Praia da Luz Linked Villa, (near Lagos), Portugal.

CASA RAMALHETE is a three-bedroom linked villa within the Porta do Paraiso complex, a collection of eleven townhouses and two apartments with a shared pool and gardens.

As you enter the villa, you will walk into the hallway with combined living/dining area straight ahead. Leading off the hall there is a small downstairs cloakroom with toilet and basin.

Twin sliding patio doors lead to the villa’s large sun terrace, with luxury outdoor furniture for alfresco dining, a barbecue and sun loungers to soak up the sun. Stairs lead down to the pool terrace shared with the other villas and there are sun loungers for condominium guests to use when sitting around the pool. There is also a children's paddling pool. There is also a shower to rinse off sun lotion before entering the pool.

The kitchen is fully equipped, all you need to do is stock up with food (some cleaning products will be left in the cupboard under the kitchen sink). It contains a gas/electric cooker, integrated fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, and a gas combi-boiler for instant hot water. Table and chairs are available for more informal meals.

There is also a walk-in pantry providing plenty of storage space including a cupboard for all the cleaning equipment - vacuum cleaner, brush and pan – and includes and iron and ironing board, a separate drinks fridge for water and any other drinks, plus a large stock of crockery and cooking equipment.

The living room has a reverse air conditioning, which cools in the hot months as well as warming in the cooler months. There is also a gas fire for cosy nights in the winter. 5G Wi-Fi is available via the MEO hub in the living room which provides TV channels in Portuguese and English via the internet. Guests can log into their own Amazon Prime or Netflix channels on the Smart TV. A Wi-Fi extender is plugged-into a socket in one of the bedrooms.

Upstairs, there are three good-sized bedrooms each with reversible warm/cool air conditioning. All the bedrooms have the flexibility to be either a Super King size bed or two twin beds by zipping together the 2x90cm beds.

All the bedrooms have fitted wardrobes with plenty of hangers, dressing table plus large mirror, bedside tables and lamps. There are sockets in each room for hairdryers, charging mobile phones, etc.

Bedroom 1 has a small balcony to sit out, plus it overlooks the pool and sun terrace and has a view of the sea as well as the landscape.

Bedroom 2 has a Juliette balcony also overlooking the pool and sun terrace. There is an en- suite walk-in shower, toilet, vanity unit and bidet plus towel radiator. This room also has a digital safe to secure valuables.

Bedroom 3 has a Juliette balcony overlooking the front of the villa.

There is a family bathroom with bath and shower over, vanity unit, toilet and bidet, towel radiator and wall heater.

On the sun terrace there is a storage box with beach umbrellas available to use around the pool as well as other equipment (on the beach only) such as boogie boards, kids buckets and spades, etc.

About Praia da Luz

The full name of Praia da Luz “Praia de Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Luz” (‘Beach of the Church of our Lady of Light’) – far too much for a tourist (and many locals) – is a lovely sandy beach in the shape of a bay and is perfect for sun-bathing with the coveted ‘European blue flag’ indicating clean sand and clean water. There are two water sports operators on the beach who display their rental/hire charges clearly.

Praia da Luz is an ideal holiday destination; the charming and picturesque streets of the old village are a delight. It is a 10-minute walk along cobbled streets to the old village centre, restaurants, bars and cafes.

Luz has two main supermarkets: Spar and Baptista are open 7 days a week (Baptista is closed Sunday afternoon) and there are more smaller groceries stores around the village. There are several larger supermarkets in Lagos, a 10-minute car journey away: Continente, Intermarché, Pingo Doce, Lidl and Aldi.

Like most beach holiday resorts, business is seasonal in Praia da Luz. All the restaurants and bars run their own timetables as to when they change opening and closing times. During the busy season, it is advisable to pre-book a table. From November through to March some places may close completely or have drastically reduced opening days and/or hours. Some of my favourite restaurants are Latitude Wine & Tapas Bar, Fluido's, Restaurant Ondaluz, Boaty's Tapas Café, Chicca’s, The Dolphin and Fortaleza. Restaurants come and go, so it’s always best to check they still open for business.

Places of interest in and around Luz might be a visit the historic Fortress (the Fortaleza) which dates back to 1670. Today, it has been fully restored and operates as a premier restaurant offering traditional Portuguese classics with an international bias, in what is unquestionably the village’s most spectacular setting for drinks at sundown. Also, a must-see is the medieval Church of Nossa Senhora da Luz, Praia da Luz (dedicated to ‘Our Lady of Light’) which was built around 1521, and recently fully restored and painted. Remember to view the inside and see the spectacular golden gilt altar.

People like to walk, and the coastal path is a popular walk - in Spring there are lots of wildflowers along the path. Heading west, you can walk to Burgau or heading east on a longer hike towards Lagos, climbing up the steep hill above Luz. This takes you to Porto do Mós, and for the very adventurous, up to Ponta da Piedade which overlooks Lagos and along the coast to Portomão.

Lagos, the biggest town in the Western Algarve

Lagos also has many restaurants and bars for all tastes – both in the centre and on the outskirts; they will usually be cheaper than Luz restaurants. I can recommend Campimar in Porto do Mós, Restaurant Onda Norte, Tasca da Kiko near the Marina and Quay in the Marina just to name a few.

If you are driving into Lagos there is an underground car park located on the Avenida dos Descobrimentos which is quite central for walking around the town. Two fish restaurants that I can recommend on the Avenida are Adega de Marina (located opposite the bridge to the Marina) and closer to the centre is the Mare restaurant located above the Fish Market. The fish market is worth a visit in the mornings. There are also several restaurants located along the Meia Praia which serve both fresh fish and meat.

Golf Breaks in the Algarve:

When it comes to the perfect mix of great weather, grand scenery and golf courses, the Algarve is an excellent location for golf breaks. Early morning golf is recommended in the region during the summer months. The villa is ideally situated near four excellent golf courses: Boavista, Palmares, Penina and Espiche. Before visiting, it is best to contact the courses direct to be book tee-times and to check the dress-codes.

Getting to Praia da Luz

There are many car hire companies to choose from both on and off airport. Private hire companies are available to book for airport pick-ups and drop-offs - please ask for a recommendation. The journey time from Faro Airport is approximately one hour.

Keyless Entry to the Villa

There is a key-safe on the front door for contactless entry, so you can arrive and depart at your leisure. Details on how to use this will be sent with final arrangements.