Albufeira Travel Answers

Ok here goes! 1. Clube Albufeira is only about a mile from the old town centre and maybe a quarter mile further to the beach. It is a flat walk and for most of the distance there is a footpath well away from the road. Or there is a bus, from across the road, outside the entrance of Camping Albufeira, every 30 minutes every day from 0707am to 0907pm in May. Cost (at the moment) €1,10 each way cash or 55 cents with pre-pay pass. Taxi about 5 Euros, they will come to Clube Albufeira reception when telephoned. There are taxi ranks in town for the return journey. or bus or walk as above, but the bus does take a rather roundabout route on the way back. Or you can walk part way and pick up the bus as it swings back onto the main road after its trip round the houses. But last bus in May is shortly after 830pm. 2. DO NOT TAKE A TAXI from the airport. It is the most expensive way of doing the trip. Much better to pre-book a private minibus/car type transfer, average price at the moment is 30 Euros for up to four people. That's the price for the vehicle, not per head. This page on another forum has listings and recommendations for transfer companies. They have on line booking facilities. Journey time about 35 - 40 minutes. tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1891... 3. The main roads are pretty good but the surfaces of minor roads are often badly maintained. I use my bike a lot round here and always have be watchful for potholes etc. There are several places in town where you can hire a motorcycle or scooter. Certain types of four wheeler (Quad bike) are legal for road use. 4. Certainly a good idea, but to get the best of the area away from the concrete and glass of the tourist resorts, head north. Invest in a good map before you come, those you can get here are generally quite useless. Rough Guides has a good Algarve map at a large scale or the Michelin series is usually fairly up to date. 5. Sure people do get robbed here, just as they can be anywhere, but it's generally confined to areas of bars and clubs late at night with people staggering back to hotels after a good night out. The assailants routinely carry knives, guns are not unusual and they tend to hunt in packs. If there is an area to avoid in Albufeira it's the part known as 'the strip' but as this is a couple of miles across town from Clube Albufeira you would have to make a special trip as it were. But would you really want to mingle with Brits on drinking tours? (BTW I am English but have lived here 6 years.) I hope that helps for a starting point. Come back if there is anything else you wish to know.

Your questions have fully answered, and I hope that you don't mind me asking "Why Albufeira?" if you want to "avoid the nightclub scene for the majority of our trip". The Algarve has so many beaches to offer.

Well, I guess we enjoy a drink in the day time. We don't mind a few cocktails with dinner. As far as staying out until 3am, I am up for it, but she is not. I am hoping that the location will get her out at night. But, we still want to see the great beaches in the surrounding area. Thanks for the feedback.

To start with, I apologize for the delay in responding to your post. We had Thanksgiving break here in the States. So I was busy watching football(throwing kind :)) and stuffing my face with turkey at a few family parties. Thank you for all of that useful information. Seriously, you took a load off of my shoulders. I am eager to plan my trip in further detail with the aid of your suggestions. I am new to Virtualtourist, and am not to sure of some of the functions on here. But, If you would like a couple of pints on me in May. I would not hesitate to show you my gratitude. If I knew how to email with this thing I would have. Thanks again. Albuferia May 6-12, 2012.

No problem. If there's anything else you need to know, just ask.

You've chosen the perfect location for a honeymoon and you are sure to have a wonderful experience. Every beach along the coastline is mesmirisingly beautiful and I think a motorbike would be a fun way to experience it as well as making parking easy. Albufeira is a stunning location with much to explore. It's not just about nightlife here. I live almost on "The Strip" and yet find it completely safe (though others who have lived here longer than me will be wizer.)There is no overwhelming crime anywhere in Algarve. More than a couple of times now when I've loaded the car, I've dropped some of my belongings on the floor beside it, even my cell phone, and gone back hours later to look and they have been there still, untouched. My husband says he found the taxi fare of 50 euros from the airport very reasonable, cheap even when you consider the distance, price of diesel ( 1.40 euros a litre) and wear and tare on the car.He says this is not a high price. I would also like to explore the countryside to the north, but have'nt yet got round to it as there is so much to see along the coast. The furtherest inland I've been is Silves and Monchique and both were a wonderful experience. Best wishes for a wonderful time here.