish.
A Little Demography: Portugal covers about 15% of Iberia. Eighteen percent of Iberia’s population live in Portugal. Spain — Portugal’s only contiguous neighbor — occupies almost all of the remaining 85% of Iberia. Spain and Portugal have been friends and competitors for most of their history, but they are very different. The Portugese language — which evolved from the Latin of its Roman occupiers and still has traces of pre-Roman Celtic — sounds to many ears closer to Italian than it is to Spanish.
A Little Geography: Most Portugese live in cities, towns, and villages on or near Portugal’s two Atlantic coasts — the western and southern extremes of the country — leaving its interior largely agricultural and sparsely populated. Of the 10.35 million total population of Portugal, fully half inhabit the three coastal regions where Home At First lodgings are located.
Home At First‘s three lodging regions in Portugal — Porto, Lisbon & Cascais, & The Algarve — are far enough from one another — between 150-200 miles — to vary significantly in climate, culture, geography, and lifestyle, but are close enough to be reached by driving or traveling by rail in a few hours time. By rail or rental car Porto is about three hours distant from Lisbon. The trip from Lisbon to the Algarve takes 3-5 hours by car or railway.
Home At First’s Independent PORTUGAL Touring Program in a Nutshell:
Includes transatlantic flights, lodging in destinations of your choosing, & appropriate ground transport and/or connecting flights for your itinerary. Ground-only & Lodging-only options available.
Combinable with many Home At First European destinations.
Itinerary Character:
1-Wk. or More in
PORTUGAL
Independent Portugal touring from your vacation apartment or cottage. Choose your regional destinations & how long you wish to stay at each stop. Use public transit in the cities; rental car or trains & boats in rural areas, & flights or trains between cities.
Lodging Types:
Apartments & Cottages
Minimum occupancy normally 1 week (7 nights). Shorter occupancy periods possible. Locations in 3 regions of Portugal. City & suburban lodgings close to public transport, restaurants, shops, & services. Non-urban locations convenient bases for car touring.
On-Site Costs: Food & Activities
$$-$$$$
Portugal is one of Europe’s least expensive destinations, especially for food, public transport, and many services. High prices apply to fine dining, boutique shopping, and resort golf.
$$
Portugal is an excellent travel value, thanks to Home At First’s
low Full-Package prices.
Combinable
with most other Home At First destinations in continental Europe, the British Isles, and Iceland.
Language Spoken Most Everywhere:
Portugese
Expect to find English spoken in urban settings and tourist areas thanks to the popularity of Portugal as a long-standing holiday destination for the British.
Non-Stop Flight Length from
North America
7 hrs from East Coast;
11-14 hrs from West Coast
Most North American flights arrive
at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS). A few transatlantic flights serve Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.
Family Friendly?
♥♥
Kids love the beach activities, the parks, and the food, but may not like a steady diet of museums, galleries, and historical sites, or an itinerary with long driving hours. Boat trips & train rides all appeal to young travelers.
Foodie Friendly?
♥♥♥♥♥
Portugese food is delicious and substantial, with the accent on fresh, organic, and local. Seafood is an important part of the cuisine, but the menu choice is broad. Favorite Portugese entrees include cod, chicken, sardines, and pork dishes.
Top Attractions
• Exploring Lisbon by its historic trams and on foot
• Exploring Porto by tram & on foot, and the Douro River Valley & Port wine region by boat or car
• Exploring the beaches & geological wonders of the Algarve
• Discovering delightful restaurants & cafés featuring soulful, live, fado music
Activities
• Car Touring
• City Strolling & beach walking
• River & sea cruising
• Golf
• Exploring historic sites
• Museums & galleries
• Dining: hi-brow & low
• Café relaxing
• Royal palaces & castles
• Shopping!
• Wine tasting & visiting wineries.
The Best Times for Portugal Independent Travel:
March through June, & September through November. The sunny Portugese climate is at its best during the spring and fall. Portugal’s most colorful major festivals occur at Easter week and in June.
