Algarve Elegance: NAU São Rafael Suites and the Allure of Salgados Golf Club
- davidfspinheiro
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
Situated on Portugal’s golden Algarve coast, NAU São Rafael Suites embodies the effortless blend of contemporary luxury and coastal charm that traveling golfers crave. This 5 star All-Inclusive retreat, just minutes from Albufeira’s dazzling beaches and enthusiastic nightlife, offers a mix of spacious suites and family friendly accommodation, all styled with clean lines and a Mediterranean palette. Guests can unwind in the indulgent wellness spa, sip cocktails beside two turquoise pools, or savor refined Portuguese cuisine in the hotel’s fine dining restaurant.
NAU São Rafael Suites gets some bonus points not only for its location: just a short drive delivers you from pampered comfort to one of the region’s most intriguing fairways, Salgados Golf Club, but also for the fact that the hotel it’s now equipped with two golf simulators that you can use to warm up before your round, or practice your swing on a day off away from the fairways.
Salgados Golf is no ordinary Algarve course. Designed with a nod to links traditions, the 18 hole layout unfolds alongside a protected coastal lagoon, where saltwater marshes, boardwalks, and birdlife create both a visual spectacle and a formidable test. Water comes into play on nearly
every hole, demanding precision off the tee and rewarding bold shot making. The par 5 6th, with its risk/reward carry over marshland, and the picturesque par 3 15th, framed by swaying palms, stand out as indelible highlights. Flat terrain and cooling Atlantic breezes make walking the course a pleasure, but its strategic demands ensure it lingers in the memory long after the final putt drops.
For those looking to extend their golf tour, NAU São Rafael Suites offers enviable proximity to some of the Algarve’s most celebrated courses. Just 15 minutes inland lies Amendoeira Golf Resort, home to two championship layouts, including a Sir Nick Faldo design that marries rugged terrain with sweeping vistas. Pine Cliffs, perched dramatically on seaside cliffs only 20 minutes away, is famed for its iconic “Devil’s Parlour” par 3, where tee shots soar over a red rock ravine to a green overlooking the Atlantic. Meanwhile, the legendary golf hubs of Vilamoura, Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago are just 30 to 40 minutes east, placing a dozen world class courses within easy reach, while the Pestana courses in Carvoeiro beckon golfers 30 minutes west with their blend of rolling parkland and coastal charm.
But the Algarve is not defined by golf alone. Beyond the fairways, guests can embark on unforgettable explorations, from venturing into the Benagil Cave, an otherworldly sea cave accessible by boat or kayak, to basking on São Rafael Beach, one of Europe’s most picturesque stretches of sand, just a stone’s throw from the resort. Add in charming local markets, fresh seafood dining by the marina, and golden sunsets over the Atlantic, and the region reveals itself as a playground for all the senses.
For the a keen golfer seeking a destination where championship play and coastal luxury converge, NAU São Rafael Suites and Salgados Golf Club deliver a rare promise: a golf holiday where every day begins with possibility and ends with indulgence. In the Algarve, golf is more than a sport, it’s a way of experiencing the good life.
