Check in is from 4pm and check out is before 11am. Your room will be ready from 4pm, we do need that time to prepare and get everything ready for your stay. You can drop your luggage off and we can point you in the right direction for nice coffee, lunch or an afternoon stretch in the yoga class.
In short, plane, train, bus or automobile but if you're flying the closest airport is Faro, and you can easily fly direct here from many European hubs. You can fly return from London for around £100, or from many other European airports for around €140.
For EU flights check out the following budget airlines: easyjet.com / ryanair.com / monarch.co.uk
We tend to browse Skyscanner.net to get the full picture for long-haul flights as they seem to offer the best range of deals from different airlines.
When making your booking you will have the option to add an airport transfer. The price is €100, paid directly to your driver. You will need to let us know your flight number and arrival time via your web check-in, no less than 72 hours before your arrival, otherwise we may not be able to organise your transfer.
If you are coming from another location, please contact VATravel at +351 963 326 578 or at info@vatravel.pt who will be able to arrange your transfer.
If you want to be independent there are numerous car hire companies at Faro airport. With prices starting from around €30 a day, this is a good option if you’re staying longer and want to do some exploring.
Alternatively, there is a shuttle bus that will take you from the airport to Lagos from €20 when booked at least 72 hours in advance. The shuttle bus can drop you at Lagos bus station, where there is also a taxi rank. We are about 10 minutes and €10 away from Lagos. The shuttle bus can be the cheapest option for a reason, with often long waits at the airport and a journey time of 2 or more hours when busy. If your flight is getting in after 5pm and you don’t want to miss the evening activities we advise a quicker option!
Lisbon is a fun city with culture, great food and is well worth adding to your itinerary. But we have found that travelling with surfboards around Lisbon on public transport is not easy and we would suggest hiring a car to make it easier.
The fastest route to us from Lisbon follows the A2 expressway to the Algarve and then the A22 to Lagos. When renting a car be sure to get a transponder that allows you to prepay for the toll roads. You can avoid the toll cost by following the more scenic coastal road but your travel time and fuel cost will double. Prices for car hire start from around €30 a day, more if you want to drop at a different location. Toll roads are around €30 each way.
The cheapest and easiest way to get to Lagos, the closest town to Soul & Surf, is either by bus or by train and there is very little to separate them. You can get a direct express bus or a slightly more relaxing train that requires a connection in Tunes. Both journey times are around four hours and both cost around €20 – €30. There are multiple bus stations in Lisbon, but Sete Rios is the main one, and you should book in advance. The intercity train between Tunes and Lisbon must be pre-booked and tickets for the full journey can be purchased from any train station or online.
We've compiled a handy guide to travelling with the minimum of plastic – and certainly nothing that’s single-use. Download it, print it, keep it with your suitcase – and tag us on your travels… let us know how you’re getting on.
Yes! We have 4G routers in the shared living area that serves the main part of the house and outside bar area. This may reach some of the closer rooms but the further away the weaker the signal.
Yes we supply towels for your room and towels for the swimming pool, but please bring your own beach towel.
While none of these wonderful things are actually included in your room price they're all available to be arranged. Check out indicative pricing and contact us if you need more info.
Not included in your stay but also far from discouraged. We have a pay-as-you-go outdoor bar that we’ll keep stocked with local beer & wine for you.
We don’t run two sessions a day – but if you have the energy & ability to surf more and eat less you’re more than welcome to go as many times as you like and we can help you organise that!
We are a 10-minute drive from Lagos and the closest beaches and surf spots. During the summer months we usually head to the west coast, about a 40-minute drive.
The lessons are a mixture of practical work/learning on the beach plus approximately two hours in the ocean. A lesson includes transportation, wetsuit, board and water – we’ll also chuck in some snacks. If you want to bring your own suit we suggest bringing a 4mm or 5mm in the colder months. A 3mm should suffice in the summer, but although the water temperature is warm the wind can often make you feel colder, especially on those early morning dawnies.
They sometimes need to be flexible to allow us to change the times of the surf but that’s about it.
Despite its position in the Atlantic, the Algarve has more of a Mediterranean feel, keeping it warm during the day and slightly cooler as the sun goes down, with a very low chance of rain. On average the Algarve receives 6mm of rain per month. Just so you don’t tempt fate, bring a waterproof and a warm jumper or two for the cooler evenings.
