Where to stay to play Monte Rei, the Algarve's most celebrated course: the resort's own villas and residences, a rural guesthouse 12 minutes away and the best hotels on the coast and in Tavira, with drive times and golf perks.
Monte Rei Golf & Country Club is the most celebrated course in the Algarve: a Jack Nicklaus Signature design that opened in 2007 and was ranked Portugal's number one for 15 years in a row. It sits on its own in the hills behind the coast near Vila Nova de Cacela, in the quiet eastern Algarve, with water in play on eleven holes and views over the Serra do Caldeirão.
That setting is part of the appeal, but it also means there are few hotels on its doorstep. This guide covers where to stay near Monte Rei golf: the resort's own villas and residences, a rural guesthouse 12 minutes away and the best-rated hotels on the coast and in Tavira, 20 to 30 minutes' drive away.
Map of hotels near Monte Rei golf
The black pin is Monte Rei (tap it to see course details). The blue pins are the places to stay in this guide; tap one to check prices and availability.
How we chose these hotels
We include a hotel if it is rated at least 8 out of 10 on Booking.com, or at least 7.8 if it offers specific golf services. The resort's own accommodation is always included, with its real score. Usually we only list places within about 15 minutes of the course, but Monte Rei is so isolated that we have also included a few outstanding hotels 20 to 30 minutes away, which is the realistic choice for most visitors.
Drive times are calculated by road, not in a straight line. Golf services come from each hotel's or the club's own website wherever possible. Rates in this corner of the Algarve change a lot by date, so we have not printed prices we could not verify in euros; check current rates with each link.
Staying at Monte Rei
1. Monte Rei Golf & Country Club
On-site- From the course
- On the resort, next to the clubhouse
- Guest rating
- 6.8/10 on Booking.com
The only way to sleep on the course: one to three-bedroom Clubhouse Residences apartments near the clubhouse, linked villas, and three and four-bedroom villas with their own pools. The resort's Short Stay package gives you three nights in a Clubhouse Residences apartment with breakfast and two rounds with a shared buggy, and the Golfers Retreat seven nights with four rounds. On Booking.com the accommodation scores only 6.8 from a small number of reviews, well below the course's reputation, so read the recent reviews before you book.
- Golf packages with rounds and a shared buggy
- Daily breakfast on packages
- Pool, gym and sauna
- Apartments and villas with private pools
Closest place to stay outside the resort
2. Casa de Campo Vale do Asno
Value- From the course
- 3.6 km · about 12 min drive
- Guest rating
- 9.1/10 on KAYAK (all sites)
A small rural guesthouse in the pine forest just east of Monte Rei, about 12 minutes from the clubhouse along country roads. It has a saltwater pool, a breakfast that Booking.com guests rate 9.4, and it even suggests playing the Jack Nicklaus course to its guests. Peaceful and personal rather than luxurious.
- Rural guesthouse in a pine forest
- Saltwater pool
- Breakfast rated 9.4 by Booking.com guests
Beach hotels near Monte Rei
The nearest stretch of coast is around Praia Verde and Altura, about 20 minutes south of the course. Stay here if you want the beach on your non-golf days.
3. Octant Praia Verde
Luxury- From the course
- 10.1 km · about 22 min drive
- Guest rating
- 9.3/10 on Booking.com
A design-led boutique hotel among the pines above Praia Verde, rated an excellent 9.3 on Booking.com. A wooden boardwalk takes you down to one of the best beaches in the eastern Algarve, many rooms look out to sea and some suites have their own plunge pool. It has no golf services of its own, but Monte Rei is about 22 minutes away.
- Boardwalk to the beach
- Sea-view rooms and plunge-pool suites
- Kids' club
Golf resorts near Monte Rei
Both of these sit on their own golf courses, so you can combine a day at Monte Rei with rounds closer to your bed.
4. Robinson Quinta da Ria
Mid-range- From the course
- 9.6 km · about 26 min drive
- Guest rating
- 8.4/10 on Booking.com
An all-inclusive Robinson club set right between the Quinta da Ria and Quinta de Cima courses, rated 8.4 on Booking.com. Its golf academy has its own driving range, short course, three putting greens and bunkers, and it sells golf packages that bundle green fees with your stay. A strong choice for a week of golf with Monte Rei as the highlight, about 26 minutes away.
- Between the Quinta da Ria and Quinta de Cima courses
- Golf academy with range, short course and putting greens
- Golf packages with green fees
- All-inclusive
5. Castro Marim Golfe & Country Club
Mid-range- From the course
- 12.8 km · about 27 min drive
- Guest rating
- 8.8/10 on Booking.com
Two to four-bedroom villas, many with private pools, on the 27-hole Castro Marim course, rated 8.8 on Booking.com. It is a relaxed, family-friendly base in the countryside near the Spanish border, with a kids' club at the clubhouse. Monte Rei is about 27 minutes away.
- Villas on a 27-hole golf course
- Private or shared pools
- Kids' club at the clubhouse
- Free gym
Staying in Tavira
6. Ozadi Tavira Hotel
Mid-range- From the course
- 14.6 km · about 29 min drive
- Guest rating
- 9.0/10 on Booking.com
If you would rather have restaurants and an old town to walk around in the evening, Tavira is the best base in the eastern Algarve. The four-star Ozadi on the edge of town scores 9.0 on Booking.com from nearly 1,000 reviews. It has no golf services, and Monte Rei is just under 30 minutes away.
- Four-star hotel on the edge of Tavira
- Rated 9.0 from nearly 1,000 reviews
Monte Rei green fees and what to know before you play
Monte Rei is one of the most expensive courses in the Algarve. The visitor rates we track for 18 holes run from about €230 in December to €298 in spring, and the price includes a buggy and range balls. The club does not publish a price list; tee times are booked online and must be paid in full in advance. Cancellations are free up to 15 days before you play for groups of up to four.
A maximum handicap of 28 for men and 36 for ladies is recommended. Read more in do you need a handicap to play golf in the Algarve. The experience is a big part of the price: the club describes valet parking, a buggy to the practice area, a briefing on the tee and 12-minute gaps between tee times, so you rarely see another group.
Tips for golfers staying near Monte Rei
You will need a car. There is no public transport to the course, and everything apart from the resort is 12 to 30 minutes away by road.
Make it part of an eastern Algarve trip. Quinta da Ria, Quinta de Cima, Castro Marim and Quinta do Vale are all within about half an hour. Compare them in Quinta da Ria vs Quinta de Cima and Castro Marim vs Quinta do Vale.
Book early in spring and autumn. With wide gaps between tee times there are fewer slots than on most courses, so the best times go quickly in the busy months.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a hotel at Monte Rei?
There is no traditional hotel, but the resort rents its own Clubhouse Residences apartments and villas, some with private pools, and sells golf packages that include rounds and a shared buggy.
What is the closest place to stay near Monte Rei?
Apart from the resort itself, Casa de Campo Vale do Asno, a rural guesthouse about 12 minutes away. The nearest beach hotels, around Praia Verde, are about 20 minutes away.
Is Monte Rei worth the price?
For most keen golfers, yes, at least once. It is consistently ranked among the best courses in Europe, and the price includes a buggy, range balls and an unhurried round. If you are on a budget, pair it with better-value courses nearby such as Quinta da Ria or Castro Marim.
Playing several courses? Find the best base for your trip
If Monte Rei is just one stop on your golf trip, try Find Your Base on the Algarve Golf Map. Pick the courses you want to play and it shows you the area that sits closest to all of them, along with well-rated hotels nearby, so you spend less time driving and more time on the course.
