What to pack for The Algarve in May

UV index hits 10.6, the highest category. Sun damage happens in minutes without protection.

Wind at 23 km/h kicks up glare off the water.

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

Rural terrain and coastal activities carry minor injury risk.

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

Fourteen waking hours drain batteries fast. One brick charges everything.

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

Fourteen-hour days mean you carry water, sun gear, and snacks. Overhead-size packs avoid checked baggage.

Coastal access and rural walking require a separate day 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.

Fourteen hours of daylight means skin stays exposed. Moisture-wicking fabric keeps sweat from building up.

UV hits 10.6 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

Water temperatures reach the low 60s Fahrenheit. Coastal access makes swimming a daily option.

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

Fourteen hours of direct sun exposure daily. A wide brim protects the face and ears.

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 requires document security. A money belt keeps essentials against your body.

Rural terrain makes bag loss harder to recover from.

Packing cubes organize clothes for two weeks of similar weather.

Coastal location and water activities create constant splash risk.

Five rain days in May. Laundry dries in 14 hours of daylight.

Long flights to Portugal benefit from noise isolation.

Highs around 75°F mean bare legs stay comfortable all day.

Salt air and intense UV index combine. Lips crack without SPF.

Tap water is safe here. Hand sanitizer handles everything else.

Long daylight hours mean constant device use. Short cables fit day packs.

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

International destination. A passport holder protects documents from salt spray and sand.

International travel to a busy coastal region. Locks deter casual theft.

Salt air and sun exposure require daily toiletry access.

Flights to Portugal are long enough that neck support prevents stiffness on arrival.