Portugal - Faro and Albufeira...
Discussion
Went to Albufiera first week in October last year. Booked flights and hotels separately. Hired a cheap car for the week - about £100 so we could get about the area including Portimao curcuit. This compares well pricewise to getting cabs from Faro to the hotel and back, and you have the flexibility to get around for the week.
All Albufiera restaurants / bars were open and reasonably priced. The "strip" (looks a bit like what you would expect in a British hooligan resort - yuk) was open in the brief time that we passed through, but not really our thing. The area near us was far better, and all places were open.
We stayed here - http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g189112-... and would recommend it as a boutique hotel, but you need to be prepared to go out for entertainment. It was far enough away from the rabble but served by a variety of shops and bars locally. It's about a 5-10 minute walk from a nice beach down some steps.
The Algarve is a year round resort, so you should have no problems keeping yourself busy. And it is still hot in October - we had upwards of 28 degrees all week.
Enjoy. We rarely go back to a place we have been, but we will probably go back next spring for another chillout break.
All Albufiera restaurants / bars were open and reasonably priced. The "strip" (looks a bit like what you would expect in a British hooligan resort - yuk) was open in the brief time that we passed through, but not really our thing. The area near us was far better, and all places were open.
We stayed here - http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g189112-... and would recommend it as a boutique hotel, but you need to be prepared to go out for entertainment. It was far enough away from the rabble but served by a variety of shops and bars locally. It's about a 5-10 minute walk from a nice beach down some steps.
The Algarve is a year round resort, so you should have no problems keeping yourself busy. And it is still hot in October - we had upwards of 28 degrees all week.
Enjoy. We rarely go back to a place we have been, but we will probably go back next spring for another chillout break.
We stay in Quinta do Lago (near Faro) every year.
Was previously the first two weeks of September, but now we've got school-age kids we went last week.
Weather is normally excellent in September, last week in August was probably too hot for me. The sea was around 80F so really very warm for the Atlantic.
You may get a couple of overcast days in a week.
It has got significantly more expensive in the last few years, particularly eating out.
We tend to have a lunch at Gigis beach restaurant on the beach by Quinta, beautiful fresh fish and seafood, but easy to hit £100 a head without trying. There are cheaper places a little bit up the beach, but Gigi's has a certain style.
The area around Almancil (closest town to Quinta/Vale do Lobo) has lots of excellent restaurants - Casa di Campo and Florian being our favourites.
Rui Marisqueira Restaurant in Silves (West and inland) is a superb fish restaurant and is far cheaper. The Arroz de Marisco (Shellfish Rice) is one of the tastiest things I've ever eaten. Best for lunch as you'll queue for dinner.
If you're eating mostly then you're in for a treat. Appolonia supermarket in Almancil is the possibly the best supermarket you'll visit anywhere. Privately owned - great fresh meat, fish, cheese, charcuterie etc - plus a stunning wine selection (including a few bottles of Petrus 1982 for weekends!).
The fish market in Quarteria is incredible - just by the harbour so the fish are still as stiff as boards. It's a commercial market so it's not lovely to look at, but the quality and range of produce is fabulous. Avoid the veg market next door, it's just a tourist trap.
I love it in the Algarve and I don't (yet) play golf - if I did I think I'd probably be there all year!
Was previously the first two weeks of September, but now we've got school-age kids we went last week.
Weather is normally excellent in September, last week in August was probably too hot for me. The sea was around 80F so really very warm for the Atlantic.
You may get a couple of overcast days in a week.
It has got significantly more expensive in the last few years, particularly eating out.
We tend to have a lunch at Gigis beach restaurant on the beach by Quinta, beautiful fresh fish and seafood, but easy to hit £100 a head without trying. There are cheaper places a little bit up the beach, but Gigi's has a certain style.
The area around Almancil (closest town to Quinta/Vale do Lobo) has lots of excellent restaurants - Casa di Campo and Florian being our favourites.
Rui Marisqueira Restaurant in Silves (West and inland) is a superb fish restaurant and is far cheaper. The Arroz de Marisco (Shellfish Rice) is one of the tastiest things I've ever eaten. Best for lunch as you'll queue for dinner.
If you're eating mostly then you're in for a treat. Appolonia supermarket in Almancil is the possibly the best supermarket you'll visit anywhere. Privately owned - great fresh meat, fish, cheese, charcuterie etc - plus a stunning wine selection (including a few bottles of Petrus 1982 for weekends!).
The fish market in Quarteria is incredible - just by the harbour so the fish are still as stiff as boards. It's a commercial market so it's not lovely to look at, but the quality and range of produce is fabulous. Avoid the veg market next door, it's just a tourist trap.
I love it in the Algarve and I don't (yet) play golf - if I did I think I'd probably be there all year!
Edited by maturin23 on Friday 10th September 13:04
Avoid Albufiera unless you want a quick me quick hats etc etc
Coastal developments around almancil very nice, more up market, this is reflected in the general cost of staying there and eating out.
Once you west of Albufiera it starts to get much cheaper without the decline in quality or type of holiday maker !!
Previous post mentioned Apolonia supermarket in Almancil, there is now another one that offers the same if not better quality fresh meat/bread/fish as well as a decent wine seltions and obviously all the other normal supermarket bits at UK prices, just behind the main road in the village, Pingo Doce
have fun you will love the Algarve
Coastal developments around almancil very nice, more up market, this is reflected in the general cost of staying there and eating out.
Once you west of Albufiera it starts to get much cheaper without the decline in quality or type of holiday maker !!
Previous post mentioned Apolonia supermarket in Almancil, there is now another one that offers the same if not better quality fresh meat/bread/fish as well as a decent wine seltions and obviously all the other normal supermarket bits at UK prices, just behind the main road in the village, Pingo Doce
have fun you will love the Algarve
I'd agree with Simon, the further west you go, the quainter and it becomes. If that's what you are after?
Anything from Portimao west would be my choice (parents had a villa between Praia da Luz and Burgau for 30 years). Some fantastic beaches out that way too (such as the 20kms of wild and golden Meia Praia)
If you are after a luxurious but quiet Algarvian guest house rather than a hotel or villa, old family friends run Salsalito which costs £450 per room (2 sharing) in October.
Most bars and restaurants are open through to the end of October.
NB When we went in the summer I noticed how much more expensive the Algarve has become (food/drink) in recent years. Not crazy expensive like the South of France, but not the cheap fare of a few years back
Anything from Portimao west would be my choice (parents had a villa between Praia da Luz and Burgau for 30 years). Some fantastic beaches out that way too (such as the 20kms of wild and golden Meia Praia)
If you are after a luxurious but quiet Algarvian guest house rather than a hotel or villa, old family friends run Salsalito which costs £450 per room (2 sharing) in October.
Most bars and restaurants are open through to the end of October.
NB When we went in the summer I noticed how much more expensive the Algarve has become (food/drink) in recent years. Not crazy expensive like the South of France, but not the cheap fare of a few years back
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