Very fresh memories of the holiday 11/07/2010

Written: 11 july 2010
Travel time: 1 — 9 july 2010
Your rating of this hotel:
8.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms: 8.0
Service: 8.0
Cleanliness: 7.0
Food: 7.0
Amenities: 9.0
Arrival at the airport.
Everything went very quickly, despite the fact that there are many memories on the Internet about the slowness of the Portuguese border guards.
Holidays in the Algarve
Hotel
Pros ****
Doesn't qualify for four stars. But despite this, there are very good advantages.
-Good location relative to other cities, terrain and nature
-Good view from the balcony
- Well-groomed (although not a very large area)
-All rooms after renovation are equipped with a mini-kitchen (enough roomy refrigerator with freezer, microwave oven, electric kettle, knife (blunt), corkscrew, forks, spoons, wine glasses, no glasses, plates, etc.
- Free sauna, hammam, fitness equipment
-Good manipulative beaches surrounded by the hotel
- Few vacationers from Russia
Minuses
-Breakfast is below average. No variety. I think you won't be able to look at scrambled eggs and sausages for a very long time. Very little fruit

-The rooms were cleaned badly and often the cleaning started even around 5-6 pm. At first they gave a tip, then they spat and stopped leaving - anyway, there were no shifts towards the client
- The central air conditioner did not work well. Five times in a row, when we stopped by, they complained about the reception. They promised to fix it, but apparently this is a common problem of the hotel. So they did nothing. After the 5th floor, the rooms have individual air conditioners
The cost of renting a safe - 2 euros per day
Check your accounts periodically. Some vacationers wrote down a lunch in a restaurant for 72 euros on our room. At the reception, they conferred for a long time when we refused to pay, but then, they came to the conclusion that the signatures on the accounts were not ours
Transport
1. Car rental.
The hotel is expensive. From 35 euros per day for a mechanic and from 50 for an automatic. About 20 percent should be added to this amount. VAT, insurance and petrol (1.4 euro/l) and rental from 3 days. In other firms in the town, the cars were dismantled. We have found such firms not very far from the hotel 3 more pieces. There is nowhere to go in particular. We looked at the offers of travel agencies - there are several interesting directions. But you can easily get there by taxi or bus.
2. Taxi
The hotel is located between Albufeira and Partimã o. The cost of a taxi to these cities is about 20 euros, the travel time is 20 minutes. Upon arrival at the hotel, we met a couple and traveled by taxi for four. It turns out pretty cheap.
3. Bus
The bus stop is right next to the hotel entrance. Upon arrival, ask the reception for the schedule of municipal buses. They go quite infrequently. Moreover, the schedule for Saturday, Sunday and other days is different. The fare to Albufeira and Partimao is 3.6 euros per person in one direction. From these points you can get to other cities. For example, from Albufeira walks
bus to Lisbon (cost 17 euros), and 2 times a day to Sivilla (Spain). We were very sorry that we didn’t book a hotel from Moscow, we could have hit the road for a couple of days in Spain.

4. Free transfer from the hotel to Armasau De Piera. This city is not far from the hotel. Leisurely pace - about 30 minutes. A minibus runs from the hotel to the town - the transfer must be ordered at the reception in advance. We've been to this town several times and there's not much to do. You can go to have lunch or dinner (cheaper than twice as much as we have near the hotel), or
swim on the beach. Shopping there - no
Grocery markets and prices
A very good super market - Intermarsh - is located 10-15 minutes from the hotel. There are a few smaller ones, but we didn't go there. The supermarket has everything you need: green wine, port wine, table wine (although vodka and brandy were only branded with us - from 10 euros, and they were not taken). Prices for wine from 1.5 euros per bottle to 0.75 - and then it all depends on your wallet. They took a good port wine for 4.5-6 euros per bottle and green wine from 2.5 euros. A very large variety. Portuguese beer is good, especially in glass. Bank metal 0.5 l - 0.8 euros. The same beer in a glass of 1 liter - 1.4 euros.
Umbrella from the sun -7 euros (In Partimau, however, they saw similar ones for 2 euros). Mineral water with and without gas, Pepsi Cola (0.7 euros for 1.5 liters).
The most interesting vegetables and fruits:
tomatoes - 1.4 euros per kg
sweet cherry -3.55 euro per kg
melon and watermelon from 0.8 euro per kg
They took very tasty and ripe mongo, etc.
Bank of good olives - 2.4 euros.
300 grams of a can of extra virgin olive oil - 2 euros
They took their dumplings - not tasty
Meat is a very large assortment, and only chilled. Pork from 3.5 euro/kg. Minced meat is also about the same price
Fish and seafood
Amazing assortment. Prices from 2.5 to 10 euros per kg. Fish chilled on ice. This price is for the lost fish. They clean it in front of you, remove the scales, intestines, gills. We tried almost everything possible. Crabs from 5.5 euros, shrimp from 2.4 euros to 75 euros / kg. Shells, mussels, etc. They even salted the mackerel themselves - it turned out something like a herring
Spices in assortment in the store, they took salt with them. Although seafood does not need to be salted, and salt is sold in the market
Everything was cooked in the microwave. There are no deep dishes in the kitchen, so take care in advance (you can buy at the supermarket, or take

