As travel and tourism awards go, winning ‘Best Country in the World’ is right up there. And particularly when the accolade is a reader’s choice award, reflecting the genuine popularity of a destination. Hearty congratulations are due to Portugal, therefore, for romping to victory as Condé Nast Traveller’s best country in the world 2021, as voted for by thousands of readers.
“Portugal is a wonderful country, so full of charm and with so much to discover. It is lovely to see that my home nation is recognised with this award. It feels very well deserved,” says Alda Filipe, Sales and Marketing Director, Kronos Homes.
From its bustling, cosmopolitan cities to the smallest of sleepy fishing villages, Portugal has a rich and varied culture, along with some incredible natural landscapes. The local food and wine and the weather also, no doubt, played their part in the voting.
Portugal has long been a favourite with international visitors. In 2019, the capital city of Lisbon was the most visited location, attracting some 5.9 million international tourists, while the southern Algarve region came second. The Algarve’s stunning beaches and world-class golfing facilities attracted just shy of 3.6 million international visitors in 2019, as well as nearly 1.5 million domestic tourists.
The region is home to the 5* luxury Palmares Ocean Living & Golf resort, which scooped an award of its own last month, winning the Tourism category in Portugal’s National Real Estate Awards for its new clubhouse. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning RCR Arquitectes on behalf of owner and operator Kronos Homes, the clubhouse is the social hub of the resort, which is also home to a beautiful 27-hole golf course, designed by American architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. There’s a new cocktail bar and a fine-dining restaurant presided over by Michelin-starred executive chef Louis Anjos.
The facilities at the nearby Amendoeira Golf Resort are equally impressive, with visitors enjoying two prize-winning 18-hole golf courses, a nine-hole course, a golf academy, a FIFA-grade football pitch, five-a-side pitches, tennis courts, padel courts and a gym. The on-site clubhouse, restaurant and sports bar provide plenty of options for relaxation, as does the kilometre-long walking track that winds through the resort’s landscaped gardens.
Homes at both Palmares Ocean Living and Amendoeira Golf Resort have proven popular over the past few years, as Kronos Homes’ Sales and Marketing Director, Alda Filipe, explains: “We’ve found is that holidaymakers come to Portugal and are captivated by the country’s magic. They want to form a deeper connection with it – something more than just a fortnight’s visit. They want to be part of the best country in the world!”
