Monte Santo Resort Earns TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Honoured as a Highly Rated Resort as Reviewed by Travellers on the World’s Largest Travel Site

Monte Santo, the first 5 star all-suite resort in Carvoeiro, Algarve today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence, which honours top-rated accommodation businesses, restaurants and attractions, as reviewed by travellers on the world’s largest travel site.

To qualify, these businesses must maintain an average rating of four or higher out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include volume of reviews and how recently they have been submitted by TripAdvisor travellers. The accolade is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide.

“Monte Santo Resort is very pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,” said Marc Sontag, Director of Residential Tourism of Imocom Hotels and Resorts “We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.

About Monte Santo Resort
Monte Santo is Carvoeiro’s first all-suite 5* resort consisting of self-catering suites and linked villas with up to 3 bedrooms. An extensive open area provides privacy, tranquility and luxury facilities and hotel services of the highest standards. Privileged with light and airy living areas, the multi-room suites and linked villas are stylishly furnished, with a sophisticated decoration of light hues that calm both the sight and senses.

Monte Santo is an ideal destination for family holidays, golf escapes or to simply replenish energies along the year. The attention to detail and needs of family life can be found in every corner of this impressive property. Monte Santo provides guests the opportunity to live memorable moments, with its vast list of luxurious five star services, accompanied by smiles and thoughtfulness.

About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site, enabling travellers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travellers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools.

http://www.montesantoalgarve.com/ Tel. +351 282 321 000

Holiday Tip: A drive through the Serra do Caldeirão

Head into the Algarve’s hinterland and explore the beautiful landscapes of the Serra do Caldeirão.

Drive through gentle hills and discover hidden villages with their own traditional trades, architecture and local cuisine.

Experience the green forests of eucalyptus, cork-oaks and pine-trees, or enjoy the views over wheat and barley fields. Amongst the hills, stop from time to time and watch the people as they busily go about their daily tasks: the cork stripper, the shepherd, the miller, or the apple picker in the orchard.

Discover the characteristic architecture of the houses in this inland region, with their chimneys, ovens, sloping roofs and whitewashed walls.

In São Brás de Alportel, stop and admire the parish church and the iron bridge. At the small museum centre of Cachopo, you’ll find an exhibition of traditional local crafts.

To round of your tour of the region, don’t forget to taste some of the local cheese, wine, brandy and sausages!

Source: http://www.visitportugal.com/

Algarve Stories - Discover the history and secrets of the Algarve

What is the pirate Francis Drake’s connection with the town of Lagos?

The Algarve is popular with tourists the world over. It is a region steeped in history with a rich cultural heritage. On your holiday, learn more about this famous Portuguese landscape.

Perhaps you didn’t know that the city of Lagos was attacked by Francis Drake, one of England’s most famous corsairs, or that off Lagos Bay in 1693, France’s Admiral Tourville sank an Anglo-Dutch convoy of 80 ships commanded by England’s Admiral Rooke.

Did you know that the Algarve Ethnographic and Costume Museum in São Brás de Alportel includes a reconstruction of an old barber’s shop?
Such shops used to be a place that the richer classes met to gossip and discuss politics.

Discover how Algarve chimneys, with their clearly Moorish influence, only began to be produced 200 years after the Arabs were driven from the region. Learn the romantic Moorish stories centred on the African coast.

If you enjoy Algarve wine, discover how the grapes of the region saved the quality of northern wine in the 19th century. Grapes were taken to estates in the Douro region to be blended with what little northern varieties remained after a devastating bought of disease.

This and much more are just examples of what you can discover during your Algarve holidays!

Source: www.visitportugal.com

Holiday Tip: Travel back in time with the Silves Medieval Festival

Medieval Merriment in the Algarve

Nestled in the Algarve’s sunny tip of Southern Portugal, Silves has become renowned as a place of great historical significance. Beginning its life as a dwelling for a small riverside colony, this is a town that has endured many transformations over the years. Once the strong Roman city of Sibilis and then the Moorish town of Xelb, before the Christians finally took control in 1242, this culturally diverse district has a wealth of past wisdom to draw upon. And despite seismic damages during an earthquake in 1755, many of the city’s monuments have remained surprisingly intact. Everywhere from the compact cobbled streets to the craggy Silves Castle, this stunning town surveys scenery of rolling hills and the River Arade, recalling the splendors of times gone by.

Revisiting a significant time in this triumphant historical past, every August this vibrant town turns back the clocks to stage a fully-fledged festival of Medieval merriment. Aptly known as the Silves Medieval Festival, and particularly popular among locals, this is a time-travelling event where everyone plays a part. Electric lights are turned off; local merchants dress in full medieval garb and wandering minstrels pervade the streets serenading passers-by.

Remaining true to the era, visitors experience Silves as it once was, and are greeted with daily street scenes. Straw is strewn everywhere; horses, mules and camels transport valuable goods, and Templar Knights parade through the town with chivalrous prospects. Adding to the busy street bustle, beggars plead for alms while local merchants barter and trade. Even the local eateries enter into the contagious merriment, serving traditional wine and food in fired-earthenware to be enjoyed in the medieval manner-less way, without a knife and fork. The daily currency is converted from the Euro to the Xelb to complete the full effect of this time-travelling façade.

Taking its rightful historical place, this year’s festivities are being held from the 9th to the 15th of August with the frivolity in full-flow from 6pm until 1am. Allowing for all ages traditional costumes are available for hire in all sizes, (adults you simply can’t escape!) And, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, this fictitious journey back through time couldn’t be more enjoyable.

