Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
General Topics => All things that have nothing to do with Turkey => Topic started by: mary62 on January 04, 2018, 10:16:05 AM
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Hi All. This year I'm broadening my travel horizons. I would like to go to Portugal, But I know very little about it. I want somewhere with nice restaurants but quiet nightlife. Also, I would be hiring a car, so where to visit? Any info gratefully received.
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I know the Algarve quite well and there are some lovely areas. From what you are saying I would maybe look at Lagos or Praia Luz (where little Maddie went missing).
Lagos has much more to offer though and if you have a car you can visit some lovely villages in the area.
I’d also consider a couple of days in Lisbon. Lovely city and only a three hour drive - all quiet motorway.
Don’t forget the tolls are by number plate recognition and I think you pay at the local post office. Worth checking when you hire.
We stay in Praia da Rocha but it can be very busy in the summer - hence I would travel a little further west.
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Thank You Stoop for the info....definitely given me food for thought.
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Alvor lovely little place and the beaches to the east side are breathtaking
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I agree with everything that has been said above but would also add that a visit to Porto for a few days is also very worthwhile. If you have the time, a drive up the Douro valley is also stunning. Don't miss Portimao, if you go.
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I agree with everything that has been said above but would also add that a visit to Porto for a few days is also very worthwhile. If you have the time, a drive up the Douro valley is also stunning. Don't miss Portimao, if you go.
Portimao is a bit dead in the centre now. Lots of shops closed due to recession and out of town shops. However you can get a ferry across to Ferragudo which is a lovely little fishing village - or drive there.
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Have been staying in Portimao for the past 3 weeks now and on our last week and can't wait to go home. This is our first trip to Portugal and probably our last. The suggestion about Lagos is a good idea for a base, we have visited all along the Algarve from Spain until Cap St Vincent's and must say there are some lovely places along the coast. You certainly need a car to get around and this time of year most places are closed Also be aware that the weather is very unsettled here and we have not seen a lot of warm sunny days since we've been here and the prices are rather expensive. General set menues are around 14.90€ Have been quite disappointed about Portugal. Maybe in the summer the place is different, but certainly not for me.
Sharon
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25yrs ago my ex mother-in-law had a villa in Tavira. Back then it was a lovely Portuguese town and not touristy at all ( my ex father-in-law deliberately searched these areas) we used to love our visits there, going to the local fish market, restaurants, mixing with the friendly locals. I've since heard it's offered as a tourist place. Portamao, alvor, praia de rocha where all lovely back then and we visited for many years until ex inlaws sold up and moved to Spain. I have very fond memories of Portugal and it's people.
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We like Portugal - relatively easy to get to, good weather, cheap (good) wine, no time difference etc - however we don't feel we have found 'our' part of it as yet. Have been to Alvor, Praia de Rocha, Cabanas/Tavira and enjoyed them all but not desperate to get back to any of them. Hopefully our little part of Portugal is out there, and we'll happily go to Portugal if the flights and accommodation are reasonable.
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Heading to albuferia early hours this Thursday back late Saturday night flight , apartment for 2 nights & transfer for £95 each couldn’t get a hotel for the night here at home for that so just thought why not as long as rain stays away has to be warmer than being at home ????
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Stayed in Albuferia many years ago for New Year. Weather was pleasant day time but cool nights. We actually had a few nice walks on the beach. Enjoy DianaJ 8)
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Once we stayed in Tavira which I thought a very pleasant little town but Hilary didn't enjoy it since she demands beach and didn't like the fact that you have to catch a ferryboat out to the sandbank that lies off the coast.
One thing that struck me immediately was just how abundant the wildlife is: the horribly-polluted Mediterranean is almost dead in comparison. Sitting on the riverbank having a beer there was a narrow strip of sand between the bank and the water with more being exposed as the tide went out. After about ten minutes I saw something scrabbling about on the little beach. Soon it was joined by a couple of mates ten ten. They were tunneling out from under the sand. Scores of them, then 100. They were tiny fiddler crabs.
(https://s10.postimg.org/zbp7b8psl/Crabs.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/zbp7b8psl/)
We also caught a bus to Cabanas and walked back across the plains past all the salt tanks which were teeming with waterfowl and waders with avocets and stilts shrieking and dive-bombing us.
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We took a boat trip from Portimao to Silves last October and we too were very surprised at the amount of wildlife. I've never seen so many birds!
I'll try post some pictures later - and Silves is lovely.
(https://s18.postimg.org/bzldgpr5x/IMG_2438.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/bzldgpr5x/)
(https://s18.postimg.org/9i9m9h24l/IMG_2441.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/9i9m9h24l/)
(https://s18.postimg.org/zdtcspe91/IMG_2444.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/zdtcspe91/)
(https://s18.postimg.org/pt9q5u4cl/IMG_2450.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/pt9q5u4cl/)
(https://s18.postimg.org/5lwadju0l/IMG_2449.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/5lwadju0l/)
(https://s18.postimg.org/lwwe9w1dh/IMG_2462.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/lwwe9w1dh/)
(https://s18.postimg.org/46upovaxx/IMG_2463.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/46upovaxx/)
(https://s18.postimg.org/akjss5xud/IMG_2471.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/akjss5xud/)
(https://s18.postimg.org/z11ymnlqd/IMG_2481.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/z11ymnlqd/)
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I replied earlier and mentioned Portimao. I meant to say Pinhao, which is in the Douro Valley. I haven't been to the Algarve and Portimao for many years but have been to Pinhao more recently. I can't imagine it's changed much in hundreds of years, let alone since the last time I went there.
Sorry for the earlier confusion.
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Went to villamoura a few years ago.
Nice hotels,good beach and a lovely marina
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Still here in Portimao and weather is very changeable, certainly a lot cooler and had to wear our coats, been raining quite heavily here also. The main problem is that there is virtually nothing open, it seems since everyone went home after New Year even more places have closed until the season. It very sad that the recession has hit Portugal very badly and there are more closed up shops in many towns and villages than just closed for the season. Lots of the older building with character are crumbling and boarded up, as many of the families that own them just cant afford the repair costs, and even if they could it would'nt be financially worth it, as all old building have to be put back to their original state and unfortunately that's not what people want these days. It seems that the Algarve is changing, we were talking to some people who had been staying in Alberfura and they said an Indian businessman had just purchased 2 very large hotels in town and was going to open them up as Stag/Hen party hotels and cater for the 18/30 age group this summer and was in negotiations to purchase several more and that he was going to change the face of tourism in the Algarve!!!!