The Algarve is the best-kept secret of French and Belgian families. Cheaper than the Balearics, more authentic than the Costa del Sol, and breathtaking beaches. But between the dream and reality, there's sometimes a gap you only see once you're there.
You've booked a villa in Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo or Lagos. Private pool, garden, Atlantic views. The setting is perfect. Now, let's talk about what can turn this dream into daily stress.
The Algarve: 3 zones, 3 vibes
Before going further, let's map out the different zones as they don't offer the same advantages:
The "Golden Triangle"
Quinta do Lago • Vale do Lobo • VilamouraThe most luxurious. Golf courses, beach clubs, high-end villas. Affluent international clientele. Perfect infrastructure.
Villas: €8,000 - €25,000/week
✓ Restaurants and services nearby
✗ "Resort" feel, less authentic
Lagos & the West
Lagos • Praia da Luz • SagresMore authentic, wilder. Spectacular cliffs, small coves, surf and nature vibes.
Villas: €4,000 - €12,000/week
✓ Authentic Portugal, better value
✗ More isolated, fewer facilities
Tavira & the East
Tavira • Olhão • CabanasThe most preserved. Ria Formosa, deserted islands, traditional architecture. Low tourism.
Villas: €3,000 - €8,000/week
✓ Tranquility, total authenticity
✗ Far from everything, limited restaurants
The 5 mistakes that ruin holidays
After several seasons cooking in Algarve villas, I've identified the same mistakes that come up systematically.
-
Underestimating distances
"It's Portugal, it's small." Wrong. Your isolated villa might be 25 minutes from the first decent supermarket (Continente, Pingo Doce). And 25 minutes in the Algarve in summer, with traffic, can become 45.
-
Thinking "everything is cheaper"
Yes, Portugal is cheaper than France on average. But in the Golden Triangle, restaurant prices rival Saint-Tropez. A dinner for 6 in a good restaurant in Quinta do Lago: €300-400.
-
Not booking restaurants
"We'll sort it out when we're there." In August, good restaurants are fully booked by 6pm for the 9pm sitting. Particularly true for sea-view addresses or "places to be" like certain beach clubs.
-
Forgetting Portuguese dining times
Lunch is between 1pm and 3pm, dinner rarely before 8:30pm. With children hungry at 7pm after a day at the beach, it's a daily headache.
-
Thinking "we'll do BBQs"
Excellent idea... if you've planned who's doing the shopping, who's marinating the meat, who's managing the fire, who's watching the kids during all that, and who's cleaning up after. BBQ on holiday is often a full-time job in disguise.
What you'll actually eat
The Algarve has incredible gastronomic wealth. But you still need to be able to enjoy it:
🐟 The locals' secret
The best fish isn't found in tourist restaurants. It's bought in the morning at Olhão market or the Quarteira fish auction, and simply grilled with olive oil and coarse salt.
Problem: who goes to the market at 7am on holiday? And who knows how to grill a whole sea bream to perfection?
The typical week scenario
Land at Faro, pick up the car, 45 min to the villa. Arrive 5pm. The fridge is empty. Trip to the nearest Pingo Doce. Back at 7:30pm, everyone's hungry. Pasta.
Beach in the morning, pool in the afternoon. 6pm: "What are we eating?" Someone improvises with what's there. Kids eat crisps while waiting for it to be ready.
Booking found for 9:30pm (the only slot available). 25 min drive. Kids fall asleep over their prawns. Hefty bill. Back at the villa at midnight.
"BBQ tonight!" Return trip to supermarket for meat. The charcoal takes an hour to be ready. We eat at 10pm. Washing up finished at 11:30pm.
The same cycle repeats. The "who's doing what" discussions become tense. Someone points out they've cooked 3 nights in a row. Atmosphere.
The realistic options
Option 1: Do everything yourself
- Grocery budget: ~€350-400/week
- Total freedom over menus
- No booking stress
- 15-20h of "work" over the week
- Shopping 2-3 times (supermarkets not always nearby)
- It's not a holiday for whoever's managing
- You miss out on the exceptional local produce
Option 2: Restaurants
- Gastronomic discovery
- No cooking or washing up
- Budget: €1,500-2,500/week (dinners for 6)
- Bookings complicated in high season
- Late dining times (9pm minimum)
- Evening drives (sometimes winding roads)
- You don't enjoy your ocean-view terrace
Option 3: Private chef
- Zero mental load (shopping, cooking, service, cleaning)
- Market produce (fish from the auction, local vegetables)
- Adapted meals: kids' menu early, gourmet menu for adults
- You enjoy YOUR terrace with the VIEW
- Discover real Portuguese and French cuisine
- Cataplana prepared in front of you, perfectly grilled fish
- Budget: €400-600/day all-inclusive
- That's €2,800-4,200 for 7 days
- Advance booking recommended (especially July-August)
Comparison
| Solution | Budget | Meal quality | Real rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total self-catering | ~€400 | Variable | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Restaurants every night | ~€2,000 | Good | ★★★☆☆ |
| Mix (3 restaurants + cooking) | ~€1,000 | Variable | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Private chef 7 days | ~€3,500 | Excellent | ★★★★★ |
Who it's really for
A private chef in the Algarve makes sense if:
- You're 6+ people (extended family, friends)
- You have children with different schedules to adults
- You want to discover real Portuguese gastronomy
- Your villa has a terrace/outdoor kitchen you want to use
- Past holidays spent cooking have frustrated you
- You've invested a substantial budget in the rental
If you're a couple who love cooking together and discovering local markets, it's probably not for you. And that's absolutely fine.
Adam went to Olhão market at 7am. That evening, we had an absolutely incredible seafood cataplana, prepared in our outdoor kitchen facing the sunset. The kids had already had their homemade fish fingers at 7pm and were playing in the garden. We dined at 9pm, in peace. The dream.
Planning a trip to the Algarve?
I travel across the whole Algarve: Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo,
Vilamoura, Lagos, Tavira...
Let's discuss your project — no obligation.
In summary
The Algarve is an exceptional destination. The beaches, the light, the people, the gastronomy — it's all there.
But a dream villa doesn't guarantee a dream holiday. What makes the difference is being able to enjoy that setting instead of being overwhelmed by it.
Whatever your choice, think about the meal question before you leave. Not on day 3, when the fridge is empty and everyone's tired.
Boas férias. 🇵🇹
About the author: Adam Brunet has been a private chef since 2018. He cooks in villas and chalets in France, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland, with a particular fondness for Portuguese Atlantic produce.