Hi DJ,

I've sent you a PM.

Thanks Rose.

Anyone else have any views of where to stay?

Hi DJ,

How about the Villanova complex.

Shared pool but nice villa accomodation, is worth a little look anyhow.

There are very good reviews both on here and other review websites. It is a Thompson/Portland superfamily resort so good for the little ones. There is a video of the resort and villa accomodation on the thompson website.

They have their own website also:

http://www.vilanovaresort.com/en/

We are going at the end of July so if you are considering it we can let you have a liitle more info when we get back.....
Hope you find what you are looking for.

Kelly

DJ,

2 years ago we went to Casa Das Pedras in Guia, 10 min walk from several restaurants although no nightlife to talk about. Booked with http://www.travillas.co.uk. " bed with a/c and own pool.

Also just back from Vila Petra 2 days ago, around 150 metres from the Strip and cant recommend them highly enough. Great quality apartments. There are lots of villas on http://www.villaplus.co.uk near the nightlife.

Lummie

Def agree with Lummie, im going to vila petra next week for the 2nd time and its the nicest place ive stayed in the Algarve! Would def recomend!!

Thanks for the suggestions guys - I know I am difficult to please - not keen on the highrise hotel like 'aparthotels' - too many people, not enough privacy for my liking!

Printed off a few details from http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk - one on the Ponte Grande resort (looks nice) and a couple in Quinta dos Alamos near Guia

Just about booked a private villa with pool on the Quinta dos Alamos near Guia. It's within walking distance of the village which I understand has lots of restaurants - perfect for a relaxed evening out without having to drive.

Can anyone recommend specific places to eat in Guia and some good places to go with two under 3 year olds! Any must do attractions?

Need to hire a car now! I see there is a new (but empty) thread - 10 days pick up and drop off at the airport. Do people still recommend http://www.economycarhire.com ? They can do an Astra for £259 and child seats are free.

Hi Dj http://www.Economycarhire.com is excellent, recommended by many members. I have now posted on the car hire thread recommending this company. Cheers Jayjan

Economy car hire have alwayse been good for me.

In Guia try The Palladium, Atlantico and La Mangerie. If you are willing to drive 5 mins then try O Leme on the back road to Albufeira or Museu dos Salgados on the road between Albufeira and Pera.

All good places to eat.

Lummie

Thanks for the recommendations.

Lummie - would you say those restaurants are child friendly?

Hi D J Fryer,

Depends on what you mean by child friendly.

I have yet to come across a restaurant in the Algarve where children are not welcomed as they love children there. On the other hand there are quite a few we went to that were up steps etc and not easy for prams and if they are toddling around.

But always plenty of highchairs, lollies, ballons etc from the staff to keep them occupied.

The ones I mentioned are all fine for children.

Enjoy

Lummie

i too would recommend ponta grande
you could try http://www.holidayhomes.ie or holiday-rentals also

patsat

Thanks Lummie, I meant whether the restaurants are too quiet and couply for kids! They sound perfect - not bothered about the odd battle with steps etc

patsat - I've gone and booked a villa nr Guia now so Ponte Grande is out of the window, thanks though.

D J Fryer,

These restaurants are all usually pretty busy if not full so go early. Some more remote places seem to be busy as all the surrounding villas go there. My favourire was Museu dos Salgados (for what its worth) and the Swordfish in the Palladium was the best I have ever had (pan fried with butter, garlic, white wine and carmelised onions).

Enjoy

Lummie

Ramires in Guia is certainly a lively restaurant...but it has very limited menu specialising in Piri-Piri so you might want to check with staff whether there would be anyting suitable for the young ones. Its a big restaurant but fills up at weekends as its very popular with the locals.

They have a more upmarket restaurant a few steps up called the Ideal which offers more choice.

Thanks for all the recommendations for restaurants - we go on Saturday so am really looking forward to it - will have to print out some of the threads here as mini-guides!

It won't be rock and roll with 2 young boys and I think the times we'll be eating will be on the early side so hopefully we'll get a good choice of where to eat!

I hope the weather perks up too.

Just thought i'd update - holiday was great. Village we stayed in (Guia) was nice - absolutely ideal location for getting out with the kids. Villa was not our first choice (and I booked late) but it really was great even if the decor was a bit early 90's! Pool could have done with being heated - reckon I have taken a 6 month backward step with my son and his swimming as a result of chucking him in a pool that was far too cold for him!!!

Car hire was superb (from both pick up and drop off) and mother nature shined on us with lovely weather throughout. Not the cheapest holiday ever (in accomodation cost terms) but would definitely go again.

We ventured into Albeufeira old town one day - bit too commercialised for my liking so I dread to think what the strip is like.

Went regularly to the lovely beach at Gale and my eldest son (not yet 3) dragged me to see the dolphins and "funny man" and Zoomarine twice in our 10 day stay. Krazy World wasn't so much Krazy as dilapidated and in need of some TLC but cheap and cheerful enough nevertheless.

Algarve Shopping was great for supermarket convenience (Continente).

We ate at Ramires, Alfredo and Palladium - all good - my wife had a steak in Alfredo that was top notch. Ramires was fun because it was lively. Piri-piri - let's face it - it's just a cheap way of livening up cheap bits of chicken - it went down well with a couple of Sagres though. I just wish everything didn't come with fries/chips!

Flew with BA from Heathrow to Faro and, again, all as expected. All in all I can't really fault it.

So that's my second villa DIY holiday done courtesy of tips from this site. Thanks for the all advice!

Nice to see an update. Glad you enjoyed it. We're hoping for a villa near Guia as our deal is allocated on arrival who knows where we might end up.

Agree with your comments on piri-piri I was a little dissapointed that it was not particularly spicy at Ramires - but as its a fairly authentic local restaurant and full of Portuguese I imagine their piri-piri is the real thing. Certainly lively even during the week.