My husband and I tend not to stay in resorts when we travel, but succumbed to a timeshare presentation a few years ago. We are going to "save" two weeks through Hiton/RCI in Vilamoura, Portugal in late 2011(Hotel Vila Gale Ampalius, 11/19-25; Four Seasons Vilamoura, 11/25-12/02). We can't find much information about the area, and have lots of questions: Is it better to fly into Lisbon and take a train to Faro or fly down? What is the area like, and are there likely to be tours or good local transportation available (we will not have a car) to explore the area and go farther afield? Is it a good area to walk around in and explore? How cold is it likely to be? Any suggestions, ideas, experiences, etc.. would be most appreciated!
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
Winanne, Although i have not been to Vilamoura, my wife and I stayed in the area (the Algarve= So coast of Portugal) in Dec of 2007, and had a wonderful time. It was warm enough that we were wading in the surf. We flew into Faro, and then stayed in Lisbon and Tavira. We picked up a rental car at the airport, and used it to cover much of Portugal. You can do the same. Driving on the freeways was easy, and there was no traffic. Things will probably be pretty "slow" that time of year at the resort, but Lisbon is lots of fun, and so is Porto, up North. (port wine tasting, etc) We left Portugal from Lisbon. It has a great airport. Rick Steves does a good job covering all of the area in his book, and we found his advice to be 'right on". Plan your time using his advice. We also like the Lonely Planet guide books. Check Trip Advisor for more advice by travelers. Use weather web sites to view the "usual " weather for that time of year, and finish your warddrobe palanning a couple of days before you leave.
Posted by
OP
Rockville, MD
2 posts
Thanks for the information and the encouragement!
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1548 posts
We usually rent a car and can't help with public transportation. From Lisbon it's a 2-3 hr drive to Vilamoura. It might be a shorter drive from Faro. Not sure about public transportation but with a car you could easily explore nearby towns such as Quarteira, Tavira, Faro to the east and you could go west and visit Salema, Lagos, and Sagres (the westernmost point in Europe) while doing so without a car might be difficult. Check the RS Portugal book for more info about these towns and others in the area. Within Vilamoura there are some interesting Roman ruins to be seen at Cerro da Vila. This is near the harbor which has some shops and restaurants. Hopefully someone else can help with the tour or public transportation info.
Posted by
Monein, Pyrenees, France
425 posts
I've stayed there. You'll need a car. Forget about public transport. Fly to Faro. It is a typical Algarve area - lots of new developments around golf courses. It is very sports oriented. If you like that sort of thing it's great. I got a free week there for setting up someone's web site (for their holiday home rental). I'm glad I didn't pay. The OLD towns are great. Well worth a visit. Same goes for the markets.
Roger