Things To Do In Albufeira

[WEHGuy]

Hi folks,

me and some lads are going to Albufeira so, I am wondering is there we should do? We will be doing a go-karting competition on one of the days and drinking lots but, anything else to recommend? Thanks in advance

PS. No golfers in the group.

[the mac]

Hi mate
I've been a number of times and have done the following: quad biking (quad-Ventura) excellent out most of the day 90% off road cracking value, jeep safari out again most of the day standing in the back of defenders as the maniac driver flys about great fun but health and safety may catch up at some point. Some sort of buggy adventure again mostly off road and a good day out with you driving. Lunch included usually on all trips. Some sort of gay boat trip this was mainly gay! Wife liked the young captain dude though!
Make sure you all take driving licences, don't book at your hotel.
The strip is the place for the boys at night the old town is more mellow.
Anything else just ask. Enjoy

[WEHGuy]

Thanks for your reply. Did you go go-karting? What's the going rate for a pint? cocktails? jager bombs? nice bottle of champagne? What about supermarket prices for bbq meat and booze?

[the mac]

No not been go-karting, there were a fair few deals on for drink if you wander round and see what's on promo. It was bout €3 for a large beer and €5 for cocktails so not that cheap really. There is a big supermarket on the main road between the strip and the old town and it was cheap for drink meat etc, there is also a lidl!

[icetea]

WEHGuy said:

Thanks for your reply. Did you go go-karting? What's the going rate for a pint? cocktails? jager bombs? nice bottle of champagne? What about supermarket prices for bbq meat and booze?

I'm 20 minutes away from Albufeira just now, so these prices should be roughly accurate.

Supermarkets are cheap for food... a kilogram of ribs is about 5 euros. A packet of 4 decent quality burgers about 3 euros. A full chicken already split in half and ready to go on the BBQ is about 4 euros.

Booze in supermarkets.... about 10 euros for a bottle of Smirnoff. Maybe half that for a bottle of nasty stuff. If you are drinking beer I would stick to Super Bock and Sagres etc... the local beers. You can usually get deals on the crates of those, it'll work out to 50 cents or so for either a 330ml bottle or can.

Pints of local beer will be anything from 1.50 euros in a local bar out of the way of the main tourist streets, up to 4 euros in a bar on the strip. More if you're in a night club. Shots or cocktails will get expensive, as you'll pay way more for red bull and top shelf spirits etc. If you're trying to work to a budget I'd drink spirits at home before you go out, then stick to beer once you're out - takes longer to drink and costs far less

Champaigne can vary wildly depending on where you get it... anything from free purely as an enticer to get a bunch of blokes into a bar (It'll taste like piss though) up to a few hundred for a bottle of Crystal.

On the alcohol front, imho the best value is to be had in drinking wine - you can get some very drinkable locally produced stuff for < £5 a bottle from the supermarkets.

[WEHGuy]

Thanks bud. Where about are you staying? How do you rate it? Would you go back?

[icetea]

I live in Vila Sol, which is a golf resort right next to Vilamoura. I like it here, I definitely prefer it to Albufeira but then I probably look for different things to you as I'm here for months at a time rather than a 2 week holiday. Albufeira is too busy/noisy around the main areas. Its the same at the marina here but in Vila Sol I'm away from it all and have complete peace and quiet if I want it.

If you have any questions about prices or the algarve in general feel free to ask. I don't really know much about Albufeira specifically as I tend to not be there very much.

[WEHGuy]

Pioneer said:

icetea said:

I live in Vila Sol, which is a golf resort right next to Vilamoura. I like it here, I definitely prefer it to Albufeira but then I probably look for different things to you as I'm here for months at a time rather than a 2 week holiday. Albufeira is too busy/noisy around the main areas. Its the same at the marina here but in Vila Sol I'm away from it all and have complete peace and quiet if I want it.

If you have any questions about prices or the algarve in general feel free to ask. I don't really know much about Albufeira specifically as I tend to not be there very much.

I go to Vila Sol on holiday with my friends most years, absolutely love it! The villas are cracking! Are you the guy that owns the strip club!?

Strip Club?

[icetea]

Pioneer said:

I go to Vila Sol on holiday with my friends most years, absolutely love it! The villas are cracking! Are you the guy that owns the strip club!?

Yes, but I'm in the process of getting rid as I can't really own any businesses here - I'm moving my base back to Monaco but I'll be keeping my villa here.

