Hello, we have just come back from Albufeira and are in our late 50s, we have been going to Portugal since we were about your age and have seen it from all sides. Albufeira is the largest resort on the Algarve and has something for all ages, my daughter has just got back as well although this was her first time and she liked it. The place is set in two parts the Old Town and the Strip, the old town has some realy nice restaurants and lots of bars, a lot of these bar have live music and on music street there is a Karaoke bar. The Strip is more for your 18/30 but it does get a lot of familys as well, this area is more like your spanish resorts, although it is worth a visit just to have a look. But I would say the old town is the best, as for getting around and seeing a few places a car is always best, over the years we have had cars and gone all along the coast and inland and there are some great places to see, like Cape St Vincent in the west and Lagos or go the other east and you have Faro, Tavira, Vila Real de St Antonio (like a small Lisbon) and from here you can get the ferry to Spain for a few hours. Also you can go inland if you like a nice castle places like Silves,Aljezur or Alcoutim. They have a good bus service this year we went to Silves on it, and there is a train service and again we went to Lagos on it, a nice day out. There are four water parks if you like this sort of thing, so hope this is a start, if you do go just ask and I will let you have some more info if needed.

Dave.

ahh - many thanks Dave. It's early days yet because I have only come back fom this years holiday. Just was disappointed in that (though I had a good time - just the resort) and am looking towards next year. Need to save some money first though! I have never been to Portugal so really want to give it a try. Sounds like it could suit us. We don't hire a car on our holidays. I couldn't cope driving on the wrong side of the road and my OH scares me enough with his driving when we are over here LOL

Have a look at Lagos too Alison.
I tend to find Albufeira a bit 'touristy' and more difficult to find restaurants that don't serve chips with everything.

Lagos is to me, just a bit more REAL Portugal, with some history.
Also, the train station,and bus station are right on the doorstep,
for getting around and seeing other places.
I don't mean to appear snobby, but Lagos is a bit more up market and classy.
Albufeira can be loud and brash!!
Great if that's the sort of thing you like, but for me, I'd rather be staying in Lagos,
and visit Albufeira for the day, rather than the other way round

Cheers Pandy - I'll look into that too. What is the night life there like?

Well, we're not 'party animals' Alison. (we are in our mid 50's) We usually stick to the one bar when we're there, (Luis's).
We rent my Sis-in-law's apartment, which is right opposite Luis's bar.
We have been known to eventually get kicked out at 4-00am!!!!
He's usually got something going on in the way of entertainment, and even karaoke sometimes!
However, my kids sometimes come out with us, (late 20's) and have a wail of a time in Lagos centre.
There's a few (what I call ) rowdy bars, but that's what I like, there are just a few,
and also lots of life over at the trendy marina.
I think it's 'middle of the road' something for everyone. Plenty to do, and plenty to see.
http://www.lagos-luz-sagres.com/night.htm

Well, we are not party animals either. We like to just sit and have a drink but want something to watch - we run out of things to talk about after a couple of days LOL.

Cheers Pandy x

Hi Alison,
I would agree with Pandy..take a look at Lagos! It's now my home town and really has everything you want. Lots of bars for all ages both on the marina and in the centre - the late clubs tend to be in a couple of the back streets off the centre and you wouldn't be aware of them unless you go looking! Also loads of restaurants catering for all tastes and budgets. You will find lots of portuguese ones as well as italian, indian, chinese, thai, tapas etc. If you don't want to hire a car it's certainly easy to get around here too...great minibus network for the local area and the train and bus station are in the town. Albufeira bus and train stations are quite a way out of the town so you would need to get a taxi/bus to get there!
Lots of the bars have live music nights including one of the beach bars and the ones in the centre are great for sitting and watching the world go by!

I was there a few years ago now have been about 4 times in all if your visiting luz look out for a pub called the pig's head (can't remember the portugese name ) porko de capo maybe.

It is usually frequented by ex pats and used to do an excellent sunday roast,we quite frequently fell out of there at 4-5 am.but it's a bit off the tourist track and is a bit difficult to find but well worth the effort.

Don't encorouge me, Carl

Don't you mean the Pig's head in Burgau Carl?
The landlord is a great big tattoo'd Northerner that goes by the name of "Rotten" He's an absolute scream,
and we've had many a great night there.

Thhhattt'sss the place, is rotten still there? we had a few crackin days there he even made us go upstairs one night to get our heads down because we were too pissed to get back to the hotel.

Beleive me a good time was had by all.

He was still there last time we were, about a year ago carl.

I've got a cracking photo of him, I asked him if he has ANY endearing features........... and he dropped his trousers
and mooned at us!!!
Health and safety would have a field-day in that pub. One of the barmaids cut her finger, and stuck it in the ice
bucket, (nice), and happily smoked her fag behind the bar, but the best night out on the Algarve bar none!!!!

As an Albufeira resident, I cannot agree with pandy at all, loads and loads of restaurants that do a wide variety of food. In the Old Town there is not one single British restaurant, they are almost all Portuguese. Lots more to choose from than there are in Lagos, and if you do want a wild night out, there is the Strip for that.

I am not knocking Lagos, just sticking up for Albufeira...

me to!
love albufeira, go every may and september just hubby and me and sometimes in august with all the family including the granchildren.Something to suit every age,beach fantastic, can't wait to go back
Jeanie

Albufeira gets my vote. My husband and I are in our 60s and we love Albufeira. We don't like wild nights out and divide our time between the Strip and the Old Town. There's something to suit all ages.

We are going to the Orua View Beach Club in Albuferia on the 25th Sept just wondering is it any where near the old town which i here people talking about.

It's probably about 1.5 to 2 miles to the east of the Old Town. It would take you half an hour to walk, or a taxi would only cost a few euros.

We stayed there once and it was very good. I'm sure you'll have a great time!

Just measured it on my map. It's 2km (=1.25 miles) to the top of the escalators at Pau da Bandeira. These go down into the old town. The centre of the old town, the square, is about 250 yards further once you are down below.

There's a couple of hills along that mile and a quarter. Local buses (€1,10 a ride) go along the road every half hour seven days a week until about 930pm in October. Taxi about 4 Euros.

Thanks for all your help is there much near the Orua View Beach Club in the way of bars just for a snack and a drink. Also is there a supermarket near where you can get cheap wine and vodke please.