Having made ourselves at home at Ride, it was a wrench to pack up and continue down the west coast, but we eventually piled into the van and cruised onto Santa Cruz – the wave magnet that’s home of the annual WSL Pro comp. Meanwhile I was more interested in stretching out my surfing muscles at a pilates class, steaming in the Turkish bath and sampling the contemporary Portuguese cuisine with a glass or two of vino branco before hitting the king-size bed. Between activities the wild things flopped out in the lounge area in front of a surf movie, or spent the last of their energy playing table football, air hockey, snooker and table tennis. Then there’s a slack line to get to grips with your balance, a bouldering wall for working on mind and muscle co-ordination, bikes for getting around and exploring the coast, and a heated outdoor pool for a dip between activities.Īll this is enough to keep any family stoked – especially when the staff are happy to steal your kids off surfing or organise a babysitter so you can hit the waves for a solo sesh. As well as a surf academy with expert instructors, high-tech kit and a shuttle to the best waves of the day, there’s also a skate academy and skate park.
Ride is a place where action and style merge seamlessly. Staying at Ride Surf Resort and Spa, we had much more than surf on the doorstep. As a go-to surfing destination with everything at your fingertips, it’s one of Portugal’s finest. Every shop-front you pass is piled high with surfing paraphernalia or pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts), and you’re only ever footsteps from the waves. There’s a string of breaks from the red rocks of Almagreira and the peaks of Baleal, to world-famous Supertubos and the sands of Consoloção. It wasn’t enough just to be by the beach I wanted accommodation with surf instruction on tap, onsite facilities for active children, and kids’ clubs or babysitters, so I could sneak out for a wave on my own or have some me-time in the spa or the bar.Īn easy hop from Lisbon, we started our journey in Peniche – a vibrant surf town boasting a break for every wind and swell direction. So, on our recent trip to Portugal, I made it my mission to seek out stylish, family-friendly hotels by the waves, where we all had the opportunity to hit the surf in our own time, or as a family. And while the Cornish winter was still serving up a brain freeze with every duck dive, in springtime Portugal lured us with its blue skies, great waves and a diet of custard tarts, fresh seafood and cold beer.įinding time to surf with three kids in tow has never been easy. As a single mum of three boys, I go back year-on-year so we can all get our fix of sunshine, saltwater and seaside living.
Being so easy to get to, with beautiful beaches, a family-friendly culture and year-round sunshine, it’s hard to beat. Portugal has long been one of our favourite family surfing destinations.