Albufeira (Portugal) 4 Star Self Catering Hotel

Advantages: Near all amenities. Good central Location.
Disadvantages: You cannot book the sun (pity)

...Flights: The nearest airport is Faro in Portugal. BA flies there as do the main cheapos. Ryan Air flies from Stanstead whilst Easy Jet flies from Gatwick, Luton and Stanstead. The earlier the flight is booked the cheaper the cost. Faro Airport: A smallish airport. Quite quick once landed but not too funny when flying back, as once you're through security, the shops and eating area is quite small. Expect long and slow queues when trying to eat or drink. Taxi's: Are available from the airport but I dont know their cost. If you're with a tour operator they will usually supply transport. If you've booked with the hotel direct, they can arrange an air-conditioned taxi for a fee of about 30 Euro's. Travelling time to Albufeira is about 40 mins. Albufeira: Imagine a road about 1 mile long, with a few roundabouts dotted along...

martinwi 17.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Brisa Sol Hotel Apartmento, Albufeira

Vila Alba Apartments, Albufeira, Portugal

Advantages: Fairly quiet area, good location, family friendly, rooms in good condition
Disadvantages: Quality of kitchen facilities could have been better

...I visited the Algarve last summer with a few friends and stayed at Vila Alba apartments during our two-week stay. I really enjoyed my stay here and would not hesitate to return - the apartment became a large aspect of the holiday! The location of the apartments is not in Albufeira itself, but just outside. Although the apartments are simply a 5-10 minute walk from The Strip (where there are many cafes, bars and little shops), it is a fairly quiet area, with little to no disturbance. The apartments are quite detached from one another, so this further lessens the noise levels. The apartments are around a 20 minute walk to the beach. The rooms themselves are of very good quality. The lounge area includea a TV with several channels; some in Portugese and some English. Even the CBeebies channel was available, which is great if you...

tracy112 16.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Vila Alba Apartments, Albufeira

Alfagar, Albufeira

Advantages: size. it has three pools, two tennis courts, bar, reasurant, shop...
Disadvantages: location its a 20 min walk away from the lively town

...Alfagar apartments Albufeira. We were on the coach from the Airport at Faro for about 1hr before being dropped off at the Alfagar Apartments. When we arrived at about tea time we went to the reception and were greeted by the receptionist who took our passports over night (we were later told by a English man living in Albufeira that due to passport cloning we should have refused to do this.) and he arranged for a member of staff to take us to our room in his people carrier. The room was only a minuet away but there were two ways to go, one was up stairs but with our cases that wasn't practical and the other was around the pool but it was the busiest time of the day when we arrived so the staff took us in there car the long way round which I thought was very nice of them. The rooms The room was a 1 bed self catering room...

tinac37 25.09.2006 · Read review
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Review of Alfagar, Albufeira

There is more to Portugal than the Algarve - visit Lisbon

Advantages: Easy to get around and different quirky places to visit, everyone speaks English
Disadvantages: The City seems a bit 'faded glory'- places uncared for and tired

...what we would see on the way going across the Serra do Caldeirao and which regions we would pass through and then as it was early she said she would be quiet until nearer Lisbon. As we approached Lisbon she told us about the toll on the A22 and the various industries approaching Lisbon and the fact that we would go into Lisbon over the April 25th Bridge and see the huge statue of Christo Rei which is a bit like the Corcovado in Rio and overlooks the city of Lisbon from a great height. This bridge was the first to cross the Tejo and was originally called Saladar Bridge until the coup overthrew the Fascist dictator Saladar in 1974 and Portugal became a democratic Republic. The Portuguese are justifiably proud of this bridge and liken it to the Golden Gate bridge of San Francisco which is does resemble to be fair. We drove over the bridge...

catsholiday 21.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lisbon (Portugal)

  Portugal's Costa do Sol

Advantages: A Stretch of Coastline with Villas and Architecture from a Ggolden Era
Disadvantages: None

...Estoril and its coastline has always been a favourite getaway for me especially when I worked in Lisbon and still to this day is somewhere I love to visit even though the area has changed a great deal with time. When I first visited Portugal's Cost do Sol over 20 years ago the area had what I can only describe as a 'Miss Faversham look.' It was run down and jaded around the edges. Beautiful villas had been left to decay when their owners fled during the Revolution. I remember walking through private lanes looking at these beautiful ornate buildings with windows broken, overgrown gardens and gates falling off their hinges. Gypsies had taken refuge in many a property, children playing in the streets while scrawny cats jumped into turned over bins. Even though there was a sadness to the area part of the resort had enormous charm and made...

