HOTEL HOLIDAYS
Many of the specialists listed below have personal knowledge of hotels, and can tailor an itinerary and arrange tee times, spa treatments and other activities in advance.
Our selection
Classic Collection (0800 008 7299, www.classic-collection.co.uk) Tailor-made specialist featuring big choice of four and five-star boutique and resort hotels on the Algarve, Lisbon and Estoril coast, Madeira and Porto Santo. Works hard with hoteliers to produce wide choice of special offers, and currently has more than 80 in the Algarve.
Destination Portugal (01993 700600,www.destination-portugal.co.uk) This long-established specialist has knowledgeable sales agents, and features a wide choice of two to five-star hotels and manor house b & bs on the mainland and islands. There are early booking offers at many beach hotels. Has expanded into the Azores with fly-drives and traditional hotel-based holidays with transfers and excursions aimed at over-50s.
- Portugal 2010: introduction and basics
- Portugal 2010: getting there and around
- Portugal 2010: activity and specialist holidays
Keytel (020 7616 0300, www.keytel.co.uk). Main booking agent for Portugal’s 44 state-owned pousadas (www.pousadas.pt), most in historic buildings. A flagship Pousada do Porto has now opened on the banks of the Douro, upstream. It comprises a sumptuous 18th-century palace and a converted flour mill painted rose-pink. Doubles from £143. Sells good-value five-night Pousada Passports (see introduction for details).
Light Blue Travel (01223 568904, www.lightbluetravel.co.uk) Algarve and Madeira specialist has taken over Holiday Options programme and is expanding into the Azores. Good choice of boutique and five-star hotels; also classy villas with pools. Featuring the new Martinhal development (small hotel and villas) on Sagres beach.
Sunvil Discovery (020 8758 4747, www.sunvil.co.uk) A dedicated Portugal brochure featuring bespoke fly-drive arrangements based around some of the best pousadas, historic manors and family-run hotels on the mainland and Madeira. New this year is the Vivamarinha resort, a stylish retreat on the coast near Lisbon near several top golf courses, and two rural b & bs in the Alentejo. It also has a comprehensive Real Azores programme to nine islands and can pre-book lots of activities. A week’s holiday for a family of four in two rooms at a three-star hotel costs around £2,800 b & b in late July including flights.
Other Options
Atlantic Holidays (01452 381888, www.atlanticholidays.net) Focus on the upmarket Pestana hotels on Madeira and in the Azores and Porto Santo. Runs summer charters from Gatwick to Porto Santo from May, and Norwich to Madeira for six weeks from July 6.
Cachet Travel (020 8847 8700; www.cachet-travel.co.uk) Wide choice on Madeira, Porto Santo and Azores.
Cadogan (0845 615 4390; www.cadoganholidays.com) Top-end hotels in the Algarve, Estoril and Madeira.
Castaways (01737 812255; www.castaways.co.uk) More than 70 carefully chosen hotels and pousadas on mainland and Madeira as basis of tailor-made holidays.
Cricketer Holidays (01892 664242; www.cricketerholidays.co.uk) Hotels in Madeira and the Algarve; new Western Portugal escorted tour using five-star hotels.
Friendship Travel (0871 200 2035; www.friendshiptravel.com) Hosted singles weeks in three-star hotel in small Algarve fishing village.
HotelConnect (0845 230 8888; www.hotelconnect.co.uk) Online booking agent for 50 inspected hotels and apartments in Portugal and Madeira.
Ilios (0845 675 2601; www.iliostravel.com) Quintas on Madeira.
Mark Warner (0871 703 3887; www.markwarner.co.uk) All-inclusive Algarve resort with watersports and childcare for children aged one year and over.
Kids in the Med (0845 277 3300; www.kidsinthemed.com) Family childcare packages to upmarket Sheraton and Grande Real Santa Eulalia resorts on the Algarve.
On the Beach (0871 911 0202; www.otbeach.com) Bargain-basement hotels and apartments on the Algarve. Pay by credit card as there is no ATOL cover.
