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.

Funchal

squares. Now a vibrant, bustling town, Funchal is home to nearly two-thirds of the islands inhabitants who share the areas natural beauty, exotic tropical vegetation and beautiful gardens with the people who choose one of the many cheap package holidays to this amazing island of Madeira. The town’s hotels offer a high standard of accommodation along with small quintas (country houses) and guest houses. The old-fashioned port here in Funchal is a popular stop-off for cruise ships sailing the Mediterranean. The port attracts many large cruise ships including the great Queen Mary II.

Funchal is divided into three areas; the historic downtown area which is home to the marina and the business district, the Lido which is the main tourist area and the residential area which is set in the beautiful green hillside. Due to the towns compact nature it is very easy to explore by foot. Wander along the cobbled streets and discover

Funchal Town

the 15th century cathedral, churches and elegant colonial houses. Visit the towns Botanical Gardens where nature lovers can marvel at the exotic flora including cacti and orchids. On your holiday deals to Funchal why not take a boat trip from the marina where you will spot dolphins, whales, sea lions and turtles. To explore the amazing underwater world there are deep sea scuba diving trips which are also available from the marina.

On your holiday deals to Madeira don’t forget to visit the Funchal Market, also known as the Workers Market, where you can purchase all kinds of fresh local produce. Situated on three levels, the market has been operating since the 1930′s and is where local producers sell their wares. A major attraction in Funchal, the market is open everyday except for weekend afternoons.
Compared to the rest of Funchal, the Lido area is very flat and is home to restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and hotels. There is a lovely promenade running along the coastline which is lined with palm trees and backed by beautiful tropical

Funchal Botanical Gardens

gardens. Funchal offers three public lidos, perfect for sunbathing and swimming. A great way to see Funchal is from the air either by a helicopter ride from Funchal Harbour or by the more relaxed Madeira balloon ride from Funchal Marina.

The Funchal seafront is lined with restaurants and bars where visitors can sit-back and relax over a quiet meal and a drink or two. The black pebble beach at Praia Formosa is just 10 minutes from Funchal. Awarded a Blue Flag for cleanliness, the beach offers a range of facilities including life-guards, cafes and a kindergarten.

Funchal comes to life at night when the town’s restaurants and bars stay open until late, many are open until the early hours of the morning!

Funchal enjoys a subtropical climate with temperatures averaging 22C all year round. The summers (July to September) here are hot with temperatures reaching the mid 20′s and only slightly cooler in the winter (December to March). Waters are at their warmest in late summer and at their coolest in March.

Portuguese grilled sardines

Whether you’ve got a week or a month for travelling in Portugal, the country has much to offer to international tourists. Recently, the small coastal country has gained a reputation for its food. With a long history of exploration, Portuguese food consists of a wide variety of international spices. Portuguese cuisine is also heavily influenced by other Mediterranean cuisines, with a heavy penchant for olive oil and garlic.

Tour in Porto – tripe & red wine

Being a coastal country, Portugal features a lot of fish and seafood in its cuisine. A food tour to Porto, however, wouldn’t be complete without the meaty tripe—a speciality of the Porto region. Tripe is animal intestines but, in Porto, mixed with red wine, beans, sausage & black pepper, the dish is particularly flavorful. Because many of the wines from the Duoro valley near Porto are rich, full-bodied reds, most of the cuisine you’ll encounter will usually be meat & rice dishes.

You’ll find many of the local apartments in Porto in the Ribeira district, just along the Duoro River. Restaurants, bars and cafes in this area are a popular place to find good food and interesting people.

Food specialties in Lagos

Located on the southern coast of Portugal, Lagos has several food specialties.  The southern region of Portugal, the Algarve, is famous for its sardines which many locals cook throughout the day—a simple snack food for the barbeque! The Algarve region also has two other main-dish specialties, if you’re on a food tour through Lagos and the surrounding region:

Chicken piri piri: This barbequed chicken dish is served with the local piri piri sauce. Piri piri is a spicy sauce, made of a particularly hot chile. The Portuguese introduced the sauce into their cuisine from their colonies in Mozambique and Angola. Though it’s mostly used with

Cod in Portugal

barbeque chicken, it’s also a popular seasoning for grilled fish & shrimp.

Salted cod: Called “bacalhau”, salted cod is a staple dish of Portugal. It’s even a traditional Christmas dinner in some parts. While it’s a popular food from many of the seafaring nations during the times of colonisation, the Portuguese are known to have specialized salted cod into as few as 365 different recipes (one for every day of the year), or as some legends have it, over 1000 different recipes.

