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Holidays

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

Original poster

If you were going to Portugal...

29 replies

MrsMattie · 06/03/2009 21:55

...for a week or so for a family holiday with DH and two little 'uns (water-loving 4 yr old and baby)....where would you go?

We are going to a wedding in Lisbon in June and are looking to extend our stay for a week-10 days on the Algarve. No clue to where to stay. Any tips?

OP posts:
bodiddly · 06/03/2009 22:10

We got to Carvoeiro as my parents have a place there. It used to be a fairly quiet fishing village but over the years it has becoming more developed and bustling. I still like it though and if you have a car there are loads of fantastic beaches nearby used by locals but that have shade beneath the cliffs/rocks. Perfect for little ones!

Littlefish · 06/03/2009 22:29

We're staying here in the summer - can't wait!!!!

Original poster
MrsMattie · 07/03/2009 18:47

Googled Carvoeiro - looks lovely!

Wow!@Littlefish - gorgeous! You lucky things!

Thanks ladies.

Anyone else?

xxx

OP posts:
herbietea · 07/03/2009 18:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

oneplusone · 07/03/2009 19:03

We're staying here in August for 10 nights. It's on the Silver Coast, an hour's drive north of Lisbon, so might be easier for you to get to than the Algarve.

www.ownersdirect.co.uk/portugal/P4992.htm

Littlefish · 07/03/2009 19:08

Oneplusone - that looks fabulous!

satonthesofa · 07/03/2009 19:14

We have stayed in a tiny village Burgau, 45 mins from Faro. Our house was the first door on the walk back from the beach. It was idylic, I could wash up and watch the tide go in an out www.ownersdirect.co.uk/portugal/P4165.htm
we spent another fab holiday in Lagos at the marina hotel/ appartments. By the way we love the algarve!!!!!!

nappyzonehasastroppytoddler · 07/03/2009 19:17

last time we went we went pre kids to albufeira and it was lovely - we were on a strip between the old fishing village and the newer 'strip'.
We stayed here

it was handy to get onthe main road throuogh portugal and we hired a car which was easier to drive there than we anticipated. Lovely lovely place.

lilolilmanchester · 07/03/2009 19:28

Lagos would get my vote every time.

Sidge · 07/03/2009 19:47

We have been twice and hired a villa in Guia, a little village near Albufeira. Guia is lovely and peaceful, with plenty of restaurants and some shops but isn't as touristy as Albufeira.

Near Guia is Zoomarine, and also not far to the EN-125 which is the central motorway so easy access to many of the waterparks.

chipmonkey · 07/03/2009 19:48

Lagos or Albufeira were our favourites.

Ruthiebabes · 08/03/2009 10:46

Without a shadow of a doubt it would be Lagos, having travelled all over the Algarve.

It is a lovely country, enjoy.

TotalChaos · 08/03/2009 10:52

why not just stay in Cascais, beach resort nr Lisbon rather than go as far as the algarve

If you get the time, I would strongly recommend the Oceanarium Aquarium near the centre of Lisbon

mosschops30 · 08/03/2009 11:08

We are going to Balaia this year, to the FC Holiday Village which looks lovely. We are going with friends who know the island really well and apparently Carvoeiro is lovely

chipmonkey · 08/03/2009 11:50

By the way, I do love the Algarve but if I were in your shoes I would be more inclined to try the Silver or Green Coast as others have suggested as they are so much closer to Lisbon and I think I have been to most Algarve resorts by now!

leakymoss · 08/03/2009 16:58

Cascais is lovely, just 30km from Lisbon, Lovely park for little ones. The only drawback is the sea - it's freezing. On the Algarve I'd go for Lagos too. The sea on the Algarve is slightly warmer.

HappyHome · 08/03/2009 21:45

Carvoeiro gets my vote, we went when DS was 3yrs and had a great holiday.

Original poster
MrsMattie · 10/03/2009 15:04

Thanks for all your advice - all food for thought.

At the moment, we're still torn between staying up near Cascais / Estoril (I have been to both before, but a few years back and pre-kids) or going down to the Algarve (both complete novices when it comes to the Algarve).

We do like the look of Lagos.

DH is currently toying with the idea of blowing a tax rebate on Club Med in Balaia but I am inclined to do something more cheap and cheerful. Has anyone been to one of the holiday parks in Portugal?

Also - is it totally pathetic to get chills about going to Praia de Luz? (don't mean to open that whole kettle of fish, but,...is it silly?)

OP posts:
oregonianabroad · 10/03/2009 15:10

Bom Dia Mrs Mattie,

I lived in Portugal for 4 years, can consider myself a bit of an expert.

Would recomment Lagos, but it is still a bit touristy.

If you want off the beaten track, go to the coast north of Lisbon (Ericeira is fantastic), or the eastern Algarve (loads of quiet villages near Tavira).

Ruthiebabes · 10/03/2009 15:11

We stayed at the Vilabranca Apts in Lagos, see trip advisor for great reviews. Had 2 pools, bar/restaurant, but no kids clubs.

I have never been to any of the holiday parks, I prefer a quieter holiday!

Lagos really is lovely, quaint streets with shops and restaurants. Loads of amazing beaches.

We went to Pria da Luz for the day, no chills but it is a personal decision.

Have a fab holiday wherever you decide.

oregonianabroad · 10/03/2009 15:12

And I have had great success with that owners' direct site as well.

chipmonkey · 11/03/2009 01:26

Ruthiebaby, we stayed there too!
Lovely apartments, the kids complained about no kids club but then refused to go to the kids club the following year even though I went out of my way to book a place with one!
MrsM, last year we actually booked Praia Da Luz but 10 days beforehand the agency lost their contract with the villas we had booked so they upgraded us and sent us to Carvoeiro.
TBH, I did feel a bit worried about going there but as a lot of my friends pointed out, it is probably the safest place in Portugal now.

chrysanthamumm · 19/03/2009 21:47

Hi, we stayed here last summer www.rural-algarve-holidays.com/ and the house was absolutely beautiful and fab for both us and children - pretty much everything child wise you needed was provided for play/sleep/feeding/sitting/cbeebies(!) plus secured pool (shared between 2 other villas) complete with inflatables etc. Set inland about 30mins from the beaches, def need car hire. It was up for sale when we went but the website still lists the same owners at present, who also promote the house as being particularly suitable for children with ASD.

VickyA · 19/03/2009 22:15

Alvor has a huge beach, and lots of restaurants. We've stayed in the Pestana Dom Joao complex, which has lots of stuff for kids, but is a walk out of town.
Lagos is also lovely, loads of cafes and restaurants, but a bit of a walk to the beach. The apartments at the Marina are nice, but those above ground level need to have guards on the balconies - the rails are horizontal so are easy to climb, but a few of the Brit owners have fixed perspex across them so they're not climbable but still give great view of the pools. We stayed in this one. NB. These aren't the Marina Park, which is a holiday complex on the outskirts of Lagos - I don't know what they're like but they look quite old fashioned.
You can get a train to Lagos (one of the few Algarve stations which are actually within easy reach of the named town) - might be a good way to get down there..?
Praia da Luz is quiet, but not much to do. I wouldn't personally worry about what happened - we were there a week after it happened, so it was a strange time, but would have no hesitation going back except for its isolation - it's a bit of a trek back to Faro airport and is very quiet.
Have fun!

AnyFucker · 19/03/2009 22:18

Lagos is wonderful