Thanks folks. As I'm sitting here I am tending to agree with you all.

Pat where on the Eastern side would you suggest?

We like pubs and restuarants but not Blackpool type places. We prefer smallish but not too small that it's dead.

We will have a car again but we would need somewhere of an evening to sit and have a drink in a nice atmosphere.

Thanks.

Glynis,
Monte Gordo has something for everyone. Loads of pubs and restaurants where you can sit and watch the world go by. It has the most fabulous beach which stretches for miles and miles in both directions. The only downside is that it does have some high buildings which spoils it just a little. The promenade is very flat making it suitable for those with walking difficulties (or maybe for those who have been in the pub?) It is just a stones throw from Vila Real Santo Antonio which has loads of shops selling hardware and linens.....from there you cross the border to Spain.
My preference (as you will have gathered) is a small villge called Cabanas (5 mins drive from the historical town of Tavira, which is reported to be the nicest town in the Algarve). In Cabanas you have a good selection of bars and restaurants and is a really small, typical fishing village which still has it's charm. To get to the beach, you take a little boat across the river (1 euro return) and there, like everywhere else, you can walk for miles on end. I would not describe it as "dead" but lively it is not .....more calm and laid back. Maybe it might be a little quiet for you but it does have 2 pubs that do the "karaoke" and other entertainment till 2am or so. That is the only night life as such in Cabanas. We like to people watch in the local pubs on the waterfront.
On the eastern side you also have the nature reserve area of Castro Marim which is lovely and well worth a visit.
At the end of the day, drive around and get a "feel" for the places that you visit, then make up your own mind.
If you don't like Blackpool type hols, then I would avoid Albufeira and the "strip" areas as I, personally, find them overcrowded and commercialised......I apologise to all of you who love this area, I am merely saying it is not for me although twenty years ago I frequented it and loved it, but it has changed.
Any other info you require, just ask and I will help if I can.
I must say I am becoming addicted to the site as I find it a great source for information and the patter is not too bad either!!!
Pat

Just meant to say...... today is my birthday........think hubby will take me out later for a little glass of vinho tinto to celebrate!!!!!

Happy Birthday Pat
Many thanks will have a snoop about on the internet for extra info.

We too don't like busy type pubs - not karaoke either So your suggestions seem to fit the bill.

Happy birthday Pat. hope you have a nice birthday

Jen xx

happy birthday hope you have a good one

wizard

we went to MG a couple of years back had a good time took taxi to Villa Real and the ferry to Ayamonte spent the day in spain a good day out

wizard

Hi Folks, just back from the algarve arrived home at midnight to wind rain and hailstone, gotta wait another 4 weeks before I go again and am counting. By the way Sagres easyjet have started a service to Faro from John Lennon airport, prices seem reasonable up to now. Cheers Jayjan

Hi jayjan, welcome back.
Yes, I noticed the new Easyjet service and checked the fares for May but they were coming out slightly dearer than Jet 2's. As the taxi fares from N. Wales to John Lennon and Manchester are identical, ( don't ask me why as J.L. is closer to us than Manchester ) we will just go for the best price at the time.
What I also noticed was that Ryanair do a L'pool - Porto service with many fares set at £2.49 plus taxes both ways so that is definitely something to consider for next year as we've always fancied seeing the Douro valley. Don't worry - we won't be abandoning our beloved Algarve - the Porto trip will be an "add-on", not an " instead-of" !!
P.S. Many happy returns, Pat.

Thanks Sagres, Hubby coming home next week with easyjet. To change the jet2 flight he had already booked to come home with me the cost was an extra £90 and the easyjet was only 40 euros. The taxi cost are similar for us too and we live in north manchester but Liverpool is only a couple of pounds more. I came home on the train last night and then a taxi from local station and it only cost me £8.50. Just winding down having a glass or 2 of Vinho Tinto ready for the work mode tomorrow. Cheers Jayjan

Thanks folks for all good wishes, hic..... didn't even have to wash a dish today hic, vinho tinto still going down well, hic,hic.....
Pat

Hi Pat Belated Birthday wishes have a brill time Cheers Jayjan

That's it !!!!
If everybody else is on the tinto, I'm off to crack a bottle of Monte myself.
Does anyone know if the Mods are equipped with breathalysers ?

saude Sagres.....hic cracksh open the Montesh hic letsh party for my birshday hic.....forget the breashalysrsh......
What.....ish somshing wrong????????
Pat

ps hope there's no shore headsh tomorrow as Sean Connery would say

On another subject, dropped my mates off at the airport at 7.30 this morning, they are popping back to blighty for a week. It was a bit foggy when we got there, and Roland joked about the flight being moved to Lisbon.

Three hours later I got a phone call, a couple of flights had been diverted due to the fog, but their plane just didn't turn up!

Apparently the flight in from Liverpool only had 30 people on it, so easy jet had cancelled it! They had to buy another flight from Jet2 for 4.30 this afternoon, and Servisair, easy Jet's agents here would not refund him the flight money - passed it back to EJ.

But as he spoke to me he found out EJ have an office at Faro too. Don't know the outcome, but if anyone saw a pensioner throttling a bloke in an orange suit at faro today, I hope this explains all...

I know that Easyjet is a " no-frills " airline, but that's really cutting things back to the bone !

Oh Dear, hope Easyjet dont cancel this Saturdays flight from Faro to Liverpool as hubby is booked on it and he wont be right pleased if they cancel it, and should imagine it'll be the last time he books with them if they do. Suppose maybe he should have stuck to good old faithfull Jet2.com Jayjan

jayjan,
Would you please explain to me why he would stop flying with an airline that made him stay on the beautiful Algarve for an extra day ?

That's all very well, Sagres, but he might be sorry to miss the fantastic Easter feast that Jayjan will have spent days preparing!

Seriously though, folks! Does anyone else have any experience of EasyJet cancelling flights? We've used them a lot, from Gatwick, and we always hope there won't be many people on the plane - but now I'm a bit worried!