Portugal's golden lining
Located on the south coast of Portugal, the main draw of holidays in the Algarve is its pristine beaches. Drive along the coastline and find your own secluded spot or quiet bay or enjoy the lively and bustling sweeping golden bays which are backed by family friendly tavernas and offer water sports galore. Whether you’re travelling with the family, as a couple or want to explore the golf, spas and more you’ll find the ideal holiday in the Algarve.
At Sovereign we’ll help you choose the perfect base from which to explore. The sleepy village of Porches is full of local arts and culture, as well as pretty little streets with family run cafés and bars and quiet coves full of loungers and parasols. Vilamoura offers a more cosmopolitan atmosphere, with its bustling marina where luxury yachts and little fishing boats moor side by side, and two beaches to choose from.
Whether it’s a relaxing holiday in a sleepy little village or an upmarket spa or golf retreat, you’ll find your perfect luxury holiday in the Algarve. Spend lazy days on the golden sands of the beach, or choose from one of our many hand picked hotels. Here you’ll find infinity pools, elegant interiors and menus designed by Michelin starred chefs. Full service spas offer the chance to leave feeling rejuvenated and refreshed while there are professional standard golf courses dotted along the coast. Soak up the sun as you enjoy the views of the glittering sea.
Explore pretty old towns which date back to ancient times and former fishing villages which retain much of their whitewashed beauty. Drop into pretty little churches and admire views of the sparkling ocean. Take a romantic boat trip along the coastline and stop off in secluded coves where you can enjoy a picnic lunch or snorkel with the exotic fish.
Every one of our hotels is handpicked and personally visited by our team
With such a short flight time from the UK to the Algarve this is the ideal place to spend a few weeks as a family. Play golf and tennis, hike or bike through the local countryside or hop from fishing village to fishing village and find your favourite.
Flight time from the UK to Algarve is around 2 hours 40 minutes.
If you're planning a trip to Algarve (FAO) from the UK, the following airports have direct flights:
Aberdeen (ABZ), Belfast International (BFS), Birmingham (BHX), Bournemouth (BOH), Bristol (BRS), East Midlands (EMA), Edinburgh (EDI), Glasgow (GLA), Leeds Bradford (LBA), Liverpool (LPL), London City (LCY), London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), London Luton (LTN), London Southend (SEN), London Stansted (STN), Manchester (MAN), Newcastle (NCL), Norwich (NWI) and Southampton (SOU).
Summers in the Algarve get pretty scorching, so beach-goers can expect the mercury to top 30°C in July and August. The shoulder months of April, May and October stay at a pleasantly toasty low 20s, and even in winter, things rarely drop below 15°C – ideal for year-round golfers.
Currently visas are not required for UK citizens travelling to Portugal.
A service charge won’t typically be added to your restaurant bill in the Algarve, so it’s common to leave a tip of around 10% of the bill. The same goes for taxi drivers – aim for 10% or round up your fare to the nearest euro. Tipping is not expected for bar staff, hotel porters or maids, although a euro or two would be appreciated for excellent service.
The official language of Portugal is Portuguese. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.