Any Albufeira fans out there? Mixed responses since booking :(

[crushedintherush]

Earlier this year, I booked 10 days in Albufeira for mine and dh's main holiday, and have received mixed responses, mainly that you get mithered a lot, crap food, gippy tummies and rude waiters. A lady said last week that it is a dump, and that was to someone else, not us

Bit disconcerting, as people raved about it at the time of us booking, but its all changed now, just hearing negative reviews.

I've always wanted to go to Albufeira, and it will be the first time we've been to the Algarve. Have I booked the wrong place? It looks lovely in Tripadvisor and Booking.com, but hasn't stopped me from worrying....

I'd read up on it before booking, so I know to avoid the 'Strip', and are staying near the main square near the Old town. I'm expecting it to be busy also, being July.

Anybody got any good things to say about it before I become more despondent? Please?

Any bars or restaurants that stand out especially, for good food/service/music? Any, quieter, more intimate areas/restaurants around, if things get too noisy? I'm not a shrinking violet, nor are we old, mid-40s, we just like pretty architecture, nice beaches, good food, a laugh and a nice time, (plus a few beers ) with the choice of noisy or quiet.

Please restore my confidence...

I've been twice - although in Sept then in Oct the following year so not the height of tourist season. The old town was lovely - nice beach, no issues with food or getting hassled (was approached once by someone selling knock-off watches but no other bother). Would happily go back any time!

The strip is the complete opposite - sports bars, pissed up Brits all day, although a few nice restaurants just off the strip. It's worth mooching over there just to experience it, but personally once was enough

Thanks rockchick, very useful info, and I feel a little better that somebody would go back, rather than the shaking of heads I've encountered

I didn't want to go in July, tbh, it was the only time I could book annual leave. Everything else was already booked, Normally would go late May-Early June for our main holiday. Wasn't fast enough this time..

Anybody been in July and found it ok?

i have relatives on my husbands side that raved about it. It depends what you like. they also like benidorm, magaluf (think I've spelt that wrong). Everyone likes different places - lots of people must like it or it wouldn't be the biggest resort.

We've just come back from a holiday on the Algarve near Albufeira. We went to Albufeira twice by bus, and had lunch. The food was OK, but there are a number of really good restaurants near Albufeira that you can go to (Evaristo for example) The old town has a good beach, I can imagine that in Summer it will be heaving, but there are a lot of other good beaches in the area, and the normal bus service is good along the Algarve.

thanks all for your replies.

dreaming. I went to Magaluf many moons ago. I loved it but then I was 18. Heard about Benidorm, though I appreciate its nicer now (or so I've been informed), I've never fancied going

Oh dear. I'm sure it'll be ok, looking forward to spending time in or around the main square in the Old town, and the architecture of some of the buildings/churches look amazing so at least I'll be in my element with that part, and the beaches.....

Batty, I'll keep Evaristo in mind thanks. And yes, there is also the bus to consider.

gale beach sounds nice, and sounds doable if you got a taxi? If you get there and don't like it you could get a hire car as there are lots of other lovely sounding places nearby - Guia isn't too far either i think. Suggest getting a book from the library. i also thought olhos sounded nice - though someone gave a not so great review here recently. car hire for a week is coming out at about £500 for aug. We too are going to algarve...for several years running as its such good value, yet nice.

I loved Albufeira- there's a little cafe under the bull fighting arena and the guy does the nicest sangria in the world!

I love it!

Like any holiday resort there are nicer bits and not so nice bits but on the whole it is lovely.

There are like anywhere the lucky lucky men selling fake cheap crap, brashy bars with neon signs outside etc and a few partys/hen groups etc but on the whole it has charm, architecture, freindly locals, authentic restaurants, pretty cobbled streets and squares, fab beaches, stunning cliffs, awesome sea (love the atlantic - much more exciting than the lap lap lap of the med), lovely little shops and nice atmosphere.

Avoid the Strip at night if thats not your scene. Yes the strip can get loud and you do get stag groups lads etc but its a far far cry from Magaluf,Falaraki.

The rest of it is lovely. You do need to be aware of pickpockets etc like you do anywhere. Its no worse.

I would love to go back to Albufeira this year but its a little more expensive than Spain for us.

Dont worry - Albufeira is fine and lovely.

