Portugal

barry181091

Happened to get a cheap flight to Faro for a couple of days this month and wondering where to stay. Somewhere with a beach or two to laze around on but also with something to see.

Have never been to Portugal so have no idea of the area.

Any suggestions would be great! I also will want to either rent a car or scooter. I see online a lot of people rent scooters there! I will be alone so this is an option.

Irishphotodesk

Www.tripadvisor.com might be able to give you a few ideas, check google maps for location of hotels and amenities nearby, not sure on what to do around faro,

Portugal doesn’t have a lot of sites to see compared to other countries but wine tasting if it’s of any interest.

Irishphotodesk

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-g189116-i1083-k4728497-What_to_do_see_in_Faro_while_staying_there_for_5_days-Faro_Faro_District_Algarve.html

Suckit

Lagos is a lovely relaxed spot. Bit of history so a bit to see and explore, and beaches.
Not like Albufeira (which is rapidly turning into the Benidorm of Portugal), it's busy but not too busy and plenty of places to relax.
Loads of AirBNB around there. I prefer to stay south-west of the town, not around the marina. Or in the town itself, inside the old walls.

cuppa

Alicante is in spain.....

"Not like Alicante (which is rapidly turning into the Benidorm of Portugal)"

munstergirl

Yellow fish for quick private transfer. So you can go anywhere in Algarve.

Albuferia OLD town (30 mins from airport) is nice, hundreds of resturants, nice beach.

Praia da Rocha (1 hour from airport) ugly high rise town, beautiful beach, why cheaper hotels.

coleen

Faro it self is very nice. Lots of places to see a nice old center and a marina. Then to get to fab beaches you just take a short ferry €2 and you are on great beaches without being built up

Reputable Rog

Lagos or Ferragudo, both lovely spots.

Suckit

cuppa wrote: »

Alicante is in spain.....

"Not like Alicante (which is rapidly turning into the Benidorm of Portugal)"

Yeah sorry, I meant Albufeira.

I'll change it in my post now.. Just wasn't thinking properly when I posted it..

Stevieluvsye

barry181091 wrote: »

Happened to get a cheap flight to Faro for a couple of days this month and wondering where to stay. Somewhere with a beach or two to laze around on but also with something to see.

Have never been to Portugal so have no idea of the area.

Any suggestions would be great! I also will want to either rent a car or scooter. I see online a lot of people rent scooters there! I will be alone so this is an option.

What's your budget like for accomodation and i'll stear you in the right direction.

I'd personally stay away from Albufeira and if you are only staying for a couple of days i maybe wouldn't go as far west to Lagos to cut down on transfer costs (Especially if you are taking a private transfer)

dancingqueen

Lagos as previously mentioned, is gorgeous. Sagres is worth the short drive past it too, nice historical site with a beach either side and "The Best Burger Ever" for some grub.

Silves is also a nice spot.

Stevieluvsye

dancingqueen wrote: »

Lagos as previously mentioned, is gorgeous. Sagres is worth the short drive past it too, nice historical site with a beach either side and "The Best Burger Ever" for some grub.

Silves is also a nice spot.

Sagres i found quite dull, cape st vincent another waste of time but that's just my opinion

I have a place in central algarve so furthest i'd recommend going west would be Luz, but again if OP only has a couple of days and he is not renting a car for cost and time i'd recommend going as far as Vilamoura/quarteira to the west and Olhao to the east

dancingqueen

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Sagres i found quite dull, cape st vincent another waste of time but that's just my opinion

I have a place in central algarve so furthest i'd recommend going west would be Luz, but again if OP only has a couple of days and he is not renting a car for cost and time i'd recommend going as far as Vilamoura/quarteira to the west and Olhao to the east

it depends on what you want from a trip. Vilamoura and Quarteira are like every other quiet resort, and I find that to be dull. Historical sites and stunning views from cliffs are more my thing. Especially with the contrasting beaches at Sagres. Each to their own.

Stevieluvsye

Exactly, i have done that end at least once. Stayed in a nice hotel in Vila do Bispo but again i found that far west not as much to my liking and a lot windier although it was in October. It was more of a duffle you needed at night and not a fleece!

dancingqueen

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Exactly, i have done that end at least once. Stayed in a nice hotel in Vila do Bispo but again i found that far west not as much to my liking and a lot windier although it was in October. It was more of a duffle you needed at night and not a fleece!

I really loved Bispo! Just did a day drive there but it was July and I really needed the Factor 50 that day

imme

coleen wrote: »

Faro it self is very nice. Lots of places to see a nice old center and a marina. Then to get to fab beaches you just take a short ferry €2 and you are on great beaches without being built up

Yes ferries and boat trips and the like, good.

I was in Faro 10 years ago and again this year.
My experience this time didn't come close to my memories.

I had remembered a quaint and pretty place with sit outside restaurants, a city feel and yet a relaxed feel.

This time the place to have less options, looked not as pretty, dirtier, broken footpaths, derelict houses.

Maybe the place did disimprove or maybe I'm remembering something that didn't exist in the first place.