What holidays are available and when?
For 2020 Tri Training Harder will run holidays in The Algarve, Portugal from 12th March - 7th May. We run week long and long weekend holidays every week during this period from Thursday to Thursday and weekend holidays from Thursday to Monday.
How much money will I need to bring with me?
Pocket change!
All of your breakfast, lunch and dinner is included in the price so you won't be spending much! The only times you will need to dip into your pocket are for cafe stops (coffee = 2 euro max), lunch on the long ride day (around 10 euros) and dinner on the final night out (approx 30 euros depending on how many drinks you have!).
How will I get from the airport to the accommodation?
No need to worry. As soon as you land in the Algarve we will be looking after you. One of our transfers will be waiting for you at the arrivals and will drive you the 25 minutes to our accommodation. All included as standard in the price of your holiday. It doesn’t matter which flight you are on, we will still have a driver meeting you after the baggage reclaim.
What happens if I cannot stay for the full week or want to stay longer?
The holidays are structured around 7 days training to allow for all athletes to make measurable progress. We prefer our guests to spend the full week with us, but if that is not possible or you wish to extend your stay, we can create a flexible booking.
What's included in the price?
In a word: Everything!
All of your food (except cafe stops and one lunch and one dinner), all of your drink (including beer and wine), all facility hire, all coaching and guiding, transfers to and from the airport and shared 5* accommodation. All of this is included as standard on a TTH Training Holiday. Bring your own bike with you or rent one of our hire bikes (from £100 per week).
What do I do if I want to have my own bedroom/bathroom combination?
A private room (with en-suite) is available simply by booking with us which will mean you have your own space within a shared apartment. You can also book an entire private apartment for yourself - just follow the instructions during the booking process.
Can my wife/husband and children come away with me?
Yes, and they’ll love the venue and its facilities. We offer a discount to a non-athlete adult (who wants everything apart from the coaching/training), a student rate for 10-18 year-olds (whether they are training or not) and a child's rate for children under 10 years. Children young enough not to require a bed, but sleep in a cot are not charged.
A supervised crèche is available 5 days a week free of charge. However, a parent or guardian must be on site while children are in the crèche.
Families with small children will need to book (and therefore pay for) a private apartment simply for the privacy and peace of the other guests.
I am a beginner, will this training holiday suit me?
Yes, we cater for triathletes of all abilities, and a lot of our holiday guests are complete beginners!
If you are a beginner, you can let us know on your booking form and we will ensure that you receive a training holiday that is suited to both your confidence and fitness level. We have skill specific sessions for beginners, including mounting and dismounting, transition and introduction to open water swimming. Our pool swim sessions, cycle rides and running sessions all cater for you individually too- you will be grouped with other similar-standard athletes so that you can all learn and improve together. To find out more about beginners on camp, read our blog about it here.
Should I bring a bike with me?
We generally find that around 60% of people bring their own bikes on our training holidays. We have no rules on TT v Road bikes, so please bring whatever bike you want. Our preference would always be to bring our own bike, but that's just personal preference! We do have hire bikes available for rent, with prices starting at £100 for a week.
Are pedals and a helmet included with the bike hire?
No, you need to book pedals and a helmet as part of your extras in the booking process. If you have forgotten to order pedals or are are not sure which pedals you currently use on your bike, email a picture of your shoes to our holiday manager.
What is the temperature at the moment?
The weather does vary in Portugal and whilst we try our best to order sunshine for you, please bear in mind there are limits to our success and the accuracy of the weather forecasts; it does rain and it can be chilly in the evenings, particularly at the beginning of the season.
Please see the Met Office for an idea of the climate in Vilamoura: Met Office.
We also use WindGURU for a better idea of wind and sea conditions, short term: WindGURU.
Is there a kit list of items I need to bring with me?
Here are some basic items you should bring with you:
Cycling clothes including shoes
Running clothes including shoes
Swim suit (you don't need to bring swimming equipment such as pull buoy etc. but if you have any pool toys you like using then please bring them with you!)
Sports nutrition - please bring enough sports nutrition with you to last the whole training camp duration as we do not have stock in the accommodation
Wetsuit
Sun cream
Here is a list of some commonly forgotten items:
Pedals (if you are not hiring them)
Helmet (no cracks or damage- good idea to check this!)
Waterproof jacket, gloves and warm clothes just in case!
Flip Flops for open water
Casual clothes for the night out
Inner tubes/general tools/lube. We have a number of track pumps, tools and spares for your use, however if you want your own don't forget it
Two bottle cages (hire bikes have two already)
ID to carry with you at all times (driving licence is ideal)
Swimming kit - goggles, swim cap
Kit bag to put your kit in the car (a small backpack is ideal)
Please make sure you bring warm clothes as well as gloves and a waterproof jacket. We know it should be warm and sunny in Portugal and we do try our hardest to order the best weather for you, but it can be chilly in the mornings and evenings and it does sometimes rain, even in May!
Do I need to bring my wetsuit? What is the sea temperature?
Yes, you need to bring your wetsuit for the open water swim session.
You can see the sea temperature by following this link and choosing Faro as the closest city.
Do I need to bring towels? How about a hair-dryer?
There are towels in the bathrooms of each apartment, there are also additional towels available at reception to take to the swimming pool and the beach.
There is a hair-dryer in each apartment, however this may be shared by up-to 6 people.
Can I wash and dry my kit?
There is a washing-dryer machine in each apartment with a clothes horse too. With heated floors and heated towel racks, not only can you get your kit cleaned and dried overnight, but you can also have it warm too!
What if I want to do something other than training?
No problem - none of our sessions are compulsary and it’s completely normal to give a session or two a miss if you’re tired or want a break. If you want to go exploring or be a tourist, please visit the reception at the accommodation who will be delighted to help you find non triathlon activities like outdoor adventures, surfing, golf shopping etc. or just ask your lead coach on the training camp and they will point you in the right direction.
My flight lands early in the morning but holidays don’t start until 2pm- what do I do?
No problem!
Take your transfer to the hotel and wait in the reception or the poolside bar where there is free WiFi. Take some time to get to know the complex before your room is free. Please note that this year there is no option for early check-in.
My flight is delayed, I'm going to miss my transfer, how will I get there?
Don't worry, we track all guests' flights and are accustomed to the disruption and delays that can occur. Your transfer will be at the airport when you arrive and we will be there to greet you when you arrive in Vilamoura.