Hi Annie,
Cabanas is quiet i.e. no discos etc but plenty of places to eat and drink. I'm not sure whether it would be too quiet for you or not although if you want to go to the beach all day and don't want too much entertainment at night, you will be fine!!!!
The only thing is......where will you stay? There are no hotels as such in Cabanas but you can rent apartments.
Hope this helps a little. Any more info you want in that area, just ask.
Pat

Hi Pat 42, thanks very much for your reply. We are looking at staying in the Cabanas Park Resort. Do you know of if? Another couple of properties we saw on the net are the Pedras da Rainha and the Golden Clube. If you can give me any advice on which to go for, or if you know of better properties I'd love to hear your opinions.

We are not into clubs, but do enjoy good meals and a nice few drinks in the night. Daytime is usually a few hours on the beach and a few hours walking around. Nothing hectic

We have stayed in the major resorts of the Western Algarve, and fancy something of a change this time, and as we are spending 9 nights in Carvoeiro, we thought a few quietish days somewhere different might be a nice experience.

What is the choice of bars/restaurants like in Cabanas. Can you walk from Cabanas into Tavira?

Many thanks for your help

Hi Annie,
I had forgotten about Cabanas Park as it is just newly built and is right at the end of the village past Golden Club. We have walked past it and it looks lovely. I would say it is the furthest away from the main street but only a 10 min walk and very quiet.We stayed in Golden Club a couple of times many years ago and it was fine. Nowadays the holidaymakers there are forced to wear a coloured band round their wrists......something to do with whatever pakage you are staying there on......looks like you have escaped from Colditz!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry.......but the complex is fine. Pedras is fine too and if you are only there for 3 days.......
Are there no reports on the hotel reviews for these places?
I would say if you have been to the west a lot, then give the east a try. We went to the west for years, tried the east for a change and have stuck to the east ever since as we find it less busy and less commercialised.
You can walk to Tavira but it is quite a busy road. Probably take you 45 mins or so. You can take the local bus (10 mins) although the last bus in is at 18.40 and tha last back is at 18.30 but a taxi is only 6 or 7 euros.
I think you will like the peace and tranquility there.....you certainly won't feel stressed out.
Let me know what you decide and if you go, I can tell you some good places to eat.
Pat

Hi Pat, thanks for all the info.

From what I have read on various websites, the Cabanas Park Resort seems to have received the best reviews (although there are a couple of dodgy ones in there too ). The Park Resort is also the best priced out off all the properties. I know you haven't stayed in the Park Resort, but if you had to choose from all the properties, where would you stay (hope you don't mind me putting you on the spot).

Any recommendations you might have on what to do/where to eat would be great

Thanks again

Hi Annie,
I think I would go for Cabanas Park. It looks more attractive than the others and if you don't mind the little walk!!! My next choice would be Golden club then Pedras. You will be able to get the little boat across the river for free at any of these resorts and although some of then say Tavira,they are in Cabanas (de Tavira)there you can walk the golden sands for miles although if you go to the right (towards Tavira) you get cut off and can't go any further (about 45-60 mins leisurely stroll). Go the other way towards Monte Gordo and you can go as far as Spain almost!!!!!!!
A lot of people say O Pedro is the best restaurant in Cabby but I find it over priced and not any better than some of the others.
If you love fish, try Grelha Peixe (just before the primary school coming from Cabanas Park).
One of our favourites is Solmar (on the main rd) and another is O Monteiro (just as far along the main road as you can walk and past Pedro's)
There are loads of others and I don't remember having a bad meal in any of them ever.
There are also some great restaurants in Tavira and you must visit the town even if you don't eat there and wander round the little narrow streets with fabulous buildings.
Recently opened (in Cabby) is a little cafe type place which is always full of locals and the meals they do there are dirt cheap and so is the vinho tinto!!!!! It is nice inside and they speak excellent English ..... we find ourselves going there regularly!!!!!
Hope this helps.......but fire away with any more questions.
Pat

Thanks Pat, we are going to book Cabanas Park Resort.

I have one more question. Have you ever travelled by train from Cabanas/Tavira? We need to get from Cabanas to Carvoeiro, and as far as I know there is a train stop about 4 miles from Carvoeiro, which would be ideal for us. Do you know if the train is cheap and if it runs regularly?

Thanks a million for all your help. I really appreciate it

Hi Annie,
The train is the cheapest way to travel and they are usually on time. I'm not sure what the station is called at Carvoeiro but for Cabanas you get off at Conceicao and it is a 10 min walk downhill to the village.
If you go to http://www.cp.pt you can download a copy of the train timetables.
The train goes all the way from Lagos to Vila Real Santo Antonio.
Pat

Hi Pat, thanks for that. We will get a taxi from Faro to Cabanas, as we are arriving quite late in the evening. We can get the train from Cabanas to Alcantharilha, which is the nearest station to Carvoeiro, as far as I know.

We would love to see as much as possible of the East in 3 days. Can you recommend any towns/villages/resorts worth visiting, ideally by train?

Thanks again for all your help. I appreciate it

We are really looking forward to seeing a different part of the Algarve.

Hi Annie,
Tavira is not to be missed....it's easier to go by bus as it's a 10 min walk up to Conceicao for the train. You could get the train to Olhao which is a big town with a harbour. Most railway stations tend to be a little outside of the main resorts so sometimes it is not so easy to travel this way.
Also if you walk up to Conceicao, you can get the bus to Monte Gordo or the same bus can take you to Vila Real de Santo Antonio which is worth a visit or to Altura (between Cabanas and Monte Gordo) although you get off at the top of the road at the sign for Altura and walk down the street to the village (2 mins). As you like to walk the beach, you could do Altura - Monte Gordo or vice versa (it takes about 1hr leisurely)
Hopefully that should be enough to keep you going for 3 days.
We are just about to book up for the end of May, beginning June and can't wait.
I think the taxi from Faro - Cabanas is between 35-40 euros.
Pat

Thanks again Pat, you've been so helpful!!

Just one more quick question, at what time do the restaurants/bars close in Cabanas? We won't be arriving until lateist (22.00hrs +) would we get a meal out around 23.00hrs?

Thanks again, really looking forward to visiting Cabanas

Hi Annie,
We never really go there in the middle of summer, usually end of May beginning of June and last 2 weeks in September. I would imagine that most places will stay open in August as long as there are customers!!!! They don't seem to have any fixed times!!!
You will definitely get a drink in Quasimodos or Polakis as they are open till 2-3am but I don't think they do food.
As I will probably be there at the end of May (still waiting for flight prices to drop!!!!!!!), I will ask around in the restaurants that I mentioned to you previously and will let you know when I get back.
Hope this will help you and I'm glad to know that this site proves to be invaluable to many......myself included.......you learn sooooooo much from others.
Pat