The Golden Triangle on the Algarve

Spring in the Algarve

2011-05-04T15:23:00.005+01:00

Easter over, Royal wedding over -Wow ! what a time it´s been. Everybody pretty happy in UK at getting almost 11 days holiday with minimal days off. Now the Algarve is looking gorgeous, a mass of spring flowers, pinetrees green from the winter rain and just enough people and things going on to keep it interesting.

Yep, there are plenty of golfers arriving and a few hardy beachcombers, although the water in the sea is still a little nippy for the average swimmer.

May is the time for jacaranda trees and storks a plenty and Faro is a picture of brilliant mauve at this time of year.

Check out the glorious Ria Formosa for an even wider selection of bird life and some fantastic walking, either on the well signed walking paths or amongst the gorgeous sand dunes, and don´t forget to stop for a bite or drink en route at one of our lovely beach restaurants.

Post Carnival Algarve

2011-03-10T15:10:00.005Z

Carnival week in the Algarve and most schools here have a week off. For anybody who watched the Rio Carnival on television, this is a great highlight of the year and some pretty exciting viewing ...

While here in the Algarve we don´t exactly match the Rio event, our local Loule carnival claims to be the forerunner of its bigger and better sister across the Atlantic. Thousands enjoyed the local carnivals here in the Algarve and all over Portugal during an often wet and gusty weekend - however, this did not dampen enthusiasm.

Promotional Fares to Faro

2009-01-20T11:15:00.003Z

Whilst many low cost airlines fly to Faro (Easyjet being the most frequent) http://www.easyjet.com/ - don´t discount British Airways´great promotional winter fares - http://www.ba.com/ for excellent value for your winter break.

Ryanair have also made Faro a hub and now fly direct from Faro to many places in Europe
www.ryanair.com - this airline probably has the cheapest fares going.

Check out Faro airport´s own website to see who flies in and from where -
http://www.ana.pt/

Introduction

2008-10-06T11:15:00.005+01:00

Welcome to our Golden Triangle Blog, the weekly update on life and events on the sunny Algarve in general and the wonderful holiday areas around Almancil in particular aka the "Golden Triangle".

You may ask why are we called the “Golden Triangle” – well, we are not busy growing opium poppies here – no, the name evolved because in the area around Almancil, the resorts of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago stretch in more or less a straight line along the coast forming the base of the triangle – from here Almancil is a few kms north, so if you drive from Quinta do Lago or Vale do Lobo to Almancil you find Almancil as the peak.

Almancil is our service town where you all year round find pretty much everything from banks and shops to Michelin starred restaurants. The reason our triangle is “golden” is that it has gained a reputation of providing top of the range quality of living. Apart from the two developments mentioned above, there are a few more inside the triangle that deserve a mention for example Pinheiros Altos, Dunas Douradas and Val Verde, and Salinas all popular in their own right, all located in the beautiful and protected Ria Formosa Nature Reserve with its unique wild life.

It is not for nothing that this area has been chosen by many business people, top politicians and personalities from all walks of life as their favourite destination. Glorious weather all year round, endless beaches and an huge variety of fabulous golf courses allow you to relax with a book in the sun or enjoy some exercise – usually followed by a lunch in one of the fine beach restaurants.

Those who have chosen to invest in real estate have seen a steady and healthy growth in the value of their properties and even now, early October 2008, there is no slump in the property market. Of course, some buyers may be holding back on their purchases while the general financial uncertainty prevails, but unlike many places in Europe, there is no surplus of new unsold properties here and those who wish to sell are sitting tight and not discounting their asking prices. .

On the development front, Dunas Douradas opened their new Beach Resort in June, having sold out every unit long before it was officially opened.

Vale do Lobo has started on a new exclusive gated resort, Vale Santo Antonio and are going ahead with the infrastructure in yet another new zone, where there are plans for apartments, villas and another hotel.

IMOCOM, a Portuguese developer is in the process of constructing the first 6 star hotel in Europe for the Hilton Group, namely the “Conrad Vale Verde” opposite Quinta Shopping by the entrance to Quinta do Lago. Opening is scheduled for 2009.

Having given you this little pre-view of the “Triangle” we will attempt to provide you with a weekly update on matters of general interest. Should you have any comments and/or suggestions, feel free to contact us on and if relevant, we will incorporate your comments in the blog.