I found Portugal’s top sporting retreat loved by pro footballers with world-class golf, and huge inflatable aqua park
VISITING one of Portugal’s top golfing regions without an ounce of experience of the game was certainly a nerve-racking move.
But I needn’t have worried.
The Algarve is so much more than a golfer’s paradise — but it’s also the perfect place to learn.
With a nature park that’s home to a 37-mile lagoon and salt marshes frequented by flamingos, otters and Mediterranean chameleons — plus breathtaking island beaches reminiscent of the Caribbean — this beauty spot is a haven for anyone seeking R&R.
I was staying at the 4H Magnolia Hotel in Quinta do Lago, a lavish complex tucked away within the Ria Formosa Nature Park that features four hotels and a private villa estate spread across 2,000 acres.
While the complex may be luxury, the price tag needn’t be. The Magnolia, one of the entry-level hotels, is affordable yet stylish and oozes retro glamour with its Palm Springs theme.
A bright pink, neon ‘Welcome’ sign sits above the entrance, which is flanked by two cactus plants. Outside you’ll find a pool around which palm trees and stripey yellow sun loungers are dotted. Inside, the rooms are light, airy and unfussy.
Staying here means you’ll also get access to the same shared facilities as the fancier hotels within Quinta do Lago, like the 5H Conrad.
This includes a gigantic lake with an inflatable obstacle course and watersports galore, plus a beach boardwalk that leads you straight down to the turquoise sea.
While golf is far from the only activity available to guests, the three championship courses are undoubtedly a big selling point to many.
The legendary South Course has hosted the Portuguese Open eight times and each of the pristine fairways is backed by wildflowers and umbrella pines — pretty hard to resist.
So it wasn’t long until I found myself at the driving range, picking up a club for the first time.
Confronted with pyramids of perfectly-stacked golf balls, I wondered how many I would get through before I made a decent shot.
But a beginner’s lesson from coach Callum had me swinging like a pro in no time, with simple drills and explanations that I could take away with me.
If golf isn’t your sport, though, you can also try your hand at tennis, cycling, padel and Pilates.
Many of these activities are at The Campus, which looks more like a glam beach club.
It has a flawless football pitch on one side, and a patchwork of blue and orange sports courts on another.
These grounds have been run on by elite athletes, including Chelsea and Everton footballers, during warm weather training camps, so you can be sure that the facilities here are top-notch.
But despite its championship status and the reel of famous faces that have visited, I soon came to understand that Quinta do Lago is a place to relax and try new things, not one where you’re expected to step up to the plate and perform.
If your aching muscles need soothing, then head to the wellness centre, which offers a sauna, steam room and plunge pool.
There’s also Dano’s Sports Bar, a chillout spot where you can order wings and beers then sink back into a beanbag to catch a game on the big screen.
I fuelled up on Caesar salad and bites of pizza before trying my hand at padel, which is basically tennis’s cooler, younger sibling. It’s a lot less strenuous and makes for easy rallies — ideal for beginners.
My days at Quinta soon fell into a relaxed routine: wake up, spend the morning and afternoon trying new sports, go for a dip, then relax with dinner and cocktails.
To fuel the body for all that sport, guests can pick from 14 dining spots spread across the resort and available to all guests.
For an unbeatable breakfast, Pure backs on to the eighth hole of the North Golf Course and serves up freshly-squeezed juice and protein pancakes on a sun terrace shaded by pines.
For lunch by the lake, stroll over to The Shack, where you can grab bites such as burgers and crispy fish tacos.
And for a classy evening meal, I recommend Casa do Lago or Bovino — the former offers delicious fish from local markets, while the latter serves up juicy steaks and bold Portuguese red wines to match.
Looking for the perfect way to end your night? Follow the boardwalk to its end to find Gigi’s, a cocktail bar that will happily shake up anything you like, and enjoy views of birds dipping down into the marshland.
I left Quinta do Lago with not just a golden tan, but some muscle definition that I hadn’t seen in a while (a pleasant change from the usual extra holiday pounds) and a newfound love for golf — if you can’t beat them, join them.
Holidays here feel like a health retreat that is actually fun and the exercise feels easy. There’s zero pressure to be perfect.
Whether you want to spend your days down at the driving range, sipping cocktails by the beach or trying to master the splits in Pilates, this Portuguese playground is the place to do so.
Who knew breaking a sweat could feel so incredibly glamorous?
GO: FARO, PORTUGAL
GETTING THERE: Jet2 offers return flights from London to Faro from £68. See jet2.com.
STAYING THERE: Standard double rooms at The Magnolia Hotel are from £170pn on a B&B basis. See quintadolago.com/en.