Simply Travel (0871 231 4050; www.simplytravel.co.uk) Characterful hotels in Madeira.
Solo’s (0844 815 0005; www.solosholidays.co.uk) Singles weeks based in pretty seaside Ericeira near Lisbon.
Sovereign (0871 200 6677; www.sovereign.com) Portfolio of four and five-star hotels, including spa, golf and family-focused properties along the Algarve and Madeira. Features the new Robinson Club Quinta da Ria on a coastal lagoon near Tavira in the quieter eastern Algarve.
Travel Club of Upminster (08456 884848; www.travelclubofupminster.co.uk). Carefully chosen four-star hotels in smaller Algarve resorts including the refurbished Hotel Garbe right on the beach at Armacao de Pera.
Luxury specialists
Companies offering a high level of personal service and top-end hotels includeElegant Resorts (01244 897771; www.elegantresorts.co.uk), which also offers luxurious villas; ITC Classics (01244 355550; www.itcclassics.co.uk); Kirker Holidays (020 7593 1899; www.kirkerholidays.com); and Seasons in Style(01244 202000; www.seasonsinstyle.com).
The big operators
Club Med (08453 670670; www.clubmed.co.uk) One all-inclusive family village on the Algarve; accepts babies from four months. Refurbished rooms, restaurant, bar and pool plus new Club Med Spa.
Monarch Holidays (0871 423 8642; www.monarch.co.uk) Strong in all main resort areas with flexi-stays (three-day minimum) at choice of mid-range hotels.
First Choice (0871 664 9020; www.firstchoice.co.uk) Runs its own all-inclusive Holiday Village Algarve with a mix of accommodation, as well as one of the coast’s largest pools, an indoor pool, range of children’s clubs and soccer academy. Also self-catering options. Madeira retreats for couples, and good range of villas with pools.
Saga Holidays (0800 096 0082; www.saga.co.uk) Hotel-based holidays and escorted Douro cruises including singles departures. An 18-night cruise on Saga Pearl II from Southampton to Azores, Madeira and Portugal departing November.
Thomas Cook (0844 412 5970; www.thomascook.com) Focus is on the Algarve, from five-star “Ultimate Style” golf and spa holidays to cheaper beachside hotels and apartments for families. There are more all-inclusive options in the three or four-star price range. Big range of hotels on its accommodation-only websites: www.hotels4u.com and www.flexibletrips.com.
Thomson (0871 231 3235; www.thomson.co.uk) Flexible package holidays for couples and families mostly to the Algarve in its Portugal & Madeira brochure. Quite a few hotels are exclusive to Thomson, including the top-rated Riu resorts. There are “Premier” and “Gold” options with evening entertainment for older couples; “Small and Friendly” and “Chic & Unique” options for younger couples.
VILLAS AND COTTAGES
Luxury specialists
Our selection
CV Travel (020 7401 1010; www.cvtravel.co.uk) Stylish villas on the Algarve, in the Monchique hills and along the Lisbon coast. Many have wireless broadband and air-conditioning, daily maid service and chefs on request. Several new houses on the Algarve including Casa Maderna, a short walk from the beach and a two-star Michelin restaurant in pretty Gale.
Villa Retreats (0800 988 5586; www.villaretreats.com) Gorgeous villas on beaches near Lisbon and on the Algarve coast, notably contemporary, architect-designed houses in and around the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo developments. Many have a large heated pool and private tennis court. There’s a concierge service that can arrange most things, from tee times and tennis coaching to providing nannies and chefs.
Other options
Meon Villas (0800 783 1410; www.meonvillas.co.uk) Selection of detached villas with pools in their own grounds in the Algarve.
Owners Syndicate (020 7401 1083; www.ownerssyndicate.com) Now part of CV Travel, though retains its website and sales team for regular customers.
Palmer & Parker (01494 815411; www.palmerparker.com) Good choice of two-storey villas all along the Algarve, including new six-bedroomed air-conditioned villa on Quinta do Lago golf estate.
