If you can cope with a longish transfer. Praia de Luz might be OK for you as it has a beautiful beach that you would be able to walk to each day, along with a selection of restaurants and cafe's. It's a quiet low key resort, but it's on the western end of the Algarve, so not really in the middle.

We managed to get to Zoomarine for the day from there on an organised trip. Everybody does trips there, most hotel receptions have a flyer about it, and would organise it or you could go with your tour operator. It might just be worth investigating getting a cab there and just paying to get in, this might be the same price as an organised trip and you can go at your own pace rather than the "all back on the coach at 5pm" thing that you get on an organised trip.

Good Luck

thanks, ill look into it dont think my son would like a long transfer though,
ive seen a holiday for april 08 staying old town albuferia, sol e mar hotel it seems to be right on the beach and has good reviews, £650 half board for me and my son which is agood price,
im trying to find more pictures of this hotel, so if anyone can help me find more pics on this hotel, be great, and how far the zoo marine is from here , ill keep looking for another few wks before i book, i went to salou in may 3* H.B it was beautiful and was only £470 for me and my son, that was a bargain!!!!!!!!!!
thanks

Hi again

If you go into the trip adviser web-site and enter Hotel Sol e Mar into the search. Click on the name of the hotel, then click on hotel photos and candid travellers photos you will find quite a few to look at. Plus the beach immediately outside the hotel. (Not sure as never been to Albuferia but it might be the famous fishermens beach? Looks very nice anyway).

Another place you can see a few photos is on http://www.portlanddirect.co.uk You would need to search under a ficticious summer departure day though as they do not sell this hotel for winter departures.

You can get the pictures by clicking on the Hotel name once the booking price has come up.

Hi Wildcat,

This is a photo of the main town beach (Praia do Peneco) and you will see the Sol e Mar just above the dark blue umbrellas. So you couldn't be closer to the beach! Fishermen's Beach is a little further on, just before the jetty.

In case it helps, this is the Zoomarine website.

hi roseweb.
many thanks for the info, id really like to go in may as i dont know if end of april will be warm enough, im keeping note of this hotel, plus im looking for apartments/aparthotels v close to the beach too, god i wish it was this year i was going, algarve looks a beautiful place and im looking forward to going,

thanks doepsmc , info appreciated,

hi,
does anyone know where i would get the web page for the sole e mar hotel in albuferia,or any beach front hotel -apartments on the beach front in the old town, id like to get prices directly from accomadations, see if doing a diy holday works out much cheaper than travel agent,
thanks

We have resort reports listed (see box at top of main page - titled Resort Reports) Click Here For the resort reports for Algarve. Go through the list and hear what reviewers have had to say about each individual resort.

Click Here to read our reviews of the Sol e Mar.

thanks.
i have read through every resort and hotel review and the solemar would suit my needs for my next holiday,
however ihave searched no end to try and find the hotel web page or email address to email the hotel directly, i cannot find it on here or elsewhere,

Here you go Wildcat:- (I've updated the details for the hotel to our review section)

Hotel Sol e Mar
Morada: Rua Jose Bernardino de Sousa
8200-146 Albufeira

Telefone: (+351) 289 580080

Fax: (+351) 289 587036

E-mail: hotelsolemar@grupofbarata.com

...... All of the above shows why Holidaytruths is the best.Where else could you get help like that ??

thankyou all very much, yes this site is ace and ive recommended it to family and friends, i booked a holiday some time back and told travel agent what i wanted, she advised me and i booked paid £200 deposit, then about 3wks later i came accross this site by accident and i read up on the holiday id booked, the reviews on the apartments were horrendous and i was right in the middle of bars and clubs, everything i told travel agent i didnt want,( especiallywith a special needs child,)so i phoned travel agent told her she had not advised me well, i cancelled my holiday and lost my £200 deposit, so thankgod for holidaytruths, it saved me and my son from the holiday from hell!!!!!!! keep up the good work............

Well you certainlycouldn't be closer to the beach than the Sol e Mar. The neighbourhood is fairly quiet as well but plenty to do and see just a few minutes walk away in all directions.

Enjoy.

hi,
yes it seems to be what im looking for very close to beach and the old town, my son would like a apartment on the sea front as he likes his own room rather than sharing a room with me, but doesnt seem to be any,ill keep looking before i book anywhere,

hi,
just thought i would ask for my neighbour they are thinking of going to algarve on holiday, they love golf and play a lot at home, could anyone recommend resort and accomadation close to beach town and golf course, they would like to be central as they are taking their children too,
many thanks

Hi

Not a golf expert, but there are a lot of courses on the Algarve. I could stand corrected but I think Vilamoura is one of the best resorts for golfers.

It's a purpose built upmarket resort, with a nice Marina to stroll around of an evening, with bars restaurants etc. There are quite a few 4* & 5* hotels in the area that are probably aimed at the golfing fraternity. Your neighbour need to search on hotels in the Vilamoura area for reviews as Ive only visited not stayed there.

But probably the Dom Pedro Golf or Dom Pedro Marina and I think there are a couple of Vila Gale hotels there as well( sort of up market chain hotels)

I think there are golf courses in the Alvor area as well.