Read the surfing interview with Loraine, a Londoner by adoption, who tried surfing for a week in Grandola, Portugal.
Hello Loraine, would you like to introduce yourself?
I’m a 27-year-old Londoner with a very healthy lifestyle. I’m quite sporty and am open to all kinds of sports from HIIT to yoga, running, trail boxing without having a favorite field. I work in the luxury hotel and tourism industry and am also a freelance sports coach.
You’ve just returned from a surf trip to Portugal. Can you tell us a bit about your trip?
Arriving in Lisbon on Friday, we stayed in an inexpensive and very good hostel. We took a tour of Lisbon. Breakfast at the Lisbon market and then a stroll through the streets on electric scooters.
At the end of the afternoon we took the train to Grandola, with a surfcamp car waiting for us. Heavenly atmosphere, just impossible to be disappointed. And then every day we booked a yoga class and a surfing class. Daytime and evening activities organized by the surf camp. Playa, sunbathing, meeting cool people, quality food.
How long were you there? What spots did you wrinkle?
We stayed for a week. As we were beginners, we just surfed on the beach below Praia de Gale surfcamp.
How did you approach your trip? How did you organize it?
Cool in that everything was all-in. We just organized the night in Lisbon on Friday evening and the trip to Grandola. The surfcamp took care of the rest.
Why did you choose to go surfing in Grandola, Portugal?
Word of mouth, especially for the surfcamp.
Can you tell us a little about the atmosphere in the line-up?
Fun! The instructors are really cool. They really want to help you succeed. The weather conditions were quite complicated for beginners who had never surfed before.
What’s your favourite thing to do in Portugal? (Spots, what to see, what to do, where to eat?), In short, what’s life like there?
We wanted to stay at the camp all the time because the atmosphere was so cool, it was really hobo relax cool and you just don’t want to do anything else. We weren’t bored for a single second.
What’s your next surftrip?
Sri Lanka
In a nutshell, how would you sum up your experience? What advice would you give to a future Globetrotter?
Too good, I’d definitely go back for my first surfcamp experience. If you want to have fun with the waves, it’s a bit double or quits depending on the weather. Great atmosphere, it’s horrible to go back, so the future globetrotter doesn’t have to think about coming back.
In a nutshell…
What to see / What to do … Off the beaten track
The campsite is based on the beach Praia de Grandola. There are pine forests and paths to go for an early morning run before the big heat. The camp organizes an outing to Lisbon, but frankly, the calm, the beach and the chill of the camp just make you want to stay there – so I didn’t go. Various activities are organized, such as dance battles, horseback riding to watch the sunset and picnics. Yoga classes can be booked in addition to surf lessons. Massages also available. Book club. Outdoor cinema night. Skateboard ramp. Free access to all surfing equipment even if you don’t book a sports course.
An anecdote?
Great meetings
A good plan?
Going to camp is already a great plan if you’re traveling alone or in a group.
How much does it cost?
€500 with 10h of sports classes, 5h of yoga, accommodation and meals.
Where are we staying?
On the spot, I booke a tent /tipi for two for my friend and me.
Route details
Temperature?28 degrees in May
What to pack
Swimwear
Beach and bath towels
Three dresses
2 shorts and teeshirt