What to pack for The Algarve in February

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

Water reflects off the coast and bounces off sand, pushing the UV index to 4.7.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Rural terrain and coastal swimming bring cuts and scrapes that need cleaning.

This country runs on Type C or F. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

One outlet per room means charging devices happens in sequence, not parallel.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Dark by 7:10pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Overhead bins on the flight here are tight, so 35 to 45 liters fits.

Rural villages and coastal walks are day trips from your base, needing a small pack.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Coastal wind cuts through a t-shirt fast.

For temples, mosques, and churches that check at the door.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International travel means your cards and documents need a dedicated, secure pocket.

An airport connection and rural terrain make it easy to lose a bag.

A month in one region means laundry happens once, so clothes need sorting space.

Six rain days and rural dust mean clothes need washing every four or five days.

Flights here are short, but a quiet cabin helps you arrive rested.

Ten hours of daylight means ten hours of direct sun on your head.

Tap water is safe, but your hands touch everything at markets and on trails.

One outlet at the guesthouse turns into two when you bring a short cable.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Crossing into another country requires your passport within arm's reach, not in luggage.

Luggage locks matter at every hostel and shared accommodation on the route.

Seventy-three percent humidity and coastal salt spray make damp toiletries a daily problem.

Ten-hour daylight means you sleep longer, so neck support matters on travel days.