Martinhal Quinta do Lago: The Ultimate Luxury Family Golf Resort in the Algarve, Portugal

We spent five nights at Martinhal Quinta do Lago during March Break, and I have been recommending it to literally everyone who asks about Portugal ever since. This is our full review.

Quinta do Lago is one of the most exclusive addresses in Portugal. Think kid-friendly country club vibes, with perfect pine forests, golf carts, and a very real chance of spotting Cristiano Ronaldo, all while your kids are fully feral at the trampoline. Martinhal sits right in the middle of it, and it manages to be both genuinely swanky and completely dialed in for families. That combination is harder to pull off than you would think, and they nail it.

Martinhal Quinta operates like a gated resort community within the broader Quinta do Lago estate, and you feel it the moment you drive through. Pine trees everywhere, landscaped paths, golf buggies rolling by quietly. The kids can wander freely between the townhouses and the pool without you having to track their every move, and if you have ever spent a family holiday feeling tethered to your kids at a busy hotel entrance, you will immediately appreciate what that means.

The whole place is low-rise and spread out, more like a beautiful residential neighborhood than a hotel. It is the kind of setting that photographs beautifully but more importantly just feels good to actually be in.

We stayed in a 2-bedroom townhouse with a private patio, two full bathrooms, a living area, and enough space that nobody was on top of each other. Separate bedrooms mean everyone actually sleeps, the living room means you have somewhere to decompress after the kids are in bed, and the patio is good for early morning coffee before the chaos kicks in.

Our townhouse also had its own private pool out back. It is unheated, so in March we couldn’t really use it for swimming, but in the summer months that would be a serious upgrade to the stay. Throughout, the quality is exactly what you would expect from Martinhal: good linens, blackout curtains, well stocked kitchen, washer/dryer, and welcome gifts for the kids.

If you're traveling with a baby or toddler, Martinhal's baby concierge service is seriously next level. You can request equipment before you arrive so you don't have to bring any of it yourself, and they can arrange literally anything. What they can have waiting in your room:

• Blackout curtains
• Bottle sterilizer and bottle warmer
• Baby lounger
• Baby carrier
• Stroller
• Diapers and wipes
• Baby bathtub
• Potty
• Baby monitor
• Stair gates
• Cots and toddler beds with bed guards

You travel lights, everything you need is already there, and you don't spend the first hour of your vacay taping black garbage bags to your windows (true story - if you know, you know). This is a detail that REALLY makes a difference when you're travelling with young children.

The pool hangout area is where we spent most of our time, and it earns its place as the heart of the resort and central meeting place. The main outdoor pool is heated and has a water slide, a kids playground including an in-ground trampoline that seemed to pull in every kid in the area, as well as a VW Campervan to play in. There is also the Blue Room with pool and foosball tables, arcade machine, and PlayStation/ Xbox for older kiddos. 

The M Bar serves breakfast poolside, so the kids can have full-on play time while you enjoy your hot coffee in peace. Note: it is a continental spread, not a big hot buffet, and it is not included in the room rate. Good pastries, fresh fruit, coffee, and cheese. We all loved this daily routine. 

You can also grab casual meals and drinks here throughout the day with a kids menu, ice cream bar, and a perfectly relaxed setting. 

Note: March is quieter than summer and the heated pool means you get the full experience without the crowds. The outdoor pool was comfortable even on the cooler days.

Throughout the resort there are tiny fairy doors hidden in unexpected spots, and kids can pick up a map to hunt for all of them. What starts as a short activity on the way back from the pool turns into something the kids talk about for the rest of the trip.

You can also buy the actual fairy doors to take home as a souvenir at Mercado Deli, which is a lovely touch. Martinhal Sagres has the same fairy door hunt, and it's just as fun! Make sure to ask the concierge for a map when you check in.

Here is what most people do not fully clock when they book Martinhal Quinta: you are staying inside one of the most respected golf destinations in Europe. Quinta do Lago has some of the best golf courses in all of Europe, and they are the real deal. The South Course has hosted the Portuguese Open multiple times. These are not resort gimmick layouts built to look good in brochures. Golfers come specifically for them.

For families who love golf and don't know how to make it work with kids, THIS is the answer. Drop the kids off at Kids Club while you play a round, or bring them along to the children's driving range at Koko's or set up junior lessons while you hit balls. Either way, everyone is accounted for and everyone is happy.

The Campus at Quinta do Lago is a world-class fitness facility for the whole family, a short drive from the main resort. Professional athletes train here. This is not a hotel gym situation with three treadmills and a broken cable machine.

