Sorry have been away I am still getting over having my baby so early. I had preeclampsia again and h...
Sorry have been away I am still getting over having my baby so early. I had preeclampsia again and had to have a C Section. Baby on Scbu and I will get on with writing soon.
Member since:11.01.2003
Reviews:282
Members who trust:121
It's been a while since I wrote a review and I suppose I've set my standards high writing a holiday review.
The last time I went to Portugal was also the 1st time I'd ever been, but it certainly won't be the last. Looking back it is about 4 years ago now and I haven't been abroad for 4 years, but I would definitely consider Faro, Portugal to return to.
I went with my ex fiancé and had a ball. The place we stayed was Olhas D Aguas.
Everything in Portugal is low priced compared to the UK. They don't believe in measuring drinks either no they just pour a generous measure in and the cocktail bars are plenty.
Faro has in excess of 58.000 people. My aunty has recently moved over there with her husband so you can add another 2 to that number.
The old part of the city is surrounded by Roman walls and is very beautiful and scenic. There are many markets you can go to and plenty to see including
water parks.
Much of the city has many apartments and hotels. There are many places to eat and it doesn't have to cost you a fortune either. The food is very nice, but I do remember having an iffy stomach for a few days. The water is not suitable to drink so I do strongly advise you to either buy it bottled or boil it before use.
The Algarve is a tourist place so be prepared if your looking for somewhere quiet then stay out of the main Algarve and opt for Olhas D Aguas which is much quieter, but still as beautiful. There are many parts of the Algarve, which are quieter so you don't have to stay in the main parts of the city if you'd rather opt for the peace and quiet of a holiday. One thing you will be guaranteed is the sun, sea and sand. Although saying this I have known there to be odd occasions when the sun doesn't come out, but it's the same with anywhere you go and it does also depend on the time of year. Certainly if you burn easily like me then take plenty of high factor sun tan lotion with you or you could end up with nasty burns as when the sun does come out it can get very hot indeed.
Faro is the district capitol of The Algarve it is where the airport stands.
The road conditions are unfortunately quite poor in Faro. The drivers are reasonably sensible with lorry drivers being the exception. Do be careful if you are driving in Portugal, as it is very different to driving in the UK. Especially since you won't know the area. There are signposts, but they tend to be not very clear and when your concentrating on the road they are easily missed so it is advisable to have another passenger with you who can act as another pair of eyes.
Accommodation is very reasonably priced in Portugal like everything else. It might be cheaper for you to get a return flight and find accommodation whilst you are out there since there really is an abundance of it. However, if you like the security of knowing where you are going and staying then a package holiday might be better for you.
The hotel I stayed in was spotlessly clean. I was very impressed with the cleanliness of everything in Portugal. We even went bare footed out in the streets and didn't have a problem.
The people are wonderful. Really friendly and go out of their way to help you and make you feel welcome. There are lots of people who speak English, but it might also help you to carry a phrase book with you.
You might like to travel further than Faro if this is so you might consider taking a bike and travelling by train, as the prices are very low.
Faro is on the southern tip of Portugal. It is the small provincial capital of the Algarve. The beach of Praia de Faro is the town's biggest attraction and there are many walks you can take on it. The sand is very clean as is the sea. You can spend a lovely day sun bathing on the beach, but do remember to take care not to get burnt. Along the beach there are several cafes and eating-places. Nice refreshment can be bought for very little though they tend to put the price up compared to other parts of Portugal due to the large amounts of tourists.
You can hire a car at the airport if you have a full driving license cars can be hired very cheaply. At most during high season you can expect to pay £120 a week for a car.
Living in Portugal is supposed to be one of the cheapest places that you can live. No wonder my aunty has decided to move there. I would like to move over there myself if it were not for commitments here.
When I stayed in Faro it was just for 4 days, which is far to short. Next time I would go for a fortnight. You can budget yourself to spend about £20 on average a day it may be more or less dependent on what you want to spend, but it suits most budgets.
I went in September and the weather was still very hot. I loved shopping in the markets and the fruit that you can buy in Portugal is delicious.
Nightlife is fantastic as I said earlier drinks can be bought really cheaply so do be careful not to get too drunk you end up being ill. Drinks are not measured and the bar attendants believe in giving very generous measures.
I loved all the karaoke bars which are a very big thing in Portugal and when you get very drunk it is easy to get carried away singing on karaoke. Whether you have a good voice or not!
If you want a cheap, but fantastic holiday that would suit anyone of any age then chose Faro you won't be disappointed.
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Nov 1st, 2004
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