Are you looking for a relaxed family holiday in a chilled, elegant atmosphere far away from the hustle and bustle? Don't want to fly too far, yet still enjoy fantastic beaches?
This stay was quite a while ago now, but I didn't want to withhold this insider tip from you: a resort most suitable for families: The Martinhal Family Hotel & Resort in Sagres, Portugal.
The original fishing village Sagres is located at the southwestern point of the Algarve, far away from mass tourism. You can get to the next larger city, Lagos, in about 40 minutes by car, and it will take you about an hour and a half to get to the airport in Faro.
In the autumn half-term, we spent two absolutely relaxing weeks in the five-star family complex and can highly recommend it.
Overnight stays - from hotel rooms to villas with pools
In Martinhal you can choose between various types of accommodation: whether it's a hotel room directly on the beach, a garden, ocean or bay house, or even your own villa with a private pool, there's something to suit every need and every budget. We had opted for a one-story apartment (Gardenhouse), which was centrally located and well equipped. It had a separate bedroom and two fold out beds in the living area. This category is particularly suitable for families with small children.
Dining - three restaurants or self-catering
All units (with the exception of hotel rooms) have a fully equipped kitchen (and a washer/dryer, by the way) so you can prepare your own meals. We however, had booked half-board and were able to dine in three restaurants. Whether it was ‘O Terraco’ with a wonderful view of the main pool and the azure sea, ‘Os Gambozinos’ in the "village square”, or ‘As Dunas’ right on the beach - the food, the service and the ambience were all excellent.
Experience - Activities and Excursions
Although the resort is completely luxurious in terms of comfort and design, you never feel out of place, even with small children. Everything is very well thought out and specially tailored to the needs of families. For example, in the restaurants, there are separate areas for children with all the toys and crafts you can think of, and on top of that, the most friendly childcare. This way, the little ones can still eat at the table with their parents, but play undisturbed while they wait. All this is done in a very casual way. That is what this resort is all about: you feel really comfortable and relaxed among your peers.
What is also impressive, is the Children- and youth animation program, although we didn't make use of it (because our boys (still) prefer to spend time with us), but it is very extensive. The supervised activities take place in five age groups. However, there is an additional charge during high season (from April to mid-November). At 25 - 27 euros per half day, I think that's quite a lot for a family resort, especially since the overnight prices are very high, especially in the summer holiday season. But the kids get their money's worth here even without animation.
All in all, the playgrounds, children's clubs, crèches, sports infrastructure and gaming rooms make up 3400 m2 of space.
For adults, there is a spa with a wide range of massages and treatments. Of course, young and old can also have fun in one of the five pools or on the 700 meter long private beach. They can play tennis, jump on the trampoline or indulge in water sports (various equipment can be rented).
Explore the area - towns, beaches and sand sculptures
Sagres is a lovely little fishing village on the south-western tip of mainland Portugal. Only when the boats come and go at the harbor, does it get busy, otherwise it is a very quaint town to look around.
About 30 km away is Lagos, a town really worth seeing. It has a pretty promenade through the old town with various souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes.
Moreover, various boat excursions can be found at its port. We decided to do a tour to Ponta da Piedade and loved it. The ledges and caves are a real attraction! Our guide and driver drove us through the narrowest passages so quickly that it sometimes took our breath away. But it was fun and definitely impressive!
Another 40 km from Lagos, going eastwards, between Lagoa and Porches, lies the world’s biggest Sand Sculpture Festival. This has taken place every year between May and December since 2003. International artists create works of art that are sometimes more than 10 meters high and sometimes delicately filigree from a total of more than 50,000 tons of sand. A must for Algarve visitors!
On another day we followed the west coast north beyond the southwesternmost point of the Algarve. On the so-called Costa Vicentina, rugged cliffs are lined up against which the roaring Atlantic Ocean breaks. The barren high plateaus are overgrown with wild shrubs and hardy cistus and defy the sometimes strong winds.
And in between, the most spectacular, almost untouched bays and beaches are revealed again and again. These are often hidden from the main road and can only be reached via gravel paths or even steps. You really are only sharing them with just a few surfers.
Our conclusion:
If you are looking for luxury holidays tailored to meet family needs, you are in good hands at the Martinhal Family Hotel & Resort. However, this is definitely not the right resort for couples looking for peace and quiet. The area at the southwesternmost point of the Algarve is simply breathtaking, which is why we strongly recommend hiring a car in order not to miss the countless other beaches in the region surrounded by rugged cliffs, and to ensure you visit the pretty little town of Lagos.
Comments