from home). It is also advisable to look in advance for recipes for cooking fish and seafood on the Internet. Too bad there is no grill in the microwave. Cooked with spices and in tomato juice. Our favorites were shrimp, dorado, and tongue-like fish.
Trips.
If desired, all the sights of architecture can be traveled by taxi or bus. You can go to Siville by bus from the Algarve.
We went to the bullfight in Albufeira. I liked it very much. Tickets can be ordered and bought at the reception (costs about 30 euros / person, depending on the zone). Starting at 22:00, ending around 24:00. We went by taxi. Unforgettable sight!!! . We went to sand sculptures - advertising is everywhere. One way fare - 10 euros. Can only be reached by taxi. Nothing special. Similar works have been seen in Moscow. The entrance fee is 6 euros. We hung out for 40 minutes, then left. Taxis for bullfights and sand sculptures are better to order in two directions, so as not to wait.
You can ride a motor boat and see the canyons and caves (from the beaches). Cost - as agreed. For two about 40 euros per hour. Catamaran ride - 7 euro/hour
shopping
Unfortunately, the rumors about Portuguese leather products are greatly exaggerated. All high-quality shoes, bags are delivered abroad. Therefore, it is very difficult to find something worthwhile. Pay attention when buying to the portuguese barcode -56.
Lots of faux leather items. It is said that good genuine leather goods can only be found in Porto. Although they found a good boutique in Partimau selling leather bags
We liked shopping in Partimau - a lot of boutiques, Chinese shops, a large shopping center in the center. In Albufero - the center is smaller. The coolest cent is in Guiu - Several healthy shops, Leroy Merlin, Makro, etc. This shopping center is called - Algarve shopping center. We went by taxi - the fare was 12 euros.
Liked the market in Albufeiro. Located next to the bass station. Accidentally hit him. Works on Tuesday mornings. Big area and lots of people. They sell everything at bargain prices: glasses, T-shirts, bags, souvenirs, clothes (mostly made in China, India, but the quality is good). Everything that was seen there was later seen in boutiques, but already at steeper prices.

Pools and beaches.
Near the hotel there are 3 municipal beaches, covered with rocks. Very picturesque places. The nearest beach can be accessed from the hotel from the 1st floor through the gym. Travel time is 5 minutes. There is also a restaurant (rather expensive), catamaran rental, etc. The second beach is right behind the first. You can go to it through a tunnel dug in the rock (where there is a warning
about the possibility of a collapse), or on top. As well as the third beach. In order to get to it, you need to exit the entrance to the hotel and go
100 meters up, and then go down to the ocean along the paved path on the right. The quality of the beaches. The best one is closest to the hotel. The second beach is the hardest for swimming - a lot of rocks.
The ocean was warm during our stay. One time it was kind of cold. But when you come in and get used to the water, you don't want to leave. And three days - there were high waves. Some bathed. But it was risky. The waves reached a height of 2-2.5 meters. We tried - but then the water choked, and no longer became
Fishing.
I took with me a semi-bottom and a folding spinning rod. Tried to catch. Local fishermen use the insides of shells stuck to rocks and rocks as bait. There are a lot of these shells on the second beach. Locals fish from rocks 30 meters high.
Restaurants
Prices in restaurants - on the beach next to the hotel with wine about 70 euros for two. In Partimau in the city center, the same thing - 30 euros. In Armasau De Pierre we went to a Chinese restaurant - left 30 euros and left hungry. Beer mug 0.5 l - 2.5 euros. When paying the bill, it is supposed to leave a tip to the waiter about 10%
Airport in Faro. Flight to Moscow

The bus that was supposed to pick us up broke down. And four families were sent to the airport in individual taxis at the expense of the company. Pay attention to the weight of the suitcases. The weight of one piece, according to Portuguese law, must not exceed 32 kg. There are scales at the airport, and you can weigh your suitcases. Those who had excesses were forced to unload excess weight. Film packaging at the airport costs about 300 rubles. We bought food stretch film in the supermarket and packed our suitcases at the hotel (the cost of a roll is about 2 euros).
What they brought with them: port wine, olive oil (they did not find it in cans), cheese. Very good cheese - President - in triangles. We also bought good quality wines and brandy - Masera - five stars (6.5 euros). Everything flew to Moscow well
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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