All you need is Algarve, it’s the story of Paul and Portugal, let it Penina Albufeira and the Beatles.
Of course. it was a different time, the explosion of package holidays, which even drew in one of the biggest pop stars of his day.
It is hard to imagine the Paul McCartney of today wandering into reception in a Portuguese hotel.
And asking to have five pounds exchanged into escudos (ask your parents).
But party animal and general good guy Paul was persuaded into joining house band Jota Herre on stage in the Sixties.
And improvising a song at the piano which became Penina, before entertaining the patrons until 4am.
Fado Goodbye
And there the story may have stayed other than Portuguese prattle.
Had it not been for Paul playing a version of the song with John Lennon and Ringo Starr during the Get Back sessions.
And Jota Herre recording and releasing the song in March of that year, 1969, followed by Portuguese singer Carlos Mendes.
All of which pop legend is still played out at the Penina.
And Albufeira nights at the Radisson Blu nights in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
Macca’s pitch
Of course when you have such a prized piece of estate as the Paul McCartney piano he played on that night, well you’d keep it.
It is not unfortunately recorded in the annals of history whether Macca played a round of golf.
At the Panina, the country’s first golf course, designed by major winner Henry Cotton.
But the Penina is still dining out on its Paul McCartney connections.
Deal us in
Just 45 minutes from Faro Airport and served by Ryanair and Jet2 Penina has of course many other features to appeal.
Such as the biggest pool in the Algarve, an Olympic-style swim.
And the first and oldest course in Portugal, dating from 1966.
And standing at their version of St Andrews’ iconic Swilcan Bridge.
We found a random week in November with our go-to providers loveholidays from £778 for two, down from £843.
