Avis Office - Lagos, Portugal

I have just noted that the Avis Car Hire office behind the Repsol Service Station on the main Avenida in Lagos, Algarve, Portugal has closed and that all enquiries are being referred to the Praia da Rocha Office in Portimão.

Trip to Portugal and Spain

Firstly, there are currently no direct flights from any Scottish Airports to Lisbon.

There are direct flights, however, from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow - Prestwick, and sometimes Aberdeen to Faro Airport in the Algarve.

You should be aware that rail links between Portugal and Spain are difficult as are low-costs flights between the Algarve and Spain.

There are good rail links between the Algarve and Lisbon.

You should plan therefore on using long distance coaches.

Have a look at this recent article on my blog.

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/lisbon-to-algarve.html

In summary, I think that a routing as follows might be appropriate:

Scotland to Faro Airport.
Faro Airport to Lagos - Private Transfer or Bus/Bus or Bus/Train

Lagos to Seville - 2 x Daily Bus
(See: http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/granada-seville-lagos-madrid.html) and (http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/001.htm)

Seville to Madrid - High Speed AVE train. (See: www.renfe.es)

Madrid to Lisbon - Long Distance bus (See. www.alsa.es) or Low - Cost Airline (vueling.com or easyjet.com)

As regards other places in the Algarve, consider Tavira.

Hope this helps.

Trip from Lisbon to Algarve Region?

1) Reference travelling to the Algarve, checkout this post I've just made to my blog about public transport between Lisbon and the Algarve.

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/lisbon-to-algarve.html

2) If you are taking a bus to the Algarve make sure you get a Bus to Albufeira Bus Station and not repeat not Vale Paraiso. There may not always be taxis at the bus station, but it is not impossible to walk to the old centre from there, but not recommended.

3) In regard to a "beautiful area" be aware that Albufeira is more "tourist/party heaven" rather than a destination for a relaxed break.

I am biased but I live in Lagos in the Western Algarve which I think would fit your needs. We have beautiful coastlines, a great small historic town with a traditional centre. It is a bit of an independent travellers destination so there is a bit of bar/party life as well.

Lisbon to Algarve

Firstly, the Algarve is a region and not a single place. Consequently, I cannot answer this question specifically without knowing your exact destination.

However, there are three main means of public transport linking Algarve towns with Lisbon. Rail and two long distance bus services.

If you visit my blog:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

»» Scroll down on the right hand side until you come to the panel entitled "Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links"

»» Click on:

- Porto - Lisbon - Faro Train Timetable for the return train timetable.
- Algarve Regional Line Train Timetable for connections along the Algarve.
- RENEX Bus Service - Lisbon to Algarve timetable
- Rede-Expressos - National Bus Timetable - Updated. (National Coach Operator) - Portuguese only.

There are no direct train services between Malaga and the Algarve.

www.alsa.es operate a direct service between Malaga and Faro daily as follows:

Dept. MALAGA 21:00
Arr. Faro 01:45

I strongly recommend booking a hostel or pension near Faro bus Station if you arrive on this bus as downtown Faro is no a good place to be at that time.

There are other daily buses that run between Seville and the Algarve operated by DAMAS/EVA.

Checkout Cubsur's site here for more info:

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/001.htm

Caldas da Rainha to Obidos

The following is the current timetable for the bus service operated by Rodotejo (www.rodotejo.pt) between Caldas da Rainha and Obidos. Please click on image to enlarge.



Note:

Excepto Sabados, Domingos E Feriados. = Does not run at weekends
Diariamente = Daily

Hotel Marina Club - Lagos

I cannot believe it!

With this economic crisis, one of the hotels that pretends to be a quality hotel in Lagos, the Marina Club, has disactivated all means of online-reservations and emailing them on their website.

I am in the process of trying to help organise an event in Lagos for Easter 2009 and I can't contact them.

I called them and got nothing but excuses.

They are not getting my recommendation for 2009.

Places to stay in Lisbon - Beach & City

There are no good beaches close to the historic city centre in Lisbon, The nearest good beaches are at Carcavelos, and Estoril on the Cascais Line along the Tagus and at Costa Caparica on the South Bank of the Tagus. (Car recommended.)

The Great Western Riveira in Carcavelos might be off interest. See:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g780694-d1099391-Reviews-Riviera_Hotel_Carcavelos-Carcavelos_Estremadura.html

It is about 5 minutes walk from the beach and 7 minutes walk from the Railway Station with trains on average every 15 minutes into Lisbon Cais de Sodre Station (25 minutes distant) and also to Estoril/Cascais.

A Tempestade - The Tempest - Shakespeare

"A Companhia do Chapitô" are staging the premier of their interpretation of Shakespeare's "The Tempest", at the Teatro Chapitô, in Lisbon at 22:00 on Thursday, 8th January 2009.

Performed by Jorge Cruz, Marta Cequeira, and Tiago Viegas, three excellent Portuguese actors, the work is directed by John Mowat, a British theatre director and mime artist, who for many years has been involved in productions in Portugal.

The work promises to offer an alternative and comedic look at the Bard's piece.

Given Mowat's emphasis on the use of mime and visual transmission of theatres pieces, it is likely to be of interest to both Portuguese and English speakers alike. If it performs to level of previous performances, including Medea and "O Grande Criador", it promises to offer an excellent evening's entertainment.

The play will be staged Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 1st March 2009. Tickets ara available from the Box Office at the Teatro Chapitô, Costa de Castelo, 1/7, Lisbon. For information or reservation call +351 21 885 55 50.



Web Page: http://chapito.org/?s=events&v=view&e=5

Hotel Aqua Meia Praia

Hi!

(With apologies to Messr.'s Cleese & Co )

The Aqua Meia Praia has passed on! This hotel is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late hotel! .... Bereft of life, it rests in peace! .... Its metabolical processes are of interest only to historians! ..... It's shuffled off this mortal coil! It's run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible! It.... is an ex-HOTEL!

In its place, currently lie dirty great big holes in the ground, accompanied by rather large pieces of earthmoving equipment and Meia Praia type mole hills of enormous proportions. ...Our moles obviously are huge, although I've never seen them!

The Portuguese group Iberotel ( http://www.iberotel.pt/ ) is currently constructing a massive 220 bed 5-star complex there.

With the recent rains and the works going on down the road at the new Vila Galé Hotel, Meia Praia is currently a great place for hippos!

exits singing..."mud, mud, glorious mud...."

Faro to Nazare Toll Costs.

According to viamichelin.com, the current cost of motorway tolls from Faro, Algarve, Portugal to Nazaré, Algarve, Portugal is 22.75 EUR.

This fee is based on a class 1 group vehicle, (hatchback) and on the recommended viamichelin.com route.