Nice location, pity for those tourists! (Algarve)

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Product:	Algarve
Date:	09/08/02 (456 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great location

Disadvantages: tourists

When I first went to the Algarve it was the early 1980's and the biggest draw
about the area was that it was like Spain (Costa Brava / Costa Blanca) before it
was destroyed by the British package tourist. I am sad to say that, in the ten
or so times that I have been there since, the fading of the Algarve's beauty has
been steady and shocking.

Take for example "Praia d'Oura" or "Golden Beach", which used to be a quiet
crossroads with a number of pleasant restaurants, useful shops and a road
leading down to a small unspoilt beach, from where the area gained its name. Now
the whole area has frankly been wrecked with a succession of English pubs,
Irish pubs, Welsh pubs, Dutch pubs and Scottish pubs, all glowing with neon
signs, serving variations of the full English fry-up breakfast and beaming
English football by satellite into the Algarve. Surround this with tourist tatt
shops and succession of overpriced, low quality restaurants and the demolition
job is complete.

The Algarve still has one big draw though, and this is it's golf courses. Towns
like Vilamoura have over four courses, which are beautifully maintained with
wide green fairways lined by fir and olive trays, often with marvellous sea
views. To get onto the best of these, though, you will need to bring your
handicap certificate and a healthy credit card. Other very good courses are at
Quinta da Lago, Val de Lobo and Penina Hotel.

If you are going on a golfing holiday, I would strongly recommend hiring a villa
near the courses, rather than risking the indifferent hotels. Even some of the
"exclusive" hotels down by Vilamoura marina will leave most travellers feeling
that they have been overcharged. Self-catering in the villa should not be a
great issue as local supermarkets are good. If you are keen on seafood, make the
effort to get out of bed ear
ly and head down to the fish market at Quarteira.
There are also some better restaurants out in the countryside - well away from the beachside traps !

Otherwise the Algarve might make a passable out of season jaunt, somewhere to
get a bit of sun in April/September away from the package tourist invasion.But,
I would only recommend it if it is the cheapest place in the travel agency !

If you are in the country and heading down south, then go the the castle at
Silves, the springs at Monchique and the market at Loule. However, stop there
and head back north !

Wine recommendations :
Vinho Verde is cheap, light and very drinkable

Summary: