Day 13 – Algarve Coast
After a hectic 12 days on planes, trains and automobiles (plus tuk-tuks, Ubers, taxis, and 100,000+ steps), we needed a day to do nothing. Turns out that Vilamoura is a perfect place to do just that. At the Tivoli there is an adjacent adults-only pool that is run by Purobeach. This Mediterranean-centric brand has high-end day clubs and related restaurants (and even a hotel) in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Having one on the property was a great find and an easy decision for us to spend the day at. The pool is tranquil, the music was relaxing for most of the day (and then got a little more of a party vibe at 3:00pm), the food was good, the service was great and the day overall was extremely relaxing.
Once we had enough sun, we walked around a bit, checking out Purobeach Pool’s sister (all ages) beach club, right outside the hotel, on the beach. Definitely a more hectic scene, with lots of beach goers nearby and lots of kids running up and down the boardwalk. Great for families, but the pool was the better choice for us, for sure. Back at the room, we showered and then headed downstairs to try the hotel’s steakhouse, Pepper Steak. Really excellent meal for two for only about 100 euros, including wine: ½ pound filet mignon to share, potatoes two ways, salad, truffle mac’n’cheese, asparagus and some very good Portuguese wine. All the food and a day in the sun was a recipe for a major food coma, so it was off to bed. Sometimes you need a day like this to truly unwind.