So where do people recommend then?

Taking into account i want to be close to the sea, close to shops and restaurants, maybe some nightlife but not really to loud, and it must be a pleasant place.

Tough one.

Perhaps you should consider Olhos d'Agua or Gale? Both are close to Albufeira, one east one west, with some shops and restaurants of their own, good beaches, and an 8-10 euro cab ride away from Albufeira were you will find plenty of everything Mark.

I have been to Quarteira, several times (not stayed there mind) & I still think it's got more redeeming features than Armaçao though........just can't remember any offhand at the moment
As I said in your original thread Mark, Carvoeiro might suit you.

1st time in Portugal last August and had the unfortunate experience of booking a hotel in Armaçao De Pera. It read like it was 2 fishing villages which had merged. I can only describe it as the Bronx of the Algarve. Ended up hiring a car just to get away from the multi coloured high rise apts, with washings blowing from all the balconies.

Damn those Portugese and their pesky washing Jade...

It is a bit grim though isn't it. Especially when you have been mislead over what you are getting. Nice enough beach though.

is it just me or is everyone wondering is this the redoubtable judith chalmers ?

I'm well travelled but I'm not that orange

Beach is lovely Algarveaddick, but I have never ever seen sun loungers booked out for days on end with reserved plaques hanging from a chain on the beds before. At that time of year, there was no chance in getting a front or even a second line lounger as they'd all been paid for in advance!!

We have passed through Armacao a couple of times when we have been staying elsewhere. On both occasions it absolutely poured with rain (ok so it was the winter months) it looked a throughly miserable place - a lot of unsightly high rise buildings - not as bad as Praia da Rocha but not somewhere I would want to stay.

Pippa

Hi,

Just returned from staying 16nights in Amarco De Perra,(first time in the algarve), stayed in a private rented apartment on the Club Nautillus complex, just outside the sign for Amarco De Perra. Apartment lovely and complex secure, had a lovely pool and had a path that took us straight down to the beach. Beaches lovely and lots of coves to the right also, plenty to choose from.
I agree with what people have said about high rise and coloured buildings but this didn't put me off. Lots of nice eating places,

Pippa : lovely food and reasonable prices, run by an english guy who has been there 20 odd years. went twice

Porters : lovely food at reasonable price, good service, went twice

Clippers : lovely restaurant, good food and service, went here for my birthday and family and friends had arranged for them to get me a birthday cake, they dimmed the lights and played happy birthday, although it was in portuguesse, same music, nothing was too much trouble. went back again on our last night.

Raj: went here twice, lovely indian food, good price and lovely food.

other places we ate at were also nice and reasonable, but the ones above i would recommend to go to if you ever visit Amarco De Perra.

Hired a car for a week and visited other place in the algarve, went to lagos, lovely place, went to to 2 water parks, splish and splash and aqualand. Also went to the sand sculptures as recommend by someone on here, brilliant and would recommend people to go, went around 7.45pm and saw them in the light, then walked back round when dark.
Went for a drive up the hills, lovely views, also went to silves, walked round the castle.
Went to alberferia, walked round the old town and got on the tourist train to the new part, definately prefer the old town, saw the fireworks in the old town.
Had a great holiday and wouldn't hesitate to go back to the algarve again, would stay somewhere else next time that we havdn't seen. dont like going back to the same place.
Theresa

Hi Theresa,
Glad that you enjoyed the Algarve - you'd have loved Armacao years ago before all the development.
Why not try Lagos next time?-It has a lot more to offer than you can appreciate in just one day.
By the way, can you tell us which bar you enjoyed( ) before you went to 'splish and splash'-'cos it's always had a sign outside that said 'Slide 'n Splash' whenever we have been !!

Sagres,
I'm surprised you could even read "splish and splash"........wot with all that practise you've been getting in with the tinto before your visit to Lagos....

2 weeks today and counting.......
Pat

Hi Sagres,
Must have been all the cocktails i drank the night before, yes your right it is slide n splash, i kept callin it splish and splash all holiday.
theresa