Algarve, best place to stay?
Discussion
Been quite a few times as my old man lives out there. If you are coming in from Spain I would stick east and stay somewhere like Tavira. Lovely village, nice places to eat etc. Vila Real de San Antonio is a town that has everything you need (the chicken place there is amazing!) and Castro Marim is a nice village. You also have Ayamonte just over the Guidana in Spain which has a nice feel to it.
All of the places mentioned are nice but I would avoid Val De Lobo and Quinta Do Lago....pretty soulless and definitely avoid Albuifera. There are some nice traditional towns inland too. Loule is nice and has a beautiful covered market.
All of the places mentioned are nice but I would avoid Val De Lobo and Quinta Do Lago....pretty soulless and definitely avoid Albuifera. There are some nice traditional towns inland too. Loule is nice and has a beautiful covered market.
had ham said:
Poppiecock said:
I quite like Tavira and Villa Real.
Tavira - Algarve without the the Brit Algarve thing going on, very nice.If you fancy a well appointed apartment, laying around a pool, enjoying a good book, and chilled wine, later a 25 minute walk to the beachside restaurants, with one or three closer still, you could do a lot worse than Cabañas, Algarve.
blue_haddock said:
I'm a big fan of the eastern algarve, so very different form the likes of albufeira.
Really enjoyed my MTB race in Albufeira yesterday, but that was inland, beautiful and scenic country trails.The Eastern Algarve is indeed lovely, especially if you prefer large, expansive beaches.
For permanent residence, I much prefer where I am, near Carvoeiro which suits me for the cliffs, coves and stunning coastal areas in front of me and Monchique hills behind me - ideal for my mountain biking passion.
Having lived here for over 2 years now and settled with a good local network of Portuguese friends, I have learnt many of the good and bad bits. Albufeira's strip is sadly bad thanks to the Brits who frequent it albeit I'm happy to cycle or walk through it during the low season.
Vilamoura is also very English albeit better. I cycle through there often enough, just not my thing as a place to holiday but if you like golf...
Armacao de Pera, Benagil, Carvoeiro, Lagos and just beyond...all good I think for tourists.
The Western Algarve (thinking Aljezur etc) is wild, windy and very scenic too but more a surfers and hikers paradise.
It's around 20C here today where I live, bright blue skies, warm Sun. Not bad for Winter, deep into November.
Coolbanana said:
blue_haddock said:
I'm a big fan of the eastern algarve, so very different form the likes of albufeira.
Really enjoyed my MTB race in Albufeira yesterday, but that was inland, beautiful and scenic country trails.The Eastern Algarve is indeed lovely, especially if you prefer large, expansive beaches.
For permanent residence, I much prefer where I am, near Carvoeiro which suits me for the cliffs, coves and stunning coastal areas in front of me and Monchique hills behind me - ideal for my mountain biking passion.
Having lived here for over 2 years now and settled with a good local network of Portuguese friends, I have learnt many of the good and bad bits. Albufeira's strip is sadly bad thanks to the Brits who frequent it albeit I'm happy to cycle or walk through it during the low season.
Vilamoura is also very English albeit better. I cycle through there often enough, just not my thing as a place to holiday but if you like golf...
Armacao de Pera, Benagil, Carvoeiro, Lagos and just beyond...all good I think for tourists.
The Western Algarve (thinking Aljezur etc) is wild, windy and very scenic too but more a surfers and hikers paradise.
It's around 20C here today where I live, bright blue skies, warm Sun. Not bad for Winter, deep into November.
Stayed there in the past, returned the other week.
What’s going on with Marina restaurants?.
There were hardly any Portugese staff at all, in the restaurants which have been there years. The staff / waiters were invariably Thai, as were the numerous massage parlours. Some kind or takeover?
Away from the front found more authentic Portugese places, plus better in other towns/villages. Had hire car. Steered away from the front eateries.
Just interested as to what’s happened there.
James6112 said:
Update on Vilamoura.
Stayed there in the past, returned the other week.
What’s going on with Marina restaurants?.
There were hardly any Portugese staff at all, in the restaurants which have been there years. The staff / waiters were invariably Thai, as were the numerous massage parlours. Some kind or takeover?
Away from the front found more authentic Portugese places, plus better in other towns/villages. Had hire car. Steered away from the front eateries.
Just interested as to what’s happened there.
Would suggest high rents causing owners to trim staff costs.Stayed there in the past, returned the other week.
What’s going on with Marina restaurants?.
There were hardly any Portugese staff at all, in the restaurants which have been there years. The staff / waiters were invariably Thai, as were the numerous massage parlours. Some kind or takeover?
Away from the front found more authentic Portugese places, plus better in other towns/villages. Had hire car. Steered away from the front eateries.
Just interested as to what’s happened there.
I have a small apartment in Olhos de Aqua, noted higher resturant prices on our last visit. Even the roadside orange sellers had upped prices!
If anyone is driving their own vehicle out to that area, I have now found two garages where the owners are ex pats and very helpful.
i4got said:
Glad to see good recommendations for Tavira. We start a road trip next week starting in Porto then heading via Pinhao, Tomar and Lisbon to finish with a week in Tavira.
Yeah crazy though the hourds of people heading to and from the beach. Like a scene from the walking dead.Have a look at Olhao. We went a few years ago and it was just starting to develop as a resort - had a lovely week. At that point it was still very Portuguese and hadn’t been twisted by British tourists.
Or better still; forget the Algarve and head towards the resorts around Lisbon. Much nicer.
Or better still; forget the Algarve and head towards the resorts around Lisbon. Much nicer.
dazzalse said:
We drive down every year for the summer, breaking the journey in cascais and estoril for a few nights.
You might want to look at Alvor, close to the beach, great restaurants and nice old fishing village.
The Penina hotel is a nice old fashioned hotel, however you need to drive everywhere from there, newly opened last year is the Pestana Alvor South Beach, we called in for drinks last August when we were down, great location.
I would avoid Albuferia at al costs, was great 20 years ago but terrible now.
We stayed in Alvor years ago, really pleasant and handily placed for trips in both directions along the coast and also inland.You might want to look at Alvor, close to the beach, great restaurants and nice old fishing village.
The Penina hotel is a nice old fashioned hotel, however you need to drive everywhere from there, newly opened last year is the Pestana Alvor South Beach, we called in for drinks last August when we were down, great location.
I would avoid Albuferia at al costs, was great 20 years ago but terrible now.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff