Womens World Football On The Algarve

The Algarve Cup is to be held in Faro.

National womens football teams from the following countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, USA and Canada take part in the Algrave Cup which will be head here in Southern Portugal between 9th March and 15th March.

The previous winners of the Algarve Cup have been:

# 1994 Norway
# 1995 Sweden
# 1996 Norway
# 1997 Norway
# 1998 Norway
# 1999 China
# 2000 United States
# 2001 Sweden
# 2002 China
# 2003 United States
# 2004 United States
# 2005 United States

Flights from Edinburgh to Faro Airport

Dont forget that if you live in Scotland you can get daily flights from Edinburgh & Glasgow down to Faro with Flyglobespan.com

The airline is Scotlands best low cost airline and you can book your tickets direct at www.flyglobespan.com

Vale Do Lobo Gets Exposure In the USA

I just chanced upon this article in the Herald Tribune which sings the praises of my favourite resort on the Algarve, Vale Do Lobo.

"Sean Mason is a great fan of the Algarve. He has spent vacations there for the past 10 years.

"When we first started to go there, it had a good feel," he said. "There's golf, good weather, people are very friendly and it's easy to get to from Dublin," where he is managing director of the Mason Group, his property and financial company.

Critics say parts of the region are overdeveloped, particularly its 155-kilometer, or 95- mile, southern coastline. But the Algarve remains Portugal's favorite destination for "snowbirds," northern Europeans eager to escape the Continent's dark, cold winters. And Portuguese real estate experts are trying to find more ways to mine this appeal.

Mason has a five-bedroom villa in Vale do Lobo, a project that was started in 1962. More than 40 years later, it now is a self-contained community about three times the size of Monaco, with 2,000 residences and more being built. Its development company won The Daily Telegraph's Developer of the Year award in 2005.

Mason said he preferred Vale do Lobo to Quinta do Lago, the region's most exclusive resort, which is a few minutes' drive away. With four small children, he finds that his community "caters for families better.'

He adds: "It's more user friendly, with a bit of everything on the spot: pools, beaches, shops, restaurants. It's all there."

Mason said the resort is constantly being improved, supporting strong property values. While he would not disclose the price of his home, Mason said that a five-bedroom villa could be resold for more than €1.5 million, or $1.8 million, while a newly built one would cost about €2.5 million.

Prices are even higher at Quinta do Lago, which was established in 1972 with 3.5 kilometers of sandy beach, saltwater and freshwater lakes, and a location near the Ria Formosa nature park.

Its apartments start at about €400,000, townhouses at €500,000 and villas at €2 million. A few spectacular properties with multiple plots and seafront locations have sold for much more, but they rarely come on the open market.

Vilamoura, a popular spot west of Vale do Lobo, was sold early last year for €380 million to Grupo Prasa of Spain, which manages it through its Lusort division. Lusort wants to add new homes and luxury hotels to the resort, as well as improve the existing properties and infrastructure.

The redevelopment project, which Lusort is calling Vilamoura XXI, will involve the construction of at least 5,000 homes in the next 15 years.

Vilamoura, like other resorts in the area, is managed like a privately owned town. The development company handles construction of new housing or, in some cases, makes deals with other builders to take on specific projects.

One example of such outsourced construction is The Lake Apartments, 95 modern homes on a saltwater lake adjacent to the resort's marina.

In the past two years, one-bedroom apartments there have sold for €420,000 and duplexes for €825,000, said Maurice Elst, manager of the International Realty Group in Portugal, an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates network.

The group also is handling sales at As Cascatas, 69 apartments set between the prestigious Old and Pinhal golf courses in Vilamoura. Apartment costs range from €274,000 for one bedroom to €950,000 for a large penthouse, with owners allowed to use the facilities of a five-star Hilton hotel, the first of the brand in Portugal, and a 2,000-square-meter, or 22,000 square-foot, spa. Elst said that sales, aimed at international buyers, have been extremely successful, with 80 percent of the properties already sold.