HOW IT WORKS—
Home At First’s Discover Portugal: Independent Travel
Using Quality Vacation Cottages & Apartments.
Praia do Vau (Vau Beach), a 45-minute drive west of Albufeira, one of dozens of beaches scattered along the south coast of Portugal. Every beach of the Algarve region is unique in its setting. Some hide in coves among the sea cliffs. Some occupy long strands of deserted barrier islands. Some are tied to exclusive resorts. Some are in popular seaside towns. Some edge golf courses. But all bask in the most annual hours of sunshine that grace Western Europe. Photo Credit Paulo Magalhães © VisitPortugal.
First — Request a Free Trip Proposal
• Contact Home At First. Tell us about your travel dream to discover Portugal by independent travel. We will tell you about getting there, where we stay (you’ll love the choice of lodgings in several regions!), and how to travel independently by rental car and/or public transportation.
— Tell us how many people will be with you, and their ages.
— Tell us when you would like to travel, and for how long.
— Tell us if you would like to combine a visit to one region of Portugal with a visit to another. — Tell us if you would like to combine a visit to Portugal with a visit to any Home At First destination in the British Isles (England, London, Scotland, Wales, or Ireland), or in Continental Europe (France, Paris, Italy, Switzerland, or Spain).
— Ask for a Free Trip Proposal with Cost Estimate.
A SAMPLER of ACTIVITIES & DESTINATIONS in PORTUGAL
THE FOLLOWING SCENES ARE REACHABLE FROM ONE OR MORE OF HOME AT FIRST’S PORTUGESE REGIONS AND WILL HELP YOU DISCOVER PORTUGAL.
Porto: Night Life on the Douro riverside. The river connects most of the attractions of the region.
Second — We Design Your Dream Trip for You
• We prepare a proposed itinerary & cost estimate with all the lodgings & transportation you need to discover Portugal independently using a quality Home At First vacation apartment. We send our individualized itinerary proposal to you via email and/or postal mail.
• You review our proposal; accept it, reject it, or revise it until we have it just right for you. It is, after all, your dream trip, to be done the way you wish.
• Once accepted, we request an initial payment by check along with your signed acceptance.
• We begin putting your plans in place, securing your LODGINGS, FLIGHT RESERVATIONS & TICKETS, RAILPASSES or RENTAL CAR RESERVATIONS & VOUCHERS required. Most Home At First Discover Portugal guests arrive by air at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) in central Portugal, or Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) in northwestern Portugal.
• Payment in full is due 90 days prior to departure, or when you are ready to lock in your included airfares, whichever comes first.
Third — Departure Day Finally Arrives
• All travel documents for your trip — including a quality guidebook for Portugal — will be sent to you by 30 days prior to your trip departure date.
• You follow our directions for your transfer from your arrival point (airport or otherwise) to your regional Portugal lodging, where you will be met at a pre-set time by your lodging’s host, who will show you the cottage or apartment, explain its workings, see to your comfort, and let you get some rest.
• Have a nap. Get some groceries for your kitchen. Make supper or go out for a meal. The fun begins now as you begin to discover Portugal independently from your comfortable vacation home.
DISCOVER PORTUGAL:
SCENES & SURPRISES
Algarve Region: Kitesurfers catch big air in Algarve.
HOME AT FIRST’s 3 LODGING LOCATIONS IN PORTUGAL
• NORTHWESTERN PORTUGAL: One and three-quarters million call the PORTO metro area home.
• CENTRAL PORTUGAL’S WEST COAST: Three million reside in greater LISBON including CASCAIS.
• PORTUGAL’S SOUTH COAST: Almost one-half million live permanently in the ALGARVE region.
