I’ve read a lot about the Algarve; I know that it has beaches that provoke greater hysteria than the January sales, golf courses coming out of its ears, dozens of spas and more nightlife than you can shake a glow stick at, all of which, of course, is illuminated by the dazzling weather in South Portugal. The problem is, I’ve never been able to afford any of this, and even if I could, I would probably choose to spend my pennies elsewhere. When I was invited to spend a week in a boutique Algarve hotel with family friends, however, I couldn’t think of a reason to refuse.
I’m one of those people who experience a peculiar nervous excitement when faced with something opulent with which I am unfamiliar, embarrassing those in my company because I can’t quite contain myself. Imagine, then, my reaction as I stepped through the threshold of my own exclusive suite at Quinta Bonita Luxury Boutique Hotel, casting my eyes across smooth tiled surfaces which led through a patio door and onto a sun-drenched balcony overlooking the magnificent green plains of the Algarve. And I hadn’t even discovered the bathroom’s soft closing toilet seat yet…
There is scarce need to leave Quinta Bonita once you have arrived, for the range of things to do within the hotel’s grounds is extensive. A game of tennis? Why not! A walk around the orchard? Sure! A dip in the heated outdoor swimming pool? Don’t mind if I do! The hotel is set within 10,000 square metres of gardens, the perfect setting in which to read a book, catch some rays, or nibble on a mouth-watering cake during afternoon tea. And the whole experience is enhanced by the hotel owners, Fraser and Chantelle, who are helpful, informative, and superb company.
The Algarve is, of course, a marvellous place to spend a holiday, an impeccable crust clinging to the base of Portugal which thrives in near-perennial glorious weather. But, crucially, that is about all there is to it. As glorious as the sun, sea and sand may be, and as great as the restaurants and nightlife are, I felt a tangible hollowness about the Algarve, an absence of culture and a feeling that it is a holiday destination which exists for the sole purpose of tourism. Inevitably, there will be detractors who shout ‘YOU’RE WRONG!’, and point toward the villages, scattered roman ruins and odd Moorish castle as evidence. But, ultimately, this is not why people visit the Algarve; it is the beaches and nightlife which attract the greatest interest, and the beaches and nightlife which are bereft of cultural substance.
Find more information on Algarve hotels here.