Portugal: To the Algarve with children

To the Algarve with children, then you think of a vacation full of water parks and surfing lessons, swimming and sea. Enough reasons to book a trip to Portugal this vacation. You have the most beautiful beaches, the water is crystal clear and the sun shines 300 days a year.

But there’s more. Read along!

To the Algarve

As the vacation countries are slowly turning more yellow, the feeling of going on vacation and being able to plan a vacation is also starting to live with people more and more. Because how nice it is to be able to go out again? The Algarve in Portugal is a vacation destination that will make you happy. Besides historical villages and the most beautiful beaches, you can eat fantastic food and the Portuguese are always friendly and hospitable. Travelling with children?

Especially then the Algarve has everything to offer for the vacation of your dreams.

Come and discover the beaches

If the children have a good time, so do the parents. When I did not have children I thought, ‘yes that will do.’ But now that I have children myself, I realize how true these words are. If the boys can swim, they will have the vacation of a lifetime on the beaches and in the sea. Is there a playground, we don’t see them all day. It is simply true.

Taking the whole family into account ensures a relaxing vacation. But why go to the Algarve with the kids?

Learn to surf in the Algarve

Anyone can learn to surf, whether young or old. The Algarve is known as one of the best surf destinations in Europe? It is a nice idea to spend a day or two (learning) to surf with the whole family. The Algarve has over 200 kilometers of coastline with several spectacular beaches. There are beaches where beginners feel comfortable and beaches where the real pro can do his thing.

Fancy a lesson already? There are many good surf schools and teachers in the Algarve, but Freeride Surfcamp & School of Surflife Atlantic Riders are the perfect organization for this.

Water fun and amusement parks

Beaches are fun, but water parks especially so. The Algarve has a (water) theme park on offer for every age group: for lovers of white water slides and slides there are Slide & Splash and Aquashow, the latter of which will even have an indoor section as of 2020 (for one of the rare days when the sun doesn’t shine). Animal lovers are in the right place at Zoo Lagos, Krazyworld and Zoomarine.

Of course, in each of these parks there is a varied offer as well as space for the smallest visitors to play quietly.

An exciting trip on a boat

Going to the Algarve makes you think of the sea, but did you know you can also spot dolphins here? Really and truly during an exciting boat trip. For how much fun is for children to sail on a speedboat or sailboat. The Algarve coast is beautiful to see from the water; on a boat trip you can look for one of the many hidden caves, dolphins playing or cool snorkeling hotspots. In the Atlantic Ocean swim different species of dolphins and for the really lucky ones, you might even spot a whale or a killer whale.

From the port of Albufeira, but also at other places on the coast, the nicest tours can be booked.

Child-friendly accommodations in the Algarve

I started it in this article. If the children are having a good time, you will have a good vacation too, and child-friendly accommodation can certainly contribute to this.

Five recommendations for kid-friendly accommodation in Portugal are:

• Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort: luxury resort in the middle of a national park with no less than 5 different slides and activities for the whole family.
• Dona Filipa Hotel: luxurious classic hotel, the first child between 2 and 12 years stays for free and the kids club is great.
• Martinhal Quinta Family Resort: enjoy a villa with private pool while the little ones have hours of fun at the kids club, or game hall for youngsters.
• Pine Cliffs Luxury Family Resort: voted ‘Best Family Resort’ no less than 6 times by the World Travel Awards.
• Aquashow Park Hotel: located next to a water park where the kids will never be bored. Including quiet pool for a relaxing dip.

This summer to Portugal

Together with my sister I have been to the Algarve three times, at that time we did not have children and enjoyed a wonderful time on one of the many beaches in late summer. But the coastline has also surprised us and the beautiful villages and delicious food, are also a reason to go back again. The Algarve is also the perfect sports destination; (mini)golf, tennis, soccer, fishing, swimming, you name it, you will find more facilities here than days in a year. In short, reason enough to visit this sunny region this year.

Did you know that Faro is super easy to reach from lots of European airports? In the Netherlands you can fly all year round at low prices from Rotterdam, Eindhoven and Amsterdam. So when we get to go on vacation again, definitely consider going to Portugal.

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