Source: www.mydestination.com/algarve

Férias tranquilas e divertidas em família no Suite Resort Monte Santo em Carvoeiro

Monte Santo é o local ideal para umas férias tranquilas e criativas para toda a família. E como a preocupação recai sempre sobre as crianças o Monte Santo criou todas as condições necessárias para umas férias muito divertidas com todo o tipo de programas para todas as idades.

"Planet Junior" e "Baby Must Have!" são os conceitos que este resort de cinco estrelas localizado no Carvoeiro - que ocupa o primeiro lugar em termos de popularidade num universo de 18 hotéis no Carvoeiro desde Dezembro de 2010 - concebeu para proporcionar às crianças momentos inesquecíveis, não esquecendo os Pais.

A preocupação com a segurança e o bem-estar das crianças é essencial, e para tal, Monte Santo dispõe de facilidades especiais como mobiliário, utensílios, brinquedos entre outras vantagens.

A intenção é proporcionar às crianças uma experiência inesquecível - divertida e educativa - garantindo aos Pais serviços e comodidades exclusivas para que possam aproveitar ao máximo o seu tempo de férias em família.

Com o "Planet Junior", os dias das crianças são preenchidos de forma divertida com brincadeiras que despertam os sentidos e a imaginação. As experiências são sempre enriquecidas com materiais especiais, incluindo livros para colorir, brinquedos de banho e saquinhos de boas-vindas. O "Planet Junior" acolhe crianças dos 4 aos 12 anos e organiza actividades tão variadas como pinturas, jogos, brincadeiras ao ar livre ou natação.

Outra das vantagens é o "Baby Must Have!" Porque viajar com um bebé pode implicar uma logística complicada, Monte Santo, possibilita aos Pais encomendar previamente on-line, tudo aquilo de que precisam para tornar a estada do bebé, o mais confortável possível. Com o Baby Must Have! os Pais podem solicitar on-line uma variedade de artigos e utensílios úteis para os seus filhos, e evitar assim o desconforto do excesso de bagagem. Todos os artigos encomendados serão colocados à disposição no alojamento à chegada. Cadeirinhas para transporte automóvel, livros e DVD's infantis, bacios, fraldas, biberões, brinquedos, lápis, livros de colorir, braçadeiras, champôs para bebé, são apenas alguns exemplos. O formulário encontra-se on-line no site da unidade, na secção especial "Família & Crianças".

Ao ficarem alojadas no Monte Santo, as crianças beneficiam das seguintes regalias:

•Berços disponibilizados a um valor mínimo durante toda a estada, quer a família fique alojada 1 fim-de-semana ou 2 semanas (berços para crianças até aos 2 anos)
•Refeições gratuitas no Club House Restaurante (para crianças até aos 2 anos)
•Desconto de 50% no Menu normal (para crianças entre os 3 e os 12 anos)
•Menu especial para crianças
•Piscina especial e piscina interior aquecida
•Clube para Crianças "Planet Junior" com monitores especializados
•Parque infantil ao ar livre
•Área polidesportiva e circuito de manutenção
•Programas de férias especiais

É disponibilizado ainda, serviço de babysitter.

Porque os seus filhos são o melhor do mundo, proporcione-lhes experiências inesquecíveis, sem esquecer, claro, o melhor para si!

Informações e reservas: +351 282 321 000 info.montesanto@imocom-grupo.com

Suggestions for the best family fun days in the Algarve

Keeping the Kids Happy in the Algarve!

Topping the list of family attractions in the Algarve is Zoomarine. This marine world theme park is an absolute must see. The presentations are spectacular – seals and sea-lions, birds of prey, and the amazing dolphins, a show that never fail to evoke a response no matter what your age.

For pure water park thrills, head to either “Slide and Splash” or “Aquahow” for adrenaline fuelled fun. Both parks are large and have a great range of slides that are good for younger and older children.

Swimming with the dolphins is a special family day out. The Dolphin Emotions experience at Zoomarine allows you to learn some basic communication signals and even to do a few tricks in the water with these amazing creatures.

No visit to the Algarve is complete without taking a boat trip options include short 2 hours cruises, dolphin watching trips or a full day coastal cruise that includes a BBQ on a secluded beach.

On dry land don’t miss out on the Jeep Safari. Off-roading through the Algarve countryside allows you to see the lesser explored side of this essentially rural area. Your guides are informative and fun and the day is entertaining and educational.

The Lagos Zoo is a good option for those with younger children. The monkeys are the main attraction but the zoo is also home to lemurs, wallabies, lynxes, reptiles and tropical birds. An unexpected favourite is the Sardine Museum in Portimão. Bizarre as it may seem, children love this place.

Of course, one of the absolutely best family days out in the Algarve is a day at the beach. With numerous blue flag beaches and a (fairly) gentle climate, a few hours building sandcastles, splashing in the sea, eating ice-cream and gathering shells is hard to beat. End the day with a cold beer at a beachside restaurant and Mum and Dad will be happy too!

Source: http://www.mydestination.com/algarve

Holidays Tip: The Algarve is perfect for horse riding at any time of year!

Given its immense coastline and various other geographical features, the Algarve is an ideal region to explore on horseback. There are numerous stables and schools perfect for riding or learning to ride.

At any time of the year, (while preferably out of the peak summer heat unless riding in the western Algarve), you’ll need a long holiday to cover even the smallest area of ground.

As a start you’ll find some of the best off-road beach routes in the seaside villages of the Costa Vicentina.

Horse rides may be organized for one or more days with rural accommodation provided en route. Discover the best of a rural gastronomy unique to the Algarve in its remote villages and hamlets.

Do you like horse riding?

Source: www.visitportugal.com