Rarely have I found the perfect combination of location, atmosphere and elegance…especially when traveling on a budget. But the Casa Beleza do Sul provides a quiet and romantic place from which to explore the quaint village of Tavira and the beautiful Algarve of Portugal. Paola is the owner and architect of this lovely, renovated home which is in the center of the town overlooking the river Gilao. After having the best food of our two week trip down the street at the tiny O Porto restaurant, we took the ferry down the river to the Ilha de Tavira and found a wide, sandy beach to spend the rest of the afternoon. The Algarve has a magical quality, and the feel is authentic…as you walk through the maze of streets you realize that not that much has changed over the past several centuries. We found it charming, and the food absolutely delicious.