Tell me more about Algarve Portugal

[Notonaschoolnight]

We're generally city break people but every few years I get sick of the research that I put myself through planning one so I try a cheap beach holiday. The date I need to fly leaves me with just a flight to Faro we're in our early 40's and will have our 15dd and 13dd with us.

I want to be able to avoid tacky, 18-30 type areas, I want to be drinking wine in a lovely beach front seafood restaurant, but I don't want too quiet and only want to be an hour ish transfer

My mums the Judith Chalmers of package holidays and said Albuifera old town would work but also mentioned Vilamoura but then thought maybe that's too golf orientated and dd's might be bored

I'm hoping you lovely lot will have some thoughts and suggestions, thanks in advance

Ooooh lovely. Where are you staying in Alvor in the end? May should be idyllic there. We are going at Easter and I already can't wait.

We weren't fussed on Portugal. We went all over. Not sure why all the hype for carvoeiro and Lagos. We found carvoeiro in particular to be quite touristy and tacky. Lovely beach at Alvor though. Obidos was beautiful but quite a trek.

Alvor is a great choice.. enjoy😊

You win the thread sunny, I don't think I've ever seen carvoeiro described as tacky, you've obviously not been to albufeira or Praia da rocha or many other places

Obidos is lovely, if you want a four hour drive, each way

Blimey if you find the Algarve tacky I'm not sure which seaside places you would like. OP take no notice. We've been visiting Portugal for 30 years many times a year and it is lovely. So nice although we try different places we always head back to the Algarve.

Well, to be fair, The Strip in Albufeira is pretty..... tacky.

Ok I haven't been to the strip so can't comment. What I saw of Albufeira was typical seaside holiday town. Too many English eateries for me but not any more tacky than anywhere else lots of holiday makers go to.

We went in January cheap week away stayed in villmaura loved it. Think it would be awful in the summer but we don’t do brits on Holiday destinations.

Bit of research and you can find some lovely small restaurants in Albufeira with authentic Portuguese cooking.

There are two Albufeiras. Not metaphorically, literally. The old town is lovely - touristy yes but lovely - and the strip is very different. I’ve only ever been to the strip during the day as I am now old but I am sure I would have loved it in my 20s.

Agree with pp (and your mum!) - Albufeira is two halves - Strip (awful IMO) and Old Town (very pretty, with lots of cobbled streets and a large and lovely Square, all just minutes' walk from the very nice beach, clean and lovely swimming to be had.

We too have been visiting Albufeira for 30-plus years and always return at some point as I've just never found anywhere I like better. We do go off-season though - the first week in October usually - plenty hot enough for us and still busy enough to have 'atmosphere' but more families and the elderly (like us!) than clubbers at this time of the year.

Have a lovely time in Alvor. I do love Portugal - I'm sure you will!