Portugal - good areas?

fucketyfuckwit · 2022-08-17T09:02:27+00:00

We are considering 2 weeks in Portugal next August instead of our usual France trip. We can fly to Faro and can hire a car. Can anyone recommend an area with good beaches, nice towns, things to do, water parks etc? We will rent a villa. Kids are 10 and 12. I don't know Portugal at all.

Fivemoreminutes1 · 17/08/2022 11:18

Can you fly to Lisbon? My first choice would be Cascais.
If you’re definite about going to Faro, I’d suggest Carvoeiro. It’s a fishing town with just enough tourist type attractions, e.g. bars and resturants. It caters for tourists but hasn’t been spoilt, it still retains the Portuguese charm and rustic buildings unlike some others resorts in the algarve. The beach is small but we like to drive 10 mins to a selection of other lovely local beaches. Excellent selection of restaurants and the food can be as cheap or as expensive as you wish but all a good standard. Splash and Slide waterpark is fantastic and wellworth a visit - though I can imagine during the height of summer it gets very very busy!

RusholmeRuffian · 17/08/2022 12:04

I would agree with pp. Fly to Lisbon and stay in Cascais.

Accountsdept · 17/08/2022 12:24

Fivemoreminutes1 · 17/08/2022 11:18

Can you fly to Lisbon? My first choice would be Cascais.
If you’re definite about going to Faro, I’d suggest Carvoeiro. It’s a fishing town with just enough tourist type attractions, e.g. bars and resturants. It caters for tourists but hasn’t been spoilt, it still retains the Portuguese charm and rustic buildings unlike some others resorts in the algarve. The beach is small but we like to drive 10 mins to a selection of other lovely local beaches. Excellent selection of restaurants and the food can be as cheap or as expensive as you wish but all a good standard. Splash and Slide waterpark is fantastic and wellworth a visit - though I can imagine during the height of summer it gets very very busy!

Completely agree with Carvoeiro, we have been going for 15 years and came back from 12 days in May. There are some lovely Villas on Infinity Villas which is the company we use. We usually hire a car and go for lunches or a wander around Silves, Albufiera, Villamoura which are not far. Great supermarkets nearby too

TheLeadbetterLife · 17/08/2022 12:27

I live in the Algarve, it’s beautiful and there’s lots to do in August (albeit it’s busy).

The village I live in is great - good location for everything and welcoming to tourists. We have some fun festivals in august too. I won’t go into details in this thread but feel free to PM me for details.

Anjelika · 17/08/2022 16:16

Have stayed in Carvoiero but preferred Alvor tbh. Lagos is lovely too if you want somewhere a bit bigger.

MarpleFan · 17/08/2022 16:24

As PP have said, I would steer clear of the Algarve personally and go to Cascais or Ericeira - not so full of Brits on holiday and lovely. Having said that, my mother (who always swore she would never go to the Algarve again having lived there before) has bought a house near Tavira, which is far less touristy, and loves it.

Beebumble2 · 17/08/2022 16:46

Another vote for Cascais lovely beach area, market and shops to explore. There’s a long beach walk to Estoril.