As we walked over the wooden bridge, the soothing sound of the Atlantic Ocean slowly filled our ears.
Then I finally came across something I’d been waiting to see for a while.
Granted, I’ve been to countless beaches, but this one was something special. It was the pristine Praia da Quinta do Lago in Portugal, and more importantly, it wasn’t just any day – it was Christmas morning.
A villa apartment in the Four Seasons Fairways
– Credit: Four Seasons
A villa bedroom at Four Seasons Fairways in Quinta do Lago
– Credit: Four Seasons
The older I get the less I like the British winter and when the Christmas season comes around I desperately need a break.
This year my wife Rachel and I decided to get away from all the seasonal stress and along with our daughters Isla and Evelyn traded sleet and snow for sand and shells and dented umbrellas for parasol pines.
Our destination was the resort of Quinta do Lago, a 20 minute drive from Faro Airport in the sun-drenched Algarve.
Quinta was founded by real estate developer André Jordan half a century ago.
Rumor has it that he was sitting on a hillside next to an old stone farmhouse one sunny day, dreaming of a place where velvet green golf courses were interwoven between pristine white villas overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Ria Formosa Lagoon.
Half a century later, Quinta is one of the three corners of the Algarve’s ‘Golden Triangle’, along with the resort of Vilamoura and the village of Almancil.
A playground for the rich and famous, the prestigious area is regularly visited by sports stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Rory McIlroy, as well as celebrities like Niall Horan and Madonna.
The pool at Four Seasons Fairways, Quinta do Lago
– Credit: Four Seasons
Nestled in the heart of the Quinta development is Four Seasons Fairways.
Combining the space and privacy of a self-catering apartment complex with the luxury of a five star hotel resort, FSF prides itself on home-from-home hospitality.
In the last two years it has undergone a major renovation and the results are spectacular – sunset color schemes and a cool, minimalist style complement the traditional Portuguese architecture perfectly.
We checked into a family apartment consisting of two large bedrooms, three bathrooms and an open plan kitchen perfect for a leisurely lunch or night out.
There was also a dishwasher, washing machine and on arrival the groceries we had ordered from the mini market before we left England were on the worktop and in the fridge.
We had our own gas grill on the terracotta tiled patio, and one lunchtime we ordered sausages and burgers from the restaurant to put straight on the grill.
Our large Jacuzzi was ideal for a dip in the cool morning or evening hours whilst there is a full list of English, Irish and Sports channels on the indoor TVs.
Upstairs in the newly renovated clubhouse there are heated indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, steam room, gym and kids’ club.
The snooker room is a great place for kids like Isla and Evelyn to hang out.
You’re probably thinking this all sounds expensive, but with a family stay at FSF for less than the equivalent stay at a UK holiday park, it’s a steal.
The resort is also great for health and well-being. Last year, Amy Williams took over from Helen Glover as the resort’s active life ambassador, and guests can join the Olympic skeleton gold medalist for classes and workouts on select weeks.
In terms of dining, breakfast is served at the Fairways’ Vivo restaurant, which then offers snacks, lunch, and cocktails poolside.
The dinner menu is more extensive, with homemade wood-fired pizzas, sea bass and fillet steak as specialties. There is also live music most nights.
During our stay we had a delicious Christmas dinner at the newly opened Amara a la carte restaurant.
Gazing out over the golf course through floor-to-ceiling windows, we made our way through a sumptuous buffet of salad, soup, roast turkey, and desserts, washed down with a glass or three of bubbly.
There is plenty to see and do off FSF grounds and while public transport isn’t really an option in Quinta, most places are within walking or cycling distance.
Richard Jones and his daughters on the beach at Quinta do Lago
– Credit: Jones family
Just off Avenida André Jordan is Quinta Shopping, a boutique mall with a selection of fashion stores and restaurants including the Gastro/Irish bar Cheeky Pup which we went to on Boxing Day.
Then walk down Avenida Ayrton Senna, past some of Quinta’s most spectacular villas, to The Campus sports complex with its on-site sports bar, Dano’s.
Our Christmas morning walk took us across the spectacular bridge and boardwalk that spans the Rio Formosa marshland.
Then, after the girls splashed in the sea, we made our way back through the Passadico do Ancao hiking area.
For the more adventurous and those with a car, Vilamoura and Almancil, with their famous fish markets, make great day trips, as does the ‘Pearl of the Algarve’, Faro.
And even if you’re convinced that golf is spoiled on foot, you really can’t visit southern Portugal without getting a bit of a swing.
After hitting a few balls at Paul McGinley Academy’s range, I played a round at Quinta South, regularly ranked among Europe’s top golf courses.
Its stunning signature hole, the 15th, is one of the most photographed in the Algarve and requires players to hit a challenging 200 meter tee shot across a lake onto a green shaded by pine and palm trees.
A view over the 11th at the Four Seasons Quinta do Lago
– Credit: Richard Jones
A view over the 15th in Quinta do Lago
– Credit: Richard Jones
FSF residents can take advantage of discounted green fees at local courses, and the annual Four Seasons Fairways Masters was taking place during our stay – we were treated to the gala dinner after the tournament.
For Christmas this year I wanted one thing above all: to feel the sand between my toes on a strange beach with my family.
However, our trip to Portugal brought the four of us many other unforgettable festive treats and memories.
On our last day the sun was shining, the temperature was around 20 degrees and I looked out from the terrace at the manicured lawns under the umbrella pines.
The quiet I had longed for in mid-December was broken only occasionally by a chirping sparrow or a buzzing grasshopper.
As I took a long sip of my favorite (and Portugal’s most famous) seasonal beverage – port wine – it felt like all my Christmases had come at once.
Richard Jones and his family at the Four Seasons Quinta do Lago
– Credit: Jones family
Stay
Richard Jones and his family were guests at Four Seasons Fairways in Quinta do Lago, southern Portugal (fourseasonsfairways.com). They are offering seven nights in a three bed villa (sleeps six) with a private pool on a self catering basis from £1,086 based on November 2022 travel and excluding transfers or flights. Book before the end of February and get a 15% discount on stays between May and the end of the year (subject to T&Cs).
Leading leisure airline jet2.com offers friendly low fares, great flight times and a generous 22kg baggage allowance from most major UK airports. Flights to Faro in November start from £112 per person round trip including taxes.