Couples valentine at AIA Algarve

To celebrate Valentine’s day the Algarve international autodrome and the karting track of the Algarve joined in perfect harmony to provide all couples with a unique experience at unbeatable prices.

Algarve Car Hire valentines day at AIA

There’s no excuse not to give your loved one a unique day out. There is not only one surprise but three: 25% discount in all racing school trials, 25% discount on all merchandise in our stores and 15 minutes free in kart racing for your more beloved one.

Do you want to miss this opportunity? Come and visit us now. The Algarve Motor Park complex is being developed to provide comprehensive facilities for all divisions of the motor industry and events companies, for the testing and development of their products.

In addition there will be opportunities for the public to enjoy the many other facilities such as track days, karting, and an excellent sports complex. To make it easier for visitors there will be a choice of on site hotel or apartment accomodation.

We look forward to seeing you and assure you of a very warm welcome.

source: algarvemais.com

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Pearls discovered in Algarve oysters

A group of Portuguese researchers has found pearls in oysters growing in various areas of the Algarve.The team described their findings as being incredibly rare and something they had not come across before in their 10 years of observing and studying the species.Made up of researchers Frederico Batista and Ana Grade, of the Tavira Experimental Mollusc-farming Station, which belongs to the IPIMAR institute, and in collaboration with Ms. Deborah Power of the Sea Sciences Centre (CCMAR), the team recently announced they had found pearls in Crassostrea oysters.

Algarve Car Hire and oisters with pearlsOf 756 oysters harvested from different locations across the Algarve, from the Alvor Estuary to the Ria Formosa and Guadiana River, two of them contained pearls.

According to the group one oyster alone contained four pearls, each measuring less than two millimetres in diameter. The other contained a reasonable size single pearl of five millimetres in diameter and weighing 190 milligrams.

This phenomenon is frequently found in other bivalve species, such as oysters from the Pteriidae family, from which pearls can reach a high commercial value.

Pearls are produced by bivalve molluscs and are a defensive reaction by the host to foreign bodies, such as parasites. The invading particle is covered in layers of substance essentially made up of carbonate calcium in the form of aragonite crystals.

As a result of this discovery the team of investigators will now carry out several complementary studies to better understand the phenomenon and understand what factors lead to the development of pearls.

source: algarvemais.com

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Science in Portugal during the Enlightenment

This paper focusse on the introduction , dissemination and propagation of “the new sciences “ in 18^th century portuguese mainland. Although the specific characteristics of the reception of science in various national contexts is a lively topic. The international comunity of historians of science has scarcely adressed the history of science in Portugal. There is no study of the subject per se, and in the most recent work in wish Portugal appears, it is in the context of the history of science in the Iberian Penisula as a whole . It is mislanding to conflate the Portuguese and the Spanish cases; the claim can be made that there is no receved view on the topic of Portuguese science at the level of the international scholarly comunity .

In Portugal itself the situation is quiet different. Although a comunity of professional historians of science has been building up during the last decade, the study of the history of the science of the 18^th century Portugal has been porsued mainly in the context of cultural history. Sporadic contribuitions in the “ évenementielle” genre have been also made by historians and by scientists.However a consistent study of eighteenth-century portuguese science was carried out about over fourthy years by the physics teacher, pedagogue, poet, and historian of science Ramalho de Carvalho (1906-1997). Romulo de Carvalho belonged to a descriptive tradition that has produced many detailed and highly erudit accounts. He contributed case studies, general works and various papers taking a somewhat a Wiggish approacth to the eighteenth-century portuguese scientific context. He focussed almost exclusively on lasting contributions to scientific disciplines such as physics, emphasizing the role modernity was defined loosely as everything wich opposed Aristotelianism and Scholasticism. In the final years of the seventeenth cemtury, the growing emphasis on scientific and and technological research defined a new epistemological frame work that called for a radical change in the relation between theory and practice. The reinterpretation of Aristotle was insufficient, and a new phylosophy, a new physics and a new methodology were requiered.

The practice of experiment as a crucial element in the new epistemological context was to have one of its strongest pillars in the Oratorians. The oratorian João Baptista (1705-1761) was one of those who fought Scholasticism, attempted to rehabilitate Aristotle by showing how his texts has been generally distorced by portuguese commentators, and reconstructed what he considered to be the genuine Aristotelian phylospy in the book Philosphia Aristotelica Restituta (1748) in wich Baptista reconciled Aristotelianism with Newtonian Physics. From 1737, he became the most influential Oratorian advocating experimental philosophy in the court of king João V.

