Hi,
Well we're back from our fortnight in the Algarve and I thought I'd share my experience with you since I've obtained lots of advice from this forum. Hope that's OK. Apologies if I waffle.
We booked last minute through Expedia for our hotel, Jet2.com for our flight and Low Cost Transfer for our transfer. Total for 2 adults for 2 weeks = £650.
Hotel:-
We stayed in the Mirachoro 2 Apartments between Praia Da Rocha and Portimao. I've put a review on the Hotel Review site already. See
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/holiday_truths/hotel_reviews/3221/Mirachoro%20Ii%20Y%20Iii%20Hotel/
Not to go into too much detail but it is a budget hotel in a poor location but the apartments themselves are very spacious with decent self catering facilities.
Resort:-
Nearest resort is Praia Da Rocha. Lots of shops, pubs, clubs & restaurants. Very tourist-focused. Not very traditional if that's what you're looking for. Restaurants can be expensive depending on where you eat, especially as you are not given a choice if you want the "Couvert" (bread, olives, cheese, etc). Check out the prices of this before entering. I've listed the best restaurants under the topic 'Restaurant & Bar Recommendations'
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=67472&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20
The beach is fantastic though, golden sand that stretches for miles. Lots of coves & hide-aways along with the main beach. One thing to note about the main beach is that you will come across African touts trying to sell you allsorts of goodies ranging from jewellry to sunglasses to belts & bags. If you are females you will get pestered more, as I did when my partner went for a swim in the sea. They can be very persuasive but be firm yet friendly.
Exploring:-
Me and my boyfriend like to explore so we did a few trips mainly around the West of the Algarve to see places like the Monchique Mountains, the 'End of the World', Lagos, Sagres, 'Ponte De Piedade' (not sure if that's spelt right), etc. We did a fantastic jeep safari which I would definitely recommend. We also did a few coastal walks, one of which was from Praia Da Rocha to Alvor.
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=69403
On wandering through Alvor we both agreed that this is a much nicer resort and would have suited us more. Very traditional - they cook fish on BBQ's outside the restaurants near the harbour, quaint cobbled streets, little trinket shops and more importantly the restaurants are fantastic, very friendly and value for money. You are a respected customer not just another tourist. Unfortunately we only discovered this gem into our 2nd week so only managed a meal there twice in total.
My Opinion of the Algarve:-
This is only my personal opinion but I was disappointed with the Algarve, especially as I'd heard so many good reviews about it before we booked. This might be in part because the resort and hotel we stayed in wasn't ideal for us but that's what you get if you go budget.
The main disappointment was the history & culture, or lack of it. We looked round the castle in Silves but there wasn't much to it and despite our numerous excursions there wasn't that much to do or see.
Another surprise was the wind. By about 2 or 3pm it got extremely windy, which I wasn't expecting.
Also we found it expensive. An average 2 course meal for 2 people including drinks was averaging about 50 Euros = £30, which is more than what we pay in North East England. I guess it depends where you live as to what you compare it to.
I did enjoy my holiday in the Algarve and the coastline is fantastic but I think it's more suitable for those wanting a relaxing holiday spent on the beach than for those who like to explore in a place that has history & culture. The Algarve can be done on a budget but I would definitely recommend paying more for a hotel in a good location in a resort suitable for you
I think we were also disappointed because we'd had such a perfect holiday last year in Crete that the Algarve did not live up this high standard or to our expectations.
I guess it depends on where u book, we stayed in the old town and was getting meals for 7 people, 4 people with puddings, very good food and that was only 50 euros!!
The accepted rule in Portuguese restaurants is that, if you don't eat the couvert,you won't be charged for it (although it's always worthwhile checking the bill!)If you eat any part of it,however,you will be charged.
As far as prices are concerned, a three course meal for two with wine will rarely cost more than €50,at least in the restaurants we frequent in the Lagos area.
As far as prices are concerned, a three course meal for two with wine will rarely cost more than €50,at least in the restaurants we frequent in the Lagos area.
That 50 euros was with the couvert i may add.
The first meal we ordered we ate the couvert because I guess we were nieve and didn't realise that we would be charged for it. It cost 7 Euro!!!
So from then on we were careful.
I think in somewhere as touristy as Praia da Rocha restaurants can charge higher prices because they're not bothered if you come back as in a weeks' time they'll get a new lot of tourists!
In Alvor the prices were a lot better and the restaurants much nicer.
So from then on we were careful.
I think in somewhere as touristy as Praia da Rocha restaurants can charge higher prices because they're not bothered if you come back as in a weeks' time they'll get a new lot of tourists!
In Alvor the prices were a lot better and the restaurants much nicer.
I think you must have been unfortunate in your choice of restaurant.The couvert charge is normally €1 per head and never,in my experience,more than €2 ( and,if you pay €2, the couvert is likely to be a meal in itself with a whole cheese,marinated carrots,olives etc. as well as two or three types of bread.)I normally only eat the couvert instead of a starter - can't manage both !! 
I've just been checking our bills from our trip last week....prices for two courses in the Guia/Val de Parra area was averaging low to mid thirty euros for two course meal with drinks (beer and water rather than wine) and we had couvert with most meals. Having said that we spent an evening in Villamoura and there was a noticeable increase in prices, luckily we had already eaten before visiting.
The most expensive meal we had out was Thai (56 euros), and part of that cost was the imported Singha beer pushing the price up (nice change from the Portuguese beers though). Have to say Portuguese main courses are pretty big so we never got round to desserts.
We explored the Algarve and found it had plenty of history and culture (well at least enough for a fortnight holiday) although nothing as dramatic as Knossos on Crete. We enjoyed exploring round Silves, Lagos, Estoi and Tavira...never managed to get to Faro though.
