Algarve delight, Longevity Cegonha Country Club

Join a Pilates class, take the shuttle to Vilamoura’s marina, opt for a personal training session and then spend time in the relaxation room before dinner. All this plus a staff as warm and welcoming as the Algarve sun.

There’s a luxurious freedom to life at Longevity Cegonha Country Club (LCCC). Many guests are taking time out from busy lives putting together a “me-time” programme of massages, meditation and sunbathing: looking to rebalance, recharge and relax.

Alternatively, Longevity Cegonha  Country Club can be a boot camp, with a rigorous regime to get back in shape. Start with the energising “Shot of the day”, something like ginger, lemon and vinegar before moving onto the breakfast smoothie.

The welcome

With just six rooms and 26 suites, by a process of elimination, the reception staff usually know who you are as soon as you arrive.

Then there’s a tour of the club. Imagine a quintessential Portuguese village – pastel pink and pale yellow houses, green wooden shutters, those Algarve fluted chimneys, vivid red bougainvillea contrasting with white walls, traditional-style gas lanterns perched on posts and a lily pond – then you’ve got the oasis of the rural calm that is LCCC.

The rooms

Tiled with cooling ceramic tiles, made from local materials, the rooms are comfortable, simple and spacious 4* accommodation. Ground floor rooms have gardens, all with patio furniture and a lawn, some with flourishing blue and white agapanthus.

Suites have two bedrooms and a lounge with a dining area. They are popular with friends travelling together or mother / daughter trips. A kitchen, with fridge, is appreciated for cooling drinks. If you want to self-cater there is a four ring hob. But why would you with the Cafe on hand?

The bathroom

Bathrooms are light and spacious with plenty of room to spread out your toiletries around the wash-basin. If you’ve had a tough day in the gym – or with your personal trainer – there’s a deep, wide bath for a restorative soak. Obviously, there’s a shower too and a generous supply of fragrant toiletries.

The facilities

There’s a crescent-shaped pool, with a jacuzzi, for gazing out over those pine forests. Tennis court too.

The Iyashi dome, a high-tech Japanese sauna, is probably the headline grabber. It’s a cross between an MRI scanner and tandoori oven which detoxes, purifies, removes up to 600 calories and trims your waist in 30 sweltering minutes. Sauna, sensations shower and relaxation room are all based around the Spa and it’s treatment rooms.

Everyday there’s a full programme of dancing, Pilates, stretching and yoga in a studio next to a small gym.

The location

An easy 20 minutes transfer from Faro airport, LCCC is inland from Vilamoura and runs a shuttle into the marina. Alternatively you can hire bikes to explore.