05/09/2026
🇵🇹 My week this week by Leanne 🇵🇹✈️
What a week! I was absolutely honoured to be invited by Jet2holidays on a VIP guest trip to the Algarve this week. 💙
These trips are such a fantastic opportunity for me to experience a destination first-hand — the hotels, food, resorts, excursions and all those little extras that you simply can’t get from looking at a brochure or a website.
So, here’s what we got up to…
✈️ Monday – Glasgow bound
I travelled up to Glasgow on Monday, ready for a VERY early start on Tuesday morning!
We parked in the onsite multi-storey car park and then it was just a quick walk to the Holiday Inn next door, directly opposite the airport.
I would definitely recommend this for an early flight — no transfers or taxis needed, just a quick stroll across to check-in in the morning… even if, like us, that stroll is at 4.30am! 😴😂
🇵🇹 Day 1 – And we’re off!
Glasgow Airport and Jet2 check-in — fast and easy as always. No stress. ✈️👌
We arrived into the Algarve to an airport that was perhaps not quite as organised 😂 so be prepared for a longer wait than you may be used to in the UK.
But it’s soon forgotten when you finally step outside into glorious September sunshine and temperatures of around 27–30°C. ☀️
This was a flying visit, so there was definitely no time to waste!
Straight from the airport, a quick change in the toilets 😂 and we were off to our first experience — a Portuguese cookery class where we cooked our own lunch. 👩🍳🇵🇹
I love activities like this on holiday. It’s something a little different, great fun and a lovely way to experience some of the local culture.
And experiences like this can also be pre-booked with us at Cumbria Travel before you travel — something I would definitely recommend if you want to add a little something different to your holiday.
Next up was probably one of the most fun ways to explore Faro — a Tuk Tuk tour! 🛺☀️
We headed off through the streets taking in the sights and getting to see a little more of Faro. I absolutely loved this — such a fun way to explore, especially when you’re short on time and want to see as much as possible.
Then it was time to head to Albufeira and check into our home for the next two nights…
⭐️ The 5★ W Algarve
And WOW. 😍
The 5★ luxury W Algarve is an absolutely stunning hotel.
It’s modern, stylish, luxurious and VERY Instagrammable — everywhere you turn there’s another gorgeous area or little detail that makes you want to get your phone out and take a photo! 📸
The rooms are beautiful, the public areas are gorgeous and the whole hotel has that contemporary, cool W style while still feeling very much like you’re in the Algarve.
If you’re looking for somewhere a little bit special for a luxury break, couples getaway or celebration, this one definitely needs to be on your list. ❤️
After a little time to freshen up, it was back out for dinner at Tribü Bistro, followed by a return to the hotel for a nightcap. 🍹
By this point it was MIDNIGHT and we had been up for over 20 hours — we were absolutely exhausted! 😂
So finally… BED! 😴
☀️ Day 2 – Exploring more of the Algarve
After breakfast we headed off to discover Silves, the former Moorish capital of the Algarve.
We had a guided tour, including Silves Castle and the historic centre, and I really enjoyed seeing a completely different side to the Algarve.
It’s so easy to think of the Algarve as simply beautiful beaches and sunshine, but there’s so much history and culture to discover too.
From Silves we travelled to the beautiful Quinta Arvad, a scenic riverside w**e estate. 🍇🍷
Here we enjoyed lunch and a tasting of some of their signature w**es — I know, it’s a hard job sometimes! 😂
Next up was a quick visit to Carvoeiro before making our way back towards Albufeira and somewhere I have to admit I’ve completely overlooked on previous visits…
💕 Albufeira Marina
I’ll admit to being one of those people who has visited Albufeira and always stuck to the Old Town.
Well… never again!
Albufeira Marina is such a gorgeous area. 😍
The brightly coloured buildings make it so pretty, with lovely restaurants and shops and just a really nice atmosphere. It’s definitely somewhere I’ll be recommending people take the time to visit — and somewhere I’ll be heading back to myself!
From the Marina we boarded our catamaran for a cruise along the Algarve coastline. ⛵️🥂
And this was just PERFECT.
After such a busy couple of days, it was exactly what we all needed — a couple of hours to sit back, relax and just enjoy where we were.
The coastline was absolutely stunning, the sun was shining and we were cruising along with a glass of fizz in hand…
Honestly, what more could you want? 🥂☀️🌊
Absolutely perfect and a MUST-DO recommendation from me if you’re visiting the Algarve.
Sometimes it’s those few hours on a holiday where you’re doing absolutely nothing except taking in the scenery that end up being some of your favourite memories.
Back at the W Algarve, we had a little time to relax and freshen up before heading out again for dinner at Tres Coroas, with its gorgeous elevated sea views. 🌅
And because apparently we hadn’t squeezed quite enough into our 48 hours 😂, we finished the evening discovering the atmosphere of Albufeira by night. 🍹🇵🇹
✈️ Day 3 – Home time already!
And then, far too quickly, it was time to come home.
After an early breakfast it was back to Faro Airport for our Jet2 flight home to Glasgow.
It really was a flying visit — two nights and a LOT packed in — but what an experience.
One of the things I love most about being a travel agent is actually getting out there and experiencing the destinations we sell.
I can look at hotels and destinations online all day long, but nothing beats actually being there.
Experiencing the airport and transfers, staying in the hotels, eating in the restaurants, exploring the resorts, trying the excursions and discovering those little places you might otherwise miss.
Albufeira Marina is the perfect example — somewhere I’d overlooked myself before this trip and now somewhere I’ll absolutely be recommending to our customers.
That first-hand experience is invaluable when you walk through the doors at Cumbria Travel and ask us where you should stay, what you should do or whether a destination is right for you.
🇵🇹 So, my verdict on the Algarve?
☀️ Gorgeous September weather — 27–30°C for us
🏖️ Stunning beaches and coastline
🇵🇹 Beautiful towns with plenty of history and culture
🍴 Fabulous food
🍷 Great w**e
🛺 Brilliant experiences and excursions
⛵️ A catamaran cruise that is now firmly on my must-do list
💕 And some gorgeous areas I’ve discovered that I’d previously missed!
Whether you want a relaxing week in the sunshine, a family holiday, a couples getaway, a luxury escape or you like to get out and explore, the Algarve really does have something for everyone.
A huge THANK YOU to Jet2holidays and our wonderful hosts for inviting me and looking after us so well. I felt very lucky to be included on such a fantastic VIP trip. 💙✈️
Now it’s back to Cumbria and back to Cumbria Travel, but with lots more first-hand knowledge, recommendations and ideas to share with our customers.
That’s the difference when you book with your local travel agent. We don’t just sell holidays — we travel, experience and learn so we can help you find the right holiday for YOU. 💙✈️
