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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Algarve, where to stay?

25 replies

CoCoJones26 · 04/04/2025 09:47

Can anyone advise re Alvor, Tavira and Monte Gordo please?
Am looking for a quietish May break in a 4 star (ish) hotel.
Thanks!

OP posts:
Notthisnotthat · 04/04/2025 18:21

I’ve stayed at the Pestana Praia Alvor and it’s lovely, it’s not in central Alvor but a short walk along the boardwalk takes you into town, and you can always get a taxi back. You can use the shop that’s part of Prainha resort next door (where I’ve also stayed). pestana have other hotels in Alvor too.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 04/04/2025 18:40

Tavira is absolutely lovely. I’d go there.

Livingthelife88 · 04/04/2025 20:00

Tavira is lovely

Mindymomo · 04/04/2025 20:04

Several years ago we stayed at Hotel Casablanca in Monte Gordo, we thoroughly enjoyed it and location was great, a short stroll to the beach and restaurants.

WisePearlPoet · 04/04/2025 20:16

Olhao is close to Tavira and lovely, as is Monte Gordo. There is a company called White Terraces who have a small selection of renovated traditional houses available to rent. We have stayed with them many times, all in the Olhao area

Original poster
CoCoJones26 · 05/04/2025 13:41

Thx all! The White Terraces places look splendid...

OP posts:
SiobhanSharpe · 05/04/2025 14:14

Monte Gordo looks a bit high rise but it's not very big and everything seems to be on, or close to the beach. Tavira is really lovely.
The beaches along that part of the Algarve are great.

Ayeayeaye25 · 05/04/2025 14:19

We have stayed in Alvor self catering (Vila Da Praia) and we ate out every night when our children were young. It was ideal a fabulous long sandy beach and any amount of restaurants and very family friendly.

LightDrizzle · 05/04/2025 14:23

With children then definitely Alvor but without them possibly Tavira. Is the beach a thing for you? If so then I’d advocate for Alvor again.

Cornflowers35 · 05/04/2025 14:34

Had the worst holiday in Tavira with exH and DS once.

First day at breakfast exH asked someone at breakfast, (who been there 3 weeks), "where's the beach?" Only to be told there's no beach. She'd made a similar mistake. You needed to get a boat to get to the beach.

As DS was young, we didn't want to be stuck on the Island where the beach was.

We didn't have the funds to rent a car, so walked about the town.

I'm sure the town was lovely, but the disappointment from that first morning never left us.

Couldn't wait to leave.

Original poster
CoCoJones26 · 05/04/2025 15:01

Thx for the input....still searching for the perfect place!

OP posts:
2025istheyeari · 05/04/2025 16:53

We’ve had a couple of fab holidays in Tavira. An easy boat ride to the beach and so much to see and do. Not too busy either and fab restaurants.

CrepuscularCritter · 05/04/2025 17:02

Tavira is lovely.

We've stayed in Monte Gordo in February and it was quiet, but lovely. Warm enough (just) to swim in the hotel pool and paddle on the beach. Loads of mainly seafood restaurants on the beach boardwalk. We took the ferry over to Spain for a day and did a couple of other days out from the town. I don't know when it opens up fully for the summer, but I would guess there would be much more choice of things to do in May.

JazzyBBBG · 05/04/2025 17:08

Tavira is known as the Venice of the Algarve if you mean the town - it's lovely. Then you've got Cabanas De Tavira which is the beach area. I like them both.

jambunny · 05/04/2025 17:28

I’ve been to both Alvor and they’re both lovely but if I had the choice I’d probably go to Tavira. I love the little old town over the bridge and catching the ferry to the beach. I also feel it’s less of a holiday resort. Sorry I can’t help with hotels as I had an apartment.

jambunny · 05/04/2025 17:29

Cornflowers35 · 05/04/2025 14:34

Had the worst holiday in Tavira with exH and DS once.

First day at breakfast exH asked someone at breakfast, (who been there 3 weeks), "where's the beach?" Only to be told there's no beach. She'd made a similar mistake. You needed to get a boat to get to the beach.

As DS was young, we didn't want to be stuck on the Island where the beach was.

We didn't have the funds to rent a car, so walked about the town.

I'm sure the town was lovely, but the disappointment from that first morning never left us.

Couldn't wait to leave.

It costs a euro each way on the taxi boat to get to the fabulous beach…it’s not like you have to charter your own boat 😂

Cornflowers35 · 05/04/2025 19:07

🙄

feellikeanalien · 05/04/2025 19:21

Would you consider Lagos OP? it's a lovely town and has some nice
hotels.
www.vilagale.com/en/hotels/algarve/vila-gale-lagos

StarlightLady · 06/04/2025 08:21

Cornflowers35 · 05/04/2025 14:34

Had the worst holiday in Tavira with exH and DS once.

