Good News for Portugal!

Portugal made the headlines recently in the UK press, reported as the best family value destination in Europe!    British researches found the Algarve region of Portugal to be the most economic to visit with Lisbon coming out as the second best city for short breaks. The stunning Algarve beaches were voted amongst the highest in the world.

According to the survey, in comparison to 2009, the average price of a meal has fallen by 47%, costing £15.89 for a 3 course meal with wine in a local Portuguese restaurant. Not only did Portugal come out top with restaurant prices, but also at the beach where it was reported that the average charge for one hours rental of a pedalo was almost half of the cost in France or Majorca.

Portugal is now being described as “this season’s bargain hotspot” by the Mirror, while The Sun has proclaimed that “Portugal pounds the competition to give you the best value for money this summer”.

It's no wonder Portugal remains one of the top destinations for Brits buying abroad! For more information on Compass Amazing Resorts in Portugal please click.

Algarve – A Golfer’s Paradise

The Algarve, world renowned for its mild climate, woke up to golf in 1966 when Penina opened. It was an emblem course, designed by Englishman Sir Henry Cotton who transformed a rice field into a beautiful course after the necessary earthworks and planting 300 thousand trees.

According to regional environmental association Almargem, there are currently 39 golf courses in the Algarve, some of which are under the final phase of construction. A further 13 are still at the project stage, which means that the region could have more than 50 courses in the next few years.

Golf investors continue to prefer the Algarve region, according to the vice-president of the national tourism board, who said there were more than 20 requests for licences for golf courses currently under application, most for the Algarve. Several of these new courses are planned for the eastern Algarve, especially in the county of Alcoutim, which is preparing to have its first three courses built in the near future.Also not yet constructed, but under planning, are future golf resorts Verde Lago in Castro Marim, Monte Rei in Vila Real de Santo António and Quinta da Ombria in Loulé.