Home At First offers vacation apartments and cottages in Lisbon and its neighboring coastal towns, in Porto and in nearby towns in the Douro River valley, and in towns along the south coast of the Algarve. All lodgings are spacious, comfortable, well-equipped. All have private entrances, kitchens, and bathrooms with (at least) showers or tub/showers. Transportation, shops, groceries, restaurants, and other services are close by — most within walking distance. Lodging locations are ideal bases for exploring the local region by car or public transport. English-speaking host/landlords welcome you, explain the lodging and its workings, tell you about the neighborhood, and recommend restaurants, sights to see, and activities that might interest you. Home At First supplies its Portugal travelers with an excellent guidebook that provides important information about living and traveling in Portugal, and includes suggestions for activities, sightseeing, food, wine, beaches, and much more.
Northern
Portugal
PORTO & The DOURO
RIVER VALLEY REGION
Quality apartments & a 3-story house
in the center of the vibrant city of Porto.
1 & 2 BEDROOM APTS. & A 5-BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE
Centrally located in the upscale Boavista neighborhood.
1. 1-Bedroom Apartment. Bedrooms can be configured with double or twin beds.
PORTO CITY LODGINGS
BOAVISTA, PORTO, PORTUGAL
Airport: Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.
Nearest Métro: Carolina de Michaelis & Casa da Música métro stations (11min.)
OUR PORTO CITY LODGINGS include a variety of apartments: studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and even a 5-bedroom, 3-story house. All lodgings are air-conditioned. All have free WiFi. Beds are large by European standards, and may be configured as twins or doubles.
PORTO: Portugal’s second city hugs the steep banks of the River Douro. Connecting Porto with neighboring Vila Nova da Gaia is the eye-catching Dom Luis I bridge, opened in 1886 and still carrying cars, trams, and pedestrians across its two very high and very low decks. A World Heritage Site, the bridge is a monument of iron girders from the golden age of such structures. If you see a resemblance to the architecture of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it’s because Gustav Eiffel worked on the original plans, and the bridge was ultimately built by Eiffel’s protegee, Théophile Seyrig.
THE APARTMENTS: Each apartment has one full bathroom with shower. All towels and linens are provided. Apartments have well-equipped kitchenettes with range, fridge, microwave, toaster, and coffeemaker, but without oven. A few apartments have private terraces or garden-terraces providing outside sitting and dining. Some of these come with small outdoor pools: multi-person but smaller than lap pools.
Apartments may be one floor below ground level (but with a private outdoor terrace/garden & small pool), on the ground floor, on the second floor, or — in the case of a mezzanine apartment — on two floors. Apartments on other than the ground floor are reachable by stairs; the building has no elevator.
Several apartments offer sofa beds in the living room. Some offer the possibility of expansion by adding another double bedroom with private bathroom across the hallway from the apartment.
THE 5-BEDROOM HOUSE sleeps up to nine people. Bedrooms are on each of the three floors, with two single bedrooms (3 individual twin beds) and one double bedroom with en suite bathroom on the third floor. Two double bedrooms (1 with bathroom en suite) plus a hall bathroom comprise the second floor. A powder room is on the ground floor. The ground floor has a fully-equipped, modern, eat-in kitchen, living room, dining room (table for 12), and furnished outdoor terrace with small pool.
PORTO: Portugal is renowned for its golf, beaches, traditions, festivals, and cuisine. The country’s best-known product, however, is Port wine. The signature wine is produced in the River Douro region, which stretches inland for miles east of Porto. The fortified, sweet wine, often an accompaniment to dessert, is traditionally brought in casks by flat-bottom rabello boats to be stored in the wine caves at Vila Nova da Gaia along the Douro’s south bank just across from Porto. No visit to Porto and the North is complete without experiencing the port wine culture of the Douro region, perhaps best accomplished by a visit to a producing winery that provides tours and tastings. Winery visits can be reserved before your trip, or once you have arrived in Porto.
LOCATION: Our Porto City Lodgings are ideally located in the center of Porto. Within walking distance are the eye-and-ear-catching Casa da Música, several art galleries, and a fine selection of restaurants and cafés.
HOSTING: There is a staffed office for these apartments and larger house next door. The office has an English-speaking concierge on-site during business hours and reachable by internet phone or text at other times. The concierge will answer questions about the lodging and the neighborhood, town, and region, and is on call in the event of a problem or emergency.
