The Algarve
Description
Located at the southern most tip of mainland Portugal, the Algarve runs from Villa Real do Santo Antonio in the East bordering Spain, to Sagres located furthest in the West.
The Algarve spans 100 miles (approx. 160 kms) of coastline and superb beaches along the EN125 coast road, taking in all the local towns and villages along the way. The introduction of the motorway (A22) in 2003 means the link between the East and West, or to the airport (Faro) is quick and convenient.
The Algarve is composed of approximately 5.400 square kilometres with approximately 420.000 permanent inhabitants, which can rise to over one million people in the height of the summer.
Consistently remaining at the forefront as one of the most popular holiday destinations for young and old alike, the Algarve has something for everyone. During the summer months families will flock here in search of sun, sand, sea and relaxation. Outside the peak months couples will take advantage of the quieter times and bargain flights to get away, while those of retirement age will stay for a couple of months to get away from the weather back home.
By far and away the most popular pastime is GOLF, the Algarve is renowned for its championship courses and with its year round climate, ensures that the tourist market remains an almost year round experience.
For those a little more adventurous surfing is very popular and again an almost year round tourist attraction, particularly to the west of the region.
The Algarvians are friendly people and have a good command of the English language so communicating is never a problem, they are also very encouraging to the more adventurous who want to practice their smattering of Portuguese.
Weather
The Algarve has a wonderful climate, with hot dry summers, with temperatures averaging around 30º and almost 12 hours of sunshine per day. Spring and autumn are normally nice and mild, with temperatures averaging 20º with plenty of sunshine – perfect for golf and other sports. Winters tend to be mild averaging around 15º but this is the season with the most rainfall.
The Little Things!
These are things that we have personally found and which can be important or just useful to know. You may not need to know all, or find the best deals, but that's all part of getting out and about and exploring for yourself.
- Beer is cheap – from 85c for a bottle of Sagres or Super Bock
- Wine is cheaper – from 60c for a large glass (you can easily find a bottle for a €1 or less in supermarkets)
- Cigarettes are cheap - €3.80 for recognised brands (Silk Cut, B&H)
- Dish of the day – Prato do Dia can be excellent value - €5 dish, beer, coffee and a cake
- Sunday roasts with all the trimmings from €7
- You can get major UK and Irish brand products at various outlets with some dedicated shops stocking huge ranges.
- Main supermarkets are Pingo Doce, Modelo, Aldi and Lidl, with Jumbo in Faro and Continente in Guia which are huge.
- ATM's are everywhere (Multibanco) the withdrawal limit is €200 a time – if you want more, go again.
- Exchange rates vary, but roughly £1 gets you €1.25
- Credit cards are accepted, but not everywhere, especially smaller shops/restaurants
- Tipping – do show your appreciation, but do not offend by offering huge tips, this is seen as showing off. A few euros goes along way.
- No time difference between UK, Ireland and Portugal.
- Hot days, but often cool nights.
- Drive on the right.
- Must have driving licence with you when driving and vehicle documentation.
- Must have warning triangle and high visibility vest for breakdown.
- Children under 12 years or 1.5 metres height must be in booster seat.
- Main roundabouts are often works of art and provide great points of direction.
- English speaking films are not dubbed into Portuguese – you can pop off to the cinema, or rent a DVD and enjoy.
- Shopping in the Algarve is at its best at Guia (Albuferia) and Faro shopping centres.
- Markets are held in most towns on various days and offer a chance for some real bargains – be prepared to haggle!
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