Hi,
My wife and I are planning a holiday for later in the summer (late August/early September) and are very undecided on where to go.
We usually go to Majorca and have really enjoyed our holidays there but would like to try somewhere different this year.
We have been to Portugal once about 5 years ago and stayed in Albufeira (the new part near the strip). We didn't like the area we stayed in as it was just too busy and loud but really loved the old town and spend most evenings there.
We are both in our early thirties and not really into clubbing but enjoy and good meal (authentic rather than British food) and quiet drink. Ideally we would like to be close to a beach and also close to the centre of the town (walking distance) or at least close to good restaurants/bars. It doesn't have to be a bustling resort, mush prefer somewhere more quaint and unspoilt. We would be happy to go back to Albufeira as long as we are close to the old town.
We are happy to either stay in self catering or in a hotel (probably B&B) and don't mind if the hotel is large or small, recently we have stayed in a few boutique hotels and really enjoyed the quietness and privacy. Three or four star would be ideal and we are on a bit of a budget this year (aren't we all)!
Finally we are happy to either do it as a package holidays or as a DIY if we can book direct with the hotel as we can get cheap flights from Belfast to Faro however the resort must be close enough to Faro airport for a reasonably cheap transfer.
I would really appreciate any recommendations of resort/hotel/apartment combinations that I can read some reviews on. There is so much information about that it is hard to filter down and our local travel agents are less than helpful/knowledgeable!
Thanks in advance
Darren
On a budget - forget late August, the British school holidays + Portuguese summer holidays = very expensive.
So make it early September, try Cerro Alagoa Villa Gale, Brisa Sol or Alagoa Mar hotels. All smart and clean with pools, all close enough to the Old Town to walk, with plenty of reasonable restaurants nearby, but far enough not to be disturbed by noise at night - that said they all face the main dual carriageway through town (with a service road inbetween) - but it is not so busy at night that it will disturb your sleep.
In-laws stay at the Cerro Alagoa Villa Gale whenever they visit us, they are quite seasoned travellers and like it very much.
So make it early September, try Cerro Alagoa Villa Gale, Brisa Sol or Alagoa Mar hotels. All smart and clean with pools, all close enough to the Old Town to walk, with plenty of reasonable restaurants nearby, but far enough not to be disturbed by noise at night - that said they all face the main dual carriageway through town (with a service road inbetween) - but it is not so busy at night that it will disturb your sleep.
In-laws stay at the Cerro Alagoa Villa Gale whenever they visit us, they are quite seasoned travellers and like it very much.
I like the idea of these places also , i really do . i was wondering ,
how would i pick a hotel.. surely when booking online they offer a list too you . is it just luck that when your searching say .. Thompson , that they have the specific hotel that you are after. or can you book separately?
how would i pick a hotel.. surely when booking online they offer a list too you . is it just luck that when your searching say .. Thompson , that they have the specific hotel that you are after. or can you book separately?
You can book separately Sam, but it can be more expensive sometimes - if there is a particularly good package on offer - other times it can work out cheaper. I am pretty sure that all the hotels I mention would be available through one of the big three travel agents. Best advice I can offer is shop around.
albuferia old town:
we stayed at the rocamar last sept & loved it
right ont he sea front with some fabulous views
we also noticed a little hotel next door- adults only think its calle hotel sa vincente. looked nice & we were thinking of trying that next time, but next time we manage to get away we will have a child so that rules that out
we stayed at cerro da marina a few years ago and LOVED it was nicer than the rocamr but a big walk back up a hill to get back from the old town oly about 15mins though.
we booked last years through alpha rooms & for 9 nights b &b with flights from jet2 it cost less than 600 which i thought was jolly good! (this was travelling on saturday too)
we stayed at the rocamar last sept & loved it
right ont he sea front with some fabulous views
we also noticed a little hotel next door- adults only think its calle hotel sa vincente. looked nice & we were thinking of trying that next time, but next time we manage to get away we will have a child so that rules that out
we stayed at cerro da marina a few years ago and LOVED it was nicer than the rocamr but a big walk back up a hill to get back from the old town oly about 15mins though.
we booked last years through alpha rooms & for 9 nights b &b with flights from jet2 it cost less than 600 which i thought was jolly good! (this was travelling on saturday too)
AlgarveDick,
one of the problems with early September is that the schoolkids will still be around. I suggest after September 14th.
But as you know, we don't have that problem in Lagos! 
(Private joke!)
one of the problems with early September is that the schoolkids will still be around. I suggest after September 14th.
But as you know, we don't have that problem in Lagos! (Private joke!)
I realise nobody has a crystal ball but what is the weather likely to be like early/mid September
Dan_Cheng wrote:AlgarveDick,
one of the problems with early September is that the schoolkids will still be around. I suggest after September 14th.
dshiels - the weather is normally great in September, hot but not unbearable during the day, cooler at night so a light jacket or jumper for going out and about in the evening is a good idea.
Would recommend Ferragudo for a really typical Portugese fishing resort. Very quiet, fantastic uncrowded beaches, plenty of good restaurants to walk to in village centre, so you don't need a car. We have just returned from staying at a villa on the Vila Castelo resort, which is a stone's throw from the beach and 5 min walk uphill into the village centre. There is only 1 hotel which is located a way out of the village centre and you will not see 1 larger lout or british style bar, what a relief. Try the vila castlo website or look at holiday-rentals for an apartment on the clube rio development which is frontline to the beach. We will definitely be going back. We book independantly and got good flight prices from Flightline and if you need taxi transfer I can give you a name and contact details. You can get a water taxi from the fishing harbour across to Portimao for lots more restaurants if you want, but it is much more noiser there.
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