Usually, we’re city-break people.

Give us cobbled streets, a cute square, a metro stop, and a place selling overpriced pastries and we’re happy.

But this time, we decided to switch things up and go for a proper chill beach holiday.

Well… “we” decided might be a stretch.

E had been campaigning hard for a beach holiday for what felt like forever, so eventually I gave in.

Sun, sea, tan, relaxation… lovely in theory.

I say “relaxation” loosely, of course, because this is still us we’re talking about.

A family holiday with three kids is never quite the peaceful travel brochure moment they try to sell you.

It’s more like: sun, sea, snacks, arguments, and someone crying because they can’t walk on grass.

And honestly? We had a great time.

Early start, Gatwick, and the M25 trying to humble us

You already know we love an early morning flight.

And when I say “we,” I mean the royal we, because no one really loves it apart from me.

But this time, I actually showed some mercy and traded the usual savage 12 a.m. departure for a far less offensive 5 a.m. drive.

Everything was moving along nicely until we hit the M25 and found ourselves in the kind of standstill traffic that tests your patience, your sanity, and your ability to answer “Are we there yet?” every two minutes without losing your mind.

If you know, you know.

Once we got to Gatwick though, all was forgiven.

Gatwick is genuinely one of my favourite airports to fly through, especially as a family.

Straight to the assisted/family lane, no queues, no stress, no drama.

Through in no time.

Security was just as smooth too – five minutes tops.

And I have to give credit where it’s due: the passenger princess crew were on form.

Z had the tray ready, jackets off, toys packed in, straight through the scanner like he worked there.

Honestly, I was proud.

Give them a little clipboard and a lanyard and they’d be running the place.

Naturally, once through, we did what we always do – located Itsu and settled down for food and caffeine.

Heavy on the caffeine.

Airport coffee before a flight just feels like part of the ritual at this point.

Jet2, hold my hand

We flew with Jet2 – or as I now call them, “Darling, hold my hand…”

Because yes, once you’ve heard that song a couple of times, it absolutely does lodge itself into your brain whether you want it to or not.

By listen number two, it had already become the running joke of the trip.

But to be fair, no complaints from me.

No delays, no dramas, plane on time, everyone boarded, everyone seated, no chaos.

That alone deserves a round of applause in family travel terms.

Lagos arrival, heat shock, and M’s tantrum of service

Faro International Airport was nice and easy enough to get through.

Passport control was straightforward, and we joined the priority queue with the rest of what felt like every family from our flight before making our way over to the Lagos side for the rest of the trip.

And then… M had had enough.

Tired of waiting, he decided the best course of action was to lie down dramatically on the floor and give us a full performance of his greatest tantrum hits.

A real commitment to the craft.

Now, not long after that, they opened a second passport control window.

Coincidence? Maybe.

But personally, I’d like to thank M for his service.

And then came that first proper you’ve arrived moment – those airport doors sliding open, that little cool breeze teasing you for a second, and then bam… full heat.

The kind where your skin starts cooking immediately and you realise, yes, this holiday is going to be hot.

Checking in at Cascade Wellness Resort

We’d pre-booked a hire car with Sixt, which was 100% the right move.

The collection itself was easy enough – and by easy I mean it still took around 15 minutes because of all the signing, explaining, and rules – but overall it was smooth.

Mini tip: if you pre-book, check the insurance options when you collect the car.

We found the rates and coverage they offered on the day were actually better.

For the week, our base was Cascade Wellness Resort.

And first impressions? Beautiful.

The grounds were gorgeous, and the main hotel building had that grand, polished, slightly luxurious look that immediately makes you feel like you’ve picked somewhere a bit special.

Inside, it was even more impressive – elegant, spacious, and smelling aggressively amazing thanks to L’Occitane products being absolutely everywhere.

Even the toilets were giving spa energy.

You walk in and are greeted by this striking chandelier and sweeping spiral staircase leading down towards the spa, and I’m not even going to lie, I had already mentally bookmarked the spot for an Instagram photo before we’d even checked in.

Check-in itself was smooth, and the staff were friendly and helpful, just as you’d hope.

The apartment: spacious, exciting, and full of immediate child chaos

The apartment was really spacious, which is always a win when you’re travelling as a family of five.

Two bedrooms, a large sitting area, one bathroom with a big bath, another with a shower, and enough room for the kids to immediately start acting like they were on an episode of Total Wipeout.

The balcony was a real standout too – long, spacious, and with a separate upper deck for sunbathing, which definitely added to that first-impression wow factor.

