If you were going to Portugal...

[MrsMattie]

...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?

VickyA - we're off to Pestana Dom Joao in Alvor in May. DS is 4 and DD is 18 month. Have we made an OK choice?

Praia de Luz is famous in Portugal for having some of the coldest water on the Algarve! Dunno why - odd currents?

I like Lagos, there are some beautiful small beaches just west of the town, a bus-ride away. (Praia Dona Ana is great, my parents stay in one of the apartments there every year.)

We used to spend our family holiday in Armacao de Pera every summer (dad is Portuguese: we went to Portugal. No debate.) which used to be a mostly-locals resort, but has changed out of all recognition now. TBH, I think a lot of the towns on the Algarve are irredeemably spoilt now. Could you consider a villa inland? You could rent a car and drive to any of the local beaches, and the countryside is peaceful and beautiful. If you need tourist facilities, I'd go for Lagos or Villamoura.

Silver Coast is lovely - colder and rougher sea, watch for rogue waves and currents, and we stayed near Sao Martinho do Porto, which is meant to have lovely calm water (protected harbour) but was rough and foggy all week! But it's a lot quieter up there. And closer to Lisbon.

Have also stayed in the Vilabranca Apts in Lagos about 7 years ago. I see on the resort pics they have put a divide up between the two pools. That was the only thing I didn't like as it didn't have that then. Everything else was great, self catering, 2 bedrooms etc. We hired a car from the airport for the duration. The lovely long sandy beach was 5 mins drive away. Lagos town centre a walk or quick drive away. Happy days.

Vilamoura is lovely. Nice beaches and plenty to do nearby as long as you have a car. Or Lagos.
But Cascais might be a better bet as you will avoid the long drive down to the Algarve (I know it well as we do it several times a year but it never gets any better!).