Portugal and the Algarve particularly at the top of preferences for living worldwide, by Kathleen Peddicord – Forbes

Algarve - Portugal

Portugal and the Algarve particularly at the top of preferences for living worldwide

Eventually, COVID 19 will be contained, and global markets and economies will recover. But the experience of having lived through this challenging period will leave us with a reinforced and maybe a reinvented understanding of what matters most in life.

Considered from a post-crisis perspective, where in the world will offer the best options for repositioning yourself overseas? Diversifying your lifestyle and your investment portfolio to embrace the many opportunities our world continues to offer is a more important agenda than it’s ever been. The way to make sure you’re prepared for whatever tomorrow brings is to expand where you spend your time and your money so you’re not at the mercy of any single government, economy, marketplace, or currency.

Imagine living in a place where you aren’t compelled to turn on the news the minute you roll out of bed because you have better things to do and because you’ve organized your life so that you’re able to ride out any storm safely and comfortably.

We have a moment now, while we sit on collective pause, to regroup what we’d like our lives to look like and to connect the dots between our ideal lifestyle and the top choices for the best places to think about spending time and money overseas.

You may not want or be able to hop on a plane to explore these destinations in person today, but, again, our current circumstances are temporary. Where should you think about taking a look after the lockdowns have been lifted? Here are three places where you could restart your health, self-resilience, and community first.

Portugal’s Algarve Coast

At home on Portugal’s coast, you could wake every morning to the sound of local fishermen announcing the morning’s catch and the soft chimes of bicycle bells signaling the start of the daily commute.

Offshore this 100-mile-long stretch, the Atlantic Ocean crashes, as it has for centuries, carving arches, coves, and caves into the sandstone, creating a picture-postcard view at every turn.

Portugal’s Algarve region is not only a top option for retirement in one of the best places in the world to live thanks to its:

Year-round Sunshine

Portugal enjoys one of the most stable climates in the world and 3,300 hours of sunshine per year, meaning more sunny days than almost anywhere else in Europe. The Algarve has no bad weather months.

Safety

Portugal ranks as the third safest country in the world. Violent crime is rare, and petty crime is limited to pickpocketing during the busy tourist season. As well, this country has managed to keep itself separate from the immigration crisis that is playing out in other parts of Europe.

Good Infrastructure

Portugal has enjoyed important infrastructure investments in recent years, specifically to do with the country’s highway network and airports. As a result, this is a great base for exploring all Europe and North Africa.

International Standard Health Care

Health care in Portugal is high quality and a fraction the cost of health care in the United States. If you become a resident, public health care is free.

Golf

Portugal’s Algarve region boasts 42 courses in less than 100 miles. Tee Times golf Agency offers grest discounts on green fees www.teetimes.pt.

Quinta da Ria - Algarve

Quinta da Ria – Algarve

Great Beaches

The European Blue Flag Association has awarded 88 beaches along the Algarve coast Blue Flag status, recognizing their excellent water quality and environmental standards.

Affordable Cost Of Living

The cost of living in Portugal is among the lowest in Western Europe, on average 30% lower than in any other country in the region. A couple could live here modestly but comfortably on a budget of as little as 1,300 euros per month. With a budget of 2,000 euros per month or more, you could enjoy a fully appointed lifestyle in this heart of the Old World. And right now your dollars buy a lot of euros.

The Language

English is widely spoken. Living here, you could get by without learning to speak Portuguese.

Healthy Living

The Portuguese are the biggest fish eaters per capita in Europe, and fresh fish of great variety is available in the ever-present daily markets. The year-round sunshine and fertile earth in this part of the world mean an abundance of fresh produce, too, also available in the local markets. Meantime, pollution rates are low, and streets, towns, and beaches are clean and litter-free.

Retiree Residency

Portugal offers the most user-friendly residency option in the Euro-zone. You can qualify to live in the country full time simply by showing a reliable income of at least 1,200 euros per month.

The Golf Club Alcanada achieves the ‘Diamond Award’, for the management of its game pace

Alcanada Golf Course

Alcanada Golf Course

The Golf Club Alcanada achieves the ‘Diamond Award’

Tagmarshal, the platform for optimizing and managing the pace of play in golf courses, recognize clubs, courses and resorts that provide golfers with an exceptional experience for players and service levels.

Statistics and knowledge of more than ten million golf rounds tracked in 2019 were used to compare the progress of the golf partners through proven results and enhance the best standards and service provision, which is essential in a moment in which the golf industry recognizes the opportunity and the need to improve players satisfaction, not only to guarantee the growth and future of the game, but also to achieve measurable business success.

