Portugal Albufeira region??

[DrFarkoff]

Hey Folks Hopefully heading off later in the year for a wee break

I was wondering anybody been in the Olhos d’Aqua, Albufeira, Faro area

What there is to see We like touring around and seeing places rather than sitting on the beach or listening to Banging music in nightclubs (Tinnitus is a great night-life Killer)!

Not really done much tourist travelling more for work so gotta chill out and interact with my beloved instead of watching my tail for some foreign colleague looking to score points with the bosses this time!

Cheers

 

[rodsharp]

I shall be interested in replies as we were also thinking of this area in the summer,so come on all you guys that have been there.
Too old to camp but have a liking for nice (that means interesting not necessarily expensive ) hotels so all your experiences welcome.

 

[Monty Stubble]

Are you interested in old mining remains - the last gasp of a great British company, etc and some ace roads to get there?

 

[DrFarkoff]

To Be honest Monty I was thinking castles, churches, Nice wee winery or two

Something along those lines

We found a good wee hotel with good ratings on trip advisor Car hire for a week and travel insurance all coming to less than £400 for the week now we just want to see what there is to see within a 100 k each way that is worth visiting

Are you interested in old mining remains - the last gasp of a great British company, etc and some ace roads to get there?

 

[Monty Stubble]

To Be honest Monty I was thinking castles, churches, Nice wee winery or two

Something along those lines

We found a good wee hotel with good ratings on trip advisor Car hire for a week and travel insurance all coming to less than £400 for the week now we just want to see what there is to see within a 100 k each way that is worth visiting

OK - but just in case - check out Mina de Sao Domingos and eat in the old mine managers house - now a very nice restaurant and hotel. Marvel at the old Victorian mining remains then go down to the River Guadiana and the end of the mine railwaywhere the year before last I found an excellent bar selling great food. However I'm told since they opened the bridge to Spain nearby it's not as good.

Also found some good restaurants in Alcotim but I can't remember the names.

 

[Timpo]

check out Mina de Sao Domingos

I also recommend you visit this place too, it is amazing, and if you have a good camera, the colours of the spoil heaps and water lagoons are incredible..... sounds daft but seriously amazing.

If you can hire a 4x4, say Suzuki Jimny, then do as there are plenty of trails around and all legal unless signed or chain/barrier across.

Shame your not with motorcycle as the trail riding is some of the best I have done.

 

[david a hall]

Fabulous views from Monchique in the mountains behind the Algarve. The Atlantic coast is quite dramatic. Pre de luz is a nice place where miss Magan went missing. Cape st vincent, etc

 

[woodpecker]

If you like a quiet beach to chill out on, there are loads of coves to explore around this region. Are you renting a car or with a bike just keep an eye out for a sign saying Praia may be just a small home made sign follow it and you'll often find a beach at the end of it sometimes even a completely empty one. Local advised us of this and we found some off of what appeared to be private resident drives but no sure enough there were quiet beaches at the end of it.
If got transport cape Vincent I think it's called to the furthest westerly point is worth a visit, but take a jacket it's always breezy, and they call it the end of the world, go stand in front of the lighthouse and you'll see why. St martinal is worth a visit if you make it to cape st Vincent lovely beach with a great beach hut restaurant. Again looks like your heading into a housing area but persevere and its worth a stop. The marina and golf complex of vilamoura is good for a night out and good food with a beer to watch the world go by. Been to area couple of times really enjoyed it. Good luck.

 

[ymfb]

Clay pigeon shooting
Golf
Tennis
Casino
Beach

All close to Albufeira

 

[(RIP) Geriatric Germ]

Hi, we have been in the Algarve since beginning December last year (bobnval.blogspot.com[/URL]) camper van and car from where you will be the whole of the area can be covered in around 100 km. Don't forget Seville and other areas of Spain are not too far for a days outing, Praia Grande do Pera is a lagoon area by the Ocean and a natural habitat behind the dunes for Flamingos amongst others that has km's of board walks and hides, sadly the Dickheads in Power here are intent on 'selling' the beautiful area to a consortium to spoil yet more of the Algarve for another Costa Del high rise and Golf Centre (there are so many already?) . Obviously the government think this is a QuickFix for the economic gloom settled on Portugal since the Germanic and Francais Euro domination, but enough of my moans enjoy your stay here and make the most of the natural beauty of the Algarve and Portugal in general by wending your wy on the small M--- roads that sometimes end in dirt tracks, but keep going on these they usually go somewhere!! If you want real fun hire a dirt bike, there are hectares full of wonderful off roading, just be more than courteous to the Goat Herds, Sheep and Cattle nomads that walk their beasts every day to Wild Graze.