Vilamoura is the name given to an area rather than to any actual town.

It is outstanding in that it is one of the largest single tourist complexes in Europe and covers some 2.000 hectares of land. The land is variable in its vegetation, some parts covered in pine forests whilst others open recovered marshland.

The company that owns this complex is extremely environmentally conscious and has made every effort is being made to protect nature within its continued planned development.

Due to the size of the resort area it offers the visitor nearly every form of sport and entertainment. On the southern border is a long sandy beach swept by the Atlantic Ocean.

Amongst the many attractions and facilities there are six different Golf Courses, a large Marina, a Lawn Bowling Club with two grass Rinks, a Tennis Centre, a Sports Club, a Shooting Club, 5 Star and 4 Star Hotels, Tourist Apartments, self-catering Villas, Night Clubs, an International Casino with glamorous shows, a Cinema, and an excellent Riding School.

Within the centre of Vilamoura there is a preserved Roman Site and Museum of Cerro da Vila providing an interesting glimpse into the past of the area. In Roman times this location was important in producing a fish paste known as Garum. The ruins also include the baths in which the mariners used to bathe.

As a location specifically designed for tourism it has proved to be a very successful holiday destination for all ages due to the variety of facilities that it provides holidaymakers.

Facilities include:

Restaurants

Cafes / Pubs

Post office

Banks

Petrol station

Supermarkets (with international products)

Railway station

Beautiful Marina

A large variety of Golf Courses

Vale do Lobo

In 1962, was born the famous Vale do Lobo, the first tourist enterprise of Algarve, in south of Portugal. The project became real after the partnership of two multinationals: Trusthouse Fort plc and Costain plc.

When it was built, the area of Algarve was devoted fundamentally to the fishing and to the agriculture. With the arrival of the Vale do Lobo, the area met its first five stars hotel “Le Meridien D. Filipa” and its first golf course.

During the seventies, Sander van Gelder, the Dutch entrepreneur linked to the industry of the jewellery store and diamonds with some stories in Holland, discovered the Vale do Lobo. The enormous tourist potential of the resort attracted the entrepreneur, who acquired the company in 1977, moving with his family to Portugal.

In that moment, Vale do Lobo won a new future, becoming a luxury tourist resort.

Nowadays, Vale do Lobo possesses about 400 hectares, attracting residents and visitors because of its self-sufficiency, quality of the homes and for the excellent infrastructures and services that please all. Vale do Lobo is known by being one of the most important luxury enterprises of Europe, being the largest one in Portugal.

In the end of 2006, the resort was sold to a group of Portuguese and international investors, as well as to the largest Portuguese bank, Caixa Geral de Depositos. For now, Vale do Lobo is commanded by Diogo Gaspar Ferreira, the new Executive President.

Because of this new investment, the structure receives enough financial support to be able to carry forward the actual plan of service and the future expansion. There are in development some of the most important projects, like the Oceano Clube (Vale do Lobo II) and Vale Real (Vale do Lobo III).

Vale do Lobo is located in the coastal area of the centre of Algarve, in a rich area in history where the sun appears during the whole year. One of the attractive thing that justify the choice of the Vale do Lobo to live and to visit is their approximation to the Faro International Airport in about 20 minutes.

The Vale do Lobo Golf and Beach Resort is only three hours of flight of most of the European capitals. The enterprise is still about two and a half hours of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and of Seville, in Spain.

Loule, the happiness of the Carnival

The council of Loule is known by their traditions and beaches, but also by its famous Carnival party that looks like the brazilian. Nowadays, the Carnival of Loule has several themes, as the society, the political system and the most important events of the year. All those ingredients are mixed with a good critic dose full of good mood and diversion, but in the summer the council gets hotter.

The visitors seek Loule with the intention of taking advantage of their beaches, dispersed in a beautiful coast. The beaches of Vilamoura, Quarteira, Vale do Lobo, Garrao, Ancao, Quinta do Lago, and Falesia are authentic natural paradises and in the waters of Loule you can enjoy nautical sports.

The golf is also a sport very practiced in Loule, with countless fields. It might be for that reason that the council is known by being a demarcated area of the golf.

The golf courses extend from the Vila Sol to the Quinta do Logo, passing through Vilamoura, Quarteira, Vale Garrao, Ancao, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Sao Lourenco, all in a natural gorgeous scenery.

Loule receives during the year great names of the world golf, and also intellectuals and politicians, artists and soccer professionals, musicians and people of businesses that come from everywhere to play golf.

