The practice is not advisable, because availability can be limited, but you can book your car rental in the Algarve on short notice as well. The car can be picked up from Faro Airport or from your location in the Algarve for an additional fee.

Anyway, if you haven’t yet planned your trip to Portugal, but wish to do so, don’t panic, not just yet! If you are quick to organize yourselves, you can find lodgings, book plane tickets and even confirm a car rental reservation for your stay in a matter of days.

Why do people opt for “last-minute everything”? The psychology behind last-minute booking is very intricate. On the one hand, there is the notion that, if you wait until the last minute, you will find cheaper deals. This practice is common with flight companies, but what people (choose to) forget is that there is no guarantee that you actually will find availability for the exact moment you want to travel. What is more, the likelihood of this is very slim during the high season.

On the other hand, there is indeed the chance that you will get the services you look for exactly when you need them – and at normal, if not lower, prices. If the prudent advice would be to take some time to make plans (for vacation and not only), there is also much to say about spontaneity. After all, where would we be without a bit of surprise in our lives?

Among the cities in the Algarve, Tavira might not be the largest, nor is it the most economically prominent; but for those of you searching for a moment of respite in a peaceful and beautiful landscape, it is an ideal getaway.

The history of Tavira in a nutshell

Tavira used to be a village in the Bronze Age. In the 8th century BC, it became a sturdy Phoenician settlement before being conquered by the Romans under Caesar. The Moors came to the Algarve in the early Middle Ages and occupied Tavira between the 8th and the 13th century, influencing the cultural life, agriculture, cuisine and architecture, the latter being visible today in the Tavira Castle and the whitewashed houses with Moorish rooftops and doors which are a mark of the city.

After the 1242 Reconquista, the city became Christian and Portuguese again. Today, Tavira is renowned for its history, tourist attractions, calm atmosphere, for its beaches and golfing facilities.

With its Roman bridge which makes up the favorite promenade in town, the Gilao River meeting the Atlantic Ocean is the most important spot in Tavira.

Only accessible by boat, Tavira Island is one of the best beaches in the Algarve and a definite must-see. The Ria Formosa Natural Park is a pristine paradise you should set foot on for at least a minute.

And if you want to “get to the other side”, Pego do Inferno is right “around the corner” (so to speak), a tiny picturesque lagoon with a high waterfall, the perfect place for a quick swim or a day in the open air.

Back in town, you can pass by the Tavira car rental office to collect your car and visit the Castle, the Old Town Market and the medieval relics of Torre d’Aires and Forte do Rato.

In the sub-region of Faro, Castro Marim is a small town of less than 2000 inhabitants, but an outstanding holiday destination. Its quiet and beauty, as well as the golf facilities and location make it one of the greatest “unknown destinations” in the Algarve.

Access to Castro Marim is quite easy from different locations and in town you can opt to have an Algarve transfer at your service, which can be booked online. The city is limited by Alcoutim, Spain, Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Tavira and the endless Atlantic Ocean.

The history of Castro Marim dates back 7 millennia. It used to be an ancient port, connected to Lisbon by a long Roman bridge that trailed along the river. In the middle ages, it was the home of the Order or Christ, who replaced the Knights Templar in the 14th century.

Today, Castro Marim is an exquisite choice if you would like to enjoy the traditional Portuguese air and the wonders of the surrounding countryside. The city is part of the Baixo Guadiana region, where the mountain meets the sea in a wonderful display of beauty and wild nature.

It is a great place to hike and you can explore the Reserva Natural do Sapal, home to hundreds of species of birds and 400 species of plants and flowers.

Castro Marim is the greatest unexpected choice if you are looking for a short holiday adventure. All that you need to do is get your backpack ready and comfy clothes and enjoy an unforgettable day away from the stress of life.

Everybody knows that Portugal in its southern region is the ultimate seaside destination, with fun in the sun and sand and seashells, the numerous resorts and holiday facilities ensuring great family holidays and enjoyable stays by the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.

But the Algarve is so much more: it is an interesting realm, dipped in history and boasting with a rich culture. Apart from the great centers of Faro, Portimao or Lagos, there are countless cities and villages, sites and parks that deserve our attention in the Algarve. Here are a few:

If you hire a car in the Algarve, you can go exploring beyond the borders of Albufeira into Guia, a very old and peaceful settlement just off the coast. It is the best place to escape crowds and heat, where you can admire agriculture, picturesque sites or lie in the sand on secluded beaches.

The Monchique hills are filled with flowers, cool and fresh, so if you like hiking, this is the place for you.

As for Carrapateira, Aljezur, this is the best surfing destination. But it is also suitable for a day’s trip if you want to visit the old fort or the local church.

Olhao is also probably one of the most underrated cities in the Algarve. A medieval fishing town, Olhao is located just 20 kilometers away from Faro (you can book a Faro transfer to get there). The city has it all: great architecture, local colour, shops and markets, restaurants, hotels and gorgeous, less visited beaches.

We hope you find these ideas useful in planning your Algarve trip!