ARRIVAL, CHECK-IN, & DEPARTURE: Arrival times are for the mid-afternoon of the first day of occupancy. Early check is only possible by special arrangement. Check-in occurs at the apartment office next door to the lodgings. The concierge will be expecting you at a specified time. When you arrive, she will open the lodging, explain its workings, and hand over the keys. Departure should not be later than 10AM on the morning following the last scheduled night of occupancy.
TRANSPORT & PARKING: Two métro stations are within 11 minutes walk, and bus stops for a half-dozen transit lines are even closer. Guests traveling with rental cars can park on the street or pay for a private lot near the apartments.
ARRIVAL NOTE: Because most of these lodgings are reached by stairs or are multi-story with internal stairs, guests must be prepared to carry their luggage up and down stairs. We recommend guests pack lightly so they don’t have carry so much up and down stairs on arrival and departure days.
OCCUPANCY NOTE: capacity of each lodging varies from 2 to 8 persons. A supplement may apply when apartment occupancy is lower-than-capacity.
ELECTRONICS & CLIMATE CONTROL: All our Porto City Lodgings provide flat-screen cable or satellite TV and secure, high-speed WiFi (free). All lodgings are equipped with in-room electric air conditioner/heaters.
LAUNDRY: there are no laundry facilities in the apartments. The 5-Bedroom House is equipped with a washing machine and iron.
West Central
Portugal
LISBON CITY & the Nearby
Seaside Town of CASCAIS
Modern apartments in Lisbon’s Belém district
and centrally set in pretty, coastal Cascais.
EXAMPLES OF SPACIOUS apARTMENts of various sizes.
Centrally located, near services & transport.
- 1. Central Cascais Apts.: exterior showing limited on-street guest parking.
CENTRAL CASCAIS APARTMENTS
& belém APARTMENTS, lisbon
CASCAIS TOWN & LISBON CITY, WEST CENTRAL PORTUGAL
Airport: Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport.
Nearest Transit: Cascais Train Station 10min;
Belém: Rua Damião de Góis (tram/bus stop) 2min, and Algés Train Station (5min.)
CENTRAL CASCAIS APARTMENTS is a selection of 3 handsome, walk-up apartments in a recently refurbished early 20th century house. (See slide images 1—14 above.)
The Apartments: Each of the three guest apartments is unique in layout and furnishings. Two 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom (separate WC) apartments with small balconies occupy the second floor of the house. A 3-bedroom, 2½-bath apartment with a furnished rooftop terrace (sea view) fills the third (top) floor of the house. Note that there is no elevator in the building.
Each apartment has its own internal climate control for heat and air-conditioning. All have high-speed internet and WiFi TV. Bathrooms have large showers, but no bathtubs. A clothes washer is located in the bathroom. Kitchens are well-appointed with fridges, microwaves, ovens, ranges, coffeemakers, dishwashers, & more.
Occupancy Note: capacity of the three apartments is 4-to-6-persons. A supplement may apply for when occupancy is lower-than-capacity.
CASCAIS: October 5 Square is the center of town. The Tourist Information Center is here, as is the town hall, a museum, a restaurant, and a pub. Happily, there’s a beach across the street.
Location: The small apartment building is located in the dizzying maze of narrow, one-way streets of Central Cascais. Within short walking distance (under 10 minutes) are the shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cafés of the lively, colorful alleys of central Cascais, the town’s large, regionally famed Wednesday/Saturday market (fresh fish and everything else all under one roof), busy Cascais train and bus station (with frequent services to Lisbon; journey times 30-40min), and the attractive waterfront with two golden sand beaches.
Hosting: The apartments’ English-speaking owner lives off-site but nearby, and reachable by internet phone or text at other times. The attentive host meets you upon arrival, answers questions about the lodging and the neighborhood, town, and region, and is on call in the event of a problem or emergency.
