Southern Portugal's Algarve Region

Travel Articles | December 3, 2010

In the south of Portugal lies the Algarve region, which is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. Miles of clean beaches with clear blue waters and rugged hills make for a stunning backdrop to plenty of activities including golfing, surfing, hiking, climbing, biking, swimming and more. The Algarve has miles of luxury hotels, golf courses, resorts and condos but also some secluded spots and quiet beaches if the traveler knows where to look.

The international airport in Faro, the capital of the region, brings in a large share of the 9 million tourists who visit the Algarve region each year. Tourism also will bring in an estimated 12 billion euros in 2010, which may give an idea of the scale of the tourist industry in the region. The Algarve has been popular for years with European tourists, especially the British, and continues to grow, even to the point of over-development in many people’s eyes.

That’s one reason why the winter months are a good time to visit. The weather is mild enough to be pleasant during most of the season and the hotels and resorts offer rooms and suites at substantial discounts. It is possible to find rooms at prices far below the peak season rates and it is much easier to find some space on the beach or book reservations at popular restaurants. The golf courses are less hectic and it’s easier to get a taste of the real Portugal when the off-season arrives.

To get even further away from the crowd, hiring a car is best - there is a national forest just a one and a half hour drive west of Faro. The village of Sagres at the southwestern tip of the country is surrounded by the national forest and has seen little tourist development. It’s a great place to soak up some real Portugese atmosphere and there are empty beaches nearby as well as the lighthouse and fortress of San Vicente.

The Vilamoura Hilton Resort Portugal is offering winter discounts, with rooms starting at 120 euros per night. The Hilton Vilamoura also is featuring a Wine & Spa package that runs until December 31st

, 2010.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adrian Fisher is a London-based freelance journalist with a mission to make you a better and happier human being. Drawing attention to the peculiarities of life in the modern age is all part of the package.Check out his other articles for everything you need to know about travel destinations and hotels.