Hi Sweetie

April can be a lovely time to visit the Algarve. There may be quite a few kids around until the end of our school holidays (around the 14th) but after that things should be fairly kid-free. The weather can be very good - we were there the last week of April last year and we were on different beaches every day. No guarantees, of course!

If you want to be close to shops, bars and restaurants you should maybe look at one of the larger resorts like Albufeira or Lagos. In April there will be no problems with crowds in the resorts or on the beaches.

If you can let us know what type of holiday you like (relaxing, touring, sporty etc) someone might be able to help you further. The Algarve has it all.

Hi roseweb

Thanks you so much for your reply.

We are looking for somewhere to relax by the pool or the beach during the day but that is close to shops bars and restaurants for at night!

My Boyfriend gets ants in his pants so there needs to be things to do!

We will be going second week in April so the kids will be off schools so we know there will be alot of kids. Dont get me wrong we love kids but there is nothing worse that trying to relax and there are kids screaming every where! that sounds terrible i don't mean that in a bad way! ha ha

We will only be away for a week but would like to do a few excursions? Any ideas?

Thanks for any help

Stacey

Hi,

I have stayed at Alto Country Club in Alvor booked via http://www.independentvillas.co.uk on a few occasions (have stayed in villas and apartments). The apartments are privately owned and are of a high standard. The complex is 5 minutes walk from the town of Alvor with lots of bars/restaurants.
The complex itself has an indoor pool (if weather is dodgy) a small gym and some tennis courts. Praia Du Rocha strip is 10mins away in a car/taxi.

If looking at this make sure that it is accomodation on the Country Club complex as the Golf Course Complex is separate and further out of town.

Hope this is of some help

Hi sweetie

You might want to read a thread a few below this one that I started last week, called 'The Marina Club apartments - Lagos'

I haven't stayed at them as I was enquiring for next summer. But there is some good information on the thread, including various web-sites that other members have used to book apartments through.

From what I can remember of Lagos it would probably be great for the type of holiday you want, provided all the bars and restaurants are up and running by then. Although in April if you can get somewhere with an indoor pool I would go for that. Good Luck.

Hi doepsmc & pato1967

Thank you very much for your information it much appreciated

Stacey

Stacey,

Don't know whether you have found somewhere for you and your boyfriend but in case you haven't"¦

Consider renting our studio at Jardins da Rocha. Ideal for a couple:
http://www.geocities.com/algarve_holiday/

We provide some suggestions for excursions!

In the month of April 2007 our prices start from £25 per night.

See the website for further details and contacts in the UK and Praia da Rocha.

Let us know if you need more information!

Manuel

Hi Algarve holidayer

Thank you very much for your post! Your studio looks lovely, We haven't booked anywhere yet? still looking?

Can you tell me how far your studio is from any night life? We would like a relaxing holiday but that is close enough to Bars and resturants for in the evening? We were considering Albuferia but we are definitely open to suggestions?

Also we have never booked a holiday that hasn't been through a travel agent before? how easy is it to get flights to Faro? How expensive are they? Can you give me a better idea of total price for one week? it would be Saturday 7th April or Sunday the 8th April 07 i understand this is Easter weekend you may alreay be booked up for then?

Thanks

Stacey

Hi Stacey

How far is the studio from night life? Close enough to walk to but not so close you still hear it when you want to sleep! There's a good choice of restaurants and bars (or you might want to try your luck at the casino!).

It's very easy to fly to Faro. All the major and no-frill airlines fly there.
Flight prices depend on your departure airport. For example, going with Easyjet from London Stanstead will cost you £289.96 for two - travelling on Sunday 8th.

That's a total price of £340.98 per person for travel and accommodation for the week - and you get a whole apartment with sea view instead of a room.

You can still rent it for Easter.

If you have other questions don't hesitate to ask us!

Manuel

hi Sweetie if you want night life and near to the bars i suggest u try Vila Petra Aparthotel Albufeira which is 4 star accommodation and situated just off "The Strip" in new town Albufeira. Not sure of the web address but maybe someone on this thread can help, or do a search for it. I have friends who have stayed here and very well recommended. I am sure this would be the perfect location for you if you like nightlife and plenty of bars . Also what you have got to think about is how far your resort is fro m Faro Airport, Albufeira is just approx 30 mins at the most.
Cheers Jayjan

Hi heres a link for Vila Petra http://www.vilapetra.com/uk It is a lovely place and in a brilliant location

Hi Everyone

thanks for your replies!

Algarve Holidayer - Thanks for the info the one problem we have is we are in Scotland! thersfore flights are more expensive we are looking at £250 + each just for flights! Which doesn't really make it any cheaper for us! Still an option tho! Thanks

Jayjan - Thanks for that suggestion it was one i had considered.

Kevpuk - Thanks for the link!

stacey

We have stayed at http://www.rochabrava.com/ a number of times over the years, and would recommend it.

Doing a Google search will find villas to book direct from the owners or you can get there through some package tours, or book with the management.

There is a restaurant (overpriced) on the site and a snack bar (good value) 2 restaurants just outside the main entrance and 2 or 3 by the "back" entrance together with Zombies cocktail bar and the Fanatic Joker pub.

The village of Carvoeiro http://www.carvoeiro.com/ is about 2 miles away for more bars and restaurants.

You could always take the other half to the Slide and Splash water park to wear him out
If I've done this right, this http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=18&ll=37.091793,-8.445096&spn=0.002918,0.004098&t=k
is a shortcut to an aerial view centering on the main entrance and the main pool.

Cheers

Have to agree with those who suggested Villa Petra. We stayed there twice about 5 years ago and they were fantastic. Probably some of the best apartments we've stayed in. They were immaculate and even had a dishwasher! They are also only a couple of minutes walk from the main strip but at least a kilometre from the beach which is down "Cardiac Hill" .
However, they run a minibus service throughout the day.
As you said, not particularly cheap if travelling from Scotland as we were, but definitely hard to beat for quality.