A third complex in Vilamoura, Villas do Pinhal Velho, is for sale.

Frederico Seixas Clemente, head of residential property at CB Richard Ellis in Lisbon, said the agency and its partner, Hamptons International, were selling Pinhal Velho's 60 building plots, which range from 3,200 to 6,000 square meters and are set amid pine trees and landscaped gardens next to one of the resort's six golf courses.

Seixas Clemente described the development as the "Rolls Royce of Vilamoura" and said he expected the plots to sell for about €2.5 million each. Buyers would be allowed to build homes of 350 to 550 square meters.

Portuguese property prices are high by international standards, but, Elst said, "Portugal is a mature market. It should be compared to places like Marbella and southern Spain, France and Italy. If you compare with Greece, Turkey or Cyprus, then of course it's expensive."

As in neighboring Spain, the quality of construction in midrange developments has been uneven in the past, as has been local infrastructure and municipal services.

"Quality has been an issue, but it is improving," Elst said. "The roads are much better, motorways now cover most of the country, infrastructure in general is much better than it was some years ago."

Seixas Clemente said he believed Portugal must focus on providing high quality and sell itself aggressively. "We must do away with this tendency that anything goes and try to really make Portugal a prime location.

"In Europe," he continued, "Portugal should see itself a bit like Florida or California. We have the snow birds and we should grasp the opportunity."

Sean Mason is a great fan of the Algarve. He has spent vacations there for the past 10 years.

"When we first started to go there, it had a good feel," he said. "There's golf, good weather, people are very friendly and it's easy to get to from Dublin," where he is managing director of the Mason Group, his property and financial company.

Critics say parts of the region are overdeveloped, particularly its 155-kilometer, or 95- mile, southern coastline. But the Algarve remains Portugal's favorite destination for "snowbirds," northern Europeans eager to escape the Continent's dark, cold winters. And Portuguese real estate experts are trying to find more ways to mine this appeal.

Mason has a five-bedroom villa in Vale do Lobo, a project that was started in 1962. More than 40 years later, it now is a self-contained community about three times the size of Monaco, with 2,000 residences and more being built. Its development company won The Daily Telegraph's Developer of the Year award in 2005.

Mason said he preferred Vale do Lobo to Quinta do Lago, the region's most exclusive resort, which is a few minutes' drive away. With four small children, he finds that his community "caters for families better.'

He adds: "It's more user friendly, with a bit of everything on the spot: pools, beaches, shops, restaurants. It's all there."

Mason said the resort is constantly being improved, supporting strong property values. While he would not disclose the price of his home, Mason said that a five-bedroom villa could be resold for more than €1.5 million, or $1.8 million, while a newly built one would cost about €2.5 million. "

Algarve Property

Just read this interesting article about property dowm on the Algarve.

It was in The Times and covers everything from the costs of buying property down on the Algarve to the new types of timeshare that are on offer.

You can read the article here


If your in the market for a frontline golf apartment at the very top end of the holiday home market then check out this apartment in Vale Do Lobo.

Nike PGA at Victoria Golf Course Vilamoura

Paul Carman tied fifth as Haigh Hall's Craig Corrigan shot a third and final round 70 to win the Nike PGA North Region Overseas golf title at the Victoria course at Vilamoura, Portugal yesterday.

His six-under-par total left title-holder Simon Edwards, from Wrexham, one off the pace after also closing with a 70.

PGA Cup player Edwards shared the mark with Matthew Tottey, the national PGA Assistants' champion from North Wales who carded 69, and overnight leader David Shacklady, from Mossock Hall, who slipped to a 74.

Corrigan maintained his run of consistent form from last season when he clocked up eight successes including the North Region championship.

You can read the full article here

Tavira on the Algarve

I just found this good little article about the village of Tavira. It was in the Sunday Mirror

"Away from the golf courses and villas which turn the Western Algarve into Kensington-on-Sea - Tavira is 30 minutes drive from Faro airport.