The town promotes several sport and cultural events along the year, as Vale do Lobo Grand Champions and Algarve Summer Festival, one of the most important summer festivals of Portugal.

Loule also has a vast historical and cultural patrimony, like the Roman Bridge, Castles of Loule and of Salir, Mother church of Sao Clemente, Mother church of Sao Lourenco of Almancil, Small chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceicao, Church of Sao Pedro do Mar, Mother church of Alte, Igreja Matiz of Nossa Senhora da Assuncao, Small chapel of Nossa Senhora das Portas do Ceu, Mother church of Sao Sebastiao, Church of Nossa Senhora da Gloria, besides the natural beauty of the gardens of Amuados and of Comunidades.

Other places of interest are the Archeological Station of Cerro da Vila and the historical area of Loule. In spite of having a vast history and a great dimension, the municipal district includes only two cities: Loule and Quarteira.

For the ones who tries to pass a very good night, Vilamoura is the centre of the nightlife of the council of Loule. Besides the famous dispersed bars along the sea area, as the Bar Seven, the soccer player’s Luis Figo property, El Salero, Irish Pub, among others.

Another attraction is the Casino of Vilamoura, a reference for the thousands of tourists that visit Algarve. Besides the room of the machines and of the roulette, the visitors can see beautiful shows. The Casino still concentrates one of the most popular discos of that area, Black Jack.

It is also in Vilamoura that is located another reference disco for all lovers of the nightlife, the Kadoc.

The city of Loule still has several bars, as well as the Campus, Joker and Breath, used by the academicals students. The Bar Satori is part of the itinerary of alternative bars of the country, there you can enjoy several rock shows and art exhibitions.

Quinta do Lago and the Square of Vale do Lobo are also other alternatives for the national and foreign tourists that prefer hotter nights of summer.

For who seeks an outdoor atmosphere, it is possible to visit the Municipal Park of Loule, where you can exercise yourself.

Loule is composed by the freguesias of Almancil, Alte, Ameixial, Benafim, Boliqueime, Quarteira, Querenca, Salir, Sao Clemente and Sao Sebastiao.

I hope to meet you soon in the Golden Triangle of Portugal!

Can someone tell me a little about internet connections in Portugal? Are there internet cafes or other wifi hotspot areas? Are they free as in the US? Is it relatively easy to connect? Is there coverage in most of the country? Are there any things a tourist should know?

I am 16 and I’ve heard a couple of different answers, some say 16 and some say 18. Any answers would be helpful

doing a project about portugal.

Portugal is a great place to live and work. Any property you buy will sure to be a good investment. Since 200 the property market has steadily grown at around 10-15% annually. With properties of such a high standard and with its economy the way it is it is not hard to see why people are moving to Portugal.

Portugal is a country with a rich seafaring history and is located on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula west of Spain. In the summer you can expect beautiful hot sunny days inland and on the coastal areas slightly cooler. Along the Algarve the coast is sheltered from north winds and has the higher summer temperatures. The Portuguese winters are very mild and pleasant without the hot weather.

The biggest appeal of buying a property in Portugal is the benign tax system which allows avoidance of the worst effects of capital gains and inheritance tax. Also the annual rate of unemployment is very low which is encouraging.

Despite the fact that Portugal is one of the smallest and least developed countries in European terms it has the fastest developing economies in the EU. One of the main reasons is because of the easy access to 360 million neighbours and the fact that the work force is young with labour costs considerably lower than those of the rest of the EU countries. The country was also given 22.8 billion Euros from the EU and part of these funds went into developing the transport system which included privatisation of the airline, building a light train track, as well as developing an airport at Porto. In 2004 the country hosted the European Football championships which brought in plenty of revenue at the time. With regards to natural resources Portugal has huge deposits of timber cork, iron, copper coal and marble.

One of the top choices regarding which city to move to is the Silver Coast. It is an up and coming area with many Brits selling up in the Algarve and moving up to the Oeste Region which is located just about Lisbon. The Algarve used to the hot spot to live but now it is over run with Brits. The attraction to The Silver Coast area is partly because it is a very Portuguese area with farming being the main source of income for the locals. You can really experience the Portuguese way of life. Because the properties are much cheaper than in the Algarve area it’s it worth investing in. The potential of significant property prises in the area is attracting people wanting to buy and live in the area as well as buying to let a holiday home. The Silver Coast stretches from Porto down to Lisbon and has some of the most spectacular beaches, amazing cliffs, beautiful country side and some great historical sites.

