'I visited the world's best beach three hours from the UK - it's perfect for a winter getaway'
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To escape the November chill of the UK, I travelled to sunny Vilamoura in Portugal - and at a balmy 22 degrees upon my arrival, it was soon clear I'd made the right decision. Part of the Algarve's 'Golden Triangle', stylish Vilamoura is famed for its lush green gold courses and elegant marina filled with luxury yachts - but you don't have to be a celebrity to enjoy its various delights. Indeed, as I was about to discover, some of the coastal resort's most alluring attractions won't cost you a penny. And you can absolutely tick off plenty of must-sees in a day.
Following a three-hour flight from Liverpool, it took me around 24 minutes to get from Faro Aiport to the Quarteira region, a pretty seaside area that merges with upmarket Vilamoura. Have you got a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com. From there, I headed over to Praia da Falésia, which was this year crowned the best beach in the world by TripAdvisor. Now, as much as I enjoyed the culinary wonders of this true foodie haven, the most incredible part of my trip had to be my sunset visit to Falésia. And nothing can quite prepare you for how spectacular it actually is.
All red and orange hues amid the gold, Praia da Falésia is otherworldly in its rugged beauty, particularly at this late hour when the cliffs almost seemed to glow in the setting sun, lighting up the ocean with firey flecks of amber. If you're the sort of adventurous beachgoer who prefers exploring to kicking back with a paperback, then this will absolutely be up your street.