For surfing, you’ll be needing a wetsuit. A 4/3 or a 3/2 are both good for those Atlantic rollers, depending on the time of year and how comfortable you are in cooler waters. Bring your own for comfort, otherwise we can supply you one for the week.
Yes, some very good ones in Lagos and Sagres that have you covered. No doubt we’ll stop in at one or two throughout your stay. Don’t be offended if we don’t visit them with you, our willpower is weak and we will spend a month’s wages in a day if we could!
If you don’t have your own transport and you’re not joining the lessons - but you would like to go to the same beach as the surfers - we can arrange transportation to the beach with prior notice. The Good Feeling (who we partner with to deliver our surf sessions) charge 25 Euros for transport to the beach and back. We also can’t guarantee that there will always be space in the vehicles heading to the beach.
The surf lesson price is all inclusive so we are not able to offer a reduction in rate. However, our head surf coach will talk to you on arrival about how you can make the most of your time with us in the water if you are not joining the lesson.
You can drop your luggage here and we can point you in the right direction for nice coffee, breakfast or our favourite lunch spots in Lagos.
Taxis and Ubers are easily available – Uber is usually the easiest as you don’t need cash.
Portugal has 220 volt electricity and uses the European twin pin type E or F plug.
The currency used here in Portugal is the Euro, and providing you have the relevant funds in your account you can get cash out at many of the ATM’s in the area. Check this useful site for current conversion rates. Most major places accept credit and debit cards but some smaller local places do not, so carry a few Euros around for an espresso or an ice cream.
Check out the local town of Lagos with its beautiful beaches, marina, cobbled streets and a wide variety of food.
Golf? This area has, apparently, many world class golf resorts and courses where you can bat a ball until your heart’s content.
Seriously though, there’s loads to see and do in the Algarve, we can’t even begin to list everything you could do on a holiday here. We've had a really good stab at creating our own version of Lonely Planet for you though, and compiled our very own insider's guide to the Algarve.
You really can travel light and most things are easily available here thanks to the expat community but here is a quick reminder list of some basics to bring.
There is a fairly small hospital in Lagos that can deal with minor scrapes or upsets. For anything bigger, Portimão hospital is only 20 minutes from us and has the best medical facilities in the Algarve.
All you’ll need is your EHIC card or Passport if you are from the European Economic Area and Switzerland…. We’ll see what happens with Brexit for us Brits!
Wi-Fi in the main living area, shared swimming pool, an indoor lounge and covered outdoor eating area, a massage & treatment room, a yoga shala, beautiful and lush gardens, a lemon / citrus grove, fruit trees and an outdoor bar equipped with BBQ, pizza oven and outdoor seating.
Applying for a Portuguese visa is not required for nationalities from the EU countries (who may stay for an unlimited period, but must register with the local authorities after three months). Residents from Australia, Canada, or the USA can stay up to 90 days. Other nationals (including the UK post-Brexit) are advised to check visa requirements.
Not at the dinner table and definitely don’t take it to the yoga shala! Other than that yes. Most international networks work in Portugal, and European providers often include calls, texts and data usage as part of your usual allowance. Charges may apply and will really stack up if you need to use your phone regularly.
We very much welcome families and do what we can to make it affordable and workable with kids, but we have to be realistic too, we’ve got a small number of rooms so we need to charge when they are used.
Our Really Nice Rooms can accommodate up to three guests, making them ideal for families who would like to add an extra camp bed or cot within the living space. Families travelling with more than one child will need to book an additional room, charged at the standard adult rate per person.
Please always contact us before making a booking for any children under 12, including babies.
We love the kids to join in with whatever we can reasonably allow them to do. Surfing is an inherently dangerous activity so we have to have some limitations, check them out below:
Safety and professionalism are the cornerstones of surf coaching at Soul & Surf. This is even truer when working with kids, we cannot ask our instructors to go beyond what their qualifications and governing bodies advise them to.
If you have a child under 12, that would like to join a lesson with the adults, we can offer a private coach for €65 to ensure that they are supervised at all times.
Yes, we do offer shared twin options in our rooms and tents.
If you would like to book for solo occupancy then you can choose one of our private double rooms.
We love dogs but unfortunately we don't allow pets at the property, it wouldn't be fair if another guest had a fear or allergy.