The beach town
Praia da Falesia is a peaceful little resort known locally as 'the beach town'. It's not hard to see why – its beach is one of the biggest in Portugal, with several kilometres of golden sand sloping out from terracotta cliffs.
Popular with locals and visitors from nearby towns, this pretty-as-a-picture beach is flanked by pine trees and the cliffs (the falesia in its name), which make for a scenic backdrop as well as acting as a natural windbreak.
The town itself is laid-back with a traditional feel, offering up a handful of hotels and plenty of restaurants, plus two golf courses on its outskirts. Praia da Falesia's proximity to other resorts is a big plus; less than 30 minutes by car are the bustling waterfront of Olhos d'Agua and Vilamoura, a heavyweight destination in the Algarve.
Flights from the UK to the Algarve take around 2 hours 40 minutes.
Transfer time from Faro airport to Praia da Falesia is approximately 35 minutes.
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.