Albufeira

to Portugal. The resort has plenty of restaurants serving a choice of traditional Portuguese and International cuisine, cafes and bars. Try some traditional fish and seafood dishes at the restaurants around the Fisherman’s beach for a taste of the real Portugal. Along the seafront, towards Praia da Oura there is no-end of lively music bars which stay open until the clubs and discos open at night.

A 20 mile long coastline and 20 excellent beaches, 7 of which are in Albufeira, are waiting for visitors to explore when visiting the Algarve. Each of these 7 beaches is separated by amazing coloured cliffs. Close to the resort centre are the two main beaches: the wide golden sandy Albufeira beach and the sheltered Praia da Oura beach. There are more secluded beaches at Santa Eulalia, Maria Luisa, Sao Rafael, Castelo and Olhos d’Agua.  Albufeira offers a wide range of water sports, including windsurfing, jet-skiing and sailing.

Away from the beaches there are some great cliff top coastal paths which run all along the coastline of the Algarve and some beautiful countryside to explore where you will find quaint villages, market towns, peaceful orange and olive groves, and fig trees to shade under. The Algarve offers some first class golf courses for golfing enthusiasts, including the popular courses at Vilamoura and Quarteira. Golfers are

Praia da Oura Beach

particularly attracted to Albufeira during the winter months when the courses see plenty of warm sunny days with temperatures rarely dipping below a pleasant 15C. For culture vultures there are lots of Roman ruins along the Algarve to explore, along with historic towns like Lagos, Tavira, Silves and Monchique.

The whole family, especially the children, will love the Zoo Marine Centre at Guia, just 15 minutes from the resort. Here you will see sharks, turtle, alligators and beautiful tropical birds. Then there is Krazy World which offers hands-on animal attractions, fairground rides and swimming. Not to be missed on your holiday packages to Albufeira is a day out for the family to Aqualand, one of the best water parks in Portugal. Enjoy the thrills of the Congo River, white-water rafting, the Kamikaze and the Anaconda Corkscrew. The Slide and Splash in Lagos also makes a great day out

The Old Town

for the whole family.

Of course the main attraction of Albufeira holidays is the magnificent beaches but make time to visit the resorts old town with its narrow cobbled streets, traditional fisherman’s cottages, traditional Portuguese bars and interesting churches.

Albufeira enjoys hot, dry, sunny weather which is the best in the Algarve. Although the beaches are lapped by the Atlantic Ocean, the Albufeira climate is typically Mediterranean. During the summer months sea temperatures reach over 20C and coupled with the constant gentle sea breezes makes ideal conditions for water sports.

Faro

on their bargain holidays often miss out on this fascinating town by rushing off to the beach resorts of the Algarve.

Faro has an array of restored buildings of varying architectural styles which are surrounded by crumbling medieval walls. The historic old town, the Cidade Velha, has charming cobbled streets with white-washed buildings, a town square lined with orange trees and surrounded by elegant buildings including the Bishops Palace, a cathedral, the 16th century Convent of Nossa Senhora Assuncao, museums such as the Museu Infante Dom Henrique and the Museu Etnografico, and beautiful churches, including the amazing Igreja do Carmo. The old town is reached via the Arco da Vila, an 18th century arch where storks nest, built on the site of a medieval castle gate. Visitors

Faro Cathedral

can take a relaxing wander through the many gardens and pedestrianised streets to discover this vibrant town.

A great feature of Faro is its atmospheric harbour which is lined with attractive waterfront cafes. The traditional restaurants and bars of the town offer visitors the chance to sample authentic Portuguese food and hospitality. With an excellent choice of shops and a daily market, this is the place to pick up your souvenirs and gifts at bargain prices.

You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to entertaining nightlife as Faro offers a vibrant nightlife scene with trendy clubs, music bars and street entertainers. Faro plays host to many colourful festivals, hopefully you will be on your holiday packages to Portugal when they are taking place.

Although Faro isn’t a beach resort, there are still plenty of beaches to visit in the surrounding area. Just a short bus ride from the town is the

Praia de Faro

long sandy Praia de Faro which is backed by dunes with plenty of restaurants and bars. To the west of Faro are the beach resorts of Albufeira, Vilamoura and Quarteira with Tavira to the east. Quarteira is a bustling town with an attractive seafront, busy fish market and gypsy market where you will get the chance to haggle over the goods on sale. Tavira, famous for its Roman bridge over the River Gilao, is just half an hour from Faro. Here you can take the short ferry ride to the quiet unspoilt golden sandy beach and enjoy a relaxing break before returning to the town where you can enjoy a seafood meal at one of Taviras excellent restaurants.

