Hi,

I am going to Portugal for ten days in a weeks' time - yay! Basically,
we've got two weekends, and the week in between. So far, we have
planned to spend both weekends in Lisbon, and the week in between in
the Algarve.

But we haven't decided which part of the Algarve. I have heard that
some parts are really touristy, and some parts are really lovely. We
would like to go somewhere where there is quiet and non-touristy with
lots of good seafood

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

On 28 Feb 2003 01:48:04 -0800, [email protected] (yeelaing) wrote:

    >Hi,
    >I am going to Portugal for ten days in a weeks' time - yay! Basically,
    >we've got two weekends, and the week in between. So far, we have
    >planned to spend both weekends in Lisbon, and the week in between in
    >the Algarve.
    >But we haven't decided which part of the Algarve. I have heard that
    >some parts are really touristy, and some parts are really lovely. We
    >would like to go somewhere where there is quiet and non-touristy with
    >lots of good seafood
    >Anyone got any suggestions?
    >Thanks in advance!

The Algarve is basically to Europe (and especially the UK) what South Florida is
to the Eastern US and Canada. A beach surrounded by a gazaillion hotels,
motels, resorts, etc. I wouldn't go there unless I just wanted to go to the
beach (and even then I think I'd head west out of Lisbon instread of south).
And if you are from North America you are nuts to travel to Europe to go to the
beach, with the superior sand and warm clear waters of the Caribbean in range.

Lisbon, Sintra, Oporto are worth a couple of days each. The coastline around
Sintra (e.g. Estoril) makes for a very pretty drive. Portugal is a wonderful
place for a trip IMO -- really, we loved it. But my FIRST suggestion would be
head west and north from Lisboa instead of south.
--
"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
- Abraham Lincoln

    > I am going to Portugal for ten days in a weeks' time - yay! Basically,
    > we've got two weekends, and the week in between. So far, we have
    > planned to spend both weekends in Lisbon, and the week in between in
    > the Algarve.
    > But we haven't decided which part of the Algarve. I have heard that
    > some parts are really touristy, and some parts are really lovely. We
    > would like to go somewhere where there is quiet and non-touristy with
    > lots of good seafood
    > Anyone got any suggestions?
======================================
For my money you can't beat little town of TAVIRA (almost on the Spanish
border on the Algarve) We stopped there for a night and stayed 4, a few
years ago. We are headed back again in late March. It is just far enough
from Faro that not too many people make it this far east. In late May, I
jogged for 5 km on the beach and met ONE other couple!!
Joe
=====================================
website: http://muskokaPHOTOGRAPHY.com

Mason Barge wrote in
news:[email protected]:

    > On 28 Feb 2003 01:48:04 -0800, [email protected] (yeelaing) wrote:
    >
    >>Hi,
    >>I am going to Portugal for ten days in a weeks' time - yay! Basically,
    >>we've got two weekends, and the week in between. So far, we have
    >>planned to spend both weekends in Lisbon, and the week in between in
    >>the Algarve.
    >>But we haven't decided which part of the Algarve. I have heard that
    >>some parts are really touristy, and some parts are really lovely. We
    >>would like to go somewhere where there is quiet and non-touristy with
    >>lots of good seafood
    >>Anyone got any suggestions?
    >>Thanks in advance!
    >
    > The Algarve is basically to Europe (and especially the UK) what South
    > Florida is to the Eastern US and Canada. A beach surrounded by a
    > gazaillion hotels, motels, resorts, etc. I wouldn't go there unless I
    > just wanted to go to the beach (and even then I think I'd head west
    > out of Lisbon instread of south). And if you are from North America
    > you are nuts to travel to Europe to go to the beach, with the superior
    > sand and warm clear waters of the Caribbean in range.
    >
    > Lisbon, Sintra, Oporto are worth a couple of days each. The coastline
    > around Sintra (e.g. Estoril) makes for a very pretty drive. Portugal
    > is a wonderful place for a trip IMO -- really, we loved it. But my
    > FIRST suggestion would be head west and north from Lisboa instead of
    > south.


