Albufeira bowls tours

Albufeira

"An elegantly decorated hotel in an excellent location at the heart of the Algarve's liveliest resort"

Jonathan Plumridge,

Managing Director

Hotel description

Vila Gale Cerro Alagoa ****

4-star | Albufeira

This much sought-after hotel opens up easy access to everything the resort of Albufeira has to offer. Situated in the modern part of the resort it is within easy walking distance of a wide range of restaurants, bars, and shops and Albufeira’s well-known entertainments avenue, The Strip, is also only a short bus or taxi ride away. The signature features of this hotel are its vast outdoor pool, its popular Dog & Duck pub, and the sizeable indoor pool within its health club. A popular, well-known, and well-established hotel, recent decorations of its restaurants and rooms have now rendered it also one of the freshest and most stylish 4-star accommodations in the resort. Above all, a great option for those that require a wide variety of facilities within easy reach of their hotel and prefer a resort with a wide variety of entertainment options.

Rooms: 310 rooms with en-suite bath, shower and a balcony. All rooms also have a telephone, heating/air-conditioning, satellite TV, pay to view TV, mini-bar (filled on request), hair dryer, safe (small charge) & 24-hour room service.

Other Features: buffet restaurant offering international cuisine, Dog & Duck pub with occasional live entertainment, vast outdoor pool & sun lounging area, well appointed health club featuring a large indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath, (treatments and massages available at extra cost).

Wi-Fi: Free of charge both in the hotel’s public areas and bedrooms.

Albufeira

Once a fairly modest fishing community to the rear of a wonderfully sheltered sandy beach onto which boats were drawn, Albufeira has burgeoned into the entertainments capital of the Algarve, with a vast number of bars, restaurants and other facilities. Three distinctive areas abut each other: the original fisherman’s village (now transformed into an area of bars, restaurants, and shops), the hotel area (that sits on a cliff top overlooking the ocean), and the entertainments area known as The Strip (live entertainment of many, many sorts until the early hours of the morning).

The Algarve

The Algarve has long been famous for its mild winter temperatures, sandy beaches and picturesque fishing communities. Formerly an independent kingdom within the medieval Iberian Moorish empire, its traditional architecture and tilework still manifest influences from that time, as do the many orange, lemon, olive and almond groves that exist due to the Moors introduction of these trees to the region. The former Moorish regional capital of Silves lies within easy reach of Albufeira, as do the unspoilt Monchique mountains and the picture postcard village of Alte. For bowlers the region harbours the additional charm of featuring some of the few grass greens in the Mediterranean.

Optional Excursion Possibilities

Alluring Lagos (half day): During the 15th century, when Portugal was the leading maritime nation in Europe, Lagos was the country's most important port, and was the base for many naval explorations of Africa in particular. The impetus for this period of naval domination came from a royal prince that history later dubbed Prince Henry The Navigator and who spent much of his life in Lagos and the Algarve in general. Many buildings, together with significant portions of the original city wall, remain from Lagos's golden age and afford the town considerable charm.

Mountain Highlights Jeep Safari: Head for the unspoilt citrus groves, cork plantations and strawberry fields of the frozen-in-time Algarvian hinterlands aboard a comfortable 4x4 jeep. See traditional crafts, sample local delights including honey and the fiery 'Medronho' - a local drink made from berries, and learn how to harvest cork! A traditional lunch of chicken piri piri is also included as is time at leisure to independently explore the delightfully picturesque village of Alte.

Timeless Tavira (half day): Most pre-industrial cities were reliant to a large degree on geography for their prosperity. Tavira was positioned on the coast and at a river mouth. As such, from Roman times until the 18th century it thrived on trade. Unfortunately for Tavira, and most fortunately for today's tourists, silt from the river firstly rendered it unnavigable and then pushed Tavira further and further inland. As a result, development in Tavira largely froze with its non-viability as a port leaving us with a wonderfully sleepy historic riverside city that offers architectural delights, riverside restaurants, medieval alleyways and a citadel to explore, together with wonderful fresh fish from the daily catch of the charmingly traditional fishing boats that still operate from the city centre.

Faro & The Ria Formosa: To many Faro is simply an airport that they pass through and yet in reality, it is a delightfully atmospheric, historic city that retains much of its medieval charm. Two historic gateways and its ancient cathedral are perhaps its stand-out monuments, but its sleep streets and squares are equally alluring. The adjacent Ria Formosa (beautiful estuary) meanwhile is a natural haven for both aquatic and bird life, its many sandbanks and islands offering a wide variety of protected natural habitats. An overview is best obtained from the bell tower of Faro Cathedral (which we visit) but, it is best explored with a guide in a boat which also forms part of our itinerary.

Silves & Monchique: Spend time at leisure in the wonderfully atmospheric historic hilltown of Silves, enjoying magnificent panoramas from its castle walls and exploring its many picturesque narrow streets prior to heading for the refreshing and highly scenic hills of Monchique to enjoy many magnificent vistas over the surrounding countryside.