There is so much to do and see in the area surrounding Faro. Rich in olive groves, fruit orchards and almond trees, the surrounding countryside is just waiting to be explored. The Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, a haven for migrating birds, is a major attraction for birdwatchers. Discover the villages of Almancil and Estoi with its palace and Roman ruins. For golf enthusiasts there are more than six golf courses with amazing views of the sea and the surrounding countryside within a thirty minute drive from the town. The whole family will love a day-out at the Atlantic Park. Located close to Faro, the park is set in subtropical gardens with huge ‘water-coasters’ and numerous other water rides.

The Algarve enjoys a mild climate with long hours of sunshine. During June, July, August and September Faro enjoys temperatures around 26C, often rising to 30C in July and August. Between December and January Faro still enjoys temperatures around 20C but with more risk of rain.

Alvor

is slightly less developed than other resorts on the Algarve, mixing the old with the new. The narrow cobbled streets are lined with the original traditional fisherman’s cottages which are a focal point of the town. Alvor has much to offer everyone on their cheap holidays to Portugal, including a vast sandy beach, a fishing harbour, riverside square, waterfront promenade, the ruins of a 13th century castle and a 16th century church. Portimao and Praia da Rocha are easily reached by bus which runs from Alvor to both resorts.

Alvor has a magnificent 4 mile stretch of sandy beach which has good facilities and is less crowded than other Algarve beaches. A variety of water sports are available at the beach in Alvor. There are

Alvor Beach

lots of beaches to visit between Alvor and Portimao, including the beautiful beach at Praia da Rocha. If you are looking for more secluded beaches there is the beautiful cove of Praia dos Tres Irmaos which nestles under the red cliffs, the quiet beach of Praia do Vau and the small cove of Prainha beach.

Away from the beach there is plenty for the whole family to enjoy including golf, horse riding and the local water park to name just a few of the activities on offer. The Alvor climate makes it possible to play golf in 2-month seasons. Often referred to as ‘golfer’s paradise’, there are more than 30 top class golf courses in and around Alvor. There are several riding centres around Alvor which offer lessons for beginners and experienced riders.

Alvor is a popular destination with walkers and hikers, especially for holidays in December when the sun still shines and temperatures are just right for exploring the surrounding area. Walkers can take in the views across the estuary as they take a leisurely stroll alongside the river,

Marina at Portimao

wander along the sandy beach or explore the towns and villages around the resort. Nature lovers should visit the Quinta da Rocha nature reserve which is an important site for wading birds. There are some great excursions which the whole family will enjoy on their direct holidays, including the caves and grottos at Joao de Areus and the quaint little village of Abidaca. Other excursions include the Monchique Mountains, Silves Castle, historic Lagos, Cape St Vincent and the town of Loule. Boat trips from Portimao and Praia da Rocha are also very popular with families on their holidays to Portugal. A great day out for the whole family is a trip to one of the areas water parks where children and adults alike can enjoy the swimming pools and water slides before relaxing at the restaurants, cafes and bars at the parks.

Due to the fine year-round weather cycling is very popular in Alvor, especially with those on their winter sun holidays. The quiet roads and flat landscape make cycling very pleasurable and an easy way to explore the surrounding area.

Nightlife in Alvor is relatively quiet with a disco and some bars. Those looking for more lively nightlife can take the short trip to the neighbouring resorts of Portimao and Praia da Rocha which also has a casino.

Alvor plays host to lots of different events throughout the year including golf tournaments, cycling events, power boat racing and festivals and exhibitions for music and art lovers.

From May till October Alvor enjoys bright blue skies and average temperatures in the mid 20′s. With 12 hours of sunshine a day during the summer season and 5 hours of sunshine a day in the winter, Alvor is not only the perfect choice for a summer beach holiday but also for winter sun holidays.

Altura beach

protected from overdevelopment. This lagoon area is a haven for numerous species of birds that make it home, a place to shelter in the winter or as a migration stopover. Most of the accommodation in Altura, including hotels, villas, apartments and seafront properties, is within walking distance of the beautiful sandy beach.

