Tavira, 22 miles NE of Faro.

Quinta Da Ria: Quinta da Ria is a superb resort course, situated within the boundaries of the stunning Formosa National Park. Like its sister course, Quinta de Cima, the layout was designed by Rocky Roquemore, and extends all the way down to the spectacular shoreline. With the sea on one side, and the mountains towering on the other, Quinta da Ria's setting is awesome, and the golf course lives up to its billing too. The 6,579 yard layout is built around the five man-made lakes that are the focal point of the landscape, which also provide the course's irrigation.

Quinta De Cima: Situated in the Formosa National Park is the Quinta de Cima golf course, which has become a mainstay of any good golfing holiday on the charming Eastern end of the Algarve. The course was added relatively recently as a sister to the already established Quinta da Ria layout, and offers a good challenge to golfers of all abilities. Quinta de Cima is pretty open, allowing you to open you shoulders from the tee, but distance is not everything; the course is peppered with obstacles that include trees and cavernous bunkers. The course was designed by Rocky Roquemore, whose excellent projects are evident throughout Portugal, and measures 6,842 yards.

Monte Rei: In the foothills of the Eastern Algarve, the views from Monte Rei stretch North towards the Serra do Caldeirão mountain range, and South to the shoreline of the Atlantic. The North Course opened for play in June 2007, and is the first of two Jack Nicklaus-designed signature layouts. A championship standard track of considerable repute, the North can be stretched to 7,181 yards from the back tees, and is a formidable test of golf. The Monte Rei development boasts amazing scenery, and the course, carved between the gentle hills and bordered by terrific woodland, is without doubt one of the most beautiful you could wish to lay your eyes upon.

Castro Marim: The Atlantic Course is the first 18-hole championship layout to be created at the exclusive Castro Marim Golf & Country Club. Since its inception, the Atlantic has established itself as a firm favourite with regular visitors to the Algarve's East, and is without doubt one of the region's premier locations. The course is unique in that during a single round you can experience views of the sea, river and mountains, underlining how special the surroundings are. As a resort course, the Atlantic has a number of sets of tees, making sure that it is appropriate for every golfer, and designer Terry Murray has cleverly made use of the landscape's natural features to create a real gem.

Benamor: The hills of Barrocal play host to Benamor's superb golf course, from which you can enjoy some of the most spectacular mountain views along the Algarve. The course was officially opened in 2000, and was based on an original design by Sir Henry Cotton. Benamor is wrapped around the clubhouse, which itself is an amazing restoration of a traditional church building, and is a challenging par-71. At 6,019 yards, this is by no means the longest championship course that you can find in the Algarve, but the natural undulations make it tricky enough.

The 4* Vila Galé Tavira hotel is located in the picturesque coastal town of Tavira, and is heavily influenced by the style and character of the North African architecture evident across the ocean to the South.

Opened in 2002, the Vila Galé Tavira has a total of 268 guest bedrooms, and the hotel is a charming and intimate destination throughout. The spacious and modern rooms are beautifully furnished and decorated, and are complete with full air-conditioning, safe deposit box, satellite television, internet connection, direct dial telephone and mini-bar.

The Vila Galé Tavira is a great family destination, as it has the Nep Kids Club, a games room, children's playground and splash pool. There is a large outdoor swimming pool, while inside the hotel you will find the Satsanga Spa, whose facilities include a heated indoor pool, Turkish bath, jacuzzi and gymnasium, and is also the place where you can enjoy health and beauty treatments.

There are good facilities, and the surrounding town of Tavira is a beautiful place to spend a holiday, while it is important to remember that the area's best golf courses are within easy reach.