Moving to Portugal is always better if you’re planning on learning the language. The locals will respect you a lot more if you can show you are trying to fit into their society. It’s the same with moving to any foreign country. Apart from making every day life a lot simpler it also means you will be able to speak to the locals and really interact and get into the Portuguese way of life.

i have ticket for portugal but only one way out of london, will i be allowed in when i get there?

I have a friend in Portugal and one in Italy and I want to send two small boxes to each.
I live in Portland, Oregon and would like to know how much it would cost to send them something.

Portugal is often regarded as one of the best golf destinations in the world. For such a small country, it has a huge variety of high-quality golf courses, mainly on the Lisbon Coast and in sunny southern Algarve. Choosing the top 10 is always difficult, however the courses listed here all provide a variety of challenges and are set in magnificent surrounds.

Great greens in sunny Algarve
Central Algarve’s premier golfing destination, the Quinta do Lago Estate has two of its four excellent 18-hole courses listed among Europe’s top 25 golf courses. These are bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Ria Formosa nature reserve, there are 72 holes of challenging golf with immaculate greens. Quinta do Lago South, the original championship course, is still regarded as the best.

Just 20 minutes’ drive from Faro International Airport, the par 73, 18-hole Vilamoura Old Course has a great variety of holes that include some some steep grades. The course, lined with pines and cork trees, deserves its reputation as one of the best in Europe. Facilities include a driving range and putting green.

Vale do Lobo, Portugal’s biggest luxury golf and beach resort, has three courses. The Royal and the Ocean, both par 72, have stunning views of the coast, and its 5 km-long sandy beach. The ultimate Algarve course is San Lorenzo rated in the top ten in Europe, it is difficult to get a tee time unless you stay in the 5 star Dona Filipa hotel which owns the course.

One of the best courses in the Algarve, the par 72, 18-hole Vale da Pinta, was designed to retain natural valleys and undulations. Free of green fees for those lucky enough to be staying at the Pestana Carlton, the course, with large, deep greens and bunkers, follows hills and valleys through old olive, almond and fig orchards.

The pick of the Lisbon Coast
Oitavos Golf Club at Quinta da Marinha, is the home of the Portuguese Open. Kept in pristine natural condition, coastal scenery combines with holes lined with umbrella pines, shrubs and dunes. It is Europe’s first Audubon Gold Signature Sanctuary. The two consecutive par 5s on the front side, and two par 3s on the back are part of one of Europe’s toughest 18-hole courses.

The Ritz-Carlton’s Penha Longa course features 27 holes in a stunning natural setting that runs to 6,890 yards from the championship tees. A nine-hole option, The Monastery, includes a section of old ruins.

Estoril opened in 1936, is short (less than 6,000 yards) but tight and difficult, and the longer holes require accurate wedge and iron play. Guests of the Palacio Estoril Hotel are given preference to play here, although the course is included in some golf packages.

Aroeira I, opened in 1973, is renown for its stunning natural beauty. The 18-hole, par 72, championship course is one of the best in Europe, and has hosted the Portuguese Open.

One of the most challenging courses in the Lisbon area, Quinta do Peru, is in the Costa Azul region, between the castle towns of Sesimbra and Setubal. The par 4, 12th has a lake running the length of the fairway and the par 3,16th, all of 200 metres, has a lake guarding the green.

In the North of Portugal, an hour from Lisbon, lies the challenging, par 72 Praia Dél Rey course with its mixture of links-type fairways and forests and dunes. Many of the holes have ocean views, but the walk between some greens is long and hilly, so a cart is recommended.

The Madeira Islands’ best course
The Madeira Islands have three major golf courses, and the par 72, 18-hole Palheiro, on the main island, is recommended for its challenging greens. Built on volcanic hills, the course traverses peaks and valleys, and is set among a pine forest and other natural vegetation.

I would like to know how to send barrels or boxes of personal items from Eastern Canada or USA to the Azores, Portugal.
Does anybody know anything about how to do this?
Who can I contact?
The cost?
Does it have to be barrels or can I send boxes too?
The sizes of the barrels or boxes?
I have like 15 boxes weighing about 500lbs in total. Canada Post would cost an arm and a leg. I know that people send barrels from the Eastern cost for like $100 for two barrels with unlimited weight. But I can’t find info on how to go around doing this myself.

This has been bothering all week!
Which country do you think I should go to Spain or Portugal?
My parents want’s me to got to Spain because they think it’s beautiful and my friends want’s me to go to Portugal because they said it’s less racist and more friendlier! I really wan’t to go to Spain because it looks like avery beautiful country but Im deeply afraid of being a victim of racism! and I don’t know, and options and why?