The kids were absolutely buzzing.

Jumping on the massive sofa, racing up and down the balcony, treating the apartment like their own private athletics training ground and presumably attempting to qualify for the 100 metres.

Through their eyes, it was basically paradise.

New place, loads of space, sunshine, freedom – the excitement level was through the roof.

And seeing that kind of joy as a parent?

That part never gets old.

Day 1: sandy pool, invisible ice cream, and beach hopping

After settling in and having a wander around the grounds, we headed to the sandy pool, which was right opposite our apartment.

Honestly, what’s not to love?

Sand and a pool in one place is elite child entertainment.

The kids were off instantly, while I did what any sensible adult would do and secured myself a lounger under an umbrella because unlike the children, I do not believe in voluntarily roasting.

From M casually drinking pool water – absolutely disgusting, please don’t do that – to E and Z calling me over every few minutes to judge their sand masterpieces, it was one of those funny little family pool days that feels chaotic in the moment but ends up being part of the memory.

There was invisible sand ice cream, which apparently only existed in E’s imagination, and a sandcastle from Z that may or may not have just been a pile of sand with ambition.

Still, imagination is a beautiful thing.

After a few hours, I was ready to explore a bit more, and this is where having the car really paid off.

Yes, technically you could walk to some places… but in that heat, with kids?

Let’s be serious.

Praia do Camilo, Dona Ana, Porto de Mós, and Lagos Old Town

We drove out to Praia do Camilo and Dona Ana, both of which had that gorgeous Algarve look – golden cliffs, sparkling water, and the kind of views that make you stop for a second and think, okay yes, I see why people love Portugal so much.

They’re beautiful, no question, and definitely worth seeing.

But if I’m being honest, Porto de Mós was my favourite of the three.

It had a quieter, more family-friendly feel, and it just felt a bit easier to breathe there.

Less busy, less intense, and more the kind of place where you could properly settle in and enjoy it without feeling like you were fighting for space.

Mini tip: there’s free parking at these spots, just follow the signs or stick the car park into your sat nav.

After the beach, we headed into Lagos Old Town, which was only about a six-minute drive away.

This is where you get that proper touristy holiday buzz.

It was lively, warm, full of people out enjoying themselves, with restaurants, cafés, shops, and plenty of ice cream places – which of course immediately became the children’s main focus.

The old town has that lovely charm to it too.

Narrow streets, patterned cobbled stones, little corners to wander down, and loads of atmosphere.

The kids turned the cobbled pathways into some kind of game that looked suspiciously like hopscotch, but apparently it was called “skip just skip.” Who was I to argue?

Now, was it all sunshine and perfect family moments?

Of course not.

This was also the setting for yet more child-led public drama.

M launched into another protest, this time because he wasn’t allowed on the grass, while E responded to being denied ice cream with an Oscar-worthy slow-motion sulk.

So between the laughter, the walking, the bargaining, and the emotional negotiations, it was a very authentic family day out.

Still fun though.

Mini tip: wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

There’s a fair bit of walking, and the struggle can absolutely become real.

Day 2: play centre, fortresses, and a lighthouse debate for the ages

Before heading out on day two, we spent some time at the resort’s play centre – which is definitely worth making use of if you’re staying there.

They had children’s activities scheduled throughout the week, plus a playground just outside, so there’s plenty to keep little ones entertained.

And they also offer babysitting services if booked in advance, which honestly might be the kind of information some parents receive like a message straight from heaven.

Later, we headed to Fortress of Sagres, about a 15-minute drive away.

Parking was free, though you do pay to get into the fortress itself.

We paid 10 euros for the family ticket, which I thought was reasonable enough.

Once inside, it’s a lovely place for a walk, with beautiful coastal views and lots of open space.

The actual standout moment for us though was not the architecture, the history, or the scenery.

It was E and Z getting into a heated debate over who lives in the lighthouse.

Despite me already explaining what a lighthouse is, E had firmly decided a dragon lived there, while Z was fully convinced it was Piglet.

As you can imagine, this developed into a very serious dispute and I had to step in before it turned into a full WWE main event.

As for whether it’s worth visiting – I’d say yes, but with realistic expectations.

If you love history, scenic walks, and dramatic coastal views, then it’s absolutely worth the stop.

If you’re expecting loads to do or loads to see inside, then you may find it a bit underwhelming.

But for the views alone, I still think it deserves a visit.

Cape St. Vincent and Praia da Luz

Not far from Sagres is Cape St. Vincent, which is great if you enjoy hiking, surfing, or scenic viewpoints.

