Travelling solo to the Algarve

Portugal`s most southerly region, the Algarve, is also its most popular tourist destination with plane loads of tourists landing at Faro airport through the summer months to enjoy the beaches and the night life. There is more to the Algarve than sunbeds and parties however. It is an ideal location for families, older couples and the solo traveller. Alongside the obvious attractions of the beaches, there is also history and culture, wildlife and wonderful scenery.

The Algarve is ideal for the solo traveller. First and foremost it is an easy place to travel to and travel around. The tourist infrastructure in the area is excellent which means that there is plenty of help for those travelling on their own. In addition, the majority of people working in the tourist industry speak good English.

The benefit of travelling alone is that you decide what you want to do. For those who just enjoy lazing about on the beach, there is nowhere better. All the major towns are close to the beach and even if the beach is a little way out of town there is usually local transport to get you there and back. For example, even Faro, the least touristy of the towns in the Algarve has a beach close by which is accessible by water taxi. Many of the beaches offer water sports and other kinds of activities such as boating or fishing - all things that can be done by the solo tourist.

When travelling alone it is possible to take advantage of organised tours of which there are plenty in the Algarve. So, for example, in the city of Tavira in the east there are different kinds of tours for you to enjoy. For instance, there are walking tours of the city, tours to discover the Arab culture of around Tavira, there are birdwatching tours or wine tasting tours. Taking a tour can take all the stress out of travelling and they are also a good way to meet people. It is also an easy way of getting out of town and into the countryside.

Some solo travellers like to hire their own transport to give them real freedom for travelling around the Algarve. This is not such a huge area so it is possible to see several locations in one day. Hiring your own car enables you to go where you like, when you like and there are many car hire companies if this is something you`d like to do.

Another great reason why travelling in the Algarve is good for solo tourists is that there is sufficient variety in the towns. If you love nightlife then towns such as Lagos, Faro or Albufeira (amongst others) have bars and nightclubs which are open all night. If this kind of nightlife isn`t for you then you can head to smaller, more tranquil places such as Aljezur, Alcoutim or Olhao and enjoy a more sedate pace of life.

The Algarve`s other great resource for the solo traveller is its accommodation. There are lots of beautiful resorts all along the coast offering fantastic service. So whether it`s spending time in a spa, going to the gym, relaxing by the pool, having a round of golf or just enjoying a room service dinner whilst watching the TV, all these things can be arranged by your hotel. Obviously the more you spend the more you get but it doesn`t have to be expensive, on the contrary. There are a wide variety of accommodation options throughout the Algarve and places such as Pinhal do Sol Hotel Quarteira show that quality and amenities don`t have to be outrageously expensive.
Overall, it is easy to see why the Algarve is so popular with tourists; it does have something for everyone making it ideal for those who like to travel alone.