Portugal is more than just the Algarve

The Algarve is Portugal's most popular tourist area because the climate is more predictable than the West Coast; it can be fairly mild throughout winters and is hot and dry in summer. Not far from Lisbon are the coastal resorts of Estoril and Cascais, popular with week-enders from the capital.

Having spent holidays in those areas, we decided to try another resort a little further along the coast, near Obidos, a rather up-market golfing resort (we don't play golf) with a number of privately owned villas and apartments plus a 5-star Marriott hotel, Praia d'el Rey.

On the Atlantic coast, north of Lisbon, the resort is situated a short drive from a small village, through woodland to its entrance. The area is still being tastefully developed and there is no obvious sign of financial hardship (unless that's the reason a few properties are for sale). The gardens are beautifully maintained and new properties are being sold.

Some of the properties are available for short term rental. We booked a spacious two bedroom ground-floor condo for a week, self-catering and arrived yesterday, having driven from the ferry port at Santander in Northern Spain.

First impressions were very favourable... great for a quiet holiday.