**** 5 mins drive to unspoilt beach
**** 7 mins drive to Monto Gordo Blue Flag beach and town with casino, cafes, bars and nightclubs
**** 10 mins to Castro Marim with its medieval castle and golf club
**** 20 mins to Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Club Monte Rei
**** 10 mins drive to Ayamonte Spain or 10 mins by ferry
**** 1 hr 15 mins to Seville, Spain
**** 5 mins walk to IAAF accredited sports complex where athletes from all over Europe come for warm weather training. There is an 8-lane polytan track and indoor training facilities catering for athletics basketball, handball, gymnastics, judo, taekwondo, tennis, football, rugby, archery, volleyball, badminton, triathlon, weightlifting and swimming.
**** Car Hire is not essential as the town has an excellent bus/rail and ferry service which can be used to explore the surrounding areas.
**** 3 min walk to the quaint and charming town square with its orange trees, cafes, traditional family run fish restaurants and many shops selling local ware, gifts, leathers etc.
**** It is located just 52km from Faro Airport and is quite easy to get to from Faro. Taking the A22 east you will soon see the signs for Vila Real Santo Antonio popping up.
Both the bus and train from Faro to Vila Real are quite reasonably priced at around €4.55 each way.
There is a regular ferry from Vila Real Santo Antonio across the Guadiana River to the neighbouring town in Spain, Ayamonte.
During the 80’s and 90’s VRSA was a very busy and popular place as it was the last stop before Spain and the only way across the Guadiana River was by ferry, however since the construction of the Guidiana Bridge the town tends to be bypassed.
SUN, SURF AND OPEN SKIES OF THE ALGARVE: The key asset with this apartment is its location. It is central to everything, yet situated in a peaceful and tranquil environment of a lazy town with its beautiful marina and restaurants. Myself, I love peace and quiet, but I also like activity for when I get bored! Here I have both, I can just walk along the promenade for 5 mins and find myself in the town square.
When booking a holiday always remember location, location, location. It saves on transport, time and money. Don't compromise when you don't have to!
BEAT THE WINTER BLUES: With about 3,000 hours of sunshine a year & a very mild winter, the Algarve is probably as close as you'll get to a sure thing for a warm and bright break at the tail end of the year. If you're looking for a fun winter getaway, there are all kinds of activities you can get stuck into here, from surfing to golf, from sight-seeing to cycling or just chilling by the pool. So make sure to pack the sun cream!
Cooler temperatures and quieter roads make winter an ideal time to get on your bike. There are a number of cycling tours - from relatively gentle scenic rambles to challenging off-road routes for keen mountain bikers. Cycle lanes are along the main roads in Vila Real and part of everyday travel. There is a continuous, straight and very flat cycle lane from Vila Real to our neighbouring town of Monto Gordo, which even to the 'unfit and inexperienced cyclist', is extremely enjoyable and safe to use. Wheely Good!!
CHILL OUT IN WINTER - WITHOUT THE WINTER CHILL: After October, everyone has time to talk, the locals have relaxed and the general atmosphere is very happy. Here in Vila Real, you'll meet the locals and discover a different Algarve. In winter, oranges and lemons ripen on the trees, while streams start to flow after the barren months of the summer. Along with unspoilt countryside, the villages themselves are hidden gems, where traditional life goes on as it has done for centuries, a million miles away from the coastal resorts of Western Algarve.
The Algarve has miles of beaches that will be virtually empty over the winter months. Average sea temperatures in Eastern Algarve rarely dip below 16C so even swimming is not out of the question. It can be into the late 20s during the day at any point in the Winter. Last February, everyone was wearing suncream and boardies on the beach. October brought temperatures as high a 40C! It's the perfect place to chill out in winter - without the winter chill.......