The eastern coastline of the Algarve has some beautiful sandy beaches lapped by clear warm waters, with no less than five Blue Flag beaches between Tavira and Monte Gordo. Altura has a long, wide beach with clean sands, a beach bar and restaurant, various water sports on offer and ample parking facilities. The nearby Praia Verde and Manta Rota beaches stretch out for miles and are very popular for their beautiful clean sands and tranquillity.

Parque natural da Ria Formosa

Altura has some beautiful inland countryside which is great for the family to explore by foot, bicycle or car on their holiday packages to the resort. Make a trip to the countryside a day excursion and visit the traditional market town of Tavira with it’s Roman bridge, city walls, fine churches, elegant townhouses and mansions, excellent fish restaurants, fishing harbour and interesting indoor market. Tavira on either side of the River Gilao and is linked by two bridges. Take a trip to Faro with its cobbled streets and squares in the Old Town which are lined with restaurants and cafes and the 13th century Se Cathedral which offers great views over the town. Altura is ideally placed for the family to enjoy a daytrip to Seville as it is just an hour and a half drive from the Spanish border.

The resort is popular with golfing enthusiasts as it has some excellent golf courses all within a 15 minute drive. There are top quality courses, with pro shops, hire facilities and restaurants, designed by Sevy Ballesteros, Sir Henry Cotton, Jack Nicklaus and Rocky Roquemore all offer a variety of challenges. The courses offer some amazing

Tavira

views, with Castro Marim overlooking the River Guadiana and views across to Spain and Quinta da Ria set in a beautiful nature reserve.

The relaxed atmosphere in Altura means that evenings are spent enjoying a quiet meal at one of the resorts top quality restaurants or at the bars which provide some entertainment. However if you are looking for more lively evening entertainment on your late deals to Portugal you will need to take the 10 minute trip to Monte Gordo on the eastern coast of the Algarve. Monte Gordo offers more lively entertainment than Altura including a casino if you want to gamble the night away.

Altura enjoys a Mediterranean climate with gentle sea breezes that makes the temperature feel cooler than it is and helps to moderate the humidity. Temperatures average around 28C in the summer with 12 hours of sunshine a day. The sea here is the warmest in the Algarve reaching around 24C during the summer season.

This purpose built luxury resort runs down through a beautiful pine and fig tree clad valley, dotted with magnificent lagoons,  to the Atlantic Ocean on Portugals Algarve coast. The Moorish style buildings with their red roofs and latticed balconies add to the character and beauty of this exclusive village.  Accommodation here is mainly luxury villas and up-market apartments but there are a few luxury hotels here which cater for couples, families and groups on their golfing holidays. For sports enthusiasts there are two excellent golf courses, a first-class tennis academy with 14 courts, health club and riding school. For those who just want to relax and soak up the sun there is a three mile stretch of pristine golden sandy beaches backed by low red sandstone cliffs.

Vale do Lobo has two excellent 18-hole golf courses. The Royal is famous for its 16th hole where golfers have to drive across two ravines on the cliff. The Ocean Course was designed by the late Sir Henry Cotton and is far less challenging than the Royal but still an exciting course. There is also a large driving range to practice your swing before trying your hand at the 18-hole courses. Golfers will love the palm and almond tree lined fairways that wind their way towards the sea.
Right in the heart of the resort is Barringtons Health Club, often used by international football teams and cricket teams. The club offers excellent facilities including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, childrens pool, health and fitness centre, gym, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, squash courts, snooker, table tennis, restaurant and bars.

The restaurants and bars come into action in the evening with live music and discos on the beach in the summer. The restaurants serve a good variety of cuisine including local and international dishes. Many of the restaurants are on the seafront, offering magnificent views across the Atlantic.

Golf is the main activity for most people on their direct holidays to Vale do Lobo but there is plenty for the whole family to enjoy.

Vale do Lobo

Whether you are looking for a golf break, an active sports break, summer holidays, an Easter break or a romantic getaway there are always plenty of travel deals available to Portugals Algarve throughout the internet.

