Noodles34 Posted 6 June, 2013 Share Posted 6 June, 2013 Going on Saturday, not expecting too much back on this, anyone got any tips, places to eat and visit, adventure parks etc. Going with the Mrs and two kids (6 & 9), so there is no point in telling where some banging club on the strip is! If anyone knows it well, especially cheap good places to eat, would appreciate it. Anyone think Lisbon is worth a call? Again, bearing in mind that two kids will have to like it too! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanh Posted 6 June, 2013 Share Posted 6 June, 2013 There are a couple of water parks and the Zoomarine park within close distance, all just off the main A22 motorway. All of them run coach transfers if you don't have a car. Lagos is IMO the best town to visit on the Algarve, still feels like a town, rather than an overdeveloped tourist resort. No idea on places to eat in Albufeira as have only been there once, but its a tourist resort so you'll find all the regular options. Lisbon is a fair old hike - probably 3 hours drive on the toll road - but is a characterful old capital city. I've travelled there once from the Algarve and had an overnight stay. I don't think I would do it as a day trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 6 June, 2013 Share Posted 6 June, 2013 Make sure you head to Old Town in Albufeira. Much quieter than the main strip area and some fantastic traditional, local restaurants there. There is also a huge shopping centre on the outskirts that is worth a visit, some decent shops there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydenhampton Posted 6 June, 2013 Share Posted 6 June, 2013 I went there slightly off season but enjoyed it nonetheless. When it comes to chosing tours / day outs I'd recommend the trip up to Mount Monchique if they're running? It's a steady climb up to the highest point in the Algarve with stunning views to boot, one of those "worth it when you get up there" kinda things. On the way up they take in a small but pleasant town with a castle-like thing at the top and on the way back stop at a few restaurants. This was the half day tour and it was just about right for us, if you're taking kids then I'm guessing that'd be the same. There is a full day option but you really don't need it. If you're staying anywhere near the enormous "Paradiso De Albufeira" then there's a crackin' chinese right next to it which I'd recommend, mainly because it has 2 big screens (one at each end) religiously showing football! The food wasn't bad either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackanorySFC Posted 6 June, 2013 Share Posted 6 June, 2013 Went there on a stag do last year. I have absolutely nothing to offer you fella.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 6 June, 2013 Share Posted 6 June, 2013 been to Lisbon and No dirty city, with an horrendous drugs problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles34 Posted 6 June, 2013 Author Share Posted 6 June, 2013 Went there on a stag do last year. I have absolutely nothing to offer you fella.... that good eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVSaint Posted 6 June, 2013 Share Posted 6 June, 2013 (edited) been to Lisbon and No dirty city, with an horrendous drugs problem Hi Jamie. Spent many summers along the coast in Armacao de Pera. Touristy beach town but possibly not quite as built up as Albufeira. Would recommend Algar Seco towards Portimao for very cool rock pooling/cave experience with the kids. There used to be two big water parks close by near Lagoa - Slide and Splash and The Big One. Further down the coast, as said already, Lagos is a nice town and inland from Albufeira is Silves with a castle. You got a car? Lisbon is a great old city and worth a proper explore. Hoping to be there for a week myself this summer if all goes to plan. Edited 6 June, 2013 by LVSaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 6 June, 2013 Share Posted 6 June, 2013 Bloody hell, I went to Slide and Splash in 1986 ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 6 June, 2013 Share Posted 6 June, 2013 Hi Jamie. Spent many summers along the coast in Armacao de Pera. Touristy beach town but possibly not quite as built up as Albufeira. Would recommend Algar Seco towards Portimao for very cool rock pooling/cave experience with the kids. There used to be two big water parks close by near Lagoa - Slide and Splash and The Big One. Further down the coast, as said already, Lagos is a nice town and inland from Albufeira is Silves with a castle. You got a car? Lisbon is a great old city and worth a proper explore. Hoping to be there for a week myself this summer if all goes to plan. We're off there in late July. 3 nights in Armacao de Pera, 7 nights in a villa in Porches. Group of 9 of us with 3 very young kids; any recommendations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVSaint Posted 6 June, 2013 Share Posted 6 June, 2013 We're off there in late July. 3 nights in Armacao de Pera, 7 nights in a villa in Porches. Group of 9 of us with 3 very young kids; any recommendations? Can't really give you much else I'm afraid. Spent weeks in the area but that was in the 80s/90s and things have probably changed a lot. (looks as though they've pedestrianised a large section of the strip...a good thing) The beaches in the area are certainly top notch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles34 Posted 7 June, 2013 Author Share Posted 7 June, 2013 thanks to everyone, appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