Good Lord. The Algarve although it has some built up areas is nothing
like south Florida or the Costa Brava in Spain. They couldn't even fit a
gazillion hotels in such a small country whose coast line is mostly
cliffs. You can easily avoid the tourist traps and find tranquile rural
areas.

But I do agree that there are lovelier places to go to in Portugal and it
is not my first choice of beachy holidays (although I hate beachy
holidays so maybe I"m the wrong person to ask). It is quite cold and
windy on the beaches of Portugal during much of the year, save three,
four weeks when it is hot & windy.

"JJ Ursano" wrote in message news:...
    > > I am going to Portugal for ten days in a weeks' time - yay! Basically,
    > > we've got two weekends, and the week in between. So far, we have
    > > planned to spend both weekends in Lisbon, and the week in between in
    > > the Algarve.
    > >
    > > But we haven't decided which part of the Algarve. I have heard that
    > > some parts are really touristy, and some parts are really lovely. We
    > > would like to go somewhere where there is quiet and non-touristy with
    > > lots of good seafood
    > >
    > > Anyone got any suggestions?
    > ======================================
    > For my money you can't beat little town of TAVIRA (almost on the Spanish
    > border on the Algarve) We stopped there for a night and stayed 4, a few
    > years ago. We are headed back again in late March. It is just far enough
    > from Faro that not too many people make it this far east. In late May, I
    > jogged for 5 km on the beach and met ONE other couple!!
    > Joe
    > =====================================
    > website: http://muskokaPHOTOGRAPHY.com

Tavira is nice; I also like Lagos. But I agree with everybody else who
recommended going elsewhere - the Algarve has some very beautiful
beaches but keep in mind this is Winter... it will be cold and windy,
so not ideal time for beaches. I would head out of Lisbon, visit
Estoril, Cascais and Sintra, spend the night in Sintra (preferably at
Palacio dos Seteais), then head north to Obidos for 1 night at Pousada
do Castelo; then visit Alcobaça, Batalha and Nazare on the way to
Coimbra, stay there 2 nights at Quinta das Lagrimas, the following day
visit Coimbra, the Roman Ruins of Conimbriga, and go to Bussaco Palace
for lunch; then head south through Tomar, Castelo de Vide and Marvao
to Estremoz for 1 night at Pousada Rainha Santa Isabel, then visit
Monsaraz and Vila Viçosa on the way to Evora, stay 1 night at Pousada
dos Loios, then visit Setubal, Sesimbra and Palmela on the way back to
Lisbon. In Lisbon make sure you hit the nightlife by the riverside. If
you do decide to head south to the Algarve don't worry about crowds -
there aren't any in the winter. They've overbuilt some areas like
Quarteira, Praia da Rocha, Armação de Pera... but even Albufeira will
be quiet in March.

"yeelaing" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi,
    > I am going to Portugal for ten days in a weeks' time - yay! Basically,
    > we've got two weekends, and the week in between. So far, we have
    > planned to spend both weekends in Lisbon, and the week in between in
    > the Algarve.
    > But we haven't decided which part of the Algarve. I have heard that
    > some parts are really touristy, and some parts are really lovely. We
    > would like to go somewhere where there is quiet and non-touristy with
    > lots of good seafood
    > Anyone got any suggestions?
    > Thanks in advance!


nazare

http://www.portugal-travel.net/map/map_portugal.htm

http://home.dbio.uevora.pt/~oliveira...m/Portugal.htm

Hi,

Thanks for all your informative posts! In light of these
recommendations, my friend and I have decided to skip the Algarve and
go to Lisbon, Oporto and surrounding cities (many of which were
suggested by the posters).

Are there any particular recommendations for Oporto?

--yeelaing

On Tue, 04 Mar 2003 12:41:02 +0000, yeelaing wrote:

    > Hi,
    >
    > Thanks for all your informative posts! In light of these
    > recommendations, my friend and I have decided to skip the Algarve and
    > go to Lisbon, Oporto and surrounding cities (many of which were
    > suggested by the posters).
    >
    > Are there any particular recommendations for Oporto?

This will take you the better of one day. But if you like that sort of
things, the narrow gauge train ride up the canyon from Tua to Mirandela is
a must.