Where should we stay in the Algarve? Tavira?

[penguinsmall]

Hi,
We would like to do a one or two week vacation in the Algarve with our twelve-month old in September and are trying to decide where to go. We would prefer a quiet village-y type place over a busy resort. Tavira looks nice but it seems that you have to catch a ferry to an island for the beach and then walk quite a distance (?) which would be a hassle with a toddler in tow (she'll need to nap at home).
Salema also sounds good but then I've heard that the western side is more of a surf beach place.
Someone else suggested Praia da Rocha but this looks very built up.
Basically we would like to rent an apartment in walking distance to a beach with calm water and a few places to eat, look around etc.
Also, is a car a must or are there regular buses that run along this coast?
If you could recommend accomodation that would be great too.
Any suggestions/advice would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance for replies.

I know I'm a year too late, but this might help someone else searching for Tavira/Algarve. I know the Alrgarve quite well (DP's have had a timeshare in Praia da Rocha for 30 years). We stayed in Tavira for DH's 40th and found it to be our favorite place on the Algarve yet. Very Portuguese and a working town not just a tourist resort. The town centre is really lovely with lots of pedestrianised areas, charming squares and picturesque streets. The river flows alongside the town and there are lovely places to eat on the banks. All the tourists seem to go west of Faro. Tavira also has a great indoor covered market. Due to it's location, day trips to Spain are more feasible.
Alvor is small and pretty and has a good beach (or it was 9 years ago!)
The beach at Praia is lovely BUT is backed by high cliffs so you have a lot of steps. Also development in Praia has been unchecked for 30 years and so it is now a mass of high rise hotels and apartments and quite down market. Lagos was always the upmarket place to go but is at the far western end of the Algarve so quite a schlep from Faro airport - again a nice pedestrianised old town. Although everywhere in S Europe is hot in Summer, due to it's Atlantic coastline the Algarve does tend to get cooling sea breezes more than in the Med. But it can also get scary undercurrents in the sea - and huge waves, so be careful swimming in the sea (it's chewed me up and spat me out more than once and I'm a strong swimmer)

We went to Praia de rocha in May and yes, it is full of hotels etc, but we found out that loads of them have actually closed due to financial pressures. It was exceptionally quiet and beautiful in May. we're going to Alvor in August and expect it to be busier but the beaches are so massive we should be ok!