​One of the best ways to explore the Eastern Algarve is by car. While there are excellent trains and buses connecting many of the larger towns, having your own vehicle allows you to discover quiet beaches, charming villages and hidden gems that many visitors never see.

If it's your first time driving in Portugal, don't worry. Most of our guests find it easy and soon settle into the relaxed pace of driving here.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your journey.

​We realised that renting out Drumlin Villa could be having a dramatic environmental impact on the Algarve.  We are committed to reducing Drumlin Villa’s environmental footprint while continuing to provide an exceptional guest experience. Through innovative initiatives and active engagement with guests, the villa is on a journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.

In a previous blog post I mentioned the Zipline from Spain to Portugal at Alcoutim (the only cross-border Zipline in the world).  In November, I finally got to enjoy this fabulous experience. 

The use of a car makes staying at Drumlin Villa effortless.  You can of course use Taxi/Uber etc. to get to and from the villa, but having your own hire car gives far more freedom.  Recently we've been using a car hire broker called Zest Car Rental to find the best car hire deals at Faro airport.  Previously, we had gone direct with one of the independents at Faro (Drive4Fun), but we've found that Zest often offers more competitive prices.

​A couple of years back Nuala was diagnosed as Coeliac, which essentially means she has to avoid foods with gluten in them, basically anything containing wheat or other cereals.  In this blog, I thought I'd share some tips on how Nuala's tackled the challenge of gluten free dining ​in Portugal

​Well that was a crazy last 16 months.  We last visited the villa in January 2020, and of course were totally unaware of what was going to unfold with the pandemic.  We know many have suffered enormously over the last months, but looking forward the future looks more positive.

​First, full disclosure , I haven’t done these two experiences yet!  I’m just trying to build up the courage to give them a go this summer.  

During our recent trip to the Algarve  we had to make use of Portugal's public medical facilities when our son had an allergic reaction to an insect bite.  This bite, on his cheek,  resulted in swelling to face 

When you're looking to book a villa to rent in Portugal, make sure you look for the AL (Alojamento Local) number for the property.  The Portuguese Government introduced a licencing procedure for