The First Choice Holiday Village is in Balaia, about 2 miles east of Albufeira proper. There is a very nice beach nearby but be warned it might not be beach weather. Also it's quite a steep hill with some steps back up from the beach to the complex the short way. nearly a mile if you go round the not as steep road.

The daytime temperatures around that time will be around 65 - 70F, that 18 - 20C. Much warmer than in the UK. However, it can and does rain in October. It's mainly showers but last year it didn't rain a lot. So fingers slightly crossed on that score. You will be just too early for the winter time change, so it will still be fairly light in the evenings until around 630pm. But it does get cool when the sun goes down, and feels even cooler if it has been a really nice sunny day, like yesterday!

It ought to warm enough to be able to spend time near outdoor pools and beaches. They have a heated indoor pool, it says on their website, just in case.

This area is a popular choice for half term holidays so there ought to be a good number of people about. Most restaurants and bars will still be open for business if you decide not to go all-inclusive which I think is an option there. But why not get out and about, escape the confines of the hotel and see some scenery, which we hope will be a bit greener by the time end October comes round.

Hope that helps for starters.

Many thanks for all that great information it has really helped.

We thought the weather may be in the early 70's . Never mind .

Thanks again.

Well I just checked the weather records for October 2009 and during the last week of October it was 23 - 25C during the day, which is 72 - 77F and it stayed that way into early November, so you never know.