Algarve

Attol

Just wondering about your holiday experiences there. We have about 8 18-19 year olds looking to go there but don't know which part to go for. Praia de Rocha seems not too bad. I was there like 5 years ago but don't remember which part. We don't want to spend more than about 500 pr 600 each for a week.

Cravez

When i was at the Algarve( Amarco de Pera Area ) it seemed like a nice place. It has alot of resturants and bars ( not too many clubs ). There are two water parks in the region but still a drive out to them ( about an hour ) and also a Aquatic Center where you can see dolphin shows etc. The beach is only about 10 minutes walk where you can hire jet skis(expensive though) and peddle boats. The local town is 15 minutes via taxi where there are even more resturants,pubs and areas of interest with lots of stalls selling interesting stuff. Amarco de Pera is an ideal place for families ot those who want to catch some sun,swim and relax if your looking for partying day and night its not the place for you. About 400-500 a week would be enough, probably more than enough. Hope this helps!

gaf1983

LadyLotts wrote:

Just wondering about your holiday experiences there. We have about 8 18-19 year olds looking to go there but don't know which part to go for. Praia de Rocha seems not too bad. I was there like 5 years ago but don't remember which part. We don't want to spend more than about 500 pr 600 each for a week.

I was in Praia da Rocha last August/September, had a great time (until very last night), spent roughly probably what you're thinking of spending, it's good if you like sun, beaches, nightclubs, bars and that sort of thing, restaurants are really good - as I was saying all was going well until the very last night when I got mugged and had my face kicked in requiring serious surgery, cheekbone and eyesocket bone were broken, so just a word of warning, look after yourself and take taxis at night it may be hassle but it's worth it to keep clear of those scumbags

Attol

Amarco de Pera sounds like it wouldn't be quite suited to us. Thanks for the heads up on that. Family orientated places are the opposite to what we would want.

When you were in Praia de Rocha what was the atmosphere like? Were there a lot of scumbags like the ones that mugged you? What's it like for shopping and was it very touristy?

tabatha

montechoro is the main strip if you like in the algarve. lots of buzzing activity there. thats were a lot of the young people go and hang out in the evenings. albufeira is the old quater. its a much bigger town with lots happening. more familys there though. i would reccommend montechoro though for young people.

hepcat

The Algarve is more suited to families - but Praia da Rocha is also suitable for your group. For the same money you could probably also go to Hersonnisos in Crete or to Gran Canaria, which are both pretty crazy in Summer.

Attol

Well I don't think we want anything too crazy, like Ibiza or Ayia Napa or anything. I just remember having a really good impression of the Algarve when I went there before, but unfortunately I can't remember the names of the places I went to and haven't stayed in contact with the Portugese girl who I went with! I don't think we're quite looking for a place which will be full of nothing but Irish people either. Going to give Montechoro a shot too.

hepcat

Well if ye don't want anything too 18-35 oriented, ye should go. Great beaches around Praia da Rocha and Albufiera - There is a bit of a walk to a decent beach if you are in Montechoro, as the beach there is tiny. Stayed in Montechoro 5 or 6 years ago, and liked it...but we made a 30 minute trek each day to get to a really good beach. Best thing was, you could walk further up this beach straight into Albufeira. Was not really mad about Montechoro nightlife, but I don't think I'm into any package destination nightlife scene anyway. Hate the fake "pubs" selling shots etc full of totally pissed assholes, advertising Coronation St at 7 each day, full English breakfast etc etc Aaargh, nightmare...it's all coming back to me now...!

gaf1983

Generally the atmosphere was pretty good, just be aware that's all. Oh forgot to mention my friend had his wallet nicked on the beach. But that was kind of his fault for going in swimming and leaving all his stuff on the beach. Slide and Splash waterpark is class.

Ragazza

I was in Praia de rocha last year, sounds right up your street. Not too clubby or scummy at all but the night life is still good and there are clubs. Not overrun with Irish and English. lots of Italians and other Europeans holiday there. Good shopping in porta maio (spell) just up the road, the beach is fantastic and you would have to go out of your way to get a hotel more that five minutes walk away from it. I fell in love with the villages around the resort. espically alvora.(great street markets there) If you do go, be sure to do a jeep safari, you wont regret it. After a full day rattling round the oven temp mountains in the back of an open jeep, the driver stops by a cool reservoir for a swim before dinner.

ah you've made me want to go back again now.

county

tabatha wrote:

montechoro is the main strip if you like in the algarve. lots of buzzing activity there. thats were a lot of the young people go and hang out in the evenings. albufeira is the old quater. its a much bigger town with lots happening. more familys there though. i would reccommend montechoro though for young people.

was there myself,twice,cracking place and would seriously recommend it

slipss

Yeah I was in the Algarve (Praia de rocha) when I was 18 with a few mates, it's pretty good, cheap enough and plenty of bars and things like jet skis and quads and stuff, nice beaches too, the only thing is it's pretty quiet compared to most 18-30 style places, not too many decent clubs and a more relaxed kinda nightlife. But theres enough to keep ye pretty busy and if ye move around a good bit on your first 3 nights ye should be able to find some decent enough spots. If your looking for an out of control, unce unce unce, lets dance naked, everybody on a mad one sort of place I wouldn't recomend it, it's the kind of place that would suit groups of coulpes in thier mid-twenties perfectly. But having said that we had a deadly time, and found plenty of people our own age to mix with, and it could have been Ibiza back in it's hay-day with the stuff we got up to, it's up to you to make what ye's want out of a holiday no matter where ye go ye know what I mean?

Attol

Well we have 2 couples going and the other 3 guys coming with us aren't really the clubbing type so I think this is perfect for us. The whole going on holiday to be with nothing but Irish people watching football and Corrie whilst everyone gets so drunk they pass out and have sex with anything is sight isn't really the kind of scene we're after!

I think the others have decided on Praia Da Rocha as the number one place. Any recommendations on apartments or hotels? Basically we'd want either 2 rooms sleeping a couple each and one sleeping 3 or a big enough place to fit the bunch of us in one apartment/villa. I was looking at Club Praia Da Rocha but it sounded quite dirty and like the showers didn't work from reviews I was reading.

slipss

I'm not sure where we stayed I think it was called Club Praia Da Rocha, it was kinda an apartment complex with it's own pubs and restuarants, it's by no means four star but we were just looking for somewhere cheap to come back to in the mornings.

Gazza22

Yet again, another recomendation for Praia da Oura/Montechoro
Nice place, good holiday and pretty cheap for everything...Beach is great too

For somewhere to stay here, i would recommend this place. The clube praia da oura apartments, not the hotel. Great place and it's doorstep is the beach and they are located 2/3 min walk from 'the strip'.

http://www.clubepraiadaoura.com/

Edit: Praia da rocha, anything i've ever heard from it is bad news, i'd stay away