Read full story at Portugal Car Hire site http://www.portugalcars.co.uk

 

Ryanair launches prepaid mastercard

Ryanair is planning to introduce the ‘Ryanair Cash Passport’, a MasterCard prepaid card which it claims will enable passengers to avoid its booking fee.

Algarve Car Hire Ryanair

Ryanair’s £6 admin fee will not apply to UK bookings completed with Ryanair Cash Passport from 4th October onward.

However bookings made with any other UK MasterCard prepaid card will attract Ryanair’s £6 admin fee from 1st November 2011 onwards.

Ryanair claims that the Cash Passport, which will be managed by Access Prepaid Worldwide, will deliver a number of benefits for cardholders ranging from a special introductory offer, to the waiver of transactions fees for payments made online.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said: “Ryanair’s £6 admin fee will not apply to any bookings made with ‘Ryanair Cash Passport’ and there are no transaction charges for using the card at UK merchants until 31st March 2012, so we recommend that UK passengers make the switch to ‘Ryanair Cash Passport’ as soon as possible to take advantage of the no fee offer.”

source: algarveautorental.com

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A girl’s guide to the Algarve…

It’s as famous for golf courses as beaches. But Portugal’s Algarve coast has much more than fine ­fairways and sandy coves. The region is fast developing another ­reputation – as a spa capital of the continent. The very best of them is an ­underground pamper-fest, complete with underwater hydro-beds and tropical rain showers as well as a fully stocked bar… just in case you fancy a vodka and tonic after your radiance facial at Hilton’s Seven Spa in Vilamoura.

But if you’re looking for ­something different again, them sublime Monte do Casal hotel runs gourmet cookery courses.

You can learn how to rustle up Algarvean dishes in between massages in the lovely grounds.

For something a little more ­adventurous, try a jeep safari or go quad biking in fig and orange groves with Quad Ventura.

There are plenty of boat trips around the Ria Formosa Natural Park (around 20 euros).

They’re great for bird watching – and include a stop on a deserted beach.

Or you can drop into one of the many water parks to sunbathe – or hurtle down a slide at top speed on a sled. At ZooMarine in Guia one of the treats is swimming with dolphins but you need to book well in advance.

If it’s the food and wines that lure you here, check out Cliff Richard’s Vida Nova at the Adego do Cantor vineyard.

Then indulge yourself in one of the myriad restaurants with fantastic fresh seafood.

Dressed crab at Albufeira Fisherman’s Tavern is wonderful – and affordable.

But nothing quite beats the breathtaking views from Restaurante Pedras Amarelas as the Atlantic rollers crash against the rocks at lovely Praia da Gale along the coast.

The local markets – Saturday to Wednesday – are best for shopping. Splash out on pottery, decorated tiles, crystal, copperware, embroidered tablecloths, filigree jewellery and cork products.

Or head to the capital, Faro, and the peaceful cobbled streets of the old town. In spring its trees are heavy with ripening oranges.

Hire a car and you can cover the whole Algarve coast in a week. Algarve Car Hire is available at cheap inclusive price with deliveries all over the Algarve

Go west for the best beaches – Carvoiera’s pretty Dues Canaries or quaint Praia da Luz with its imposing sea walls and wonderful, family-friendly promenade.

But stop off en route for a night of karaoke and cocktails in lively Albufeira.

Further east is Tavira, reputed to be one of the Algarve’s prettiest towns and home to an observatory.

They say the sky here is the clearest in Europe. Book ahead and catch the stars…

Book your stay now at Algarve hotel bookings

Martinhal Beach Resort, Sagres, Algarve

Teresa Machan checks into the Martinhal Beach Resort, an eco-friendly hotel in a wind-whipped corner of the Algarve.

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Natural timber, local cane and stone and recycled cork combines with warm furnishings

By Teresa Machan

The location

Overlooking a wild sweep of beach on the south-west tip of the Algarve, within Costa Vicentina national park. The fishing port of Sagres is nearby and Faro airport is a 90-minute drive away.

We like

Recycled materials and a low-rise design help the hotel buildings blend into the rugged landscape. Natural timber, local cane and stone and recycled cork, teamed with warm furnishings, lend Martinhal a “homespun contemporary” feel. Everywhere you look there is snooze-on-me furniture inviting you to do just that.

The rooms

My timber-clad “beach room” had a decked, bay-facing balcony and the bathroom came with separate shower and oversized tub. Artisan skills are rekindled in the cute cork tables and stools, and cane-woven lamps made from Algarvian reeds.

