Overlooking the Vale Covo Beach the Hotel Carvoeiro is an excellent base from which to play at Pinta only10 minutes and Penina 20 minutes. The hotel is also near enough to enjoy the Vilamoura golf courses. The hotel is 1 km from the centre of Carvoeiro - a pretty fishing village with a good selection of bars and restaurants.
Location: 55 km from Faro Airport.
Facilities Two bars, 3 restaurants, outdoor and indoor pools, outdoor pool for children, Jacuzzi, health club with sauna, Turkish bath, massage and Fitness room. All rooms have private bathrooms with shower and w.c. Balcony, satellite TV, radio, air-conditioning, mini-bar, safe and 24-hour room service.
DETAILS
Price Includes
Price based on 2 adults sharing,twin room for with breakfast. Notes other room types available on request.
The magnificent Quinta do Lago South is the Algarve's original championship course and is still one of its best. It has been a regular host to the Portuguese Open - it was here in 1989 that Colin Montgomerie won his first European Tour event.
It's a great course in a beautiful natural setting with everything you could want for an enjoyable game - testing par 4s, generous fairways on the par 5s, short holes across water, tricky doglegs, cleverly placed bunkers and super-fast greens.
Always in top condition and a real 'must play'.
Green Fees: 01 Jan - 14 Feb 79 15 Feb - 31 May 98 1 June - 31 Aug 79 1 Sept - 31 Oct 98
Laguna provides a stark contrast to its neighbours, in that it's a lot more open and has plenty of water hazards, as well as 88 shrewdly placed bunkers.
While the sand and water make the course quite visually intimidating, in reality it can be enjoyed by golfers of all abilities. Give it a try.
Green Fees: 01 Nov - 30 Nov 61 1 Dec - 31 Jan 52 1 Feb - 28 Feb 61 1 Mar - 30 Apr 69 1 May - 30 June 61 1 July - 31 Aug 52 1 Sept - 30 Sept 61 1 Oct - 31 Oct 69
The Vilamoura Millennium Course, opened in May 2000 is an exciting addition to Vilamoura, fast becoming one of Europe's finest golf resorts.
The new front 9, which mostly runs through a pine forest, is a perfect compliment to the reshaped loop of the old Laguna course that makes up the back 9. Wide fairways, large greens and four different sets of tees make this course enjoyable for all levels of player, with the emphasis on precision rather than power
Green Fees: 1 Nov - 30 Nov 69 1 Dec - 31 Jan 60 1 Feb - 28 Feb 69 1 Mar - 30 Apr 77 1 May - 30 June 69 1 July - 31 Aug 60 1 Sept - 30 Sept 69 1 Oct - 31 Oct 77
The course is rated No. 50 in Europe by Golf World magazine and the oldest and most popular of the five Vilamoura courses, the Old Course's international reputation is well deserved.
The region's trademark umbrella pine trees surround the fairways and provide a beautiful backdrop to an excellent test of golf. They also force you to put the emphasis on accuracy and course management ahead of length.
Green Fees: 1 Nov - 30 Nov 104 1 Dec - 31 Jan 88 1 Feb - 28 Feb 104 1 Mar - 30 Apr 119 1 May - 30 June 104 1 July - 31 Aug 88 1 Sept - 30 Sept 104 1 Oct - 31 Oct 119
Originally designed by Frank Pennink and remodelled by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, Pinhal has an exciting mixture of British and American style holes.
The fairways are lined with pine trees and the greens are tight and fast, so accuracy is the key to success here.
Green Fees: 1 Nov - 30 Nov 66 1 Dec - 31 Jan 58 1 Feb - 28 Feb 66 1 Mar - 30 Apr 74 1 May - 30 June 66 1 July - 31 Aug 78 1 Sept - 30 Sept 66 1 Oct - 31 Oct 74
The new and exclusive Victoria course is the latest addition to the fabulous Vilamoura resort.
Designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, no expense has been spared in creating a course to challenge Europe's best. According to Palmer, the links style layout encourages an exciting 'risk and reward' strategy - so be prepared to lose a few balls!
With 22 lakes and lightning fast greens, Victoria is a great test and may even come to rival the Old Course as Vilamoura's flagship golfing venue.
Green Fees: 1 Nov - 30 Nov 129 1 Dec - 31 Jan 105 1 Feb - 28 Feb 129 1 Mar - 30 Apr 149 1 May - 30 June 129 1 July - 31 Aug 105 1 Sept - 30 Sept 129 1 Oct - 31 Oct 149
Pinheiros Altos offers a warm welcome but a stiff test. The front 9 undulates through rolling countryside and is lined by tall umbrella pine trees, while the back 9 drops down to a valley bottom where the many lakes provide a real test of accuracy and nerve.
The 17th hole has a spectacular island green reminiscent of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass in the USA.
Green Fees: 01 Jan - 15 Feb 60 16 Feb - 31 May 90 1 June - 31 Aug 60 1 Sept - 30 Sept 70 1 Oct - 31 Oct 90
The course has four great par-5 Holes requiring power and accuracy to play them well, also providing superb views. The par-3 Holes are well influenced by the wind. Hole 14 is outstanding.