It’s one of those places that feels wild and open, where the coastline really does the talking.

Even if you’re not there for the sporty side of things, it’s still worth stopping for the views – or, let’s be honest, the pictures.

Later, we headed to Praia da Luz, and this ended up being one of my favourite parts of the trip.

If Lagos Old Town feels lively and energetic, Praia da Luz feels calm.

Slower.

Softer.

The kind of place where you can properly exhale.

It had a really peaceful atmosphere and just felt like the kind of location that quietly wins you over without trying too hard.

We spent a couple of hours there and it was bliss.

Well… bliss until my children arrived at the shoreline and injected the entire beach with pure chaos.

Z, E, and M were absolutely buzzing chasing the waves, running away from them, squealing, laughing, throwing themselves into the whole experience with the kind of joy only kids can.

And honestly, those moments are always magic to watch.

That full-body excitement, the complete lack of fear, the way a simple wave can feel like the best thing they’ve ever seen in their lives.

The promenade there was lovely too, with shops and restaurants dotted along it, so it’s a really nice place to stroll and just take your time.

The honest bit: once the wow wore off

Now for the truthful bit.

After the first-day wow factor wore off, I started noticing a few things about the apartment that took the shine off slightly.

Nothing major enough to ruin the stay, but enough to make me side-eye a little.

There was chipped paint on the balcony walls, the floors could have done with a better wash, and then there was the bath.

Yes. The bath.

Still a tender subject.

After a long day out exploring on day one, I decided I was going to run myself a bath and have a proper soak.

The dream.

The vision.

The reward.

Only to discover the jets didn’t work and the water was lukewarm at best.

Disappointed doesn’t even cover it.

It wasn’t enough to make the whole apartment bad, and overall it was still decent, but once those little details start jumping out at you, it does change things.

Final verdict

As a destination, Lagos and the surrounding Algarve area absolutely delivered.

If you’re after sun, beaches, pretty coastal spots, and an easy-going holiday that doesn’t feel too hectic or too expensive, then yes – this is a really good option.

Whether you want to stay put at your resort all week, beach-hop, explore little towns, or mix relaxation with a bit of sightseeing, it gives you that flexibility.

What I really liked about this trip was the pace of it.

It felt calm.

No rushing, no overpacked itinerary, no pressure to be constantly doing the most.

Just sunshine, easy exploring, and that nice balance between family fun and taking things slow.

And I would definitely go back – and next time I’d split my stay a little smarter between the resort and somewhere like Praia da Luz or central Lagos to get even more from the area.

I’d even consider staying at Cascade again, but this time I’d make more of the onsite facilities and properly get my money’s worth – the spa, the restaurants, everything.

Because while our stay was decent overall, I do feel like not trying everything left me with an incomplete picture of the place.

That said, I’d also seriously consider staying in Praia da Luz next time.

There was just something about it. It felt relaxed, pretty, peaceful, and like somewhere I could happily settle into for a few days without needing much else.

So, would I recommend it?

Lagos and the Algarve as a holiday destination? Yes. Absolutely.

Cascade Wellness Resort? A softer recommendation.

The location was great, everything we wanted to see was fairly close, and the staff we interacted with were friendly and patient throughout.

But the accommodation itself had a few niggles that stopped it from being a standout for me.

So overall, based on the apartment and the parts of the resort we actually used, I’d give this one a 5/10.

That might sound a bit savage, but it feels fair.

Especially as we didn’t get to try the restaurants, the spa, the kids services, or everything the resort had to offer.

So this is very much a rating based on our own experience, not the full package.

Still, as a trip? We had a lovely time.

Sun, beach, family chaos, dramatic protests, invisible ice cream, a dragon in a lighthouse, and one child possibly speeding up passport control for the entire queue.

Honestly, when you put it like that, it sounds pretty iconic.

Mini tips for Lagos and the Algarve

Use the nearby supermarket to stock up on water, snacks, breakfast bits, sun cream, and all the little family essentials before the “I’m hungry” chorus starts.

Hire a car if you can.

It makes beach hopping around Lagos and the wider Algarve much easier, and the roads are simple enough to navigate.

If you don’t want to drive abroad, Uber is available and the hotel can also help arrange transport, so you’ve still got easy ways to get around.

Pack comfortable clothes and good walking shoes – those “quick little strolls” around Lagos and the Algarve can suddenly turn into full-blown family treks.

Need help booking without the stress? Let me take that off your hands. If you want help planning and booking your family getaway, fill in my enquiry form.

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