Look at that beach. Isn’t it just perfect? Come July I will be lying on it, waves lapping at my feet, breathing in that energising sea air. It’s booked, deposit paid and now all I can do is wait, dream and decide how many bikinis I can fit into my luggage allowance.
Our Summer holidays over recent years have been quite diverse:
Iceland: snow-mobiling, glacier-hiking, whale-watching and every other hyphenated scary activity known to man.
Canada: arguing with a French Canadian SatNav woman whilst trying to negotiate the main roads of the Eastern states.
Lake Garda: Lolling by the pool of the gorgeous Parc Germano apartments and drinking copious amounts of the local Bardolino wine.
Dordogne: back to basics with a caravan holiday in the French countryside: heavenly location but too much toe-stubbing in tiny bedroom and husband used up all his gaffer tape fixing wobbly pan handles and a lethal barbecue.
In our quest for the perfect holiday this year to suit a lazy mother, likes-to-think-he’s-Ray-Mears father and increasingly horizontal teenage son, we did a virtual trip around the globe. We spent a good few days on a Western Canada fly-drive (maybe next year) and an inordinately long time in Scandinavia. Husband Dougie, still obsessed with a driving holiday, also had a minor flirtation with the Black Forest. I, however, was yearning for the sea.
At heart, I’m a beach girl. I was born in Whitley Bay on the North East coast and my early memories of holidays are all beach-based. I was dearly missing the sea. So, with a great deal of guile, and the convincing argument that we could afford it as we roughed it last year by going camping, I persuaded my man to come with me to the seaside.
Our destination for 2011 is……Portugal.
On the South West tip of the Algarve coast, near the historic town of Sagres, is the Martinhal Beach Resort. It opened in 2010 and seems to tick all the boxes to suit all three of us. A five star 33 bedroomed hotel, together with an assortment of self-catering family houses, slap bang on the beach within a protected national park. Sporting facilities, chill-out room for older children, choice of restaurants, pools with Fatboy loungers, and that stunning beach.
We will hire a car from Faro airport and have, at the most, an hour and a half of bickering before we reach Martinhal. Then we can take up residence in an Ocean House, right on the beach, designed so the bedrooms are on the ground floor whereas the living area and balcony upstairs can make the most of the views. The accommodation is chic, contemporary and not the least bit fussy. It’s kitted out with Satellite TV, wireless internet access, MP3 docking station, designer kitchen with washing machine and dryer. There’s even a coffee machine. I had hoped it would be a Nespresso like they have in the hotel rooms but apparently not…*wailing and gnashing of teeth*. May have to dispense with shoes and pack my own machine instead.
Rory can sleep, chill by the pool or try his hand at Padel Tennis: a form of short tennis which might appeal to him as it’s less far to run. Dougie might have a go at kite-surfing or kayaking or try out the gym.
Or he may join me, hand in hand, walking along that magnificent shore-line.
Images courtesy of IDeal PR for Martinhal Beach Resort.
Ooo you've inspired me. Trying to find a teen and parent friendly resort is worse than when they were little.
Mrs W – it's a difficult balance with teens. Last year we chose a campsite with a teenage club but the activities were all booked up for the first few days after we arrived so Rory didn't bother with it at all.
Fingers crossed this will suit: he rather likes to chill so this should be ideal.
lol at the Ray Mears reference, I have a Bear Grylls in my house!! The pics look fab, am feeling a bit envious!! Jen
Jen – I think mine would prefer to be likened to Bear Grylls too (more macho?). Without his duct tape, however, my man is quite hopeless.
If you need your own personal luggage handler I can be hired by the day.
Steve – excellent. I shall check out your rates.
Not. at. all. jealous.
You will have a great time….we went to Portugal quite a few times with the kids and have happy memories (particularly Sagres and the Monchique mountains) so I bet you will be counting out the days.
It's a good idea to think about holidays now I guess….have something to look forward to…and bikini packing??!! God you are SO much younger than me…..