Food in Lisbon, with an international flair

If you’re staying in one of the many Lisbon apartments in the trendy Bairro Alto neighbourhood, you’ll be near many of the restaurants—restaurants popular with both the locals and the tourists. Food in Lisbon, the Portuguese centre of tourism, is renowned around the world for its high-class chefs and international cuisine, not to mention five-star Portuguese restaurants. Within the Bairro Alto neighbourhood are many small cafés and local eateries—perfect locations to find an undiscovered restaurant.

Whether you’re on a country-wide food tour in Portugal, or just visiting Lisbon on a short break, you’ll find food is as much a part of the local culture as anything else—maybe even more so. If you hop from city to city, consider staying in one of the many apartments offered by Wimdu across Portugal. With hundreds of apartment & bed and breakfast options, you’ll be living a bit more like a local while travelling.

Ofir, Costa Verde

Ofir is one of the best beach resorts on the Costa Verde, offering good hotels, a beautiful beach and wonderful scenery. The resort is surrounded by pine forests and the beach is edged with sand dunes. The long wide sandy beach is lapped by the Atlantic and the warm waters are very popular with windsurfers. Other water sports on offer in Ofir include snorkelling, surfing, sea kayaking, sailing and fishing. There are so many secluded bays and coves along the coastline which are perfect for relaxing in the sun that you will be spoilt for choice. A boat trip is an excellent way to see the dramatic Costa Verde coastline.

Although Ofir has some restaurants and bars there is a wider choice at Fao which is just a couple of miles inland from the resort. Dating back to Roman times, Fao sits at the mouth of the River Cavado and is a great place for fishing and canoeing. Nearby on the river bank is the old fishing town of Esposende where you can take a leisurely stroll and discover the quaint town squares and historic old buildings.

Costa Verde coastline

The best way to explore the Costa Verde is by car. The amazing scenery is both tranquil and beautiful with charming hillside villages, castles and churches just waiting to be explored. Another way to explore the surrounding countryside is by taking a guided tour on bicycle or horse back. A trip to the volcanic Arcuentu Mountain, where wild cats and deer roam, will give you amazing views from its summit and great photographic opportunities. Take a 30 minute drive from Ofir to Portugal’s second largest city Oporto for a day trip not to be missed on your family holidays to Ofir. Famous for being the home of Port Wine, Oporto is a historical city with great sightseeing and shopping opportunities, restaurants, bars and plenty of nightlife along the city’s

Arcuentu Mountain

riverfront. The gothic Church of St Francis and the Palacio da Bolsa are just two of Oprto’s historic buildings worthy of a visit. An opportunity not to be missed is a guided tour of Oporto’s wine cellars, including wine tasting sessions in the cellars.

Ofir enjoys hot summers but not as hot as the south of Portugal. Temperatures average about 25C during the summer with low humidity levels which make very pleasant weather conditions. June, July and August have 10 hours of sunshine a day with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean hovering around 9C. Even summer evenings enjoy temperatures of 15C, ideal for dining at in the restaurants and having a drink or two at the bars. Most of the rain falls during the spring, autumn and winter months when temperatures hover around 15C.

Oporto

The historic city of Oporto offers a vast array of architecture, a 12th century cathedral, old churches, the Maria Pia Bridge which was built by Eiffel (of the Eiffel Tower Paris fame) and once the longest arch bridge in the world, medieval alleys leading off steep cobbled streets, an old riverside quarter, waterside bars and cafes, shops, parks and gardens. When it comes to relaxing Oporto has plenty of traditional tavernas and restaurants where you can enjoy local cuisine, fish and seafood dishes along with some local vinho verde. Enjoy some shopping in the city’s traditional stores and covered market or take in some culture including art, furniture and ceramic museums, theatres and galleries whilst on your holiday travel deals to Oporto.

Climb the Baroque Torre dos Clerigos for amazing panoramic views of the old city and a photographic opportunity not to be missed. Visitors climb 240 steps to the top of this iconic landmark! A holiday in Oporto is not complete without a walk across the

Torre dos Clerigos

two-tiered Dom Luis Bridge to the suburb of Vila Nova de Gaia where you will find the famous port wine lodges on one bank and the Ribeira on the other. Here at the port lodges you can sample ports from the three sub-zones of the Douro Valley, the world’s first demarcated wine region. You will also be able to buy from famous cellars such as Sandeman and Taylor’s who produce the fortified wine (port) named after the famous city of Oporto.

Families will love exploring the maze of narrow lanes which are lined with brightly coloured houses with white and blue tiled facades and balconies decked in flowers. There are lots of interesting excursions available on your bargain holidays to Oporto, including those to seaside towns, small fishing villages, small towns and villages where you can explore old monasteries, churches, castles, forts and bridges. A great day out for all the family is a cruise along the River Douro which runs through the picturesque Douro Valley with a stunning backdrop of terraced vineyards and quaint towns. Guimares is a World Heritage Site where you see some fine medieval, Gothic, Roman and Baroque architecture.

