It’s been quite the year of travel so far! In January, Tyler and I jumped on a great deal for a long weekend in Paris; in March, we took our families to Brisbane and sailed the coast; and in May, we capitalized on the ultimate bleisure experience: a conference in Vilamoura, Portugal.
With my flight and hotel covered, we booked Tyler’s $1,100 plane ticket (ouch), turning a work trip into a gorgeous escape on Portugal’s southern coast. We enjoyed soaking in the sun, the sand, and more glasses of wine than I can count. Here are the highlights:
Where We Stayed: Hotel Vila Galé Marina
We checked into the Hotel Vila Galé Marina in Vilamoura and were immediately able to get into our room – despite the fact that it was 11am. The room was comfortable – though the separate bidet caught me by surprise – but the main selling feature was the pool, which was definitely giving Mediterranean dreams. We had a great view of it from our balcony, though I made sure to make time to work poolside as well (and grab a snack from the pool bar). As a bonus, it was just a few minutes to walk to the conference at the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort, which meant the location couldn’t be beat.
Where We Dined: ÀCosta by Olivier Algarve
One of my partners invited me out to dinner for the first night, and I asked if it would be possible to bring my husband along – they said of course! This was definitely the place to take him, and I honestly can’t wait to go back. We started with drinks, then a smorgasbord of appetizers: crispy bread, grilled shrimp, monkfish, ceviche, etc. Then we were delighted with squid ink rice with shrimp and fish, as well as pomegranate seed salads. Despite this stellar menu, it was the dessert that stole the show. I’m still thinking about the Dom Rodrigo, a regional egg-based dessert that’s like nothing I’ve ever had before…
Where We Hiked: Seven Hanging Valleys
A coworker recommended that we prioritize this hike above all else when in the region, and she was spot on. We got an Uber from the hotel (it was about 45 minutes away from our hotel) and hit the Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos. We got there early to beat the heat – and make it back in time for my afternoon meetings – but it was still crowded. And for good reason; y’all, it’s STUNNING. We stopped frequently to get pictures of the jagged cliffs and the turquoise waters. We ended up dropping off the trail halfway through so I could make my meetings, but if I could suggest one stop in the Algarve, it’s this one.
Where We Partied: Praia de Vilamoura
We wrapped things up with a “bon voyage” beach bash on Praia de Vilamoura, steps away from the conference center. Talk about ending the trip on a strong note! We enjoyed a fiery performance with lots of actual fire, seemingly bottomless food and drinks, and the golden hour glow as the sun set on the water. I made a point of kicking off my sandals and dipping my feet in – you can take the girl out of Florida, but she’ll still find her way to the beach. I definitely added one of my partners on Duolingo (I’ve got to keep up my streak), then walked back to the hotel to pack up my things.
Final Thoughts
Three nights made for a very quick trip, especially when most of the time was spent in the conference center. I got just enough of a taste to know that we’re absolutely coming back – though next time, we’re skipping the conference and doubling the vinho verde (IYKYK). If you’re craving a trip that’s equal parts scenic and spicy, add this Portuguese paradise to your list.
Other bleisure highlights…