For this reason, no golf trip to Portugal would ever be complete without transportation arrangements. Golf transfers are a bit particular, quite different from the regular taxi services. The vehicles used are large enough to fit the golf clubs and additional baggage you might need for your game and comfortable enough to make for a smooth, elegant drive from your address to your golf course of choice and back.

People who come to golf in Portugal, be it in the famous golfing destination Algarve, in the capital city of Lisbon or in the rich city of Porto, have already gotten used to employing Portugal golf transfers and find their services priceless.

In all three major regions, there are some 80 golf courses in Portugal, providing outstanding conditions to practice the sport in the breathtaking landscape surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Plus, there are over 300 days of sun each year in Portugal and this definitely helps with outdoors sports.

Here are some of the locations where you can play golf in the amazing Portugal: Alamos, Millennium, O’Connor, Silves, Pinhal and Quinta do Lago (in the Algarve), Aroeira, Belas, Penha Longa and Troia (near Lisbon) and Miramar, Amarante and Oporto (in the northern region).

Whatever your choice, just remember that, either you are an amateur or a professional, Portugal is an excellent place to practice golf!

The Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo do Algarve (EHTA) based in the capital city of Algarve, Faro, will host the first edition of their event, Tourism Trade Show Algarve 2015. Under the motto “Uma marca, um destino” (“One brand, one destiny”), the event, which follows the success of the homonymous forum, is expected to host several forum stages, lectures and tourism-related activities.

The targeted regions are Algarve, Alentejo and Andalucia, and the main players in the domain will be present to help promote the Portuguese brand and the Algarve brand. The Southern region of Portugal has gained a fair amount of popularity in recent years due to the affluence of Western European tourists who come here to spend a seaside vacation and even to settle here, in a quiet house by the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, after they retire.

Nevertheless, the Algarve is not just a network of seaside resorts. Lagos, Portimao, Aljezur, Lagoa and of course, Faro, are symbols of the “fun in the sun”, but the Portuguese living in the South of the country wish to impose their home as more than that. Influenced historically theoughout the centuries  by the Moors, the Spaniards and Western Europeans alike, their visible influence in the local architecture, cuisine and traditions is fascinating and worth the attention of an outside observer.

This and, naturally, boosting the local economy, is what the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo do Algarve have in mind when they set out to promote the Tourism Trade Show Algarve 2015. So if you are in Portugal these days, you are welcome to rent a car and come to the show!

The wait is almost over: sweets and fun and lots of “scary” activities are in store for the kids in the Algarve. The Quinta Shopping in Quinta do Lago from 3 PM on October 31st the “Dia das Bruxas” (“Witches’ Day”), with music, sweets, activities and lots of animation for the little ones. Th restaurants, bars and shops in the Mall are going to offer special surprises to children of all ages. (Maybe if, as adults, we come dressed as children, we may trick them and get a treat? Worth a try!).

The initiative (the Kids’ Halloween in Quinta do Lago) is supported by the ACCA – Associacao de Criancas Carenciadas do Algarve. Once again, the Portuguese show their love for children and their openness to embrace the Occidental.

Derived from the Celtic pagan celebration of Samhain, Halloween (also known across the world and was identified with All Hallow’s Eve or All Saints’ Eve) used to be an isolated celebration in the British Isles. It later became Christianised, but it only gained worldwide popularity in the 19th century, when the Irish immigrated to America. Sure, the old colonists who came to the New World in the 17th century brought the “Feast of All Saints”, but the preponderant Puritans were strongly opposed to the pagan celebration.

Following the trends of globalization/ Americanization, Halloween nowadays has come to be a “commercial” holiday and of course, very popular among the young generation. Kids all around the world celebrate their national variant of Halloween by dressing up and asking for candy with the famous formula: “Trick or treat!”

Going to Quinta do Lago? This Halloween, travel with a reliable Algarve transfers service!

Last time, we promised we would talk about the Baroque and the Rococo, the prominent European styles of the 17th and 18th century. Reminiscent of the German style predominant even today in that part of the Western Europe, the Baroque proposed a daring new style based on gilded and carved woodwork, both for the interior and the exterior design of buildings. The exterior may not have looked that impressive, but the overall image of the Baroque era has its charm – though it displayed a rather poignant tendency for… stuffiness.

… Though if we are to talk about stuffiness and a penchant for over-ornamented objects, buildings and furniture, Rococo is the subject! In the Algarve, searching for the Baroque, you will encounter the Almacil construction of St Lawrence’s Church. As for Rococo, the Palace of Estoi, built in the 18th century, is the most convincing example.

Alas, we finally alight in the modern age. After the last “outburst” of Romanticism in the early 19th century, Europe, the entire world and Portugal with it started to embrace the plainer, modest and unspectacular architectural style. The practical side of the late-19th century and 20th century constructions has to be given some credit, although the style can be found somewhat lacking (or is downright absent).

As for today, the postmodern and (some would say) post-postmodern style in the Algarve is represented by hotel complexes, shopping malls and spas and the ever-present blocks of flats. Still, the architectural landscape is still evolving, as Western immigrants and tourists leave their mark in this cosmopolitan side of Portugal.

Hoping you have enjoyed this whirlwind tour through the history of Portuguese architecture, we once again encourage you to visit the Algarve for an amazing experience!