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Destination Information for Portugal


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PortugalAzores
Faro
Funchal
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Porto


Review : Portugal

Happy Families in the Algarve
From the Daily Mail
The look on my two year-old daughter Gaby's face as she took her first ever steps on a sandy beach will be a memory I'll cherish for the rest of my life. A huge smile came across her face as she wrestled free from her pushchair, ran down some steps and skipped excitedly towards the seafront.
Within seconds she was completely at home, digging a hole, filling it with water and introducing herself to children of a similar age nearby. It was as if she'd been there many times before - most probably in her dreams. But this was for real, and her glee at being on a sun-kissed beach was an early vindication of our decision to choose Albufeira in the Algarve as our holiday destination.
If life could not be much better for Gaby, and baby Fran, then it wasn't too bad either for two exhausted parents hoping for a little relaxation. Twelve months earlier, we had felt somewhat claustrophobic when we stayed at an all-inclusive resort elsewhere in Europe. It catered for discerning holidaymakers from Britain, but for us was too regimented and the food and wine a disappointment.
This time we wanted freedom to choose when and where we went each day, where we ate, and with whom we socialised. We'd had enough of sophisticated holidays. It was time to get back to basics - a family-friendly resort with good beaches and ordinary people.
A warm climate was essential. Almost as important was the requirement that our destination should be no more than a two-hour flight from London. We arrived at Faro airport on a Sunday morning to be greeted by a cheery representative from the Travel Club of Upminster and we were given our car for the week - a sporty Peugeot 306.
We stayed at a two-bedroom property in a development called Jacaranda Villas - about ten minutes' walk from the beach at Praia da Oura, on the outskirts of Albufeira. Jacaranda has 50 two-bedroom villas, spaced out in a relaxed, green environment. It is close to the busy village of Oura, with its excellent shopping and dining facilities, but not so close that you can hear the thumping noise of late-night discos.
The villa was spacious, clean and tastefully decorated. It was serviced every day and had a large kitchen/diner, two bedrooms, a good-sized garden and sun terrace. In the distance you can see the tiers of apartment blocks, hotels and timeshare villas traditionally associated with Albufeira. But it would be unfair to call it a mass of concrete, as it has a more historic centre, with quaint streets where there are numerous souvenir shops, restaurants and bars.
We quickly slipped into a routine of rising early to have breakfast, and going to the children's playground or swimming pool inside our resort before heading off to a beach.
Travel Guide: Portugal
Page :1 Happy Families in the Algarve
Page :2 Better value for money than England

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Please add a review - Note we also have the following regions requiring their first review
Alentejo
Alcácer do Sal, Almodovar, Almograve, Cercal do Alentejo, Comporta, Costa Dourada, Crato e Mártires, Estremoz, Évora, Lagoa Santo André , Lake Santa Clara, Marvão -Portalegre, Melides, Montargil, Ourique, Portalegre, Santiago do Cacem, SONEGA - PORTO CÔVO, VILA NOVA DE SANTO,
Algarve
Albandeira, Albufeira, Alcantarilha, Aljezur , Almancil, Alte, Altura, Alvor , Armacao de Pera, Barão de S. Miguel , Boliqueime, Burgau, Carvoeiro, Castelo, Castro Marim, Dunas Douradas, Estoi, Estômbar, Faro, Faro City, Ferragudo, Figueira, Fuzeta, Gale, Lagos, Loule Area, MALHADAIS - BOLIQUEI, Manta Rota, Messines, Mexilhoeira da Carre, Moncarapacho, Monchique, Monte Gordo, Odeaxere, Olhao, Paderne, Parque da Floresta, Penina, Pera, Porches, Portimao, Praia da Luz, Quarteira, Quinta das Salinas, Quinta do Lago, Sagres, Salema, Santa Barbera de Nexe, Sao Bras, São Brás de Alportel, São João, Seismarias , Silves, Tavira Area, Vale do Garrão, Vale do Lobo, Vale do Milho , Vale Formoso, Vale Verde, Vila do Bispo, Vila Nova de Cacela, Vila Real de San Antonio , Vilamoura, villamoura,
Azores
Angra do Heroísmo, Douro, Faial Island, Flores Island , Furnas, Graciosa Island, Horta, Lamego, Pico Island, Sao Miguel Island, Terceira Island,
Central area
Anadia, Anadia, Beiras, Costa Prata, TABUA,
Lisbon area
Alenquer, AZOIA DE CIMA, Caldas da Rainha, Lisbon City, Lisbon Coast, Oeiras, Ribatejo, Santa Iria da Azóia,
Madeira
Arco da Calheta, Calheta, Câmara de Lobos, Caniço, Caniço de Baixo, Estreito da Câmara, Estreito de Câmara d, Faial, Funchal, Garajau, Gaula, Machico, Machico, Paul do Mar, Paúl do Mar, Ponta Delgada , Ponta do Pargo, Ponta do Sol, Porto da Cruz, Porto Moniz, Porto Santo, Prazeres, Ribeira Brava, S. Vicente, Santana, Santana-Sao Jorge, Santo da Serra, Sao Goncalo, Sta. Cruz,
North Portugal
Águas de Moura, Águas Santas, Amarante, Amares, Armamar, Barcelos, Batalha, Caniçada, Carrazeda de Anciães, Costa Verde, Douro Valley, Durrães, Fafe, Fajozes, Geraz do Minho, Gerês, Gondomil, Matosinhos, Mindelo, Paredes de Coura, Ponte de Lima, Porto, Póvoa de Lanhoso , Vieira do Minho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Vila Praia de Ancora, Vila Real,
Silver Coast
Ericeira, Foz de Arelho, Foz do Arelho, Lourinha, Nazaré , Obidas, Óbidos, SALIR DO PORTO, São Martinho, Sao Martinho do Porto,
 
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