Getting around:
The airport in Faro is 20 minutes drive down A22/A125. If hiring a car, which is probably sensible for sight seeing/golf/sports, there are many hire firms at Faro AIrport, alternatively a taxi will cost around £20 each way. There are buses and taxis and a great train service to Lisbon, which passes through some wonderful countryside. You can drive from the house to in one direction Lisbon or in the other direction Seville and the new motorway is superb. Vale do Lobo has a mini bus service, which ferries you around the immediate area only.
Places to visit & Blue Flag beaches:
Vale do Garrao is ideally situated in Central Algarve, making it easy to explore the wonderful surrounding areas and the new A22 motorway makes the whole of Algarve easily accessible. Vilamoura has, lovely shops, restaurants and a marina and you can go on a fishing trips, sail or dolphin watch. Albufeira old town, is where you will find boutiques, bars and plenty of nightlife, the party capital and in Giua there is a great shopping mall. Faro walled town is a must with hidden delights and just before entering, you will find a superb shopping arcade with one of the best supermarkets and fantastic shops. Throughout Algarve you will find whatever you want, mountains, sea, beaches, waterparks, zoo's, go karting, horse riding, horse carriage excursions, plenty of history, markets, golf, tennis, gastronomy etc, you can be as active or relaxed as you want. The Ancao, Garrao and Vale do lobo beaches all have Blue Flags and are extremely well maintained.
Tennis Communal Pools:
Tennis in the Algrave is an all year round sport as is golf as the climate is perfect and the scenery spectacular, especially at Vale do Lobo, where the tennis academy is wonderful, and you can have private coaching, you can also share an hour with a coach, half an hour each. There are numerous tennis clubs scattered around the surrounding areas, Villas & Vacations and the superb Quinta do Lago, being another two of the best.
There is a communal pool with tennis courts, in the lush park directly behind the house and round the corner at Xenia, there is another communal pool with bar/cafe.
Golf:
Golf is at its best in the Algarve as the courses and fairways are beautifully maintained and manicured, with either spectacular views across the sea or rolling mountains and as the weather and temperatures all through the year are great, can be played at any time of the year. They are scattered all around and there is never a course very far from where you are, here is a list of some close by: Vale do Lobo has the world renown 18th hole which is over the cliffs. All the greens are carefully manicured and Vale do Lobo is up to world class standard, having one numerous awards.
Vale do Lobo-Royal Course & Ocean Course 00 351 289 393939, Quinta do Lago-San Lorenzo 00 351 289 396522/South & North 00 351 289 390700, Vilamoura-Laguna Course 00351 289310180/Millenium & Victoria Courses 00 351 289 310188/Pinhal Course 00 351 289 310390/The Old ourse 00 351 289 310341, Tavira - Benamore Course 00 351 281 320880, Carvoeiro - Gramacho Course 00 351 282 340900/Pinta Course 00 351 282 340900, Quarteria -Vila Sol Course 00 351 289 300505
They are of varying scales and prices.
Other Activities:
Go Karting, Waterparks, Zoos, Dolphin Watch,
