NAU Sao Rafael Suites
Albufeira
In the quaint town of Sao Rafael lies the stunning, secluded, five-star NAU Sao Rafael Suite Hotel just 30 minutes from Faro airport and five minutes from the old fishing town of Albufeira. It is situated beside a beautiful golden beach and offers all the facilities and service you would expect of a five-star hotel including an on-site spa whose specialist treatment is the hot stone massage, a Jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath. The hotel offers a high quality all-inclusive concept that is very popular with golfing groups and a nice range of accommodation types, but all rooms are light and airy and tastefully furnished with large verandas. Facilities at the hotel are superb which include three outdoor swimming pools, a tennis court, an 18-hole putting green, a multi-purpose grass pitch, a relaxing spa and four incredible restaurants. The Herdade dos Salgados Golf Club is just five minutes from the hotel and the fantastic Morgado and Alamos golf courses are just 25 minutes away.
Faro Airport
47km
England’s best golf tour operator 2026 winner
Time Zone:
GMT+0
Currency:
€ (Euro)
Temperature:
8°C - 32°C
Cost of a Beer:
£5
Cost of a 3-Course Meal:
£40
Hashtag Guide
About The Area
Vila Nova de Cacela is a brilliant Eastern Algarve base for a golf holiday, especially for golfers who want quieter surroundings than Vilamoura or Albufeira, but still want excellent courses, beaches and sunshine. It sits close to Cacela Velha, the Ria Formosa and the Spanish border, giving the area a more peaceful, authentic feel than the busier central Algarve.
The big golf draw is Quinta da Ria, set within the Ria Formosa Natural Park. The course is an 18-hole, par-72 layout with Atlantic Ocean and Cacela Velha Beach views, plus strategically placed bunkers and water hazards. Next door, Quinta de Cima adds a more demanding championship-style test, also an 18-hole layout set among lakes, streams, trees and open Algarve landscapes.
Away from golf, this part of the Algarve is made for slower, scenic exploring. Golfers can visit Praia de Cacela Velha, the fortress, the church and viewpoints around Cacela Velha, while nearby Tavira offers historic streets, riverside restaurants, boat trips and access to Ria Formosa islands. The area is also good for cycling, birdwatching, seafood, beach days and day trips to Vila Real de Santo António or across to Spain.
For Hashtag Golf Travel customers, Vila Nova de Cacela works best as a quieter Algarve golf holiday, a winter-sun escape, or a relaxed coastal golf break with strong courses and excellent off-course scenery.
