Just 45 mins drive west of Faro airport, our holiday apartment, on the outskirts of Portimão, is just a few minutes drive from the popular resort of Praia Da Rocha and the picturesque old fishing village of Alvor. An ideal base for beach or golfing holidays or for exploring the Western Algarve which is perhaps one of the most beautiful and still relatively unspoiled areas of the Algarve.

Local facilities include a small shop and a mini-market each with a limited selection of bread, fruit and basics. These are both within 5 mins walk of the apartment. Slightly further afield, but still within walking distance, is the newly opened Le Clerc Hypermarket. There is also a Modelo complex about 5 mins drive towards Praia da Rocha with a Hypermarket, multiplex cinema, and several boutiques and restaurants.

There are also three or four local restaurants, all reasonable, and all within walking distance.

Praia Da Rocha has many shops, bars, restaurants and all the nightlife you would want.

Alvor is a favourite haunt of holidaymakers to the area. This village features typical Algarvian seaside townhouses and cottages, narrow cobbled streets, souvenir shops and many lively restaurants which are all excellent and reasonably priced. Try the restaurants on the quayside where your choice of fresh, locally caught fish, is barbecued to order while you enjoy glorious sunset views over the lagoon.

Portimão is the local commercial centre and main port in the area. It has one of the best shopping centres in the Algarve with many shops offering an excellent range of quality goods - shoes, leather goods, Portuguese crystal and ceramics, delicate embroidery, jewellery, clothes etc. Try fresh charcoal grilled fish (sardines in the summer) at one of the many restaurants near the quayside for one of the culinary highlights of your holiday.

For dedicated shoppers or browsers and not to be missed are the large open air markets (with dozens of stalls featuring a similar great variety of local produce including leather goods (shoes and bags), souvenirs, jewellery, ceramics, linen, embroidery, clothing and food) held in Portimão on the first Monday and in Alvor on the second Tuesday of each month.

Local taxis are cheap - anywhere in Portimão, Praia Da Rocha or Alvor is normally not more than a 5 or 7 Euro fare away

Further afield, yet within pleasant driving distance, there is much to see and enjoy.

Logos old town, enclosed by 16th century walls, is a maze of cobbled streets with cafés, churches, museums, art galleries and a bustling market. Outside the walls the modern resort has restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and a pleasant promenade with almost a Riviera air especially around the large modern marina.

Sightseeing trips would not be complete without a trip to Silves' superb 12th century castle (and museum) with its spectacular views from the ramparts over the surrounding countryside.

The Serra de Monchique provides a spectacular backdrop to this area and a trip here, amongst the orange and lemon groves, is essential if you wish to savour one of the undoubted beauty spots of the region. Visit the old spa town of Caldas de Monchique with its tranquil air and pleasant forest walks. Enjoy lunch at the roadside restaurant at Marmelete, worth it for the view alone - and the chicken piri piri isn't half bad either!

A trip to Cabo de S. Vicente takes less than an hour. This is the 'Land's End' of Europe being the most westerly point on the european mainland. Go in the evening for a chance to see a spectacular sunset across the Atlantic Ocean.

Other Things to Do

• Day cruises or trips down the coast by boat - or sail on the Pirate ship!
• Fishing trips: fish for shark, tuna, skipjack or bonito.
• Watersports: jetskis, windsurfboards and pedallos can readily be hired.
• Scenic clifftop walks.