Scott Dunn Mediterranean (020 8682 5400; www.scottdunn.com) Two Algarve villas with chef, nanny and host.
SJ Villas (020 7801 4010; www.sjvillas.co.uk) Three stylish Algarve villas sleeping 10-14. Can also find affordable, pretty country houses.
Countrywide
Our selection
Portuguese Affair (020 7385 4775; www.portugueseaffair.com) Well-chosen houses and villas in unspoilt parts of the Costa Verde and the Minho regions of northern Portugal, all inspected annually. Rates are quoted per night (minimum four-night stay) so you can tailor-make a touring holiday based on self-catering accommodation.
Villas 4 You (0845 268 0770; www.villas4you.com) The new name for the Individual Travellers brand. In Portugal there are more than 150 carefully chosen houses and modern beach apartments, including some large private villas in the Algarve and historic quintas in the north. Flexible stays.
The Villa Agency (01273 747811; www.thevillaagency.co.uk) More than 200 hand-picked properties on the Algarve and Lisbon coasts sleeping 2-18, from stone cottages to contemporary villas. Every house viewed by someone in reservations team. Managed to hold prices down in sterling to 2008 rates at most properties. Clutch of new villas among orange and almond orchards near Boliquieme within an easy drive of eastern Algarve beaches. All have maid service and there’s a concierge service to pre-book all kinds of activities and motorboat rental.
Vintage Travel (0845 344 0420; www.vintagetravel.co.uk) Features the Minho in the north with a good selection of characterful properties with pools. On the Algarve it has added the luxurious Palmares villa; which has four en-suite bedrooms, a large pool and original artwork on the walls.
Other options
Casas da Cabreira (00 351 253 661697; www.casasdacabreira.co.uk) Local agent for north-west Portugal.
Casas Cantabricas (01223 328721; www.casas.co.uk) Three little cottages in the Minho.
Destination Portugal (01993 773269; www.destination-portugal.co.uk) Privately owned villas with pools in central and northern Portugal.
Holiday-rentals.co.uk Web portal for private owners to advertise; some vetting done. Over 3,000 villas and apartments countrywide including Madeira and the Azores.
Interhome (020 8780 7789; www.interhome.co.uk) Booking agent for private homes.
James Villa Holidays (0800 074 0122; www.jamesvillas.co.uk) Appealing villas with pools all along the Algarve including town houses on golf resorts.
Algarve specialists
Our selection
Affinity Villas (01428 727277; www.affinityvillas.com) Portfolio of more than 100 luxury properties for families and couples in smaller resorts such as Lagos. All are rigorously inspected by company directors. Most have heated pools and air conditioning. Online videos give a good feel of many properties. New seven-bedroom villas in Praia da Luz and Penina.
Algarve specialists also include: Algarve Agency (01204 595222;www.algarveagency.com); Design Holidays (0870 727 3755;www.designholidays.co.uk); Select Resorts (01202 786490;www.selectresorts.co.uk); Simply Travel (0871 231 4050www.simplytravel.co.uk); Style Holidays (0871 895 0095;www.styleholidays.co.uk); Travel Club of Upminster (08456 884848;www.travelclubofupminster.co.uk); Vigia Resorts (0800 622 6120; www.vigia-resorts.com); Villa Centre (01223 513593; www.villacentre.com); Villa Plus(01727 836686; www.villaplus.com); Villa Select (0845 277 3370;www.villaselect.com); Villas to Go (0845 241 7733; www.villastogo.com); andVilla World (01223 506554; www.villaworld.co.uk).
CAMPING
Most companies offer a choice of tents or mobile homes along the Algarve. TryCanvas Holidays (0845 268 0827; www.canvasholidays.co.uk); Eurocamp(0844 406 0402; www.eurocamp.co.uk); and Keycamp (0844 406 0200;www.keycamp.co.uk). Vacansoleil (0333 700 5050; www.vacansoleil.co.uk) also offers a site near Lisbon. A week at Camping Costa da Caparica costs £851 in August in a mobile home sleeping six, including ferry crossing.
Algarve car hire your solution!!
|
