Hi all, im looking for some advice from some of you guys before I go ahead and book my first holiday to Portugal. I am planning booking 7 days in the Dom Joao village in Alvor in late August with First Choice but want to know if it would be suitable for the things im looking for from my holiday. My wife and I are in our late 20s and are looking for somewhere suitable for couples; we are trying to avoid the 18-30 rowdies and aint too keen on the couples with 6 screaming kids in tow throwing tantrums all over the place. We are looking for somewhere that is pretty quiet and peaceful as I will just be returning from 12 months in Iraq and need a place to wind down. We won't be looking for nightclubs but wouldn't mind the odd night out to a relatively lively bar. I was in Greece a couple of years back and booked what appeared to be one of the quieter tourist areas, it was nice but it seemed that the only people there that were not drawing a pension was ourselves. The whole place seemed to shut down by about 10.30 which wasn't a problem but it would have been nice to be able to have the option of doing something a bit later if we felt like it.
My wife likes to be on the beach for a few hours a day and I like to go exploring coastlines and doing a lot of snorkeling and most other water sports, diving, jet-skiing, Para sailing, renting boats for the day etc. Can all these activities be found in Alvor?
We would also like to be able to rent a quad or even a scooter to go further out and check the rest of the area out for a day or two. I'm really not a fan of busy cramped beaches, I like a bit of privacy if possible, and from the look of the pics ive seen Alvor appears to have a large beach so im hoping it won't be an issue. Again from the pics ive seen there appears to be some beautiful craggy cliff areas which I would like to go scrambling about while the better half soaks up the sun, are these areas far from the hotel, I don't like leaving her alone for too long as I know women are prone to being harassed sometimes if they are not with someone. Im sure ill think of some more questions soon, but thanks in advance for any advice you may be able to give me.
Cheers now, Mac.
No taker's on this one huh? 
Sorry Strykertech,
Never been to Alvor but sure someone on the site will be able to help.
Lummie
Never been to Alvor but sure someone on the site will be able to help.
Lummie
hi alvor is a beautiful part of the island the beaches are out of this world.
we have been going to the algarve for the last 20years
you will find averything you need for holiday and the portugese are very friendly people
have a great time
we have been going to the algarve for the last 20years
you will find averything you need for holiday and the portugese are very friendly people
have a great time
soz sky
we have never been in august as it is to hot we go may june and september
also if your going at the end of august the kids are still on holiday from school
the accomadation your looking at is about 25 mins walk to the beach
weve stayed in the alvor mar apartments which are very nice and only about 10 mins from beach .we are going next week for 2 weeks staying at the
dunas do alvor apartments this our 2nd time here
hope this is helpful
we have never been in august as it is to hot we go may june and september
also if your going at the end of august the kids are still on holiday from school
the accomadation your looking at is about 25 mins walk to the beach
weve stayed in the alvor mar apartments which are very nice and only about 10 mins from beach .we are going next week for 2 weeks staying at the
dunas do alvor apartments this our 2nd time here
hope this is helpful
We are also off to the Dunas do Alvor next week. See you there.
We've only popped into Alvor a few times when we've been staying in Lagos and therefore not really walked it as we had hire car.
Although I quite liked Alvor I find as, with some other Algarve resorts, not the usual layout as with some holiday destinations. You may find the beach a canny walk from the main bars/restaurants for example. Alvor's main area seems to be near the harbour as opposed to the beach, but maybe that's just the way we entered the resort
Click Here for our resort reports for Alvor.
Although I quite liked Alvor I find as, with some other Algarve resorts, not the usual layout as with some holiday destinations. You may find the beach a canny walk from the main bars/restaurants for example. Alvor's main area seems to be near the harbour as opposed to the beach, but maybe that's just the way we entered the resort
Click Here for our resort reports for Alvor.
We are going on Tuesday from Cardiff with bmi baby. Booked it through Owners abroad.
