Resort recommendations Portugal Algarve

[Applesaregreenandred]

Does anybody have any recommendations of resorts to stay on the Algarve please?

We like a choice of restaurants / bars, a few shops to browse, but not somewhere too developed/busy/built up.

Places we like are Nerja and Sitges in Spain so somewhere with similar feel.

We will be looking to book a villa or apartment in block with pool, hopefully within walking distance from town centre. We normally book somewhere through owners direct / homeaway etc and will be hiring a car at the airport.

We have DC who will be 18 at the time of travel- he'll either do what we do or lie by pool on his phone - he's happy to come with us somewhere sunny if we're paying! We will be traveling in September.

We've been to Carvoeiro, which might fit your requirements. Plenty of restaurants to choose from

Lagos.

Old part to town, marina, gorgeous beaches.

Can be busy in the school holidays though.

Bit of a surfing, water sports vibe.

We stayed in Alvor last year which was lovely, and had a day in Lagos. Definitely a "bigger town" vibe there, with probably more to do for teens etc. Dd (14 at the time) said she'd definitely choose there another time.

Burgau is lovely, has a nice beach and several restaurants and shops but is quite small.

We enjoyed Lagos, haven't been to the other places mentioned.

Tavira - but it’s more a lovely Portuguese town with a fantastic beach!

Check out Eden Resort at Albufeira. It’s out of the main drag but there’s a resort bus that takes you into Old Town or a taxi is a few euros.
There’s a few pools around the resort, including an adult only pool. There’s also a spa.

Lagos Marina Club Resort is in a good place.
Vilamoura is lovely. Lots of places by the marina.

I can't recommend a resort but the waterpark in Lagoa, 'Slide and Splash' was bloody brilliant! We went in early September so kids were back at school so barely any queuing, but it was 30 degree weather. One of the best days out ever that was!

Another vote for Alvor, we stayed in a 3 bedroomed villa with its own pool, 5 mins to the beach and 5 mins in the other direction to the restaurants and bars. However you can't go wrong with any resort in that area.

Lagos
We love Nerja as well

Lagos

Alvor or Tavira .

@Notthisnotthat did you book your villa as a private let or as part of a package? That sounds ideal location !

It was on homeaway, I'll go and find the link.

@Applesaregreenandred I've pm you.