No worries to rent a car ?

I have used Luzcar over the years. They offer pick up at Faro Airport.

Their prices are a bit higher than others but are all inclusive, including second driver and nipping over the border to Spain. They do look after their clients.

See: http://www.lagoscarhire.com/

Another company with a good reputation is Auto-Jardim.

See:

http://www.autocarhire.net/

lagos, albufeira, or neither? help!!!!!!!

For all in one, Lagos would probably be your best bet given your parameters. But then I live here! :))))))))

We have beaches, (including the 4km long sandy Meia Praia beach) restaurants, bars/clubs, and shopping and in summer, a great night life..

Cubsur will probably be along, shortly, and confirm that he would say the same thing about Albufeira. There is possibly a chance of more shopping therapy opportunities in and around Albufeira though.

DiskWizz, if he's around, will probably say the same about Praia da Rocha.

Another destination to look into is Alvor.

It's all a matter of personal choice really, as all the above destinations meet your criteria.

Lisbon to Alvor / Alvor to Malaga

The best way for both trips is by car!

The drive from Lisbon to Alvor takes 3 hours.

Lagos/Alvor/Portimão will take about four and a half to five hours.

See this article on my blog about my trip on this route last year.
http://bit.ly/lagosmalagacar

If, however, (and you do nor specify it), you are referring to public transport then the best option on both routes is Bus.

Lisbon - Alvor

There are regular buses throughout the day from Lisbon Gare Oriente bus station to Alvor operated by Renex.pt

Go to my blog here:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com

Scroll down on the right hand side and you will find a panel
entitled:

Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links

In this panel you will find links for:

# RENEX Bus Service - Lisbon to Algarve (including Lagos) timetable

Click on the latter and you will be able to download the latest timetable in pdf format.

2) Alvor - Malaga.

You will have to get a local urban bus to Portimão.

From there pick up the twice daily Portimão to Seville Bus.

In Seville change bus stations and get a bus direct from Seville to Malaga.

At present there is an EVA/DAMAS but that leaves Portimão at 07:00 and arrives in Seville Estacion das Armas at 13:00 (Spanish Time)

You will need to get a local C4 bus between Estacion Plaza das Armas to El Prado Bus Station which runs from just after 6 in the morning till 23:30.

You will then need to get the alsa.es 15:00 departure which arrives in Malaga at 17:45.

At present. the afternoon bus does not connect with ongoing alsa buses to Malaga

What is best bus or train travel..??

There are no direct trains between the Algarve and South Spain/Seville. However, there are good bus services.

See this article on my blog.

http://bit.ly/lagossevillebus2009

There is not really anywhere between Albufeira and Seville that matches Albufeira. There is Monte Gordo near Vila Real Stª. Antonio where there will be some night life but not like Albufeira. On the Spanish side there is Isla Cristina and El Rompido. However, I have only driven through them.

I would suggest, however, the following change to your itinerary!

Instead of going to Albufeira, why not head first to either Lagos or Praia da Rocha near Portimão. The transit time by bus is not much more than Lisbon - Albufeira and they both have great night scenes in Summer. You could then layover in Albufeira en route to Seville.

For more information on travelling from Lisbon to the Algarve, have a look at Cubsur's excellent site here:

http://algarvebus.info/

For bus and rail, go to my blog here:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com

Scroll down on the right hand side and you will find a panel
entitled:

Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links

In this panel you will find links for:

# Eva Bus Service - Eva Bus Service - Lisbon Sete Rios to Lagos
# RENEX Bus Service - Lisbon to Algarve (including Lagos) timetable

Hope this helps.

Bordeira - near Faro to Lisbon

Google Map Location here:

http://bit.ly/BordeiraFaroAlgarve

If you are lucky and your villa is facing the right way and is in a good location you may have a great view over the coastal plain towards the sea.

As regards Faro centre, it is fairly compact. I would recommend you park somewhere like the car park at the bus station and walk.

You are well located for access to the A22 Via de Infante Spinal Motorway. The whole coastal Algarve is therefore within 90 minutes driving. You could easily visit Silves (old walled town) ( http://bit.ly/silves_algarve_wiki ), Monchique and Lagos (historic old town) (http://bit.ly/lagos_algarve_wiki) as well.

Visiting Lisbon depends on you.

By toll motoway, one can get up to either of the two bridges crossing the Tejo in about 3 hours allowing for stops. Distance is +- 280 kms.

However, there are good rail and bus services from Faro to Lisbon.

For rail, have a look at Cubsur's excellent site here:

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/006.htm

For bus, go to my blog here:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com

Scroll down on the right hand side and you will find a panel
entitled:

Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links

In this panel you will find links for:

# Eva Bus Service - Faro to Lisbon Sete Rios
# RENEX Bus Service - Lisbon to Algarve (including Lagos) timetable

My recommendation to allow enough time in Lisbon would be to take the early morning Alfa-Pendular train to Lisbon and then perhaps come back to Faro by bus. The bus station and train station are close to each other. Bear in mind that by July, summer timetables will have come into operation.

Travel from OZ to Braga, Portugal

Iḿ not sure why you are heading to Barcelona first...Its a way the other side of the Iberian Peninsula!!!!

There is no Airport at Braga. The nearest airport to Braga is Porto which is 55km away.

There are direct flights to Porto from a variety of destinations.

There is a list of current destinations served here:

http://bit.ly/porto_destinations_2010

Although low-cost Ryanair operates Barcelona Girona (Change of Airport may be required)- Porto, I would have thought that Madrid, London Gatwick, and/or Paris CDG would be equally good routings and then catch a Ryanair or Easyjet low-cost to Porto.

From the airport you would have to take the Light Rail system into the city(Campanha) and then get a train to Braga. (Trains every hour) (About 50 minutes travel time)

Madrid and Badajoz, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal

There is one daily train service service from Badajoz to Lisbon as follows:(click on full screen to view.)

badajoz_lisboa_rail_timetable_2010

There are bus services as follows:

alsa.es



and

anibal.net

Timetable see:

http://bit.ly/lisbon_madrid_anibal


A final alternative would be to route via Faro in the Algarve.

There is one website that allows pick-ups in Spain with reasonable drop-offs at Faro Airport. They then offer pick-up of a Portuguese Hire car there as well.

See:

http://www.iberiacarhire.com/