Car rental services
Faro airport car hire was one of the first tourist developments in the Algarve and is now the second biggest resort.
Lagos
Here you will find a “five-anchor award” Marina. The location of this is after passing down a sufficiently wide channel reaching a traversing footbridge which normally has to be opened for most vessels in order to make access. The Reception Pontoon is on the right immediately before reaching the bridge. As you pass down this channel you will find on your starboard side a dock area normally filled with fishing and commercial vessels. The moorages in the Marina are subjected to a prevailing northern wind known locally as the “nortada” and this can be uncomfortable unless you have managed to arrange a berth facing to the north. Night time departures requires 24 hours notice and moving to the reception pontoon.
Located near to the town of car hire faro, Praia da Rocha attractions include, car rental services, abundance of sporting activities - from horse riding to windsurfing. Facilities in Praia da Rocha resort itself are numerous - your holiday needs - from food to fun - will be met here. The beaches at Praia da Rocha are wide flat and sandy.
Vilamoura
The very first Marina in the Algarve. Happily, the original owners have passed the management over to a more enlightened company. Now there are installed many of the past missing facilities that visiting sailors expect to find. If you are intending to make a night time departure, car rental services, is necessary to provide 24 hours notice and moor to the reception pontoon., car rental services, extension has been constructed on the west side of the present Marina., car rental services, is reported that this new area will have wide berths and individual attached accommodation for the boat owners.
The immediate area surrounding the Marina is a purpose built constructed holiday area and you will therefore find that local prices tend to decrease as you move away from the quayside. Here you will find some well equipped Ships Chandlers.
Like most faro car hire beaches the main beaches here are perfect for families with mostly gentle shelving into the sea. You need to be more careful at the end of the main beach near to the harbour entrance to Portimao, where the water is deeper and there is fishing boat and leisure craft traffic.
Tavira
As there are two Islands between which all vessels have to pass and these provide a natural barrier to the sea and the anchorage is reasonably pleasant. A combination of a westerly wind and a strong tide can change this scene, car rental services, is recommended that you pass further up river and find a mooring which is away from this wind and the swell of passing fishing vessels. At the entrance to the river there is a jetty which is constantly in use by local ferries to the islands.
The local town is one of the most architecturally attractive on the coast and provides a choice of restaurants and shops which have yet to lose their local character.
The nearest proper shopping is in Portimao, about ten minutes drive from Alvor. The nearest large purpose built shopping centre is Algarve Shopping. This new Shopping Center is located directly on the N125 (the main road which runs right along the Algarve) a few minutes drive from Algarve, just near the village of Guia., car rental services, is well sign posted, but the entrance from the main road can be confusing. More than hundred shops and a supermarket occupy two levels. Upstairs there are several restaurants and there are sufficient parking slots available even at busy times. There is also a cinema complex and a bowling alley. Opening hours daily from 9am to 12pm. Next to Algarve car hire is a large Nike Outlet Store Portimao.
Portimão
Comfortable choice of berths to suit the needs of most vessels up to 30 metres. Inside the entrance moles at Praia da Rocha there is, car rental services, area to the starboard side in which to berth in front of a beach but passing fishing vessels can cause irritating swells. Further into the estuary on the port side there is a recently constructed comfortable Marina. Almost opposite on the starboard side there are a few limited moorings in front of the village of Ferragudo. There are a further two small Pontoon Marin areas for small craft. There is also some moorings midstream in the river in front of the quayside of Portimão and before reaching the first of the two bridges. Also, on the starboard side there is a commercial fishing dock.
The beachside Praia da Rocha is a tourist designed area. Any resemblance to its early 20th Century look has been buried under concrete and cement. Portimão is a commercial town that once thrived on its fish canning industry. Today,, car rental services, struggles to find its identity as the factories have gone and its commercial viability has been lost to other locations along the coast. However,, car rental services, is a very practical mooring base as there are many facilities and most needs can be answered.
A town with some 35,000 inhabitants is essentially commercially orientated and was the main shopping town of the whole car hire Algarve during the 1970s and 1980s. Unfortunately the town has suffered at the hands of enthusiastic town planners who saw progress as knocking down chunks of the charming old town in the name of progress. However Portimao is still well worth a visit, with some pretty parts of the town leading to and from the harbour.
QUARTEIRA
Another, once upon a time, small fishing village that has grown since the 1960s into a major tourist location. Tall blocks of holiday apartments now dwarf the older area of the town. As, car rental services, lies next door to the well-known and popular Vilamoura holiday resort, car rental services, acts as a dormitory location for the many employees and companies involved in the tourist trade. However,, car rental services, also enjoys its own loyal tourists who return annually to make use of its long open beach and promenade. A little to the east of the town is Fonte Santa where a natural spring is said to have healing qualities. Car hire Portugal close to Quarteira is the inland town of Almancil that is also a centre for service companies. The administrative town of the area is Loulé.
The town of Lagos played, car rental services, active part in creating the history of the world for, car rental services, was from this port that the “Caravelas” of Price Henry sailed to discover parts of our present world. The town has maintained a lot of its architectural charm and this is coupled with its popularity with the tourists so that, car rental services, is a good location of food and entertainment.
Portugal car hire is another major resort which has grown since the 1960s from a small fishing village. Tall blocks of holiday apartments now dwarf the older area of the town and many loyal tourists return annually to make use of its long open beach and promenade. As, car rental services, lies next door to the well-known and popular Vilamoura holiday resort it also acts as a dormitory location for the many employees and companies involved in the tourist trade. Quarteira is also a favourite with Portuguese holidaymakers and locals who come to enjoy the seaside. The hotels and apartments in Quarteira either run along the promenade or are set back on a street running parallel to it.The beach in Quarteira is wide and sandy (if a tad featureless) with plenty of artificial shade. As with the whole Algarve the sea is clean, and gently shelving, but as always – remember this is the Atlantic, so it can change. Quarteira offers a range of self catering apartments and good choice of 3 star hotels with bed and breakfast or half board arrangements. A good value family resort and close to Algarve car rental at much lower prices. Quarteira is next door to Vilamoura where the courses are: Laguna, Millenium, The Old Course, Pinhal, Victoria and Vila Sol. The resort has a selection of tourist and souvenir shops. Quarteira is almost equidistant from Albufeira and Faro, both about 20 minutes drive. Near Albufeira is Algarve Shopping - this new Shopping Center is located directly on the N125 (the main road which runs right along the Algarve) a few minutes drive from Albufeira, just near the village of Guia., car rental services, is well sign posted, but the entrance from the main road can be confusing. More than hundred shops and a supermarket occupy two levels. Upstairs there are several restaurants and there are sufficient parking slots available even at busy times. There is also a Cinema complex and a bowling alley. Opening hours daily from 9am to 12pm. Next to Algarve Shopping is a large Nike Outlet Store. Faro is the main town of the area and as the administrative capital of a substantial part of the Algarve,, car rental services, has a good range of stores and shops. Aqualand - The Big One.Located less than ten miles from Albufeira off the EN125. There are many things to keep you entertained while you are at The Big One. The Corkscrew, Raging Rapids, Flying Carpets, Super Surf, Rainbow Park, Crazy Leap, Banzai Boggan, Kamikaze (92 metres high!), Wave Pool, Congo River, Super Size Pool. And, if you don’t want to take part, you can have almost as much fun watching the others.Krazy World and Animal Park.Located on the outskirts of Albufeira at Guia is Krazy World and Algarve Zoo - good family entertainment., car rental services, includes - Amazonia, Petting Farm, Ponies, Pools, Fairground, Krazy Golf and Restaurants.