Alvor

119 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Destination

Location

Date of travel

August, 2017

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Family including children under 16

Reasons for trip

After spending a week in Spain at a beautiful villa (Casa Vista Maravillosa – see previous review),me, my son, his partner and my 12 year old grandson all drove to Portugal for the final week of our holiday. Alvor in Portugal is a seaside resort and fishing village in The Algarve. It has an old, cobbled lane, town and the wetlands of the Alvor river estuary provide a habitat for resident and migratory birds.

We were staying in a house rented through work colleagues. It was ranch style and had a garden full of exotic looking plants and had a small above ground swimming pool that was really only big enough to cool off in.

Alvor has a lovely long beach and even though it is on The Atlantic Ocean, the water was not as cold as I had expected. It is a good location to see some of the sights in the area.

One day we went to Sagres to visit the Fortaleza De Sagres. This is an 18th century fort and was supposedly Henry The Navigator’s fortress (whether or not there was an academy of navigation there remains under debate!) They did however uncover a huge compass or sun dial (they aren’t sure which!). There is also a panoramic walk past a light house and a blow hole where you can sit and listen to the sea pounding away below. Well worth a visit!

We also went to Cabo De Sao Vicente which is the most south westerly point in Europe. The day we visited was an incredibly hot, clear daybut as we neared Cabo the mist descended and it became a lot cooler. This area reminded me of Lands End in that it has been cheaply commercialised. There is a tatty market and lots of fast food vans (where if you bought something you received a certificate saying you had eaten at the most south westerly point in Europe!) If it hadn’t been so misty the views would have been splendid but it was all a bit tatty for me.

Alvor is only about 40 minutes away from Faro and this is where I flew home from (I had declined the 3 day drive back with my family. How many times can you listen to “Are we there yet?” before you throttle your grandchild?)

There are lots of other places nearby that can be visited. My son;s family spent a day at one of the two nearby water parks after I had left. So Alvor is a nice little place to base yourself if you are visiting that part of Portugal.

Ann

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.