hi have you taken a look through the algarve resort reports to see what floats your boat [as they say]

We too like the quiet life and the resorts on the Algarve we liked most were Carvoeiro and Monte Gordo.

Lagos.

Cabanas is a smallish resort that has enough bars/restaurants to keep you going and it isn't too far from the airport.

thanks folks.

I have seen a really cheap flight to porto, so thinking of going somewhere around there now, again any suggestions would be great, were happy to drive around 1.5 to 2 hours away, ideally somewhere near the beach.

North of Porto is called the Green Coast and it's green for a good reason - the vegetation gets watered a lot more than on the Algarve!

It's very nice, as is the Douro Valley (inland) but not guaranteed sunshine every day.

If you want a beach resort try southwards, the only one I've visited is Figueira da Foz which you can look up at http://www.figueiraturismo.com/eng/default.asp

steve8482 wrote:

North of Porto is called the Green Coast and it's green for a good reason - the vegetation gets watered a lot more than on the Algarve!

It's very nice, as is the Douro Valley (inland) but not guaranteed sunshine every day.

If you want a beach resort try southwards, the only one I've visited is Figueira da Foz which you can look up at http://www.figueiraturismo.com/eng/default.asp

It's rainy, even in July?? Oh dear, may as well stay here in the UK then, lol

Well there's more chance of rain in the north than the Algarve. But Figueira da Foz is a safer bet, if was in that area last June and had a full week of sun.

ok, just checked where is was, and that was actually one of the areas I was thinking of going to so will look for accomodation for around that area now, Cheers

The town is now three areas,

Old town Figueira which sits alongside the river between the railway station and old fort, has the useful shops and excellent market (especially if you go for S/C).

This then merges into the more resorty and newer area which faces the very wide, flat, beach. Has the bigger hotels looking out onto the Atlantic.

At the northern end that merges into the old village of Buarcos which has smaller older buildings and the beach becomes broken by areas of rocks (which eventually become Cape Modego).

The area has a lot of potential with at least 3 nearby inland towns worth visiting on a "not beach weather" day and access to the Silver Coast if it's all beach weather and you fancy a different beach!

We really enjoyed Alvor as there was a good selection of places to eat and drink without it being too noisy. It was also a good base to get out and about for sightseeing.
I've also been to Carvoeiro and found that's much quieter.

I think Figueira da Foz might be a very interesting place for a longer stay. I was there for a day late last year and although the weather wasn't very nice at all, I had a good walk around and there was plenty to see. The beaches looked excellent and I'll bet are packed in the summer.

One thing I did notice that there was not one single 'English' bar (not that I saw anyway) and that I would imagine it would be very much Portuguese in character being rather a long way off the regular tourist trail.