Algarve Portugal golf trip in October - anyone done it?

[RoughRider_Rick]

So my buddies and I are finally doing it. First real international golf trip. Four of us, all mid-30s, handicaps between 12 and 22.

Looking at Algarve in mid October. Flights into Faro are stupid cheap from the east coast right now, like $500 round trip, which honestly feels like a glitch that'll disappear if I blink.

Main thing I can't figure out: do we stay in Vilamoura and just play the courses right there, or is it worth bouncing around to Quinta do Lago and Monte Rei? Everyone keeps saying Monte Rei is the best course in Portugal but it's also like 250 euros a round. Ouch.

Also is October still beach weather there or am I packing wrong? And how far out do you book tee times? Back home I just call the week before and it's fine, but something tells me that won't fly over there.

Half tempted to just book a package and stop overthinking it. Anyone here actually done this trip?