Location: Sagres, Portugal
Favorite Family-Friendly Features: Family Apartments | Kids Club | Kids Classes | Pool | Playground | Beach
Our Quick Take:
Hugging the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal makes an ideal family destination thanks to it’s direct flights from the U.S., general affordability, and blend of gorgeous beaches (hello, Algarve region!) and charming historic cities (Lisbon, I’m talking about you).
Twice now, we’ve ventured to the country’s mild climates in search of culture and relaxation in equal measure. And both times, we’ve found it. Along our way, we also discovered the epitome of family friendliness in the Martinhal Sagres, one of the family resorts in Portugal.
Getting Down to Details:
Guestrooms: This sprawling resort offers a wide selection of lodging types, dependent on your needs. While we sprang for a Garden House, which offered two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen and living area and enclosed yard, guests can also select from standard hotel style rooms, ocean-view suites or villas to accommodate larger groups.
Kid-Friendly Amenities: Where to begin? Perhaps the greatest benefit of Martinhal Sagres is its thoughtful child programming, which can be booked for ages six months and older. Separate classrooms and trained instructors oversee kids throughout the day (with a break for lunch), while organized activities exist outside of day camp hours. Child friendly amenities like pools, wading pools, playgrounds, trampolines, and more are located throughout the property; restaurants offer “kids buffets” with chicken tenders and french fries, and baby equipment is available to pre-book ahead of your stay.
What to do in Sagres:
Let’s start with the obvious – RELAX. The Martinhal does such a fantastic job of catering to the kids, that (for once!), it’s easy for adults to wind down and enjoy the gorgeous property themselves. The sprawling beach, often whipped with the region’s telltale winds, is a perfect place to start. Head to the water or cozy up under a thatch-roof sun shade while sipping a drink for the nearby pool bar.
Once the kids have enjoyed a day of organized activity, the whole family can gather in the heart of the resort dubbed Village Square where you’ll find play equipment, a casual outdoor grill and Os Gambozinos, one of the resort’s seasonal restaurants.
Beyond the resort, the town of Sagres offers a handful of beautiful cliff-encased beaches (Praia do Beliche ranks among my favorites). And further yet, the Algarve opens up to dozens of charming beach towns that are worth days spent exploring. We love the meandering cobblestone streets of Lagos and Carvoeiro’s Main Street, which spills out onto a lovely beach. With a rental car, you can beach hop until your heart’s content, popping into pottery studios, boutique shops and roadside seafood diners along the way.
If flights permit, you may consider flying into the Algarve region’s Faro Airport, and then spending a few days in Lisbon before returning home via a Lisbon flight.