A holiday to Portugal wouldn’t be complete without a day or two on the beach. The most popular beach resorts close to Oporto are the Atlantic resorts of Foz, Vila Cha, Povoa de Varzim, Santo Tirso and Cabadelo to the north and Esmoriz, Espinho (a long golden beach with a casino) and Cortegaca (excellent for surfing) to the south.

Cais da Ribeira

Nightlife centres mainly on the old riverside area of Cais da Ribeira, the student bars of Cordoaria and also the more trendy bars, clubs, Art Deco cafes and smart restaurants.

Oporto enjoys long hot summers with almost unbroken sunshine between June and September. Spring and Autumn are warm with plenty of sunshine and an ideal time for cruising on the River Douro and exploring the many historical sites Oporto has to offer.

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.

Sao Vincente

attracting more and more visitors to the region. Visitors to Sao Vincente are treated to some of the best and most dramatic views of the island of Madeira. This peaceful village has just a handful of restaurants and bars where you can relax and take in the beautiful surroundings.

Most of the town was buried in a huge landslide in 1928 but an award winning restoration programme has re-built and developed the town into the the tourist attraction it is today. Many of the elegant 18th century manor houses where madeira wine was produced have now been converted into hotels and bed & breakfast accommodation. The town of Sao Vincente and it’s neighbouring villages in the north-west can only be reached by a notorious narrow road which is built into the steep cliff face. Known as the ‘Gold Road’, this twisting road gives motorists spectacular views of the islands rugged cliffs, sweeping valleys and cascading waterfalls.

The Sao Vincente Caves offer an insight into volcanic eruptions. A walk through the caves network of volcanic tunnels gives visitors the opportunity to see the stalactites and ‘lava cakes’ which were formed over 400,000 years ago. The cave complex has a pavilion where you can take in an audiovisual show which recreates the cave’s

Sao Vincente Caves

volcanic geological origins.
Sitting inside a large basalt rock at the mouth of the river that runs through the town is the unique Capela de Sao Roque (Chapel) which was built by Inacio de Sousa in 1692.

The pebble beach at Sao Vincente is popular with surfers because of its big waves. Families are best to use safe natural lido at Porto Moniz or use the swimming pool at Ponta Delgada.
If you are looking for some adventure then the area surrounding Sao Vincente offers excellent hang gliding and paragliding terrain. If you still need more of an adrenaline rush then you can try mountain climbing, rock climbing and mountain biking or try white water canoeing down the mountain streams.

Sao Vincente beach

Sao Vincente enjoys dry summers with temperatures averaging between 25C and 29C very little rain. Sea temperatures average between 21C and 25C during the summer months making Sao Vincente an ideal choice for your summer package holidays. December and January are the coldest months when temperatures drop to around 14C.

Holiday deals to Sao Vincente and Madeira are always available throughout the internet. With 9 to 11 hours of sunshine during the day in the summer and up to 5 hours of sunshine a day in the winter months, weather conditions are ideal for a relaxing break on the beautiful island of Madeira.

Porto Santo

The island is quite barren with its main attraction being a beautiful 6 mile long sandy beach on the islands southern coastline which is divided into separate smaller beaches. The waters along this coastline are warmed by the Golf Stream and washup onto the soft golden sands which are said to have healing properties. These therapeutic qualities include the relief of the pain of rheumatism and broken bones.
There is a variety of watersports available from the beach including diving, fishing, sailing canoeing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, water-skiing and great swimming in the crystal clear sea.
The beach can be enjoyed at any time of the year as the weather here hardly varies from season to season.

Vila Baleira is the islands main town, with cobbled streets, whitewashed

Vila Baleira

 buildings, restaurants, cafes and a park. The traditional old shops here sell handmade souvenirs.

Porto Santo has so much natural beauty that visitors can spend hours just exploring the stunning grasslands, forests and mountains.

For golf enthusiasts there is an 18-hole golf course which was designed by Severiano ‘Seve’ Ballesteros, complete with

Porto Santo Golf

driving range, putting green, pitch and putt course and clubhouse.

A visit to the Casa de Columbus is a must when on the island. This is now a museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus who lived on the island and is home to some of the explorers paintings, maps, drawings and engravings.

Porto Santo really only has one season with temperatures averaging around 20C during the year and between 5 and 8 hours of sunshine a day. Temperatures can reach a low of 15C but can also reach a high of 28C with rain being very rare.

Because the islands natural beauty can be explored at any time of the year you can book one of the late deals on offer to Porto Santo whenever you have the need for some peace and tranquility.

Cheap package holidays to this beautiful, unspoilt island are always available at any time of the year.