Arrival, Check-in, & Departure: Arrival times are for the mid-afternoon of the first day of occupancy. Early check is only possible by special arrangement. Check-in occurs at the apartment building. The owner/host will be expecting you at a pre-set time. When you arrive, he will open the lodging, explain its workings, and hand over the keys. Departure should not be later than 10AM following your last scheduled night of occupancy.
Arrival Notes: Guests with cars can drive right to the apartment house. Guests coming to Cascais by train or bus should take taxis to the apartment house. Because these lodgings are reached by one or two flights of stairs, guests must be prepared to carry their luggage up and down stairs. We recommend guests pack lightly so they don’t have carry so much up and down stairs on arrival and departure days.
Transport & Parking: Guests at the Central Cascais Apartments can get around Cascais readily on foot. Getting to/from Lisbon and Lisbon Airport from Cascais is as convenient by public transport as by rental car.
While it’s possible to drive into Lisbon in 40min or so — similar to the journey time by train from Cascais — parking the car at a public car lot and exploring the steep, narrow streets of historic Lisbon by tram and on foot will still probably be necessary.
Guests wanting to explore Cascais’s surrounding area of rugged coast and visit Portugal’s opulent palaces set among the coastal hills at Sintra and elsewhere will find rental cars more practical than public transport. There is limited car parking on-street by the apartment house.
LISBON CITY APARTMENTS are a selection of 5 apartments of varying sizes, all located in a 4-story modern apartment building close to transportation, restaurants, parks, services, and Lisbon’s historic Belém harbor neighborhood. (See slide images 15—26 above.)
The Apartments: There are two 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartments; one 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment; one 3-bedroom, 3½ bath apartment; and one 4-bedroom, 3½ bath apartment. The apartments are found on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of the building. All are reachable by elevator.
In addition, all 5 apartments have well-equipped kitchens with fridge, electric range or gas stove, oven, microwave, coffeemaker, dishwasher, and clothes washer. All apartments have WiFi & flat screen TVs.
Otherwise, all apartments have heating, but only two are air-conditioned. Three of the apartments come with reserved indoor parking; two others rely on on-street parking or nearby lots. And, each of the three larger apartments comes with furnished balconies.
Occupancy Note: capacity of the five apartments is 2-to-7-persons. A supplement may apply for when occupancy is lower-than-capacity.
Disabled Guests: the 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment has been modified for guests with disabilities.
LISBON: Portugal’s big city is really a collection of neighborhoods (Bairro) with individual identities that invite exploring. For a romantic sunset over Lisbon, ascend the high Bairro Alto (above).
Location: The apartment building is set in the western end of Lisbon’s Belém neighborhood, approximately 3 miles west of Lisbon’s city center. Much less hilly than the old city, with broader avenues and an impressive waterfront along the broad River Tagus, Belém is historically and culturally important. The great voyages of discovery that resulted in the development of trade routes with China, India, Indonesia, Africa, and Brazil that made little Portugal a world power in the 15th and 16th centuries departed from the Belém harbor. Three landmark Belém buildings & monuments within 30min walk of our Belém apartments commemorate this most important time in the history of Portugal:
• Belém Tower — 16th century fortified tower at the harbor point where the voyages of discovery departed & returned; now a World Heritage Site.
• Jerónimo’s Monastery — palatial 16th century Portugese Gothic masterpiece & World Heritage Site; houses museums for architecture & maritime history.
• Monument to the Discoveries: modern (1960) concrete edifice set in a plaza covered with a map showing the routes taken by the Portugese explorer, especially Henry the Navigator and Vasco da Gama.
Within short walking distance (under 2-15 minutes) are shops, boutiques, services and two supermarkets. Restaurants & cafés of various specialties are close by including some that prepare seafood that arrives here at the Tagus estuary daily.
Also within easy reach on foot or by tram are several lovely parks and district gardens, and more than a few museums devoted to modern art, architecture, technology, and electricity.
Several times an hour busy tram 15 departs its stop within 100 yards of the apartment building for points east into the center of Lisbon, 25-30min journey time. Frequent train departures connect nearby Algés station (4min walk from the apartment building) with Cascais train station (journey times 30-40min) in the middle of the popular coastal resort town and with its attractive waterfront golden sand beaches.
