I’ve just holidayed in the beautiful Algarve in Portugal where I stayed in the beach resort of Gale with its sandy beaches and drop-dead beautiful sunsets.
This was pretty much the last week of the season but if you are planning for next year, here is my guide to this beautiful spot.
But first things first..
When? We went in October right at the end of the season. It was still 25-27 degrees and full sun every day ( we were lucky) and you can get in the beach restaurants easily. After October everything more or less closes down.
How? We rented a villa from James Villas and booked just two days before we left, after the whole Thomas Cook saga. It probably wasn’t the cheapest deal ever as a result ( we flew from Liverpool) but still pretty good value. The villa was enormous – it would have housed ten (five bedrooms, two kitchens) and there was just us two but we benefited from a huge luxury pool to ourselves, WIFI and it was just a few minutes walk from beaches and restaurants. Perfect for a large family but the price quadruples in August.
Why? Gale is just 30 minutes by car from the airport ( we arranged a private transfer at around £70 return) and it’s around 10-15 minutes via an Uber (between €8-9) to lively resort of Albufeira. This is very lively with an old town, new town, picturesque harbour and Benidorm-esque strip. We visited one day but not really our scene. One for the clubbers! Gale on the other hand is all about the beach, the surf and the chill.
Who? Gale is for couples, families and groups of friends looking for a laid-back beach lifestyle, fresh seafood, beautiful sunsets and private pools. Plus there is a surf-vibe down at the beach.
How? We used James Villas ( as mentioned – not an ad) but there are many tour and villa operators who come to Gale.
Five things to do in Gale, Algarve:
- Eat the fresh fish and seafood. It is plentiful and great value and tastes best with a view of the sea and a glass of Portuguese wine.
- Learn to surf. There is a busy surfing school catering from beginners to those looking to hone their skills. Or you could just a hire a board and have go. (The beach has a lifeguard) The pro-surfers are out at dawn and sunset waiting for the Atlantic’s best waves.
- Get a massage. There are lots of little wooden massage huts on the beach – it costs around €30–35 for half an hour.
- Watch the simply stunning sunsets across the Atlantic. The whole ocean is bathed in golden tones as the day ends.
- Relax. This is not a holiday for the late-night clubbers. and you are holiday!
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