Algarve or bust (Albufeira)

Member Name: geordieger

Product:	Albufeira
Date:	11/06/02 (5874 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly natives, A magnitide of resteraunts and bars, NIce beaches too

Disadvantages: Faro Airport, Cobbles(read my op to see), Faro Airport

This year Mr Geordieger, Mrs Geordieger and the two little Geordiegers set off on their first ever holiday abroad. After some debate and hours pouring over the travel brochers we decided on Albufeira, on the Algarve.

Now before I go any further I have to warn you that this op may seem long but I want to be as thorough as possible.

TRAVEL
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We flew from Newcastle, as Airport tarrifs are expensive in Scotland and the cost of travel to Newcastle was cheaper when added up.

Newcastle is a clean, modern airport, with plenty of shops, eating areas and toilets. Carparking is extensive and a private taxi service, and the local metro trains run to and from the terminal.

THE FLIGHT
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The Geordiegers flew by JMC. On arrival on the aeroplane the small Gers were handed an activity pack to keep them amused, which it did for about 3 minutes. The TV's on board were hung from the baggage compartment, and the headphones to hear the TV cost £2.50 each set. The flight to Faro was 2hours 40 minutes and was a great flight, no turbulance and the stewardesses eager to help with anything(ooh-errr missus).

FARO AIRPORT
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The only way to describe Faro airport is that it is a dive. The runway feels like it has potholes in it. The queues for the busses to the terminal building are long, and on the bus it is cramped. The building itself is teaming with people. The bagage carousel has luggage from three flights from different destinations(so if you are lucky you can nab some rich person's case).

The bus journey from Faro to Albufeira takes about 30 minutes and even the little gers decided to have a nap during the journey.(Aaahhh bliss).

THE ACCOMODATION
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As expected accommodation comes in the usual stars. If you like living over the noisiest disco in town and sharing your shower with a cochroach then go for the cheap and nasty

, but better accommodation can be found for a reasonable price.

The Geordiegers stayed in the Balia Plaza, just outside the main town. It is officially rated as 3 star, but the apartments were huge, clean(the maids came in 6 days a week), and had all the mod cons. A fridge, microwave, hob, tv and even a bath in the bathroom.

The hotel is a 20 minute walk from the main strip, but to make up for it there is a large swimming pool area, with a bar(no need to tell you where Geordieger was most of the time), and a bar in the basement of the hotel which was surprisingly soundproofed as it was open until 2 and we were able to sleep through the music.(Mrs Geordieger says that the alcohol may have helped us to sleep).

This accommodation has a kids club, which kept our little ones entertained. There are two activities a day and a kids party on a wednesday and sunday night. The little Gers want me to say that they had a great time in the kids club.(I've done it for you, kids, now stop harrassing me and go to bed).

ALBUFEIRA STRIP
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In the main part of Albufeira the tourist area is called "the strip". Here the bars and restaurants can be found and by night it is teeming with people.

A tip though is to go to the restaurants just off the main strip, where the food is still delicious and is a lot cheaper.

There is also a big bunji sphere(I can't remember the exact name of it) where for a few Euro's you have the pleasure of being catapulted through the air and regurgitating the dinner and beers you have just consumed over your best friend.

OLD TOWN
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Old town Albufeira is a lot calmer than the strip. Here you can walk around the main square, which is cobbled, in the centre of old town, and through the day be entertained by musicians and street entertainers.

Again there are numourous bars and restaurants to sample. Most bars have l
ive e
ntertainment in the evening, with a porugese guy mimicking Buddy Holly or the likes, while you sup your beer.

As with the strip, the cheaper and better resteraunts are off the main square. They are worth the hunt as the food is better quality and the staff are of the friendlier persuasion.

BEACHES
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There are many beaches around Albufeira including the Fisherman's beach where the local fisherman leave their boats at night. The best way to find your own personal favourite is to explore.

You can walk along from Old Town to the strip along the beaches, but it helps if you are part mountain goat as some of the area is quite tricky to navigate. Not one for people with pushchairs.

NOW A SURPRISE!!!
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I can personally vouch for the medical services in Albufeira. Geordieger, having consumed copious amounts of beer on the last night of the holiday was walking around the main square. Unfortunately a coble decided to trip Geordieger up, and BANG, down went Geordieger. When I fell I managed to knock myself unconcious whilst splitting my forhead open on a cobble.

The review of the medical services comes from Mrs Geordiger, as I cannot remember what happened, being unconcious at the time.

The ambulance appeared very quickly, apparantly one of the bar staff who had not fallen over laughing at me had rang the emergency services.

The ambulance will take you to a private hospital, and Mrs Geordieger says it was clean and the staff all spoke English well.

For the ambulance ride and 11 stitches in my forehead we paid 15 Euros which works out at about £9 I think.

One thing you must remember is you need a fit to fly certificate from the hospital as if you have an injury and no certificate you have a long argument with a desk clerk at Faro airport before signing a disclaimer form to say you will take full responsibility for your health. I
had a lovely argument with a travel rep about what my boss would say if I phoned from Portugal to say that I would be off sick from work.

ADVANTAGES.
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In may the weather is warm and sunny(quite a change from Glasgow).

<br
>The resort is clean.

As you have to drink mineral water to avoid deli belly, it is nice to see that is very cheap all over the resort.

The resort is not too far to the airport so the transfer is a short one.

The people are very friendly indeed.

The beer(and food) is reasonably priced.

DISADVANTAGES
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You have to go through Faro airport.

The bloody cobbles in Old Town main square.

You have to go through Faro aiport.

Excursions can be expensive through the holiday reps(go into town and book them there instead).

You have to go through Faro airport(do you think I didn't like Faro airport???)

CONCLUSION
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We all loved it. The weather was great, although I get a sense that in high season it could be too hot. I would reccommend Albufeira for families with small children and those more seasoned holidaymakers.

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