Not so keen

Although sheltered by Algarve standards, wind-whipped Martinhal Bay won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Some of the newly planted foliage has yet to take hold, but a coastal path to the wild-flower-strewn headland is seconds away.

The food and drink

Lunch on the terrace at the chic As Dunas can slip languorously into cocktail hour. Line-caught fish, fleshy hoops of grilled squid, just-landed oysters and clams, and a peculiar delicacy called perceves, a goose-necked barnacle resembling dinosaur toes, were accompanied by a crisp Portuguese white. O Terraco serves breakfast and gourmet fare, including the chef’s sublime starter of sea urchin with scrambled egg served in a half-urchin shell (at €49/£40 the six-course tasting menu is excellent value for money). The lounge area doubles as a bar. The 112-strong wine selection is exclusively Portuguese.

The spa

The Finisterra Spa opens on July 1. Martinhal is a great walking and jogging beach. Also available are surfing, scuba diving, windsurfing, riding, jeep safaris, nature walks, gourmet picnics and (at preferential rates) golf.

The other guests

A sophisticated crowd of British and Continentals. Many locals visit O Terraco.

Access for guests with disabilities

One adapted terrace room. All public areas including As Dunas and the Beach Club are wheelchair-accessible.

The bottom line

Terrace room doubles from £105 with breakfast.

The details

Martinhal Beach Resort and Hotel, Apartado 54, Sagres, 8650-908, Portugal. (00351 282 620 026; www.martinhal.com)

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Three Things you have to do in Madeira

The Portuguese island of Madeira has managed to amass quite the collection of aliases – The Floating Garden, Pearl of the Atlantic, The Island of Eternal Spring – and it won’t take long for you to see just how apt they are once you arrive on this Mediterranean wonder.

 

Madeira Holidays

Underwater Paradise

It’s not only on-land that Madeira gets to impress though, with things under the waves being even more alluring than their above-water counterparts. Its proximity to the Gulf Stream ensures warm waters, and as the shoreline falls within the islands Parcial do Garajau Nature Reserve the protected inhabitants of the area features some truly spectacular plant and sea life.

Amongst the highlights are the colossal Atlantic Manta Ray, the wreck submerged ship Madeirense and Europe’s most endangered mammal, the monk seal. Whether free-diving, scuba diving or snorkelling, you can be sure of a truly once-in-a-lifetime underwater experience.

Park Life

The islands subtropical climate means that public parks are so much more that the meagre displays we’re used to in Northern Europe, the parks of Madeira positively exploding with diverse and show-stopping displays.

Capital city Funchal, in particular, offers visitors an incredible selection, from the jungle of Orchids at Jardim Orquidea to the Oriental majesty of the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, but for the best all-round experience it has to be Santa Catarina Park. Its views alone are worth the visit, blessed with a glorious panoramic perspective of Funchal harbour, but be sure to seek out the various historic statues dotted about the park as well as looking around the parks chapel.

Walk On

Behind the beauty of the gardens belies an infrastructure of island-wide waterways that have acted over the years to ensure Madeira is properly irrigated. The Levada’s, as they’re known, run alongside pathways that conveniently wind their way through many of the islands most beautiful and view-laden areas, these trails proving to be one of the islands most popular activities.

Some paths will lead you alongside waterfalls, other offering breath-taking views of the colourful gardens below, but all are sure to convince you that the islands many names are all worthy titles.

 

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BA Adds Faro and Malaga to London City Connections

British Airways has added two new routes to Faro and Malaga from London City Airport, giving passengers more options for travelling to Spain and Portugal this summer.

Holidaymakers wanting the convenience of the London airport, close to Central London and the Canary Wharf business district, will now be able to find leisure flights to Malaga – gateway to Spain’s Costa del Sol. Fans of the Algarve will also appreciate the option of finding cheap flights to Faro from the London hub.

Four weekly services to Faro have been added by BA, along with three to the Spanish city, and BA has also boosted its leisure flight offering from London City with added flights to Nice in France until September. British Airways subsidiary BA CityFlyer has also announced it will increase flights to Ibiza and Mallorca between July and September, tapping into increased demand from customers wanting flights out of London City Airport.

Luke Hayhoe, commercial manager at BA, said that the additional leisure routes were in direct response to customer demand: “They proved so popular, particularly during the summer months, that we have decided to expand them further this year. The addition of two extra aircraft to the fleet means we can also offer year-round services to the summer and winter sun destinations of Malaga and Faro.”

