jduffy,
Take a look at what Albufeira has to offer;from your family's ages, I would think that the Old Town would be ideally suited to your needs,although I don't think they're old enough to appreciate The Strip.Albufeira's beaches will be perfect for them and the waterparks are all fairly close at hand.Other forum members will give you further detail,I'm certain,but,in the meantime, have a look at http://www.albufeira.com where you'll find much more information.

Hi Julie,

I agree with Sagres. There are loads of beaches in and around Albufiera for the kids, waterparks, Zoo Marine, McDonald's etc and bowling and a cinema all within 15 mins drive. Algarve shopping is a nice place for kids especially in the heat of the day. Open plan but in the shade and lots to do there. Also lots of apartment with kids clubs to give you some peace

There are quite a few bars on the Strip that are child friendly, Coconuts springs to mind. The Old Town square has shows directed towards kids as well like the puppeteer.

4 kids under 16???? Best of luck (hope thay're not all boys)

Have a bawl

Lummie

thanks for the advice i will look into it. is there a name for the old town or is that it. just 1 boy thankfully lol

No, its just the Old Town Albufeira , as opposed to the new town I suppose at the Strip area?? Thats all I know it as anyway.

3 girls eh..........noisy

Lummie

Just got back and to be honest our 2 boys (13 and 11) were fed up with the strip,

only coconuts bar kept them occuppied and that got tedius after a few days

we stayed at vila petra ( very nice clean hotel) but no entertainment at all during day

i found the strip dirty and plenty of grafitti around, scratchcard men,beggars and drug pushers were a pain in the bottom

nice eating places esp sizziling stone and ancona

im afraid i liked cyprus much better and will be going there next august

I must confess I rarely venture to the Strip at all. not my scene. I also love Cyprus but after living and holidaying there for the last 25 years you get bored of the same place I suppose.

Reliable65, did you try any other areas or just the Strip? I think your boys would like the waterparks, zoo marine etc. It would have been a shame to judge the Algarve just on the Strip, its my least favourite place probably in the Algarve There is so much more to it than that. You've got me thinking of a large cool Keo now

Cheers

Lummie

yea took em to both zoomarine and splash and slide

also to 2 mini golfs, ets

really i should rephrase what i meant

the parks and excursions were spot on, old town was a little better than strip

what i really meant was that in spain and cyprus they seem to put endless entertainment on for kids at the hotels and especially in pubs at night

i know it is my fault in a way for booking the vila petra but i honestly thought the pubs etc would sort of entertain the kids til say 11 pm then cater for the single people who were out to get drunk every night

im not knocking the place - like the wife says it would have been better if we were a couple with no kids