Golf and tennis:
Praia D'El Rey golf course has consistently been voted one of the best in Continental Europe, and it thoroughly deserves this accolade. Clubs can be hired from the Professionals shop or there is a full men's set of clubs and a ladies' half set in the villa for your use if required at no extra charge. Golf lessons are available at the excellent practice facilities opposite the first tee.
The club house is open daily and has a bar, television room and restaurant, all upgraded spring 2007. It is open to all, whether or not you play golf. The nearby 5* Marriott hotel offers fine dining choices.
There is also a tennis club on the complex, just over 100 metres from the villa. It has 7 courts and racket hire is available. Peak golf season is March - May and September -October, although the summer months are also perfectly suited to pleasant golf and weather in the winter is rarely cold.
A new course at Bom Successo ( 6 kilometers) opened in 2008 and offers a contrasting challenge.
About the area:
The beach at Praia D'El Rey is stunning, but beware, this is the Atlantic and strong currents can make swimming hazardous for all but the strongest swimmers. A more child friendly beach is available at nearby Baleal.
For surfers there are many beaches along the coast which can be used and the area attracts surfers from all over the world. The calm waters of the Obidos lagoon provide opportunities for sailing and windsurfing.
During your visit you should spend a day in medieval Obidos with its ancient walls, cobbled streets and many restaurants, some of which are outstanding. Further afield is Sintra, famed for its Royal palaces and gardens.
The market town of Caldas Da Rainha is also well worth a visit, as is Peniche with its fishing harbour and many fish restaurants. From Peniche you can also take a boat trip to the nearby Berlenga Islands. Lisbon is a must, and a visit to Cascais and Estoril can be combined with your day in Lisbon if you can tear yourself away.
Booking and Payment details:
You can call us for more information on (Please ask us for more information) .-A 25% deposit is required on booking, and the balance 6 weeks before your holiday. Payment can be in pounds or Euros.
A refundable deposit of 200 euros for breakage’s is also required at this time. We'd also appreciate feedback on any faults or problems that you run into so that we can get them corrected.
If you prefer not to fly, you can get a cruise ship from Portsmouth to Bilboa or take the ferry from Plymouth to Santander. The drive from Bilbao to Praia D'El Rey is mostly motorways and can easily be accomplished in a day as the ferry arrives early morning. An overnight stop is preferable on the return as the ferry leaves early afternoon.
Golf:
Praia D'El Rey attracts golfers from all over Europe as it is very highly rated ( the only course in Portugal to make the world top 100 in Golf World magazine). Playing from the yellow tees, the course is quite a challenge, but from the white tees some of the holes become extremely formidable, particularly the par threes which can change from a wedge to a wood. The course is a mixture of parkland and links, with some stunning sea views on the back 9 holes. Toughest hole is the 17th - a long crescent shaped par 5 with an extremely narrow entrance to the green.
The rates charged are attractive compared to the Algarve and Costa Del Sol especially if you find a member to sign you in!
If required we can book tee times for you in advance of your stay, but except in the busiest periods, you can normally get an acceptable tee time one or two days in advance. You can also go to 3D golf to get discounted rates provided you book well in advance - please ask for more details.
A new course about 5 kilometers away opened in September. This is at Bom Successo, and is inland with magnificent views in all directions. The course has a good layout with water hazards and a number of dogleg holes. At present it is immature, but will offer a nice contrast to Praia D'El Rey for the keen golfer.