The par-4s are all doglegs except for for Holes 10 and 13. Precision driving is vital to set up the chance of a low score. The lakes on Holes 13 and 18 claim many victims.
The course favours the player who can draw the ball.
Green Fees: 01 Jan - 14 Feb 100 15 Feb - 31 May 120 1 June - 31 Aug 100 1 Sept - 31 Oct 130
San Lorenzo is an outstanding championship course set in the spectacular Ria Formosa Nature Reserve.
After a fairly gentle start, it winds its way to the estuary before the par 5 8th introduces you to the course's hallmark - a large inland lake. The lake comes into play again on the closing two holes, where the semi-island greens ensure your nerve is tested right to the last.
Though perhaps not quite in the same class as the neighbouring Royal course, the Ocean course at Vale do Lobo is still one of the best in the Algarve
The Ocean course meanders through a pine forest before arriving at the ocean holes, which are an absolute delight but become very difficult in windy conditions.
This is an excellent layout that provides a real challenge.
Green Fees: 01 Jan - 31 Jan 103 1 Feb - 28 Feb 119 1 Mar - 31 May 134 1 June - 31 Aug 103 1 Sept - 30 Sept 119 1 Oct - 31 Oct 134
The immaculately manicured Royal course offers players of all abilities unrivalled variety and quality.
Along with the neighbouring Ocean course, it enjoys an unparalleled natural setting with stunning views over the Atlantic, and it features some of the most spectacular holes on the Algarve.
Green Fees: 01 Jan - 31 Jan 109 1 Feb - 28 Feb 126 1 Mar - 31 May 142 1 June - 31 Aug 109 1 Sept - 30 Sept 126 1 Oct - 31 Oct 142
Vila Sol has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best courses in Portugal, and Vila Sol hotel guests can take advantage of significantly reduced green fees and fantastic free golf offers.
Opened in 1991, Vila Sol is now rated No. 88 in Europe by Golf World magazine. The narrow fairways demand accurate tee shots and the many water hazards make club selection a real challenge.
Green Fees: 01 Jan - 31 Jan 70 1 Feb - 28 Feb 87 1 Mar - 30 Apr 90 1 May - 31 May 87 1 June -31 Aug 70 1 Sept - 30 Sept 87 1 Oct - 31 Oct 95
A few minutes drive from Tavira, Benamor is set in groves of olive, cork, carob and almond trees on the lower slopes of the hills and there are striking mountain and sea views.
The rolling terrain and widely varying holes provide an interesting test of your game.
A well maintained, undulating course that is suitable for playes of all standards to enjoy.
There are views to the sea, to the south and the mountains to the north, shots have to be accurate on the course to avoid the trees that have been retained.
Castro Marim is carved out of predominantly pine woodland and set in rolling terrain against a hilly backdrop. There are impressive views of the nearby River Guadiana and the Atlantic Ocean.
The course designer, Terry Murray, has used the natural ground cleverly and visitors are advised to be wary of a sometimes-deceptive landscape.
Green Fees: 1 Oct - 31 May 48 1 June - 30 Sept 55
Monte Rei΄s vision is strikingly simple and memorably courageous to collate the very best ingredients creating a groundbreaking and world-class destination. Monte Rei has sought out the best names from around the globe to head every individual element of this impressive estate; Jack Nicklaus designing his first of two "Signature" Golf Courses and Troon Golf ensuring the finest playing conditions as Europe's first Privι Club of Distinction.
Green Fees: 1 Dec - 28 Feb 130 1 Mar - 30 Nov 170
Eastern Algarve - Quinta Da Ria
Bordering the Ria Formosa estuary, the impressive Quinta da Ria must be a candidate for one of the most beautiful golf settings in the Algarve, with spectacular views of the mountains and coast.
Beware of the reeds that have sprung up around all the water hazards, and steer clear of the 300+ mature olive and carob trees that were transplanted to the course during its construction.
On the other side of the road from Quinta da Ria, there's Quinta de Cima. Although they're very close together, the two courses offer very different challenges.
Quinta de Cima only provides distant glimpses of the sea and is hillier, longer and tougher than its neighbour, with lots of bunkers and very tricky greens.
A stream with a number of small waterfalls crosses the 4th, 5th, 6th and 13th fairways and turns into a lake on the signature 18th.
Quinta De Cima
Phenomenally integrated into the landscape and with a breathtaking view over the Guadiana River, the course makes good use of the natural conditions of the terrain and has some truly spectacular holes.
The degree of difficulty between the holes is well balanced and means that the course is competitive and thrilling to the end.
The different tees, the relatively large fairways and the many dog-leg holes and hazards which make the choice of club off the tee crucial, will benefit players who can reach par 3s and 4s in regulation and get birdies on the par 5s.
Covering an area of 75 hectares, the 18 hole golf course (par 72) is complemented by a driving range and a specially designed zone for beginners and practice with a putting green and an extra 9 holes.
Green Fees: 1 Jan - 31 Jan 42 1 Feb - 31 May 56 1 June - 31 Aug 42 1 Sept - 30 Nov 56 1 Dec - 31 Dec 42
Western Algarve - Alto
Alto is a typical Henry Cotton course - It's more open and has deeper rough than most courses in the Algarve.