Praski 06.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Cascais-Estoril (Portugal)

Graceful Portugal

Advantages: Relaxing, hot, beautiful scenery
Disadvantages: very steep streets, mad drivers

...I went on my first holiday aboard in 20yrs last year, with my sister, her husband, and their family - to Portugal, we stayed in an apartment complex a few miles out of Lagos - We were only there for a week and had a day trip into Lagos - we caught the local bus, which was air conditioned, but was a bit rickerty, the journey took us about 40mins, through very narrow streets in places. At one point we thought the bus would not make it, but it limped and got us there. It cost us the equivalent of £2.00 each on the bus. Once there the main highway boarding along the coast and the marina is very wide and very busy, there are many crossing along the road, which you can us to cross safely and go into the town. We walked along the front, where you go to many little coves and swim in the sea - which is the most beautiful blue. One...

arnoldhenryrufus 17.07.2005 · Read review
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Review of Lagos (Portugal)

Portugal Revised

Advantages: see above
Disadvantages: see above

..., except in the west part of Lagos. From Luz, a small resort about 5km from Lagos to Cape St Vincent (the most westerly point in Europe" there is very little to see or do. To the East, there is much more. Portimao, the largest town in the area is known as the "sardine capital of the world", and there are some famous resorts like Praia da Rocha, Albufeira and Carvoeiro. This area is renowned for having the best beaches in Europe, and from where I've been, only Skiathos in Greece has been better. Facilities. When we first arrived, Faro Airport was modern and well run, unlike the afore-mentioned Skiathos Town. Car Hire was very quick and easy. The Portugese drivers, however were terrible, and it was easy to see why Portugal has the highest accident rate in Europe. The apartment we stayed in was only 5 minutes walk from the centre of Lagos...

Yeahmate 03.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Lagos (Portugal)

  The modern face of Air Portugal

Advantages: Got there in one piece
Disadvantages: Ohhh where to begin? Customer service, Cabin crew, food?

...~Introduction~ Transportes Aereos Portugueses or TAP Portugal was formed in 1945. The first planes were converted C-47's (or Dakota's) as used by Allied forces to drop troops on D-day and ferry in supplies. Most of the original TAP pilots were trained in England by BOAC, whilst others completed training with Iberia the Spanish national airline. The early routes were local, the first was Lisbon to Madrid, then the major Portuguese cities were added and finally international destinations. Step forward 50 years and we have the modern TAP Portugal with destinations to the major Portuguese cities, Europe, Africa and South America. In 2002 TAP carried over 5.5 million passengers on it's network, (Source: www.worldaviation.com). For this you get jet engine planes, grubby leather seats, sulky attendants, tasteless food and incompetent...

buzzard_cad 12.09.2005 · Read review
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Review of TAP Air Portugal

Northern Portugal - Something A Bit Different

Advantages: Quieter less popular holiday venue for Brits
Disadvantages: Weather doesn't stand comparison with the Algarve

...I?ve tried a couple of times to get a more localised category put on Ciao, but since we have in fact ranged over a sizeable part of northern Portugal, I?ll file this under Portugal:General ******************************************************************** I?ve been to Portugal for a two-week holiday four times now over a six year period, the first three occasions, being, not surprisingly, to the Algarve region. This year, we felt like a change, so we head north to the Douro and Minho areas of the far north ? so far north in fact that it borders Galicia in north-western Spain. After all, an area that produces port and vinho verde can?t be all bad, can it? Well no IT can?t but the early August weather is another matter. Please don?t go there expecting the same fortnight of pool- or beach-side laziness that you can get away...

BNibbles 21.08.2004 (22.08.2004) · Read review
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Review of Portugal:General

This is my 1st choice hotel for Albufeira.....

Advantages: Excellent Location, Clean, Good Food
Disadvantages: No fridges in rooms

...This is my third time staying in Albufeira (March 2007). I have previously stayed at the Paraisio and Brisa Sol which are also four star hotels next door to the Vale Gale Cerra Alagoa. Out of all three hotels this is my first choice, followed by the paraisio. The staff in the hotel speak good english and service was very efficient. I was also give an upgrade to my room. I was put on 2nd floor and got moved to the 3rd floor in a newer room. (the hotel are in the process of modernising all the rooms, so I would recommend you try to get one with at least the number 42 at the end i.e. 142,242,342,44) The hotel operate on a key card system as opposed to having to carry keys around. I also lost my key card and the staff did not charge me, nor seem unduly worried. The room itself was large with two twin beds pushed together...

Cojoba 23.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Vila Gale Cerro Alagoa, Albufeira