The awards were presented at the end of the Tagmarshal Training Session at the recent PGA Merchandise Show. The European success in the Diamond Awards, the highest award of the Tagmarshal Awards, went to the Mallorcan Alcanada Golf Club and the Scottish Carnoustie Golf Links.

Praia del Rey Golf Course

Praia del Rey Golf Course

Alcanada golf course improved his average annual 18 hole round time by a phenomenal fifteen minutes during his busiest month of October. Praia del Rey and West Cliffs are two golf courses in Portugal that have also improved immensely their pace of play Tagmarshal’s vision is based on the positive impact it has on player satisfaction, while driving operational efficiency and generating additional revenue. We are proud that many of our partners excel in this effort,” says Bodo Sieber, CEO of Tagmarshal.

The rhythm and game flow data, improvements and results statistics form the backbone of the Tagmarshal Awards qualification, with the best compliments achieved through continuous improvement and performance over several years, recognizing the implementation well executed, continuous improvement and the guide of best management and personal practices.

West Cliffs Golf Links

West Cliffs Golf Links

Tagmarshal has tracked more than ten million rounds of golf using real-time data collected through the use of small ‘tags’ cut into golf bags, installed in buggies or offered on the patented 2Way display device installed in the buggy.

The information is transmitted to golf course staff or professional store staff, which allows the identification of groups that are out of position before problems arise. Course marshals can support proactively, objectively and without confrontations, resulting in a better experience for the players, consistent round times and extra free time to enjoy food and drinks on site, as well as opportunities for an additional ability to the output sheet.

Teeing off under the warm winter sun

NAU São Rafael Atlântico. Teeing off under the warm winter sun.

Teeing off under the warm winter sun!

NAU São Rafael Atlântico

NAU São Rafael Atlântico
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3 Nights BB & 2 Days Unlimited Golf From €288

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Golfing in winter can be challenging even for the most passionate golf lovers! Playing despite wet gloves, cold balls that don’t fly, low winter sun that doesn’t let you follow the flight of your ball, frost covered courses and beginning to wish you were anywhere else.

For those wishing to stay in Europe and still have some sun in December and January, Spain and Portugal are the best options and its not uncommon to be able to play in shirt sleeves and shorts

In recent years there is an increase in the number of golfers booking golf in January or February in search of warm weather. For all the obvious reasons, these destinations are on the top of the list of World’s Best Winter Golf Destinations. The weather was made for golf. With over 300 days of sunshine per year and very pleasant temperatures between 16-20ºC, the chances of a golfing holiday being ruined by bad weather are slim. The prices are reasonable, the flights are cheap and the courses are empty and all the greens are playable.

The Algarve offers a variety of courses for all levels of players. There are accommodation options for any budget from low cost to high-class luxury. A short break to recharge the batteries could be the ideal remedy for the winter blues.

Tenerife is becoming increasingly popular. There are 9 golf courses on the Island and the more popular ones are situated in the South and of course there is the unique Tecina course on the Island of Gomera which you access by ferry. Courses are within easy travelling distance of the popular resorts. The black volcanic sand in the bunkers may take sme time getting used to but spectacular views of the ocean and the mountains worth it.

A slightly more expensive but very popular option as a winter sun destination is Gran Canaria. The Island is to the west of Morocco and the taking advantage of warm gulf stream winds to not let you feel the winter.

Right now we are offering a range of golfing packages and winter deals remembering that there’s little chance of finding a better place to play in Europe at this time of the year.

Wyndham Grand Algarve

Wyndham Grand Algarve
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3 Nights & 2 Rounds Golf From €242

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Eurotel Altura

Eurotel Altura
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3 Nights BB & 2 Rounds Golf
From €174

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Vale do Lobo Golf Resort

Vale do Lobo Golf Resort
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3 Nights & Unlimited Golf
From €298

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Monchique Resort

Monchique Resort
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3 Nights BB & 2 Rounds Golf
From €238

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Crowne Plaza Vilamoura

Crowne Plaza Vilamoura
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3 Nights BB & 2 Rounds Golf
From €298

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Royal Park Albatros

Royal Park Albatros
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4 Nights BB & 2 Rounds Golf
From €270

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Melia Hacienda del Conde

Melia Hacienda del Conde
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3 Nights HB & Unlimited Golf
From €998

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Vincci Tenerife Golf

Vincci Tenerife Golf
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3 Nights BB & 2 Rounds Golf
From €298

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Las Terrazas de Abama

Las Terrazas de Abama
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5 Nights SC & 3 Rounds Golf
Groups of 4 From €475

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Hotel Jardin Tecina

Hotel Jardin Tecina
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3 Nights HB & 2 Rounds Golf
W/ Ferry tickets From €357

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Taurito Princess

Taurito Princess
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3 Nights All Inclusive & 2 Rounds
From €473

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