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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Which is cleanest Portugal or Spain?

64 replies

crazydazy · 02/05/2006 15:39

Am going to Portugal this year, after having been to Menorca last year and experiencing such a lovely beautiful clean resort I just was hoping that somebody could tell me that Portugal is the same as I think it would be hard to beat.

Have been to Greece and did not like it there as the sanitation was appalling and so would not take the kids.

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 02/05/2006 15:45

Portugal is very clean! Never had a problem.

Original poster
crazydazy · 02/05/2006 15:47

Oh good just what I wanted to hear, am obsessed with cleanliness especially on holiday. Don't want any bugs spoiling our fun.

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 02/05/2006 15:52

which resort you going to?

Gingerbear · 02/05/2006 15:56

Where in Greece??? I have been to Greece several times and found nothing wrong with the 'Sanitation'. Small drain sizes mean that loo paper has to be put in a waste bin next to the toilet, but the water is clean and most places have been spotless.

Gingerbear · 02/05/2006 15:57

I have drunk tapwater in Greece with no ill effects - the different minerals in the water cause stomach upsets, not bacteria.

Yorkiegirl · 02/05/2006 16:03

I must admit the sanitation thing put me off Greece altho everywhere was clean apart from the bin thing.

Esmummy · 02/05/2006 16:04

Where are you going in Portugal ? I've been there god knows how many times, been going ever since i was tiny. Love it :)

Yorkiegirl · 02/05/2006 16:05

we're going to Alvor on 6th August. Counting down already!!!

Gingerbear · 02/05/2006 16:06

Better than squat toilets in S E Asia with a water butt and a scoop to 'wipe' with.
Now THAT requires the skills of a particularly gifted gymnast to master without getting drenched.
And grim if you have 'Dehli Belly' or similar.

Esmummy · 02/05/2006 16:12

Alvor is nice, quite a lot of golf courses around. We usualy go much further south to Lagos, Praia Da Luz etc. The old town of Albufueira is lovely.

Original poster
crazydazy · 02/05/2006 16:13

Ooohhhh would never go anywhere like that Gingerbear.

Just staying just outside Albufeira, going on 18 May for 2 weeks, can't wait but just worry about the kids getting ill more on holiday.

I went to Greece when I was younger and thought Corfu was horrible, as soon as you got off the plane you could smell the sewers and then I ended up in hospital for 5 days so it totally put me off Greece. Have been to Skiathos too that was okay.

OP posts:
Esmummy · 02/05/2006 16:19

Lovely Crazydays. Some parts of Albufeira are a bit blackpoolish but some are absolutely gorgeous. Its not a dirty place at all, very well kept. With regard to the children getting poorly the most important thing to look out for is them getting ear infections from the swimming pools, if they get one it can lead on to dehydration etc.
Have a great time, i am so Envy

Original poster
crazydazy · 02/05/2006 16:23

Oh good thanks for that Esmummy, thought it would be okay, the apartments we are staying in look very nice.

Why do they get dehydrated? DS is prone to ear infections so I hope he doesn't get one, am taking lots of calpol.

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 02/05/2006 17:45

which apartments crazydazy? We stayed in the old town of Albufeira before we had kids. Lovely.

Original poster
crazydazy · 02/05/2006 20:43

Villa Nova they are called

OP posts:
Angeliz · 02/05/2006 20:45
Shock I lived in Corfu for 10 years and never smelt the drains. Honest. Think you must have had a bad week!
Gingerbear · 02/05/2006 20:46

Sad we love Greece. Can't wait to take DD to Thailand either (GB avoids Jezza Clarkson long haul flight thread)
Off to Spain this year in posh villa, but I yearn for backpacking days again......

cod · 02/05/2006 20:46

lol at sanitaion being bad

Angeliz · 02/05/2006 20:46

Oh we're off to posh villa in Spain too and i can't waitGrin

Original poster
crazydazy · 02/05/2006 20:51

If we got the same sun over here I would never go abroad, I love Britain and British coasts....but I love the mediterranean weather too.

OP posts:
cod · 02/05/2006 20:52

well you have to keep these less delveloped nations going.

PrincessPeaHead · 02/05/2006 20:57

Would not take the kids to greece because it is "dirty"?

You nutter.

Portugal is hoovered twice a week.

Why don't you stay in lovely hygenic blackburn or wherever you live, with a bumper pack of dettol wipes then.

cod · 02/05/2006 20:58

lol pph
glass fo wine?

PrincessPeaHead · 02/05/2006 20:59

yes please, make mine a retsina Wink

can I invite myself to lunch next week or some time please?

cod · 02/05/2006 21:00

yes but not wed

um hmm what day is best