Arrival, Check-in, & Departure: Check-in occurs at the apartment building at a pre-set late-afternoon time on the first day of occupancy. Early check-in is only possible by special arrangement. When you arrive, she will open the lodging, explain its workings, and hand over the keys. Departure should not be later than 11AM following your last scheduled night of occupancy.
Arrival Notes: Guests with cars can drive right to the apartment house. Guests arriving by train or bus from the airport or elsewhere in Portugal should take taxis from the station to the apartment house.
Southern
Portugal
THE ALGARVE — TOWNS
ALONG THE SOUTH COAST
A variety of quality apartments, condos, & villas in locations in towns across the Algarve.
SAMPLES OF apartments of various sizes, styles
In locations ideal for the beach, golf, & touring.
- 1. Albufeira East Beach Condo: the beach view from the condo terrace.
ALGARVE APARTMENTS & VILLAS
SOUTHERN PORTUGAL FROM LAGOS TO FARO
Airport: Faro’s Gago Coutinho Airport.
Nearest Train stations: Lagos, Lagoa, Albufeira-Ferreiras, Loule, Almancil, Farmo, and Bom Joao.
ALBUFEIRA EAST BEACH CONDO (see slide images 1—9 above) is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom modern beach condo in a medium-sized apartment complex. Ideal for those looking to be close to the sea, the condo offers access to a small, sheltered, sandy beach 150 yards away by walking path. A restaurant is stationed at the beach entrance. A much larger main Albufeira beach with more facilities and many more beach goers — one of several within the Albufeira limits — is not quite 3/4 mile to the west, and reachable in a couple of minutes by car.
The Second-Floor Apartment has an airy open-plan kitchen, living room, and dining area that opens onto a sizeable furnished patio-terrace with a beach view. The two bathrooms each have showers. One bathroom is equipped with a washing machine. The kitchen is equipped with dishwasher, fridge, microwave, range & oven, coffeemaker, toaster, tea kettle, and juicer.
The Apartment Complex provides guests use of their indoor & outdoor pools. Guests need to have a car, and parking is provided. A large, flat screen TV & free WiFi are also provided. The condo has air conditioning for days when there is more sun than sea breeze.
Hosting is not on-site. Guests are provided contact information and get questions answered via telephone or WhatsApp.
Arriving Guests are not met. Instead, they are provided with key collection information for self-entry.
THE ALGARVE: Not all Algarve beaches are flanked by cliffs and tourist towns. Many remain pleasantly remote and require some effort to find. Case in point: the Desert Isle reached by ferry from Faro.
Albufeira & Central Algarve: Central Albufeira is a 6-minute drive from the condo. Albufeira (pop. 44,000) is the largest town of the central Algarve region. Best known for its many beaches framed with cliffs and rocky outcroppings, Albufeira attracts sunseekers to is beaches and sailors to its sheltered marinas. At night, Albufeira’s famous strip offers dozens of restaurants and night clubs. A full range of services — grocery stores, shops, and stores — are within 5-minutes drive of the condo in Albufeira. The nearest golf course is 7 miles to the west. Faro Airport is 25 miles to the east.
VILAMOURA GOLF CENTRAL APARTMENT (see slide images 10—17 above) is a one-bedroom, 1½ bathroom apartment in a small complex in a residential neighborhood surrounded by golf courses. Ideal for those wanting to locate along the Algarve’s “Golf Coast”, this independent apartment offers a wide variety of courses within close proximity, courses ranging from family friendly to championship caliber. At the same time, the apartment is close to the sizeable towns of Vilamoura and Quarteira, with shops, marinas, restaurants, and beaches.