The par 5 16th, appropriately named 'The Giant', is one of the longest holes in Europe - anyone who makes a birdie here receives a special certificate and has their name inscribed on the club's roll of honour.
Green Fees: 1 Jan - 31 Jan 52 1 Feb - 15 May 69 16 May - 15 Sept 52 16 Sept - 30 Sept 69
Newly built and opened in 2002, Boavista has already established itself as one of the best courses in the area. The layout is cleverly integrated into the natural terrain as the rolling fairways weave their way between water hazards and shrewdly placed bunkers.
Boavista's signature hole is the par 36th, which requires a 210-yard shot across a deep ravine onto a three-tiered green.
Green Fees: 01 Feb - 31 May 70 1 June - 31 Aug 50 1 Sept - 30 Nov 70 1 Dec - 31 Dec 50
Gramacho is now a more conventional 18-hole layout. With the addition of the new 9 holes, designed by ex-Open champion Nick Price, it has become a serious rival to its championship neighbours.
Built on undulating terrain and with a myriad of tactically positioned bunkers and newly planted trees, course management and accuracy are vital to success here.
Green Fees: 01 Jan - 15 Feb 49 16 Feb - 28 Feb 70 1 Mar - 31 May 71 1 June - 15 Sept 49 16 Sept - 31 Oct 70
Opened in early 2004, this new course is an absolute golfing gem. Situated close to Alvor with breathtaking views of the Monchique Mountains and the western coastline, Morgado has one of the most natural golf settings in Portugal.
The course plays through rolling hills and has undulating greens that are well guarded by impressive bunkers.
Green Fees: 1 Jan - 15 Feb 50 16 Feb - 31 May 73 1 June - 15 Sept 50 16 Sept - 31 Oct 73
Opening September 2008
Perfectly complementing the Faldo Course, whilst taking advantage of the rich valley soil in contrast to the arid hillside, Christy O'Connor Jnr's course at Amendoeira offers no less of a challenge.
Large areas of water demand accurate play and creative shot making, and these lakes and streams are to be maintained as a wildlife sanctuary.
Green Fees: 1 Jan - 31 Jan 115 1 Feb - 28 Feb 135 1 Mar - 30 Apr 140 1 May - 30 June 135 1 July - 31 Aug 115 1 Sept - 30 Sept 135 1 Oct - 31 Oct 135
Opening September 2008
Designed by Nick Faldo with strategic play in mind this championship course demands careful positioning to score well.
In a modern twist of a traditional recipe, cacti and wild herbs replace the role of Sunningdales heather, spartan Holm oaks and ancient olive trees take the place of a lush English woodland, and desert scrub bunkers of crushed limestone replace Berkshires sandy tracts in a golf course that revels in the classic principles of strategic play.
Green Fees: 1 Oct - 31 Oct 135 1 Nov - 30 Nov 130 1 Dec - 31 Jan 115 1 Feb - 28 Feb 130 1 Mar - 30 Apr 135 1 May - 30 June 130 1 July - 31 Aug 115 1 Sept - 30 Sept 130
The oldest course in the area, Palmares used to be the only place to play in the far west.
Located in an enviable position with spectacular views of the Bay of Lagos and the Monchique Mountains, Palmares combines links and woodland holes to glorious effect.
Green Fees: 01 Jan - 31 Jan 55 1 Feb - 31 May 85 1 June - 31 Aug 55 1 Sept - 31 Oct 85
The most westerly of the Algarve courses, Parque da Floresta has been carved out of the hills, creating a real roller coaster that takes you across chasms, lakes and creeks.
This tricky course offers real variety, with no two holes remotely alike. Highlights include the memorable opening hole, a sweeping dogleg par 5, and the par 3 15th, where the tee shot over a tree-filled ravine is a real test of nerve.
Rated 84th in Europe by Golf World magazine, Penina is a truly magnificent course, and the only way to play it is as a Penina hotel guest.
Not only do guests actually get to play on this exclusive course, but they also benefit from some fantastic free golf offers and reduced green fees. The challenging layout will test every golfer's shot-making ability.
Salgados is situated very close to the sea and water is a permanent hazard on the course, coming into play on almost every hole. You need to play straight on this challenging layout, which has an American feel.
Salgados provides a contrast to any other course in the area and is fine if you're looking for something different, but is nonetheless not one of our favourites. If you like Florida golf though, give it a try.
Green Fees: 01 Jan - 31 Jan 43 1 Feb - 31 May 80 1 June - 15 Sept 43 16 Sept - 31 Oct 80
Ranked in Golf World's top 100 European courses designer Ronald Fream considers Pinta his finest creation, and it is without doubt one of the best courses in the region.
It takes full advantage of the landscape's natural valleys and undulations to provide a true test of golf and, with five different sets of tees, can be enjoyed whatever your ability.
Green Fees: 1 Jan - 15 Feb 52 16 Feb - 31 May 77 1 June - 31 Aug 52 1 Sept - 31 Dec 75
