Anyone know Portugal?

[Baysmum]

Hi, has anyone found a child-friendly appt/villa/resort in Portugal pref near Lagos so husband can go surfing? Also, has anyone been in April/early May and how was the weather? Hope someone can help - really trying to persuade dh w need a holiday!!

I went to the Algarve one May. It as colder than the UK for the majority and raining, and then 25 degrees on th last day. I found the people delightful, and much nicer and quiter than spain

ooh I'll watch this thread, would love to go to Portugal - hi baysmum!

hiya mamaG - anyone else???

ooh ta Spoogs will chk it out. Honestly, might even have to venture into a travel agant at this rate - sighx

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hi baysmum

my dad lives just outside lagos! Fraid i can't recommend child friendly accomodation coz we always stay with him, but weather april/may is usually sunny and mild, not scorching and you'd need your cardi at night. An unheated pool, or one without a pool cover, would probably be a bit chilly (esp for small children).

Lagos is really easy to get to from Faro, directly along a new road. Takes about 1hr.

Hope you find somewhere nice wherever you end up!

Yes looked at website and it looks fabby, only prob is dh pretty set on Portugal due to surfing possibilities (sigh). I have 1 ds who is 20 months and I am 5 mnths pg with no.2 (hence the desire to get away before I am too massive in the summer). Still looking at options though, thanks for all help so far x

Prob too late for you, and no idea if its near where you want to be, but, we are off to Villamoura for the last 2 weeks in May.
Going with friends so we will have our ds (who will be 3 by then), and their 3 ds' (12, 10 and 2.10).

Hoping it will be high 70s to early 80s. Dh found a website where you can compare the actual temperatures recorded at the same days on previous years - try www.wunderground.com

Thanks CC, already obsessing about weather!!!

Baysmum, we stay near praia da dona ana near Lagos and is relatively quiet and full of Portuguese and other Europeans, not as overwhelmingly English as in Lagos.
West coast beaches are amazing for surfing and not to long a drive away - but a little scary if you have young uns, I couldn't relax on those beaches when ds was near the water - the currents are famous. Despite that there are loads of Portuguese on those beaches and the don't feel as busy as the beaches on the south coast.

I can't remember about the weather - we've been in Sept and Aug usually.

There are loads of villa websites to look at round there.

Have you persuaded him? We're going at Easter can't wait! But it won't be warm enough to swim!

Hi

I have family living near Lagos and I go twice a year myself usually may and sept but last year went at end of april.

The weather is usually warm in day and cool at night - enough to need a light jacket.

The western beaches are good surfing beaches and very easy to reach from Lagos. I have beaten eca and done Faro to Lagos in 45 mins

You could look here

Thanks, have been looking at appts and villas til my eyes went funny!! Think I have dh convinced now and just a question of finding the perfect place to stay in Lagos - yipppeee

Hi Baysmum,
I have been to portugal many many times. We always stay in or around Lagos (Praia da Luz is a lovely little fishing village about a 10 minute drive away).
I can highly recommend Louella Windsors website for Villa's in Lagos or Val for places in Luz. I have only stayed in one Louella Windsor villa, which doesn't appear to be on the website any longer (it was amazing, the infinity pool overlooking the Mai Praia beach is beautiful). We are staying here in August for 11 days, we stayed here 2 years ago and was absolutely gorgeous.

If your DH is into surfing, I can highly recommend the west coast, the waves are absolutely enormous but is great for kids too because the sand goes on and on and on - would take children an age to get into the water without you noticing. Here is a good website about West Coast beaches

OOOh ta, more villas to drool over!

Not on the Algarve, but lots of cheap carriers coming into Lisbon now, so maybe an option.

Check www.vilabicuda.com (they should pay me a promotion fee, I recommend them so much). Very child friendly (on site creche, babysitting service available), like a holiday village where you rent a villa or smaller apartment, will put in stairgates/cots/highchairs, each property has a kitchen so you don´t have to keep finding somewhere to eat out.

Also on site cake shop/cafe, supermarket and pizzeria, paper shop with UK mags and papers, small bar, playground. All about 5kms from what is known in Portugal as the best surfing beach going. One of the most highly rated in Europe too, apparently. Weather in May will be good, almost garanteed. Near cute town Cascais only 30mins outside Lisbon so good culture if you want it!

If you need more info, let me know!

The beach is called Guincho by the way! Its on the link on this thread about west coast beaches.