100%Red&White Posted 7 June, 2013 Share Posted 7 June, 2013 Make sure you head to Old Town in Albufeira. Much quieter than the main strip area and some fantastic traditional, local restaurants there. There is also a huge shopping centre on the outskirts that is worth a visit, some decent shops there. We stayed nearer the main strip but prefered the short taxi ride to the Old Town at night, the only thing I'd disagree with TCM is that (and we did go in August a few years back) it was bustling in the evening - in a good way. It seemed the Brits congregated more around the strip while the Old Town was a bit more cosmopolitan. Loads of places to eat around the central square and all the lanes off of it, always something going on. You'll pay a bit more in the fish resturaunts that face onto Fisherman's Beach, nice setting though. We had to queue a bit for a taxi to get back later but nothing too bad. Having said that, the strip is family friendly, the kids will probably enjoy the buzz. The water park we went to was a bit further along the coast but I think that was the closest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelman Posted 7 June, 2013 Share Posted 7 June, 2013 that good eh? I was staying further along the coast a few years back, and must say that he is right. To me, and I know it is all subjective, Albufeira is one of the worst places I have ever been to and I do not plan to ever return. Possibly I didn't go to the old town, which others advise, so might have missed something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Lindford Posted 7 June, 2013 Share Posted 7 June, 2013 We stayed in Gale last summer which is just along the coast. Excellent beach there with good watersports and 3 very good restaurants on the beach, also in Gale is Scooby's (shows Sky Sports, has free wi-fi (our teenagers could get there fix of facebook etc) crazy golf and a good pool). Did a day trip to Albuferia, excellent wide sandy beach just down from the old part of town, there are plenty of restaurants there with some nice little shops etc. There is a large Waterpark, Aqualand at ALCANTARILHA http://www.aqualand.pt/en/aqualand-algarve/ which is not too far away and has a good range of slides and pools, we have been several time in the last few years. You can't really go wrong in that part of the Algarve for beaches etc, enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVSaint Posted 7 June, 2013 Share Posted 7 June, 2013 There is a large Waterpark, Aqualand at ALCANTARILHA http://www.aqualand.pt/en/aqualand-algarve/ which is not too far away and has a good range of slides and pools, we have been several time in the last few years. Used to be called 'The Big One'. I forgive their rebranding of the park.... Some excellent traditional pottery shops off the main road in the Porches area too...for the wife and/or souvenirs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles34 Posted 23 June, 2013 Author Share Posted 23 June, 2013 We're off there in late July. 3 nights in Armacao de Pera, 7 nights in a villa in Porches. Group of 9 of us with 3 very young kids; any recommendations? Just got back yesterday, has a really good two weeks, very hot which helped. Went to Splash and Slide for e day and it was pretty good. It's not Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Laggon but we spent he whole day here. You can do all he rides easily, and its pretty compact so you can let the kids wander if hats okay with you (ignoring the obvious Portugal horror story). It seems like it is definitely a better bet than Aqualand. We did a fair bit of travelling around and nothing beat the fishing village of Alvores, really nice little place that suddenly livens up dramatically when it gets dark but really cheap compared to elsewhere. Avoid Villamoura Marina unless you want to pay NYC prices and there is nothing there anyway, poor mans Porta Banus. Won't bore you with everything, found a couple of great, locally priced restaurants, so if you want specifics let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 23 June, 2013 Share Posted 23 June, 2013 Albufeira? What position does he play? How much will he cost us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now