Julie's Properties

Golfing in the Algarve: The greens in a pleasant land

If all the golf courses on the Algarve were laid end to end... well, now that I come to think of it, they probably are. From Parque de Floresta in the west to Seve’s Quinta do Vale in the east, a couple of decent drives away from Spain, a ribbon of lush Bermuda grass weaves around white sand bunkers for 100 miles along Portugal’s southern coast. The question for every golfer looking for some sun on their back is where to play and where to stay?

Colina Verde Golf & Country Club is set amongst 30 acres of lush green Algarvian countryside just 4kms from the coastline in the East Algarve and therefore enjoying spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. Colina Verde Golf & Country Club was built in 2002 to the highest standards and featuring spacious, well appointed apartments.
The 9 hole Executive par 3 golf course is suitable for players of all levels. Straightforward enough to be enjoyable for beginners, but also testing enough for the experienced player wishing to sharpen their ironplay and short game. With average playing time of one and a half hours, there is plenty of time if you so wish to take in one of the 18 hole championship courses in the locality the same day.

If you never want to be less than 100 yards from an all-day English breakfast and Live Premiership, then there’s Albufeira.

If you want the yachting crowd, a casino and the bright lights, there’s Vilamoura. And if you want a more peaceful time with a more, well, mature crowd, then there’s Quinta do Lago.

This vast estate, just 30 minutes from Faro airport, sits at the apex of a group of golf courses, Quinta’s own North and South, Pinheiros Altos, the fabulous San Lorenzo and the newcomer Laranjal, opened in 2009 but already looking well established.

It is a 6,500m, par-72, with five par-5s, eight par-4s and five tricky par-3s and a fair sprinkling of water
hazards, set among the familiar umbrella pines, plus orange groves and the odd avocado tree.

Algarve: 4 natural wonders nominated

Eurozone destinations provide greater value

British tourists are being wooed back to the Continent with more for their money. Sterling rose this week against the euro to its highest level since December 2008, giving British travellers up to 10 per cent more for their money than last summer. "Holidaymakers can now expect to get more for their pounds travelling to one of the Eurozone countries than anywhere else," said Sarah Munro, head of travel money at the Post Office. Given the continuing concern over the future of the euro, the pound could strengthen further, while reports suggest that hotels and restaurants on the Continent are attempting to attract holidaymakers by reducing prices.

"Our research also shows that prices have plummeted in some of the most popular resorts – especially in Spain and Portugal, where restaurants have slashed their prices," Ms Munro said.

The total average cost of several holiday essentials, including drinks, sun cream and a meal in a local restaurant, has fallen by 42 per cent in the Algarve, for example, and by 40 per cent in Spain, according to the Post Office. Similar research released this week by Thomas Cook also suggested that mainland Spain offers particularly good value for visitors from Britain.

Egypt and Turkey, two destinations that have benefited in recent years from the strength of the euro, may now suffer from a decline in numbers of British visitors, given the current strength of their respective currencies against the pound.

Since last summer, sterling has fallen against the Turkish lira by 10 per cent (2.38 to 2.13) and against the Egyptian pound by 7.5 per cent (8.04 to 7.44). It has also dipped by between 12 to 17 per cent against a host of other currencies, including the East Caribbean dollar (3.90 to 3.45), the South African rand (12.45 to 10.71), the Thai baht (51.11 to 43.48), and the Malaysian ringgit (5.29 to 4.43).

Breaks to North America have also become less cost-effective. The US dollar has risen by 10.5 per cent against the pound since June 2009, and by 26.5 per cent since June 2008. The Canadian dollar has strengthened by 14 per cent since last summer.

"Exchange rates have a huge impact on where Britons choose to travel," said Francis Tuke, a spokeswoman for Abta, the travel association. "The weakening of the euro will undoubtedly encourage us to return to the Eurozone."

She added that hotel prices had fallen in Spain during the past year and that travel companies expected rates to fall in Greece.

Directline Holidays has reported that Greece was the most popular destination for bookings during the second half of May. Maria Whiteman, chief executive, said the company had been able to negotiate cut-price deals for accommodation.

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