Algarve April advice

[wholeeverything]

Hello, we are going to the Algarve middle of April. DD (16) wants heat. Aware it won't be sweltering but its about 4 degrees and raining here right now so any improvement :-) 20 degrees and sunny would be sunbathing weather for us! I understand it can't be guaranteed of course.

Not keen on Albufeira, and like the look of Lagos, Alvor, Carvoeiro and Tavira (although I think Tavira might be too sleep for DD).

Can anyone advise, is the area near Lagos really noticeably cooler than, say Carvoiero or Tavira?

We would like a heated pool. Any experience of nice places (ideally a two bed apartment or the like - don't mind if it's standalone or in a resort) with heated pool? I like Boavista in Lagos, Pestana Praia do Mais in Alvor and there seem to be a few places around Carvoeiro. Any experience of any of those? Or elsewhere?

Thanks!

The weather can be so unpredictable in April so I wouldn’t count on sunbathing weather. Could you plan a trip with a few days in Lisbon then beach at Cascais (not far from Lisbon). There’s lovely hotels in Lisbon with pools but you’d need to check that they’re open in April.

Outdoor pools tend to be unheated, so double check on that or whether there are heated indoor pools (which are often tiny).

If you’re not wedded to the coast then you could go inland to the Alentejo where it should be warmer - we were there at the end of November and it was T-shirt and shorts weather, but the outdoor pools were freezing.

We tend to do road trips and I found some great hotels in the Alentejo - we had a blow out and stayed a couple of nights at the Praia do Canal on the coast.

@SabrinaThwaite definitely open to alentejo inland! If you've any recommendations do pass them on!

@sundayvibeswig22 flights booked to Faro. Cascais was very pricey. Looks lovely though!

@wholeeverything These are the places that we stayed at that I’d happily recommend

Hotel Museu, Mertola - pretty small town with lots of tiny museums, big castle on top of the hill. Hotel is quite simple but comfortable and great location next to the river, and has Roman ruins in the basement.

Hotel Monte do Vilar, near Beja - great agrotourism hotel in the middle of vineyards, good restaurant. Hotel can arrange a tour of the local wine cellar with wine tasting (they produce their own wine for the hotel chain).

Sines Sea View Hotel, Sines - big modern hotel, good as a stopover. Easy walking into the town.

Praia do Canal, Aljezur - this was our splurge, very modern architecture, beautifully furnished, great facilities and staff. Restaurant food was a bit on the nouvelle cuisine side (ie small portions), but buffet breakfast was huge. Great for activities - lots of cyclists were there, we did a 10 mile circular hike out to the coast.

Pousada Palace d’Estoi - modern rooms in a new wing attached to the historic building. Very handy for Faro.

Also stayed at the Pousada at Sagres, amazing location but the hotel is a little tired, and the Marina Club Suite Hotel at Lagos, which is where we stayed a few times when the DC were small - excellent location.

Alentejo is really pretty - lots of vineyards, olive groves, cork trees, castles, and great walks. The coast between Odeceixe and Lagos is stunning (the Fisherman’s Trail is in our future).