Harbour

Everything in Portimao revolves around its riverside and harbour, main square and gardens, and restaurants. Add the towns shops, markets and boutiques and you have a town that gives you a real taste of Portugal. Local crafts including lace, jewellery, copperware and ceramics are on offer here at very reasonable prices. Portimao is well known for its traditional restaurants where you can sample the towns famous charcoal-grilled sardines and fresh seafood. Most of the restaurants and bars are found along the riverside and around the harbour giving you excellent views whilst enjoying a quiet relaxing meal. The town holds a sardine festival every year in August. Nearby Praia da Rocha is much livelier than Portimao in the evenings, offering restaurants and bars with live music, nightclubs and a casino.

The coastline around Portimao has clifftop walks, sandy coves, caves and fascinating eroded rocks. The town is within easy reach of some great beaches. Praia da Rocha beach is regarded as one of the best beaches in the whole of the Algarve.

Praia da Rocha beach

 Just a couple of miles from Portimao is the sandy Praia dos Tres Irmaos beach. Popular with divers are the dark golden sands of Tres Irmaos. The popular beach and fishing harbour at Ferragudo are just a couple of miles away on the eastern side of the river. There are lots of lovely sandy beaches between Praia da Rocha and Alvor, especially Praia do Vau. Diving, snorkelling and swimming are favourite pastimes here with some really good dive sites along the coast.

There is lots to do and see around Portimao. Visit the old villages of Alvor and Carvoeiro, and the historic sites of Cape St Vincent, Lagos and Silves Castle. Enjoy a great family day out at the Quinta da Rocha nature reserve.

Coastline

Another great family day out is an excursion to the Monchique Mountains where you can explore the amazing forests, valleys and fragrant orange groves. For sports fans there is golf, deep sea fishing and horseriding. Deep sea fishing is a popular sport here in Portimao, take a trip from the harbour and try to catch shark, conger and bass along the coastline.

Portimao offers great cruise trips for you to enjoy on your bargain holidays to Portugal. Experience a romantic dinner on a trip along the coast, enjoy some drinks and show your moves on a dance cruise or just take a relaxing dolphin spotting boat trip.

Portugal not only has some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe but also boasts that it is one of the sunniest locations. Portimao enjoys more than 3000 hours of sunshine a year with summer temperatures often exceding 30C. The climate together with the many cheap holidays that are on offer to Portugal make it an ideal choice for your cheap holidays at any time of the year.

The busy town of Montechoro is full of restaurants, bars and shops. When you crave some peace and quiet then visit the traditional Old Town of Albufeira which has some great fish restaurants and an open-air market where you can pick up a bargain or two.

The golden sandy beach at nearby Praia d’Oura is just 10 minutes from Montechoro. Located in a large bay, the beach is protected from the elements by colourful sandstone cliffs. Known as the Golden Beach, there are plenty of watersports available here including water-skiing, jet-skiing, windsurfing, paragliding, kite surfing and the firm family favourite banana boat rides. If you are looking for quieter more secluded beaches and coves there are plenty within easy reach of the resort including the small beach at Praia dos Averios which has a scuba diving school, Santa Eulalia and Praia Maria Luisa. Scuba diving lessons and excursions for all levels are also available at the diving centre at Albufeira. The beaches at Montechoro have Blue Flag status for cleanliness and water purity. Relax with a boat trip along the beautiful coastline here, at the same time trying your hand with a spot of fishing. Another great way to admire the coastline is by taking a horse ride along the beach on the famous Lustianos horses or by taking a hot air balloon ride and marvel at the views below. Take a Seafari from the marina at Albufeira to spot dolphins, explore the vast sea caves by dinghy and do some reef fishing.

Away from the beach there is plenty to do in Montechoro. Activities include ten-pin bowling, lawn bowling, tennis and golf. There are plenty of golf courses to chose from which are all within easy reach from Montechoro including the amazing 18-hole Salgados course with it’s lake features and the 9-hole courses of Pine Cliffs and Balaia. The whole family will enjoy Zoomarine Park where you can swim with the dolphins, Aqualand with exhilarating water rides and slides and Montechoro Park where you will find a swimming pool complex, mini golf, a play area for small children and restaurants.

There is so much to do and see around Montechoro that you will hardly have time to stop and take a breather on your last minute holidays to Portugal.

Whether you are looking for beautiful beaches, lively nightlife or a relaxing golfing holiday there are always lots of travel deals available to the Algarve throughout the internet.

Set on a quiet clifftop, surrounded by beautiful countryside, Praia de Falesia offers quiet and relaxed holidays for the whole family.

