Skip to content

My Wonderful Solo Female Holiday in Vilamoura 🇵🇹

Here’s how an argument led to my first solo female holiday in the Algarve and started my love for solo female travel.

Several years ago I took a trip with a friend – an ex-partner.

We had travelled together several times before and things were mostly OK.

It didn’t start well but I am grateful for that argument because without it I may not have experienced the joy of solo travel.

👇 Quick Links to Great Deals 👇

great flight deals with kayak
hotels on booking.com
hotels at hotels.com
self catering places on vrbo

Solo Female Holiday in Vilamoura – A Very Bumpy Start

Previously when travelling together we had stayed in adjoining rooms. This had worked well given we both live on our own, used to our beds and our bathrooms.

However, for this trip, we broke our golden rule and shared a room, including in the UK on the first night before we left.

That was a big mistake!

The resentment started building on our first night when he decided to watch football until late, even though I was exhausted from being busy at work.

To try and reduce this issue we upgraded to a suite in the Vilamoura Garden Hotel where we were staying.

After a pleasant evening, we went to our room. He went to bed at 9 pm but I wasn’t ready for sleep then which didn’t go down very well.

A restless night resulted in neither of us sleeping well and him moving to the sofa in the lounge, before heading off for a super early breakfast while I was still asleep.

After heading down for a late breakfast he started telling me how unreasonable I was being.

I stopped and thought about the experience so far.

It was my holiday as much as his, so why should I be the one doing all the compromising? I paid for half the holiday the same as he did.

At that moment I decided that what I wanted was equally important in terms of the holiday experience and if he didn’t want to consider that I would leave.

I sat down in the hotel reception and found a nearby hotel that had availability.

Within 30 minutes I had packed my stuff, jumped in the car was there.

solo female holiday in vilamoura post picture showing my feet while sitting by the pool

Starting my Solo Female Holiday in Vilamoura

The hotel I moved to was the Pestana Vila Sol. It’s a resort-style hotel, based around a golf course and swimming pools.

My room was available for early check-in and off I went.

The accommodation is small bungalow-type rooms with terraces overlooking green areas and ponds.

It was bliss. The lounger on the terrace looked across the pond area and the indoor swimming pool was steps away.

I settled in for a day of doing not much at all, just enjoying myself.

I loved being able to do exactly what I wanted. I lounged, I napped, I swam, I read and I poked about the hotel.

I had dinner on my own, enjoying a rare drink and sitting outside in the warm evening air.

Solo Female Holiday in Vilamoura

First Solo Exploring

On the second day of my solo adventure, I explored the local area. It was great. I found a local hairdresser and got a haircut, checked out the local marina and visited a museum.

I went to the local supermarket and stocked up on goodies so I could eat in my little bungalow. I walked down to the town and found a great coffee shop.

Sitting at the table listening to the locals I realised that I was on my own, in another country, doing what I wanted.

I knew there and then that I wanted to do more.

solo female holiday in vilamoura photo showing coffee

Solo Female Holiday in Vilamoura

Solo Exploring in My Little Hire Car

On the third day, I did a circular drive. It’s something I love doing whether I am home or away.

I took my little hire car and disappeared into the hills behind the Algarve, getting away from the tourists and the beaches.

I discovered beautiful villages and amazing scenery, which I would not have found if I hadn’t been on my own.

At one stop I wandered into a tiny village centre to a cafe run by two locals, clearly for the locals. I sat outside with my tiny black coffee and cried.

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the village was amazing and I had found it all myself.

It felt as if it was meant to be.

Something in me had shifted and I knew that I could travel on my own – something I had never done before.

I finished my drive with a stop in the beautiful town of Loule, checking out the local market and enjoying a meal.

I had been to Loule before when leading a coach holiday in the area. This time I enjoyed being back and visiting the wonderful market without having to check the time.

I didn’t have to get back early so I could be ahead of the group, and I didn’t have to worry about where I went or what I did, because no one was expecting me.

As I got back to my little bungalow I felt proud of myself – something that didn’t happen that often.

I felt liberated from having to work around the expectations, demands and wishes of others.

I did exactly what I wanted to do.

solo female holiday in vilamoura photo showing loule main street

Vilamoura For Solo Female Travellers

The Algarve is a great destination for solo female travellers, and Vilamoura is ideal if you want to avoid the busy spots of Faro and Albufeira.

It’s easy to get to from the UK, with budget flights heading to Faro.

It is easy to get around, either using local transport or by hiring a car.

The area is popular with tourists, many from the UK. That said there are less visited spots to explore and spots that are more popular with Spanish and Portuguese travellers too.

The Algarve area has a huge variety of different resorts. There’s everything from the busy and touristy Albufeira to pretty towns like Tavira.

The beaches along the Algarve are amazing – huge expanses of white and golden sand to enjoy.

There is also amazing wildlife to be seen, particularly around the Rio Formosa area.

The Algarve would be a great first trip as a solo female traveller. It’s familiar enough to make it fun, but not too challenging.

It’s a great place to build your confidence before heading off to somewhere a bit more adventurous.

The Algarve is a great value destination, particularly out of season where November and February can be quite mild – especially for those of us used to the Scottish Highlands!

For me, Vilamoura was the place where I discovered my love of solo travel.

That’s why I am ever grateful for that argument.

Solo Female Holiday in Vilamoura Conclusion

  • A solo female holiday in the Algarve is a great way to start your solo travel experiences – it’s affordable, easy to get to, and very safe to visit.
  • The Algarve is a popular destination with lots of different activities and experiences to enjoy.

Melanie Newdick Independent Travel Agent

You Might Also Like

If you have found my solo female holiday in Vilamoura article useful you might also like;

Is Vilamoura Expensive?

Is Vilamoura Safe?

Where to Stay in Vilamoura

My complete Vilamoura Holiday review

Further Reading

Tags:
error: Content is protected !!