Driving to the Algarve
We recently holidayed on the Algarve and as we live on the Costa Del Sol in Southern Spain I thought that I would give a brief description of our journey and our experience of the Algarve.
Driving Directions from Costa Del Sol to Vale do Lobo on the Algarve, Portugal.
There are 4 main routes that you can take to drive from the Costa Del Sol to the Algarve, all of them via Seville.
The main route to take if you live or are staying anywhere east of Malaga Airport is via the N331 and A92 which goes past Antequera.
Two fantastic scenic routes are also available via Ronda (A376) and Via Cadiz. However, on this occasion we went via Jerez on the new and vastly improved A381. The road is currently being transformed into a dual carriageway and is around 90% complete.
Our journey took us through some amazing, green, Spanish Countryside on a virtually empty dual carriageway. The journey from Marbella to Seville took around just 2½ hours.
We actually stayed in Seville overnight, which if you have time is a real must.
The following morning we left Seville and picked up the Motorway that runs down to the Portuguese border and our holiday destination at Vale Do Lobo.
Arriving in Portugal we were met with an altogether greener countryside than we were used to and a more rustic and low rise version of life than the Costa Del Sol. Staying at Vale Do Lobo spoiled us!
Vale do Lobo on the Algarve
Vale do Lobo is a large private Resort/Estate around 25kms from Faro Airport and in all honesty is one of the best all round resorts I have ever stayed at.
Amazing sandy beaches onto a cool, clean Atlantic ocean and some of the finest sporting facilities in Europe including 2 Championship Golf Courses, a Golf Academy, Floodlight Tennis School with immaculate courts and all the Spa and health facilities you could possibly want.
The whole resort of Vale Do Lobo is a mixture of private Villas, Apartments and Townhouses together with the 5 star Le Meriden Hotel.
Fully secure, safe and set within extremely well maintained, landscaped areas including Pine Woods that both separate and shelter the Villas and Apartments.
Apart from an on-site Supermarket that is a little expensive, Vale do Lobo offers a good range of restaurants, from a simple Creperie to fine "Al Fresco" Italian dining overlooking the Atlantic.
The famous chef, Ken Hom, also has 2 restaurants within the resort.
Our favourite restaurant however was just on the eastern edge of Vale do Lobo, Julia's restaurant sits on and overlooking the beach.
This really is a superb Beachfront restaurant offering classic Portuguese Chicken Piri Piri accompanied by an African rice to die for all the way through to simply prepared Langoustines from the BBQ.
The owner Shelly is English and has been running the restaurant for 14 years, she told us that most of here clients where regulars so you had better book a table! (00351 289 396 512).
We did venture outside Vale do Lobo, to the marina at Villamoura and a large indoor shopping centre (Guia) just outside Albufeira but all in all our needs were met in Vale do Lobo.
What were the biggest differences between the Algarve and the Costa Del Sol?
- It is Quieter
- it is slightly cooler in the evenings and because its an hour behind Spain it gets lighter and darker earlier.
- The People are friendlier
- The Beaches are sandier
- The Sea is cleaner
I actually feel fortunate enough to have the best of both worlds, living in Marbella but only a comfortable 5 hour drive away from Portugal!
For more information on the Algarve see www.algarve-beach-life.com