Praia de Falesia

The golden sandy beach here has a backdrop of low cliffs and pine forests and is one of the longest in the Algarve, stretching for 6kms. With Albufeira to the west and Vilamoura to the east, the beach is so long that it never gets overcrowded. Because the beach has gentle shelving it is very safe for all the family to enjoy a dip in the beautiful azure waters or take advantage of one of the watersports on offer, including scuba diving, windsurfing and water skiing.

An alternative to lazing on this beautiful beach is a hike along the coastal

Olhos d'Agua

path which leads to the quiet villages of Acoteias and Olhos d’Agua.

There are boat excursions available from Albufeira and Vilamoura which include rides along the beautiful Algarve coastline, dolphin watching and fishing trips.

The coastline and the surrounding countryside can be explored either on foot or by bicycle.
 
Praia de Falesia holidays are popular with golfers as there are several championship golf courses in the area. The best time to visit for a golfing holiday is in the spring or autumn when there is around 6 hours a day sunshine and temperatures average around 18-23C.

Evenings here are usually spent enjoying a relaxing meal in one of the local

Algarve Coastline

 restaurants or having a drink or two in one of the bars. For livlier nightlife there is Albufeira or Vilamoura. Both have cafes, bars and discos and Vilamoura also has a casino.

Praia de Falesia has a typically Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters. May temperatures average around 22C which rise to 25C in June and up to 30C in July and August. During the summer the area enjoys around 12 hours of sunshine a day with virtually no rainfall. During the winter the temperature drops to around 18C with up to 6 hours of sunshine a day.

With something for everyone, Praia de Falesia is a great place to spend your family holidays.

Cheap holidays to the Algarve are always available throughout the internet.

Personally, I love the Algarve in the south of Portugal and have just come across a really informative travel article for Portugal which may help you when planning your holidays.

The Algarve has everything, including beautiful beaches, great dining-out venues, 35 golf courses, watersports and outdoor activities, and lots of attractions for the whole family to enjoy.

With many tourist attractions, as well as the usual beaches, the Algarve offers a new world to explore if you book a holiday to this area, either for the renowned sports activities or just for a nice break away from home.

Trevor Butler set up his first ‘travel’ related business in 2004 and has written many other destination articles with tips and information. I have found these articles both interesting and helpful, hope you do too.

“We looked for cheap holidays to Portugal on the internet and found a week here at the Auramar was about the cheapest. We were a bit dubious as we had read some bad reviews but as it was so cheap decided to give it a go. We had a good clean room which was cleaned every day and a small kitchen which was sufficient for my mother and me. We had a lovely view and spent quite a bit of time just sitting on our balcony taking in the view and totally relaxing. Breakfast (we booked b&b) was plentiful and good and there were some very nice restaurants in the area where we ate in the evening, we particularly enjoyed the fish. Staff were friendly and helpfull although some struggled with our Yorkshire accent! We were told that you could walk along the beach to the old town but we didn’t try it as my mum wasn’t sure if she would make it!All in all we enjoyed our stay, you get what you pay for, and we will go back again one day and we do recommend the Auramar for a nice, cheap getaway.”

AURAMAR BEACH RESORT HOTEL OVERVIEW

Location

A few metres from the beach, 10 minutes away from Albufeira’s downtown and about 40 km from Faro airport.

Accommodation

All rooms have Air Conditioning, Bathroom with bathtub or Shower, Satellite or Cable TV, Telephone, Terrace Balcony.

Sport and Leisure

Aerobics, Aqua Aerobics, Beach Volley, Bike Rental, Darts, French Bowls, Gym, Mini Football, Mini Golf, Sauna, Swimming Pool for Children, Swimming Pool Indoor – Heated, Swimming Pool Outdoor – Fresh Water, Table Tennis, Tennis Court, Volleyball.

Facilities

24hrs Reception, Animation Programme (International), Bar(s), Buffet Restaurant, Car Rental, Childrens (Kids) Club, Childrens Playground, Conference Room Facilities, Currency Exchange Service, Games Room, Internet Services, Karaoke, Laundry Service, Massage, Mini Market, Parking, Pool Bar, Pool Table, Reading Room, Restaurant(s), Safety Box, Sauna, Snack Bar, Taxi Service, Turkish Bath, TV Lounge.