First day at breakfast exH asked someone at breakfast, (who been there 3 weeks), "where's the beach?" Only to be told there's no beach. She'd made a similar mistake. You needed to get a boat to get to the beach.

As DS was young, we didn't want to be stuck on the Island where the beach was.

We didn't have the funds to rent a car, so walked about the town.

I'm sure the town was lovely, but the disappointment from that first morning never left us.

Couldn't wait to leave.

Unlike a lot of the Algarve, beautiful Tavira has remained unspoiled because it does not have a beach. Even basic research before booking a holiday (Rough Guide, Trip Adviser etc) would have told stated this. For the beach you head for Ihla de Tavira.

The ferries to the island, passing colonies of flamingos, are very cheap, frequent and only take about 20 minutes. The boat trip is part of the adventure where passing acquaintances can become new friends.

The island has beautiful sandy beaches which are spotlessly clean and become quieter the further along you go. There are a handful of low key restaurants and bars near the ferry pier surrounded by sand dunes and no roads and no cars.

Cornflowers35 · 06/04/2025 14:10

StarlightLady · 06/04/2025 08:21

Unlike a lot of the Algarve, beautiful Tavira has remained unspoiled because it does not have a beach. Even basic research before booking a holiday (Rough Guide, Trip Adviser etc) would have told stated this. For the beach you head for Ihla de Tavira.

The ferries to the island, passing colonies of flamingos, are very cheap, frequent and only take about 20 minutes. The boat trip is part of the adventure where passing acquaintances can become new friends.

The island has beautiful sandy beaches which are spotlessly clean and become quieter the further along you go. There are a handful of low key restaurants and bars near the ferry pier surrounded by sand dunes and no roads and no cars.

Show quote history

ExH said he did research it. (This was 18 years ago). He wouldn't have lied about that.

I suspect what he read said that there was a beach, just not the logistics of getting there.

ElizaCBennett · 06/04/2025 14:15

I’ve stayed at the Pestana Alvor Praia a number of times. It’s a lovely walk along the boardwalk into town which is quiet during the day but lovely at night. It’s lively but not rowdy, lots of shops open and music bars. Alvor is also well placed for sightseeing and the beaches are lovely 😊

StarlightLady · 06/04/2025 17:24

Cornflowers35 · 06/04/2025 14:10

ExH said he did research it. (This was 18 years ago). He wouldn't have lied about that.

I suspect what he read said that there was a beach, just not the logistics of getting there.

Show quote history

Beaches were clearly marked on maps 18 years ago. Plus guidebooks existed 18 years ago too. Possibly better than today, no Al and almost no fake reviews. Clearly he had not done his homework. Maybe that’s why he’s an ex?

l always research about area, look at maps, book flights then book accommodation. It’s really not rocket science.

Original poster
CoCoJones26 · 06/04/2025 20:46

Thx everyone, have booked Montegordo....

OP posts:
Cornflowers35 · 07/04/2025 09:03

StarlightLady · 06/04/2025 17:24

Beaches were clearly marked on maps 18 years ago. Plus guidebooks existed 18 years ago too. Possibly better than today, no Al and almost no fake reviews. Clearly he had not done his homework. Maybe that’s why he’s an ex?

l always research about area, look at maps, book flights then book accommodation. It’s really not rocket science.

Show quote history

He probably just didn't research enough. I don't really remember much of what he said about the place beforehand. If it had just been the two of us, it would have probably been fine. But with a young child to consider, it just wasn't the right place.

But also definitely not why he's an ex. (whole different story)

wholeeverything · 06/03/2026 16:05

Notthisnotthat · 04/04/2025 18:21

I’ve stayed at the Pestana Praia Alvor and it’s lovely, it’s not in central Alvor but a short walk along the boardwalk takes you into town, and you can always get a taxi back. You can use the shop that’s part of Prainha resort next door (where I’ve also stayed). pestana have other hotels in Alvor too.

Sorry to ressurent annold post but @Notthisnotthat just wondering how far is Pestana Praia from the town centre by the boardwalk? We are deciding between it and the self catering apartments on the grounds of the Pestana Don João and the Praia hotel is a little further out.

Did you have a family room? Was it nice? Also wondering if the indoor pool is nice as that's one of our main reasons for picking it since it's going to be cool-ish when we stay. Thanks!

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