DESTINATIONS


team i


t’s a post-A-levels rite of passage – to celebrate the end of exams and spend some time together before moving on to university, work or


further training. So my friends and I were among the thousands of school leavers who set off this summer on our first trip abroad without our parents. But we weren’t looking for foam parties and booze-fuelled nights out – with some welcome advice from the agents at Designer Travel, who booked our trip with Tui, we opted for the Algarve’s mix of soft adventure, sandy beaches and the best golf course I’ve ever seen.


AGE OF ADVENTURE We travelled from Gatwick to Faro, and with the rugged coastline of the Algarve at our disposal, what better way to get the adrenaline pumping than with an afternoon of coasteering? We had pre-booked with Albufeira Surf and Sup (€41) in Praia de São Rafael, and after donning wetsuits and lifejackets, spent two hours with an instructor exploring the terrain and


travelweekly.co.uk PORTUGAL | MILLENNIAL & GEN Z TRAVEL


Nightclubs or golf clubs? Tom Huxley discovers how Gen Z travellers are reinventing the post-A-levels escape


jumping into the sea from varying heights. It was the first time we had been coasteering, and it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. The activity involved a lot of climbing up rockfaces


– and praying for dear life – but it was a great way to start our trip. We had certainly earned our first beers and pizzas at the Trattoria Toscana on the seafront, a 15-minute walk into town from our apartments. Although the Algarve might be known for its


watersports, it’s even more famous for a rather more relaxed activity – golf. A 25-minute drive from Albufeira, Pine Cliffs resort has a spectacular links course that offers stunning panoramic views of the Atlantic. A winding driveway took us past tennis courts, pools and blocks of white-washed rooms and villas, before we finally reached the clubhouse, which serves a nine-hole course and driving range. Residents or guests must wear golf shoes to


play, but clubs can be hired. Unlike many nine-hole courses, there were several long holes, and even²


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PICTURE: Shutterstock/dotshock


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