If you've been picturing long days by the sea, the Alvor/Lagos stretch of the Algarve is hard to beat. This part of southern Portugal has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, and they're surprisingly varied. Whether you want to surf, spend a lazy afternoon with friends, or take the kids somewhere calm and safe, there's a beach here that fits. Here's a rundown of the ones worth your time. A Coastline Worth Exploring What makes Alvor/Lagos special is the variety p

Year-Round Swimming at Casa dos Arcos: Our Heated Pool in Penina One of the first things guests ask before booking is whether the pool is genuinely warm out of season. It is. The saltwater pool at Casa dos Arcos is heated, so the swimming doesn't stop when summer does — a morning swim in March or a slow evening float in October are both very much on the table. We're inside the Penina Championship Golf Course, the Sir Henry Cotton course near Portimão, Alvor and Lagos, in the