Hi,

The built up area of Albufeira is fairly large. The Old Town area is towards the west side of town, near the sea, and the Strip area is a mile or so further east. The hotels and apartments in this newer area spread from the sea inland for a mile or so. There are hotels between the Old Town and the newer end of town, and depending on where they are it might take you about 15-20 minutes to walk to either. It's possible to walk from the Old Town to the Strip in about 20-30 minutes, but there's a little tourist train which runs between the two very regularly in high season, and of course there are taxis - however, you might have a long wait for one at night in August!

This interactive map is very good. You will see the Old Town first (get rid of the advertisers by clicking on the list on the right), and then if you click on East on the compass 14 times (!) you'll see a pink road running north-south from Oura to Areias de S Joao - that's The Strip. If you know the address of a hotel you can click on the road name below the map and you'll be whizzed over to that location. Very useful for getting your bearings.

I hope this helps!

Clud Praia de Oura, is right on the beach, and just a short stroll to the strip, Villa Petra is on the strip but prob a 10/15 walk to the beach, Jacaranda Villas are on the strip but down a very steep hill to the beach,
known as cardiac hill !!! Its no hardship to stay in the old town and make your own way down to the strip in the evening. Theres not many apartments that are situated right on the beach that i can think of but its a nice walk inthe evening between the two areas.

Albufeira Jardim apartment hotel is about 10 minutes walk from the centre of the old town and its beach. No busy roads to cross either. My golfing friends stay there.

Over the years we have had 3 lovely holidays at the Club Oceano aparthotel (it isn't a club!) in Areias de Sao Joao in Albufeira.

It is a small block of apartments, with a nice pool, bar, snackbar and friendly helpful staff. There's no kids club, but we always went on holiday to spend time with our daughter! The kids will have fun running around the pool and being in and out of it where the parents can see 'em.

The apartments are very clean and comfortable and had everything we needed and there's a little shop just next door that sells everything you need.

You are less than 5 mins walk from the beach and you can walk along the beach into the old town, when the tide is out. The restaurants, bars, shops and street entertainment is easily accessed from the Fisherman's beach at the town end, or you can walk along the road (there's a bit of a hill) and you can reckon on 15 mins walk either way. There's a service bus (1€ or taxi, about 3€).

You are also about 15 mins walk from the new town (Montechoro) and the ghastly Strip :!:, if you like that sort of thing, with its English bars, Timeshare touts and more shops.

Definitely take the kids to Zoomarine! You will all enjoy the dolphins and sea lion shows etc. and take your swim stuff; there's a huge swimming pool which is not shared with the marine wildlife! (entry was about 7€ last time we went).

Enjoy
Mrs StanMan

i would highly recommend the vilanova villas and appartments. this is thomson super family hotel. these hotels are a must if you have children.
we are going back again in may. this hotel is situated on the main strip in sao joao/montechoro. all the local bars and resturants are all well within more than easy reach.
this complex is not far from the crossroads on the beach side of the road. the beach is at the bottom of cardiac hill (easy going down, not so easy coming back)!

back onto bars/pubs, if you go round the back of this complex there is great british ran pub called the rovers return, the menu is all you would expect from a typical english pub, and there is an indoor play area for kids, ball pool etc.
there is a bar the other side of the crossroads called coconuts, this place is great for the kids, they do party games and dances, then later they do stuff like karaoke, and quizzes etc

the vilanova villa's and appts are very reasonable in price considering its central location, and isnt too far for any day trips,zoo ,marine is a must if you havent been before, and slide and splash is great if you enjoy water parks.

there is so much more to say about this area, just not enough time.
hope this helps!

edit to remove bold text [see terms of posting] wizard