Sorry have only just seen this posting ,I am sure you will enjoy Alvor loads of bars and restaurants so you can stay out late if you want .The beach is right by the Dom Jao the village is about 10mins walk away.The beach at Alvor has not got the cliffs and rocks but if you walk towards Praia da Rocha you can walk along the cliff top a bit rough in places but after the 12 months you will have had you will probably think it is a doddle!You can walk right onto Praia da Rocha or stop in Praia do Vau have some lunch and then if the tide is out walk all along the beach to Portimao Marina ,you can then get a taxi back to Alvor or catch the bus back from Portimao .Usually women on their own are not pestered on the beach ,you will often see a portugese girl sunbathing on her own. 
Hi Mac, here's a link to my mini-trip report from last October - http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=108576
We really liked Alvor. You'll find the beach is quite near your hotel and the resort centre is a little way away, maybe 15 mins. I don't recall seeing any paragliding whilst we were there but we visited in October so maybe they do have them in high season (we only spent half a couple of half days on the beach). You'll find plenty of boat trips running from the harbour and plenty of bars stay open past 10.30 so you'll be fine. There are plenty of places to visit nearby if you hire a car, driving over there is much easier than Greece!
Hope that helps.
We really liked Alvor. You'll find the beach is quite near your hotel and the resort centre is a little way away, maybe 15 mins. I don't recall seeing any paragliding whilst we were there but we visited in October so maybe they do have them in high season (we only spent half a couple of half days on the beach). You'll find plenty of boat trips running from the harbour and plenty of bars stay open past 10.30 so you'll be fine. There are plenty of places to visit nearby if you hire a car, driving over there is much easier than Greece!
Hope that helps.
Mac,
I think Alvor will suit you for most of what you're looking for; if the paragliding is not available there ( and I see no reason why it shouldn't be ) you'll certainly find it in Lagos, the next resort to the west where you'll definitely be able to rent a quad if that's not available in Alvor. With regard to the rock climbing, be aware that the cliffs are sandstone and are subject to severe and constant erosion and should be treated with the utmost respect as they are quite dangerous in places; you'll find that the further west you go along the Algarve, the more rugged becomes the coastal scenery. I assume that you are aware that Portugal is not an island as suggested in a previous post.
I think Alvor will suit you for most of what you're looking for; if the paragliding is not available there ( and I see no reason why it shouldn't be ) you'll certainly find it in Lagos, the next resort to the west where you'll definitely be able to rent a quad if that's not available in Alvor. With regard to the rock climbing, be aware that the cliffs are sandstone and are subject to severe and constant erosion and should be treated with the utmost respect as they are quite dangerous in places; you'll find that the further west you go along the Algarve, the more rugged becomes the coastal scenery. I assume that you are aware that Portugal is not an island as suggested in a previous post.
Oops, We are booked with Owners Direct (via a link provided by Wizard) not Owners abroad. Silly me.
We haven't had any directions but we have a number to phone when we get to the airport. Hope it all works okay.
Never done private rental before.
We haven't had any directions but we have a number to phone when we get to the airport. Hope it all works okay.
Never done private rental before.
hi maureen was it cheap to book the apartment through owners direct?
it would be handy to know
smiler
it would be handy to know
smiler
Go on to the main index for Algarve discussion forum. Go back 1 page from latest page. Scroll down to Dunas do Alvor thread. Second post by Wizard gives a link. You will get prices and details on that. You can see that prices vary by the time of year. Haven't used them before so fingers crossed.
thanks maureen
Hey guys thanks for all the replies. I have now booked so am counting down the days to get out there and relax and enjoy myself. From what ive seen and read it looks and sounds like an awesome place to get away and have some fun. Now what kind of power outlets do they use in Portugal? Is it standard 2 pin european sockets? I know it may be a dumb question but im a great beliver in being prepared (good boy scout and all that) 
But thanks again for the advice folks I really do appreciate you taking the time to reply. Im sure ill be back for some more during the next few months.
And yea Sagres I was aware that portugal was NOT an Island lol
Cheers guys, Mac.
But thanks again for the advice folks I really do appreciate you taking the time to reply. Im sure ill be back for some more during the next few months.
And yea Sagres I was aware that portugal was NOT an Island lol
Cheers guys, Mac.
Yep,220-240v two pin Euro socket.
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