Salema, Portugal

We loved our stay at this hotel. We also enjoyed the restaurants in the town (best described as a small seaside village)--it will be the perfect place to relax after your tour!

The Mare Salema

We stayed at the Romantik Villa for 3 nights...it was a great break in an otherwise pretty hectic schedule...it is located a short walk (drive) above the beach area...we had a small kitchen in our room and we enjoyed making breakfast there each morning. If you don't want to cook, Lisa will prepare breakfast for you (and I'm told it is very good). She is from Brazil and her husband is from Germany..they were very helpful and really good hosts. They are listed in the RS guide for Portugal, and they have gotten great reviews from most of their critics at tripadvisor (see below). Very inexpensive for what you get...and free parking for your car on top of everything else.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g445039-d286502-Reviews-Romantik_Villa-Salema_Algarve.html

http://www.romantikvilla.com/

By all means see Sagres and Lagos while you are in the area...both have lots to offer.

Salema as RSteves says is sleepy but relaxing. Loved Mare Selma, the restaurant on the beach that serves great fresh fish - the one down the hill to the left. Also we took a car trip up in the hills looking for cork trees and how they are harvested - most interesting, rather than hit another town.
Shelley

I think that the restaurant Shelley mentioned is Boia Bar

The fish was fresh and so delicious!

We adored Salema. We stayed at the Hotel Residencial Salema, the big ugly one Rick isn't really a fan of but we loved it. There are also lots of locals always willing to rent rooms for insanely cheap prices in the "town square," which is tiny and right off of the beach. I honestly don't think you can go wrong, everything and everyone were so relaxed and happy go lucky. Enjoy, it really is amazing.

My friend and I stayed in Salema back in the early days of Europe Through the Back Door. It was very
"back door" at the time and one of our favorite memories from our first trip to Europe. Sounds like it hasn't changed too much so I would highly recommend it.

Thanks to all who gave us great advice. No doubt we'll love Salema!