The most expensive meal we had out was Thai (56 euros), and part of that cost was the imported Singha beer pushing the price up (nice change from the Portuguese beers though). Have to say Portuguese main courses are pretty big so we never got round to desserts.
We explored the Algarve and found it had plenty of history and culture (well at least enough for a fortnight holiday) although nothing as dramatic as Knossos on Crete. We enjoyed exploring round Silves, Lagos, Estoi and Tavira...never managed to get to Faro though.
Yes we were definitely unfortunate but I guess we learnt the hard way from it. We checked the price of the couvert before entering a restaurant and most of them were between 1 and 2 Euro, which was OK as we tended to eat that instead of a starter.
Our average price of a 3 course meal with a bottle of wine was about 40 Euro which is the same or maybe slightly more than we pay in North East England.
Knossos on Crete was amazing which makes the Algarve look very poor in comparison and I think that was our main problem - comparing the Algarve to our perfect holiday last year in Crete, especially as Crete was a lot cheaper too!
Our average price of a 3 course meal with a bottle of wine was about 40 Euro which is the same or maybe slightly more than we pay in North East England.
Knossos on Crete was amazing which makes the Algarve look very poor in comparison and I think that was our main problem - comparing the Algarve to our perfect holiday last year in Crete, especially as Crete was a lot cheaper too!
hi new to this section of the forum can someone please tell me what a couvert is ? Is it a tip 
Hi Ali,
A couvert is a small selection of appetisers - bread,cheese,marinated carrot slices,olives etc. - that are placed on your table in restaurants.The unwritten rule in Portugal is that,if you don't eat them you are not charged for them,but,if you eat any part of them,you will be charged (usually one or two euros per person.)
A couvert is a small selection of appetisers - bread,cheese,marinated carrot slices,olives etc. - that are placed on your table in restaurants.The unwritten rule in Portugal is that,if you don't eat them you are not charged for them,but,if you eat any part of them,you will be charged (usually one or two euros per person.)
-
Edited by
Sagres
2006-10-26 09:02:14
Thanks for that 
You're welcome;don't know how I possibly forgot,but absolutely invariably on the Algarve,the couvert includes sardine pate.
We went a few times last year to Museu de Salgados(review in the forum) and we always took the couvert as a starter. It was only a few euros each and it consisted of soft cheese, sardine pate, marinaded olives and carrots, 6 or so slices of cold meat (salami etc) , butter and best of all 5 different types of warm rolls. It was well worth the money.
On the other hand some touristy places charge 3 euros for some hard bread and butter so depends where you eat really. If it looks poor value then just leave it and but check you dont get charged for it.
Lummie
On the other hand some touristy places charge 3 euros for some hard bread and butter so depends where you eat really. If it looks poor value then just leave it and but check you dont get charged for it.
Lummie
Me and Boyf have been back from our first trip to the Algarve and we absolutely loved it!
We wouldnt change a thing. Our only annoyment of the holiday was the disorganisation of Faro Airport on our return to the UK. We queued to check in our luggaage for over an hour and had just enough time to go to the toliet and get a bottle of water each before we had to get on the plane. It probably annoyed us more because we were leaving!
We stayed in Olhos d'Agua which if you want peace and relaxation it would be ideal. We did like the resort alot however we did venture into Albufeira a few times.
I could go on for hours about the holiday but in a nut shell we loved Portugal and are planning to return!!
Poppet26
We wouldnt change a thing. Our only annoyment of the holiday was the disorganisation of Faro Airport on our return to the UK. We queued to check in our luggaage for over an hour and had just enough time to go to the toliet and get a bottle of water each before we had to get on the plane. It probably annoyed us more because we were leaving!
We stayed in Olhos d'Agua which if you want peace and relaxation it would be ideal. We did like the resort alot however we did venture into Albufeira a few times.
I could go on for hours about the holiday but in a nut shell we loved Portugal and are planning to return!!
Poppet26
Hi Poppet 26,
Glad you loved the Algarve.......Olhos D'Agua is a lovely place.
All I can say is, like the rest of us,.........you've got the bug and will soon be hooked!!!!!!!
Pat
Glad you loved the Algarve.......Olhos D'Agua is a lovely place.
All I can say is, like the rest of us,.........you've got the bug and will soon be hooked!!!!!!!
Pat
Shush Dont tell too many people about Olhos d Agua. Lets keep it to ourselves.
By the way Poppet what was your favourite restaurant?
Dont tell too many people about Olhos d Agua. Lets keep it to ourselves. By the way Poppet what was your favourite restaurant?
The Algarve is only expensive you don't look around touristic areas tend to be expensive but i can have a bottled beer for 50 cents and 3 course meal with wine then coffee and small glass of firewater in the end for 10 euros and thats in the Algarve:-)
we were eating out everynight in lagos in high season for 50-60euros for four includng drinks!.
We loved silves and found that if you chatted to locals etc you found out alot about culture and history.
Our last day(year before) we spent a day with alan (The transfer chappie on here).who brought the history alive and had my two lads captivated all day.Highly recomend a day touring with him.
Going back again in march for a week.
Went to olhos dagua twenty years ago and it was truely wonderful,believe it has built right up now.Do the fishermen still go out form the beach every night??
We loved silves and found that if you chatted to locals etc you found out alot about culture and history.
Our last day(year before) we spent a day with alan (The transfer chappie on here).who brought the history alive and had my two lads captivated all day.Highly recomend a day touring with him.
Going back again in march for a week.
Went to olhos dagua twenty years ago and it was truely wonderful,believe it has built right up now.Do the fishermen still go out form the beach every night??
Olhos D'Agua is now a heavily built up area stacked with hotels and apartment blocks. But there are still a few fishing boats tied up on the beach.
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