Albufeira – Succumb to Portugal's rugged charm

We hire a scooter at the reception and set off on a tour of discovery along the coast. We stop off at a fishing harbour and admire the colourful wooden boats and faded green fishing nets. In a lively tavern, we then indulge in a spicy chicken dish – Frango Piri Piri. We catch snippets of Portuguese conversation and try to understand one or two words using our recently acquired language skills.

We challenge our friends to a game of doubles on the tennis court. We hire a mountain bike from the reception and join a guided tour so that we can concentrate fully on the beauty of the countryside. In the sauna, having a massage or taking part in qigong, we allow our body the relaxation it deserves.