In a recently-published list of tips for families looking to reduce stress when travelling abroad, using smaller regional airports was recommended rather than the busier and more sprawling large hubs. Holidaymakers in and around London seem to have embraced this idea, and BA has been quick to capitalise on the increased demand.

source: UK travel news

Algarve Car Hire is available at cheap prices with rental cars delivered to Faro airport or to your holiday accommodation throughout the Algarve.

European Tourism in 2011

The European Travel Commission (ETC) has just published its first quarterly report on European Tourism in 2011 – Trends & Prospects. The following g

ives a brief overview of the report for the first quarter of 2011.

• Destination and industry data indicate a positive start to 2011. Foreign visito r arr ivals were reported higher through the beginning months of the year by most destinations.
• Both airline and hotel industry data confirm the continuation of travel growth to Europe, however at a more measured pace than experienced during the peak growth periods of 2010.
• International passenger traffic to Europe outpaced global growth over the first two months of the year. European airlines also report growth in traffic over the first 14 weeks of 2011, but growth has slowed over recent weeks.
• Hotel occupancy has i mproved further, but appears to have peaked. Average Daily Rates continue to push up across Europe in response to demand.
• We expect the overall growth trend to slow in 2011 as comparisons are made to stronger performance in 2010 and high energy prices affect both disposable income and transportation costs.
• Wage spiral inflation is unlikely in the developed economies as unemployment and spare capacity persist. Capacity utilisation is higher in emerging markets where food and energy prices are also having a bigger impact, thus more monetary tightening is expected.
• The aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake will affect the Japanese economy and consequently outbound travel considerably in the short run. Japan is likely to briefly re-enter recession in 2011 with a 10% drop in outbound travel. A considerable rebound is expected on both fronts in 2012.
• Capacity of European airlines continues to expand, carrying on the trend from late 2010. Capacity surged between late 2010 and early 2011, averaging a 7.8% increase in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) over the first 14 weeks of 2011. This should translate into competitive fares and act as a driver to travel demand over the next 6-8 months.

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UK Airports & Airlines flying into Faro Airport

UK Airports & Airlines flying into Faro Airport

Here you can find some indication of which airports in the UK operate direct flights to Faro we have taken each region and provided detailed information on which airlines fly into Portugal. Please bear in mind that these routes can vary depending on the time of year with fewer flights operating over the winter months.

Ryan Air Flight to Algarve PortugalFrom Ireland you can fly from Cork Airport to Faro with Aerlingus or Ryanair: Derry Airport to Faro with Ryanair from Dublin to Faro with Aerlingus and Ryanair or from Belfast International Airport to Faro you have a good choice with Aer Lingus, flythomascook, Thomson Flights and easyJet all operating flights into the Algarve.

Starting with the North of England, from Scotland you can fly from Glasgow Airport to Faro with Thomson Flights, flythomascook.com charter and easyJet and from Edinburgh Airport to Faro with Jet2.com and Ryanair.

Fly from Blackpool Airport to Faro with Jet2.com: you can fly from Liverpool Airport to Faro with Ryanair or easyJet: Manchester Airport to Faro with Monarch, flythomascook, Jet2.com and Thomson Flights: Newcastle Airport to Faro with easyJet, flythomascook, Thomson Flights: Doncaster Sheffield Airport to Faro with easyJet and Thomson Flights and from Leeds Bradford Airport to Faro with Ryanair, flythomascook and Jet2.com.

You can fly from Birmingham Airport to Faro with Ryanair, flythomascook, bmibaby, Thomson Fly and Monarch or alternatively fly from Nottingham East Midlands Airport to Faro with Ryanair,Thomson Flights, flythomascook.com.charter and bmibaby.

There are three London Airports which offer flights direct to Faro: London Gatwick Airport to Faro with easyJet, flythomascook, Monarch, Thomson Flights and British Airways: London Stansted to Faro with Ryanair, Thomson Flights, Air Berlin and easyJet and Luton Airport to Faro with flythomascook, Monarch, Thomson Flights.

In Wales you can fly from Cardiff Airport to Faro with flythomascook, bmibaby and Thomson Flights.

Down in the south flights from Bristol Airport to Faro are offered by easyJet, flythomascook, Thomson Flights and Ryanair: if you live in Devon you can fly from Exeter Airport to Faro with Flybe and Thomson Flights: flights from Bournemouth Airport to Faro are offered by Ryanair or you can fly from Southampton Airport to Faro with Flybe.

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