Thanks call, feeling better now, and, oooh, (rubbing hands enthusiastically) must remember bull ring arena and sangria, thanks bluddy

I love Albufeira, we've been many times and we're going back this year. Avoid the Strip if you can, although there is a great Piri-piri place near the top end frequented by the Portuguese. Also as poster above said, some good restaurants around the bull ring.

The old town is great, lots of nice restaurants, pretty cobbled streets. It can get very busy at night but the atmosphere is great. There are some lovely restaurants overlooking the sea up above 'the Tunnel'. Very romantic if you can get a window seat.

Plenty of scope for wandering around looking at the buildings up at the top of the old town, some lovely traditional churches and my favourite building, the green tiled ruin up by the Rocamar hotel..

If you can find it there's a place called Associação Casa do Alentejo which is a club for people from the Alentejo region of Portugal - it had a great restaurant open to the public and if you're lucky there'll be some traditional Portuguese folk singers there later on at night. It's been 3 years since we were last there so I hope it's still open.

Also, this sounds very sad, but we can spend a good hour in the Modelo supermarket Great selection of fish.

Hope you enjoy

We love Albufeira and have been back many times - for all the reasons others here have said. The Strip is pretty ghastly but there's no need to even see it (though the little Turistrem will give you a whistlestop tour as it passes through).

The town beach is nice with clean sands and lovely clear water, but Gale is more beautiful, and easily reachable by bus if no hire-car.

I'm also a Modelo saddo - absolutely love spending time in there!

There is an excellent small fish restaurant that caused quite a stir on Tripadvisor last year, zooming up to top spot at one point. It's called A Tasquinha do Rossio and is just a little tricky to find so look at a map first if you decide to go. Last year 12 Euros per head bought you divine crab pate, then course after course of grilled fish from baby squid through salmon and bream and more. Much frequented by locals and Brits in the know... see topic about it on the Albufeira Forum

We're off there again in October and I can't wait. Hope you have a lovely time!

thanks all again, I will have a look at the forum I appreciate people have different opinions, but it only takes a few people to sow the seeds of doubt, especially over a short period of time, straight after each other. Roll on July

Just remember why you picked it in the first place and that reviews are very subjective. Have a great holiday!

Had a brilliant time there in April. Forget Trip Advisor. Miserable barsts who go out of their way to find things to whine about.

Take good books to read... I ran out of books. Mind you there is a great shop full of second hand English books.

I love Albufeira and have been often.
Agree with others that The Strip is best avoided but the old town is fab. The tunnel and fisherman's beach areas are lovely and plenty of seafood restaurants/great cooking smells down there if that's your thing. Cobbled lanes with stalls to explore etc. The old town has lost a little something IMO since they opened it up, upgraded pavements/walls at beach but hey ho, it's still lovely and atmospheric.
It will be really busy in July but loads of restaurants/bars to choose from. At night in the old town there's a good live music scene. Bars not awash with cheesy DJs, but loads of musicians/bands with real instruments and everything.
Wah. I'm jealous. Have fun!!

Thanks all, you've been brilliant at restoring my faith in the choice I've made
Really looking forward to Albufeira now, and its not long off either!

Tbh, I wasn't bothered so much about the comments in Tripadvisor, that on it's own I could ignore. It was the people I know that bothered me, having a 'downer' on the place, and there were quite a few.

Or people who said there are nicer places. I'm sure there is, but this will be the first time I've been to the Algarve, so I really don't really know that part of Portugal, and couldn't judge what was nicer or not. Plus I've always wanted to go to Albufeira, which is why I booked it. Stuff 'em anyway .

Forgot to mention, I've only been to Portugal once, and that was to Cascais. Loved it there. So this will be my 2nd trip to Portugal, so still new to it.
Sorry for dripfeeding anyway.

Haven't been to Albufeira sono advice, but...

Since having the dc we have done a lot of package holidays (previously preferred independent /backpacking trips). As a result we've been to a lot of "resorts"and sometimes first impressions havebeen offputting! But we have always found hidden restaurants where the locals go / nice architecture / etc. Usually within a walk but otherwise a short bus or taxi ride away. We never hire a car for the whole holiday due to cost but it's usually worth getting one for a day or two to get to smaller villages and escape town life for a day.

Enjoy Albufeira

If you liked Cascais then I'm sure you will like the old part of Albufeira. I think they are quite similar in feel. Albufeira is probably a bit livelier and has better beaches. We tend to alternate between the two. Have a lovely time.