The gym is gorgeous, large and fully equipped, there are tennis and padel courts, a swimming pool, and more. Our kids took padel lessons while us parents did a workout, but you can also get them into tennis camps, swimming lessons and seasonal programming. You can grab smoothies, and coffee and admire all the beautiful fit people (with a parking lot full of fancy cars).

Dano's restaurant is also here at The Campus, which is an elevated pub with a stunning interior, outdoor terrace seating and a great playground for kids so they can roam freely while you actually sit down and finish a meal. We spent St. Patrick's Day here and they put on a GREAT celebration! 

The Raposinhos Kids Club is drop-off and runs both morning and afternoon sessions: 9:30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5:30pm. For ages 3 to 8, split into two age groups. There is also a creche for babies aged 6 to 24 months.

They do themed days, story time, puppet shows, arts and crafts, face painting, treasure hunts, and picnics, plus loads of time on the huge outdoor playground. The sessions are long enough that you can actually get a full round of golf in while the kids are sorted.

For golf families especially, this is what makes the whole trip actually work: you play a round, the kids are looked after, and everyone reconvenes at the pool afterward. Nobody misses out.

Evening babysitting is also available through the concierge for an extra fee, and the whole handoff is easy and seamless.

The resort has bikes and helmets available to borrow (including baby seats), and the ride over to the Ria Formosa boardwalk is a short and easy one through the pine trees. The boardwalk takes you through the nature reserve with views over the lagoon and marshlands, and at the end there is a little beach shack where you can have a drink while the kids splash around on the beach. A really good afternoon out.

Artur Water Sports is based at the beach shack and offers boat tours through the Ria Formosa lagoon if you want to explore further. In the summer they also set up an inflatable waterpark with floaties and water slides in the water.

You cannot beat the location. Even though you are just minutes from Faro Airport, you have easy access to a stunning nature reserve with boardwalks and wide sandy beaches, and some of the most charming little Portuguese towns to explore. Here is what we did:

Loule was a real highlight for us. There is a gorgeous Moorish-style covered market, a medieval castle you can climb for views over the town, and a network of artisan streets where you can actually watch copper smiths, potters, palm weavers, and ceramics makers at work. There is also a fish market inside the main market building worth a look. Cool for adults and genuinely interesting for kids too. Twenty minutes from the resort and worth every minute.

• Caldeiraria Louletana copper shop: Rua da Barbaca 26-28

• Loule Criativo clay studio: Rua Martim Moniz 43-45

• Palm Weaving Shop: Rua Vice-Almirante Candido dos Reis 20

• TASA design shop: Rua de Portugal 35B

Faro is about 20 minutes away and makes for a really good half day. Walk through the Arco da Vila gateway into the walled old town and there are storks literally nesting right above your head in the archway, which is one of those things you just have to see. Inside the walls: cobblestone streets, a cathedral you can climb for views over the Ria Formosa, and a bone chapel at the Igreja das Carmelitas that is eerie and fascinating in equal measure. Walk down to the marina afterward and stop at Pastelaria Gardy or Demo Urban Bakery for pastries.

We also came across Flash Invaders, little mosaic street art pieces hidden around the old town. If you follow along on Instagram you know we spent a lot of time hunting these in Paris, so finding them in Faro was a fun surprise.

Do not miss Peacock Park (Parque Laco de Amizade), just outside the old town walls. Peacocks wandering freely, a great playground, and a nice open space to let the kids run. Faro is underrated on almost every Algarve itinerary.

Praia de Quinta do Lago and the surrounding Algarve beaches are wide, soft white sand stretching as far as you can see, backed by dunes and pine trees. In the warmer months the whole stretch comes alive with beach bars and casual restaurants right on the sand, sun loungers to rent, and the kind of setup where you can spend a full day without leaving. The natural park setting keeps it beautiful without getting overdeveloped. We went in March when the weather was not quite beach weather, but even then it was a stunning walk.

• Getting there: Fly into Faro Airport (FAO). Martinhal Quinta is about 20 minutes by car or taxi.

• Best time to visit: May through September for beach weather and peak golf season. March and April are quieter with smaller crowds and milder temperatures.

• Golf: Quinta do Lago South, North, and Laranjal courses are all nearby. Book tee times well in advance, especially in spring and summer.

• Kids Club: Runs afternoons daily. Evening babysitting available on request through the concierge.

• Baby concierge: Request equipment in advance when you book your stay.

• Bikes: Available through the resort to borrow. The ride to the Ria Formosa boardwalk is a good one.

• Car rental: Worth having for day trips. Faro Airport has good availability.

• Book direct or check: martinhal.com for current rates and packages.

Disclosure: This post was created in partnership with Medjet. My family is a MedjetHorizon member. All opinions and experiences shared are my own. I only recommend products I genuinely use and believe in for my family.