Lagos to Morocco

The only logical and direct way to get from Lagos to Morocco via Algeciras on a budget is by bus via Seville.

1) Lagos to Seville (Price one way € 20:00)

Take the twice daily coach service from Lagos to Seville Plaza das Armas bus staion.

Lagos Sevilha 06:30 13:00
Lagos Sevilha 13:45 20:15

2) Seville (Prado ) to Algeciras (Fares unavailable but will not be expensive.)

There are at least two companies operating this route:

TG Comes

Timetable here: http://www.tgcomes.es/horarios_33.htm

Linesur also operates this route but no online timetables.


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.

Faro to Malaga

There are no direct flights between Faro and Malaga or between Faro and airports in mainland Spain. To fly you would have to route via Lisbon and Madrid as the TAP/Air Portugal direct flights are expensive.

The only public transport route between Faro and Malaga is by bus.

Alsa.es have a daily departure as follows:

FARO dept: 01:45
MALAGA arr: 08:45
Current Price: €40.00

It is also possible to take the twice daily DAMAS/EVA buses from Faro to Seville and then get another bus to Malaga.

For more information see Cubsur's very useful website here:

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

Horse riding on the Algarve

Not sure one is allowed to ride on many beaches any more in Portugal.

I have not seen many Lusitanos down here around Lagos. They tend to hang out more up in the Alentejo.

However, try contacting the Harmann's at QPA.

Website here:

http://www.qpahorseriding.com/

They should be able to help.

New Route from Summer 2010 - Manchester - Madeira

Finally, a announcement not from Planet Ryanair!! :))

Jet2.com have announced they will be operating Manchester to Madeira from Summer 2010.

See:

http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090910/FREE/909109995/1175

and (in Portuguese)

http://www.presstur.com/site/news.asp?news=21895

Lagos - restaurant suggestions

Depends where you are staying and if you have a car.

One of my favorite local Portuguese restaurants is Prato Cheio. See this article on my blog which has a link to it.

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/restaurante-o-prato-cheio-lagos.html

If you like fish, try a bacalhau (cod) dish, if its on the menu. The Portuguese have at least 365 ways of preparing them. My favorite is Bacalhau à Bras.

Many Portuguese restaurants have "Pratos do dia" - (Daily Plates) or Menu of the Day. Usually freshly cooked and very good. I would recommend avoid dishes with "Grão" or meat dishes called "Rojões" until you acclimatise.

Another good local restaurant is "Os Asinhas".

Map ref here:

http://mapas.sapo.pt/?M=37.096817,-8.673522,16,Z;37.096817,-8.673522,As+Asinhas,1

Estrada da Ponta da Piedade,

lote 24, loja A

Lagos

The two restaurants above are outside the city wall and away from the tourist centre...which is why I like them! :)))))))

Lisbon airport to Lourinha - Porto Dinheiro

As regards the Lisbon to Lourinha segment, you will have to get to Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station as no long-distance buses leave from Lisbon Airport.

To get from the Airport to the Bus Station you will need to catch the Aeroshuttle Bus (CARRIS Bus Nº96) in the direction of Sete Rios Bus Station and Praça de Espanha. This operates daily, every 30 minutes between 7am and 11pm.

You will then need to catch a Rede Expressos Bus as follows:

Lisbon Lourinha
Sete
Rios
Bus
Station
Dept: Arr:

13:30 14:40 Daily Service
15:45 16:55 Daily Service

There is a local bus going towards Torres Vedras operated by Barraqueiro that leaves Lourinha at 16:45 and arrives in Ribamar at 16:55. Ribamar appears to be the closest point with a bus stop to Porto Dinheiro.

There does not appear to be any suitable early morning return bus the following Saturday.

Return:

Lourinha Lisbon Sete Rios
Dept: Arr:

07:25 08:35 Daily Service

Lisbon to the Algarve, good places to stop en route?

It depends where you are heading to in the Algarve.

If you heading to the Lagos end you could come of the A2 Motorway at Marateca, head down the old Lisbon Algarve road (IC1), turn right just after Messejana onto the N283 and follow the road through Odemira, (Country town) S. Teotonio, Aljezur (Small Castle) to Lagos. This is a normal 2-lane road with 90km/h speed limit and windy in parts but you will see a lot of the Alentejo.

If you are heading down to the Central Algarve, you could come of the A2 Motorway at Marateca, head down the old Lisbon Algarve road (IC1) and follow it all the way down to Albufeira. There are a couple of good restaurant/cafes to stop in Mimosa. My favorite is the first on the right running south. (Always forget the name). You could also come of at Ourique, (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ourique)

Best way of getting to Lagos from Malaga

alsa.es bus from Malaga to Seville Prado Bus Station. Local town bus to connect with Damas/EVA from Seville Plaza das Armas Bus Station. Allow minimum one hour for changing bus stations.

Depart: Arrive:

MALAGA SEVILLA(P) 11:00 13:45

Sevilha Lagos 16:15 20:45

Nicest resort in Algarve close to Faro

Be aware that there is a spinal motorway (A22 - Via de Infante), that runs the best part of the length of the Algarve.

Consequently, all towns and resorts from Vila Real de Stª. Antonio to Lagos lie within 60 to 65 minutes by car from Faro Airport which is near the centre of the region.

I am sure that the gang here will be up with all sorts of suggestions in this area. I live in Lagos so I am biased but its one of the towns in the Algarve that retains its traditional character.

I know a lot of irish folk have recently been staying here at the Marina Club. (http://www.marinaclub.pt/).

Also have a look at the new Vila Galé Lagos Meia Praia.

www.vilagale.pt/pages/hoteis/index.php?lang=2

They have had promotions on recently.

Another town to try is Tavira, which again has a more traditional character.

Getting to Luz de Tavira by bus

Have a look at the bus timetables on Cubsur's Site here:

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/015.htm