If you're passing by, stop and say hi, happy to grab a Deli France coffee or a beer, or a blast on the local roads. Orange superleggera, orange Spyder or black hard top Gallardo - they're all me, or if not they'll be my business partner wondering wtf you're talking about

Uninteresting point for everyone else - Oscars has been sold, new owners took over a few days ago. No idea whats changing there. Hopefully nothing.... nice place to have within walking distance!

[WEHGuy]

icetea said:

Pioneer said:

I go to Vila Sol on holiday with my friends most years, absolutely love it! The villas are cracking! Are you the guy that owns the strip club!?

Yes, but I'm in the process of getting rid as I can't really own any businesses here - I'm moving my base back to Monaco but I'll be keeping my villa here.

If you're passing by, stop and say hi, happy to grab a Deli France coffee or a beer, or a blast on the local roads. Orange superleggera, orange Spyder or black hard top Gallardo - they're all me, or if not they'll be my business partner wondering wtf you're talking about

Uninteresting point for everyone else - Oscars has been sold, new owners took over a few days ago. No idea whats changing there. Hopefully nothing.... nice place to have within walking distance!

Is a blast in your superleggera an open invitation to any PHer who comes round your way?

[SimonV8ster]

Things to do in Albufeira -

Get mugged by the locals.

Heard by a guy who I recently went sailing with that its a bit of a st hole. Brazillians have moved in and mugging everybody, not nice at night time. He won't go back.

[hawk 427]

checkout roosterquadtours my mate moved to portugal 2 years ago and set up this business he can provide accomadation,pick you up from faro airport ect or just go for a day
website is www.roosterquadtours.com

[icetea]

Pioneer said:

Love Oscars, hope the new owners don't ruin it. It's nice place for us to walk to from the villa and have a drink or two. I didn't make it there last year as we had a baby, I hear the supermarket has closed down? Much else changed?

How much are the building plots selling for there now? Are the villas holding their money?....

How come you can't own a business there?

Sorry for all the questions, but I love vila sol....

Sorry for slow reply, didn't realise anyone had commented after me.

Supermarket has closed yeah, it will be reopening soon as a new company have apparently taken over the building. Hopefully it will be more reasonably priced... nearly 5 euros for stuff like Magners etc is hopeless, you can get it in Oscars, served by a pretty barmaid and no cleaning up for the same price

There is a building plot along from me and across the road for sale for about 300k euros. I can't remember the exact details, or the name of the estate agent but they have an office along from Oscars, next time I'm about I'll take a look in the window and see. That plot was enough for one big 5 bed villa/pool/garage/decent garden by the looks of things.

I can't own any businesses here long term as I don't want to become a Portuguese resident…. its far less hassle to do no business here at all then I can't ever be seen as anything other than a tourist.

As far villas holding their money, I'm not sure. The one I am in is rented so I haven't followed it closely My own was listed for sale for 2.5m euros, had no takers for months and dropped by 200k. Still nothing then offered out for rent. The apartments just along from the golf course (Sunset Villas, info from developer here - http://lusort.com/en/developments/projects/sunset-... have dropped a fair bit over the last couple of years. Some of the 2 bedroom flats sold for 300k+ euros about 4-5 years ago. I've bought some of them recently for 182,500 euros each. And that is getting them new with a 5 year warranty etc. I don't know how the villas have faired in comparison, but I honestly wouldn't be confident in buying the one i'm renting, at the current asking price. I think those specific ones will have further to fall. Whereas I think these apartments are good value at their current prices. Evidently other people agree as all of the 2 bedrooms are sold now. I think there are a few 1 beds left for 150k euros. They do look pretty good as they have two outdoor areas, one of them being a roof terrace that is plumbed in for a jacuzzi. I would have loved to be able to get a 2 bedroom with the same size of patio area, and a private roof terrace like that, but there are none.

[icetea]

Just went digging in my notes, heres a few plots for sale:

http://www.primelocation.com/international-propert... 1150m2 plot. £458k, estimated build cost £500k

http://www.algarvepropertysearch.com/Plot-with-Pro... 3460m2 plot, build size 650m2 - 1.3m euros

http://www.algarvepropertysearch.com/Plot-with-Pro... 1600m2 plot size, 400m2 build size - 850k euros


And a couple of completed properties for comparison:

http://www.algarvepropertysearch.com/Villa-in-Vila...
http://www.algarvepropertysearch.com/Villa-in-Vila...