Flights/Car Hire::
The closest Airport is Lisbon and is serviced by flights with British Airways, Monarch, TAP and Easyjet. Booking as early as possible will enable you to get some very reasonable rates. For Car Hire it is best to book car hire before arrival and this will again secure the best rates. The drive to Praia del Rey is about 50 miles and nearly all of it is on a motorway and is very easy. If you take a taxi from the airport it will cost approx. 90 euros. We do have the telephone number of a very helpful taxi driver (who speaks English well) in the village and you can phone him from this country and make a reservation and he will be at the airport to pick you up. We have always found him to be very reliable and this will be a cheaper alternative than picking up a taxi from outside the airport.
Activities: :
Within the Praia del Rey complex is an 18 hole Championship golf course rated No.1 in Portugal by Peugeot's 2003 guide - lessons/driving range available. Clubhouse with restaurant. 5* Marriot Hotel with restaurants, spas and fitness rooms. Seven all weather tennis courts. Childrens activity playground. Swimming pool. Beach for sunbathing or long walks. 3km is Obidos Lagoon - ideal for paddling with very small children. Day trips to the Berlengas Islands, which is a National Park, can be taken in the summer months from Peniche. A Go-Karting track is at Lourinha. A cinema and bowling alley have just opened up in Caldas da Rainha.
The Area::
Obidos and Peniche are the two nearest towns. Obidos dates from 300BC and a world heritage town with narrow streets leading to a castle at the top of the hill surrounded by a walled town. It is very pretty with its whitewashed walls and blue paint with bourganvilla's and hanging baskets of cascading flowers. Peniche is a working fishing port where day trips to the Berlengas Islands (National Park) can be taken in summer. Other towns Bombarral (wine), Caldas da Rainha (ceramics- who supplies Harrods of London with some of their wares!, good shopping, market and restaurants) a new cinema and bowling alley, Foz do Arrelho (alternate beaches) Fatima (religious shrine) Lisbon (museums, shopping and nightlife).
We are happy to provide visitors new to the area with additional information on places to visit, restaurants, etc.
Golf:
Golf: An excellent 18 hole championship golf course with a mix of links and forest holes. The course has spectacular views over the Atlantic. Tee off times can be arranged in advance at Praia del Rey and there are at least 10 other quality 18 hole courses nearby. There is a pro-shop, driving range and English professionals available to give advice and lessons. You will need an official handicap. Buggies, trolleys and clubs are all available to rent. Golfers who've played the Praia D'El Rey course will know that it is regularly ranked not just among Portugal's top courses, but among Europe's top courses. Danish tour operators have voted Praia D’El Rey among the top 10 courses in Europe, and also the US's prestigious 'The Golfer magazine' has now ranked us among their Top 10 in Continental Europe. And that's not all. Famous US golfer Greg Norman has written the foreword to a new book, Planet Golf (ed. Darius Oliver 2007) which defines the 'great golf courses outside the USA'. Only 5 Iberian courses were chosen, two of which were in Portugal. One is, Praia D'El Rey... 2007 - 'Best European Golf Resort' (awarded by leading golf tour operators) and 'Portugal's Leading Resort' from the World Travel Awards.
