The Algarve of Portugal

Summary of Thoughts: The southern region of Portugal known as the Algarve was just as impressive to us in the off-season (Mid-October to Mid-November) as we had hoped! Lagos had the cleanest beach we have ever seen (off-season). The people we met in our daily activities were kind and helpful as we muddled through our Portuguese greetings and phrases. The people had grit similar to the Albanians, and we admire that trait. Our accommodation was perfectly priced for the value and walkable to the beach and marina. The hosts were marvelous and the grounds had full-time security because many condo-owners do not live there full time. The apartment even had a community pool and underground car park.

What made Portugal one of our favorite 30-day stays was the rental car! Because it was off-season, the price of the small vehicle was $230 USD and fuel for our running-around was $221 USD. Therefore, we spent $451 USD on 100% freedom in our movements. Truthfully, this made Portugal feel like a home to us.

Portugal was the reason we started traveling and we wanted to see and feel as much of the country as we could. With the freedom of the car, we were able to explore 15 towns as well as the edge of Spain. Yes, the train and bus combo would have allowed us to reach most of these towns with more planning. With the car we did not have to worry about timing when going to the Cork Factory or the Fado concert at a winery. We were able to traverse freeways, highways, narrow roads, and one-lane “goat trails”. We drove through most of the southern coastal towns and took longer drives up into the mountain towns. GPS was accessible through all the coastal towns and mildly spotty in the mountains.

We were delighted to lay in the sand on the beach in NOVEMBER with temperatures in the low 70’s! The restaurants were delicious most of the time, the farmer’s market was spectacular, and grocery shopping was a breeze. We thrived on the old stones in nature an those in the many castles along the coast. But, most of all we loved the Zipline (see below).

Number of Days we visited: 29

Analyzed Costs: How much did we spend? We spent $451 USD on the car rental and fuel plus $311 USD on the flight from Portugal to Nice along. Restaurant prices were well priced, so we ate out more on our excursions with the car. Greg and I both filled up on three months of medications, so this price was higher. Entertainment included the Fado music, the Zipline, and several castle tours.

Description: The Algarve is the Southernmost region of continental Portugal. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean on its Western and Southern border, to Spain on the Eastern edge.

With a permanent population estimated at around 500,000 residents that easily doubles or more during peak season, they enjoy the beautiful turquoise waters, over 300 days of sunshine annually, historic sites, world class food and wine and welcoming locals. It is easy to see why this region is one of the most highly recommended and sought after areas to vacation, long-term stay and even re-locate permanently to as Expats. We personally find something every single day that highlights that sentiment with us too.

I would rate their infrastructure a 3.75 out of 5. Roads and highways we have driven a couple hundred miles on so far are on par with most of the U.S. as a comparison. Traffic is lighter usually, most drivers obey traffic laws, and signage is mostly adequate.
There seems to be an adequate number of hospitals and urgent care centers. Thankfully we have not had to use them, but from the outside they look newer and modern in the larger cities.

For those with mobility issues, the Algarve is from one end to the other on the spectrum depending on location and activity/attraction you are engaged in. Throughout the Algarve we have seen people of all levels of mobility, from wheelchairs to crutches to scooters. I would rate Lagos a 4 out of 5, and the Algarve a 3 out of 5 due to so many of the activities requiring walking or rolling long distances. If you stay within the population centers you will have no problems in almost any of the places we have visited. Even most of the larger beaches have excellent wooden boardwalks that extend for miles along them.
Faro, the capital of the Algarve, has an international airport and is located near center of the Southern edge of the region, making it a great hub. There is a regional train from Lagos in the West, to the Eastern border with Spain, ending in the town of Vila Real de Santo Antonio. An hourly ferry crosses the Guadiana River that separates to two countries and makes a day trip extremely easy and fun. We did not use the train, as we rented a car for our 30 days here. From what we have observed in Lagos, it runs 3-4 times daily at least. We have been told it is very cheap, somewhat unreliable and may leave you waiting 3-4 hours for the next one if there is a problem. The physical trains we have seen do appear to be a few decades old, but we have also seen a good amount of work being done along the tracks to upgrade them.

Cities we spent time in during our month long visit include: Logos (homebase), Portimao, Albufiera, Luz, Sagres, Lagoa, Silves, Estombar, Monchique, Aljezur, Faro, Sao Bras de Alportel, Loule, Olhao, Tavira, Alcoutim, and Vila Real de Santo Antonio. We also crossed into Spain for visits in Sanlucar de Guadiana and Ayamonte.