Very very easy, offies all over the place. Prices are quite a lot dearer than Spain.

just as easy but not as cheap... many people including locals pop over to spain.. depending where on the algarve you are, you can drive over the boarder to Anamonte or get a bus to Vila Real de Sante Antonio and take the ferry

wiz

If I were to get the ferry over to spain would I be able to bring the full allowance of 3200 cigs and 600g tobacco

i will leave one of the regulars to give the definative answer...

wiz

Yes Tango you have paid the tax in the country and so the allowance is the same as Portugal.Its the VAT that makes them dearer in Portugal and obviously the Portuguese government as well add more indirect tax than Spain.If I'm wrong, resident members please correct me.
Just wonders about the Ferry do you need a boat? (Maybe you do if you aint driving) thought it was just a border crossing into ayemonte (Spelling sh==e)

Does anyone know how much I can expect to pay for a pack of 20 Marlboro in the Algarve.
And is there a Portuguese brand similar to Marlboro Red that people can recommend,have never tried a Portuguese ciggie.
Thanks

We drove to Spain from Salema which is further West than Albufeira didn't take us long at all. I bought Richmond and they were £26 in Algarve £19 in Spain. Hubby's baccy was a rake cheaper also so it was well worth the petrol money (not much petrol used to be honest)

Sorry Alan don't know the price of Marlboro.

S & G Portuguese ciggys are ok, but not much different in price than the English brands.

We wouldn't be driving so would be looking at taking public transport from Albufeira over the border into Spain......any advice??

tango see my post about 5 above..

Is it a long way Wizard?? Obviously we would make a day of it.

its 92km from Alberfura to VRDS by road [aprox 1hr drive on motorway] there are trains although the stations are not central to the towns, also busses go to cubser's web site where you will find timetables and links

wizard

Imported cigs are in the range 35 - 38 Euros for 200 just now in the Algarve. Local brands 30 - 32.

If I get the chance I will take a quick nose around one of the shops in town before the rugby this afternoon.

That's pricey JPS BLACK are 25 euro in Spain

Yes Portugal is more expensive than Spain hence 'white van man' doing the runs across the border!

Here are some typical prices I noted yesterday. Prices are the same everywhere including the airport.

For a carton of 200

Superkings, Lambert and Butler €38
Benson & Hedges €38.50
Silk Cut €38.50
Berkeley €37.50
Mayfair, Richmond €33.00

Golden Virginia (10 x 50g) was either €56 or €58, couldn't quite make out price looking through window - shops were closed!

If you are thinking of going to Spain by bus/train/ferry it would take over 3 hours each way from Albufeira. Cost would be about 12 Euros each way, obviously more if a taxi to railway station at Albufeira was involved.

12 euros isn't a bad price and we could make a day of it.....where is the nearest train station and which spanish town would I be looking to travel to(nearest with a eurotabacs shop)

Here goes - day trip planner from Albufeira to Ayamonte in Spain. Ayamonte is just across the river from the Portuguese town of Vila Real de Santo Antonio.

Bear with me! Times as per current timetables, no guarantee they will be the same in September.

Option One - using the Lagos to Seville express bus service all the way - DAILY service

Albufeira Bus Station leave 0735 arrive Ayamonte 1100am Spanish time
Ayamonte leave 1815 arrive Albufeira 1940 local time

This is the only round trip possible using this bus route. Tickets should be reserved in advance.

Option Two by local bus all the way - WEEKDAYS only

Albufeira Bus Station to Faro fast bus (Transrapido) leaves at 0950 arrive Faro Bus station 1035 Fare €4.20

Faro to Vila Real bus leaves at 1100 arrive Vila Real bus station at 1240. One-way fare €4.95

Ferry is adjacent to bus station. They run every half hour in the summer. Takes 10 minutes. Fare € 1.35 as far as I know.

That would get you to Ayamonte around 1.30/2pm Spanish time when I imagine all the shops will be on siesta break!

So that's €10.50 plus whatever it costs you to get to the Albufeira bus station.

There is an earlier fast bus from Albufeira at 0815 which is supposed to arrive in Faro at 0900 but more like 10 or quarter past in my experience. That would (if it's more or less on time) allow you to make the 0925 train from Faro to Vila Real - see below. That would give a lot more time in Ayamonte. The train station in Faro is about 2 minutes walk from the bus station. if you missed the 0925 the next train isn't until 1225, so the 1100 bus is the only alternative.

Return from Vila Real and don't forget to change your watches and double check the ferry times as Spain is an hour ahead of Portugal.

Buses from Vila Real de Santo Antonio to Faro at 1630 or 1730 arriving 1810 or 1910 respectively.

(train Vila Real to Faro at 1741 arrive 1851 as an alternative)

Bus Faro to Albufeira at 1845 arrive 2015 (slow bus) or 1940 arrive 2025 (fast bus)

(train Faro to Albufeira at 1827 as an option)

Not all that wonderful on the way back, but maybe makes time for a drink or two!

Option Three Train - Sundays and holidays excepted.

Get to Albufeira station! It's four miles out of town so a taxi is about 8 Euros. There is a bus from Albufeira bus station at 0730 (NOT ON SATURDAYS) cost €1.90.

Albufeira leave 0802 arrive Faro 0857. Faro leave 0925 arrive Vila Real 1039. The ferry is about about 10 minutes walk from the railway station. Return fare Albufeira to Vila Real is €12.60

The next weekday train and the first Sunday train with a connection to VRSA is not until 1146 arrive 1339, rather late for a day out.

Return from VRSA to Albufeira again remembering to check times of ferries and allow for the walk to the station!

Vila Real leave 1741 change at Faro arrive Albufeira 1943 or 1841 change at Faro arrive 2048. That's the last one.

So it can be done. Done it myself using just about all the possible combinations. You don't save any money by buying return tickets so you could take the journey outward as it suits you and keep your options open for the way back depending on how things go. that's what I do.

The main area of fraught is that the buses from Albufeira to Faro are routinely 15 minutes late and that can lead to a lot of wrist-tapping! Ditto the last time I caught the bus into Faro from the Vial Real direction it was 10 minutes late. As everywhere they get snarled up in traffic.

The train ride from Faro to Vila Real is quite pleasant and make sure you sit on the seaward side of the train.

Hope that helps and that you make it.

Brilliant thanks so much
I have printed it out for safe keeping...not booked anything as yet but I'm deffo leaning towards Albufeira for our May holiday.....now all I have to do is pursuade my OH