Libby – I've been to Portugal once but it was a long time ago, pre husband. Dougie hasn't been before but I know he will love it. Sagres, being away from the main tourist parts along the coast, should be idyllic. Will get some suggestions from you for that region nearer the time?
As for the bikinis, I really should be moving towards an all-in-one cossie at my age: I'll make sure I have an artfully draped sarong!
Oh, I used to go to Whitley Bay with my nana to play bingo when I was very little (well she played and I just watched) They were from a farming family right out in the middle of nowhere and Whitley Bay was always such a treat. I love Portugal too. The Husband worked on a crappy TV show for the BBC that was filmed in and around Lagos so I moved over with the children for 6 months. We had a fabulous time and I have many fond memories. TH is freelance so we can never book in advance which can be a pain but then can land us some amazing bargains sometime.
I love Sagres…camped there with the husband when we were in our twenties…your accommodation sounds so much more comfortable!
Wow that looks fabulous. I've never actually been to Portugal – maybe one day.
Wylye Girl – Whitley Bay eh! I still have lots of memories. Do you remember the song 'Tunnel of Love' by Dire Straits which refers to it and the funfair, Spanish City? I used to think,'I bet other people don't know what this is all about'.
Six months in Portugal sounds heavenly. Let's hope you get away this year once you know when!
mummmmmmmeeeee – That's brilliant: I have another person to sound out about the location. I've heard it's quite windy there – did your tent stay up?
Very Bored – you're not far away: pop over!Catalunya…Algarve….no distance 😉
That looks lovely.
Not sure we'll get away this summer. I have to fix the car instead. Never mind though, at least we live in a place where staying put is no hardship! 🙂
Sarah – Absolutely! Beautiful scenery and warm sunshine where you are. In fact it's the wish for sun that pushes most of us to holiday outside of the UK.
You can still have your adventure. We went on a boat ride into the sea caves at the Algarve. Lunch was included – sardines grilled on a hibachi, their wonderful Portuguese bread, and wine. The adventure: navigating a boat in rolling seas, while the waves are breaking on the cave walls. I thought I was going to die.
Karla – I'll stick to the lunch part of that story, if you don't mind. Me and lurching boats don't mix.
Actually, with us having a car, we can travel about a bit and see some of the sights: this part of the coast seems deliciously wild.
That looks a great beach. I think the nicest way to get a tan is to walk up and down the beach at the water's edge with the water lapping over your toes. A couple of lengths of that beach should get both sides nicely done. Lying on a lounger is so boring.
I was intrigued by those Dire Strait lyrics so did a bit of research (pre Google) to know more.
Troy – I agree. I can't lie on a lounger for as long as I used to. When we were in France last year we had a few days at a lakeside beach; it wasn't the same as the sea but that feeling of walking on the sand in the shallow water was invigorating.
Glad you looked up the lyrics. The album, Making Movies, from which the song is taken, is such a favourite of mine and that song in particular, with its intro from Rogers and Hammerstein's 'Carousel', means such a lot to me.
Oooohhhh… I am a beach girl too!! Can you fit me in your suitcase?? 😉
FunkyW – Not sure: I'd have to take out my Nespresso machine!
Was looking at your blog and i too have booked the Martinhal for 2 weeks starting June 30th. Hope its as good as it looks. Have given up the mobile in France holiday for it.
John – it looks like you'll have left before we go. Hope you come back and tell me what it was like and any tips! I'm sure we're both doing the right thing giving up the mobile this year.
No mobile, even though we used to spend three weeks in one it got quiet cramped after a while. We are 2 boys (8 and 11) and my wife, Sue. We booked one of the Ocean View houses so i hope that the two floors of space will give us some space, if you know what i mean.
Not sure yet whether to hire a car or not and just get a taxi there and back, but as in France a car would probably be handy.
John – we have decided to hire a car as we reckoned the cost of a taxi there and back would be quite expensive. May as well pay a bit more so we can have a bit of freedom for the rest of the foortnight, even if it's only driving to the supermarket up the road!
We are in an Ocean House too, as you've probably read: looking forward to spreading out a bit!
Thanks to your blog, I have this place on my bucket list! Great post, Trish!