Many of us lead stressful lives in which we generally over indulge and forget to take care of ourselves both physically and spiritually. Well, take note, there’s a new holiday option for those looking to visit the Costa del Sol this summer.

The DDG World health spa retreat in Casares on the Costa del Sol could be just what you have been looking for in order to get your physical and spiritual wellness back.

The DDG World retreat was opened in 2010 and is one-of-a-kind on the Costa del Sol and Spain. The retreat is set in 4 hectares of tranquil and sub tropical gardens just outside of the town of Casares in the hills slightly inland of the Costa del Sol and is just 40 minutes or so from the main airport at Malaga AGP.

When it comes to things to do, those looking for the healthy aspect of life will not be disappointed. There are spa and beauty treatments, massage, walking, golf, horse riding, tennis, swimming, or you can use the retreat as a base while you explore the Costa del Sol and all it has to offer.

Accommodation at the spa retreat is also top notch, and includes five one bedroom “casa’s” and also one designer villa that can rented for anything from a few days to a few weeks. All rooms are extremely comfortable and have everything you will need for your stay including wine cabinet for those who may want a tipple.

The Costa del Sol is a wonderful place to take a holiday and has miles of sandy beaches and around 320 days of sunshine each year. There is a multitude of shops, bars and restaurants on offer and is great for both families and singles.

The retreat is ideal for those looking for not only a health spa holiday but also for people looking for a romantic setting and is perfect for a honeymoon style break.

DDG World also have a range of holiday rentals on offer in the Costa del Sol, if a health spa break isn’t for you.

In recent years it has become ever more popular to play golf in Portugal.

With its temperate climate and stunning landscape Portugal is the ideal location to combine a great holiday and playing golf. Below we look at 5 of the top places to play golf in Portugal.

Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo Resort

The luxury Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo Golf Resort is set amongst the stunning natural scenery of The Algarve and is one of the most sought after places to play golf in Portugal having won many awards. Located in Quinta do Logo the resort enjoys exclusive access to the renowned 18 hole San Lorenzo Golf Course. The course opened in 1988 and was designed by Joseph Lee, the legendary golf course architect.

Set in the beautiful Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, the San Lorenzo golf course is beautifully maintained with perfectly manicured lawns. A large part of the course meanders through undulating greens, lakes, freshwater lagoons and pine forest with the rest of the course providing breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and mountains in the distance.

Le Meridien Penina Golf Resort 5*

Le Meridien Penina Golf and Resort is another great place to play golf in Portugal Located between Portimão and Lagos in the Algarve, the resort is a true gem for any active person featuring, golf and tennis courts, a football pitch and running track alongside the hotel.

The 18 hole Championship Course at the resort was originally called The Penina and was designed by English professional golfer Sir Henry Cotton and is considered to be his masterpiece with it’s outstanding views and tranquil setting. Set in lush natural surroundings this was the first resort course of its’ kind to be built in Portugal. It has hosted the Portuguese Open on several occasions, most recently in 2006. There resort also boasts two 9 hole courses, called the Academy Course and the Resort Course.

Formosa Park Hotel & Apartments

The Formosa Park Hotel & Apartments makes another fantastic venue for playing golf in Portugal. If you stay here you have the choice of playing at several spectacular golf courses in The Algarve. These include San Lorenzo, Pinheiros Altos, The Vale do Lobo Ocean & Royal Courses, Quinta do Lago North, South & Laranjal and many more.

Pinheiros Altos is ideal for all levels of golfers and is set amongst stunning natural lakes and trees. Originally an 18 hole course designed by American architect Ronald Fream, an additional 9 holes were created by the Portuguese golf architect George Santana da Silva. Opening in 2007 the 27 hole course is presented in three contrasting nine hole formats known as The Pines, The Corks and The Olives.

The Royal and the Ocean courses at the Vale de Lobo are two challenging courses set amongst pine and fig trees with views out towards the Ocean.

Developed by the American golf architect Rocky Roquemore, these courses have hosted the Portuguese Open twice and are stunning locations in which to play golf in Portugal.

Vilamoura

There are several places to play golf in Vilamoura including, Laguna Millennium, The Old Course, Pinhal, Victoria and Vila Sol.

The 18 hole Laguna Course was designed by Joseph Lee and is an open course on level ground with few trees. The Old Course, with its affectionate name, is the second oldest course in The Algarve and a great place to play golf in Portugal. The holes run through a lush pine forest and the course presents an interesting challenge for the keen golfer. The Victoria Clube de Golfe Course is currently the longest 18 hole golf course in Portugal, laid out over some 90 hectares it covers virtually flat terrain. A beautiful series of waterfalls and lakes provide a stunning natural backdrop to a course that is gaining a growing reputation.

CS Sao Rafael Suite Hotel 5*

At the CS Sao Rafael Suite Hotel the Herdade dos Salgados Golf course is just 5 minutes away from the hotel and the Morgado or Álamos Golf courses 25 minutes away. All guests at the hotel benefit from a discount on the green fees.

The Herdade dos Salgados Golf provides a challenge to those who want to play golf in Portugal. Located near Gale beach, between Albufeira and Pera, the

18 hole course is laid out among wetlands and features 14 water hazards. The Morgado course is one of the Algarve’s newest golf courses. Located near Portimao in stunning countryside this long but enjoyable course is set on a large tranquil estate. The Alamos course is the sister course to the Morgado and is set within the same sizeable estate.

Some people love to stay in the hotel during their vacation, but some others might love to stay in a resort. Both hotel and resort are able to be the perfect place to stay. The most important thing is finding a hotel or resort that suit our need and condition. Resort can be a best place to stay if we bring several family members, having a long vacation or need privacy when we are having a honeymoon with our spouse. With the resort, we are having the opportunity to get closer to the nature and even the local people.

If we visit an area that has great nature view and rich culture, then resort can be our best choice. However, hotel can be a perfect choice as well for us who stay for a short length of time because hotel can be more expensive than resort if we stayed for weeks. Well, no matter what our choice is, to make it a perfect place to stay during our vacation, we should adjust the place with our need and budget.

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