The Second-Floor Apartment has an airy open-plan kitchen, living room, and dining area that opens onto a sizeable, semi-covered, furnished patio-terrace (barbecue, table & chairs, lounge chairs) overlooking the complex’s pool and gardens. The bedroom has twin beds that may be placed together, plus its own access to the patio-terrace. The living room sofa converts into a double bed. The bathroom has a sink, toilet, bidet, and shower but no bathtub. The additional half-bath has toilet, bidet, and sink. The kitchen is equipped with dishwasher, fridge, microwave, range & oven, coffeemaker, toaster, & tea kettle. There is a small laundry alcove with washer, iron, & ironing board.
The Apartment Complex provides guests use of its large, private, outdoor pool and garden. Guests need to have a car, and outdoor parking is provided. A large, flat screen TV & free WiFi are also provided. The apartment has air conditioning.
Hosting is not on-site. Guests are provided contact information and get questions answered via telephone or WhatsApp.
Arriving Guests are not met. Instead, they are provided with key collection information for self-entry.
Vilamoura & East Central Algarve: Downtown Vilamoura is a 3-minute drive (about 1-mile) from the apartment. Vilamoura (pop. 22,000, with capacity for over 150,000 with visitors!) is best known for its proximity to prime golf, its major yachting harbor, its passenger boats that tour the dramatic coastline, its fine dining scene, and its Roman ruins & museum. A full range of services — grocery stores, shops, and stores — are within 5-minutes drive of the condo in Vilamoura and 10-minutes drive in Quarteira. There are numerous golf courses to choose from in and around Vilamoura, and 7 beaches within 5-to-15-minutes drive. The Algarve’s principal airport at Faro is 15 miles east.
CENTRAL VILAMOURA VILLA (see slide images 18—24 above) is a two-story, three-bedroom house in the residential center of Vilamoura. The villa is right for groups/families of 4-6 persons wanting spacious, private, and quiet housing in the center of bustling, upscale Vilamoura. The villa is within walking distance of a wealth of shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Golf, beaches, marinas, and the casino are short drives from the villa. The selection is multiplied by driving an additional 5-10 minutes into neighboring Quarteira.
The Two-Story Villa features an eclectic décor of bright, primary colors, open living room and dining spaces, 3 unique bedrooms (2 double bedroom, and 1 with twin beds), 2 full bathrooms with tub/showers, 3 half-baths, and delightful outdoors spaces. airy open-plan kitchen, living room, and dining area that opens onto a sizeable, semi-covered, furnished patio-terrace (barbecue, table & chairs, lounge chairs) overlooking the complex’s pool and gardens. The bedroom has twin beds that may be placed together, plus its own access to the patio-terrace. The living room sofa converts into a double bed. The bathroom has a sink, toilet, bidet, and shower but no bathtub. The additional half-bath has toilet, bidet, and sink. The kitchen is equipped with dishwasher, fridge, microwave, range & oven, coffeemaker, toaster, and washing machine. The villa has a delightful private terrace and garden furnished with barbecue, dining table, lounge furniture, even a hammock. . A large, flat screen TV & free WiFi are also provided. The villa is air-conditioned. Guests need to have a car. Outdoor parking is close by.
Hosting is not on-site. Guests are provided contact information and get questions answered via telephone or WhatsApp.
Arriving Guests are not met. Instead, they are provided with key collection information for self-entry.
THE ALGARVE: The catch of the day blesses dinner tables throughout the region. Despite the explosion of tourism, fishing remains a primary industry in traditional coastal villages like Ferragudo.
Vilamoura & East Central Algarve: Downtown Vilamoura is a 3-minute drive (about 1-mile) from the apartment. Vilamoura (pop. 22,000, with capacity for over 150,000 with visitors!) is best known for its proximity to prime golf, its major yachting harbor, its passenger boats that tour the dramatic coastline, its fine dining scene, and its Roman ruins & museum. A full range of services — grocery stores, shops, and stores — are within 5-minutes drive of the condo in Vilamoura and 10-minutes drive in Quarteira. There are numerous golf courses to choose from in and around Vilamoura, and 7 beaches within 5-to-15-minutes drive. The Algarve’s principal airport at Faro is 15 miles east.
Portugal readily combines with many other Home At First destinations.
Achieve more than one European travel goal for just one transatlantic airfare.
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