The town has a Roman bridge, the remains of a Moorish castle, a church clock which chimes the hour twice to make sure the fishermen don't oversleep and a leafy park.

There are good fish restaurants and for a day out you can visit sleepy towns inland, such as Sao Bras and Silves. But Tavira's secret is its white-sand beach reached by ferry (70p return) from the fishing quay. Known as the Ihla de Tavira, it is a three-mile sandbank with plenty of beach bars frequented by Portuguese families.

I book flights on the internet (BA, Monarch Scheduled, easyJet and a host of cheap charters are available) and stay b&b in a spotless room above one of the restaurants on the quay."

Portimao Tourist Information Site

We have just launched another Portuguese Tourist information site. This one contains a lot of information about the town and area around Portimao.

Like the other sites we have it focuses on things such as the restaurants in Portimao, the hotels in Portimao, some general advice about Portimao Property and is full of usefull tips and interesting articles.

If you are heading down to Portugal this year then Portimao may well be worth a visit.

Flights from Kent to Faro

Eujet used to offer direct flights from manston in Kent to Faro before they went bust. Looks like someone is trying to breathe life back into the route. This could be good news for people who live in Kent and South East London.

"Infratil Airports Europe, the new owners of Kent International Airport, are delighted to announce that passenger services are returning to Kent International!

Kent Escapes, part of the Seguro Travel Group, announced today that they will fly to two of Europe's premier resorts this summer.

Flights to Faro in Portugal's popular Algarve region and Barcelona, servicing the holiday destination of Costa Brava, will operate during daytime hours every Thursday from 25 May until 26 October 2006.

With a strong reputation among holidaymakers and travel agents alike, Seguro Holidays currently fly thousands of sun seekers out of Infratil's Scottish airport, Glasgow Prestwick, each year, making it the airport's largest tour operator with a high volume of repeat customers.

Kent Escapes are offering all their Kent customers a special introductory discount of 10% on all bookings.

Prices start from £309 for seven nights all inclusive hotel accommodation in Costa Brava, and £239 for seven nights self catering in the Algarve. The company offers a wide range of 7 and 14 day packages, with accommodation in the two star to five star range.

Richard Burke, Managing Director of The Seguro Travel Group, said: "This is great for us and great for the people of Kent as it brings affordable holidays to their local airport, and removes the inconvenience of having to travel to one of the major airports in the south-east of England."

He added: "Obviously we are starting with two destinations but this is just the beginning. We hope it can become as strong as our operation at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, where we fly 70,000 holidaymakers to seven different destinations every year."

Phill Vann, General Manager of Kent International Airport, said: "I am delighted that Kent Escapes will bring regular passenger services to Kent International Airport over the summer and we hope they will be the first of many operators to use the excellent facilities we have here."

He added: "Seguro is a company with an excellent reputation and a track record of providing a high level of service to its customers. This partnership is a step in the right direction for the airport and we will be doing all we can to make it work."

Holidays can be booked online at www.kentescapes.com or by calling the friendly, experienced staff at Seguro's Prestwick-based call centre on
0845 676 0043.

Kent Escapes operates a policy of "The Price You See is the Price You Pay" - there are £0 flight supplements and no hidden costs in the small print.

All Kent Escapes holidays and flights are protected by Seguro Travel Limited ATOL 3251 and ABTA V7808 licenses.

Kent International Airport offers a speedy, hassle-free experience for travellers with convenient car-parking located less than 100 metres from the check-in desk and modern passenger facilities including shops and restaurants."

I found this artcile here

Holiday Apartment in Carvoiero

Just found details of the apartment we stayed at in Carvoeiro a couple of years ago. It's a great apartment on a great complex on the outskirts of the town.

Its got two bedrooms and two bathrooms and it's own private south facing garden. The owner also has contact with the owners of the house next door and this could be ideal for two couples with kids who are looking to go away together but don't want to be under each others feet!

The best bit is the salt water swimming pool!

You can make bookings and find out more information here